The Church in Philadelphia

Chapters 2 and 3 of the book of Revelation is the history of outward, professing Christianity (not inward, possessing Christianity). Each of the Seven Churches represent periods of history in The Age of the Gentiles. The last four churches exist simultaneously during the closing century of the Age of the Gentiles. The Church of Philadelphia has just started to form: as we go verse-by-verse through the scripture it will become obvious that it is not ready to be revealed in history. The occasion for writing Revelations is that the Apostle John had been given the visions of the book and told to send copies to each of the seven churches at that time that existed in Asia Minor. Each church sent a messenger to retrieve their copy.

Rev. 3: 7 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;

Holy and true

These things saith he that is holy, he that is true, . . . . in The Fifth Seal, the martyrs in the age of the Gentiles ask Jesus “How Long? Oh Lord. Holy and true, before you avenge us on the face of the Earth?” The important part for our purposes is the Martyrs in Heaven title Jesus “Holy and true”. The understanding of “Holy and true” has been given to The Church of Philadelphia. The Greek word for Holy is to literally cut in Half or to separate. The Trinity existed for all eternity before creation in the transcendent world. They are Holy means that they are separate from the created realm in their essence. They exist in the transcendent world that is not a part of creation, even now. Their titles are created. They are transcendent. For all of the history of Christianity, doctrine has emphasized God as the all-powerful Creator of the Universe. They are infinitely more than that; They are transcendent (Holy).

(My Dad, Budd Bentley said, “We are sons and daughters of God because He is the Creator of the Universe. This, Budd believed, was the relationship that we shared with the Trinity for all eternity.)

The greatest relationship in existence is the transcendent (holy) love of the Trinity. Before Creation, They shared Their Holy love. The Trinity is duty bound to have us join the greatest relationship in existence; to do less would make Them unworthy of glory. You judge what is greater: we are sons and daughters of the Creator of the Universe or we join the transcendent love of the Trinity?

The Church of Philadelphia understands “Holy” and that understanding leads to God’s Eternal Purpose of us sharing in the transcendent, holy love of the Trinity. (How the Trinity accomplishes this is a whole different essay.)

Historical Christianity has practiced that the Bible is the Written word of God and divinely inspired. This is one of the biggest falsehoods of the Devil. These two doctrines are both Biblical and contradictory; those individuals who are heaven bound have their names written in the Book of Life before the foundation of the world and the main function of the Church is conversion. (Time and space fail to allow me to give all the examples where the Apostles taught that your life should be designed to further Christianity.) If the Bible is not divinely inspired then where do we turn to find truth? The martyrs in Heaven say Jesus is “Holy and true”. I believe that only the words of Jesus and prophetic visions are the only source we and the Church of Philadelphia can look for truth.

He that hath the key of David

Historical Christianity has never been able to explain how David could be called a man after God’s own heart and, at the same time, commit adultery and then cover it up with murder. The Church of Philadelphia has the key. Total depravity has been explained in history as everyone is a sinner and they need to be forgiven; however, it leaves room for when you get the truth, then God can use you. This is far from the truth. Total depravity comes from the irrefutable fact that we deduce everything from our knowledge centered mind. Anything nor deduced from the infinite and eternal love of the Trinity is depraved. David’s acts were no more depraved than anyone else’s. The deception of the Devil is now that you have the truth, you can be good. Even under the guidance of the Holy Ghost, we deduce with our knowledge centered mind and not from the love of the Trinity. I am totally depraved and deduce nothing from the love of God; everything I do is on the same level as David’s sins.

he that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth;

Opening and shutting has to deal with people’s receptivity to the truth. Jesus is claiming it is His prerogative to determine when someone is receptive to the truth. Of course, Paul and the boys say it is your duty to behave in front of the lost so they will see your good works and glorify God. So now if the Holy Spirit is not performing His/Her duty of reminding you of truth, can you pass the truth on? Now suppose the Holy Spirit is reminding you of truth but not the person you want to be receptive. Are they going to agree with your truth without the Holy Spirit? Besides their names are written in the Book of Life or they’re not and in either case there is nothing you can do. All of historical Christianity has practiced conversion like people choose to have their names written in the Book of Life. It is not until you are not under the burden of converting others are you truly free.

Rev 3:8 I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it:

Outward, historical, professing Christians all have “works”. “I know thy works” has a line in each of the seven churches that enables it to make the history books. I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: means that any outward display of Christianity is not persecuted.

For thou has a little strength

The Church of Philadelphia knows that its “strength” is wholly dependent on the Holy Spirit and is not a concern for producing “works”. Knowing that you are dead spiritually makes “a little strength” a major compliment.

and hast kept my word

I have taught this line means we really go by the Bible which is, of course, wrong. I now go by what Jesus said and not the Bible.

and hast not denied my name

There are verses from Jesus that say if we ask in His name we will receive what we ask for. However, I have never received anything I ask for so I must not know His name yet. It will be determined in the future what this scripture is referring to. Now it states; “not denied” His name which means we go by His name without an explicit understanding of His name.

There are many names of Jesus that are used to accent one of His leading characteristics. The name with the most history is YHWH which means the self-existent one. The three names of Jesus from the Old Testament all represent His power which is important to man but His leading characteristic is love. All of God’s characteristics are subservient to His love. God’s Eternal Purpose is that we share in Their infinite and eternal love. Any name that does not include Their love should not get any consideration.

There is a verse in Revelation 20 that says there is a name written on Jesus’ thigh that only He can know because of His experiences on the Cross.

Rev. 3:9 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.

The Synagogue of Satan, who say they are Jews . . . this represents false Christianity; the Devil persecuted Christianity for its first 300 years but it only grew stronger, so, with Constantine as Emperor, the Devil started to counterfeit Christianity. Today in 2022 you would be lucky to find a Christian who knows any truth apart from the sovereignty of God. However, here is the point: The false Christians are unable to generate any truth that helps them during the End Times and they fail to be Raptured before tribulation. The Church of Philadelphia correctly predicts the events of the End Times because of their correct interpretation of Prophecy. They, the false Christians, are thankful to be associated with the Church of Philadelphia. For most of the history of Christianity, those with the truth had to play a subservient position to the false Christians, but here, the false Christians, acknowledge that Jesus loves us. (This is professing Christianity; these are false Christians in what they believe. Most if not all, could be members of the Body of Christ and Heaven bound.)

I will make them to come and worship before thy feet . . . because there is no worship of Christians this refers to the fact that the Church of Philadelphia places a role in governing the region where Christianity has some influence. (See below)

Rev3:10 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.

Because thou hast kept the word of my patience . . . The word “patience” is almost always associated with correctly interpreting prophecy.

I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation . . . The world murders their Christians in Thee Tribulation, the Great One (see Rev 7:14). Christians are murdered in every nation, kindred, tongue, and people and God avenges the Christians with the Sixth Seal which is also used by God to defeat the Russian Coalition going against Israel. This hour of temptation starts with the Sixth Seal and continues until the Return of Jesus. This locates the Church of Philadelphia in the heartland of the United States. (It makes no sense to spare the Church of Philadelphia from the Sixth Seal and then destroy them a few years later with the other catastrophic events of the End Times.)

which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth. The Devil knows his time is short; to win he must eliminate all the Jews so God cannot fulfill His promises to Abraham, Issacs and Jacob and other saints of the Old Testament. Those that dwell on the Earth have a choice to help the Devil or resist the efforts of the Devil.

Rev. 3:11 Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown.

The Church of Philadelphia knows, through the convicting work of the Holy Spirit, that God is all about love, but they are in on bringing order to a crazy world. They will have the temptation to rule with power so God warns them not to use power to the exclusion of love and mercy. The Crown are those individuals that will be in Heaven with the Church of Philadelphia that were mistreated under the rule of the Church of Philadelphia. (God Knows)

Him that overcometh

Each of the seven messages to the Churches have a section that states: overcometh. This represents evidence of the effects of their actions on Earth that are reflected in Heaven.

Rev. 3:12 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.

A Pillar. . . there are two Pillars in the front of the Temple in Heaven and they are decorative and not supporting columns. I believe that one represents the Jews on this Earth and the other Christians.

and he shall go no more out. . . this is true for everyone in Heaven, they are always with the indwelling Trinity.

and I will write upon him the name of my God. . . Here it is the name of my God of which I currently have no clue.

I will write upon him my new name. . . It states it is new but we will have to wait and see at some future date.

Rev. 3:13 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.

This is found in every message to the Churches and means that if what is said can be applied to you believe it. He that hath an ear . . . and he that overcometh are reversed in their order in the last four churches. I interpret as the last four churches exist in some form from their development in history until the Return.

WJB