The Philadelphian church continues into the Laodicea or Pentecostal age of the church. There is a "lapover."
The Philadelphian age (brotherly love) was a great missionary age (Revelation 3:7-8) - after that age of great missionary's, with Whitefield, Wesley, Finney, Sankey, and Moody, it comes down to the Pentecostal age; He set a open door before the church. It's just in-between the Philadelphian and the Laodicean age, a lapover. The open door is Christ - each did their part, with what they had. Now it is the witness of the Holy Ghost - Token. SO, this age (the last age) is a continuation of that age, by the open door - Christ.
Who do we witness too and who can witness? No one has any business being a witness without the Holy Ghost (Acts 1:8). And who do we witness - do we go to the great nerve centers of the world? I think not.
61-0311 BE.NOT.AFRAID_ RICHMOND.VA SATURDAY_
A certain minister met me not long ago, a very outstanding man, Doctor of Divinity. He said, "Brother Branham, your meetings should hit the great nerve centers." Said, "You could hit the places like New York City and--and so, great big places." And said, "We've got our own planes and (this denominational church)," and said, "we'll fly you around the world, just hitting the high places and the nerve centers."
ALSO HE GOES ON TO SAY...
I said, "Listen. God, when Jesus came, He never hit the nerve centers. He came to the elected. My ministry is to the elected." I said, "What I do, I am led to do. And I don't care about nerve centers. I go where the Lord leads me." - WMB
Unquote: It is not how many that hears us, but who hears (Revelation 3:22). It is not quantity, but quality. That would be a denominational spirit - numbers ("a million more in 44"). I might add, the quality, is not the same as the so called church is looking for. It is living what you believe and preach - "the LORD is coming soon!"
This is why the Elect of God is primarily made-up of foolish things of the world, the weak of the world and not the mighty and noble, to confound the wise. This is why God chose you and I. Our glory, is to glory only in the LORD. It is His GLORY and not our own, which we are to be a Witness!
1 Cor 1:26 For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called: 27 But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; 28 And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are: 29 That no flesh should glory in his presence.
I enjoyed preaching on this subject Wednesday night - "I AM A WITNESS." Archived HERE.
Pastor Bill Ivy - Living Word Tabernacle, Campbell Missouri USA - Our services are archived - www.livingwordtabernacle.com