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.
HISTORY: - Now the Canonical order of the Bible we have today is a product of Saint Jerome (Catholicism) a Catholic priest and hermit who translated the first Christian canon of the Bible into Latin in 405 A.D. He was the first to organize and place the books of the Bible in the order we are familiar with today. Just because a book is listed in a certain order doesn’t mean that it is written before another book for example Genesis is the 1st book of the Bible, but it is not the oldest book written, it is not the 1st book actually Job was written before any other book of the Bible written between the 7th and 4th century B.C.
I said all of that because in the book of James, which is considered to be the 1st book of the New Testament by many scholars says in James 5:7-9 “Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain. Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh. Grudge not one against another, brothern, lest ye be condemned: behold, the judge standeth at the door”.
Prophetically speaking the coming of Jesus for His saints is represented by the opening of a door or doors for example Matthew 24:33 says, “So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors”. Matthew 25:10 says, “And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut”.
So, by James being the 1st book of the New Testament we see here how the Rapture is alluded to in the 1st book of the New Testament which was written 49-50 A.D. and that is long before 1827.
James 5:7-9 I want to look at this word “behold”. Behold is used 1298 in the original King James Version. Behold means pay close attention, look, and understand, pay extra attention to what is about to be said because it is extraordinary. Behold, the husbandman that is God / Jesus He is the husbandman. waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth that is us Jesus is the first fruit of many (the early rain) and we are the precious fruit (the latter rain), those who accept Jesus as their personal Lord and Savior. and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain. Now when we come to Revelation 3:10 it says, “Because thou hast kept the word of my patience”. This is not talking about a commandment of patience but to the church, the saints, the children of God who have an enduring expectation of Jesus Christ return, not the 2nd coming but the Rapture.
Another point I want to bring out about Jesus’ teaching about the Rapture and that is in Matthew 24, Mark 13, and Luke 21 which we know as the Olivet Discourse Jesus taught that His 2nd coming is to judge the ungodly, the Rapture is not the 2nd coming, so in the Olivet Discourse Jesus is talking about when He returns as judge.
When Jesus spoke to the disciples and other believers, He taught 3 truths about the Rapture and His coming. 1. The Rapture will be a source of comfort. 2. The Rapture will be similar to the way He ascended. 3. The Rapture will be an intentional rescue.
1. The Rapture a source of comfort: - John 14:1-3 says, “Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself (that is not His 2nd coming that is the Rapture remember Harpazo means to catch, snatch, or gather unto oneself); that where I am, there ye may be also”. Jesus makes the most powerful declaration of the blessed hope of every believer, across every century, in the church the body of Christ and that is He will come and gather us unto Himself. That is comfort in the nth degree. We long for the blessed hope the return of Jesus to come and take us to the place He has prepared for us that where He is there we will be also.
2. The Rapture will be similar to His ascension: - Acts 1:9-11 says, “And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight. And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel; Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven”. Luke 24:50-51 says, “And he led them out as far as Bethany, and he lifted up his hands and blessed them. And it came to pass, while he blessed them, he was parted from them, and carried up into heaven”. Jesus was carried away into Heaven on a cloud. The 2nd coming He is not coming on a cloud but on a White Horse Revelation 19:11-16 also read Zechariah 14:3-4 & 12:10, Matthew 24:30. The Rapture will be like His ascension He will come 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 & 1 Corinthians 15:50-54 describe Jesus coming at the Rapture like His ascension on a cloud, giving the ultimate blessing gathering us unto Himself. WATCH THIS: - He led the disciples as far as Bethany this is very significant they were separated from the rest of the world. Only those that have be sanctified, separated unto Him will be part of the Rapture.
3. The Rapture is an intentional Rescue: - In Revelation 3:7 Jesus promises as the Holy, True, He that hath the Key of David, He that openeth and shutteh. He is literally saying how He is the only one that could offer blessed hope, the greatest promise ever made to mankind and that is He will keep them from the hour of temptation. The 10th verse says, “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”. That is intention a plan, an aim, a thing intended to be, the goal and purpose. So we see here that the Rapture is an intentional rescue from Tribulation for the church of Philadephia.
Jesus tells John to write to the 7 churches, these were actual churches, but their characteristics would remain in the church age until His return.
1. Ephesus was the church that lost its 1st love, it abandoned its Love for Christ, His Word and for lost souls. They lost their motivation although they were doctrinally sound, they failed to show the Love of Christ. They could do church but when it came to caring for sin sick souls they failed. Any church that upholds doctrinal excellence but fails to love their brother is nothing more than a flawed church.
2. Smyrna was the church that their spiritual wealth was good in the midst of trials and persecutions. Like many today around the world are being persecuted in very insidious ways, but in all their trials and troubles they are only temporary compared to eternal life.
3. Pergamum was a church that in the midst of pagan practices remained strong but are condemned for following false teachers that led to moral and religious compromise. Many today will normalize the behavior of people and say that is just the way of the world and dilute their spiritual values by conforming to certain attitudes when the Bible tells us Be not conform to this world but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind”.
4. Thyatira was the church that was financially blessed but it had a devotion to false prophets that led members to commit idolatry and immorality. Today many people are led astray by false prophets in the church that led many people astray because they seem real, they speak good words but have bamboozled many people saying they have a word from the Lord and God says they have not sought my counsel. They are wolves in sheep clothing and Dumb dogs.
5. Sardis was the church that is Spiritually Dead although outwardly they looked to be strong, they looked churchy, they went through the motions but had no spiritual power, no spiritual substance. Many today have the appearance of being church, they have the big crowds, the lights, the music, but there is no power no substance because they can go through the motion but have nothing to keep them. Many today can shout and speak in tongues in church but as soon as church is over can stand or have the power to make it through a headache.
6. Philadelphia the church promised the rapture.
7. Laodicea the church that was Lukewarm. The were spiritually bankrupt despite the economic wealth they possessed. They looked like church but failed to let Jesus in. Today many are complacent and lukewarm.
The church of Philadelphia is the only church that was given the promise of being Raptured and it was because of what they did, and it is those characteristics they possessed that we must possess today in order to be caught up in the Rapture.
The church of Philadelphia like us today lived in uncertain world conditions, they were not a mega church that had a lot of monetary resources so their influence was not all that powerful but they held on to the Word of God, they didn’t lower their standards, they would not compromise their beliefs just to appease or accommodate the world, they were steadfast and unmovable always abounding in the work of the Lord. Although they were surrounded by many other worldly temples and all sort of pagan rituals were going on around them to the point that Philadelphia was often called the little Athens, this church remained true to the Word of God and showing brotherly love to the church and the people of Philadelphia.
We live in much the same times, all kinds of pagan rituals going on, wrong being called right and right being called wrong, the laws of God are trying to be changed by man, perversion of every kind is happening right in front of our faces, America is called Mystery Babylon, the apostate church is lukewarm and accommodating to the world, the standard of holiness is replaced with the traditions and opinions of man. Every diabolical thing happening in the world is being allowed to happen in the church and it is overlooked because there is this mentality that we must be like the world to win the world, so they accommodate the world make the world comfortable and now there is no difference between the church in the world. Hallelujah for the remnant that is standing for holiness and not lowering the standards to please man but are striving to be pleasing unto God, thank God for the Philadelphia church.
It is because of their commitment that Jesus gives the commendation in verse 10 “Because thou hast kept the word of my patience” you never lowered the standard of holiness and you remained true and faithful, you didn’t compromise, you didn’t try to please the world but please Me I am going to show you and shower upon you, my Faithfulness.
He gives them the greatest promise ever, the blessed hope “I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation”. Jesus here is definitely talking about a time of universal trouble on the earth the Tribulation period and He promises to keep the Philadelphia church from it. The fact that Jesus calls this period an “hour” of temptation indicates that this time of testing is for a set duration, the seven-year Tribulation period.
Understand Jesus is not talking about the trials and testing that come in life in general as He mentioned in John 16:33 “These things I have spoke unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world”. This hour of tribulation will be upon the whole world, no one will be exempt that are here on the earth that is the Tribulation period.
The question becomes “How could Jesus keep them / us from the universal trouble, the hour of temptation, the Tribulation except by removing them / us from the earth, Harpazo, catching them away unto Himself, the Rapture. The second part of this is when, the timing. This timing is in the word “from” which used as a function word to indicate physical separation or an act or condition of removal, abstention, exclusion, release, subtraction, or differentiation. This literally is Pre-Tribulation Rapture spoke of by Jesus. Jesus is clearly emphasizing the fact that the church is not going to be preserved through or delivered in the midst of but that it will be kept from, removed before, snatch out of here, gathered unto Himself before the hour of temptation the Tribulation period starts.
That’s the Rapture!
Characteristics of the Church of Philadelphia.
The characteristics of the church of Philadelphia include:-
In government they were largely independent of outside control.
They are missionary minded.
They are very interested in prophecy.
They have a desire for deep Bible study like the Bereans Acts 17.
Dedicated to personal and ecclesiastical separation.
They strove for purity and integrity.
The Bible says in 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 “What know ye not that your body is the Temple of the Holy Ghost, which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price; therefore, glorify God in your body, and in your spirit which are God’s”.
Are you the Philadelphia church.
Are you independent not conforming to religiosity and the traditions of men but are standing firm on the unadulterated Word of God. There are many that have developed the spirit of the Nicolaitans which God hates thinking they are righteous when all their righteousness is as filthy rags. Are you separated from traditions and sanctified unto God.
Do you have a zeal for spreading the Word of God to the lost. That’s not just preaching but spreading the Word the Gospel of Jesus Christ to everyone, on your job, in your neighborhood, in the jails and hospitals. You don’t have to have a title or a pulpit to be able to spread the Word of God, the Gospel, The Good News of Jesus Christ.
Do you have a desire for Bible study searching the deep things of God. Not just listening to the preacher but diving in and studying to show thyself approved unto God a workman that needeth not be ashamed of rightly dividing the word of truth.
Are you dedicated to ecclesiastical and personal separation which is submission to the Word of God. Saying and committing yourself totally unto God, I surrender all.
Do you believe evangelism is not only the pastor’s job but the responsibility of every child of God because we all have been given the ministry of reconciliation.
Are you striving for purity and integrity by not being conformed to this world but are transformed by the renewing of your mind.
CLOSING: - Those prepared for the Rapture like the church of Philadelphia must persevere in prayer which is communication with God regardless of distractions that rise in this world. They must be watchful and have holiness and brotherly love. They persevere in integrity and purity, and overcoming the lust of the flesh, lust of the eye, the pride of life. Then those that are Raptured will receive the promises of Revelation 3:12.
Revelation 3:12 says, “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”.
The overcomer is the one that explicitly trust in Christ and what He did on Calvary’s cross. He will make a pillar in the temple - This is in reference to the two pillars in the temple of Jerusalem, called Jachin and Boaz, representing stability and strength. The Church is the temple; CHRIST is the foundation on which it is built; and his ministers you & I are the PILLARS by which, under him, it is adorned and supported. The pillars that were built to support the buildings there were 5×5 meters wide. Those pillars could withstand quakes; they were immovable. It is the same for us who overcome. We will be made into a pillar in the temple of God. No matter what life sends you, what trials and temptations you have to face, you will never lose your faith. You will be able to bear anything. A pillar that can also strengthen, bear, and be a support for others. You will be a useful tool for God.
He shall go no more out lets us know that we will forever be in the presence of God.
I will write upon him the name of my God — That is, I will make him a priest unto myself. The priest had written on his forehead kodesh laihovah, “Holiness to the Lord”.
And the name of the city of my God — As the high priest had on his breastplate the names of the twelve tribes engraved, and these constituted the city or Church of God; Christ here promises that in place of them the twelve apostles, representing the Christian Church, shall be written, which is called the New Jerusalem.
My new name. — The Saviour of ALL; the light that lightens the GENTILES; the CHRIST; the Anointed One; the only GOVERNOR of his Church; and the Redeemer of ALL mankind. We will have been sealed with His seal indicating that we belong to Him.
Are you the church of Philadephia.
Bishop Melvin L. Maughmer, Jr.,
