Chapter three
What in the World
Aug 08, 2026
“Be zealous therefore and repent” (Rev. 3:19).
Introduction
In the Book of Revelation we have seven Churches. Most Bible scholars agree that these churches represent God’s Church as it progresses historically through time. The historical periods are generally divided thus:
1. Ephesus – the Early Church;
2. Smyrna – the church persecuted by the Roman Empire;
3. Pergamos – the precursor to the Roman Catholic Church;
4. Thyatira – the Roman Catholic Church;
5. Sardis – The Protestant Churches;
6 Philadelphia – Between Sardis and Laodicea
7. Laodicea – the Last Church
The first three churches no longer physically exist on earth; they have either ceased to exist or the people have been absorbed into other institutional entities. But the fourth church, the Roman Catholic Church, exists now and will continue to exist until the end of Time. The same applies to the fifth church – the Protestant Churches, they exist now and they will continue to exist until the end of time. And the Last Church, because it is the last church, exists now and continues until the end of Time. This means that the sixth church, Philadelphia exists along side three other Churches that exist now and continue until the end of time. Which means that the Philadelphians exist contemporaneously with the last four churches. So, can we identify the Philadelphian Church? And can we identify Laodicea?
The Philadelphian Church
There are several churches that claim the title Philadelphia – but the first to claim the honour were the pioneers of the Advent Movement.
All Advent believers know perfectly well that the Philadelphia Church, the church of brotherly love, was made up of those who came out of Sardis or the nominal church, in 1844, under the cry, ‘Babylon is fallen, is fallen.’ Milton Wilcox, The Seven Churches and the Seven Seals, (Pacific Press, 1904). p. 9.
Milton Wilcox was addressing Adventists in the year 1904, he wrote “All Adventists know perfectly well that the Philadelphia CHuch was made up of those who left Sardis and joined the Advent Movement by the year 1844.However that is not the case today -most Adventists believe they are the Laodicean Church. But all those who lived the years prior to 1844, agreed with Milton Wilcox, not only that they were the Philadelphia Church, but that they were fulfilling the prophecy of the Philadelphia Church:
…the Philadelphia Church is the true church of the last days… James White, Review and Herald, May 9, 1854.
In mercy He reached forth his hand and enabled the Advent people in 1844 to break the cords of sectarianism that bound them, that they, (the Philadelphia Church) might be disciplined and guided into the kingdom by the order and pure doctrines of the gospel. James white, RH Dec. 6, 1853. (Brackets are those of James White).
The true church are to be found with those that… entered into the Philadelphia Church in the fall of 1844 and became a church at that time… Joseph Bates, RH Aug 19, 1851.
While standing in that waiting position (spring 1844), the light of the second angels message flashed upon us; and a voice came like a mighty rushing wind, “Come out of her my people.” No one knew who raised the cry first; but as we heard from our brethren north, south, east and west, all had the same experience, and immediately left their respective churches. Yes, and we all left our creeds, or what had been before our differences. Right there we formed the Philadelphian state of the church – a church of brotherly love. George Washington Morse. RH March 7, 1899.
Introduction
In the Book of Revelation we have seven Churches. Most Bible scholars agree that these churches represent God’s Church as it progresses historically through time. The historical periods are generally divided thus:
1. Ephesus – the Early Church;
2. Smyrna – the church persecuted by the Roman Empire;
3. Pergamos – the precursor to the Roman Catholic Church;
4. Thyatira – the Roman Catholic Church;
5. Sardis – The Protestant Churches;
6 Philadelphia – Between Sardis and Laodicea
7. Laodicea – the Last Church
The first three churches no longer physically exist on earth; they have either ceased to exist or the people have been absorbed into other institutional entities. But the fourth church, the Roman Catholic Church, exists now and will continue to exist until the end of Time. The same applies to the fifth church – the Protestant Churches, they exist now and they will continue to exist until the end of time. And the Last Church, because it is the last church, exists now and continues until the end of Time. This means that the sixth church, Philadelphia exists along side three other Churches that exist now and continue until the end of time. Which means that the Philadelphians exist contemporaneously with the last four churches. So, can we identify the Philadelphian Church? And can we identify Laodicea?
The Philadelphian Church
There are several churches that claim the title Philadelphia – but the first to claim the honour were the pioneers of the Advent Movement.
All Advent believers know perfectly well that the Philadelphia Church, the church of brotherly love, was made up of those who came out of Sardis or the nominal church, in 1844, under the cry, ‘Babylon is fallen, is fallen.’ Milton Wilcox, The Seven Churches and the Seven Seals, (Pacific Press, 1904). p. 9.
Milton Wilcox was addressing Adventists in the year 1904, he wrote “All Adventists know perfectly well that the Philadelphia CHuch was made up of those who left Sardis and joined the Advent Movement by the year 1844.However that is not the case today -most Adventists believe they are the Laodicean Church. But all those who lived the years prior to 1844, agreed with Milton Wilcox, not only that they were the Philadelphia Church, but that they were fulfilling the prophecy of the Philadelphia Church:
…the Philadelphia Church is the true church of the last days… James White, Review and Herald, May 9, 1854.
In mercy He reached forth his hand and enabled the Advent people in 1844 to break the cords of sectarianism that bound them, that they, (the Philadelphia Church) might be disciplined and guided into the kingdom by the order and pure doctrines of the gospel. James white, RH Dec. 6, 1853. (Brackets are those of James White).
The true church are to be found with those that… entered into the Philadelphia Church in the fall of 1844 and became a church at that time… Joseph Bates, RH Aug 19, 1851.
While standing in that waiting position (spring 1844), the light of the second angels message flashed upon us; and a voice came like a mighty rushing wind, “Come out of her my people.” No one knew who raised the cry first; but as we heard from our brethren north, south, east and west, all had the same experience, and immediately left their respective churches. Yes, and we all left our creeds, or what had been before our differences. Right there we formed the Philadelphian state of the church – a church of brotherly love. George Washington Morse. RH March 7, 1899.
