[NOTE:
this article was originally written in 1993, updated slightly in 1997 and is due
to undergo a radical update]
JUST WHAT DO
YOU MEAN - "LAODICEAN CHURCH" ?
For years speculation has been rife on how this church may
emerge. Is it with us alongside the Philadelphians within the one Church, yet
future or a separate identifiable group in existence right now? Has
the Synagogue of Satan taken over the Philadephia Church and the Laodicean
Church yet to emerge, tainted by the carnality of that evil Synagogue? Only history can give us the amazing answers!
Contents
Many of us have
wondered and waited for this prophesied event to occur. Some have thought that
this era would exist alongside Philadelphians within the one Church until the
Tribulation when a separation would occur. Is this the case?
Others have toiled at attempting to make the Laodicean
Era into a vile, evil "synagogue of Satan" ruled by the "man of
sin". Is this scenario Biblical?
The purpose of this article is to attempt to make
plain the incredible present and future history of this particular era of God's
Church.
Laodiceans - people of God
Firstly,
let us discuss what Laodiceans are not.
Let me state at the outset that they are very
definitely the people of God and cannot be remotely considered a people of the
devil - they are not
a Church of Satan. For anyone to make such an assumption is almost beyond
belief! Where is the Biblical connection between the "man of sin" and
the Laodicean Church? Search the Scriptures like the Bereans and you'll find
none! (Acts 17:11)
Perhaps when one looks upon the Laodicean Church today and
sees various trends, we automatically react to them as if these people were
somehow satanic. But they are not, for they are very definitely God's people.
What if one were to view Laodicea from a Philadelphian perspective? Would we
not see a dramatic watering down process? Would we not also find ourselves
bewildered at the rapid deterioration in doctrine, policy, means of preaching
the Word as well as values and moral decay? Not to mention the denunciation of
the new truths which came into this era (so in one sense the Laodiceans go back
to Sardis. The Sardis Era consists of God’s people who have His Spirit, but
whose Work is dead and which produces few converts for Christ).
But what we see with Philadelphia is unique : it has understandings
not known to any great degree by other eras as well as having performed a big
Work due to the relative freedoms and modern technology available this century.
So when we criticise Laodicea, we see them through Philadelphian eyes. What we
should be doing is be looking at them
in the context of almost 2,000 years of the history of God's True Church.
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Where is the True Church?
Let
us understand that the Church of God has never been perfect. A casual reading
of Rev 2 and 3 reveal that clearly - "he that hath an ear, let him hear
what the Spirit saith unto the churches". Each era commenced with a high
hand, only to be infiltrated by false ideas and practices by the influence of
the world, misunderstandings, false ministers, tares or a Synagogue of Satan-type
of conspiracy, not unlike that promulgated by the Canaanite/Babylonian Simon
Magus and his followers in the first century.
The Church had its many problems and often mixed truth
with error. In addition, seldom did it accomplish a really big Work. A further
trait is that all members of the Body of Christ were almost never found within
the one group. For God's Church is comprised of all those within whom the Holy
Spirit resides wherever they may meet (Rom 8:9).
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A Scattered Little Flock
But
has the body of Christ existed as one organised group? Or has it been likened
to a vine (John 15 & Is 5)? Ignored by most histories, despised by the
great churches of this world and hounded by the authorities, the True Church
has been a scattered people for centuries (see Acts 8:1; Mark 14:27; Dan 12:7;
7:21. Cp Matt 9:36; 12:30; Is 56:8). In other words, they simply branched out
all over the valleys and mountains of Europe, each with different
‘administrations’ (see ICor 12). But they have never been a popular nor a large
church. They have been a very small group, hated and despised by the world
(Luke 12:32; John 17:14).
In the latter years of the first century many of the
brethren fled to Pella (or perhaps it was Sela according to Baigent, Leigh and
Lincoln in their The
Messianic Legacy, p339). Others joined with the Qumran
community while some scattered elsewhere.
Centuries later in Europe, persecuted and hated by the
world, residing in fear in the vales and hills of Europe, Christ's little
church found sanctuary for a time. But not for long. Satan, their most fearsome
adversary attacked them relentlessly, hating them with such venom that the most
vile and horrible tortures awaited them at the hands of his Great False Church,
masquerading as ‘Christian’, yet whose doctrines were utterly Babylonian.
Thus an argument cannot be sustained for one,
physically united group staying together since the first century. Such would
have been impossible in conditions of persecution, poverty, lack of
communications and so forth which people of that time had to endure. We should
not attempt to view or judge our brethren of other eras through the eyes and
with the understanding, scholarship and technological superiority of this
century. Further, where various eras were alongside one another during times of
overlapping periods, God’s people were found in different branches, with
different leaders, and even with a few minor doctrinal differences. And some
would have had greater breadth and depth of Scriptural understanding than
others. Yet they all recognised each other visiting each other’s church and
fellowshipping in Christian love. They were not exclusivists nor filled with
disdain for one another. They realised that Christ’s body was not limited to
any one group.
We live in a unique age where the Church does not
suffer persecution and with communications and a sense of organisation, held
together in unity, the likes of which have not been seen since the times of the
Apostles. Only in this day and age have we seen a real big Work by the
Philadelphia Era of God's Church. But this does not mean that there were no
branches of the Church representing the Sardis or Thyatira eras. Indeed there
are. Ephesus, Smyrna and the Pergamos eras are no longer extant. But Christ
stated categorically that there would be remnant branches of the Thyatira era
at His coming (Rev 2:25. These are probably the East European brethren although
one might also argue for a Thyatiran presence among the SDAs); similarly with
Sardis (3:3b), Philadelphia (3:11a) and Laodicea (3:20). True, at any one time
only one branch does a big Work, but the others are still very much a part of
His body.
Today there has been a scattering and many remain for
the moment within the Laodicean Era. But Christ brings them under one shepherd
(see Matt 9:36; 12:30; Is 56:8; John 10:16; 11:52; Ezek 34:1-10). Then with
this reconstituted group, He will proclaim the True Gospel of the World
Tomorrow and the Ezekiel Message of warning to the House of Israel in the most
blistering fashion. It will also be fishers of men.
But how could such unity be sustained? Merely by the
Holy Spirit as the Protestants and others surmise, or by organisation - a
hierarchical structure given to service and love in similitude to the examples
clearly revealed in scripture (God’s Government in the heavenly places via the
angels, 24 elders etc; Old Testament hierarchy; New Testament hierarchy and
finally Government to be established at Christ’s coming). There is simply no
other way to keep the unity of the faith and to do a big Work.
Today we are exceedingly fortunate to not only have
the lack of persecution, the education, but also the restoration of much
knowledge to the people of God (Dan 12:4). We should therefore be grateful that
Christ has revealed these truths to us, and not be critical and hateful of our
brethren in other eras or branches of the vine.
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The Mysterious Synagogue of
Satan
Gradually,
in the latter years of the Ephesus Era during the leadership of John the
Apostle, the attitude and focus changed. Among the people of God, the Smyrna
Era began to slowly arise, overlapping with the Ephesus Era.
The Ephesus era, unlike all others with the exception
of Philadelphia, had reached a higher state of doctrinal purity and
understanding. The Philadelphia Era has come to a depth of doctrinal knowledge
and understanding unknown since the first century. Their doctrinal
sophistication stands out in almost 1,900 years of True Church history.
However, a sinister conspiracy was lurking within the
Ephesian body. Like a horrible cancer within the bride of Christ lived an
organised, neo-Babylonian Synagogue of Satan (which came to fruition during the
life of Peter's successor, John the Apostle who led the latter years of the
Ephesus Era as it overlapped with the succeeding era). This evil group impacted
upon the Smyrna Era and, apparently, affected that era's doctrines as well as,
externally, becoming the mainstream churches.
But the Synagogue of Satan was not the Smyrna Era.
Similarly, the Laodicean Era is not the Synagogue of Satan in our day.
Let us understand that. It is vital that we do!
The Synagogue of Satan refers not just to this world's
churches, but in a more dramatic fashion, it also refers to the conspiratorial
tools in the Devil's clasp within the True Church. This clique would primarily
have been wolf-like ministers, clever deceivers who had either infiltrated the
Church or whose attitudes and doctrine would have been contaminated by the
impurities of the Babylonian Mysteries, which they either deliberately or
blindly passed on to the lay-members. This Synagogue is guilty of sanctioning
intercourse with the non-Christian world (L Thompson, The Book of Revelation. Apocalypse and
Empire, p 174). They
abuse the members claiming to be "as Christ before you ... sitting on the
throne of Christ". They set up God's children, are exceedingly jealous of
those who strive to please God (Prov 27:4), spread lies about them, rule with
fear in their local congregations and cast the faithful out of the Church (Ezek
34:1-8; Jer 23:1-2).
To complete this section allow me to quote from Cicero
who wrote the following of fifth column traitors among us in 42 BC:
"A nation [read Church]
can survive its fools and even the ambitious. But it cannot survive treason
from within. An enemy at the gates is less formidable, for he is known and he
carries his banners openly. But the traitor moves among those within the gate
freely, his sly whispers rustling through all the alleys, heard in the very
halls of government itself. For the traitor appears not traitor! He speaks in
the accent familiar to his victims and he appeals to the baseness that lies
deep in the hearts of all men. He rots the soul of a nation. He works secretly
and unknown in the night to undermine the pillars of a city; He infects the
body politic so that it can no longer resist. A murderer is less to be feared”.
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Signs of the True Church
Study
the New Testament and you will be struck by the major signs of the remnant
Church: They were always called (at least among themselves) the Church of God.
The True Church always kept the seventh day Sabbath, the Ten Commandments and,
in many cases most or all of the Holy Days. The seventh-day Sabbath itself is
the major sign between God and His people (Ex 31:12-18).
Even in their depleted and scattered states, without
the type of education we are accustomed to, the branches of the vine always
preached the basic gospel, taught water baptism, were conditionalists
(maintained that man was mortal) and practised what they knew of the Civil Law
(eg clean & unclean meats). God's Church was not doctrinally pure after the
original Apostles died. Of course, they all practised basic Christian living,
good works, developed the fruits of the Spirit and the beattitudes in their
lives and had faith in Christ. But if one resides in an era with superior
understanding, should one be condemning of those in another era of His Church?
God forbid! But where we should, we must warn. And remember, to whom much is
given, much is required.
However, when major impurities did appear from
time-to-time, Christ tested them severely through the terrors of tribulation.
More on this later.
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The Temple Analogy
A
close examination of the wording of Revelation 2 and 3 together with other
scriptures shows that each Era represented a part of the Temple structure. For
example, the Ephesus era represented the foundations (Eph 2:20).
Strongly connected to the Ephesus Era is the
Philadelphian Era for it is represented by the pillars which fit directly into
the foundations (Rev 3:12). The Laodiceans on the other hand are represented by
the outer court, cast out by Christ due to their liberalism (Rev 3:19-29;
11:2).
Further, the Philadelphian analogy used in the book of
Revelation includes reference to the 'crown'. This represents not only literal
crowns but also the crown of the pillars in Solomon's temple which were crowned
with double capitols. They also had an open door to preach the gospel and
warning message. In addition, God opened the doors of understanding to them and
knowledge of His ways and His laws washed over this Church like a veritable
tidal wave (cp 2Chron 28:29:2-3).
Further, these people had a key to open the doors (Is
22:22). Anciently there probably was a literal key of David used to open the
doors of the temple located between the two pillars. Symbolically it refers to
the key of knowledge (Luke 11:52) and in particular to the great key to
understanding the prophecies - the true identity of the peoples of
Anglo-Saxon-Keltic origin.
The insidious Synagogue of Satan was to worship at
their feet; again this is in reference to the feet of the pillars (cp Ps 132:7;
Is 60:13). Nowhere do we find such complimentary statements made of Laodicea.
In fact, Christ is shut outside of the sanctuary and knocks to be let in (Rev
3:20; Luke 12:35-36). This analogy has clear references to the prophetic
aspects of the Song of Solomon in chapter 5:2-8 according to C Hemer, The Letters to the
Seven Churches of Asia in their Local Setting, p209.
One might write further concerning the incredible
analogy between the seven stages of Old Testament Israel and the seven Church
eras. The parallels between Sardis and Saul for example are plenteous as there
are between David and Philadelphia and the immensely wealthy Solomon and
Laodicea. Or the parallels between the seven tribes which first inherited the
land and the seven churches. But rather than get into these areas of research
at this time, let us explore the historical background to Laodicea.
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The ancient city of Laodicea
The name of the city of Laodicea derived from the name of the
wife of Antiochus II, Laodice, after he rebuilt it. Later, she poisoned him. It
was previously known as Diopolis and was often called the metropolis as it was
the county seat for twenty-five other cities. It was located in an earthquake
zone (metaphorically extant in upset, perilous times of imminent danger like
today) on a mail route circuitously winding its way between the towns of Asia
Minor and lay at the junction of the valley of the Lycus and the Meander. It
commanded the approaches to Phrygia by its strategic location at the
intersection of three important roads. In population it increased much,
possibly indicative of the future numerical potential of this era.
On a Laodicean coin we find the inscription “To Laodicea a
mother-city of Canaan” (U Cassuto, A Commentary on the Book of Genesis). Apparently it was settled by Canaanites
(Babylonians) centuries before Christ, who mixed with other peoples in the
vicinity and who left a legacy of idolatry and pagan ideas. This should tell us
at least something about the worldly influences upon ancient Laodicea, not
unlike the liberal, pagan and worldly influences upon the Laodicean era today.
As explained previously, they are influenced by, and reflect the world to some
degree (whether positively or negatively, just like every other era previous to
it).
Archaeologists and historians know that Mystery
religions and especially the cult of Isis were heavily extant in Laodicea (International
Standard Bible Encyclopedia, vol 3, p 73). It is admitted
by many that the Grand Orient variation of Free Masonry was originally founded
upon the Mysteries of the Egyptian Isis, the goddess-mother or wife of Osiris
(A Hislop, The
Two Babylons, p 43).
This form of Masonry has a liberal interpretation of politics. In contrast,
other variations of the Mysteries were very conservative. To this day the
liberal-left Grand Orient Masons and the conservative Catholic Church have been
engaged in their secret battle between each other for world domination.
This reminds the author of the conspiracy within the
priesthood revealed in Ezekiel 8:13-18. Read it for yourself. This prophecy is
for our day now! These wicked priests are practicing paganism : firstly the
description here is "precisely what is done in a Masonic lodge and as an
act of worship" (E Ronayne, The Masters Carpet, p 363). But in
another sense, this prophecy is dual. Thus, secondly, it also refers to Easter
sunrise services and the belief that Christ rose on Sunday morning. So here we
have a people adopting the liberal political stance of this world, plus various
pagan doctrines.
But the Laodicean era is not only overcome by the
world and arises during a time of increasing gentile dominance (Philadelphia
arises during a time of the peak of the Israelitish powers), it also rejects
truths once understood by the Philadelphian era. Thus, unlike the Sardis era
which did not have these truths originally, they had these truths during the
first few years of the new era, but rejected it and behaved like unbelievers -
like the followers of Simon Magus in the first century by casting out
Philadelphians who hold to the truths restored by Christ in the twentieth
century compare 2John 9-10.
We know from history and archaeology that Laodicea was
"one of the richest commercial centres in the world, so that we have a
picture here of the church in an affluent society" (The Tyndale Commentary,
pp 80-81). It was famous for its banking, the basis of Babylonian-type
economies (according to Dummelow’s Commentary, p1077),
fashion (in particular the manufacture of clothing from black wool) and it
boasted of its medical profession and its famous medical school. Laodicea also
produced some famous sceptic philosophers ( L Briggs, What Became of the Church Jesus Built?,
p 298). It was also a famous pleasure resort for the physically strong and
prosperous, and a health resort for the sick and boasted a circus and three
stately theatres.
It was also an assize town which would have as a
result been fraught with judicial corruption, including weighted decisions and
sentences and the proverbial kangaroo court! Thus it was highly politicised.
The aforementioned Commentary has this sorry tale to
tell: "in John's day the condition of the Church in this city had
deteriorated sadly. This
church receives the severest condemnation of all the seven to whom letters are
sent" (emphasis mine). Obviously this church goes off the
track very quickly after the Philadelphian Church had handed over the baton.
And, while Israelites particularly of the tribes of Judah and Levi dominated
Philadelphia, so some people with Canaanite and Edomite blood attempt to wrest
control of Laodicea from the remnants of Israelite Philadelphians within her
midst.
Laodicea was such a proud, haughty and self-reliant
city that it refused help to rebuild itself after the earthquake of AD 60.
Tacitus stated that it "without any relief from us, recovered itself by
its own resources" (Ann. xiv.27). Such arrogance; such pride!
See also the section in the marvellous International
Standard Bible Encyclopedia on this great Church (vol
3, p 73).
Laodicea was also famous for the Zenonid dynasty, the
great Laodicean family which became the greatest in Asia Minor.
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Problems with Laodicea
Christ
rebukes those whom He loves. So He sarcastically draws allusions to the earthly
wealth and pride of Laodicea : "in this, like Jezebel in the fourth letter, it
foreshadows the harlot Babylon. The Church is threatened with total rejection: in
its complacency it is insulated from Christ ... it must be ...
blind to his true nature" (J Sweet, Revelation,
p104).
Of course Laodicea is not the harlot and not a Jezebel
per se, but it is on the way back into this Babylonian world with all of it pagan
customs and doctrines to such a degree that it is hardly recognisable as a
Church of God. Yet it is! It still has a large component of Spirit-begotten
children of God who are trying to develop the fruits of the Spirit in their
lives. But they are luke-warm and deceived by a Canaanite-like doctrinal
infiltration which appears to be similar to the infiltration of the Church in
the latter years of the first century and early second century when the Smyrna
Era was beginning to emerge.
Sweet continues : "Laodicea, under its
self-satisfaction, ... wears the mark of the beast" (p 107). In other
words it blurs the truth with error to such a degree, that it is even worse
than the latter years of the Thyatira Era which Christ sent into great
Tribulation to purge them. Perhaps, Laodicea even begins keeping some of the
Babylonian customs and days of so-called Christianity, not unlike Thyatira.
Notice now how the Devil so deceives, with subtleness,
this era, that it receives Christ's strongest condemnation. Through his
craftiness, the Devil progressively deceives God's people into accepting
'Christian' doctrines on the cross, trinity, interracial marriage, liberal
thinking on divorce and remarriage, and dozens of other doctrines and
practices. Once this process begins it soon takes on an exponential nature.
These people are so insipid and weak spiritually that they even lose what
little love of the truth they once had. They are affected by the liberal moral
and political trends of this world which are far worse than centuries past when
other eras were affected by their world. Is not this world liberal on divorce,
the sanctity of marriage, interracial marriage, pagan holidays, astrology,
homosexuality, feminism, abortion and the roles of males and females, wearing
of crosses and so forth? And if so, would not also the Laodicean era, so eager
to be part of Babylon, this world, become likewise affected? Like Laodicea of
old, their talk is on fashion and trivia, not God’s Word (T G Bunch in his The Seven
Epistles of Christ, states that the city was extravagant
in fashions and fine apparel - he claimed that it was the Paris of its day).
Also, they are clever manipulators, constantly giving
the impression of advancement. Note what Gaius Petronius Arbiter, Pro-Consul at
Bithynia in the time of Nero, AD 65, is attributed to have written
“We trained hard, but it seemed every time
we were beginning to form teams we would
be reorganised. I was to learn later in life that
we tend to meet every situation by reorganising,
and a wonderful method it can be for creating
the illusion of progress while producing
confusion,
inefficiency and
demoralisation”.
The insidiousness of Satan and his demons in their
infiltration and infections of the doctrinal state of the church is of
paramount concern to Christ. The Devil is very clever and far more cunning than
any of us. How do his servants operate? Do they make a public announcement of
the change in doctrine as soon as it is established? Or do they set up God's
people first by withdrawing the old literature, dropping hints and comments
("testing the waters"), make leading announcements, and when they
finally decide to make an announcement of the change, it is couched as an
answer to a question or as no change at all. The new teaching is offered as
mere ‘clarification’ rather than a 180 degree turn from old understanding. It
is presented in such a way as to minimise ‘political damage’ and to
de-emphasise the radical difference between the old and new teaching. In this
way the full-blown new doctrine may be gradually introduced later.
How like the Japanese term "nashikuzushi". It means that you do not suddenly announce
any important change of policy. Instead you utilise a policy of gradualism by
pretending that the original policy is still intact, but subject it to so many
constant minor changes and amendments that eventually it ceases to exist and
has been replaced by the policy you wanted all along! (we would term it death
by a thousand cuts - gradualism). Is not this the attitude and tactics of
Satan? It certainly is not Biblical!
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Laodicea's spiritual nightmare
But
Laodicea, unlike other eras, is blinded, almost as badly as the spiritual state
of this world. Yet Christ in His mercy keeps on working with it and even calls
new members into it - those who could not cope with the level of knowledge or
the doctrinal sophistication of Philadelphia. Perhaps they are people He calls
into this era who would not have survived Philadelphia. He works on them to
adopt the most simple and basic truths concerning real Christian living and
later refines them in the fires of Tribulation to see where they stand. It may
be that Laodicea is like a hospitable for cripples and sick people who seek
refuge from the world (eg ex-homosexuals; abused women; ex-drug addicts; people
from broken familes or converts from eastern religions). It is possible that
many of them are not converts and are tares - tools of Satan. For example, a
person may claim to have overcome homosexuality, but could fool the minister at
counselling. He may continue his evil ways and be used by the Devil against
God’s people within the congregation (eg by spreading rumours, slander,
gossip,jealousies, lies etc).
This era starts off on what appears to be the right
path. Even some of their changes appear minor or "clarifications" at
first. But later, the liberal course they are on veers off into a shocking
state which, if not cured by Tribulation, would lead to their total rejection
by Christ - a total apostasy and paganisation (eg Sunday observance). They are
a group who are led into almost total apostasy and it goes without saying that
many of their members and ministers (perhaps half) go straight into complete
apostasy and are thus rejected by Christ. While other eras took decades or
centuries to reach such a state, this era, due to the influences of the mass
media and the speed of communications, the influence of peers, teachers, modern
theological works and seminaries, the liberal-left environment, rock stars etc,
speedily descends into the pit of doctrinal perversion. But there is little
excuse, for they have had the glowing example of a wonderful, loving (but much
maligned, slandered and hated) Apostle through whom God restored much doctrine
and truth.
The New Bible Commentary
describes the Laodiceans as “these all but apostate
Christians” (p 1287). So here we have a Church which, more than any other era,
not only compromises with this left-liberal world, but also adopts a host of
pagan doctrines and customs. It, like each preceding era, mirrors the world to
some degree. This is due to the influence of mass media, Western Government and
big business philosphy (political correctness and anti-discrimination laws) but
also many new members carrying in their almost ‘acceptable’ sins from the world
(eg sexual sins like the Canaanite/Babylonians). Woe if you inadvertently
uncovered their sins! They would rage wildly and run with lies to their local
minister pleading discrimination, exaggerations and lack of tolerance and
mercy.
C Hemer claims that the evidence presented by research
suggests that Laodiceans were “closely assimilated to the character of pagan society ...
[and] ... easy integration of the church here with its surroundings ...
compromising with pagan standards ... evidently open to ... syncretistic
influences” (ibid, p 209). In fact, they become so degenerate,
that many (perhaps half?) could even be persuaded by the False Prophet! (see
Matt 24:12, 24; 2Thess 2:3-11; Dan 11:32b; Matt 10:16-22; John 16:2). As one
commentator states, their “whole position at that period will be reduced to the
very simple issue of allegiance to Christ or Antichrist” (E W Bullinger, Commentary on
Revelation, p 205). Should they decide to worship this False
Prophet and accept Sunday observance (the Mark of the Beast), their lives will
be spared; but should they decide not to, they will be severely martyred yet
gain eternal life.
One researcher predicted in his thesis the following:
"How can they be deceived? They are a product of this modern affluent
society, just as their ancient forerunners were of theirs ... society shapes
the modern Laodiceans. They will be too close to the ways and false gods of
this world to get really 'shook up' about God's truth till it is too
late!" (Briggs, ibid).
Yet another researcher, A E Harvey, noted that this
church “had identified itself with the city’s fame and prosperity, and so had
lost hold of its own distinctive values ... [it had] symptoms of accommodation
to the secular world” (The New English Bible Companion to the New Testament,
p800).
As we have seen, they destroy the knowledge they once
knew. Note the poem of F.R.A. Glover of England, 1861:
"When
a Land [read Church] rejects its legends,
Sees
but falsehoods in the past,
And
its People [read Church members] view their sires
[read
the Apostle]
In
the light of fools and liars,
'Tis
a sign of its decline,
And
its splendours cannot last.
Branches
that but blight their roots,
Yield no sap for lasting fruits".
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Christ's Love Letter to His
Laodicean Church
It
may be difficult to see it as such, but this is a letter of outgoing concern
and love to a part of His affianced Bride! Christ chastens those whom He loves
(Heb 12:6-9; Rev 3:19; Jer 10:24; Ps 38:1-2; Deut 7:8) - this is for their own
good. Jesus Christ, our Lord and Saviour, only does that which is good for us
and which would assist us on the road to salvation. He is a good God Who is
exceedingly concerned about us as individuals, families and churches. We can
rest assured that He will only do that which would ultimately lead to
salvation.
Laodicea literally means ‘judgement of the people’ (ie
in Tribulation) or ‘judgement by the people’ (ie the self-righteous ones - the
ones who think they are right). How like the Pharisees who were very liberal in
doctrine, but oppressive in their administration of justice. They were more
like sepulchres daubed with whitewash (see Matt 23:27; Ezek 13:10-15; 22:28.
The Heb. for ‘daubed’ is ‘Tuwach’, meaning to smear, especially with lime, to
overlay or plaster - Strong’s # 2902. A related word is ‘Tiyach’, meaning
mortar or plaster - Strong’s # 2915).
Let us now closely examine this letter (which is
written in love) from Christ to His beloved. Turn now to Revelation chapter 3,
verse 14:
"And unto the angel of the church of the
Laodiceans write; ‘These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true Witness,
the beginning of the creation of God’".
Now why did Christ say this? Sweet answers the
question by noting that a true witness "was lacking in Laodicea"
(ibid, p 107). This is true of modern Laodicea which refuses to reach the world
with a true witness of the gospel and warning message of the future slavery of
the Anglo-Saxon-Keltic peoples (Matt 24:14). Note that the word ‘Amen’ is used
prominently at the outset of this chapter. It is interesting that it is used in
conjunction with various curses which come upon those who undercut others and
break the Law in the Old Testament (see Deut 27:14-26 and a prophecy about the
behaviour of an end-time Daughter of Zion mentioned in Jer 9:1-9). They seemed
so bored or indifferent about warning the world.
In the very following verse, Christ maintains His
righteous criticism of a people He loves dearly, but has to reluctantly chasten
:
“I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot:
I would thou wert cold or hot” and in verse 16 He laments: “So then because
thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of My mouth”.
Such condemnation! Such righteous anger! Yet He is so merciful that He is
giving them all a chance to repent, even during the Great Tribulation, just
prior to His coming. Fortunate indeed are they and hopefully many will show Him
gratitude for this merciful gesture.
Being spued out of God’s mouth is no small thing. In
the book of Leviticus, the former inhabitants of the land of Canaan were said
to have been spued out (Lev 18:28; 20:22). Bullinger explains that Christ is
warning them here that should they not repent, they would be utterly rejected,
and their candlestick removed.
Later, Israel herself warranted such rejection. It may
be that the first seven tribes which were allocated allotments in the Holy Land
may have paralleled the seven churches. H Palmer, in his The Algebra of the Bible states “... those of
the Church of the Laodiceans are the ones to be rejected or ‘spued out’, in the
same manner that Dan (as a serpent) was dissatisfied with his allocation of
land ... the people classified as the Laodiceans are shown to exhibit similar
characteristics to their counter-part, Dan; and as a result, prove
unacceptable” (pp64, 145). A study of the tribe of Dan shows that they ended up
in Ireland. But most are now in the USA (some 40 to 50 million Americans claim
Irish descent). As in Israel where the Eagle later replaced the Serpent
symbolism, so the tribe of Mannasseh replaced Dan as a leading tribe even to
this day.
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Who is the Daughter of Zion in
Prophecy?
Now notice verse 17: “Because thou sayest, I am rich ,
and increase with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou
art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked”. Never had Christ
spoken so severely about a Church in the book of Revelation. Compare this
scripture with what God predicted about Israel and Ephraim (perhaps as a type
of the Church) in Hos 2:7-13; 11:7-8; Zech 11:5; Jer 13:25-26; 5:26-28. R
Trench, author of the famous Commentary of the Epistles to the Seven Churches in Asia
claims
that this scripture sets the Laodiceans “as in certain peril of eternal death”.
Why are they described as ‘naked’? It may have several
applications:
·
they are spiritually stripped and laying bare as in open shame (cf 2Sam 10:4;
Is 20:4; Ezek 16:37,39; Hos 2:3,9; Nah 3:5);
·
they preach about, but in practice have not “put on Christ”, nor the clothing of righteousness. In other
words they are said to be full of sin (Ps 119:172; 32:1; Rev 19:8; Eccl 9:8;
Job 29:14; Ps 32:1; Lam 1:8);
·
“nakedness” is an Hebraism for being morally loose - sexual immorality and thus
spiritually committing immoral union with the gods of this world (ie Satan and
the demons as expressed by their false doctrines and practices). See Lev
18:12-19,25,28; Jer 3:6,8; 13:24-27; Ezek 15:16; Hos 2:2; Num 25:3; Ps 106:28;
Rev 2:20.
We should all be familiar with the concept of the Old
Testament types of the New Testament Church. Israel was a type of the Church,
and in particular the Daughter of Zion in Prophecy. Just as the Daughter of Babylon
is the Great False Church of this world, associated closely with political
Babylon, so the Daughter of Zion is the True Church, associated very closely
with Zion or Israel, for it is fundamentally an Israelitish Church, based in
Israelitish lands. This Daughter of Zion makes for a fascinating study as it is
applicable for the True Church through all eras up to, and especially at the
very end.
In addition, the terms “My People and, “Thy People”,
or “those called by Thy name” and “those called by My name” (ie the Church of
God), “House of the Lord”, “Temple” etc oftentimes refers to both Israel and
the Church. This also makes for a special and fulfilling Bible Study.
In verse 18 Christ exhorts Laodicea: “I counsel thee
to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white
raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of they nakedness do
not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see”.
Obviously from this scripture they are spiritually blind to both their
condition and their heretical doctrines.
In verse 19 Christ sternly warns a stubborn Church “as
many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent”. Here
we have proof that the members of this era will not escape the Great Tribulation.
They will go into captivity with the House of Israel and suffer the unspeakable
terrors and tortures to come upon our rebellious peoples (Amos 6:7; Jer 65:15;
8:12). They will either give their lives for Jesus Christ or accept the easy
option - conversion to the Babylonian Mystery Religion (including Sunday
observance) and finally turning their backs upon Christ completely. This may
not be too difficult for many who had already compromised with this world’s
Christianity’. Many will not be strong enough spiritually to hold out in the
face of being hunted down or being forced under the pain of the horrors of
torture, to convert to the Devil’s false religion along with the rest of
Israel.
What a time of tremendous persecution and martyrdom
for these people. They will have to give their lives for Christ and His true
doctrines, or turn their back on what little of the truth they have kept.
Christ will stop their apostatising in its tracks by the Great Tribulation.
Should events have continued any longer by, say, just a few years, they would
have become utterly Protestant and even have switched to Sunday-observance.
This great false religion will be drunk with the blood
of God’s people:
“And I saw the woman [Satan’s Church] drunken with the
blood of the saints, and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus” (Rev 17:6).
God’s True Church, yes even the Laodicean Church, like their similar
predecessors, the Thyatira Church, is deemed ready for destruction (compare
Zech 11:4-11, 15-17). Notice Rev 6:9-11:
“I saw under the alter the souls of them that were
slain for the word of God [the Thyatira Church during the Middle Ages], and for
the testimony which they held: And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How
long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them
that dwell on the earth?
“And white robes were given unto every one of them;
and it was said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little season, until
their fellowservents also and their brethren, that should be killed as they
were, should be fulfilled”.
Here is clear reference to another great martyrdom
just a few decades hence, when God will completely withdraw his protection from
Israel and this wayward, almost totally apostate church. Other Scriptures on
this horrific martyrdom may be found in: Rev 7:9, 13-15; 11;1; 13;7, 10, 15;
16:6; 17:6; 18:24; Dan 12:7, 10; 11:35; 8:8-13, 17, 24; 7:21; 11:31; Is 1:5-9;
9:16; 3:12; 33:13-14; Jer 5:31; 9:7, 19; Is 4:3-4; Mal 3:2-3; Hos 4:6-12; Amos
8:3; 9:1; Ezek 5:3-4; 6:8-9; 7:16; 9:1-6; 11:16; 12:15-16; John 15:17-16:4. The
Third Book of Psalms contains prophecies about these events, especially Ps 74:3-9;
79:1-3, 10. This is no small martyrdom! It would appear that there will be
hundreds of thousands of true Christians that will be murdered in the most
chilling, blood-curdling manner possible.
This would indicate that the Laodicean Church includes
the main Church of God Sabbatarian group, some of its offshoots and perhaps
many of those who have not acted upon their calling by seeking membership in
the Church of God. The main Laodicean Church will probably start growing after
the present economic crisis is over and become very great indeed due to their
evangelism efforts.
Near to the end of the letter, Christ inspired a
further important matter for Laodicea: “Behold, I stand at the door, and knock:
if any man hear My voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will
sup with him, and he with Me” (verse 20). The wonderful Commentary of Revelation
by E Bullinger shows very clearly that this scripture is fulfilled in Luke
12:35-40 while Trench thinks that it exactly corresponds with Song of Solomon
5:2-8.
Sweet sees a parallel between this verse and Matt
25:1-10 (p109). It is interesting that Matt 25:1-10 follows on directly from
Matt 24:40-51 and one wonders if there should be a chapter break as it would
appear to be a continuation of the same subject - off-the-track Christians. It
refers to the sleepy history of the True Church over the centuries as well, it
would seem, to the history of the Laodicean era. Additionally, it would also
have a personal application.
For instance the lamps refer to the light of God’s Law
in a Christian’s life (Prov 6:23; Luke 12:34-40; Ps 119:105), the oil to the
Holy Spirit, sleep to spiritual laziness, a don’t care, not fired up attitude
(Matt 24:44; Prov 6:9; Rom 13:12; IThess 5:6) and the midnight cry to the time
of Christ’s intervention in world affairs (Job 34:20; Ex 12:29; Rev 11:15).
Also, the bridegroom represents Christ and the virgins
the Church. The virgins, in that day, performed duties similar to bridesmaids
today. But they escorted the bridegroom to the banquet, not the bride. If or
when the banquet was at night, the torches or lamps were carried by the
bridesmaids to light the way of the bridal party. The torches burned brightly
for they were wrapped around the top with oil-soaked cloth. A flask of oil was
brought with the bridesmaids to ensure the torch flame was kept alive for the
duration of the procession. The foolish virgins did not carry the supply of oil
with them.
However, a casual reading of Matt 25 should tell us
that it has prime reference to the sleepy, lack-lustre, lethargic and luke-warm
end-time Church of God. From the context it is clear that half of the Laodicean
Church will wake up to their shocking state, but only at the time of the
Tribulation, while the other half will be shut out of the Kingdom. Why shut
out? Could it be that fully half will descend into total apostasy and adopt
Sunday observance etc? Could we yet see a split in the Laodicean Church like
there was after Solomon died? (see IKings 11:30-37; 12:19-30).
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The Sleepy Church
What does all this mean? Geographically, Laodicea had one
major impediment - it lacked a sufficient and permanent supply of good water (New Bible Dictionary, 2nd ed, art
“Laodicea”). Spiritually they need a good supply of the Holy Spirit, which
evidently, they do not have (compare Matt 25:1-13). Also, water is useful hot
or cold, but Laodicea’s supply came piped from hot springs but arrived lukewarm
- a horrible taste and not at all of very much use but rather quite nauseating
and caused laziness as well as sleepiness.
The Church of God today has gone asleep (compare Is
29:9-10)!
The Apostle Paul warns us :”Therefore let us not
sleep, as do others; but let us watch, and be sober” (IThess 5:2-6). The
message is quite clear, is it not? IT IS TIME TO WAKE UP!
The time is coming that a cry will go out to God’s
people for them to rise from their sleep, take on the whole armour of God and
fight their enemy Satan, lest he kills them.
Once again Paul warns all Church eras: “... now it is
high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we
believed” (Rom 13:11). They then need to wash themselves clean of the
jealousies, strife, bitterness, slander, politicking, running with lies to the
ministry, cliquishness and a host of other evident problems and sins. If one
was to be too close to these people, a spiritual corruption of the caring
brotherliness of the Philadelphian nature may occur. Do you really want the
false doctrines, infighting, the many spots and unsightly blemishes as well as
the terrible spiritual warts and diseases of these people? This church seems to
be on its death-bed. They are about to die unless cleansed by the Great
Tribulation - what a merciful God we have!
Matthew Henry’s Commentary, written in the 18th century has
an excellent message for us in this regarded:
“Lukewarmness or indifference in religion is the worst temper
in the world. If [true] religion is a real thing, it is the most excellent
thing, and therefore we should be in good earnest in it ... If religion is
worth anything, it is worth every thing; an indifference here is inexcusable:
Why halt you between two opinions? If God be God, follow him; if Baal (be God),
follow him ... Christ expects that men should declare themselves in earnest
either for him or against him”
(A
Commentary on the Whole Bible, vol 6, p 1135).
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Laodicea Must Repent or Perish
There
is a terrible crisis upon us. We have a Church era - a people with the Holy
Spirit - who are corrupting themselves doctrinally.
I often wonder much about this era and have been left
with little choice than to be abhorred with its destruction of so much restored
truth. They are not merely returning to the Sardis level of doctrinal
understanding as some may have felt - and that was bad enough (they may decide
to keep only a watered-down version of the Holy Days and different form of
Church Government as the only difference.). Though they started by
watering-down truth it did not take long before they began adopting Protestant
and pagan doctrines. The virtual wanton opposition to the highest standards of
doctrinal understanding, including the ultimate in restored truths since the
passing of the original Apostles, is a rush toward apostasy so rapid, that its
degeneration is indeed exponentially faster than previous eras. It also
preaches what appears to be a New Age/Protestant gospel hybrid.
What makes the situation even more serious is the
flagrant opposition to any correction and the unfair treatment of those still
committed to the teachings of the man whom Christ used to raise up the
Philadelphia era.
Perhaps the reader may reject the facts heretofore
presented. Perhaps, because we are looking at the situation from the inside,
instead of from the outside it is difficult for the reader to comprehend.
Further, we are looking at current fulfilment of a difficult prophecy and
extrapolating into the medium future what may or may not occur.
Please accept these thoughts as an attempt of sorts to
both combine intuition and cognition and to get at the root of the present
crisis.
Before long Christ will decide that the Laodicean Era
will do with a bit of cleaning up during a terrible period of national
captivity ... surely it will come, and Christ’s prophecy will once again, as
always, be completely fulfilled.
Dare any man deny that these prophesies are coming to
pass? It is up to you to believe God’s Word.
Now remember. They are God’s people. They keep to the
most basic and simple Biblical doctrines and teachings: Sabbath, probably the
Holy Days, 10 Commandments (though watered-down), baptism, conditionalism (ie
mortality of the human soul), fruits of the Spirit and other Christian beliefs
such as the literal second coming of Christ. Notice again Rev 12:17b where we
are told that they “keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of
Jesus Christ”. They keep God’s Law at least in some form. But they also
emphasise the centrality of Christ - that is all they are capable of together
with a mixture of true, false and half true doctrines. But Philadelphia has
quite a different message and purpose as we have seen.
Finally, can we now identify by the honest use of
God’s Word, sheer logic and rational thinking, a Church of God which fits the
identity of the Laodicean Church? Can YOU dear reader? If so, if the hat fits such a church, then they must
wear it!
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APPENDIX :
WARNINGS OF HWA AND EARLY WCG MATERIAL CONCERNING IDENTIFYING SIGNS OF THE
LAODICEAN CHURCH OR APOSTASY
Following is
a list of writings by the WCG on the Laodicean Era. Some writings suggest an
apostasy which is not necessarily the same thing, but they could be overlapping
concepts:
• Leroy Neff “What is the Laodicean
Church?”, Good News, Aug 1959. Some highlights: “The Church of
Laodicea would not be ... a split from the Philadelphia Church ... Zech 13:7
... this verse can also refer to a leader in the Church of Laodicea ...
Remember individuals and local congregations may at any time be like any of
these seven Churches. They all existed locally in the apostolic age! ... if you
are found in the Church of Laodicea, you probably don’t know it”.
• Herman L Hoeh in A True History of
the True Church warns of the Laodicean Era: “This frightful condition lies
now ahead of us. Just as the remnants of the Sardis era of the Church exist
side by side with the Philadelphia Era, so we will continue our work to the
very ‘end time’ when another group will appear - a group not accounted worthy to
escape the coming tribulation. Another separate work [from Philadelphia] is yet
to arise made up of begotten individuals who are spiritually
lukewarm! Woe to any of us if we take part in such a work ... It is time to
wake up! if you become complacent, lacking in zeal, looking upon the church as
a social club, instead of having your heart in the gospel,you, too, may find
yourself in the ‘Church of Laodicea’ left to suffer the impending, horrifying
tribulation” (p31).
• In the Good News (January 1960,
p8) HWA wrote: “But some of those in the Church today will grow weary with
well-doing. They will brag about being the true Church - thinking they are
spiritually rich, when they are, in fact, almost spiritually destitute. Because
they are indifferent to the real Work of God, lukewarm, lacking in zeal, Christ
will spew them out of His mouth. They shall lose the very salvation they boast
of having unless they repent! God help you never to drift into the
Laodicean church!”
• In the same Good News (pp 1-2)
Roderick Meredith wrote the following concerning Matthew 25: “Jesus here refers
to Christians as “virgins’ - those who have kept themselves pure from the
spiritual fornication of fellowship with false churches. They thought that just
knowing the truth, coming out of the world, and fellowshipping with God’s
church was enough. They had not grown spiritually as had the other
virgins. Perhaps they thought that they would just naturally get into God’s
kingdom becasue they were in the fellowship and love of the brethren who were
spiritually alive. Just knowing the truth and having fellowship with God’s
Church is not enough!”
• Herbert W. Armstrong in the Plain
Truth series on his Autobiography (June 1963, p13) writes: “The very last
of these seven successive Churches is to be the self-sufficient, lukewarm,
Laodicean group. But just before it is the Church which carries this end-time
vital Message! It is small. It is weak. But it is faithful, as few have been,
with God’s Word”.
• The old Ambassador College
Correspondence Course (lesson 53, p14) notes thus of Laodicea: “In spite of
Christ’s warning and the constant repetition of the message by the Philadelphia Work over a period of
years, is the spiritual condition of the ‘Laodiceans’ just lukewarm ...? ...
The name Laodicea is Greek. It means ‘the [self-] righteous people”. It
is significant that the ancient city of Laodicea lies a great ruin today - and
like Sardis it is completely dead! ... They will have been self-deceived ...
They will say ‘I have become rich [physically and spiritually]’ ... Laodicea
was almost a synonym for soft, luxurious living. Not far from the city was a
pagan temple with a great medical school. Naturally, Laodicea produced some
famous Sceptic philosophers! The modern Laodiceans will be products of the
modern age of sceptism, unbelief, creature comforts, medicine and
permissiveness. They are too close to the ways and false gods of this world to
get really ‘shook up’ about God’s truth until finally shaken out of their
lukewarmness by having to suffer in the Great Tribulation!”
• Even GTA wrote in 1976 that “Matthew 25
[indicates] that fully half of God’s own people will be so sleepy and
inattentive to world affairs that they will not see the rapidly moving events
plunging this world toward the beginning of the
great tribulation” (Coworker Letter, 15 September).
• “Search the Scriptures concerning the
condition of God’s Church during the most crucial time in all the world’s
history, and you will find prophecies that approximately half of the church are
sound asleep! Christ’s parable of the virgins in Matthew 25 [is] the prophecy
concerning the Laodicean condition of God’s Church ...” (GTA, Coworker
Letter, 7 February, 1977).
• “... In the past few weeks Jesus Christ,
Living Head of God’s Church, has moved dynamically to set God’s Church and Work
back on the track ... [GTA] demoted the men highest and older in service --
such as Dr. Roderick C. Meredith, Dr. Herman Hoeh, Mr. Raymond McNair ... Dibar
Apartian ... [he] demoted and removed to minor positions the top ranking
ministers, senior in years of service -- those men he knew would be loyal to
the church under God’s Apostle ... in their minor positions of demotion, these
men were threatened with being fired entirely if they communicated at all with
me! ... We had been tending to forget GOD, letting Laodicean lukewarmness
leaven us” (HWA, Coworker Letter, 28 June 1978).
• HWA wrote the following month: “Men like
Dr. Herman Hoeh, Dibar Apartian, Dr
Roderick C. Meredith were demoted to meagre preaching positions. The ‘coup’ had
become complete. Satan’s conspiracy had made Ambassador College truly one of
this world’s educational institutions ... the Worldwide Church of God was
becoming Laodiceanic, secular. God’s Spirit was on the way out!” (GN, 17
July 1978, p5).
• “God’s Church was in need of a spiritual
re-awakening ... We are shaking off the Laodicean lukewarmness that was
beginning to drug us to sleep” (HWA, Coworker Letter, 23 October, 1978).
• “... the Laodicean condition described
in the last era just prior to Christ’s second coming, [is] predominant just
before Christ’s coming” (HWA, GN, 6 November, 1978, p3).
• HWA wrote “I am working on many articles
for The Plain Truth, and The Good News. One is on the Laodicean
era of the Church. When will it come? How will it come? Many other articles
vital to your life NOW -- and to your ETERNITY!” (GN, 28 November,
1978). Nothing has been seen of it. Could it be that this article has been destroyed?
• In the GN, 4 December 1978, p9
HWA wrote: “I have always said, and still affirm, that these seven messages to
the seven churches are picturing in advance the seven CONDITIONS to be
found in the one continuing True Church ... the Laodicean condition outstanding
in the same true Church at about the time of the great tribulation and
climaxing with Christ’s second coming. To expound that fully requires more
space than I have here. It will be covered later.” (but it was not. Were his
notes on this subject destroyed after his death? Or did God prevent him from
publishing it so that it would not be so obvious? Perhaps God wants us to
research this and prove it for ourselves, rather than having it all laid out
plainly for us by the Apostle).
• “... most who have gone back doctrinally
afield will today ... not be willing to change back from error and watered-down
doctrines to God’s truth! ... Other liberals
have had to go ... they produced what they called a Systematic Theology
Project, changing and watering down - making more liberal - many doctrines ...
these ‘intellectual liberals’ began trying to compromise and water down ...
under their false influence a Laodicean lukewarmness and indifference, losing
the love of God’s truth, found root in the Church” (HWA, GN, 19
February, 1979).
• In the aforementioned GN, HWA
published an excellent article “What is a Liberal?”, which, if analysed
carefully, which may indicate what he thougtht a Laodicean attitude was.
• In the GN August 1979, HWA wrote
“This Church was drifting into a Laodicean condition. Incidentally, both the
Sardis and the Laodicean eras of the Church were God’s churches - NOT SATAN’S!
Someone spread the false rumour
that I have said these others were or will be Satan’s churches ... The Laodicean
church will be characterized by spiritual lukewarmness - half of its membership
(Matt 25:1-13) will be shut out of the Kingdom of God. But, the bad news, as it
appears today, my dear brethren, is that we, undoubtedly of the Philadelphia
era ... are in serious danger of becoming also the Laodicean era. I am
personally much concerned about that. If you are not concerned, then indeed we
are in mortal DANGER”.
• “ ... Revelation 12:17: Satan shall be
full of wrath against the remnant - the last remaining generation of the Church
- the “Laodicean” Church, and will terribly persecute her. But Matthew 25 shows
that though that final generation of the Church shall be lukewarm - not less
emotional, but more “liberal”, more secular and less spiritual - less biblical
- yet half of them shall be saved at Christ’s coming, though half shall be
spewed out of Christ’s mouth (Revelation 3:16) ... Satan’s wrath, and the final
persecution of the very last generation of the Church - the Laodicean era [will
eventuate]” (HWA, “Personal From”, PT, September 1980, p2).
• “Satan in his mad wrath will ... make
war with the Remnant Church. This has to
be the Laodicean Era of the Church ... Remember, it, too, is God’s Church ... that era of the Church is pictured in
Matthew 25 ... It could happen to you or me” (HWA, Coworker Letter, 20
January, 1981).
• One of the most famous, and certainly
prophetic articles HWA ever wrote was the “Recent History of the Philadelphia
Era of the Worldwide Church of God”, WN insert, 24 June 1985 : “Those of
higher rank, but subject to the one in day-to-day executive administration at
Pasadena, who were steadfastly loyal to the Church and its true teachings, were
suppressed or gradually removed from Pasadena and sent ‘into the field’,
pastoring single churches in other locations ... the Church was actually
travelling into controversy, liberalising and either Protestantism or total
secularism ... I want you, brethren, to think about and understand what
happened to God’s Church in the 1970s lest history repeat itself !
... If Christ should remove me, He will direct the Advisory Council of Elders
to select one of them to continue leading you until the coming of Jesus Christ
in power and in glory”.
• Prior to his death, HWA wrote: “Perhaps
WE OURSELVES have been holding the march of events up ... Perhaps you and I are
holding this world condition back ... I call on you in Jesus’ name to pray as
never before that God’s Church will heed and draw closer to Him. Have we not
been becoming lukewarm? Read the last part of Revelation 3. If we are lukewarm
we shall be spewed out of Christ’s mouth.” (Coworker Letter, 15 July
1985).
• A reading of the wonderful Coworker
Letter of 25 August 1985 would be most helpful. HWA shows how we, ourselves
(the WCG), had been holding back the march of world events. Why so? Perhaps
because the Laodicean element was gradually becoming the majority toward the
end of his life? Was there a transition period of 19 years from the death of
his wife in early 1967 until his death in early 1986? Who knows?
• “ ... it is certainly possible for us to
hold back the Work’s progress if we allow ourselves to drift into a lax or careless spiritual condition
... The Laodiceans are characterised as thinking they are rich, but actually
unaware of their serious spiritual condition” (JWT, WN, 3 August, 1987,
p1).
• “And I tell you now, that ... we are
living in the day when the Laodicean spirit is
beginning to take root within God’s Church. And it won’t be long before the
Laodicean Church and the Philadelphian Church are going to be side-by-side and
in outward appearance you won’t be able to tell” (JWT, sermon, 26 December
1987, Sydney, Australia).
From the
above we can summarise the following pointers concerning Laodicea or apostasy:
• liberalism to conform with this world
(eg abortions, sympathetic attitude toward euthanasia, surrogacy,
liberalism, interracial marriages, mild feminism and a lax attitude
toward homosexuality)
• doctrinal committees established to
change doctrine in a wrong direction
• conspiracy from within
• Satan creeping in and virtually
taking over
• ridiculing and shanghaiing away the
older, loyal ministers
• watering-down or changing the
doctrines
• throwing out HWA’s books and booklets
• neo-Protestant approach and direction
• compromising with the world and
tolerance toward evangelicals and pentecostals infiltrating the Church
• virtually throwing Christ out of
God’s Church
• the Spirit of God draining out of the
Church
My personal
and sermon notes from the late 1970s and early 1980s said that the Laodicean
Era would throw out church eras, truth about Israel, the truth about our
destiny etc.
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Forthcoming research papers:
·
David
- A Type of Philadelphians
·
Parallels
Between the First Seven Tribes which settled the Holy Land and the Churches of
Asia Minor
·
The
True Church in Old Testament Prophecy
·
Falling
Away From the Truth
·
The
Canaanite/Babylonian Conspiracy in the First Century True Church of God
·
All
the Scriptures on spiritual persecutions: How some Christians oppress, trap and
drive out other Christians (eg Matt 24:42-51; Is 66:5a; John 16:1-5; Jer 9:1-9
etc)
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