DISPENSATION TO WHICH PHILADELPHIA BELONGS

The Dispensation to Which the Philadelphia Church Belongs

"And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write...."

 

 

This includes the name, its meaning, and the general conditions.

The Name of the Church is Philadelphia

The name means brotherly love (jiladeljeia). It describes a warm, personal affection displayed between those who have a common origin.

In this case the affection is aroused, but the element of attractiveness is the object of love. This was not only displayed among the saints of this church but reached out to those on the outside. This is no doubt the reason Christ refers to the keys, opening, shutting, and the open door.

This church was responding to the Holy One and the True One, and therefore revolted from empty profession, mere orthodox piety, and the unreality of great ecclesiastical systems. They were actually translating the truth of Christianity into evangelism among the unsaved.

The Conditions of the Period Which This Church Represents

Roughly speaking, this period is from 1700-1900 A.D. It probably reaches back.

The great evangelistic and missionary movements of the Puritans, Methodists, Brethren, and Baptists which swept across the world with the rise of the pietistic movement are represented by this church. This included:

l. Growth in Bible study.
2. Concern for purity of life.
3. Separation of the church from civil governments.
4. Evangelistic fervor.
5. Modern missionary movements.