Philadelphia The Raptured Church

Philadelphia

The Raptured Church

By

Bishop Melvin L. Maughmer, Jr.

OPENING: - In my studies this week I was looking at the 7 churches of Revelation and I have taught on them many times before, but that is what is so awesome about the Word of God you can read it over and over again and every time you do God reveals something new to you. My wife for years will read the Bible all the way through and once she has finished, she will start all over and read it again and she is always saying I didn’t realize that the last time I read through the Bible.

Today I am going to teach not on all 7 churches but about the 6th church of Revelation, the church of Philadelphia. The number 6 pertains to mankind and human weakness, the evils of the devil and the manifestation of sin. Man was created on day six of creation week. Men are appointed 6 days to work and then they are commanded to rest on the seventh day (Friday sunset to Saturday sunset).

A Hebrew slave had to serve 6 years before he could be released in the 7th year. Six years were appointed for the land to be sown and harvested and the 7th year the ground is supposed to not be plowed or planted but allowed to rest.

However, above all that the church of Philadelphia is the Raptured Church, neither of the other churches are given the promise of Rapture. Revelation 3:10 “Because you have kept the Word of My patience, I also will keep you from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them who dwell upon the earth”. That is the promise of the Rapture.

In this lesson I will show you how the Doctrine of a Pre-Tribulation Rapture was taught by Jesus, continued and spread by His disciples, believed on and passionately is being lived out by His church.

Now I know there are some that say the word Rapture is not in the Bible and that it true, but neither is the word Bible and yet the Bible is. So, the word Rapture is not in the Bible, yet the Rapture is. The Greek word Harpazo is in the Bible, and it literally means to seize upon, to snatch away or take to oneself, caught up and caught away. Harpazo is used 5 times, remember 5 is the number of Grace so the 5 times Harpazo is used showing the Grace of God, it is used in Acts 8:39, 2 Corinthians 12:2, 4:1 and 1 Thessalonians 4:17.

Philadelphia the Raptured Church.

PRAYER: -

SCRIPTURE: - Revelation 3:7-13 “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; 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. 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. 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. Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown. 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”.

LESSON: - If you listen to most scholars and just about every Theological Seminary teach as well, they will say that the doctrine of the Rapture is a concept that started in 1827 by John Nelson Darby and that the Doctrine of the Rapture is a new concept and is not Biblical. Many argue that if the Pre-Tribulation Rapture were Biblical then it would have been taught earlier and throughout church history.

As always, my mission is not to have you accept unconditionally the words that come out of my mouth but cause you to search the scriptures studying to show thyself approved unto God a workman that needeth not be ashamed rightly dividing the word of Truth.