Well, we began to dig into the condition of the world during the last days of the church age. As we study over the next couple of weeks, we will see how important it is to reject the attitude of Laodicea and cleave even more fervently to the attributes of Philadelphia.
The personal promise of Jesus Christ to take the Philadelphian believers out of this world, before the tribulation, is a testimony of their faith.
Rev 3:10 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. 1 Thess 1:10; 5:9
The Philadelphian church is a church of born again, dedicated believers, to fulfilling the Great Commission. In contrast, the laodicean church is filled with self sufficient, easy belief, comfortable in their religion people.
The Philadelphian church is the Pearl of Great Price! Mat 13:45 – 46 Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant man, seeking goodly pearls: Who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it.
The picture Jesus paints for us, is that, in this age of the false physical kingdom of heaven. He is the merchant man who finds the one perfect pearl of great price, and sold all he had (gave his life on Calvary), in order to buy the pearl. The pearl is the Bride, the church!
Please read Rev. 3:14-22 to acquaint yourself with the age in which we live. Remember, Laodicea means “rights of the people” or “civil rights.”