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The Church of Philadelphia

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Let us begin to examine what was spoken to the Apostle John in the book of Revelation concerning the seven Churches.

Revelation 1:4
4 John to the seven churches which are in Asia: Grace be unto you, and peace, from him which is, and which was, and which is to come; and from the seven Spirits which are before his throne;

Revelation 1:9-11
9 I John, who also am your brother, and companion in tribulation, and in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was in the isle that is called Patmos, for the word of God, and for the testimony of Jesus Christ.
10 I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet,
11 Saying, I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last: and, What thou seest, write in a book, and send it unto the seven churches which are in Asia; unto Ephesus, and unto Smyrna, and unto Pergamos, and unto Thyatira, and unto Sardis, and unto Philadelphia, and unto Laodicea.

Notice carefully that the Apostle John has stated to the seven Churches that he is their brother, and companion in tribulation. There was tribulation taking place among the Churches. The Apostle John himself being placed on the isle of Patmos.

Revelation 1:19
19 Write the things which thou hast seen, and the things which are, and the things which shall be hereafter;

What things which are??? This is a very important verse of scripture in regards to the book of Revelation. The only information provided in the book of Revelation that is things which are, is the information given to the seven Churches. This is very crucial to understand. Apostle John was to write the things which he has seen, and the things which are, and the things which shall be hereafter. That which he wrote that pertained to things of his present time of which would be things which are, was that which he wrote to the seven Churches concerning their present state with the Lord.

Revelation 2:1-7
1 Unto the angel of the church of Ephesus write; These things saith he that holdeth the seven stars in his right hand, who walketh in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks;
2 I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil: and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars:
3 And hast borne, and hast patience, and for my name’s sake hast laboured, and hast not fainted.
4 Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love.
5 Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent.
6 But this thou hast, that thou hatest the deeds of the Nicolaitanes, which I also hate.
7 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God.

Notice that everything spoken to the Church in Ephesus was things which are. Also they were instructed to repent, and do the first works of which they had fallen away from there first love. The first works is the first commandment, “Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD: And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.” (Deut 6:4-5). The Church in Ephesus had left their first love.

The statement, “He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches”, is directly speaking to those literal seven churches in Asia. However, we must remember that there is only one Church the Body of Christ. So when we read the statement, “He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches”, we know that Jesus is speaking to those Churches which were at that present time. This doesn’t mean that we can’t benefit from what is said, but we shouldn’t conclude that there are seven Church ages from these writings nor should we conclude that the Body of Christ must be the Church of Philadelphia somehow today and not one of the other Churches like the Church of Smyrna which was highly commended by God. The Church is the Body of Christ and the Spirit was speaking to these seven Churches in particular at that present time which all made up the one Church the body of Christ.

Revelation 2:8-11
8 And unto the angel of the church in Smyrna write; These things saith the first and the last, which was dead, and is alive;
9 I know thy works, and tribulation, and poverty, (but thou art rich) and I know the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews, and are not, but are the synagogue of Satan.
10 Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.
11 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death.

The Church in Smyrna had already been in tribulation and was told that they were rich!! Yet Jesus lets them know that more tribulation is coming and gives them hope!! “Behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.” This was speaking to the Church in Smyrna of things that are and continuing to let them know that some of them would be cast into prison and tried, that there would be a tribulation of ten days, and to be faithful unto the death.

This was spoken to a Church that was rich!! No one is teaching that we today are the Church of Smyrna and we will suffer tribulation unto the death? Yet we must not forget that the Church in Smyrna was part of the Bride of Christ. They were commended by Jesus Christ and yet some of them suffered tribulation unto the death.

Matthew 10:28
28 And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.

Psalms 116:15
15 Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints.

We tend to forget that there is nothing greater than laying down your life as a martyr for Jesus Christ and the Gospel’s sake.

Revelation 2:12-17
12 And to the angel of the church in Pergamos write; These things saith he which hath the sharp sword with two edges;
13 I know thy works, and where thou dwellest, even where Satan’s seat is: and thou holdest fast my name, and hast not denied my faith, even in those days wherein Antipas was my faithful martyr, who was slain among you, where Satan dwelleth.
14 But I have a few things against thee, because thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balac to cast a stumblingblock before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication.
15 So hast thou also them that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitanes, which thing I hate.
16 Repent; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth.
17 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it.

Again we see the Churches suffering tribulation even as the Apostle John wrote that he was their brother and companion in tribulation. Notice also that these have held fast the Lord’s name, and has not denied the faith, even in those days wherein Antipas was the Lord’s faithful martyr. For many who hold to the belief system that the Church of today is representative of the Church of Philadelphia and that one of the reasons they were going to be spared the tribulation to come was because they had not denied the Lord’s name fail to see that the Church of Pergamos also didn’t deny the Lord’s name. And we also just read about the Church of Smyrna being rich. Would a Church be rich that denied the Lord’s name?

Again there are two points that many are failing to see. 1) All seven Churches are the one Church the body of Christ. 2) To those committing error, Jesus gives to them the chance to repent of these errors they were committing.

It is also important to take notice that the rewards given to the seven Churches, if they overcome, will be given to all of the Churches. Not ‘you’ Church in Pergamos will receive a white stone, and in the stone a new name written and ‘you’ Church of Smyrna that overcomes shall not be hurt of the second death. None of the Bride of Christ will be hurt of the second death. These rewards for the seven Churches that were spoken then are also for you and I today, because all of us are the Church of the Living God.

However, we must not forget that the Apostle John was to write the things which he has seen, and the things which are, and the things which shall be hereafter. That which he wrote to the seven Churches concerning their present state with the Lord were things for the time then present making them the things which are.

Revelation 2:18-29
18 And unto the angel of the church in Thyatira write; These things saith the Son of God, who hath his eyes like unto a flame of fire, and his feet are like fine brass;
19 I know thy works, and charity, and service, and faith, and thy patience, and thy works; and the last to be more than the first.
20 Notwithstanding I have a few things against thee, because thou sufferest that woman Jezebel, which calleth herself a prophetess, to teach and to seduce my servants to commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed unto idols.
21 And I gave her space to repent of her fornication; and she repented not.
22 Behold, I will cast her into a bed, and them that commit adultery with her into great tribulation, except they repent of their deeds.
23 And I will kill her children with death; and all the churches shall know that I am he which searcheth the reins and hearts: and I will give unto every one of you according to your works.

Because the words “great tribulation” were used here, does that suddenly make this a futuristic prophecy of the great tribulation spoken of in the book of Matthew 24? “For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be. And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect’s sake those days shall be shortened.” The answer is no. The Lord said this would happen if they didn’t repent of their deeds. There were persecutions and tribulations at that current time and here in verse 22 it says “Behold, I will cast her into a bed, and them that commit adultery with her into great tribulation, except they repent of their deeds. Verse 23 continues and says, “And I will kill her children with death; and all the churches shall know that I am he which searcheth the reins and hearts: and I will give unto every one of you according to your works.” This specifically was saying that the rest of the seven Churches would know that it is God which searches the reins and hearts because it was just spoken to them prophetically. They would know when they saw this tribulation come upon those in the Church of Thyatira who were committing these offences if they did not repent of their deeds. Once again showing that this was things that were happening at the present time for that people even as the Apostle John was to write of the things which are, as well as the things which shall be hereafter.

24 But unto you I say, and unto the rest in Thyatira, as many as have not this doctrine, and which have not known the depths of Satan, as they speak; I will put upon you none other burden.
25 But that which ye have already hold fast till I come.
26 And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations:
27 And he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers: even as I received of my Father.
28 And I will give him the morning star.
29 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.

Revelation 3:1-3
1 And unto the angel of the church in Sardis write; These things saith he that hath the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars; I know thy works, that thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead.
2 Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die: for I have not found thy works perfect before God.
3 Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee.

Verse 3 is speaking of the coming of the Lord, or the catching away of the saints. “For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief.” (1 Thess 5:2, 4) “Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come. But know this, that if the goodman of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up. Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh. (Mt 24:42-44)

Jesus has told the Church of Sardis, “If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee.” This tells us that if they were watching that day would not overtake them as a thief. Since we see a catching away of the saints spoken to the Church in Sardis this would not suddenly make the Church of Sardis the Church of Philadelphia, as the common teaching is that the Church of Philadelphia will be caught away by the Lord before the tribulation of the last days making the Church of Philadelphia the Bride of Christ alone. Verse 3 is a clear reference to the catching away of the saints being told to the Church of Sardis to remind them to watch for the coming of the Lord. And we must not forget that each of these seven churches were part of the Bride of Christ and as the Bride of Christ they were all being instructed by God so that they would be ready for his coming. Not just the Church of Philadelphia.

Revelation 3:4-6
4 Thou hast a few names even in Sardis which have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with me in white: for they are worthy.
5 He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.
6 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.

Revelation 3:7-13
7 And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write; These things saith he that is holy, he that is true, he that hath the key of David, he that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth;
8 I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name.
9 Behold, I will make them of the synagogue of Satan, which say they are Jews, and are not, but do lie; behold, I will make them to come and worship before thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee.
10 Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.
11 Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown.
12 Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name.
13 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.

When we read that which was spoken to the Church of Philadelphia we should not conclude that this is a futuristic statement for the Bride of Christ. There are three main points of discussion here that I would like to concentrate on.

First and foremost is verse 3:9 spoken to the Church of Philadelphia is directly connected to the time frame of the Church of Smyrna from verse 2:9.

“I know thy works, and tribulation, and poverty, (but thou art rich) and I know the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews, and are not, but are the synagogue of Satan.” (Rev 2:9)

“Behold, I will make them of the synagogue of Satan, which say they are Jews, and are not, but do lie; behold, I will make them to come and worship before thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee.” (Rev 3:9)

This verse was spoken just after verse 8 which says “I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name.” This without a doubt shows that this was speaking to the people for the time then present telling them that those people who were claiming to be jews and were not but are the synagogue of Satan would come and worship at their feet. Remember all the Churches were in tribulation and the Lord was warning them of more tribulation to come. After telling those of the Church of Philadelphia that those false jews would worship before their feet (this did not say they would be worshiping them) the Lord continues at verse 10 saying “Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.”

The second point I would like to discuss is to keep one from something, such as tribulation, doesn’t call for their removal from the Earth. For instance the children of Israel were kept from the ten plagues of Egypt.

John 17:14-16
14 I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.
15 I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil.
16 They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.

The words keep and kept from Jn 17:15 and Rev 3:10 are both from the same Greek word Strong’s number G5083. So when it says, “Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth”, this does not mean that they will be taken out of the world, but rather since they kept the word of his patience and didn’t deny his name they would not suffer the tribulation that Smyrna and possibly some of the other Churches would suffer. This doesn’t mean that Smyrna denied his name nor didn’t keep his word. Jesus told Smyrna “I know thy works, and tribulation, and poverty, (but thou art rich)… Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer”. We must remember that God does things by election.

Romans 9:11
11 (For the children being not yet born, neither having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works, but of him that calleth;)

God is at liberty to do what he chooses to do. The Church at Smyrna was highly commended to be told by Jesus Christ that they were rich.

Which brings me to my final point concerning that which was written to the Church in Philadelphia concerning their present state with the Lord. Both the church in Smyrna and Philadelphia are promised a crown. “Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life. (Rev 2:10) And the Church of Philadelphia “Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown.” (Rev 3:11) Again this showing God calling things according to election. One Church suffering persecution and tribulation while another one is not. This is taking place presently all over the world. There is persecution and tribulation taking place in many nations all over the world while some nations, such as America, is not. There may be some tribulation on the rise but not facing death for owning a Bible or risking their life just to go to Church or claim that Jesus is the Christ and the savior of the world.

The main reason that the teaching of the Church of Philadelphia by many teachers has come to represent the Bride of Christ for the time of the catching away of the saints is because these teachers believe in a pre-tribulation point of view of the catching away of the saints. This Church is then used as a means to support this view. But as I have shown in this lesson there are many problems with this view point and the Church of Philadelphia should never have been taken as a futuristic event, but rather like the other 7 churches this was what the Apostle John was to write concerning things that are in his present time even as the scripture says, “Write the things which thou hast seen, and the things which are, and the things which shall be hereafter;” (Rev 1:19)

Revelation 3:14-22
14 And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God;
15 I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot.
16 So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.
17 Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:
18 I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.
19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.
20 Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.
21 To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.
22 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.

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Endtime, eschatology

C & C: The Church of Philadelphia

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Connections and Comparisons is an ongoing weekly series that deals with many scriptures in the Bible, some of which are not commonly addressed. The purpose of this series is to examine the scriptures at hand comparing what is said and looking at the connections within.

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Let us begin to examine what was spoken to the Apostle John in the book of Revelation concerning the seven Churches.

Revelation 1:4
4 John to the seven churches which are in Asia: Grace be unto you, and peace, from him which is, and which was, and which is to come; and from the seven Spirits which are before his throne;

Revelation 1:9-11
9 I John, who also am your brother, and companion in tribulation, and in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was in the isle that is called Patmos, for the word of God, and for the testimony of Jesus Christ.
10 I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet,
11 Saying, I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last: and, What thou seest, write in a book, and send it unto the seven churches which are in Asia; unto Ephesus, and unto Smyrna, and unto Pergamos, and unto Thyatira, and unto Sardis, and unto Philadelphia, and unto Laodicea.

Notice carefully that the Apostle John has stated to the seven Churches that he is their brother, and companion in tribulation. There was tribulation taking place among the Churches. The Apostle John himself being placed on the isle of Patmos.

Revelation 1:19
19 Write the things which thou hast seen, and the things which are, and the things which shall be hereafter;

What things which are??? This is a very important verse of scripture in regards to the book of Revelation. The only information provided in the book of Revelation that is things which are, is the information given to the seven Churches. This is very crucial to understand. Apostle John was to write the things which he has seen, and the things which are, and the things which shall be hereafter. That which he wrote that pertained to things of his present time of which would be things which are, was that which he wrote to the seven Churches concerning their present state with the Lord.

Revelation 2:1-7
1 Unto the angel of the church of Ephesus write; These things saith he that holdeth the seven stars in his right hand, who walketh in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks;
2 I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil: and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars:
3 And hast borne, and hast patience, and for my name’s sake hast laboured, and hast not fainted.
4 Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love.
5 Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent.
6 But this thou hast, that thou hatest the deeds of the Nicolaitanes, which I also hate.
7 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God.

Notice that everything spoken to the Church in Ephesus was things which are. Also they were instructed to repent, and do the first works of which they had fallen away from there first love. The first works is the first commandment, “Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD: And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.” (Deut 6:4-5). The Church in Ephesus had left their first love.

The statement, “He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches”, is directly speaking to those literal seven churches in Asia. However, we must remember that there is only one Church the Body of Christ. So when we read the statement, “He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches”, we know that Jesus is speaking to those Churches which were at that present time. This doesn’t mean that we can’t benefit from what is said, but we shouldn’t conclude that there are seven Church ages from these writings nor should we conclude that the Body of Christ must be the Church of Philadelphia somehow today and not one of the other Churches like the Church of Smyrna which was highly commended by God. The Church is the Body of Christ and the Spirit was speaking to these seven Churches in particular at that present time which all made up the one Church the body of Christ.

Revelation 2:8-11
8 And unto the angel of the church in Smyrna write; These things saith the first and the last, which was dead, and is alive;
9 I know thy works, and tribulation, and poverty, (but thou art rich) and I know the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews, and are not, but are the synagogue of Satan.
10 Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.
11 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death.

The Church in Smyrna had already been in tribulation and was told that they were rich!! Yet Jesus lets them know that more tribulation is coming and gives them hope!! “Behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.” This was speaking to the Church in Smyrna of things that are and continuing to let them know that some of them would be cast into prison and tried, that there would be a tribulation of ten days, and to be faithful unto the death.

This was spoken to a Church that was rich!! No one is teaching that we today are the Church of Smyrna and we will suffer tribulation unto the death? Yet we must not forget that the Church in Smyrna was part of the Bride of Christ. They were commended by Jesus Christ and yet some of them suffered tribulation unto the death.

Matthew 10:28
28 And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.

Psalms 116:15
15 Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints.

We tend to forget that there is nothing greater than laying down your life as a martyr for Jesus Christ and the Gospel’s sake.

Revelation 2:12-17
12 And to the angel of the church in Pergamos write; These things saith he which hath the sharp sword with two edges;
13 I know thy works, and where thou dwellest, even where Satan’s seat is: and thou holdest fast my name, and hast not denied my faith, even in those days wherein Antipas was my faithful martyr, who was slain among you, where Satan dwelleth.
14 But I have a few things against thee, because thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balac to cast a stumblingblock before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication.
15 So hast thou also them that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitanes, which thing I hate.
16 Repent; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth.
17 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it.

Again we see the Churches suffering tribulation even as the Apostle John wrote that he was their brother and companion in tribulation. Notice also that these have held fast the Lord’s name, and has not denied the faith, even in those days wherein Antipas was the Lord’s faithful martyr. For many who hold to the belief system that the Church of today is representative of the Church of Philadelphia and that one of the reasons they were going to be spared the tribulation to come was because they had not denied the Lord’s name fail to see that the Church of Pergamos also didn’t deny the Lord’s name. And we also just read about the Church of Smyrna being rich. Would a Church be rich that denied the Lord’s name?

Again there are two points that many are failing to see. 1) All seven Churches are the one Church the body of Christ. 2) To those committing error, Jesus gives to them the chance to repent of these errors they were committing.

It is also important to take notice that the rewards given to the seven Churches, if they overcome, will be given to all of the Churches. Not ‘you’ Church in Pergamos will receive a white stone, and in the stone a new name written and ‘you’ Church of Smyrna that overcomes shall not be hurt of the second death. None of the Bride of Christ will be hurt of the second death. These rewards for the seven Churches that were spoken then are also for you and I today, because all of us are the Church of the Living God.

However, we must not forget that the Apostle John was to write the things which he has seen, and the things which are, and the things which shall be hereafter. That which he wrote to the seven Churches concerning their present state with the Lord were things for the time then present making them the things which are.

Revelation 2:18-29
18 And unto the angel of the church in Thyatira write; These things saith the Son of God, who hath his eyes like unto a flame of fire, and his feet are like fine brass;
19 I know thy works, and charity, and service, and faith, and thy patience, and thy works; and the last to be more than the first.
20 Notwithstanding I have a few things against thee, because thou sufferest that woman Jezebel, which calleth herself a prophetess, to teach and to seduce my servants to commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed unto idols.
21 And I gave her space to repent of her fornication; and she repented not.
22 Behold, I will cast her into a bed, and them that commit adultery with her into great tribulation, except they repent of their deeds.
23 And I will kill her children with death; and all the churches shall know that I am he which searcheth the reins and hearts: and I will give unto every one of you according to your works.

Because the words “great tribulation” were used here, does that suddenly make this a futuristic prophecy of the great tribulation spoken of in the book of Matthew 24? “For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be. And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect’s sake those days shall be shortened.” The answer is no. The Lord said this would happen if they didn’t repent of their deeds. There were persecutions and tribulations at that current time and here in verse 22 it says “Behold, I will cast her into a bed, and them that commit adultery with her into great tribulation, except they repent of their deeds. Verse 23 continues and says, “And I will kill her children with death; and all the churches shall know that I am he which searcheth the reins and hearts: and I will give unto every one of you according to your works.” This specifically was saying that the rest of the seven Churches would know that it is God which searches the reins and hearts because it was just spoken to them prophetically. They would know when they saw this tribulation come upon those in the Church of Thyatira who were committing these offences if they did not repent of their deeds. Once again showing that this was things that were happening at the present time for that people even as the Apostle John was to write of the things which are, as well as the things which shall be hereafter.

24 But unto you I say, and unto the rest in Thyatira, as many as have not this doctrine, and which have not known the depths of Satan, as they speak; I will put upon you none other burden.
25 But that which ye have already hold fast till I come.
26 And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations:
27 And he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers: even as I received of my Father.
28 And I will give him the morning star.
29 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.

Revelation 3:1-3
1 And unto the angel of the church in Sardis write; These things saith he that hath the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars; I know thy works, that thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead.
2 Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die: for I have not found thy works perfect before God.
3 Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee.

Verse 3 is speaking of the coming of the Lord, or the catching away of the saints. “For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief.” (1 Thess 5:2, 4) “Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come. But know this, that if the goodman of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up. Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh. (Mt 24:42-44)

Jesus has told the Church of Sardis, “If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee.” This tells us that if they were watching that day would not overtake them as a thief. Since we see a catching away of the saints spoken to the Church in Sardis this would not suddenly make the Church of Sardis the Church of Philadelphia, as the common teaching is that the Church of Philadelphia will be caught away by the Lord before the tribulation of the last days making the Church of Philadelphia the Bride of Christ alone. Verse 3 is a clear reference to the catching away of the saints being told to the Church of Sardis to remind them to watch for the coming of the Lord. And we must not forget that each of these seven churches were part of the Bride of Christ and as the Bride of Christ they were all being instructed by God so that they would be ready for his coming. Not just the Church of Philadelphia.

Revelation 3:4-6
4 Thou hast a few names even in Sardis which have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with me in white: for they are worthy.
5 He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.
6 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.

Revelation 3:7-13
7 And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write; These things saith he that is holy, he that is true, he that hath the key of David, he that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth;
8 I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name.
9 Behold, I will make them of the synagogue of Satan, which say they are Jews, and are not, but do lie; behold, I will make them to come and worship before thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee.
10 Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.
11 Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown.
12 Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name.
13 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.

When we read that which was spoken to the Church of Philadelphia we should not conclude that this is a futuristic statement for the Bride of Christ. There are three main points of discussion here that I would like to concentrate on.

First and foremost is verse 3:9 spoken to the Church of Philadelphia is directly connected to the time frame of the Church of Smyrna from verse 2:9.

“I know thy works, and tribulation, and poverty, (but thou art rich) and I know the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews, and are not, but are the synagogue of Satan.” (Rev 2:9)

“Behold, I will make them of the synagogue of Satan, which say they are Jews, and are not, but do lie; behold, I will make them to come and worship before thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee.” (Rev 3:9)

This verse was spoken just after verse 8 which says “I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name.” This without a doubt shows that this was speaking to the people for the time then present telling them that those people who were claiming to be jews and were not but are the synagogue of Satan would come and worship at their feet. Remember all the Churches were in tribulation and the Lord was warning them of more tribulation to come. After telling those of the Church of Philadelphia that those false jews would worship before their feet (this did not say they would be worshiping them) the Lord continues at verse 10 saying “Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.”

The second point I would like to discuss is to keep one from something, such as tribulation, doesn’t call for their removal from the Earth. For instance the children of Israel were kept from the ten plagues of Egypt.

John 17:14-16
14 I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.
15 I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil.
16 They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.

The words keep and kept from Jn 17:15 and Rev 3:10 are both from the same Greek word Strong’s number G5083. So when it says, “Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth”, this does not mean that they will be taken out of the world, but rather since they kept the word of his patience and didn’t deny his name they would not suffer the tribulation that Smyrna and possibly some of the other Churches would suffer. This doesn’t mean that Smyrna denied his name nor didn’t keep his word. Jesus told Smyrna “I know thy works, and tribulation, and poverty, (but thou art rich)… Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer”. We must remember that God does things by election.

Romans 9:11
11 (For the children being not yet born, neither having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works, but of him that calleth;)

God is at liberty to do what he chooses to do. The Church at Smyrna was highly commended to be told by Jesus Christ that they were rich.

Which brings me to my final point concerning that which was written to the Church in Philadelphia concerning their present state with the Lord. Both the church in Smyrna and Philadelphia are promised a crown. “Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life. (Rev 2:10) And the Church of Philadelphia “Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown.” (Rev 3:11) Again this showing God calling things according to election. One Church suffering persecution and tribulation while another one is not. This is taking place presently all over the world. There is persecution and tribulation taking place in many nations all over the world while some nations, such as America, is not. There may be some tribulation on the rise but not facing death for owning a Bible or risking their life just to go to Church or claim that Jesus is the Christ and the savior of the world.

The main reason that the teaching of the Church of Philadelphia by many teachers has come to represent the Bride of Christ for the time of the catching away of the saints is because these teachers believe in a pre-tribulation point of view of the catching away of the saints. This Church is then used as a means to support this view. But as I have shown in this lesson there are many problems with this view point and the Church of Philadelphia should never have been taken as a futuristic event, but rather like the other 7 churches this was what the Apostle John was to write concerning things that are in his present time even as the scripture says, “Write the things which thou hast seen, and the things which are, and the things which shall be hereafter;” (Rev 1:19)

Revelation 3:14-22
14 And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God;
15 I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot.
16 So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.
17 Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:
18 I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.
19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.
20 Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.
21 To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.
22 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.

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Matthew 24:37-39
37 But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.
38 For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark,
39 And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.

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Luke 17:25-30
25 But first must he suffer many things, and be rejected of this generation.
26 And as it was in the days of Noe, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man.
27 They did eat, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, and the flood came, and destroyed them all.
28 Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they builded;
29 But the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all.
30 Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed.

In our last lesson entitled, “Statements Jesus made in the Gospels Concerning the End of Days and the Rapture of the Church” we learned from the parable of the tares found in Matthew chapter 13 that Jesus said the interpretation of the parable was 1) He that soweth the good seed is the Son of man 2) The field is the world 3) But the tares are the children of the wicked one; The enemy that sowed them is the devil 4) The harvest is the end of the world 5) The reapers are the angels. We also learned from John 6:40 “And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.” And finally We also learned that the Day of the Lord followed the tribulation of those days as seen in Matthew 24:29-31 and Acts 2:19-21 of which conclusively reveals to us that the Day of the Lord begins after the tribulation of those days! Pay special attention to the following passages of scriptures which all speak of these signs in the sun, the moon, and the stars!

Matthew 24:29-31
29 Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken:
30 And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.
31 And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.

Mark 13:24-27
24 But in those days, after that tribulation, the sun shall be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light,
25 And the stars of heaven shall fall, and the powers that are in heaven shall be shaken.
26 And then shall they see the Son of man coming in the clouds with great power and glory.
27 And then shall he send his angels, and shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from the uttermost part of the earth to the uttermost part of heaven.

Luke 21:25-28
25 And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring;
26 Men’s hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken.
27 And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.
28 And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.

Revelation 6:12-14
12 And I beheld when he had opened the sixth seal, and, lo, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became as blood;
13 And the stars of heaven fell unto the earth, even as a fig tree casteth her untimely figs, when she is shaken of a mighty wind.
14 And the heaven departed as a scroll when it is rolled together; and every mountain and island were moved out of their places.

In each one of these accounts given to us by Jesus we see the signs we are looking for are “in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars” “And the stars of heaven shall fall, and the powers that are in heaven shall be shaken.” “and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring; Men’s hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken.” The sea and the waves roaring because “the powers of heaven shall be shaken”

Remember all of these passages of scripture are referring to the Day of the Lord of which we established was “Immediately after the tribulation of those days”.

2 Peter 3:9-12
9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
10 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.
11 Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness,
12 Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?

Isaiah 34:2-4
2 For the indignation of the LORD is upon all nations, and his fury upon all their armies: he hath utterly destroyed them, he hath delivered them to the slaughter.
3 Their slain also shall be cast out, and their stink shall come up out of their carcases, and the mountains shall be melted with their blood.
4 And all the host of heaven shall be dissolved, and the heavens shall be rolled together as a scroll: and all their host shall fall down, as the leaf falleth off from the vine, and as a falling fig from the fig tree.

Hebrews 1:10-12
10 And, Thou, Lord, in the beginning hast laid the foundation of the earth; and the heavens are the works of thine hands:
11 They shall perish; but thou remainest; and they all shall wax old as doth a garment;
12 And as a vesture shalt thou fold them up, and they shall be changed: but thou art the same, and thy years shall not fail.

Do you see that this is all the same time? Look at it again in a slightly different way.

Matthew 24:29
29 Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken:
Mark 13:24-25
24 But in those days, after that tribulation, the sun shall be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light,
25 And the stars of heaven shall fall, and the powers that are in heaven shall be shaken.
Luke 21:25
25 And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring;
Revelation 6:12-14
12 And I beheld when he had opened the sixth seal, and, lo, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became as blood;
13 And the stars of heaven fell unto the earth, even as a fig tree casteth her untimely figs, when she is shaken of a mighty wind.
14 And the heaven departed as a scroll when it is rolled together; and every mountain and island were moved out of their places.
Luke 21:26
26 Men’s hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken.

Matthew 24:30
30 And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.
Mark 13:26
26 And then shall they see the Son of man coming in the clouds with great power and glory.
Luke 21:27
27 And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.

Matthew 24:31
31 And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.
Mark 13:27
27 And then shall he send his angels, and shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from the uttermost part of the earth to the uttermost part of heaven.
Luke 21:28
28 And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.

Revelation 6:12
12 And I beheld when he had opened the sixth seal, and, lo, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became as blood;
Isaiah 24:19
19 The earth is utterly broken down, the earth is clean dissolved, the earth is moved exceedingly.
Isaiah 24:20
20 The earth shall reel to and fro like a drunkard, and shall be removed like a cottage; and the transgression thereof shall be heavy upon it; and it shall fall, and not rise again.
Isaiah 34:2
2 For the indignation of the LORD is upon all nations, and his fury upon all their armies: he hath utterly destroyed them, he hath delivered them to the slaughter.
Isaiah 34:3
3 Their slain also shall be cast out, and their stink shall come up out of their carcases, and the mountains shall be melted with their blood.
2 Peter 3:10
10 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.

Revelation 6:13
13 And the stars of heaven fell unto the earth, even as a fig tree casteth her untimely figs, when she is shaken of a mighty wind.
Isaiah 24:21
21 And it shall come to pass in that day, that the LORD shall punish the host of the high ones that are on high, and the kings of the earth upon the earth.
Isaiah 24:22
22 And they shall be gathered together, as prisoners are gathered in the pit, and shall be shut up in the prison, and after many days shall they be visited.
Isaiah 24:23
23 Then the moon shall be confounded, and the sun ashamed, when the LORD of hosts shall reign in mount Zion, and in Jerusalem, and before his ancients gloriously.

Revelation 6:14
14 And the heaven departed as a scroll when it is rolled together; and every mountain and island were moved out of their places.
Isaiah 34:4
4 And all the host of heaven shall be dissolved, and the heavens shall be rolled together as a scroll: and all their host shall fall down, as the leaf falleth off from the vine, and as a falling fig from the fig tree.
2 Peter 3:11
11 Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness,
2 Peter 3:12
12 Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?

Revelation 6:15
15 And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman, and every free man, hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains;
16 And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb:
17 For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?

Revelation 11:18-19
18 And the nations were angry, and thy wrath is come, and the time of the dead, that they should be judged, and that thou shouldest give reward unto thy servants the prophets, and to the saints, and them that fear thy name, small and great; and shouldest destroy them which destroy the earth.
19 And the temple of God was opened in heaven, and there was seen in his temple the ark of his testament: and there were lightnings, and voices, and thunderings, and an earthquake, and great hail.

2 Thessalonians 1:6-12
6 Seeing it is a righteous thing with God to recompense tribulation to them that trouble you;
7 And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels,
8 In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ:
9 Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power;
10 When he shall come to be glorified in his saints, and to be admired in all them that believe (because our testimony among you was believed) in that day.
11 Wherefore also we pray always for you, that our God would count you worthy of this calling, and fulfil all the good pleasure of his goodness, and the work of faith with power:
12 That the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you, and ye in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.

1 Corinthians 15:51-54
51 Behold, I show you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,
52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.
54 So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.

Have you ever stopped here at verse 54 and asked yourself where is it written that “Death is swallowed up in victory”? What the Apostle Paul has just revealed to us here is that when the catching away of the Saints takes place, what we term the rapture, that the saying that was written concerning death being swallowed up in victory will have taken place.

Isaiah 25:6-9
6 And in this mountain shall the LORD of hosts make unto all people a feast of fat things, a feast of wines on the lees, of fat things full of marrow, of wines on the lees well refined.
7 And he will destroy in this mountain the face of the covering cast over all people, and the veil that is spread over all nations.
8 He will swallow up death in victory; and the Lord GOD will wipe away tears from off all faces; and the rebuke of his people shall he take away from off all the earth: for the LORD hath spoken it.
9 And it shall be said in that day, Lo, this is our God; we have waited for him, and he will save us: this is the LORD; we have waited for him, we will be glad and rejoice in his salvation.

So what else did we discover when the saying “Death is swallowed up in victory” takes place?

1) The Lord GOD will wipe away tears from off all faces; 2) and the rebuke of his people shall he take away from off all the earth: for the LORD hath spoken it. 3) And it shall be said in that day, Lo, this is our God; we have waited for him, and he will save us: this is the LORD; we have waited for him, we will be glad and rejoice in his salvation.

That’s some BIG clues given to us here. Remember what we learned from the parable of the tares found in Matthew chapter 13 that Jesus said the interpretation of the parable was 1) He that soweth the good seed is the Son of man 2) The field is the world 3) But the tares are the children of the wicked one; The enemy that sowed them is the devil 4) The harvest is the end of the world 5) The reapers are the angels. We also learned from John 6:40 “And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.” And finally We also learned that the Day of the Lord followed the tribulation of those days as seen in Matthew 24:29-31 and Acts 2:19-21 of which conclusively reveals to us that the Day of the Lord begins after the tribulation of those days! Pay special attention to the following passages of scriptures which all speak of these signs in the sun, the moon, and the stars!

Now remember what the Apostle Paul has said concerning the rapture of the Church “Behold, I show you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.”

Does this not agree with what Jesus revealed to us? It does. “He will swallow up death in victory; and the Lord GOD will wipe away tears from off all faces; and the rebuke of his people shall he take away from off all the earth: for the LORD hath spoken it. And it shall be said in that day, Lo, this is our God; we have waited for him, and he will save us: this is the LORD; we have waited for him, we will be glad and rejoice in his salvation.”

What about “the Lord GOD will wipe away tears from off all faces; and the rebuke of his people shall he take away from off all the earth”?

Revelation 21:1-5
1 And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.
2 And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.
3 And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.

Another clue is given in this passage of scripture where we learn that a great voice out of heaven says, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.

4 And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.

Here we see another possible clue where we see God wiping away all tears from their eyes. We also learn that there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain. For the former things are passed away. However, to begin to grasp the full impact of this connection being made is to realize the new heaven and the new earth and the new Jerusalem takes place in the beginning of the millennial reign of Christ and not after, which is not really hard to show.

5 And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful.

Ezekiel 37:22-23, 27
22 And I will make them one nation in the land upon the mountains of Israel; and one king shall be king to them all: and they shall be no more two nations, neither shall they be divided into two kingdoms any more at all:

This king over them being Jesus Christ.

23 Neither shall they defile themselves any more with their idols, nor with their detestable things, nor with any of their transgressions: but I will save them out of all their dwellingplaces, wherein they have sinned, and will cleanse them: so shall they be my people, and I will be their God.

Here we see another clue, God will save them out of all their dwellingplaces and says, so shall they be my people, and I will be their God. This fulfilling another one of our three clues above concerning the passage of scriptures in Isaiah where he said “And it shall be said in that day, Lo, this is our God; we have waited for him, and he will save us: this is the LORD; we have waited for him, we will be glad and rejoice in his salvation.”

27 My tabernacle also shall be with them: yea, I will be their God, and they shall be my people.

Here we see the same wording as we saw above in Revelation where the Lord said, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.” Where He followed it up with the next verse saying, “And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.” Yet the Apostle Paul linked the rapture of the Church with these events!

“And in this mountain shall the LORD of hosts make unto all people a feast of fat things, a feast of wines on the lees, of fat things full of marrow, of wines on the lees well refined. And he will destroy in this mountain the face of the covering cast over all people, and the veil that is spread over all nations. He will swallow up death in victory; and the Lord GOD will wipe away tears from off all faces; and the rebuke of his people shall he take away from off all the earth: for the LORD hath spoken it. And it shall be said in that day, Lo, this is our God; we have waited for him, and he will save us: this is the LORD; we have waited for him, we will be glad and rejoice in his salvation.” (Isaiah 25:6-9)

Joel 3:9-16
9 Proclaim ye this among the Gentiles; Prepare war, wake up the mighty men, let all the men of war draw near; let them come up:
10 Beat your plowshares into swords, and your pruninghooks into spears: let the weak say, I am strong.
11 Assemble yourselves, and come, all ye heathen, and gather yourselves together round about: thither cause thy mighty ones to come down, O LORD.
12 Let the heathen be wakened, and come up to the valley of Jehoshaphat: for there will I sit to judge all the heathen round about.
13 Put ye in the sickle, for the harvest is ripe: come, get you down; for the press is full, the vats overflow; for their wickedness is great.
14 Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision: for the day of the LORD is near in the valley of decision.
15 The sun and the moon shall be darkened, and the stars shall withdraw their shining.
16 The LORD also shall roar out of Zion, and utter his voice from Jerusalem; and the heavens and the earth shall shake: but the LORD will be the hope of his people, and the strength of the children of Israel.

Again we see the same signs taking place in the sun, the moon, and the stars while we are also seeing the harvesting take place. Remember what Jesus said? 1) He that soweth the good seed is the Son of man 2) The field is the world 3) But the tares are the children of the wicked one; The enemy that sowed them is the devil 4) The harvest is the end of the world 5) The reapers are the angels. We also learned from John 6:40 “And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.” And finally We also learned that the Day of the Lord followed the tribulation of those days as seen in Matthew 24:29-31 and Acts 2:19-21 of which conclusively reveals to us that the Day of the Lord begins after the tribulation of those days! Pay special attention to the following passages of scriptures which all speak of these signs in the sun, the moon, and the stars!

And what do we see taking place here in Joel? “Put ye in the sickle, for the harvest is ripe: come, get you down; for the press is full, the vats overflow; for their wickedness is great. Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision: for the day of the LORD is near in the valley of decision. The sun and the moon shall be darkened, and the stars shall withdraw their shining. The LORD also shall roar out of Zion, and utter his voice from Jerusalem; and the heavens and the earth shall shake: but the LORD will be the hope of his people, and the strength of the children of Israel.” We also see here the shaking of the heavens and the earth just as was written in the other passages of scriptures we reviewed concerning the Day of the Lord.

Revelation 14:14-20
14 And I looked, and behold a white cloud, and upon the cloud one sat like unto the Son of man, having on his head a golden crown, and in his hand a sharp sickle.
15 And another angel came out of the temple, crying with a loud voice to him that sat on the cloud, Thrust in thy sickle, and reap: for the time is come for thee to reap; for the harvest of the earth is ripe.
16 And he that sat on the cloud thrust in his sickle on the earth; and the earth was reaped.
17 And another angel came out of the temple which is in heaven, he also having a sharp sickle.
18 And another angel came out from the altar, which had power over fire; and cried with a loud cry to him that had the sharp sickle, saying, Thrust in thy sharp sickle, and gather the clusters of the vine of the earth; for her grapes are fully ripe.
19 And the angel thrust in his sickle into the earth, and gathered the vine of the earth, and cast it into the great winepress of the wrath of God.
20 And the winepress was trodden without the city, and blood came out of the winepress, even unto the horse bridles, by the space of a thousand and six hundred furlongs.

Just as was said in Joel “Put ye in the sickle, for the harvest is ripe: come, get you down; for the press is full, the vats overflow; for their wickedness is great.” And we see here the outcome “And the angel thrust in his sickle into the earth, and gathered the vine of the earth, and cast it into the great winepress of the wrath of God. And the winepress was trodden without the city, and blood came out of the winepress, even unto the horse bridles, by the space of a thousand and six hundred furlongs.” That is the equivalent of blood rising to the horse bridles about 4.5 feet deep and flowing for 180 miles!! This is not symbolic!! This is the day of the Lord in the battle of Armageddon!!

Revelation 10:7
7 But in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he shall begin to sound, the mystery of God should be finished, as he hath declared to his servants the prophets.

Revelation 11:15-19
15 And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever.
16 And the four and twenty elders, which sat before God on their seats, fell upon their faces, and worshipped God,
17 Saying, We give thee thanks, O Lord God Almighty, which art, and wast, and art to come; because thou hast taken to thee thy great power, and hast reigned.
18 And the nations were angry, and thy wrath is come, and the time of the dead, that they should be judged, and that thou shouldest give reward unto thy servants the prophets, and to the saints, and them that fear thy name, small and great; and shouldest destroy them which destroy the earth.
19 And the temple of God was opened in heaven, and there was seen in his temple the ark of his testament: and there were lightnings, and voices, and thunderings, and an earthquake, and great hail.

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