In Jesus’ admonishments to the churches in Revelation’s chapters two and three, we are shown that it is only the Philadelphians who are promised protection from the “hour of temptation” (apostasy) which in turn would logically protect her from the “hour of His Judgment” in Revelation 14:7, the tribulation. She shares the same characteristics with the church of Smyrna, the only other church that has no need to be corrected by the Lord. Both of these churches are martyrs in different ways. Some experience physical martyrdom, others like the Philadelphians are promised protection, but both churches are martyrs of the self and willing to die rather than deny Jesus. The point is, these churches are not harboring the errors of the other five churches.
Copyright 2020 by H.D. Shively
The Philadelphian Remnant Church
I believe that it is vitally important for the spiritual health of today’s church to understand what these errors are so they can be corrected. It is prophesied that in the last days there will be a falling away; an apostasy (II Thessalonians 2:3). While some scholars see the seven churches as representing different church ages, all of the spiritual conditions can operate simultaneously in the present age, and even in individual churches. Yet, the errors of those churches illustrate for us how the church descends into apostasy.
I am going to give a brief overview of what each of those errors are so we can avoid them and qualify for that Philadelphian category.
1. The Error of the Ephesians
The church begins her descent into apostasy when she fails to make sharing the gospel and discipling (reproducing reproducers) her first priority. These are the “works” (Rev. 2:5) that the Ephesians neglected. The “first love” (Rev. 2:4) of the first century church was reaching people with the gospel and discipling believers into the image of Christ.
For a church to remain healthy this first century model must not be abandoned or neglected. The gospel must be first.
2. The Error of Pergamos
The church must maintain sound doctrine as it was established by Jesus and His apostles. The church at Pergamos symbolically began to marry “foreign wives;” she was allowing herself to be influenced by doctrines that were not supported by the apostles. God’s word must be taken as the final word above man’s philosophies, opinions, and doctrines.
To remain healthy a church must cleave to the pure simplicity of the scriptures and not abandon the authority of the first century apostles who alone were handpicked by God to establish the doctrines of the church.
“We (the first century apostles) are of God: he that knows God hears us; he that is not of God hears not us. Hereby we know the spirit of truth and the spirit of error” (I John 4:6).
3. The Error of Thyatira
The move away from the pure authority of God’s word, breeds a spirit of compromise like worms on stale bread. The spirit of Jezebel that pollutes this church represents moral compromise with the world. Repentance from sin is not preached and God’s moral standards are diminished. The world’s acceptance of sexual immorality is emulated.
I know Christians who are compromised in this area and like those at Thyatira, they are promised great tribulation unless they repent. The spirit of Jezebel does not preach repentance and the scriptural fact that there are consequences for sin. Her mantra is “God does not punish” which is not supported by the scriptures. Because this church has negated God’s word by permitting the doctrines of men to override the final authority of the scriptures, Jezebel’s followers who have been promised by this lying spirit that they will all go in a pre-tribulation rapture are going to be in for a rude awakening.
In order for a church to remain healthy and not fall into apostasy, holiness and separation from the world must be embraced. A healthy church recognizes the value of the Lord’s correction, and the benefits of holiness. This church rejects the spirit of compromise with the world and strives to live a separate holy life as we are exhorted to do by the apostles and the entire counsel of God’s word.
4. The Error of Sardis
This church is a further development of the same liberal spirit that infects Thyatira. Because she has allowed the doctrines of men to override God’s pure, simple truth, this church is risking her salvation because she is abandoning the basics of the Christian faith. She no longer believes that the cross, or faith in the atonement is necessary for salvation, embracing the lie that all religions are valid. Thus this church is denying Jesus, the only other error that can cost a believer his salvation apart from perpetual unforgiveness (Matthew 10:33, 6:14,15). Therefore she is warned that unless she repents her name will be blotted out of the book of life (Rev. 3:5).
A healthy church recognizes that Jesus is the only way to the Father and cleaves to the cross for her spiritual safety.
5. The Error of Laodicea
While this church has retained a fundamental knowledge of the Lord, she has become complacent and self-centered. Her desire for comfort has replaced the desire to save the lost. She has no zeal for the things of the Lord. All of the errors of the previous four churches are operational to some degree in this church, which represents the culmination of the latter day apostasy.
A healthy church remains zealous for the things of God, makes sharing the gospel and discipling her first priority, cleaves to the authority of the Holy Scriptures, preaches repentance, refuses to compromise with the world, values and practices holiness, retains a healthy reverence for the Lord and is aware that obedience to His word is important. This church would rather die than deny that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God and the only way to heaven.
I have just described the characteristics of the Philadelphian remnant who has kept God’s word and will be rewarded for her faithfulness as the Lord has promised her.
To those who remain trapped in the errors of the churches of the Ephesians, Pergamos, Thyatira, Sardis and Laodicea, I will say to you the one word the Jezebel spirit does not want you to hear, “Repent” in this space of time before the hour of God’s judgment begins.