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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 Eight A Need For The Message This world, especially Israel (U.S. and British peoples), need to be given a warning and to hear the gospel message now more than ever before. There is a greater need for a warning message to be given to the Church. Most are not holding fast to those doctrines which they have been given through Mr. Armstrong, God’s apostle for the end-time. In Ezekiel 33:30-33 we read: “Also, thou son of man, the children of thy people still are talking against thee (margin; “of thee”) by the walls and in the doors of the houses, and speak one to another, every one to his brother, saying, Come, I pray you, and hear what is the word that cometh forth from the Lord. And they come unto you as the people cometh, and they sit before you as my people, and they hear the words, but they will not do them: for with their mouth they show much love, but their heart goeth after their covetousness. And, lo, thou art unto them as a very lovely song of one that has a pleasant voice, and can play well on an instrument: for they hear thy words, but they will not do them. And when this cometh to pass, (lo, it will come,) (see verses 27-29), then shall they know that a prophet hath been among them.” This is speaking about the people of God, His Church. They will not heed the words that have been spoken to them! In a sermon about the Holy Spirit given around Pentecost in 1981 Mr. Armstrong referred to these verses. He mentioned he felt they applied to those in the Church that were listening to him, including the ministry. He said he did not think they really understood the seriousness about the things he was speaking to the Church at that time. Time has proven him right about these verses applying to himself and the Church under his leadership. He was an Ezekiel watchman. Many people wanted to hear what he said when he was alive. In his absence after he died we find many only liked what he said, just as we read in those verses in Ezekiel 33. They did not follow through with actions. They did not DO what he said! By contrast, we can read where the apostle Paul wrote to the Philippians saying they obeyed even in his absence. “Wherefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.” Holding forth the word of life; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither laboured in vain” (Philippians 2:12, 16). Will Mr. Armstrong, an apostle, be able to say this about each one of us? He certainly will not be able to say it about this Church era, members and ministry alike. They have not obeyed in his absence. You can’t be any more absent than being dead. The Power Behind His Office Listen, brethren! Do we, you and I, understand the power behind the office which he held? Do we see that Jesus Christ was leading and directing him in these things? Are we doing what he taught, or do we just say it sounds good but not take any positive action? Are we only hearers, or are we doers of the words he spoke? It is the doers who will be justified (Romans 2:13). Jesus Christ IS alive today! He was the authority and real power behind the office of an apostle which Mr. Armstrong held. He is very much aware of the compromising and apostasy that has taken place since his death. He has allowed these things to happen, to test us, to find out if we will continue to obey and hold fast to what His servant taught during the Philadelphia era. He wants to know if we will compromise with them in some way or whether we will remain stedfast. That’s why He tells us in Revelation 3:11 to hold fast to those things that were given to us. We are under a test to see IF we will hold fast, or IF we will compromise. Our loyalty and obedience to doctrine is being tested right now. Are you passing His test? Mr. Herbert W. Armstrong taught us that he fulfilled the role of the “Elijah” to come who restored all things to the Church (Matthew 17:11, Malachi 4:5-6, see also Mystery of the Ages, pp. 9-10, 348-349). He mentions this in several sermons and Bible studies and in many writings for the last several years of his life. Those in the Church at that time knew he believed he fulfilled that role. He was given the office of an apostle, which carries with it great authority. Jesus Christ put him in that office (Ephesians 4:11). He had to make rulings and judgments during his leadership that became doctrines for the Church. Only apostles have authority to put doctrine into the Church. This teaching in itself then became a doctrine of the Church. Today many ministers do not believe this doctrine is binding on them nor applies to the present time. Now, in this era of the Church, several leading ministers openly discredit him. Some do not believe nor teach he fulfilled an apostle’s office or the role of the “Elijah”. Others believe he was an apostle but not the “Elijah”. They believe that prophecy is yet to be fulfilled in the future. In essence, they are saying Mr. Armstrong lied to us. Most leaders now assume they have authority to alter doctrines he taught to us. They believe and teach they have the right to determine or change them. The doctrines of the Church have already been established according to God’s Word, according to the spirit of the Law, and were put into the Church through an apostle. These men are out of line! They are usurping authority that has not been given to them. That is a very dangerous assumption on their part. They need to be more conscious about where their course of action is leading the members of God’s Church. There is no need for an apostle in the Church today because doctrine has already been determined for it. Our test and the ministry’s test today is this: Are we going to hold fast those things already established as doctrines or not? It’s not only a matter of what, but whether, we are going to hold fast! These leaders will eventually know that there had been a prophet among them. When they find themselves in the middle of the tribulation, as those verses in Ezekiel 33 plainly says will happen, it will be very clear Mr. Armstrong taught the true doctrines of God to them. Then they will know there had been a prophet among them. There is an awakening coming in the near future for Church leaders and members who will not do what has been taught to them by Jesus Christ through His apostle. Ministers will then realize they must take responsibility for the suffering of many members who will be in the tribulation that were under their care. Most members will be there simply because they, the ministers, are not faithfully teaching all the doctrines as taught to them through the apostle, Mr. Armstrong. Ministers should consider their present course of action and teachings to make sure they are not caught in that future predicament. The realization that others will suffer, simply because of their neglect, will be a heavy burden to bear for them. The Bible does not say in vain there will weeping and gnashing of teeth (Matthew 24:51, 25:30). It will not be a pleasant time. These leaders, at this present time, don’t want to hear a plea to turn from their erroneous ways. They don’t want to be shown where they are off the track. They believe they are right. The Real Laodicean Condition Those finding themselves in the tribulation will then remember what Jesus Christ taught through His apostle. They will wish they would have heeded and obeyed those things that he taught. Hopefully, most will not become so discouraged they give up altogether losing their crowns and eternal life. God will always offer His merciful and forgiving hand for those who repent. But what a heavy price some will have to pay to get right again with God simply because they will not repent now. There is still time before all this trouble comes upon the Church and Israel. Why not heed now and return to all the doctrines taught to us through God’s end-time apostle? Why not be spared so much future agony and the possibility of failure to be in God’s Kingdom (Matthew 25:10-13). We need to be loyal in these things. Our future depends on how well we obey and follow past instructions (II Thessalonians 2:15, II Peter 3:1-2). We need to stay on watch (Mark 13:28-37). If there ever was a time when the Church needed a warning, it is during this present and final era. It is off the track in doctrine. It is lukewarm spiritually. It doesn’t see any need to repent even though Jesus Christ says it should. It’s works, therefore, are not acceptable to Him (Revelation 3:14-20). When we look closely at these scriptures, we find a deeper problem Christ speaks about, self-deception and self-righteousness. This deception is not being fully recognized by most. Most have, in the past, always applied the lack of zeal and this lukewarm term as an attitude toward doing the work of preaching the gospel to the world. It certainly can apply there, but the main emphasis applies to another problem. Look very closely again at these verses in Revelation 3:14-20. You find the lack of zeal and a lukewarm attitude has to do with repentance (verse 19) and personal works. Christ is not happy with the works of this era (verse 15-16). The Church is lukewarm about repentance. It needs to be zealous toward repenting. Why does it lack a zeal toward repentance? Simply because it does not see the need to repent, hence it is not doing it. It is blind to the spiritual condition that it is in. It is wretched, miserable, poor, blind and naked. But it cannot see itself as being this way. The main focus of members in this era of the Church is toward physical things (verse 17). They have lost much spiritual vision. These verses show a lack of zeal and being lukewarm toward the spiritual condition into which the Church has drifted. These verses are not speaking about the Church lacking in zeal or being lukewarm toward doing the work of preaching the gospel to the world. You don’t find that there. It has, however, lost it’s zeal to repent. Why? Because it doesn’t see where it is wrong! The Church in general has become self-righteous just as Job was. Go back and read Job again. He did mighty works, and a lot of “good”. Yet he could not see any need to repent. He couldn’t see his own problem. God had to show Job where he was wrong. He did this first through Elihu, then He intervened directly Himself. The Church’s works in this era are not acceptable to Christ because it has the same problem that Job had. In Matthew 7:21-23 we read: “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 unto 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.” And what is the will of God? The answer is in Romans 12 & 13. Those two chapters are very inspiring and convicting for us. Most members have lost the desire to examine themselves to see if they are in the faith, to see if Christ is working in their lives or not (see II Corinthians 13:5). This attitude shows a lack of concern for spiritual things. Verses 17 and 18 in Revelation 3 confirm this. Be a True Witness In Revelation 3:14, when Jesus Christ begins to address this era, He begins by telling us that He is the FAITHFUL and TRUE WITNESS. I want you to think about this for a minute. Why would Christ have to remind the Church of this fact? Because it is not being a true and faithful witness for Him. It is bearing false witness by not remaining faithful, and it doesn’t even realize it. If Jesus Christ is the faithful and true witness while the Church is not being one for Him, is it any wonder He is on the outside knocking (verse 20)? He is no longer in agreement with the Church’s works. Two cannot walk together unless they are agreed (Amos 3:3). If we are going to be a witness for Jesus Christ, then we must be a true witness. We can’t be a true witness if we compromise or alter doctrines He has put into the Church through an apostle during the previous Philadelphia era. That leader kept His word and had not denied His name. “I know thy works....for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name” (Revelation 3:8). Mr. Armstrong was the leader Jesus Christ is referring to here in this verse. He kept and taught God’s Word faithfully. He was given the authority of an apostle. He had the government of God. We must remain faithful, holding fast to the same things, in order to be a true witness for Christ. He is reminding us and showing the main problem for this era of the Church right there in His opening statement (verse 14). Because of it’s divided condition, Christ has not used the Church in this era to preach the gospel to the world in an extensive and more powerful way. This was done under Mr. Armstrong’s leadership during the Philadelphia era. He was a faithful and true witness for God. We do not find an open door to preach the gospel in the Laodicean era and for a good reason. Jesus Christ does not approve any compromising of His truth which the Church has done in this era. The great apostasy that happened to the WCG began shortly after the death of the apostle. It all began with just a little compromising. Mr. Armstrong used to say that if we opened the door of compromise just a little bit, Satan will get a foot in it. Once He gets his foot in that door, he will push it wide open for he is much stronger than we are. That is what happened! Look at the Church now! Jesus Christ sent Mr. Armstrong, a man who would not compromise on doctrines. He opened wide the door for him to preach the gospel to the world. That alone is proof God will bless those who will not compromise, who hold fast to His truth and doctrines. Mr. Armstrong held fast to doctrines without any compromising during his leadership. He said that was why God could use him as He did. Those whom God called and added to the Church during Mr. Armstrong’s leadership were taught all the true doctrines as best we understood them. They were able to grow in the grace and knowledge of God without being on the wrong track on doctrine. God gave His blessings through a leadership that held fast to His truth. The faithfulness to doctrine and loyalty to God shown by this great leader of God’s Church is a tremendous lesson for all of us today. Apparently, much of the present leadership has either forgotten these things or they no longer care. Many leaders, and members also, are deciding for themselves things that has already been decided for us such as: who is to preach the gospel to the world today, what doctrines do we want to keep and which ones we no longer feel the need to keep. They are deciding for themselves what is right and wrong. Remember the two trees? We are given the prerogative to decide whether, not what! The works of the Church in this era are not acceptable to Jesus Christ. As a result of this attitude and approach, He is on the outside of the corporate groups knocking on the doors of individual members (Revelation 3:20). Can we see the significance of what this previous leader faithfully taught to the Church? Do we now understand why Jesus Christ opened wide the door to preach the gospel to the world for him? Do we see the connection between these two things; that of being faithful in doctrine, and that of preaching the gospel? They go hand in hand together. When properly followed, these two make a combination that will bring success, with Christ’s blessing. Recent history of the Church during the previous era of Philadelphia has proven this to be true. A Need for the Gospel If there were reasons for success to do a work under Mr. Armstrong’s direction, there also can be success for a work now IF we follow the same method he used. We can successfully do a work for God only IF we continue to hold fast those things that we were taught in the previous era of the Church. It’s that simple. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever (Hebrews 13:8). God is not a respecter of persons (Proverbs 24:23, Colossians 3:25). We know the two witnesses will give a final warning to the world during the tribulation period. The message they preach will certainly include the gospel. These two men will be given special power and protection from Jesus Christ to do their assigned duty until it is completed (Revelation 11:3-7). Does that mean we should abandon any responsibility to preach the gospel now? Certainly not! There has always been a need to preach the gospel to the world, no matter what period of time or era of the Church. But it must be done God’s way, not man’s way. If it does not meet with Christ’s approval, then it will be done in vain (Matthew 7:21-23). The Church must be on the right track first, then any preaching of the gospel might be successful. God says He will give power to His two witnesses, but He doesn’t say how soon they will appear. Is it possible they may appear shortly before the Church and Israel goes into captivity? They may be already established as His witnesses before the tribulation, but not yet given this tremendous power. They certainly must be alive today, somewhere. Where are they, and what are they preaching now? This is just some food for thought. This world needs the good news of God’s coming Kingdom, which will bring peace and prosperity to the inhabitants of this earth. It needs the true message about Jesus Christ coming back to this earth with the saints ruling it with His love and great power. Man needs the true message about salvation, and his incredible potential to be born into the very God Family, to become very God, never to sin again. There is always a need in this world for the gospel message, the good news. Getting this true message of hope out to a corrupt and sick world has always been a work for the Church (Matthew 28:18-20). But it must be the right message, unpolluted, and given from a Church that is on track doctrinally and spiritually. The Church needs to be united as one in order to receive God’s blessing to preach the gospel. Jesus condemns hypocrisy (Matthew 23). Christ is not Divided Today, we see a Church that is divided because there are all kinds of doctrinal differences being taught in the differing Church of God splinter groups. They cannot all be right, for Christ is not divided (I Corinthians 1:13). The scattered Church of God groups are not speaking the same things. They cannot be united with each other until they do speak the same things, fully keeping the same doctrines. Christ is not happy with this situation as we have read in Revelation 3:14-20. He is going to correct it (verse 19). He wants unity in His Church and between us and God. “That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one. I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one......” (John 17:21-23). Jesus Christ makes it very clear that His true disciples are to become one. One in doctrine, in direction, in hope, in faith, in the fruits of God’s Spirit, and in His Love. He wants all Church members, ministers and laymen, to become one just as the Father and He are one. Upon repentance of those members who do return to all the doctrines in place at the time of Mr. Herbert Armstrong’s death, they do need to be doing a work. Their efforts should be as follows: l) Help Warn the Church, showing where it has gotten off the track. They must show how to get back on God’s track, rendering aid and support to others who return to all the truth and doctrines as given through God’s apostle for our time. Once that is being done then the next step would be to: 2) Help preach the gospel and give a warning message, to Israel first, then to the world. In Ezekiel 9:4-6, we read of those who sigh and cry for the abominations done in our midst. They will be spared from punishment in the tribulation. Those that carry slaughter weapons are instructed to start where, after the angel marks those who sigh and cry for the abominations being done? In verse 6 we read: “......and begin at my sanctuary. Then they began at the ancient men which were before the house” (v. 6). They were to start at God’s house, His Church, and begin with the elders, the ministry. Chapter 8:16 makes it very clear who these ancient men are. They are leaders in the house of God. These verses are directed not only at the nation of Israel, but also to the Church, beginning with its leaders. All efforts to warn the Church, to preach the gospel and warn national Israel could be accomplished, but only to the degree that Christ provides the ways and means to do this. Members returning to the full truth of God should give their support to those He would lead in these functions. Even then, such leaders must remain within the bounds set by the apostle’s instructions (Mystery of the Ages, pp. 265-266). Both these functions should be done under direction of those in the ministry who remain faithful to all the doctrines and truth of God. Jesus Christ said His Church would never die. You can be assured there are ministers remaining faithful to all these things. You need to find out where they are and give your support to them. If you don't yet know who they are or where they are, ask God to lead you to them. He knows who they are and where they are located. You now have guidelines on how to identify them. He will lead you to them if you ask for His help and His Spirit of discernment. You do not have to wait until it is too late to make this decision. May God bring together all those who truly want to hold fast to all the truth and doctrines given to the Church through Mr. Armstrong. May He lead those of the same mind and purpose to find each other. When they do come together, God says something about them in the Book of Malachi: “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 3:16-18). This is a comforting scripture. God will not forget those who stay faithful to His truth and doctrines. The first part of this chapter we know referred to Mr. Armstrong. It is to those holding fast to what God gave to us through him that is talked about here in verses 16 through 18. Let’s remember these things and not let them slip from us. God in turn will remember. In verse 6 it says He changes not! He will not forget us. What a wonderful and just God we serve! |
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