About 25 miles southeast of Sardis lay the city of Philadelphia, newest of the seven cities. An imperial road passed through it from Rome to the east, so it became known as “the gateway to the East.” Christ says to this Church: “These things says He who is holy, He who is true . . . (Revelation 3:7).
Christ emphasizes His loyalty to His true followers and reminds them to be equally faithful to Him. If they persevere in His Word, He will give them a crown that they may rule with Him in His Kingdom. The Philadelphian brethren could well identify with this admonition. Philadelphia means “brotherly love.” The city was named after the love the king who founded the city for his brother. The city was established by Attalus II (159-138 B.C.), who was called Philadelphus (brother lover), in honour of his loyal affection toward his brother, King Eumenes II of Pergamos.
During his brother’s lifetime Attalus II was his most loyal assistant. He successfully commanded his brother’s forces in several wars and later became the trusted ambassador to their ally, Rome. There he won respect and admiration from the Romans for his brotherly fidelity. We find a definite theme of brotherly fidelity in this section. The New Bible Dictionary comments: “As Philadelphus was renowned for his loyalty to his brother, so the Church, the true Philadelphia, inherits and fulfils his character by its steadfast loyalty to Christ” (“Philadelphia” 1982, p. 926).
Many New Testament verses show that the Church that Christ built is unified—with all its members and congregations walking together in complete agreement with each other, and with the word of God. Another important scripture, demonstrating that the true Church is unified and teaches the truth emerges from Christ’s prayer in John 17, on the night of His betrayal.
He prayed: “And for their sakes I sanctify Myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth…That they all may be one; as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You, that they also may be one in Us: that the world may believe that You have sent Me. And the glory which You gave Me I have given them; that they may be one, even as We are one: I in them, and You in Me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them, as You have loved Me” (vs. 19, 21-23).
These are powerful statements! Christ intended that His Church be unified—“one”—no less than were He and His Father! There is no room for disagreement in a Church that is this unified. These verses describe a perfect oneness through the truth—the same kind of oneness that the Father and Christ enjoy. It is only the word of God that can keep the Church completely unified. It is this kind of unity that allows true Christians to be “in Them” —Christ and the Father (vs. 21).
Men have their own differing ideas of where the Church actually is, but only the Bible’s view—God’s word—matters. Read it for yourself. Paul wrote to Timothy the evangelist, “…that you may know how you ought to behave yourself in the house of God, which is the Church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth” (I Tim. 3:15). God’s Church is a unified body and teaches “the truth.” In the end, no other view devised by men is acceptable.
We read that Christ promised that when false leaders, whom He refers to in John 10 as “thieves and robbers,” have been able to get into the Church, “the sheep hear His (Christ’s) VOICE: and He calls His own sheep by name, and leads them out.” His voice is plainly defined in Scripture as “the truth” (John 18:37). He went on in John 10 to add, “He goes before them, and the sheep follow Him: for they know His VOICE. And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers” (vs. 3-5). Christ continues by describing certain ministers: “The hireling flees, because he is an hireling, and cares not for the sheep” (vs. 13).
This remarkable promise shows that Christ will never abandon His sheep and will always protect those who hear His voice and willingly follow Him when they are in danger of false doctrines! God wants His sons to understand His purpose. God has given us basic comparisons that are easy to grasp. He compares His love for the Church in Ephesians 5: 25-27 as the love a Husband has for His wife. God concludes in Genesis 2:24 that “a man Shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh” —to make ONE human body. “For as the BODY IS ONE, and has many members, and all the members of that ONE BODY, being many, are ONE BODY: so also is Christ. For by one Spirit are we all baptized into ONE BODY...” (I Cor. 12:12-13). Colossians 1:18 and Ephesians 1:22-23 revealed that “one body” means the Church. There is only one Church with many “little flocks” and like the human body, all the flocks are connected by the truth. Notice, 1 Corinthians 6:19 adds, “… your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit” and in chapter 12:27 “Now you are the body of Christ, and members individually”. The Church is an organized, structured and combined body of individuals, put together by Christ, and filled with the Holy Spirit —it has Jesus Christ as the Head of its government! God’s purpose to make the Church a Bride of Christ, is of lasting value to the entirety of the true Church at any time in its history.
After Christ returns to re-establishes the kingdom of God on earth (Rev. 19:11-16), He becomes Ruler and Governor over all nations on earth forever and ever, with His Church. Notice: “And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, ‘The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of His Christ; and He shall reign forever and ever”’ (Rev. 11:15). But this is not all. Immediately, upon His Return, here is what Christ does: “And I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude… saying, Alleluia: for the Lord God omnipotent reigns. Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to Him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and His wife has made herself ready. And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints. And He says unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb…” (Rev.19:6-9). Of course, the Lamb of God has always been Jesus Christ (John 1:29, 36; Rev. 5:6).
Exactly what happens to the Church immediately after the resurrection of the dead? The answer is staggering. But first, to answer this question, we must define exactly who and what the members of the Church are. Return to Romans 8 and now read verse 9: “But you are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of His.” To be a true Christian, one must have the Spirit of God. It is that simple. Recall that I Corinthians 12:13 revealed that all members of the Church are “baptized into one body.” Baptized means ‘immersed, put into’. Therefore, a Christian is put into God’s Church by receiving the Holy Spirit. This Spirit makes him a begotten son.
Those without God’s Spirit, regardless of their church affiliation or denomination, are “none of His.” We have seen that all of the Spirit-begotten become “heirs” of salvation (Rom. 8:17). But there is more important knowledge to understand. It is tied directly to the purpose for human marriage and family. The way a husband loves, works with and leads his wife is intended to be a reflection of Christ’s leadership over His Church. The New Testament actually identifies the Church as Christ’s betrothed Bride.
The eternal purpose of God for the Church is for her to be His Bride, forming a magnificent building in the holy city of the new Jerusalem that will descend out of heaven from God (Revelations 21: 10 - 13). Many verses reveal this. First, notice the following parallel between Christ and His Church, and human husbands and their wives: “For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the Church…That He might present it to Himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish” (Eph. 5:23, 27). The Bible reveals that the husband’s relationship with his wife is a parallel of Christ’s relationship to the Church! Christ works with His Church the way husbands are to work with their wives. He intends to “present the Church to God,” in a marriage ceremony, with all spots, wrinkles and blemishes gone. But this wedding is only attainable for those learning the lessons of this life—those who gain experience through suffering and building character now!
Now fully comprehend this awesome knowledge: Christ is God. He is of the “God kind.” Just as God and Christ could not reproduce outside their kind (Gen. 1:24-26), anymore than any animal could reproduce with any other kind, Christ could not marry outside the God kind either. At His Return, in one of the most awesome events in all history –The Marriage Supper of the Lamb – Christ will marry His Church! This is the plain truth from God’s Word—and you have just heard it! God calls His Church, His future Bride, “a building” that is “fitly framed together” (Eph. 2:21). Christ is literally “building a temple” consisting of “living stones” (I Pet. 2:5). Christ is continuing His building of the Church today, and you have come in contact with it.
We saw that the true Church is depicted as a type of Jerusalem and as the Mother of all the brethren in the Church (Gal. 4:26; Heb. 12:22-23). Like any Mother, she cares for and feeds her children. We have also seen that the true Church is also pictured as a Bride prophesied to marry Jesus Christ at His Return (Rev. 19:7-9). She is described as, at that time, having “made herself ready” for this wonderful and glorious event! Will you be among those who strive to “make yourself ready”?
Finally, we have already addressed the actual meaning of the Greek word translated “Church” in the New Testament. This needs no further clarification. Most have supposed it means a building or an organization, when it means neither. The word “church” is ekklesia, meaning Christians are indeed “called out” of this world—its ways—its customs—its practices— its traditions—its false knowledge—and into the true Church, and fellowship with God and Christ (I John 1:3). Take time to savour this marvellous understanding!
God thunders this message to all people everywhere: “Therefore come out from among them, and be you separate…and I will receive you, and will be a Father unto you, and you shall be My sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty” (2 Cor. 6:17-18). May God help you to come out of the Babylon of this world (Rev. 18:4), that you may qualify to rule with the all-powerful, living Christ in the wonderful, utopian new heaven and earth that lies ahead!
Some few are choosing to come out of the world. They are willing to seek God with all their hearts. These are those called of God at this time. Let’s understand. The Bible does plainly speak of those who have been called by God. Notice what Paul said to the Thessalonian brethren: “Faithful is He that calls you...” (I Thes. 5:24). As a warning to the Galatian congregation, who were losing sight of the true gospel, he said this: “I marvel that you are so soon removed from Him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel” (1:6), and later added, “This persuasion comes not of Him that calls you” (5:7-8). To the Corinthian congregation he wrote, “For you see your calling brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called” (I Cor. 1:26).
When you read or hear things like these in books such as this one, do they have meaning to you? Are you grasping them? Are they plain to your understanding? Do you see them as special knowledge others do not have? Do you feel tempted to pinch yourself in disbelief that you could be shown things of which the masses have no idea? If the answers to these questions are “yes,” then God is calling you! The mysteries of the kingdom of God are being given to you!
In the end Christ beckons those who have faithfully responded to His call, “Behold, I am coming quickly! Hold fast what you have, that no one may take your crown. He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God, and he shall go out no more. I will write on him the name My God, and the name of the city of My God, and the New Jerusalem, which comes out of heaven from My God, and i will write on him My new name” (Revelation 3:11-12).
Remember, satan is a master deceiver. He has forged many forms of false religion all over the earth. He counterfeits the truth in endless ways, and God’s calling process is no exception. Be certain of whether you are being called at this time. “Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent to make your call and election sure, for if you do these things you will never stumble” (2 Pet. 1:10). You must decide whether you grasp the truths of this book—whether you are being given your opportunity for salvation now!
No comments:
Post a Comment