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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 Thirteen The Bridegroom Cometh! We, in the Stedfast Church of God, are dedicated to holding fast to all the doctrines instilled into the Church through God’s end time apostle, Mr. Herbert W. Armstrong. We believe, because he was an apostle, that changing doctrine is a violation of the authority given from Jesus Christ to an apostle. Any changing of doctrine, therefore, is against the will of God and breaks the principle of His government. It is rebellion! Rebellion is SIN! King Saul, in ancient Israel, learned this the hard way (I Samuel 15:22-23). Sin is the breaking of God’s Law. If we change doctrine, then we dishonor our spiritual mother, the Church, our head Jesus Christ, and our Heavenly Father. Disobedience to God in any form is sin, therefore, it is sin to change doctrine without God’s authority to do so. Some will say that we worship Mr. Armstrong, or that we are putting him on a pedestal. This is not true. We realize he was just a man like all of us. Just as we sometimes make mistakes, he made mistakes. But he held an office that God gave to him. If we honor the office of an apostle, then we show honor to God Himself. Speaking to the apostles whom Jesus sent out to preach the gospel, (apostle means one who is sent), He says: “He that receiveth you receiveth me, and he that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me” (Matthew 10:40). Mr. Armstrong was sent to us by God. He was an apostle. Have you received him as one sent? This world is going to be spared from total annihilation because there is an elect of God present during the great tribulation (Malachi 4:5-6, Matthew 24:22). The reason there is an elect is because Mr. Armstrong fulfilled the office of the “Elijah” to come and Restored All Things (Matthew 17:11). We have more than 18 basic restored truths for a witness of this role. Also, many other doctrines of the Church, based on the spirit of the law, were more clearly explained and given to us through him. To those of you that do not believe he fulfilled this role of “Elijah” to come and teach the same to others, I have one question for all of you: WHAT IS THERE LEFT TO RESTORE? That’s a difficult question for you to give a valid answer, isn’t it? Why? Because you can not give a legitimate answer, and you know it. Why not just admit the truth, and adjust yourselves accordingly? You need to get back on God’s track, the same His apostle was on! Only one man has restored the government of God and the true doctrines to the Church in this end time. That man was Mr. Herbert W. Armstrong. He was given the office of an apostle in order to make these things binding upon the people of God. We are those elect there in Matthew 24:22. Who taught us God’s truth? Whom did Christ use to set the Church back on track when it got off in the 1970’s? We know it was Mr. Armstrong! We are here because this one man taught us the truth, either directly or indirectly. The world is going to be spared because this one man remained loyal and fulfilled his mission. God still gives great honor to this man’s office and work to the point that He will spare the whole world from future total destruction. Should we not then also honor his office by being obedient to those things Jesus gave to us through him? HOLD FAST to those things Brethren! That’s what it means there in Revelation 3:11. The Tribulation is Coming Just think brethren, the whole world will be spared because there is an elect of God existing during the tribulation. And that elect exists because they remain loyal to the teachings and truths Jesus Christ put into the Church as doctrines through one man in this end-time. If we want to remain one of the elect of God, we must remain loyal to these things. Much more depends upon you and me remaining loyal to those truths. Doing so may have a far more reaching impact than we may have ever realized before. Just think about your family, relatives and friends that might be spared total annihilation because of your loyalty to the truth of God. Wouldn’t you like to see your family, which is not in the Church at this time, become part of that first generation when the world tomorrow is ushered in by Jesus Christ? Have you ever thought of these things in that way before? It’s time to wake up! We must realize the far-reaching seriousness of our calling into God’s Church. As I said earlier, we are in God’s Church now because we were taught, either directly or indirectly, by Mr. Armstrong, an apostle of God. He fulfilled the role of the “Elijah” to come mentioned in Matthew 17:11 and in Malachi 4:5-6. He did his job well, and God honors him and his office for doing so by sparing this world from total annihilation, because there will be an elect present. Will you be part of the elect that remains faithful? Will God be able to honor you and me in this same way? Will you and I remain loyal and steadfast to God’s teachings given through this man? Will you be a part of the elect that will still be around at that time so God can spare this world from total destruction? We still have a lot of work to do, don’t we? It’s something to seriously think about, brethren. Now to sum it all up, let’s just quickly review some things. At the beginning of this booklet I quoted Mr. Armstrong from Mystery of the Ages. He said that the preaching of the gospel to the world was given mainly to the apostles, and to a lesser extent, the evangelists. He also said that the local pastors could do some public preaching of the gospel (pg. 265). Each must, however, remain within the bounds and area of his given responsibility. The primary responsibility for ministers is to feed, care for, and protect the flock (pp. 262-264). To go beyond these bounds already set for them would result in usurping authority not rightfully theirs. Remember, to feed and care for the flock, teaching the true doctrines of God, is also part of the Work of God. This function should be the primary work of any minister less than rank of an apostle. Please consider these points: First, since there is no apostle alive at this time, with the door being shut to reach the world with the gospel, shouldn’t we ask ourselves where Jesus Christ wants us to focus our attention? Maybe He wants us to focus our attention a little more on the cause of the Church being splintered and divided. Maybe we should pay a little more attention on the Church straying from the doctrines given through an apostle. Maybe we should be admonished by the ministry to be a little more zealous and repent (Revelation 3:19). Secondly, should evangelists and pastors be preaching to the world without the supervision of an apostle? What did he say about this? “An apostle is "one sent forth" with Christ's gospel message, including the supervision of proclaiming that message to the world by means and persons other than himself. Also an apostle was given supervision over all the local congregations or churches (I Cor. 16:1). The prophets set in the foundation of the Church are those of the Old Testament,..... No prophets are mentioned as having either administrative, executive or preaching functions in the New Testament Church. Evangelists were leading ministers, proclaiming the gospel to the public, even raising up local churches and having supervision over some churches under the apostle” (Mystery of the Ages, pp. 244-245). We have shown where those groups that are attempting to preach the gospel to the world are off track on doctrine. They are not attempting to get the Church back on track as Mr. Armstrong would if he were alive today. They have lead the Church back into error. He gave warning not to let happen again what the Church went through in the 1970’s when it got off the track spiritually and in doctrine. These leaders have rejected this warning to them. He may be dead, but his words that were inspired by Jesus Christ are still here with us. More important, Christ is alive and tells us to REPENT! There is a principle recorded in the Bible that these men who are attempting to preach the gospel to the world, while the Church is in such a mess, need to pay a little closer attention to: “Let the children first be filled; for it is not meet (suitable, or right) to take the children’s bread, and cast it unto the dogs” (Mark 7:27). Neglecting to properly feed the Church, in lieu of preaching the gospel to the world, Christ says is not right. Furthermore, if polluted bread is being served, the Church is not being properly nourished. As mentioned earlier, polluted food is never “meat in due season”. What are the fruits of these Church groups in this era showing, positive or negative results? What happens if new converts from one group meets with new converts of another? They won’t be speaking the same things nor keeping all the same doctrines. Is the Church today becoming more united or more splintered as a result of these leader’s teachings? The answers to these questions are obvious. Jesus Christ is not pleased with the fruits the Church is producing in this era (Revelation 3:18-19). The Bride Must Get Ready Mr. Armstrong stated many times that the bride must be made ready. It is not yet ready. That may be the main reason why world events have been held back until now? How many times have we seen events in Europe and the Middle East look as if they were going to explode fulfilling certain prophecies about them? Yet they seem to be delayed time after time? How many of us have said things just can’t go on much longer? But they have gone much longer than any of us thought. Ask yourself, why? What has been the hold up? It might well be that God is giving the Church time to repent and get its own house in order. It doesn’t look like this will happen while this present trend continues. If it doesn’t, then He would have no alternative but to give power unto His two witnesses, making it clear to the Church that it is off track doctrinally and spiritually. We certainly do not want to fall into a mindset Jesus warns about: “But and if that evil servant shall say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming; And shall begin to smite his fellowservants, and to eat and drink with the drunken; 0 The lord of that servant shall come in a day when he looketh not for him, and in an hour that he is not aware of, And shall cut him asunder, and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth” (Matthew 24:48-51). We don’t know how much time we have left before the tribulation. The point is, make each day count as if it were your last. Don’t waste precious time on this world’s pursuits. “And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares. For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth. Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man” (Luke 21:34-36).
Preparing for the return of Christ should be a spiritual priority for us. Are we praying and studying like one who needs to pass final exams so he can graduate from college? We are in our final exams, brethren! Are we going to pass or fail? We need to be ready as His bride, clothed with His righteousness (Revelation 19:7-8). The Two Witnesses Are Already Here We know the two witnesses will be given tremendous power. They will be given an open door to reach the world with God’s warning message. You don’t find an open door spoken of in Revelation between the Philadelphian era and when the two witnesses appear, very possibly a short time before the tribulation. The two witnesses will be given power to prophecy for 3 1/2 years after which they will be killed: “And I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth. These are the two olive trees, and the two candlesticks standing before the God of the earth. And if any man will hurt them, fire proceedeth out of their mouth, and devoureth their enemies: and if any man will hurt them, he must in this manner be killed. These have power to shut heaven, that it rain not in the days of their prophecy: and have power over waters to turn them to blood, and to smite the earth with all plagues, as often as they will. And when they shall have finished their testimony, the beast that ascendeth out of the bottomless pit shall make war against them, and shall overcome them, and kill them” (Revelation 11:3-7). Will they come on the world scene before the tribulation? Is there a possible time overlap of their 3 1/2 year ministry and the 3 1/2 year tribulation period? We read in Daniel chapter 12 about the 1260, the 1290, and 1335 days, along with the 1150 days in chapter 8:14. It’s intriguing to mull these things over in one’s mind at times. Only God knows for certain how and where all these days fit. That is in His hands. Getting Ourselves Ready Our main focus should be on getting ourselves back on God’s track and become ready as the bride of Christ, preparing for His return. We also should be watching and waiting for these two witnesses to appear with power. They are alive on this earth somewhere right now. God will reveal them to us very soon. They will be speaking the truth and keeping the doctrines as the original apostles and the end-time apostle taught. They will be remaining faithful over a sufficient period of time proving to Christ their stedfastness in doctrine and for His government. Those truly holding fast will easily recognize these two men. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. He will never leave nor forsake us (Hebrews 12:5, 8). While we are waiting for the two witnesses, He will give to us meat in due season, pure and undefiled, if we ask and trust Him for it. We are giving a warning message to the ministry about their direction and to the Church members about their condition. We need to be getting ourselves ready for Christ’s return. At this present time we are not ready! God’s overall purpose for the Church has not changed. We are in training to be kings and priests to serve under Jesus Christ in the Kingdom of God. We must be preparing to graduate into a God being. We must continue to feed on a nutritional diet of unpolluted spiritual food in order to become strong in Christ. We need to be preparing for the rough times just ahead. It isn’t going to be easy for anyone. Our faith will be tried to the limit, brethren. God wants to know what we are made of: “Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is. If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire” (I Corinthians 3:13-15). Getting ourselves right with God is the primary order of business at this time for those that hold fast, not the preaching of the gospel to the world. We must not take the food, energy and resources needful to feed and help get the Church ready for the return of Christ, and use them for preaching the gospel to the world at this time. We are not to take bread from the children and cast it to dogs (Matthew 15:26). Feeding God’s children comes first. It’s a matter of priorities. “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you” (Matthew 6:33). Several groups and their leaders feel the door is still open to preach the gospel and to do a greater work than was done through the apostle for our time? One leader feels he could be the one to fulfill the role of “Elijah” in the near future, not believing that Mr. Armstrong has already fulfilled this prophecy. Listen! There is no scripture foretelling a worldwide work of preaching the gospel to be done in this era until the two witnesses are given power from Christ. That is why they will be given great power. The door will be wide open for them to preach to the world. No man can stop them until their work is finished. They will bring a grave warning message from God to the nations. The world will not welcome them. I believe they may give a warning message to the modern descendants of Israel, U.S. and Britain, a short time before the tribulation starts. God always warns a nation before He allows it to be destroyed. They may give a warning message to the Church. I believe most of the Church, in general, won’t welcome them. Why do I say this? Scriptures reveal many in the Church will not repent until after they are in the tribulation. Their physical lives will then be on the line in order to save their spiritual lives (Revelation 6:11). Apparently only half will make it into the kingdom (Matthew 25:1-13). Brethren, that’s not very good odds. Think about it! As I have repeated many times, the ministry and the Church need warning. This booklet contains a warning for every one of us in the Church. That is the very purpose it has been written. What are you going to do after receiving this warning? Let’s be getting ready for Christ’s return. Let’s prepare for the arrival of the two witnesses with power. When Jesus Christ does display His great power through them, we will be very glad we did something about a Laodicean condition. Christ also will be pleased: “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” (Revelation 3:10). “Even from the days of your fathers ye are gone away from mine ordinances, and have not kept them. Return unto me, and I will return unto you, saith the LORD of hosts.” “Then they that feared the LORD spake often one to another: and the LORD hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the LORD, and that thought upon his name. And they shall be mine, saith the LORD of hosts, in that day when I make up my jewels; and I will spare them, as a man spareth his own son that serveth him. Then shall ye return, and discern between the righteous and the wicked, between him that serveth God and him that serveth him not” (Malachi 3:7, 16-18). Returning to and holding fast the things we have been taught through an apostle means a lot to Jesus Christ. Does it mean very much to us? This is something we need to be thinking about! Will you be able to recognize the two witnesses simply from the message they will be speaking? It will be obvious to those truly preparing to be the bride of Christ. If we are not preparing ourselves and/or dismiss their warning, tragic results may well occur for us along with our loved ones. Let’s make the right choice now. Let’s set our priorities straight while there is still time. Hold fast to that which we have been given, brethren. Finally, since there is not a live apostle on the scene today, we need to listen even more intently to the teachings of the one God sent to us, Mr. Herbert W. Armstrong. Of course, the Bible is our final authority, but we must recognize that God used this man to teach us. We still have the true teachings and doctrines available that God’s apostle taught to us in the form of books, booklets, writings and cassette tapes. We are being tested as to whether we will hold fast to those things (Revelation 3:11). If you have not done so recently, please review the apostle’s writings. Listen again to his sermon and Bible Study tapes. Doing this will help re-orient you back to the truths and doctrines of God in their purity. Mr. Armstrong explained principles in the simplest terms. We can easily understand them. If you want his materials, just write or call and let us know of your request. Hold fast to these things. The very course of your future will be determined how well you do. We have much to gain or much to lose. We must act now! If we remain undecided, it will be the tribulation for sure. Think about it! Don’t straddle the fence or become lukewarm in these things. Christ tells us to either get hot for His truth, or get away from it altogether. He doesn’t want us to be lukewarm (Revelation 3:15-16). He’s talking about our spiritual condition, not preaching the gospel, as some would have you believe. He stands at the door and knocks! Those who hear, and do something positive about it, will be given a closer relationship with Him. For those who respond positively, an understanding of the problems because of what has happened to the Church, and the Work of God, will begin to be resolved. They will once again be on fire for God’s way of life. They will be zealous to repent when shown where they have either compromised or accepted wrong teachings concerning the doctrines of God and His Work. “While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept. And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him” (Matthew 25:6). Prepare now! Trim Your Lamps! God’s purpose will stand. May He help you to wake up and make the right choice. May He help you to fully understand: The Work of God in the Laodicean Era. Behold! The Bridegroom Cometh! This booklet is sponsored and distributed by the Stedfast Church of God. If you would like to write to us or telephone us please see the information below. Thank you for allowing us to serve you.
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