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CHAPTER FIVE: THE CHURCH OF PHILADELPHIA
In all writings that support the interpretation that the "we" of Paul's letters include all "true believers" alive at the time of rapture, the final correctness of that interpretation is said to be founded on Revelation 3:7-12 , John's sixth letter, to the church of Philadelphia.
This has become an amazing contradiction to me, because during the entire period that I prayed, studied, argued, and anguished over this urgent and important scriptural concept, I have continuously been led to understand that these same verses say the exact opposite from the proposition they are cited to support. I ask each reader of this to now carefully read Revelation 3:7-12 .
All "TRUE BELIEVERS" WHO FIT THE DESCRIPTION OF THE MEMBERS OF THE CHURCH OF PHILADELPHIA THAT ARE ALIVE AT THE TIME OF RAPTURE WILL BE TRANSLATED!
If you, as a Christian, qualify in all respects to be included as one described in Revelation 3:8-12, you will join Christ in the air and come down from Heaven with Him as part of His Queen, to rule the Earth with Christ during the Millenniumal Kingdom of God!
For a Christian alive on Earth at the time of rapture to qualify to be translated, he or she must have "kept my word," and ENDURED to the end. Christ also emphasized the importance of works (Rev. 3:8), acceptable works, as being a part of keeping his word. Even the Bridegroom cannot shut the "open door" because "you have KEPT MY WORD and have not denied my name."
(Notice the "door” being open because of keeping of the word – being ready – the same door that the Bridegroom shut in Matthew 25 when the maidens were not prepared, not ready.)
This letter to the church of Philadelphia was written to or about a church at the end times. "Because you have kept my word of patient ENDURANCE, I WILL KEEP YOU FROM THE HOUR OF TRIAL WHICH IS COMING ON THE WHOLE WORLD, to try those who dwell upon the earth. I AM COMING SOON; HOLD FAST WHAT YOU HAVE, SO THAT NO ONE MAY SEIZE YOUR CROWN." Rev 3:10-11.) This passage, by application is addressed to those of us who are "true believers", who are alive at the hour of trial (tribulation). Those of us who qualify will be kept "from the hour of trial".
CORRECT INTERPRETATION OF "WE"
The answer to a correct interpretation of the "we" of Paul's letters to the Corinthians and Thessalonians is to ask the simple question:
– What if we, as Christians, are like [place your name here] was last year
– What if we have not kept the word, the commandments of our Lord
– What if our works as Christians are not acceptable or are non-existent
– What if we, as Christians, have failed to patiently endure or abide in Christ to that hour?
In other words, is there any meaning at all to Revelation 3:8-11? Are these just idle words, or merely words of encouragement? Or do these words have an application solely to "rewards" and have nothing to do with what they say: that Christ "will keep you from the hour of trial" because "you have kept my word of patient endurance"?
As we will now see, Christ had much to say in the gospels and through other teachings of Paul as to what is a correct interpretation of Revelation 3:8-12 and Paul's "we". To interpret out, to write off, the real meaning of these passages and other warnings of the scriptures relating to Christians alive at the time of rapture, is to make a mockery of these scriptures. Further, we will see the absolute, practical necessity for these scriptures to be interpreted correctly, not as they traditionally have been thought to mean.
Let me make here a personal observation. Most theologians are good, "word abiding", faithful children of God. Frankly, they do not live IN the real world of Satan. They assume that a man's works tells the truth about he condition of a man's heart. I must say that it takes one to know one. I was and am a "true believer", and have been since I was nine years old. I know that; it is a fact. I, also, know that any human that looked closely at my life for many of the years since that day would have had to conclude that I was not a "true believer".
By some denominational standards, I surely had "fallen from grace". In no respect could I have been considered to have been a part of the church of Philadelphia. It is patently absurd to try, by some theory of grace or a "good God" theory, to have conferred on me a status that didn't exist. I agree that rapture is not a reward for good behavior. I also understand, though, as we shall discuss, the absolute necessity for a Christian's life and affairs to be in such a condition that will permit his translation.
There are good and valid reasons that the scriptures' warnings to Christians concerning the condition of their life at rapture are applicable as written.
Galatians 6:7 Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.
RAPTURE AS RELATED TO SALVATION AND DEATH
Let me now interpose a warning within a warning. The reader should not, under any circumstance, attempt to equate rapture with salvation of a soul from eternal damnation. We are saved by grace, not by works, and once born into the Kingdom of God, a child of God forever! Further, do not attempt to equate the teachings concerning rapture with the state of a Christian upon physical death.
Below, I will briefly draw certain parallels between the condition of a Saint ant death and will briefly draw certain parallels between the condition of a Saint at death and rapture, but remember that the teachings concerning rapture are applicable ONE TIME ONLY. They have never been applicable before nor will they ever be applicable again. Our Lord must have been very concerned, to have devoted so much of His holy word to so few of His children, those alive at rapture.
Many generations have thought they would be the generation of rapture. Obviously, the warnings concerning rapture were not totally lost on past generations, nor will they be on the next, should the Lord's call not come soon and his people are indeed prepared, indeed living as if they are ready to meet their Savior and with their lives in a condition to permit translation. If we are acceptable to God and that we can claim our eternal rewards. Now let us look at exactly what is such an acceptable condition; what we must do to be like the church of Philadelphia and to be insured of being a part of Paul's "we".
ACCEPTABLE CONDITION FOR RAPTURE
Christ said directly, in discussing the end times with his disciples, that "he who endures to the end will be saved". (Matt 24:13) Note that the word "endures" literally means to "endure" OR to "ABIDE" in the Greek. Now note the word "saved", [sozo in Greek, meaning preserved, kept safe. Compare now Matthew 13 with Revelation 3:10 and its command for patient endurance.
What the scriptures are clearly teaching is that the Christian who endures or abides in Christ to the end, will be kept safe or preserved. Kept safe or preserved from what? Damnation? No, from the hour of trial, tribulation, that is to come upon the whole world.
Revelation 3:10-11 Since you have kept my command to endure patiently, I will also keep you from the hour of trial that is going to come upon the whole world to test those who live on the earth. I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take your crown. (NIV)
The Christian is preserved from damnation by salvation, born into the Kingdom of God forever.
John 3:16 "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. (NIV)
John 5:24 "I tell you the truth, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life. (NIV)
Romans 8:1 Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, (NIV)
To retain that salvation a Christian needs to do nothing, being purchased by God through grace upon the new birth.
1 Thessalonians 5:10 He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with him. (NIV)
Christ then certainly meant something when He took the time to proclaim, and to insure the recording in His holy scriptures of His proclamation, that "he who ENDURES TO THE END will be kept safe" or preserved. The "end" of what? the same "end" that Christ spoke of in the very next verse,
Matthew 24:14 And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come. (KJV)
"and the END will come." As discussed, the end of the church age – the end of His Church's duty on Earth.
In John 15, Christ was instructing His disciples at the close of His earthly ministry, His final teachings to His apostles upon our Lord entering Jerusalem for His betrayal and crucifixion; His farewell discourses. I have heard John 15:1-6 preached a few times over the last 40 years, but most preachers avoid this passage like Satan. Some preachers teach that John 15:1-6 is referring to Jesus and the Israel nation at the time of Christ Preachers of other denominations, that do not subscribe to the doctrine of "once saved, always saved", use this passage, among others, to teach "falling from grace".
John 15:1-6 I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit. Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned. (KJV)
Clearly in John 15:2 , Christ is not referring to the Jew or the Hebrew nation of His day. The "elect of God" are not the same as "every branch of mine" that Christ says He is talking about. The "mine" of our Lord are His disciples, the twelve apostles and others that became disciples by His teaching and will become disciples by the teaching of disciples, as
Jesus said in John 17. "I am not praying for the world but for THOSE WHOM THOU HAST GIVEN ME, for they are thine; all MINE are thine, and thine are MINE, and I am glorified in them."
John 17:9-10 I pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for them which thou hast given me; for they are thine. And all mine are thine, and thine are mine; and I am glorified in them. (KJV)
Yet Christ said in John 15:1, that, "every branch OF MINE that bears no fruit, he (the Father as the vinedresser) takes away;" and then Christ adds that "you are ALREADY MADE CLEAN BY THE WORD which I have spoken to you. Abide in me, and I in you." As a Christian, you are the Lord's child, you belong to Christ, you are "mine", having been washed in the blood of the Lamb– "made clean" (saved) by the word of Christ. Having settled that eternal truth, then Christ adds a startling proclamation in verse 6, repeating the warning of verse 2: "If a man (My branch) does not abide in me, he is castforth as a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned."
If those "mine" of the Lord, made clean by His word, are "true believers", born again Saints, then our basic doctrine of being a child of God forever upon salvation would be shattered if such "branch of mine" could lose salvation and be thrown into the eternal fire of damnation and burned. Obviously, believing salvation is indeed forever, and correctly so because of many other scriptures, (some cited) then Christ in John 15 is not saying that the "branches of mine" that do not bear fruit and abide in Me (verses 2, 4-6) will be cast forth from eternal salvation and into Hell, but cast forth from something else.
What else is there that a Christian could be cast forth from?
– His rewards?
– A sin unto death?
– Pruned out of the Church?
Let us continue in John 15 and seek the answer there and in other scriptures. In verse 8 Christ says that "by this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be my disciples." Then Christ adds "abide in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love...." (John 15:9b-10a.) Then Christ next says, "this is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you." (Verse 12.) "You are my friends if you do what I command you." (Verse 14.) "That you should go and bear fruit AND THAT YOUR FRUIT SHOULD ABIDE." (Verse 16b.) "This I command you, to love one another." (Verse 17.)
Now permit me to go backwards through John 15:1-17. Remember, we saw in Revelation 3 and Matthew 24 that he (a"true believer") that endures or abides to the end will be kept safe or preserved from tribulation. In John 15 Christ tells us how to do that and the consequences if we don't, as CHRISTIANS, not as unsaved mankind.
Christ is actually talking to His own disciples in John 15, those He personally redeemed and would seal that redemption by His own blood to soon be shed on Calvary's cross. Christ instructed His disciples to bear fruit and abide in Him. He then adds that the FRUIT YOU BEAR (other disciples to come by the preaching of His gospel throughout the world) MUST LIKEWISE "ABIDE". Then He explains how to abide: "keep my commandments, you will abide". "My commandments" are to"bear fruit", "love one another", "glorify my father", and love me– "abide in my love".
Still preceding backwards in Chapter 15 of John, Christ warns His disciples and the fruit of His disciples (you and me), that if we don't abide in Him and bear fruit, that God, as the vinedresser, will prune us out AS BRANCHES and throw the branches into a fire and burn them! Christ then adds, or really begins Chapter 15 by saying "I am the true vine" and you, my disciples, now and to come, are the branches. Branches, abide in the vine and produce, or be cut out be God. (Verses 5-6.)
Now we understand how to abide, to endure: by keeping our Lord's commandments and bearing fruit. The fruit of a Christian is another Christian; it is love for your neighbor and Christ that permits or causes you to produce new fruit.
But what if, as Christians, we don't? What are we pruned out of for our failure to abide, to endure? John 15:2 and 6 says we are cut out of the vine, out of Christ who is the vine.
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