OUR LABOR IN THE PHILADELPHIA AND LAODICEAN CHURCHES.
By Joseph Bates
Preparatory to the second coming of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, three angels are commissioned to go forth and proclaim their messages of salvation. These three messages were to be delivered as follows: First, to the Sardis or fifth state of the church and all out of the church. His message was the everlasting good news of the coming reign of Christ, with the warning that "the hour" of God's "judgment is come." Rev. xiv, 6, 7. The second angel's message was the fall of Babylon, the Sardis state of the church, called by us the nominal church. (In name only.) When this annunciation was made, another was made from heaven, viz. "Come out of her, my people!" The call was responded to, and thousands broke away from her communion forever. Thus they departed from the Protestant churches, called Babylon; because they had apostatized from the true faith. The message closed with an additional cry throughout the camp of Israel, "Behold the Bridegroom cometh, go ye out to meet him!" Instead of Jesus coming to earth, as was then expected, we found by a further examination of God's word, connected with the types, that the 2300 days, (the basis of the Second Advent doctrine,) was the appointed time for our Great High Priest to begin the cleansing of the sanctuary, "the True Tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, and not man." Heb. viii, 2. We understand that he was a Mediator for all the world, ministering in the Holy Place [Heb. ix, 2, 6,] in the Tabernacle, called the Sanctuary, from the day of Pentecost, A. D. 31, until his appointed time, the end of the 2300 days, or years, the fall of 1844. As the priests in the Tabernacle on the earth served "unto the example and shadow of heavenly things," [Heb. viii, 5,] and they had an appointed time, once a year, [chap. ix, 7,] to cleanse the Sanctuary, so it became our High Priest, under the gospel, to fulfill the type, when his appointed time came to cleanse the Heavenly Sanctuary. As the high priests on earth served "unto the example and shadow of heavenly things," and they hung over their heart the breast-plate of judgment, in which was represented all the names of the tribes of Israel, [Ex. xxviii, 15—21, 29, 30,] so our Great High Priest will do in the Heavenly Sanctuary. Then on the tenth day of the seventh month, 1844, our Great High Priest, attired in all his priestly garments, having over his heart the breast-plate of judgment, on which is represented the names of all the true Israel of God, rises up and shuts to the door, [Luke xiii, 25,] and passes into the Holiest of all, [Heb. ix, 3, 4,] and appears before the Ancient of days, [Dan. vii, 13,] and confesses the names of all Israel "before his Father, and his angels." Compare Rev. iii, 5; Heb. ix, 7. Mark this: here was a literal transaction in heaven, at that time, and all true, shut-door believers, so teach. And show further, that the third angel's message is based on the opening of the door, into the Holiest of all, to make this presentation. Ex. xl, 21; Heb. ix, 4; Rev. xi, 19; xiv, 12. Here a question arises, who are meant by the whole house of Israel? We believe they comprise all honest, obedient believers, that had up to that time overcome, [Rev. iii, 5,] and also children that had not come to the years of accountability. When they do reach that point, their place is at the open door, keeping the law of God. "The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul," Ps. xix. The call is come out of Sardis, because she was the fallen Babylon, the apostate church, was clear, and as far in the past as a cry at midnight. But it is said they have converts. Yes, but they are strange ones, because they come after the house of Israel have their names borne into the Holiest. Hence says the Prophet, "He hath withdrawn himself from them" "now shall a mouth devour them with their portions." The true church are to be found with those that can, and are striving to overcome, whose names are represented with their own, on the breast-plate of judgment, and entered into the Philadelphia state in the fall of 1844, and became a church at that time according to the message then delivered them. See Rev. iii, 7, 8; Matt. xxv, 10. At this point of time, then, the door was shut against the Sardis church and the wicked world. And another door opened to the Philadelphia church, to enter with the Master of the house to the marriage. Jesus in giving this14message says, "Behold I HAVE set before thee an open door," and no man can shut it. Here is a nail fastened in a sure place. It is not possible to move this message of an open and shut door, either before or after the tenth of the seventh month, 1844. The principal men in this church, however, soon laid a plot, by confederating, and leaguing together, to reverse all that the Saviour had said, and have the door open into the Holy Place again. On the 29th of April, 1845, they associated themselves together in the city of Albany, N. Y., and there counseled together, and devised their plans, the very opposite to what they had affirmed to, before God and the world, but a few months previous. Yet they moved out from this association, and have been proclaiming an open door from that time unto the present, their teaching and practice the very opposite of what they were, when they were organized in the Philadelphia church. Thus they have organized the Laodicean church. And by their false teaching they have drawn thousands of the Philadelphiaan away with them into the Laodicean state. Jesus has sent a gracious message for all the honest ones in this state, saying, "As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore and repent." Rev. iii, 19. We thank the Lord that a goodly number have taken heed to his message, and are now in the Philadelphia church, believing and proclaiming the third angel's message. Still Jesus is calling after others, saying, "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. 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." Verses 20, 21. Thus Jesus is continually calling, and holding out every inducement, by counseling, chastening and promising the poor Laodicean, even the highest honors he can bestow, if, after all he has done, he will repent and open his heart to him. My dear brethren in the Philadelphia church, let us read this gracious message again, and pray the God of Israel to animate and inspire us with new courage, and unslackened zeal, to carry out the purpose of our divine Lord and Master, to the poor Laodicean, by searching them out wherever they can be found, and teaching them the present truth.