THE PHILADELPHIA CHURCH.
By James White
In the recent article on the Seven Churches, we were obliged to pass over many points of interest for want of room. We now call attention to more definite remarks upon the Philadelphia church, in which we hope to be able to remove all objections to the position taken. It has been supposed that the Philadelphia period of the church reached to the coming of Christ; and some may not yet see sufficient reasons for believing otherwise; for their benefit, especially, we take up the subject. It should be distinctly understood that "the seven churches in Asia" represent the condition of the church during seven distinct periods of the christian age. Admit this, (and we think all must,) and the point is settled that the Philadelphia period does not reach to the coming of Christ; for the Laodicean is the last of the seven periods. If two of the seven churches can apply to any one period, why not three? why not all seven? Remember that these churches represent the condition of the church during seven distinct periods of the christian age. "And unto 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: 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." Rev. iii, 7, 8. Philadelphia signifies brotherly love. We trust the evidence produced two weeks since was sufficient to convince our brethren that this church represents the true church who were called out upon the advent question during the period of the great advent movement in 1843 and 1844. That was the period and the people in which brotherly love was exhibited. We came down to the Autumn of 1844. Then every believer was awake. There the prophetic periods terminated. Next comes the cleansing of the Sanctuary. But in order for this, He that hath the key of David must open his ministration for the cleansing of the Sanctuary in the Most Holy Place, and close that of the Holy Place. Before the waiting people of God was then set "an open door." "The temple of God was opened in heaven." Rev. xi, 19; xv, 5. By faith the faithful ones see this door open into the Most Holy, and the Ark of God, in which is the law of Ten Commandments. "No man" can shut it, nor turn them away from dwelling upon the perfections of the Divine law, and the love, excellency and glory of Him who now presents his blood before the Mercy-seat, which rests upon the Ark of God. Here we are brought down through the period of the "open door," or Christ's ministration in the Most Holy, to the event described as follows:— "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." Verse 9. Who are these? No others besides believers are recognized in the New Testament as true Israelites, or Jews. These profess the faith, claim to be Adventists; but on account of rejecting the present truth, and backsliding from God, are not in fact what they profess to be. It is a fact that a large portion of the advent host that stood consecrated in 1844, left their consecration, denied the hand of God which led them out so far from the world, and have stood deadly opposed to the Third Angel's Message, and have done all they could to crush those who have taught it, and have sought to obey it. We most solemnly believe that many of them will help compose the synagogue of Satan. And for all their opposition, revilings and reproaches, they will repent when it will be too late. They will bow at true believers' feet. The scale is yet to turn. Near the close of the ministration of Christ in the Most Holy, the latter rain will be poured out, the Message will go with a loud voice, the Holy Ghost will be poured out, the gifts will all be restored, and the remnant will stand forth in power. Then will those who have represented believers in the Third Message as departing from God and his Word, be made to know that God has loved them. They will bow at the feet of those who have stood firm. They will own that God has been with those who have for twelve years acknowledged all the way the Lord has led them in the past advent movement, and who have stood firm for the Third Message. "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." Verse 10. From the point of time to which the testimony of this verse applies, it looks both ways: back over the period of the open door, or the patient waiting time in which believers have been tested by the Commandments of God and the Faith of Jesus; also forward through the time of trouble which will try all on the earth. As Christ ceases to offer his blood for sinners, the saints will be sealed, and Christ will keep them through the time of trouble, or pouring out of the seven last plagues. "I will keep thee"—gracious promise;—Lord, help us to keep the word of thy patience. "Behold, I come quickly. Hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown." Verse 11. "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. He that hath an ear let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches." Verses 12, 13. We cannot suppose that the words "pillar," and "temple," can be understood literally, as applying to the New Jerusalem, but, rather, as figures of the power and strength of believers in the church of God, when they shall have fully overcome. Then, as the wholesale dealer marks upon the box or bale of goods which he wishes to send to the purchaser, the owner's name, and the place of destination, the saints by their faith and works will show to all around, whose they are, and where they are going; viz., they are God's property, going up to the New Jerusalem. "I will write upon them the name of my God; and the name of the city of my God, which is New Jerusalem." But the question arises, If the testimony to the Philadelphia church applies all the way down to the coming of Christ, does not the Philadelphia period reach to the end? This question should be answered in harmony with the testimony to the churches in Thyatira and Sardis. The Thyatirian period covers the 1260 years of Papal supremacy, and closed more than fifty years since, yet the last charge is, "Hold fast till I come." From this we conclude that although the Thyatirian period closed more than half a century since, yet a few old Thyatirans would live to hear the Advent Message, pass down through the Sardis period, and help compose the Philadelphia church. It is also said to the Sardis church, "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;" yet the Sardis period does not reach to the coming of Christ as a thief on those who do not watch. Warning was given to this church in reference to the coming of Christ, because a few names in Sardis were to be called out to watch for the coming of the Son of man; yet the Sardis period closed back where the Philadelphia period commenced. So with the Philadelphia period. It terminated in the past. But the testimony to that church reaches to Christ's coming, because many of the Philadelphians were to prove faithful, keep the word of Christ's patience, pass on down through the Laodicean period, and finally overcome. Two of the plainest facts go very far in proving that we live in the Laodicean period. First, that state of brotherly love which characterized the people of God who were looking for Christ's coming in 1844, does not now exist. And, second, the church is now "neither cold nor hot, but lukewarm."