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Chapter Index 2 -Is That Door Still Open Today? 4 - Problems Of A Divided Church 7 - A Faithful Minister’s Duties 12 - The Conclusion Of The Matter
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The Work of God in the Laodicean Era | ||
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Chapter Twelve The Conclusion Of The Matter It all comes down to this conclusion: if ministers speak differently on doctrine than that which was given to the Church through Mr. Armstrong, flee from them!! If their conduct is not reflective of a godly example for the flock, flee from them!! “To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them” (Isaiah 8:20). Ask God to lead you to one of His ministers that is speaking His truth and teaching the same doctrines as taught to us by Mr. Armstrong. Give your support to him as long as he continues to follow all those doctrines given to us by Jesus Christ through His leadership of an apostle during the Philadelphia era of the Church. God willing, that minister will be used by God to do His Work. God’s Work is: l) Preach the Gospel and Warning Message, and 2) Feed the Flock. Remember we read at the beginning of this booklet instructions to do this by Mr. Armstrong in his book, Mystery of the Ages. Even then, as described by the apostle, each minister must stay within the limitations of his office in doing these things. Because of the problems extant in the Church today, it is obvious that Jesus Christ has closed the door for the Church in this era to preach the gospel to the world on a large scale. Two Faithful Men There will be two witnesses that will come upon the world scene in the near future. They are going to be given great power. We can be assured they will be faithful in delivering God's message. They will be teaching and following all the doctrines that were delivered to the Church from Jesus Christ through Mr. Armstrong. God can use them because they have remained faithful to Him through this time of confusion and deception within God's Church. These two men will not compromise on doctrine. By the time they are given this power by Christ, they will have already proven to Him to be faithful and just in leadership. This is why He will entrust to them such power. Using power without proper control (character) can be very dangerous and detrimental to God’s purpose. Lucifer was an example of this. He was given more power than any created being, but he did not use this power properly. Because he used the power and influence given to him in the wrong way, he became Satan the Devil. He is the adversary of God (Ezekiel 28:12-17, Isaiah 14:12-16, Revelation 12:7-9). The source for all the troubles and sorrows in this world is Satan and his demons, our adversaries (Ephesians 6:12). They are responsible for the turmoil and division in God’s Church today. Satan is very angry with it (Revelation 12:13-17). He wants to destroy it, because those in the first resurrection are going to replace him and his demons as rulers over this earth. He will be angry with the two witnesses, eventually using other men to kill them. He knows his time to rule is about up! Somewhere on this earth today are two men following and teaching God’s truth. These men are keeping all the doctrines pure as given to us from Jesus Christ through His end-time apostle. God only knows who and where they are at this present time. Most likely, they don't even know themselves they are going to be used by Christ as His two witnesses. I do believe that God will soon reveal them to us. This means there are at least two men, I believe to be ministers, that are staying faithful to all the truth. We can take heart in the fact that Jesus Christ has neither left nor forsaken us, especially in this time of turmoil and confusion in the Church. “...for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me. Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever. Be not carried about with divers and strange doctrines” (Hebrews 13:5-6, 8-9). “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost (Spirit): Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen” (Matthew 28:19-20). The whole world will soon know about the two witnesses. They will not be welcome by this world. On the contrary, this world’s inhabitants will hate them. They will celebrate when they are killed! “And they that dwell upon the earth shall rejoice over them, and make merry, and shall send gifts one to another; because these two prophets tormented them that dwelt on the earth” (Revelation 11:10). In reality, these two men that God will use to speak to the world in the future will not be very welcome by most in God’s Church today. Why do I say this? Because they will be speaking the truth as given to them in its simplicity and purity, just as they were taught through the apostle of God, not watering down nor changing doctrines. Speaking the truth has always brought God’s servants conflict with those who do not want to obey Him. That is another major problem with the Church in this era (Revelation 3:16-19). Those keeping the truth and doctrines pure and unpolluted will be able to easily discern who the two witnesses are when the time comes for Christ to reveal them to us. Are you keeping doctrine pure? Will you be one that will recognize them simply from what they will be speaking? Will you welcome their coming? Will you welcome the message they will be speaking or reject it? These are questions that we should think about seriously. Why do I say this? Because these two men are somewhere speaking the truth without compromise! You’d better perk up your ears brethren! If you don’t recognize the truth being spoken now by them, you probably aren’t going to recognize it when they become public to all? I have proven where three major groups have compromised on doctrine. Their leaders have either watered down God’s truth or changed doctrines. They are serving polluted bread on God’s Altar! “...O priests, that despise my name. And ye say, Wherein have we despised thy name? Ye offer polluted bread upon mine altar; and ye say, Wherein have we polluted thee? In that ye say, The table of the LORD is contemptible. ...ye have profaned it, in that ye say, The table of the LORD is polluted; and the fruit thereof, even his meat, is contemptible.....But cursed be the deceiver,” (Malachi 1:6-7, 12,14). There is only one place where God’s Altar is today, His Church! Can we now more clearly understand why Jesus Christ is not pleased with this era of the Church? While serving polluted bread these leaders want to blindly go ahead and preach a message to this world. Christ will not have it! They are without excuse! “For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold (back, withhold) the truth in unrighteousness; Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them.....so that they are without excuse:” (Romans 1:18-20). These leaders have brought a curse upon themselves. They are under a curse because they preach a polluted doctrine. They are deceiving God’s people! We just read where God says: “...Cursed be the deceiver!..” (Malachi 1:14). There has been more than adequate proof that most men leading the Church today have compromised and are off track in doctrine. These men have proven unfaithful to teach all God’s truth to His Church as given through His apostle. Let’s now read what Jesus Christ warns the ministers about in these end times: “Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath made ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season? Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing. Verily I say unto you, That he shall make him ruler over all his goods” (Matthew 24:45-47). This passage of scriptures is also found in Luke 12:42-44. Jesus must want us to really grasp this to have it repeated. Notice the “MEAT IN DUE SEASON”. Listen brethren! Polluted bread is NEVER MEAT IN DUE SEASON! Men who serve polluted bread upon God’s altar certainly cannot be trusted to faithfully preach the gospel to the world in it’s purity. Their message would be somewhat polluted at best. Jesus Christ will not support a polluted message. Doing so would bring even more problems with which we would have to deal, as we discussed earlier. Such leaders attempting to preach the gospel to the world are doing so without the backing of Jesus Christ. He wants His Church to be cleaned up and set back on the track first. Because they are not doing this, He has closed the door for this era of the Church to preach the gospel in an expanded way as was done in the Philadelphia era. If these men really wanted to have the same success that Jesus Christ gave to Mr. Armstrong, they would do the same as he did. He admitted when the Church got off track, repented and immediately began setting it back on God’s track. Just go back and study WHAT he put back on track. This is where this era’s leaders are failing. Christ says we need to repent! To one degree or another, we ALL have slipped into a Laodicean attitude! In Matthew 25:5 it says “They all slumbered and slept”. This is speaking of the Church. First thing to do when we repent is admit we have been wrong. Then we must turn and go the right way. Hopefully we can now better understand why these groups are having very little success today in trying to reach the world. Meanwhile, the work of developing Godly character, which Jesus Christ is doing in us individually can continue only If we will continue to submit to His will and truth. If we get the work that Christ is doing in each one of us back on track, then He can use us collectively to do a greater work for Him. We must, however, have our priorities straight first. There can be only one true Work of God. It is a Work that Jesus Christ will be doing through just men. He will use those men who will not compromise with His doctrines and truth. Such men’s eyes will be on Jesus Christ, the true head of the Church. When men compromise on doctrine, they cease being led by Jesus Christ. Those who are led by the Holy Spirit of God, they are the sons of God (Romans 8:14). Christ can then do His Work through them (Ephesians 2:10, Colossians 1:29). This describes the Work of God and how the preaching of the gospel to the world must be done with Christ’s approval. This booklet has shown you the guidelines and procedures by which we can identify those who truly will be used by Christ to do His Work. If the spiritual problems of the Church are not first taken care of properly, any work of preaching the gospel to the world that leaders attempt to do will be done in vain. They will not be accepted by Jesus Christ no matter how right it may seem to them. “Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity” (Matthew 7:21-23). Preaching the gospel to the world is not the most important duty of ministers during this period of time until the Church gets back on track. Getting right with God takes precedence over everything else. They must seek God’s approval first. Loyalty to doctrine and His righteousness is a pre-requisite before doing any work for God. “But, seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you” (Matthew 6:33). Let us be about our Father's Business! |
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