7. By following the valley of the Cogamus south eastward from Sardis for about thirty miles St. John's messenger would come to Philadelphia. The city was founded by Philadelphus, king of Pergamon, but became a Roman possession in 133 B. C. It was practically destroyed by an earthquake in 17 A. D. On account of the assistance then given by Tiberius the name was changed to Neocaesarea. The modern city, known as Ala-Shehr, is a station on the Smyrna-Dinair railway and has a population of about 20,000.
According to the Constitutions of the Apostles, demetrius was the first bishop of Philadelphia. [1] He must have been appointed by St. John and is probably the "angel 7 here addressed. The apologist Miltiades mentions a prophetess Ammia who must have belonged to the primitive church of Philadelphia. [2]
As true God, Christ calls Himself the True and Holy One. He holds the key of David since He possesses the eternal kingdom promised to David: [3] "The Lord God shall give unto him the throne of David his father; and he shall reign in the house of Jacob forever. And of his kingdom there shall be no end." [4] In this kingdom our Lord reigns supreme. There is none to challenge
