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About Numbered Notation

Numbered Notation (also called Jianpu, 简谱) writes each melody note as a number from 1 to 7 instead of a note on a staff. The number shows the note's position in the song's scale -- not its exact pitch -- so the same tune looks identical no matter what key it's sung in.

Within one octave, the numbers 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 correspond to the familiar do re mi fa sol la ti. A dot above a number raises it an octave higher; a dot below lowers it an octave lower -- no dot means the middle, as-written octave.

A plain number lasts one beat. A dash (-) right after a number holds that same note for one more beat. A line underneath a number shortens it instead -- one line is half a beat, two lines a quarter of a beat. A 0 is a rest: silence for one beat.

The label at the top of the sheet, like "1=C" or "1=Ab", shows which pitch scale degree 1 ("do") is tuned to. A song in a minor key is labeled "6=X" instead -- scale degree 6 ("la") is the true tonic. Chord names printed above the notes (like "C" or "G7") always use their familiar letter names, never numbers.

For example, under a "1=C" heading, the numbers 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 sound as C D E F G A B. Under a "1=G" heading, those very same numbers sound as G A B C D E F# instead -- same shape, different key.

Glorious things to thee are spoken

The Church Philadelphia

English1275
1
Glorious things to thee are spoken,
Philadelphia, church of love.
These things saith the One who’s holy,
He who’s real speaks from above;
He that has the key of David,
Who the kingdom’s entrance won,
“I will open, no man shutteth”—
He has spoken; it is done.
2
Hallelujah, Philadelphia,
Thine are works that please the Lord.
Strength thou hast, though just a little
And hast kept His living Word.
Thou His holy name denied not,
But confessed it here below—
Lo, a door is set before thee,
Through which none but thee can go.
3
Thou, beloved Philadelphia,
Dost His Word of patience keep.
From the hour of trial He’ll save thee,
Which o’er all the world shall sweep.
Troublers too shall know He loves thee;
They to thee must then bow down.
“Hold thou fast, for I come quickly,
That no man may take thy crown.”
4
Hallelujah, overcomers,
“In the temple of My God,
I will build them in as pillars,
Nevermore to go abroad.”
God’s own name is written on them
And the new name of the Lord.
With the triune God they’re blended;
They’re the city of our God.
5
Hallelujah, out of heaven,
Comes the New Jerusalem:
Gates of pearl and walls of jasper,
Mingled with each precious gem.
Philadelphia, Philadelphia,
Has become His Bride so dear.
Now the Spirit in the churches
Speaks to all who have an ear.

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Maria L

Fremont, California, United States

Feb 18, 2026

Lord, we stand one with You on the genuine ground of oneness, and we choose to love all the brothers. Hallelujah for the church of brotherly love, the church in Philadelphia! 😀

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Pedro Menéndez

United States

Jan 23, 2025

This period of church history is very interesting and crucial. How wonderful it is when we consider that the Lord has only praises for their situation and nothing else. In this letter the Lord does not have one word of rebuke. There are words of warning, and we should pay attention to them, but there is no rebuke at all. How good it is that such a holy and true One would show us His smiling face! Of course, this is the proper condition for Christians to have all the time. But we have to praise God that in the history of the church, although the condition of Philadelphia was not found before this time, Philadelphians already existed. When John was writing this letter, there were already people like those described here. The more adverse the condition in the world, the more the Lord praised them. No matter how much opposition there was in the environment, nothing could stop them from being the Philadelphians. Circumstances could not stop them. On the contrary, these encouraged them to become the Philadelphians. This is the condition for being a Philadelphian. If we have the spirit of the Philadelphians, all the sins in the world or in the church will only make us more Philadelphian.

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bye Watchman Nee (LSM)

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Hannah Kwan

Temerloh, Malaysia

Sep 26, 2021

Amen

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Rose-Marie Payette

Surrey, BC, Canada

Sep 14, 2021

Hallelujah, OVERCOMERS, "In the temple of My God, I will build them as pillars, nevermore to go abroad."

God's own NAME is written on them. And the new Name of the LORD.

With the Triune God they're blended

They're the CITY OF OUR GOD!!! ☀️

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Julie

Yucaipa, CA

Dec 3, 2018

Lord, for the sake of Your building, make us pillars and pillar builders!

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