The word Philadelphia is already famous in our history. The city where the American Republic was formed bears its name and this name is amazingly popular when naming Christian congregations and related sects.
This brings us to the mindset of Islam, or the Angel of the Islam mindset. A mindset which at the time of prophecy was unknown.
The word Philo is a Greek name for brotherly love and Delphia or Delphi is a word pointing to the Oracle at Delphi.
The famous oracle was partly inspired by the serpent or python that had been slain by Apollo but survived and whispered deadly accurate prophecies. At one time Apollo learnt the art of prophecy and deceived the Oracle.
The Greek culture believed that Delphi was at the center of the earth and that a stone was placed there at the centre. Also it is interesting that the city of Philadelphia wasn’t as noteworthy in history as the first five, but was founded – or named – on the principle of brotherly love and hint of a successor.
Also it is interesting how the name is related to the word Philosophy which means “lover of knowledge”.
Now when we begin to glue these points together we begin to see a picture emerging. An encircling stone, a continuation of something started by a great serpent, a successor to an older brother, the principles of love; yet it hasn’t appeared yet.
Something that didn’t exist at the time of inspiration would later appear and replace or supersede the faith inspired through Yehoshua from Nazareth. A new version of Monotheism would appear and would easily be recognized as a successor or a continuation in a brotherly fashion and a circling stone would point to it.
It doesn’t take much for someone who has read the Holy Quran and studied the work of The Prophet Mohammad to see what the Archangel is showing us.
Particularly we should note that Mohammad worked in such a prophetic fashion that he withstands the test which always has been used to detect a true prophet and was established by the ancient Hebrews: Does he uphold The One God above all else? Does he fight against Idolatry?
It is also interesting that from the standpoint of Mohammad that he recognized Yehoshua – or Jesus – as a great prophet of God and he supports what Yehoshua hinted at himself when describing his work. That his work was primarily involved with the Hebraic faith and their interpretation of the Law given through the great prophet Moses.
Many would point out that Mohammad declared himself as the last or greatest of the prophets, but from what I’ve gleaned into his work he also accepted that more prophets arrive from God and that there would come a time of a greater prophet.
One thing I would like to point out here, that the word Great in an understanding of any Monotheist Prophet, it only means something that adds to or redefines an understanding from earlier times. It is easy to see for example how the scriptures of Torah are large and voluminous, that the Testament of Yehoshua’s ministry is large but smaller, and that the holy Quran is large but smaller and lastly how “God’s Will” is rather small.
All the great works shedding light on an understanding or inspiration regarding The One Faith (Monotheism) build on the earlier works; sometimes adding to an understanding, sometimes rediscovering an understanding and usually clarifying and re sharpening an insight.
It can easily be seen through the words of the prophecy when the Archangel reminds us of the opening and shutting of doors.
Deeply hidden in the reference and almost impossible to see, but shouts at you when you see it; the city was a home to the cult of the Temple Sweepers. In many ways Mohammad’s work did precisely that regarding Christianity, for he says himself that the work of Yehoshua had been corrupted by his priests.
{3:7} And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write; These things saith he that is holy, he that is true, he that hath the key of David, he that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth; {3:8} I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name. {3:9} Behold, I will make them of the synagogue of Satan, which say they are Jews, and are not, but do lie; behold, I will make them to come and worship before thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee. {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. {3:11} Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown. {3:12} Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name. {3:13} He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.
Real insight into God’s will and plan can only come from or through an authentic source. When it is given forth there will always be points which seekers of God can use as landmarks to ascertain for their faith which direction to go in and how to proceed.
No faith can grow if it doesn’t have a true seed, but often the seed has to be put in the ground. Some prophets do this with large signs, like Moses, Yehoshua and Mohammad, with great works following in their heels, others like Zoroaster and Abraham had to work for a lifetime while honing the cornerstone of what Monotheism is.
This is the seventh article about the Seven Churches or Seven Angels of the Apocalypse
