New Evidence About the Church That Does
Not Fall
Scripture and The Spirit of Prophecy, positively
identify the church of Philadelphia as the church triumphant which is kept
through the time of trouble and is translated without seeing death. Here is
that Scripture reference:
"Because thou [Philadelphia] 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."
Revelation 3:10.
It would seem reasonable to assume that if God tells
Philadelphia that she will be kept from the hour of temptation, which shall
come upon all the world, she must be around to be kept through that time:
"Because thou hast kept the word of my patience,
I also will keep thee [Philadelphia] from the hour of temptation, which shall
come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth." Revelaiton 3:10.
The only hour of temptation, which shall come upon all
the world, to try them tat dwell upon the earth, is
the little and the great time of Jacob's trouble.
Ellen White says in the following statement that the
144,000 are the last generation of men living just before Christ comes; the
Philadelphia spiritual state is the only state of the church that is kept from
"the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them
that dwell upon the earth, Revelation 3:10. Ellen White describes these as the
144,000 in the following statement:
"The woman is a symbol of the church, and the
remnant of the church represents the Christians of the last generation of men,
living just prior to the second advent. The dragon makes war on these for
keeping the commandments of God, Sabbath and all, and having the testimony of
Jesus Christ, which, according to the inspired definition of chap. xix, 10, 'is
the spirit of prophecy.' Here, then, are the causes of the dragon's warfare
upon the remnant. They teach the observance of the ten commandments, and the
revival of the gifts, and acknowledge the gift of prophecy among them. When the
Devil got one foot upon the fourth commandment, and the other upon the gifts
planted in the Christian church b Jesus Christ, then his satanic majesty was
filled with revengeful delight. But when the remnant, whom God designs to fit
for translation to Heaven without seeing death, 'ask for the old paths, where
is the good way, and walk therein,' then the dragon is wroth,
and makes war on them
"The true spirit of the dragonic host, which is
already being somewhat developed, is vividly described in Isa. xxx, 8-13, as
being manifested just prior to the sudden destruction of those who hate the
pure testimony, and love smooth and deceitful things." E. G. White,
Spiritual Gifts, Vol. III, 26, 27.
Here Ellen White makes some very extremely important
observations.
The remnant is the last generation of men living just
prior to the second Advent of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
· This remnant keeps the
commandments of God, Sabbath and all.
· They have the
testimony of Jesus Christ, which is the Spirit of Prophecy.
· They teach the revival
of the gifts to the church and acknowledge the gift of prophecy among them.
· They 'ask for the old
paths, (historic Adventism) where is the good way, and walk therein, and the
dragon makes war on them.
· Because the dragon
makes war on them, they must escape to the wilderness, and it is then that
they, the church triumphant, Zion, the Holy Mother, appears as about to fall,
but it does not.
The plight of all who do not keep the commandments and
who do not acknowledge the Spirit of Prophecy among them, becomes all too
apparent. This is the plight of Ellen White's critics on the WorldWide Internet. This is the plight of all foolish
virgins who choose the easy road and celebrate on the banks of the Jordan,
rather than weep between the porch and the altar, and sigh and cry for the
abominations that are in the land and in the church.
The
Spirit of Prophecy Identifies Philadelphia as the 144,000
"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, ad 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. Rev. 3:7-13. "These are they which were not defiled with
women; for they are virgins. These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever
He goeth. These were redeemed from among men, being the first fruit unto God
and to the Lamb. And in their mouth was found no
guild; for they are without fault before the throne of God. Rev. 14:4, 5."
E.G. White, Early Writings, p. 30.
In Early Writings,
p. 19, only the 144,000 enter the Temple of God in heaven, and Philadelphians
are made pillars (leaders) in that temple. Christ is the High Priest and they
are the lesser priests. He is the head and they are His body.