John Thiel mp3
The seven churches series that we have been following, today is entitled ‘Philadelphia’s Sanctuary Introduction.’
We want to enlarge some more detail in reference to Philadelphia’s experience. The period of Philadelphia commenced in 1833 when William Miller began the presentation of the first angel’s message and the hour of God’s judgment has come and that took the church of that time right through to 1844.
We concluded in our last study with the unreachable spiritual condition that the church in the period of Philadelphia was accredited with because Jesus did not say anything reproachable in reference to them. However, we saw that although that was the case, we read a wonderful statement that said Jesus saw himself perfectly reflected in them as they came up to that particular point of 1844. Yet, they still had to meet errors that they inherited from the papal dark ages that still needed to be recovered from.
We understood well that Sunday was still the day they kept and the importance was that they had to learn the Sabbath truth. The other item they didn’t understand was that there is a sanctuary in heaven that the Hebrew sanctuary symbolised or represented. Therefore, because of the teachings of the churches at that time, they expected that the earth was the sanctuary; they thought that Jesus was coming to cleanse the earth. It was the study of William Miller of the book of Daniel and all those beautiful prophecies in Daniel 8:14, which were directly linked with Jesus speaking to the church of Philadelphia.
Daniel 8:14 Unto two thousand three hundred days, then shall the sanctuary be cleansed.
When the question was asked, ‘How long is this going to go on for? All the persecution and all the suffering?’ ‘Unto two thousand three hundred days, then shall the sanctuary be cleansed.’
We saw clearly that this was two thousand three hundred years from 457 BC through to 1844. The words of Jesus addressed to Philadelphia bear this very reality that the sanctuary was to be cleansed and Jesus expressed it there to the church of Philadelphia in our scripture reading. He speaks to the angel or the ministers of the church in Philadelphia. Who were they? William Miller and his associates.
Revelation 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; 8 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.
The people of Philadelphia, the church of Philadelphia, were being addressed by Jesus in reference to a scripture which, if they had not been misguided, they would have understood what Jesus meant. That scripture He took when He said, ‘I’m the one that has the key of David, that openeth and no man shutteth, and shutteth and no man openeth,’ was referring to Isaiah 22.
Isaiah 22:20 And it shall come to pass in that day, that I will call my servant Eliakim the son of Hilkiah: 21 And I will clothe him with thy robe, and strengthen him with thy girdle, and I will commit thy government into his hand: and he shall be a father to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and to the house of Judah. 22 And the key of the house of David will I lay upon his shoulder; so he shall open, and none shall shut; and he shall shut, and none shall open. 23 And I will fasten him as a nail in a sure place; and he shall be for a glorious throne to his father’s house.
Did you see what Jesus associated Himself with? These words were a prophetic description of Jesus. Was He not the one who was put in a sure place for us to depend upon? To hang all our dependence upon Him? He is the one who has the key of the house of David. Eliakim was the high priest in the time of King Hezekiah, and the high priest on the Day of Atonement was the one who went from the holy place into the most holy place, opening into the most holy place and shutting behind him the holy place.
All high priests of Israel represented Christ the high priest in the heavenly sanctuary officiating in the sanctuary. Jesus points to Eliakim on the Day of Atonement as He enters the most holy place. Jesus is drawing the attention of the Philadelphian believers to that time – ‘I’m the one.’ What was Jesus trying to tell them?
Revelation 11:19 And the temple of God was opened in heaven, and there was seen in his temple the ark of his testament: and there were lightnings, and voices, and thunderings, and an earthquake, and great hail.
There it is the temple of heaven where the Ark of the Testament was positioned, where in the earthly sanctuary was that? In the most holy place.
Revelation 15:5 After these things I looked, and behold, the temple of the tabernacle of the testimony in heaven was opened.
Jesus was trying to tell them, ‘I’m the one that is opening into the most holy place in the sanctuary of heaven.’ The temple of the tabernacle of the testimony in heaven is opened. ‘I’m the one that has the key of David that opens, I’m the one that is the high priest that Eliakim was pointing to.’ He’s trying to tell them this.
Here an open as well as a shut door is brought to view. At the termination of the 2300 prophetic days in 1844, Christ changed his ministration from the holy to the most holy place. When, in the ministration of the earthly sanctuary, the high priest on the day of atonement entered the most holy place, the door of the holy place was closed, and the door of the most holy was opened.
So, when Christ passed from the holy to the most holy of the heavenly sanctuary, the door, or ministration, of the former apartment was closed, and the door, or ministration, of the latter was opened. Christ had ended one part of his work as our intercessor, to enter upon another portion of the work; and he still presented his blood before the Father in behalf of sinners. “Behold,” he declares, “I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it.” 4SP 268.3
Did you see what Jesus associated Himself with? This is what Jesus was trying to get across to the church of Philadelphia, to God’s Church in that period from 1833 to 1844. If you go to the Old Testament story of the Day of Atonement, how many days of warning were given? Because this was a day of judgment for the Hebrews. What happened before that time? It was the festivity of the trumpets and for ten days the trumpets were blown to announce the coming of their judgment, the opening into the most holy place on the Day of Atonement.
It’s interesting that the period of Philadelphia is exactly that period of ten days. Ten years of preparation for the opening of the Day of Atonement. That is the symbol fulfilled in reality. But did the people of Philadelphia, did the church that was preaching the 1844 message of Daniel 8:14, comprehend? Unfortunately, they were so entrenched in their hopes of seeing Jesus coming, that they missed the interpretations that Christ wanted them to understand. Their hopes were based on a wrong interpretation of scripture.
Isn’t that the way it was in the Jewish time? By their interpretation of scripture, they thought Jesus was coming as a king and not as a lamb. This is the characteristic of God’s people who are in danger of misinterpreting the scripture. They missed Christ’s effort to enlighten them and as you reflect upon that, this is God’s church. Philadelphia is God’s church that He didn’t have any reproach for and yet their mistaken interpretations were leading them into a great horrifying disappointment just like the apostles were bitterly disappointed when Jesus was nailed to the cross.
What should we learn from this as God’s church, as God’s people? What should we learn? Be careful to listen to what Jesus means, not what you and I interpret. This is the object lesson here for God’s people in these last days. To think carefully about what we are learning from this story. It’s interesting that Jesus was trying to help them by sending them visions before the disappointment. He already spoke here as we were reading, but He sent these co-workers together with William Miller.
William Foy
He sent one man who was a very capable preacher; his name was William Foy. Jesus gave him these visions to give them an understanding that Jesus was communicating with them through the prophet. He became a prophet with visions and in his visions, there were given to him two steps in which he recognised the first and the second angel’s messages. He was telling the people what he was seeing in his visions and then the Lord gave him a vision of a third step yet to take place, and of course that was pointing to the third angel. He was telling them through the vision ‘don’t be disappointed; 1844 isn’t the final step. There is more to take place.’ The Lord was actually warning them through the writings of the word of God, through the Book of Revelation.
Revelation 10:1 Then I saw another mighty angel come down from heaven, clothed with a cloud.2 And he had in his hand a little book open: and he set his right foot upon the sea, and his left foot on the earth; and he cried with a loud voice, as a lion roareth: and when he cried, the seven thunders uttered their voices.
Revelation 10:9 And I went unto the angel, and said unto him, Give me the little book. And he said unto me, Take it, and eat it up; and it shall make thy belly bitter, but it shall be in thy mouth sweet as honey. 10And I took the little book out of the angel’s hand and ate it up and it was in my mouth, sweet as honey, but as soon as I had eaten it my belly was bitter.’
There is a description of their disappointment. They anticipated the coming of Jesus, and it was sweet to their mouth as they were studying Daniel, that book that was closed until the time of the end.
Revelation 10:11 And he said unto me, Thou must prophesy again before many peoples, and nations, and tongues, and kings.
That was what they were hoping was over, and so when William Foy received that third step, it didn’t fit into his expectations. What did William Foy do? He stopped sharing the vision. Jesus was trying to help them not to get that bitter disappointment. He sent the messages as He said already, ‘I am the one that opens and no man shuts it.’ I’m trying to tell you what is going to happen in 1844.
William Foy ceased so God sent another person the same vision.
Hazen Foss
Hazen Foss, before the disappointment had wonderful manifestations of God in vision like a prophet. God was appealing to two men before the disappointment and He gave the same visions that William Foy had – the first two steps towards the conclusion and then another platform in his vision.
Again, Hazen Foss was bitterly disappointed. He didn’t like this and he didn’t tell the story, and he was told by God in the vision, ‘If you don’t share this, then I’m going to have to turn to the weakest of the weak and use that person.’ But this was all before the disappointment. If they would have paid attention to Jesus trying to help them, trying to understand that there was yet more to be done as we just read there, they must prophesy again.
Their prophesying and preaching were not yet over, but Hazen Foss didn’t want it. Both refused and hence 1844 arrived and the terrible disappointment took place. It was not until after the disappointment that Ellen G. White received the same vision and because she did respond, she then continued to receive the visions of heaven. God had called two men before who failed. Those that were addressed in Philadelphia as they came to 1844 were bitterly disappointed.
Revelation 3:12 Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God.
He is talking to these people and He says if you will overcome your disappointment, you will be specially blessed.
But clearer light came with the investigation of the sanctuary question. They now saw that they were correct in believing that the end of the 2300 days in 1844 marked an important crisis. But while it was true that that door of hope and mercy by which men had for eighteen hundred years found access to God, was closed, another door was opened, and forgiveness of sins was offered to men through the intercession of Christ in the most holy. One part of His ministration had closed, only to give place to another. There was still an “open door” to the heavenly sanctuary, where Christ was ministering in the sinner’s behalf. GC 429.2
Ever since the disappointment of 1844, Jesus is still working and pleading our cases. But as they investigated, it says,
Now was seen the application of those words of Christ in the Revelation, addressed to the church at this very time: “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.” Revelation 3:7, 8. GW 430.1
Those words became meaningful but Jesus wanted them to have it beforehand. By clearer investigation, their error of what the sanctuary was, was illuminated to them. Overcomers out of Philadelphia were finally clear on what Jesus was trying to tell them.
Many of our people do not realize how firmly the foundation of our faith has been laid. My husband, Elder Joseph Bates, Father Pierce, [Older brethren among the pioneers are here thus reminiscently referred to. “Father Pierce” was Stephen Pierce, who served in ministerial and administrative work in the early days. “Father Andrews” was Edward Andrews, the father of J. N. Andrews.—Compilers.] Elder [Hiram] Edson, and others who were keen, noble, and true, were among those who, after the passing of the time in 1844, searched for the truth as for hidden treasure. I met with them, and we studied and prayed earnestly. Often we remained together until late at night, and sometimes through the entire night, praying for light and studying the Word.
Again and again these brethren came together to study the Bible, in order that they might know its meaning, and be prepared to teach it with power. When they came to the point in their study where they said, “We can do nothing more,” the Spirit of the Lord would come upon me, I would be taken off in vision, and a clear explanation of the passages we had been studying would be given me, with instruction as to how we were to labor and teach effectively. Thus light was given that helped us to understand the scriptures in regard to Christ, His mission, and His priesthood. A line of truth extending from that time to the time when we shall enter the city of God, was made plain to me, and I gave to others the instruction that the Lord had given me. 1SM 206.4
These are the overcomers out of Philadelphia. They were fastidious, they were diligent, they were disappointed, but they weren’t going to give up. This is God’s church. Take it to heart – if you’re going to be a member of God’s church, you’re going to come across experiences similar to this. Be an overcomer, battle on through the darkness until the light illuminates it. This is the experience of God’s church.
The Overcomer of Philadelphia
Revelation 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.
Jesus is saying ‘I will write upon him my name, and you are going to be in the temple of my God. I will write upon him the name of my God’
Revelation 14:1 Then I looked, and there on Mount Zion stood the Lamb, and with Him were 144,000 who had His name and His Father’s name written on their foreheads.
What did Jesus say? ‘You who overcome from Philadelphia, I’m going to write the name of my God’ What about all those other terms? The name of the city, the New Jerusalem, and my new name.
The 144,000 were all sealed and perfectly united. On their foreheads were the words God, New Jerusalem, and a glorious star containing Jesus’ new name. At our happy, holy state the wicked were enraged, and would rush violently up to lay hands on us to thrust us into prison, when we would stretch forth the hand in the name of the Lord, and they would fall helpless to the ground. Then it was that the synagogue of Satan knew that God had loved us, who could wash one another’s feet, and salute the brethren with a holy kiss, and they worshipped at our feet. 1T 59.2
Remember what we read there to the overcomer that the name of God would be written upon him and the name of the city of my God and my new name. Sister White says the 144,000 had all those written there. What else does she say? Then it was that the synagogue of Satan knew that we were the ones that were blessed, and they worshipped at our feet.
Revelation 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.
Revelation 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 come and worship before thy feet, to know that I have loved thee.
What has Sister White just done in this word of 1 Testimonies page 59? She has just identified that the people of Philadelphia who were the overcomers, would have the name of God in their foreheads, the name of Jerusalem, Jesus and that the synagogue of Satan would worship before their feet.
Did you know that the overcomers of Philadelphia and the overcomers of Laodicea, comprise 144,000? The church that was going through from 1833 right through to the coming of Jesus. Remember Sister White saw in the vision a line of truth that would take them right through to the coming of Jesus and to enter the city.
What else was there?
Revelation 3:12 Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out:
We come to another very enlightening quote in Early Writings. Here Sister White was given a vision of heaven and how they would be coming to the temple in the vision of heaven that she saw. They would travel along and so on and go on to say as Jesus was showing them all the beauties of the earth made new of heaven and then they came to the temple. ‘As we were about to enter the Holy Temple Jesus raised his lovely voice and said only the 144,000 enter this place.’ Only 144,000, so when He said to the Philadelphians, ‘you will be a pillar in the temple of God,’ they are part of the 144,000.
What about those who didn’t come through that disappointment? Were the ministers who were working in harmony with God’s leading in Philadelphia but they didn’t come through this disappointment effectively? Some died before the disappointment and William Miller, what about him? He didn’t come through the disappointment. He was an older man by now. There were two to three human beings here that did not come through and overcame that disappointment. William Miller was one, Brethren Fitch and Stockman were others.
If William Miller could have seen the light of the third message, many things which looked dark and mysterious to him would have been explained. But his brethren professed so deep love and interest for him, that he thought he could not tear away from them. His heart would incline toward the truth, and then he looked at his brethren; they opposed it. Could he tear away from those who had stood side by side with him in proclaiming the coming of Jesus? He thought they surely would not lead him astray. EW 258.1
God suffered him to fall under the power of Satan, the dominion of death, and hid him in the grave from those who were constantly drawing him from the truth. Moses erred as he was about to enter the Promised Land. So also, I saw that William Miller erred as he was soon to enter the heavenly Canaan, in suffering his influence to go against the truth. Others led him to this; others must account for it. But angels watch the precious dust of this servant of God, and he will come forth at the sound of the last trump. EW 258.2
Can you see God’s amazing love and mercy here? The struggles that people go through in their battles of trying to see the pure truth and being affected by relatives—because this was going to be an ongoing thing, and he was an older man by this time—God relieved him from this struggle, let him pass into a sleep of the grave. There he can look forward to being saved among those who are resurrected at the coming of Jesus.
What about Fitch and Stockman?
We all went under the tree and sat down to look at the glory of the place, when Brethren Fitch and Stockman, who had preached the gospel of the kingdom, and whom God had laid in the grave to save them, came up to us and asked us what we had passed through while they were sleeping. We tried to call up our greatest trials, but they looked so small compared with the far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory that surrounded us that we could not speak them out, and we all cried out, ‘Alleluia, heaven is cheap enough!’ and we touched our glorious harps and made heaven’s arches ring. EW 17.2
Those Philadelphian brethren who were faithful who came up before the disappointment or William Miller even after the disappointment, they will be in heaven. God will take them there. They lived up to the light that they had. Jesus could see Himself reflected in them because they loved to meet Him and they weren’t going to be disappointed.
We are seeing some very important things in these seven church experiences. That one church was beautiful in its beginning traveling through the time of pagan persecution through the Pergamos experience. God’s faithful people struggled coming through Thyatira. The Waldenses; we’ve seen this church traveling along and God in His mercy, having His hand upon every given situation, the reformers leading up to Sardis, we see this amazing character of God dealing with His church into Philadelphia through disappointment.
That’s where we stand today after the disappointment. Up to this time, we have received a clear view of the church we are to be members of. And what is it? The overcomers throughout the history of God’s church. This is the message we want to take from these studies of the seven churches. The experience of God’s faithful people, even though they may have been somewhat sidetracked because of their Dark Ages, because of the false interpretations that have muddied the waters in their experience.
What is God’s church?
God has a church. It is not the great cathedral, neither is it the national establishment, neither is it the various denominations; it is the people who love God and keep His commandments. “Where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them” (Matthew 18:20). Where Christ is even among the humble few, this is Christ’s church, for the presence of the High and Holy One who inhabiteth eternity can alone constitute a church. UL 315.5
Reflecting
There were plenty of churches worldwide. William Miller and his associates, a little handful came into disappointment. It’s all those people that Sister White named—a small number. What about all the other churches? Weren’t they God’s church too? Can you see what our mind is being exercised within the seven churches?
As we stand here today, we will continue now in the closing meditations of the seven churches into Laodicea and we must understand what we have been studying all the way through. It is not the denominations, it is not the national establishment, it is not those big worldwide churches that claim to be God’s church. It is the faithful ones, the overcomers, that we have seen all the way through history.
May God help us to identify our position and understand and be enlightened as to where we stand today. This is my prayer. Let’s examine the conclusion in the study of Laodicea.
Amen.
