The Seven Churches
Philadelphia, part 1
In this part we will continue our series studying the seven churches of Revelation. We will focus on the message to the church of Philadelphia and how it applies to us today.
1. Read Revelation 3:7 for context. What does Philadelphia mean?
Daniel and the Revelation 395: The word Philadelphia signifies brotherly love, and expresses the position and spirit of those who received the Advent message up to the autumn of 1844. As they came out of the sectarian churches, they left party names and party feelings behind; and every heart beat in union, as they gave the alarm to the churches and to the world, and pointed to the coming of the Son of man as the believers’s true hope. Selfishness and covetousness were laid aside, and a spirit of consecration and sacrifice was cherished. The Spirit of God was with every true believer, and his praise upon every tongue. Those who were not in that movement know nothing of the deep searching of heart, consecration of all to God, peace, joy in the Holy Spirit, and pure, fervent love for one another, which true believers then enjoyed. Those who were in that movement are aware that language would fail to describe that holy, happy state.” {DAR1909 395.3}
Note: Revelation 3:7 mentions that Jesus has the key of David. A key symbolizes power and authority. Just as David was a king who ruled with power and authority, so Jesus will reign over His kingdom with power and authority. Let’s confirm this point.
2. Besides God, Jesus is called the son of which two men? Matthew 1:1; Luke 1:32, 33
3. In Isaiah 22:20-22, Eliakim is used as a symbol of Jesus. What do the verses say would be given to him? See also Isaiah 9:6, 7
4. What kingdom is this that will last forever? Revelation 21:1-5
Note: Let us now look at a few passages of scripture where the word “shut” is mentioned to see what “doors” Jesus has the power to open & close.
5. What message about a shut door is being conveyed in each verse?
a) Genesis 7:12-16; 19:4-6, 10-11; Luke 13:25
b. Revelation 11:4, 6; 1 Kings 17:1
c) Revelation 20:1-3
Note: The accounts of Noah, Lot, & the “master of the house” in Luke 13 all teach us about the close of probation, how Jesus will shut His faithful servants in with Him and shut out the wicked. Another application of the “shut door” message points to the opening of Christ’s ministry in the Most Holy Place of the heavenly sanctuary and the closing of His work in the Holy Place of the heavenly sanctuary. Let’s confirm this by comparing the work of the high priest in the earthly sanctuary with Jesus’ work in the heavenly.
6. How many compartments did the earthly sanctuary have? Exodus 26:33, 34
7. Is there a sanctuary in heaven, and how many compartments does it have? Hebrews 8:1-2; 9:1-3, 21-24
8. How many times a year did the High Priest enter the Most Holy Place? Hebrews 9:7; Leviticus 16:33
9. How many times did Jesus enter the Most Holy Place of the heavenly sanctuary? Hebrews 7:27; 9:12 (see also Leviticus 16:2; Exodus 30:10)
10. What prophecy shows us that Jesus would begin His work of cleansing in the Most Holy Place of the heavenly sanctuary? Daniel 8:14; 9:24-27
Testimonies for the Church Vol. 1, 52: Calculation of the time was so simple and plain that even children could understand it. From the date of the decree of the king of Persia, found in Ezra 7, which was given in 457 before Christ, the 2300 years of Daniel 8:14 must terminate with 1843. Accordingly we looked to the end of this year for the coming of the Lord. We were sadly disappointed when the year entirely passed away and the Saviour had not come. {1T 52.2}
Testimonies for the Church Vol. 1, 52: It was not at first perceived that if the decree did not go forth at the beginning of the year 457 B.C., the 2300 years would not be completed at the close of 1843. But it was ascertained that the decree was given near the close of the year 457 B.C., and therefore the prophetic period must reach to the fall of the year 1844. Therefore the vision of time did not tarry, though it had seemed to do so. We learned to rest upon the language of the prophet. “For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie: though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry. {1T 52.3}
11. Let us now briefly look at the parable of the ten virgins in connection with the shut door message. Read Matthew 25:1-4. Who do the wise and foolish virgins represent? Jeremiah 6:2; 2 Corinthians 11:2; Ephesians 5:23, 25
The Great Controversy 426: In the summer and autumn of 1844 the proclamation, “Behold, the Bridegroom cometh,” was given. The two classes represented by the wise and foolish virgins were then developed—one class who looked with joy to the Lord’s appearing, and who had been diligently preparing to meet Him; another class that, influenced by fear and acting from impulse, had been satisfied with a theory of the truth, but were destitute of the grace of God.” {GC 426.2}
12. Read Matthew 25:6. What did the early Adventists believe was the sole understanding of the “midnight cry” and “behold, the bridegroom cometh” message? What is the primary understanding of this passage in Matthew 25? Daniel 7:9-10, 13-14
The Great Controversy 427: The proclamation, “Behold, the Bridegroom cometh,” in the summer of 1844, led thousands to expect the immediate advent of the Lord. At the appointed time the Bridegroom came, not to the earth, as the people expected, but to the Ancient of Days in heaven, to the marriage, the reception of His kingdom. “They that were ready went in with Him to the marriage: and the door was shut.” They were not to be present in person at the marriage; for it takes place in heaven, while they are upon the earth. The followers of Christ are to “wait for their Lord, when He will return from the wedding.” Luke 12:36. But they are to understand His work, and to follow Him by faith as He goes in before God. It is in this sense that they are said to go in to the marriage.” {GC 427.1}
Testimonies for the Church Vol. 1, 53: Our hopes now centered on the coming of the Lord in 1844. This was also the time for the message of the second angel, who, flying through the midst of heaven, cried: “Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city.” That message was first proclaimed by the servants of God in the summer of 1844. As a result, many left the fallen churches. In connection with this message the midnight cry [See Matthew 25:1-13.] was given: “Behold, the Bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet Him.” In every part of the land, light was given concerning this message, and the cry aroused thousands. It went from city to city, from village to village, and into the remote country regions. It reached the learned and talented, as well as the obscure and humble. {1T 53.3}
13. Does the coming of the bridegroom take place before or after the marriage? What is Jesus the bridegroom getting married to? Matthew 25:10; Revelation 21:2, 9, 10
The Great Controversy 426: The coming of the bridegroom, here brought to view, takes place before the marriage. The marriage represents the reception by Christ of His kingdom. The Holy City, the New Jerusalem, which is the capital and representative of the kingdom, is called “the bride, the Lamb’s wife.” Said the angel to John: “Come hither, I will show thee the bride, the Lamb’s wife.” “He carried me away in the spirit,” says the prophet, “and showed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God.” Revelation 21:9, 10. Clearly, then, the bride represents the Holy City, and the virgins that go out to meet the bridegroom are a symbol of the church. In the Revelation the people of God are said to be the guests at the marriage supper. Revelation 19:9. If guests, they cannot be represented also as the bride. Christ, as stated by the prophet Daniel, will receive from the Ancient of Days in heaven, “dominion, and glory, and a kingdom;” He will receive the New Jerusalem, the capital of His kingdom, “prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.” Daniel 7:14; Revelation 21:2. Having received the kingdom, He will come in His glory, as King of kings and Lord of lords, for the redemption of His people, who are to “sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob,” at His table in His kingdom (Matthew 8:11; Luke 22:30), to partake of the marriage supper of the Lamb.” {GC 426.2}
14. What does it mean to be guests at this wedding? Revelation 14:4
The Great Controversy 427: They that were ready went in with Him to the marriage: and the door was shut.” They were not to be present in person at the marriage; for it takes place in heaven, while they are upon the earth. The followers of Christ are to “wait for their Lord, when He will return from the wedding.” Luke 12:36. But they are to understand His work, and to follow Him by faith as He goes in before God. It is in this sense that they are said to go in to the marriage.” {GC 427.1}
15. What are the two primary meanings of the door being shut in Matthew 25:10?
The Great Controversy 428: In the service of the earthly sanctuary, which, as we have seen, is a figure of the service in the heavenly, when the high priest on the Day of Atonement entered the most holy place, the ministration in the first apartment ceased. God commanded: “There shall be no man in the tabernacle of the congregation when he goeth in to make an atonement in the holy place, until he comes out.” Leviticus 16:17. So when Christ entered the holy of holies to perform the closing work of the atonement, He ceased His ministration in the first apartment. But when the ministration in the first apartment ended, the ministration in the second apartment began. When in the typical service the high priest left the holy on the Day of Atonement, he went in before God to present the blood of the sin offering in behalf of all Israel who truly repented of their sins. So Christ had only completed one part of His work as our intercessor, to enter upon another portion of the work, and He still pleaded His blood before the Father in behalf of sinners.” {GC 428.3}
The Great Controversy 428: When the work of investigation shall be ended, when the cases of those who in all ages have professed to be followers of Christ have been examined and decided, then, and not till then, probation will close, and the door of mercy will be shut. Thus in the one short sentence, “They that were ready went in with Him to the marriage: and the door was shut,” we are carried down through the Saviour’s final ministration, to the time when the great work for man’s salvation shall be completed.” {GC 428.2}
Note: As we close, let us now see the practicality and message of hope that is connected with being guests at this wedding and understanding Jesus’ work in the Most Holy Place. In Matthew 20:29-34, Jesus encounters two blind men. This passage of scripture clearly ties into our study on the open and shut door.
16. What did the blind men call Jesus? Matthew 20:30, 31; Revelation 3:7
17. What was their request of Him? Matthew 20:32-33
18. In a spiritual sense, what does it mean to have our eyes opened by Jesus? Luke 24:31, 32, 45
19. In the context of our study, why do we all need the eyes of our understanding to be opened by Jesus? Matthew 25:6-7, 10
The Great Controversy 427: They that were ready went in with Him to the marriage: and the door was shut.” They were not to be present in person at the marriage; for it takes place in heaven, while they are upon the earth. The followers of Christ are to “wait for their Lord, when He will return from the wedding.” Luke 12:36. But they are to understand His work, and to follow Him by faith as He goes in before God. It is in this sense that they are said to go in to the marriage. {GC 427.1}
20. What did the men immediately do after receiving their sight? Matthew 20:34
21. Like the blind men, what is the name of the group in these last days who will continually follow Jesus? Revelation 14:1, 4; Revelation 3:8
Note: Let our prayer be, Lord “open thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law” (Psalm 119:18). Only those who understand Jesus’ work in the heavenly sanctuary and by faith are forsaking their sins for Him to blot them out, will receive salvation. It is time to receive and give this message to the world – “Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet Him” (Matthew 25:18).