There is a Place of Safety for the Philadelphians     D R A F T

By Robert J. Thiel   5/5/01

Are some of God's people actually going to flee right before the
tribulation? According to Jesus the answer is yes. He said, "And pray
that your flight may not
be in winter or on the Sabbath. For then there will be great
tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until
this time, no nor ever shall
be" (Mat 24:20-21, NKJ throughout). As all members know, the Living
Church of God is serious about proclaiming the "Ezekiel warning" to the
world. But
do all know that those who need to be warned include the members of the
Church of God?

Two Groups

Let this be perfectly clear, there are two groups of God's people
mentioned in Revelation 12--one which goes to a place of safety and one
which does not. It
states: "But the woman was given two wings of a great eagle, that she
might fly into the wilderness to her place, where she is nourished for a
time and times
and half a time, from the presence of the serpent. So the serpent spewed
water out of his mouth like a flood after the woman, that he might cause
her to be
carried away by the flood. But the earth helped the woman, and the earth
opened its mouth and swallowed up the flood which the dragon had spewed
out of
his mouth. And the dragon was enraged with the woman, and he went to
make war with the rest of her offspring , who keep the commandments of
God, and
have the testimony of Jesus Christ" (vv. 14-17). Note that just keeping
the commandments of God and having the testimony of Jesus Christ is not
enough to
insure that one will go "into the wilderness", be "nourished", and
protected "from the presence of the serpent". For the dragon will "make
war" with those
who do not go.

Jesus himself warned, "But take heed to yourselves, lest your hearts be
weighed down with carousing, drunkenness, and cares of this life, and
that Day come
on you unexpectedly. For it will come as a snare on all those who dwell
on the face of the whole earth. Watch therefore, and pray always that
you may be
counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to
stand before the Son of Man" (Luke 21:34-36). Whether you believe that
the churches
mentioned in Revelation 2 & 3 are prophetic church eras or conditions
that exist within the Church throughout history (or both), it seems
clear that some will
be protected and others will not. Regarding the letter to the angel of
the Church of Philadelphia, Rev 3:10-11 states, "Because you have kept
my command to
persevere, I also will keep you from the hour of trial which shall come
upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth. Behold I
come quickly!
Hold fast what you have, that no one may take your crown". The
Philadelphians are the only ones that God promises to keep "from the
hour of trial that
comes upon the whole world". Regarding the letter to the angel of the
church of the Laodiceans shows they walk a different path: "As many as I
love, I
rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent" (v.19).

What are the differences between those groups? To the Philadelphians,
Jesus said, "I know your works. See I have set before you an open door,
and no one
can shut it; for you have have a little strength, kept My word, and have
not denied My name" (v. 8). The message starts out the same for the
Laodiceans, "I
know your works..." but it certainly does not end the same-- "...that
you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. So
then, because you are
lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spew you out of my mouth.
Because you say, 'I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of
nothing'--and do
not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked--I
counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be
rich; and white
garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may
not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see"
(vv.15-18).

The Philadelphians are promised to be kept from the hour of trial
because they kept God's "command to persevere" or as the AV says "kept
the word of my
patience" (v. 10). If the Philadelphia era of the Church existed while
Mr. Herbert W. Armstrong was alive, could this possibly mean that the
remaining remnant of the Philadelphia era are the ones who still
believe, teach, and practice what Jude referred to as "the faith which
was
once for all delivered to the saints" (Jud 3)? (Click here for the
article What is a True Philadelphian?) Would this not include the 18
truths that HWA
restored to the Church of God without adding extrabiblical requirements?
Would not this Church also have the same priority of proclaiming the
Gospel of the
Kingdom to the world?

John Owgyn has some interesting ideas on this subject as he wrote (prior
to March 1995), "In Revelation 3, we read of two final phases of the
history of the
Church of God. The Church of Philadelphia was to be characterized by a
zeal to do the Work. God promised to set before them an 'open door' as
well as to
protect them from the future Great Tribulation. However, there is a
final seventh stage of the Church described, as the Church at Laodicea.
This church was to
be described by spiritual lukewarmness and lethargy. It is described as
a worldly church, and certainly one which fit in with the spirit of
these permissive,
modern times...Some of God's people have been overwhelmed by the cares
and problems of this life or by personal problems and have dropped by
the
wayside. Others have been deceived by false prophets and have gone into
apostasy. Still others have become so lethargic and softened by comfort
that they
have lost their vision and merely wish to maintain local churches, no
longer caring about doing the Work...Will you be one whom God uses to
finish his
end-time Work? Do you have that true Philadephian spirit that reaches
out to the whole world in genuine love and concern to share God's
message of Truth
and hope? Do you consider it important that the House of Israel be
warned of the impending time of Jacob's trouble?"

Greek Terms May Also Describe the Groups

Looking at the meanings of the names of the different churches may help
reveal some characteristics of each. According to Strong's Greek
concordance,
Philadelphia means "fraternal affection", "brotherly love", "love of the
brethren", "fond of the brethren". Also according to Strong's, Laodicea
is a combination
of two words, laos which it defines as "people" and dike, which is
defined by Strong's as "right", "judgment", "punish", and "vengeance".
Smith's Bible
Dictionary defines Laodicea to mean "justice of the people". Might the
term Laodicean convey that he predominant characteristic of this Church
is that people
rule, the people judge, or, in fact that the people are judgmental? I
personally feel that the term Laodicea conveys a difference in
governance and that most
Laodiceans have rejected the restored truth about governance.

What Happens to Those Not in a Place of Protection?

We have seen that God will not keep those in the Laodicea era of His
Church from entering the tribulation. So what, specifically, will happen
to those who are
not in a place of protection? Some of the answers may lie in the book of
Lamentations, which details that time: "The tongue of the infant clings
To the roof of
its mouth for thirst; The young children ask for bread, But no one
breaks it for them...Those slain by the sword are better off Than those
who die by hunger;
For these pine away, Stricken for lack of the fruit of the field. The
hands of the compassionate women Have cooked their own children; They
became food for
them In the destruction of the daughter of my people...Our pursuers were
swifter Than the eagles of the heavens. They pursued us on the mountains
And lay
in wait for us in the wilderness" (Lam 4:4-19). This book, written by
the prophet Jeremiah, foretells what will happen to the modern-day
descendants of Israel,
and indications are that it may include "spiritual" and not just
physical Israel (i.e., Lam 1:4,2:20,4:7,5:21-22). Even if you believe
that these prophecies were
fulfilled around the fall of Jerusalem in 70 AD, remember Jesus said,
"For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since
the beginning of the
world until this time, no nor ever shall be" (Mat 24:21). Thus, we can
look at the most horrifying events that have happened in the past and
yet realize that the
coming Tribulation will be worse.

Since a portion of God's people have fallen in the past (I Cor 10:1-11),
many things were recorded "for our admonition, on whom the ends of the
ages have
come. Therefore let him who thinks he stand take heed lest he fall" (I
Cor 10:11b-12). Mat 24:22 states, "And unless those days were shortened,
no flesh
would be saved" yet, though the situation appears bleak--almost
hopeless--notice the conclusion of the verse, "but for the elect's sake
those days will be
shortened". Similarly in Jer 30:7 it says, "Alas! For that day is great,
So that none is like it; And it is the time of Jacob's trouble, But he
shall be saved out of
it". Yes, God will deliver some of His Spirit-begotten children from the
the physical terror of the Tribulation. He'll deliver the remnant of the
Philadelphians.
For Jesus says, "But not a hair of your head shall be lost" (Luke
21:18).

Are most of God's people going to go to a place of protection or most
going to go through the Tribulation? The Bible seems to give us clues.
The three places
where the NKJ Bible uses the expression "time and times and half a time"
are Rev 12:14, Dan 7:25, and Dan 12:7. They seem to be referring to the
same time
period. Dan 12:7b states "a time, times, and half a time, and when the
power of the holy people has been completely shattered, all these things
shall be
finished". This suggests that nearly all of the "holy people" are
affected. In Dan 7:24-25 it states, "The ten horns are ten kings Who
shall arise from this
kingdom. And another shall rise after them; He shall be different from
the first ones, And shall subdue three kings. He shall speak pompous
words against the
Most High, Shall persecute the saints of the Most High, And shall intend
to change times and law. Then the saints shall be given into his hand
For a time and
times and half a time". Note that the saints will be persecuted before
they are "given into his hand"; perhaps that means all of God's people
will be persecuted
before the period "time and times and half a time" begins. The
expressions "completely shattered" and "the saints shall be given into
his hand" seem to
suggest that most of the saints will be in the tribulation. We know this
cannot mean all because the book of Revelation says the Philadelphians
will be kept
from the hour of trial (3:10)--protected "from the presence of the
serpent" (cf. 12:14). God will in some way separate Christians living in
when these terrible
calamities finally come to be. Some will be protected from the
Tribulation--many, however, will not be! (3:16).

Why would God allow much of the Church to go through tribulation? Dan
11:35 states, "And some of those of understanding shall fall, to refine
them, purge
them, and make them white, until the time of the end; because it is
still for the appointed time". Also Dan 12:9-10 states, "And he said,
'Go your way Daniel,
for the words are closed up and sealed til the time of the end. Many
shall be purified and made white, and refined, but the wicked shall do
wickedly; and none
of the wicked shall understand, but the wise shall understand". Who is
counseled to by gold that has been refined? Who is warned that they will
be rebuked
and chastened? The Laodiceans (Rev 3:18,19). Even when Babylon the great
is clearly evident on the world scene, it seems that God's people still
need to be
warned, "And I heard another voice from heaven saying, 'Come out of her
my people, lest you share in her sins, and lest you receive of her
plagues'" (18:4).
Some, sadly, probably will "receive of her plagues" (or that warning
would probably have not been necessary).

Where is the Place?

Although some have suggested that the Bible gives no clue about where
the place of safety will be, this is inaccurate. First let's look in
Luke 21:20-21, "But
when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that its
desolation is near. Then let those who are in Judea flee to the
mountains, let those who are
in the midst of her depart, and let not those who are in the country
enter her." It thus appears that the place of safety is not in Jerusalem
or Judea.

"He who walks righteously and speaks uprightly, He who despises the gain
of oppressions, Who gestures with his hands, refusing bribes, Who stops
his ears
from hearing of bloodshed, And shuts his eyes from seeing evil: He will
dwell on high; His place of defense will be the fortress of rocks; Bread
will be given
him, His water will be sure" (Isaiah 33:15-16)..."Assemble yourselves
and come; Draw near together, You who have escaped from the nations"
(Isaiah 45:20).
Isaiah thus indicates this place will be a fortress of rocks for those
that escape; it is also of interest to note that those that escape will
be assembled--they are
not lone independents.

Revelation 12:14 clearly states that it is a place to go to, it is in
the wilderness, and it is away from the presence of the serpent. The
word translated as
wilderness, is translated as desert in the NIV. This word is eremos,
which Strong's defines as lonesome, waste, desert, desolate, solitary,
wilderness. Thus, it is
not protection in our own houses (as some have erroneously suggested),
nor is it protection in a large city. It is somewhere in the
wildnerness.

Petra, the rocky outpost in Jordan, has been speculated to be the place.
Although it is not certain that it will be, Herbert Armstrong thought it
may be as he
wrote, "Petra may very well be the site for God's protection of HIS
PEOPLE---those who are counted WORTHY TO ESCAPE the terrifying GREAT
TRIBULATION that is soon to strike an unsuspecting Israel! PETRA, an
ancient Arab stronghold deep in the rugged mountains, is accessible only
by
traveling through narrow, twisting gorges on horseback!" (Letter, April
15, 1956). "We thought of that, when we were in Petra---and how
undoubtedly that is
the very place where WE shall spend from 3 to 7 years during the Great
Tribulation and possibly also the terrible Day of the Lord, soon to
come---IF we are
close to God instead of this pleasure-man world--- if we are praying
always, and WATCHING, and accounted worthy to escape the things that are
coming on
the earth!" (Letter, May 8, 1956). "Apparently many are carelessly
supposing they are now SURE of being protected through the Great
Tribulation (now
ALMOST READY TO STRIKE!). Whether it will be Petra or another place,
many feel carelessly secure, and, after that, entering God's Kingdom
with
ETERNAL LIFE! But YOU DON'T HAVE IT "MADE." You are still being TRIED --
to determine whether you shall have this protection -- whether you
shall enter the Kingdom of God! It is those who are LED BY the Spirit of
God -- NOT those who are led by desire for more and more physical and
material
things!...SO, hundreds of you are SLACKING OFF in your RESPONSIBILITIES
in GOD'S WORK!...SO, hundreds of you are SLACKING OFF in your
RESPONSIBILITIES in GOD'S WORK!" (Letter, September 1, 1968). Thus, Mr.
Armstrong felt that those who slacked off in their responsibilities in
doing
God's work, would probably not go.

He further wrote, "I hope to arrange for the use of Petra as a possible
refuge or place of safety during the Great Tribulation, when I see King
Hussein." (Letter
February 25, 1982). After this writing apparently Mr. Armstrong felt
that many misconstrued this writing to indicate that it was about time
to go, so he then
wrote, "Incidentally, I know many of you seem to have your hearts set on
going very soon to Petra as "the place of safety" during the soon-coming
Great
Tribulation. Well, GET YOUR MINDS OFF PETRA. Brethren, I HAVE NEVER said
that Petra definitely is the place of protection where God will take us.
I
HOPE IT IS NOT! One reason it could be the place is that it is a place
NOBODY ELSE WOULD WANT TO GO. It would be the most UNpleasant,
UNcomfortable, miserable place you could go! There is nothing to be
desired there. But, just in case, God HAS miraculously given me very
gracious favor in
the eyes of King Hussein and also his brother, the Crown Prince. They
are very friendly to me personally. " (Letter, July 16, 1982).

Another reason that Petra may be place is found in Isaiah 16:1-4, "Send
the lamb to the ruler of the land, from Sela to the wilderness, to the
mount of the
daughter of Zion. For it shall be as a wandering bird thrown out of the
nest; So shall the daughters of Moab at the fords of the Arnon. Take
counsel, execute
judgement; Make your shadow like the night in the middle of the day;
Hide the outcasts, Do not betray him who escapes. Let my outcasts dwell
with you, O
Moab; Be a shelter to them from the face of the spoiler". From these
verses, we learn that Moab hides the outcasts, those who escape--this
could be God's
people as Jesus told them "pray always that you may be counted worthy to
escape" (Luke 21:36). We also learn that this place has something to do
with
Moab, Sela, and the wilderness. We know that the area that once was Moab
is modern Jordan. We also know that Sela means rock. It is called Petra
in Greek,
which also means rock. There is a deserted town in Jordan named Petra,
which is the place called Sela in Isaiah. Petra is not a city itself,
and is in a lonesome,
desert wilderness. It is possible that some other place on Earth also
meets these criteria, but thus far Petra appears to be the leading
candidate.

Some Other Scriptures Which Seem to Discuss The Place

"Come, my people, enter your chambers, And shut your doors behind you;
Hide yourself, as it were, for a little moment, Until the indignation is
past. For
behold, the Lord comes out of His place To punish the inhabitants of the
earth for their iniquity" (Isaiah 26:20-21). "Therefore thus says the
Lord God:
'Behold, My servants shall eat, But you shall be hungry; Behold, My
servants shall drink, But you shall be Thirsty; Behold, My servants
shall rejoice, But you
shall be ashamed; Behold, My servants shall sing for joy of heart, But
you shall cry for sorrow of heart, And wail for grief of spirit" (Isaiah
65:13-14).

So in spite of the hardships at this place, God's servants shall rejoice
at this place.

Now, let's look at what God's people will be doing after being in this
place: "I will set a sign among them; and those among them who escape I
will send to the
nations: to Tarshish and Pul and Lud, who draw the bow, and Tubal and
Javan, to the coastlands afar off who have not heard My fame nor seen My
glory.
And they shall declare My glory among the Gentiles" (Isaiah 66:19).
Doesn't this sound like those that go to this place will preach the
Gospel once they leave
it? Is it not then logical that those that were allowed to escape and go
to this place were those that placed their top emphasis on getting the
Gospel out prior to
escaping?

Watch, Pray, and Do the Work

Jesus said, "Watch therefore, for you do not know what hour your Lord is
coming...Blessed is that servant whom his master, when he comes, will
find so
doing" (Mat 24:42,46). He also said, "Take heed, watch and pray; for you
do not know when the time is" (Mark 13:33). Also, look at what we are
warned in
the book of Ezekiel (the book must be warning people who at least have
read the Bible), "Son of man, when a land sins against Me by persistent
unfaithfulness, I will stretch out My hand against it; I will cut off
its supply of bread, send famine on it, and cut off man and beast from
it. Though these three
men, Noah, Daniel, and Job, were in it, they would deliver only
themselves by their righteousness, says the LORD God...they would
deliver neither sons nor
daughters; only they would be delivered, and the land would be desolate"
(Ezk 14:13-14,16b).

Thus depending on others will not save you. That is why Paul says in
Philippians, "work out your own salvation with fear and trembling"
(2:12). Since the
Living Church of God believes the '18 restored truths' and places its
highest priority on publically proclaiming the Gospel of the Kingdom, it
seems that its
members make up the bulk of the remnant of the Philadelphia era of the
Church (for more information, please read What is a True
Philadelphian?). However,
just being in Living (or any other group) is not a ticket to the place
of safety.

All indications are that we are living during the Laodicean era of God's
Church. That means that of all the truly converted Christians most are
Laodecian
(which is why only the remnant of the Philadelphia era would be around
today). And the Laodiceans are not only confined to groups other than
Living. That
means that you could be one. I could be one. Any of us could be
Laodicean. And if so, we need to make some big changes. Otherwise, God
will resort to
drastic measures--putting us through the worst trial in human history.

So what are we now to do, individually, to be delivered and to avoid the
consequences of the Great Tribulation? We are to pray that we will be
accounted
worthy (Mat 24:20); to ask God to help us repent now so we won't need to
be severely chasten during the Tribulation later. We need to pray that
our flight
will not be on the Sabbath or in the winter (Luke 21:36). We need to
watch. Watch world events (Mat 24:20, Mark 13:33) and our own lives
(Luke 21:36).
And take heed that no one deceives us! (Mat 24:4)--in today's "attend
the COG of your choice" environment being at least partially deceived is
easier than
before (here is an article titled Unity: Which Church of God for You?).

The Philadelphians have God's " command to persevere" (Rev 3:10) and are
told to "hold fast to what you have, that no man may take your crown"
(v.11).
Perhaps this is a warning not to be swayed by doctrinal changes contrary
to our core, fundamental beliefs, which are instituted by men,
irrespective of their
position or education. We are told to be "so doing" when Jesus returns
(Mat 24:46). We need to have works of which God approves (Rev 3:8). We
must be
hot--not lukewarm (v.15).

Herbert W. Armstrong thought those in the Body of Christ who were part
of doing the work were going to be protected. He wrote the following,
"Those in
the true Body of Christ shall be protected until this tribulation will
be over (Rev. 3:10-11)--applying to those faithful in God's Work now
going to the world.
Rev 12:14; U.S.A. 26:20. But YOU must make your own decision -- and to
neglect doing so is to have made the wrong decision! God isn't kidding!
This is
for real!...The decision in now yours!" (Armstrong, Herbert W. The
United States and British Commonwealth in Prophecy. 1975; p:60). And of
course he
was right--the decision is yours. We all need to heed God's warning to
the Laodiceans--"He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to
the churches"
(Rev 3:22).

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Bob Thiel 2001