The Philadelphia Church as an association of autonomous fellowships is united in theology, and uses shared bylaws. Any fellowship of disciples that agrees with these beliefs and incorporates the bylaws within their own establishing code[s] can request inclusion within the association known as The Philadelphia Church. Because each fellowship remains fully autonomous when included within the association, The Philadelphia Church maintains no organizational control nor commitment of resources from listed fellowships. The Philadelphia Church is a spiritual organization of saints. The financial needs of the organization are satisfied by freewill offerings received from saints or from fellowships of saints.
Saints seeking a local fellowship will, when they contact The Philadelphia Church’s web-site, be directed to the nearest fellowship that has incorporated the association’s bylaws into its establishing code[s]. If no fellowship is within reasonable computing distance, The Philadelphia Church will assist these saints in establishing a fellowship to the best of the association’s abilities. The establishment of fellowships that can proclaim the good news that all who endure to the end will be saved (Matt 24:13) is the expressed goal of The Philadelphia Church. The association’s emphasis is personal evangelism; the work of the ministry is to prepare every saint to be an evangelist.
The Philadelphia Church as an association practices typological exegesis. Therefore, The Philadelphia Church’s understanding of the Bible and especially of biblical prophecy differs substantially from denominations practicing either historic exegesis or precept-upon-precept exegesis. Through typology, The Philadelphia Church understands that all of humanity will become God’s holy nation of Israel when Satan is cast from heaven (Rev 12:9). The association understands that God’s focus has been on the dual harvests of the earth (Rev 14:15), the harvest of firstfruits upon Christ’s return as the Messiah and the main harvest of humanity in the great White Throne Judgment. The Philadelphia Church’s understanding of Israel’s identity most closely agrees with 18th-Century Puritanism. The association actually refines the work done by Samuel Mather in the last half of the 17th-Century. Thus, the exegesis of the association is not without theological predecessors. But The Philadelphia Church is not a derivative organization that has developed from any immediate predecessor. The association’s theology is not a derivative of any named denomination, or any sect. Rather, the association teaches that only a remnant of spiritual Israel has presently left Babylon to return to spiritual Jerusalem. The association self-identifies itself as that remnant of spiritual Israel presently doing the work of rebuilding the walls of spiritual Jerusalem just as Nehemiah led a remnant of physical Israelites in rebuilding the walls of physical Jerusalem. The association does not claim to represent all or even a major portion of spiritual Israel. The Philadelphia Church represents but a remnant of spiritual Israel, the remnant presently at work rebuilding walls with living stones in which are the doctrines of Christ.
When Israel is liberated from spiritual bondage following the second Passover slaughter of firstborns not covered by the blood of the Lamb of God, the greater Christian Church will include half of humanity. Christians will suddenly be hated for Christ’s name’s sake as they haven’t experienced in nearly two millennia. Christians will not be raptured to heaven to escape the spiritual hard labor pains of childbirth – of bringing many heirs of God to glory. Instead, the Church will be given into the hand of the little horn of Daniel chapter 7 (verse 25) for three and a half years. The spiritually liberated saints that then comprise the greater Church must endure in faith, resisting the little horn’s attempt to change times and the law. The saints who do resist become the harvesters of humanity when the Holy Spirit is poured out upon all mankind (Joel 2:28) halfway through seven years of tribulation. This pouring out of the Holy Spirit is the baptism of the world by the Spirit of God (Matt 3:11). Everyone will then be called by God (Rev 18:4). All who are genuine will resist taking the mark of the beast (Chi xi stigma, or the tattoo of the Cross). All who endure to the end will be saved (Matt 24:13). And this is the good news that must be proclaimed to the world (v. 14), and why enduring will be a test of faith.
The Philadelphia Church invites fellowships, large and small, to come live within the walls of spiritual Jerusalem so that this great city will not be empty. Nehemiah writes that "the leaders of the people lived in Jerusalem, and the rest of the people cast lots to bring one out of ten to live in Jerusalem the holy city" (11:1). What Nehemiah writes constitutes the physical shadow of what will occur spiritually. And Nehemiah adds, "And the people blessed all the men who willingly offered to live in Jerusalem" (v. 2). Come, be blessed. This is the promise to the Church in Philadelphia.
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