The Church of God in Philadelphia. The major weakness of Laodicea was its lack of a water supply. We might think that, if Jesus was truly divine, He would have had no need to pray for knowledge, guidance, or help. When we attend services, we are in class at Gods college for teachers. He traces Christs genealogy to King David and refers to Him as the Son of David seven times. We must look for and take "the way of escape" God provides in every situation where temptation is found (verse 13). But he never concluded his third epistle. If youre prone to worry yourself to sleep each night, turn your thoughts upward and close your eyes thinking of heaven and its eternal throne. The church of Philadelphia would be victorious over its enemies. 138. As Mr. Armstrong often said, those who have their hearts in the Work grow spiritually. The "church in Philadelphia," along with the "church in Smyrna," are the only two churches (of the seven mentioned) about which Jesus had nothing negative to say. God may have given him only two talents, but He knows that if he is faithful with a small amount of power, in the Kingdom he will faithfully administer all of the responsibility and effectiveness that God bestows upon him. That is integrity. J. C. Ryle, I rejoice at Your Word as one who finds great treasure. King David said, I rejoice at Your word As one who finds great treasure (Psalm 119:162; New King James Version). Could any father set a more worthy example to his children or grandchildren than that of being friends with God? Perhaps it would help to think of it in those terms. He and his wife, Debbie, have served in the ministry for more than 43 years. Were hoping we can get as many people online as possible, Herbert W. Armstrong College registrar Jason Hensley said. The New Jerusalem, on the new earth, is that place. Or is it things below? It helps you find all occurrences of a particular word and its different translations. The apostle Paul addressed that question in 1 Corinthians 10:11"Now all these things happened to them as examples, and they were written for our admonition." This is God's word. They are weak. Moses reminded the Israelites that God was taking them into a land of hills and valleys, of water and streams, a land for which the Lord your God cares; the eyes of the Lord your God are always on it, from the beginning of the year to the very end of the year (Deuteronomy 11:11-12). There is no cost or obligationever. Officially, church historians recognize seven ecumenical church councils held between A.D. 325 and A.D. 787. God has seen to it that His Church is well-fed. Once enrolled, students can download lessons, submit tests, view their automatically graded scores and track their progress. M. S. Kimber in The Sunday School World, 1893, I think it is right to refresh your memory as long as I live in the tent of this body, because I know that I will soon put it aside. How did you feel? Using a concordance, one can search out key words related to any one of these doctrines. Are you letting Him speak to you? The church in Corinth was an undisciplined church, and he was letting them know that even though the culture around them was in flux, their faith in Jesus Christ needed to remain focused and sure. Many Bibles have a concordance at the back. When we understand Christ's reference to Eliakim, that He is now fulfilling that role, we can understand the open door without having to force anything. Attention Conservation Notice: A long take on why I left a small, cult religious group that I grew up in. Our Bible study should always lead us to Fear God, and keep His commandments: for this is the whole duty of man (Ecclesiastes 12:13). Reviews on Bible Study in Roxborough, Philadelphia, PA 19128 - Citylight Church, Christian Stronghold Baptist Church, Lancaster Bible College - Capitol Seminary & Graduate School, House Of Faith Ministries PA, First Haitian Church Of God In Philadelphia The Great Awakening marked the emergence of Anglo-American . Hensley said that the site will also prevent stagnation, which can result in enrollees quitting the course. A tent or a cottage, why should I care? The words rightly dividing connote making a straight cut. Most of the time, when modern translations differ in meaning from the King James Version, they are in error. The 'Open Door' of Philadelphia, There is criticism or maybe it is simply a statement of fact. Forerunner, "Bible Study," April 2000. They do have good characteristics, but they are weak. God always has a plan, and our false starts become His fresh starts. Let no one say when he is tempted, "I am tempted by God"; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone. The homepage of the online Bible course states that 100,000 individuals have enrolled in the mail-in correspondence course prior to its online launch. You can place your steadfast trust in Him. Confession and repentance reveal the access to restoration. The annual religious festivals that God commands true Christians to observe are clearly discussed in Leviticus 23. Although Philadelphia is the only church as a whole that Jesus promises to rescue from the hour of temptation, He reveals that among those taken to heaven will be some from Sardis (Rev. Focusing on a particular book of the Bible will give us a deeper insight and context for its message. Jesus was tempted by Satan in the wilderness, and He took the same means of escape that is available to usobedience to God's Word (Matthew 4:111; Hebrews 5:8). The new website allows students to bypass the wait for receiving tests and lessons through the mail system and for submitting their test answers using the same method. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above .. When we find a man meditating on the words of God, my friends, that man is full of boldness and is successful. Sample doctrines include the three resurrections, born again, the soul and salvation. The humanity of Christ, while at the same time divine, is hard to understand. God commissioned Jonah to go east to Assyria, to the capital of Nineveh and deliver a message of judgment. 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; Revelation 3: 7. In three of Paul's epistles, he uses an open door as a metaphor for an opportunity to preach (I Corinthians 16:9; II Corinthians 2:12; Colossians 4:3). Laodicea was also known for its medical school which concocted a spice nard for the treatment of ears and an eye salve [see Revelation 3:18, anoint your eyes with eye salve]. The non-conclusion of 3 John exposes that the attack on God's Church didn't end in the first century. Be careful in using paraphrases such as the Living Bible or the Amplified Bible. Nevertheless, in todays world, Bible helps can be usefulprimarily in matters of translation and as time-saving tools. Likewise, we need to be nourished daily while we are in the womb of the Church, otherwise we are in danger of spiritually starving to death. During this year, you will read the Old Testament once and the New Testament and Psalms twice. It is nearly 70 ms. e. of Smyrna and about the same distance n.e. Topics, or specific subjects. When he failed to confess his sin to God, his bones grew old and he groaned all the day long (verse 3). For the Apostle Paul, doing Gods Work was more important than his own salvation! Moreover, the fruit of this interpretation has been exclusivity, comparing ourselves among ourselves, division, competition, and a pitiful supply of loveworks of the flesh rather than fruit of the Spirit. Bible study is one of those assignments! That in turn enables the Church to have more of an impact in doing Gods Work! This article will show you that studying your Bible may be just the remedy you need! We tend to think of the Philadelphians as being without fault because Christ does not make a pointed and detailed listing of their sins. We are Gods FamilyHis royal householdand we need to thoroughly digest the meat contained in these articles. The ruler was called Philadelphus because of his devotion to his brother Eumenes. Today we look at the sixth church: the church in Philadelphia. If you are not already enrolled in the On-Line Bible Study, but would like to be, there are openings available. Is it Christ? Temptation. Of all Jesus' comments to the churches, the one to the Church of the Laodiceans is undoubtedly the most sobering and solemn. Dont let your past keep you from trusting God for a second (or third, or fourth) chance. Plain Answers. Colossians 3:1 tells us to seek those things which are above, where Christ is. In verse 5 were told to put to death the passions that come from below"fornication, uncleanness, passion, and evil desire. Then the Lord added the sin of greed or covetousness to the list, calling it idolatry. Every single member of that bodyeach of us individuallyis important and necessary. But thankfully, Scripture gives us illustrations: Like us, Jesus suffered, experienced hunger, required sleep, ate food, and had limits on His knowledge (Mark 13:32). Almighty God's words say, " The church of Philadelphia has taken shape, which is entirely due to the grace and mercy of God. Jonah 3:1-2. Life is full of hardships and heaviness. If we pray regularly but dont study very often, its the same thingwere doing all of the talking. E. M. Bounds, All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble. The Philadelphia Trumpet began in February 1990 and is published 10 times a year by the Philadelphia Church of God. Ezekiel looked up and saw remarkable visions of Godthe throne of God surrounded by angelic beings. Bible students can enroll, study and take tests at bcc.hwacollege.org. One of the most striking and helpful illustrations of Jesus humanity was His prayer life. Other biographies worthy of study are noted in Hebrews 11the faith chapter. With false humility? When it comes to Bible study, there is no end of knowledge that we can acquire. The evidence shows that the Philadelphia group lacks the spiritual strength of the beginning of the Ephesian group. To help students avoid this fee, pcg regional offices in Canada, the Philippines and Australia collected tests from those nations and sent them overnight to Edmond for grading and processing. What about marriage or the doctrine of the Old and New Covenants? For more, log onto, 4 Lessons From the Philadelphia Church in Revelation, thefaithfulness of the church in Philadelphia, 4 Steps to Spiritual Awakening From Revelation, Christs Message for the Seven Churches of Revelation and Today, Revelations 7 Promises to Every Believer, Becoming a Cashless SocietyA Financial Sign of the End Times. How often? Have we studied in detail what the Bible says about prayer, fasting, trials and overcoming? Spiritual disciplines are essential to a more vibrant spiritual life and knowing God more intimately. How can we remain steadfast in our faith and avoid the pressures of this ever-changing world? Righteous doesnt mean sinless, of course. Another example would be to study the words used to describe love in 1 Corinthians 13. ), the king of Pergamum. Are You a Prisoner of Your Spiritual Comfort Zone. The church in Philadelphia, They have the key of david 2 Timothy 2:15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. Herbert W. Armstrong College site allows users to study lessons, take tests online. The Christ, the Author and Answer (3:7b) Once again our risen Lord presents Himself in an aspect of His person and work which is fitting to the needs and problems of the assembly to ever remind us of the sufficiency of His life. As a young man, Ezekiel had dedicated himself to be a priest. (Luke 18:8). After Herbert W. Armstrong, founder of Worldwide Church of God, died at age of 93 (January 16, 1986), Gerald Flurry (born April 12, 1935 and a minister in WCG since 1973, 1 was one of those that disagreed with the new changes that Pastor General Joseph W. Tkach, Sr. began instigating. And it also happened to Jonah: The word of the Lord came to Jonah the first time (Jonah 1:1) and then the second time (Jonah 3:1). For example, the book of Matthew focuses on Christ, the King. The Gr. Though mankind was given the mandate to have dominion over (that is, to care for) all of creation, we have not done a good job. Another reason to study is to be able to give an answer to those who may want to know more about that hope they see in us (1 Peter 3:15). You will receive one lesson every month until you finish the course. Make sure Christ is at the center of your life and that your love for Him eclipses everything else! Francis Schaeffer, And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness. And he was called the friend of God. Transcript of the news story that aired in November 2008 on Fox 25. In fact, there are no instances of Jesus being asked to help or heal and Him answering, I am not willing. There is a place where the Bible says God is not willing, and that is 2 Peter 3:9. Only God has the words that shed light on the straight and narrow path leading to eternal life. Notice what Jesus says in Luke 11:9-10, 13: So I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. As far as a good education spiritually, what else do we have that compares to the Bible correspondence course? We can imagine a child writing an appreciative and sentimental memoir about her perfect father, understanding that perfect was not intended to be taken literally. This can be done with dozens of other booklets. But what is the biblical view of humility. But then the rains of grace came and David confessed his sin and God forgave him (verse 5). When He told the man that his sins were forgiven (and by extension, he was healed), He was criticized. It also highlights the parallels with the modern-day spiritual Laodiceans. Doesnt it make sense to take notes and study them later? We sponsor the global broadcast of the "Tomorrow's World" television programa weekly half-hour telecast explaining the end-time prophecies of the Bible, announcing the good news of the Kingdom of God, and spreading the teachings of Jesus Christ. When you see opportunities to care for creationnature or your own bodydo so as a way of glorifying the Creator. The Philadelphians have had to knock because they have only a little strength, and they know it. Philadelphia, [N] [E] [H] strictly Philadelphia ( brotherly love ), a town on the confines of Lydia and Phrygia Catacecaumene, 25 southeast of Sardis, and built by Attalus II., king of Pergamos, who died B.C. We study them to make the appropriate course corrections in our thinking. Television Program. The Church of Philadelphia is part of the Seven Churches of Revelation 2-3. When Gods mandates go unfulfilled on earth, Gods glory is diminished. The Philadelphians have had to knock because they have only a little strength, and they know it. It is true for us today also. The best way to increase joy in your life is by developing a habit of daily time with God. "No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man" (verse 13). He is committed to caring for us, watching over us, and giving us strength when we are within His will. Philadelphia Dallas Monday Night Service. What is this open door? It will teach you why the Bible is true, teach you how to study more effectively, and answer some of life's greatest questions. Jesus encourages the Philadelphian believers regarding His future coming: "Since you have kept my command to endure patiently, I will also keep you from the hour of trial that is going to come upon the whole world to test those who live on the earth. The treasury of Scripture will enrich your mind, refocus your goals, replace your doubts, and redirect your pathbut only if you read it and heed it. But they also know that the only way to endure courageously (Revelation 3:10) is to seek the strength of God. The thesis also sparked years of critical study on the Bible. Biographies. Integrity of heart is indispensable. The Bereans "received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so" (Acts 17:10-11). To think our temptation is unique is to believe a lie. Christ opens the door to the Kingdom because of the Philadelphian's faithfulness, just as He promises to keep him from the hour of trial because of his perseverance (Revelation 3:10). 3:8 I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for . The Passover is a memorial of the crucifixion of Christ. The Church of Philadelphia. What Is the Work of God Now? How did He react to situations when He was challenged? It is available by subscription . By Grant Turgeon Dec. 7, 2016 The homepage of the Herbert W. Armstrong College Bible Correspondence Course This is what He compliments them for being, meaning they have a commendable measure of obedience. Every single member of that bodyeach of us individuallyis important and necessary. Notes from Sabbath services and Bible studies. They often deal with speculation that does not emanate from the Spirit of God and can be wrong in their conclusions. We have a purpose for being hereto refresh the memory of others regarding the things of the Lord. So we study to be corrected. We have not seen many mountains moving out of their places. That makes it easier to talk to Him. 'Freely you have receivedfreely give ' We want to share God's truth with as many who want to receive it. Hello golden streets, glorified bodies, endless days, and the fresh air of New Jerusalem! Bible | Philadelphia Church of God Just How 'New' Is New Year's? How about the truth on faith or healing? Flurry said. Two of the seven churches have nothing condemning them in the letter because they are the regenerate church. Peter wrote his final letter shortly before his execution. Are we able to disprove those beliefs and prove the truth of the commandments, the Sabbath, holy days, tithing, and grace versus law from the Bible? If we put these study ideas into action, Bible study will be exciting, fun and richly rewardingsomething to eagerly look forward to! Wayne Turgeon Dec. 30, 2022 What Is the Unpardonable Sin? The Philadelphians have one fine qualitythey are faithful. On May 5, 2001, God signaled the beginning of a new phase in this rapidly fading age of man. It is said that you truly understand a subject when you can explain it to someone else. Genesis 1:28. As we study and learn to think like God, as we put into action Gods way of life, were able to handle strong meat and continue growing (Hebrews 5:13-14) until we attain the very character of God! This is most helpful when studying a particular doctrine or topic. Such images are in stark contrast to the pristine beauty and glory of Eden as presented in Genesis. PHILADELPHIA, a city of Asia Minor, on the borders of Lydia and Phrygia, now called Alla-Shehr, or high city, with 3000 houses, about 15,000 pop., with few ancient ruins. He listed them in verses 710. Jesus Christs sacrifice for sin is essential for salvation! In his vision of the future, the apostle John saw that new heaven and a new earth, our new domain being pictured as the New Jerusalem coming down out of heaven from God (Revelation 21:1-2). In Romans 12:3 Paul exhorts the believers not to think of themselves pridefully but rather to think of themselves soberlythat is, realistically or accurately. Dwight L. Moody, The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is long suffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance. The King James Version is the most accurate English translation, but, written nearly 400 years ago, it does have some hard-to-understand expressions. This course has been designed to guide you through a systematic study of your Biblethe Bible is the only textbook. But how about a book titledThe Righteous Father? of Ephesus. For decades, the church interpreted Revelation 3:7 to mean the church had "God's government," and the ministry too often wielded this club with a heavy hand (Ezekiel 34:1-10; Jeremiah 23:1-3). Mark 2:5. These can be used to get an overview of a particular book, but the commentary provided can sometimes be misguided because the authors do not have the framework of Gods overall plan for man as revealed to His Church. John W. Ritenbaugh Martin Collins explains that Scripture defines virtue as a strength or power that disciplined people use to produce beautiful traits of goodness. Some people wonder about the value of the Old Testament in a Christian's life. It was situated on the lower slopes of Tmolus, and is still represented by a town called Allah-shehr (city of God). Connections are available beginning at 6:45 PM. He did for us what we cannot do for ourselves. But he did manifest some qualities that every father should emulate. If we knock and keep knocking (as the Greek indicates), God opens the door. We have a much better chance of putting the knowledge we gain in class to practical use if we prayerfully study and review what God teaches us each and every week through His instructorsthe ministry. Let thy hope of heaven master thy fear of death. Yet He did, following the example of godly men like Daniel in Babylon (Daniel 2:16-18). Sabbath services usually last about 90 minutes. When we think life has collapsed around us, the God of glory appears above us. Actually, the church of Philadelphia has arisen already, and it is Eastern Lightning that everyone has heard aboutit is The Church of Almighty God. . Ezekiel looked beyond the sufferings of Christ to the glory that should follow. WELCOME, to Philadelphia Christian Church where we worship in spirit and in truth. Thats nothing compared to the treasure youll find when opening the covers of the Bible. Bible study helps are not necessary to become well acquainted with the Bible and Gods way of life. What the Bible says about The Philadelphians' strength is small, but God's is without limit. God inspired the original text of the Bible, but not the translations in to our modern languages, which can contain errors. 7 Answers to 7 Questions. He alone has the . David C. Grabbe The volunteer decided the dilapidated volume wasnt worth saving and was about to throw it away when she thumbed through it and found a hidden chamber. It surely evoked deep introspection among the believers in that ancient city and, we trust, a repentant spirit. Have you responded to Gods willing invitation to come to Him? by King Attallus of Pergamum, whose nickname was Philadelphus, which means "lover of a brother." Obviously, studying the life of Jesus Christ is the best example. The religions of the world teach that the law is done away. How we study the Bible is an indication of how much we are yielding to God and the work He is doing through us. Paul wanted Timothy to hold fast to the truth of God, not allowing himself to be divided. However, if we study the scriptures referred to and use them as a basis to construct an outline of the booklet, chapter by chapter, we will have a pretty good synopsis of the booklet based on the scriptures. A Bible dictionary gives information about biblical words, people, places and things. The Church of Philadelphia in Revelation covers the era between the second half of the 18 th century and the first half of the 19 th century. The more we study, the stronger we are, which makes the Church stronger. The Laodiceans are largely derived from a base that came from the Philadelphians, making them weaker still, due to their lackadaisical inattention to their relationships with God. [It] was rebuilt without the financial help of Rome after the disastrous earthquake of a.d. 60. The way to cover our sin is to uncover it by confession. In all things showing yourself to be a pattern of good works; in doctrine showing integrity, reverence, incorruptibility. Those who attain that level of character will be able to serve as kings! It was like his soul was being evaporated by the heat of his own guilt and shame. And when he believed God, [God] accounted it to [Abraham] for righteousness (Genesis 15:6). Paul uses that image to say that Christ leads His followers in a victory procession through every difficulty in life (2 Corinthians 2:14-15). Notice, however, that they have "a little strength"they are weak. When we look up all the scriptures where the same words are used we will develop a richer appreciation of what love is all about. Philadelphia was located on a hillside about 30 miles southeast of Sardis. This can often spare us the heartache of making poor choices or bad decisions. The patriarch Isaac could have written that book about his father, Abraham. That is why Scripture is of paramount importance. A vital reason to study is that it enhances our prayers with God. It can be found in Gods holy day plan! No one can shut that open door, though we can certainly ignore it and neglect so great a salvation (Hebrews 2:3). We hope to have the opportunity to fellowship with you soon. Click a link to view a PDF workbook: Lessons But Jonah fled west toward Spain because he feared the Assyrians. Friendship is the marriage of affections. Darris is the Associate Media Producer for the Church. By giving the Spirit, He gives more of Himself. They should, however, only be used to establish historical or grammatical facts. Forgiveness is to be set loose from sins. Out of the seven churches, only this church and the church in Smryna received unqualified praise and approval. Behind the city are volcanic cliffs which the locals call 'inkwells.' Do any of them have problems similar to ours? Hello Jesus! After all, as Jesus explained, actions speak louder than words (Mark 2:8-11). When all four tires are in motion, we will be able to respond to the authority of the Bible (Isaiah 66:2) and take action. To get the best use out of [the Bible] for daily life,Give it the best and freshest, not the most tired and dull, hour of the day. Nevertheless, the Philadelphians, though faithful, are somewhat weak. You can study this example here. We now study the second last message addressed to Philadelphia, the faithful church (Revelation 3:7-13). If your beliefs, and therefore your actions, have become divided, gather them back together as you commit to God and His Word. In the middle of lifes battles, were tempted to question Gods ordering of our circumstances, but every follower of Christ can look back and see the conspicuous hand of Gods Providence. But compared to the online course, even that method was a very inefficient process, Hensley said. The magazines name illustrates that the material within is intended for royalty! See what over 150,000 subscribers are already receiving each day. Sometimes the scriptures that relate to a specific subject are not easily found in a concordance because the subject is broader than just one word used in the Bible. But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. The Christians victory is through Christ. (Part 5). Psalm 32:4. Theyre building a palace for me over there. Can we explain the details of the gospel, the Kingdom of God, the Millennium and Gods government? As our lives center on God, giving priority to hearing His voice and reading His Word, we become bolder in sharing our faith.