The Philadelphian Church Age
The Mystery of the Seven Stars and the Seven Golden Lampstand • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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Intro
Intro
Text - Revelation 3.7-13
7 “And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write: He who is holy, who is true, who has the key of David, who opens and no one will shut, and who shuts and no one opens, says this:
8 ‘I know your deeds. Behold, I have put before you an open door which no one can shut, because you have a little power, and have followed My word, and have not denied My name.
9 Behold, I will make those of the synagogue of Satan, who say that they are Jews and are not, but lie—I will make them come and bow down before your feet, and make them know that I have loved you.
10 Because you have kept My word of perseverance, I also will keep you from the hour of the testing, that hour which is about to come upon the whole world, to test those who live on the earth.
11 I am coming quickly; hold firmly to what you have, so that no one will take your crown.
12 The one who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God, and he will not go out from it anymore; and I will write on him the name of My God, and the name of the city of My God, the new Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from My God, and My new name.
13 The one who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’
Title - The Philadelphian Age
Series - The Mystery of the Seven Stars and the Seven Golden Lampstands
Background
Background
The City
The City
It is possible that Philadelphia was founded by Attalus II Philadelphus, king of Pergamum, who reigned from 160 to 138 bc (Magie, Roman Rule, 42). However, the discovery of an inscription predating Attalus reveals that Philadelphia was possibly founded earlier in the second century bc by Attalus’ brother Eumenes II (Mitchell, Anatolia, 1:180). (source: The Lexham Bible Dictionary)
The Church
The Church
The Church Age
The Church Age
Clarence Larking - 1750 - 1900
William Branham - 1750 - 1901
Roy Gingrich - 1648 - 1906
Why 1648?
1648 - the Protestant Reformation officially ended with the signing of the Peace of Westphalia
Why 1750?
1750 - the time of the revivalism
Why 1906?
1906 - the Pentecostal movement is born
Star Messenger
Star Messenger
Wesley, John (1703–1791) Founder of Methodism.
He was the fifteenth child of Samuel and Susanna Wesley and brother of Charles Wesley. He was ordained in 1728.
At Oxford, the Wesley brothers and George Whitefield formed a religious society known as the “Holy Club” whose members met regularly for prayer, Bible study, and devotional and charitable exercises.
Both brothers accepted a call to join a mission to the colonists and Indians in Georgia, in North America.
On return from Georgia, the brothers met Peter Boehler, a Moravian who led them to Christ.
Reading Luther’s preface to Romans kindled in him a fire for evangelism that was never to be extinguished.
Wesley believed himself to be an apostle commissioned by God to evangelize England and to “spread holiness over the land.”
Key Events during this age
Key Events during this age
Decline of Roman Catholicism
1648-1815 - during this time RCC lost prestige and authority due to rationalism and empiricism which gave way to the French Revolution
during the French Revolution, RCC lands were seized and the pope was imprisoned
1870-1914 - Papal States were conquered by the new Italian state
France enacted repressive and restrictive measures against the Roman church
Rise of heretical groups
1624 Deism - Deism holds that God is not known through religion but only through reason and nature. Deism is not taught by any religion. It is a system of belief held by individuals. Among these individuals are Voltaire, George Washington, Benjamin Franklin, and Thomas Jefferson.
1743 Swedeborgianism - Swedenborg claimed to have received a new revelation from Jesus Christ through continuous heavenly visions which he experienced over a period of at least twenty-five years. In his writings, he predicted that God would replace the traditional Christian Church, establishing a ‘New Church’.
1827 Mormonism - The followers of the Church of Jesus Christ Latter-day Saints (LDS) have come to be called Mormons because of their belief in a sacred text, the Book of Mormon, which was allegedly revealed to and translated by their founder Joseph Smith, Jr., in Upstate New York.
1866 Christian Science - Christian Science was born when Mary Baker Eddy’s spontaneous recovery from a severe injury authenticated her discovery that reality is completely spiritual and evil—as well as sickness and death—is only an illusion. There is no reality except Mind and Spirit.
1750 Unitarianism - Heretical Christian tradition that affirms monotheism but rejects both the Trinity and the divinity of Christ. Its modern exponents are united by no single set of beliefs but generally represent a free-thinking liberalism.
1770 Universalism - Universalists believe that ultimately all humans are somehow in union with Christ and that in the fullness of time they will gain release from the penalty of sin and be restored to God. Twentieth-century universalism often rejects the deity of Jesus and explores the “universal” bases of all religions.
Rise of Methodism
1729 - in England, a small group of Oxford University students were ridiculed as ‘Bible Bigots,’ the ‘Holy Club’ and ‘Methodists’ because they spent so much time in methodical prayer and Bible reading.
1739 - Believing his God-given mission was to evangelize Great Britain, in April 1739, John Wesley (1703–1791) set out to preach the gospel. At his friend George Whitefield’s (1714–1770) prompting, Wesley preached in the open air for the first time at Kingswood in Bristol, England.
As Wesley’s evangelical preaching caused many churches to close their doors to him, he realized that open-air preaching was the most effective way for him to reach the masses. Seeing the need to follow up with recent converts, he formed fellowships, which led to the formation of Methodism.
In his lifetime, he rode 250,000 miles on horseback, preached 42,000 sermons, and published 233 books.
Rise of Revivalism
The Great Awakening is the name given to the revivals occurring in the American colonies from 1726 to 1760. The movement was led by the preaching of Jonathan Edwards and George Whitefield and reached its peak in 1740.
He hath the key of David, he openeth, and no man shutteth; he hath the key of the house of David, the key of government and authority in and over the church.
Matthew Henry
Second Great Awakening - The era energized the spiritual life of Americans following the Revolutionary War. The much-needed revival came first to colleges in the East, where in 1787, Hampden-Sydney College experienced a spiritual awakening. From Hampden-Sydney, revival spread to Washington College, Yale, Williams, Dartmouth, and Amherst. Carried along by students and preachers alike, the Second Great Awakening lasted from 1787 to 1825, sweeping the land from East to West.
Keswick Revival - In 1875, at the end of American evangelist Dwight L. Moody’s (1837–1899) two-year evangelistic tour of England, the vicar of Keswick, a town in England’s Lake District, invited him to speak there. God used Moody to spark a revival in Keswick that birthed the annual summer Keswick Convention, a nondenominational gathering of evangelicals that continues there today. The hallmarks of Keswick are prayer, Bible study, and dependence on the Holy Spirit. Thousands have been called into ministry and missions at the Keswick Convention.
Rise of Holiness Movement
Pocket Dictionary of Theological Terms Holiness Movement
Holiness Movement. A movement among certain Protestant churches during the mid-1800s following in the tradition of John Wesley. These churches emphasized Wesley’s doctrine of “entire sanctification,” that is, that a Christian’s life of purity takes place in two stages: through initial sanctification at conversion and through a second event of sanctification later in the Christian’s life (often called “the second blessing” or “entire sanctification”) during which the Christian is freed from the bonds of the sinful nature, even though the believer continues to live in an imperfect body and an imperfect world.
the movement was the precursor of
the Keswick revival
missionary endeavors in this age
Petnecostal movement (1901)
Rise of Missionary works
1732 Moravians send out missionaries to St. Thomas, West Indies.
1736 Moravians send missionaries to Greenland.
1782 Concerts for Prayer and World Mission is initiated by Jonathan Edwards.
1792 William Carey publishes An Enquiry into the Obligations of Christians, to Use All Means for the Conversion of the Heathens and then sets sail for India under the auspices of the Particular Baptist Society for Propagating the Gospel among the Heathen, thus beginning the modern era of Protestant world missions. He serves 41 years in Bengal and translates the Bible into 35 languages.
1795 London Missionary Society is founded.
1804 British and Foreign Bible Society is founded.
1806 The Haystack Prayer Meetings at Williams College inspire the foundation of the American Board of Commissioners of Foreign Missions in 1810. In 1961 it was renamed United Church Board for World Ministries.
1825 Bombay Missionary Union is founded.
1828 Karl Gutzlaff, a Lutheran, begins work in the Far East, especially the Dutch East Indies, Siam, southern China, and Hong Kong.
1829 Christian Brethren send A. N. Groves and others as first missionaries to Baghdad and later India. Renamed as Christian Missions in Many Lands.
1837 The Board of Foreign Missions of the Presbyterian Church is established “to aid in the conversion of the world.” In 1958 it became the Commission on Ecumenical Mission and Relations with the goal of “making the Lord Jesus Christ known to all men.”
1844 First Young Men’s Christian Association is founded in London.
1845 Southern Baptist Convention is formed as an independent denomination. It founds the Board of Domestic Missions (later Home Mission Board) and Foreign Mission Board.
1840 - David Livingston under LMS went into interior of Africa as missionary and explorer
1850 British Quaker millionaire Robert Arthington donates millions to reach unreached peoples by supplying these peoples with copies of the New Testament.
1854 First Union Missionary Convention is held in New York under the leadership of Alexander Duff. Duff is later appointed first chair of evangelism and evangelical theology at New College, Edinburgh.
1855 World Alliance of YMCAs is founded in Paris with headquarters in Geneva.
1857 Mass evangelism era begins as U.S. evangelist D. L. Moody begins crusades with singer and composer Ira Sankey. Moody preached to 750,000 people during his lifetime.
1865 Christian Revival Association is founded in London by Methodist evangelist William Booth. In 1878 it is renamed as Salvation Army. Its emphasis is stated as “the supremacy of evangelism in fulfilling the Lord’s Great Commission . . . To work to the end that every man and woman and child has the opportunity to hear the good news of the Gospel.”
1877 First General Foreign Missions Conference is held in Shanghai with 473 missionaries from 20 Protestant missionary societies.
1880 A. T. Pearson publishes “A Plan to Evangelize the World” in The Missionary Review, calling for an ecumenical council to oversee global evangelization.
1867 James Hudson Taylor founded China Inland Mission
1881 United Society of Christian Endeavor is formed in the United States. In 1895 it would become the World Christian Endeavor.
1887 Christian and Missionary Alliance is organized by A. B. Simpson. It would later have one of the largest contingents of missionaries per capita.
1888 Student Volunteer Movement for Foreign Missions is organized with the motto: “The evangelization of the world in this generation.”
1892 Student Voluntary Missionary Union is begun in England.
1893 Sudan Interior Mission is begun as Africa Industrial Mission. In 1982 it would be renamed SIM International, which expanded its operations to Latin America.
1894 Young Women’s Christian Association (YWCA) is founded.
1897 Association of Pentecostal Churches in America (later, the Church of the Nazarene) begins foreign missions.
1899 Gideons International begins free distribution of Bibles. Over the next century it would distribute over half a billion free Bibles.
The Letter
The Letter
Salutation
Salutation
7 “And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write: He who is holy, who is true, who has the key of David, who opens and no one will shut, and who shuts and no one opens, says this:
“key of David”
a similar situation in Isaiah 22.20-22
20 “Then it will come about on that day, That I will summon My servant Eliakim the son of Hilkiah,
21 And I will clothe him with your tunic And tie your sash securely around him. I will hand your authority over to him, And he will become a father to the inhabitants of Jerusalem and to the house of Judah.
22 “Then I will put the key of the house of David on his shoulder; When he opens, no one will shut, When he shuts, no one will open.
note - key OF THE HOUSE of David
the “key of the house of David” signifies stewardship of the royal household given to Eliakim
this key authorized Eliakim open and close doors in the royal household
the “key of David” - the stewardship given TO DAVID, which is authority over a realm, kingly stewardship
this key signifies authority to TERRITORIAL DOMINION.
this authority is further explained in verse 8 -
The Commendation
The Commendation
8 ‘I know your deeds. Behold, I have put before you an open door which no one can shut, because you have a little power, and have followed My word, and have not denied My name.
the “open door”
during Paul’s missionary journeys, the used the term “open door”
after the first mission - Acts 14.27
27 When they had arrived and gathered the church together, they began to report all the things that God had done with them and how He had opened a door of faith to the Gentiles.
second mission - 1 Cor 1.9
9 for a wide door for effective service has opened to me, and there are many adversaries.
third mission - Col 4.3
3 praying at the same time for us as well, that God will open up to us a door for the word, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I have also been imprisoned;
Christ has given the church in this age the open of missionary works to reach the gentiles with the Gospel
open door - gentile lands and nations
key - the gospel
“little power” - perseverance, despite the circumstances
“you have followed my word” - which came through the revivals that took place during this age
9 Behold, I will make those of the synagogue of Satan, who say that they are Jews and are not, but lie—I will make them come and bow down before your feet, and make them know that I have loved you.
the synagogue of Satan
the assembly of people who claimed to be Christians and saved
9 ‘I know your tribulation and your poverty (but you are rich), and the slander by those who say they are Jews, and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan.
the claim is a slander (blasphemy)
the “heretical churches” that arose during this time
10 Because you have kept My word of perseverance, I also will keep you from the hour of the testing, that hour which is about to come upon the whole world, to test those who live on the earth.
word of perseverance
Christ’s admonition to the church to be patient, to endure
the hour of testing
the time of the great tribulation
it wil test the faith of those that will be left behind after the rapture
it will test the allegiance of the people
The Promise
The Promise
11 I am coming quickly; hold firmly to what you have, so that no one will take your crown.
12 The one who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God, and he will not go out from it anymore; and I will write on him the name of My God, and the name of the city of My God, the new Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from My God, and My new name.
13 The one who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’
“a crown” - grk. STEPHANOS, a wreath worn to signify victory, glory and prestige
a victor’s crown
the crown is ALREADY YOURS!
All you have to do is to HOLD FIRMLY TO WHAT YOU HAVE
“pillar in the temple...”
a permanent, fixed position in the house of God
"to write on him...”
to mark or be marked by a name
5 “Behold, the days are coming,” declares the Lord, “When I will raise up for David a righteous Branch; And He will reign as king and act wisely And do justice and righteousness in the land.
6 “In His days Judah will be saved, And Israel will live securely; And this is His name by which He will be called, ‘The Lord Our Righteousness.’
to be identified by that name
to receive the name by revelation
Conclusion
Conclusion
So - what can we learn from this church age?
If God has a plan for your life - He will open the door for opportunities
such door ensures victory and success
such door guarantees God’s provisions will not lack
There is no victory if there is perseverance
those who persevere are the ones who win!
11 We count those blessed who endured. You have heard of the endurance of Job and have seen the outcome of the Lord’s dealings, that the Lord is full of compassion and is merciful.
SONG
We’ve Been Made More than Conquerors