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The world is blind to these SEVEN, pivotal facts:

1. The Bible communicates Heaven’s 'Multi-millennial Strategic Plan for Humanity'.

2. There are SEVEN ages appointed for humanity.

3. We are nearing the end of the THIRD age, a pivotal turning point in this strategy.

4. A GREAT falling away from the Christian faith is predicted during the ending days of this THIRD age, as a result of backsliding, general lukewarmness and outright apostasy among the heretofore faithful. Look around and this you will clearly see.

5. Biblical prophecies have been and remain seeds of human history.

6. Yet-fulfilled prophecies, unfolding apace, are worthy of diligent study.

7. Now is the time to get and stay on ‘the right side of Bible prophecy’.

 

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Fasten your spiritual seat belts!

Laodicean Lackadaisicalness - Part 2

See the series here

As noted in Part 1 of this series, The Book of Psalms, especially Psalm 119, frequently references this whole heart concept, testifying of God’s desire for us to engage with Him, and with our world on His behalf, with an enthusiastic heart full of love, praise, worship, adoration and service. Other references note the harsh/undesirable consequences of half-heartedness or lukewarmness toward The Lord God Almighty.

Jesus Christ was God’s effective bloody seed, planted (died) in Earth to produce an eternal fruit called ‘church’ -- a holy [separated/set-aside] remnant of humanity with a distinct purpose. Some Bible scholars believe this church, worldwide, would transit 7 rather distinct phases or ages, culminating in the final Church of the Laodiceans, or the Laodicean Church Age that would precede the predicted return of Jesus to rapture His church.1 While this point is debatable, in 2 Thessalonians 2:3, Paul reveals a key precursor of the end of this age, namely a great falling away of previously faithful Christ followers. In His letter to the Church at Laodicea, dictated to Apostle John on the Isle of Patmos circa 95 AD, Jesus promises to ‘vomit out of His mouth’ fake, inauthentic, lukewarm believers. While this may have occurred all throughout the church age, it seems reasonable that satan ‘knows his time is short’, and thus he would increasingly ramp-up efforts to deceive and tempt believers who remain weak and easy prey.

Of particular note is Christ’s message to the final, Laodicean church age. It is a cutting, stern warning about its intolerable lukewarmness, fed by its material wealth and riches, and the resulting sense of self-sufficiency. Together, these reflect no real need for God, or ability to display His power to an on-looking society and world.2

The astute reader will recognize, as many Bible scholars do, that the Laodicean Church Age is now. This is the Church (worldwide) generally at peace, comfortable with its great/increasing wealth that making it relatively self-sufficient, displaying to society and the world what Paul referred to as ‘a form of godliness, but denying [or not demonstrating] the power thereof’. (2 Timothy 3:5) 3

Particularly noteworthy is that America(ns) often boast(s) of being a Christian nation, and having the largest number of professing Christians worldwide.4 This is an oft debated, highly politicized issue, pitting our so-called political right against the so-called political left. While any straight-thinking citizen will recognize both sides of America’s political divide are rife with beliefs and practices that seriously conflict with God’s spiritual laws/principles for humanity, let’s imagine for a moment that this oft touted boasting may have some merit.

What would that infer about Christ’s stern rebuke
to this current Laodicean Church age?

As you ponder this question, consider the following:
1.  Have American Christians today generally become rich and wealthy, living as if we have need of nothing, lacking revelations of the power of God flowing through us as healing oil flowing on intractable problems across our land? Have we effectively lost our [spiritual] salt that, though biting/stinging, represents essential nutrients that society itself needs, but simply cannot produce (just like sodium/chloride are to our physical bodies)? We often consider the preservative qualities of salt, but omit its crucial role in regulating many bodily functions that transport oxygen and other nutrients, and digestion and maintaining the body’s overall fluid balance.
Ponder the spiritual equivalent of salt in a society.
2. Have American Christians today generally grown thick and fat, living off the fat of our land [prosperous economy]? Without doubt, we have become increasingly obese, physically.
Ponder the spiritual equivalent of rampant physical obesity in a society.
3. Like the taste and feel of tepid water in the mouth, Christ promises to vomit the Laodicean church out of His mouth/His Church body!
Ponder whether our American society may have already done the same with today’s ineffective, seemingly powerless church.
4. Though the typical American local church may be relatively rich compared to local churches elsewhere, much of this wealth is in buildings, equipment and money. In 1971, the U.S. dollar was taken off the gold standard and now only represents a promise from the USG, the same entity that controls and heavily uses the currency printing press, and that might weaken the dollar’s value with each (non-replacement) printing. Moreover, since buildings and equipment rapidly deteriorate, they cannot represent real wealth. Spiritually, Christ counsels the Laodicean church to ‘buy gold’, a representation of enduring, spiritual wealth.(See: Isaiah 55)
Ponder how Church America can adhere to Christ’s counsel to ‘buy enduring, spiritual gold’.
5. In 2 Thessalonians 2:3, Paul noted there would be a great ‘falling away’ from real, Christ-rooted faith in the last days. This paints the picture of Christians, in name only, leaving Christ outside, knocking at the door of their hearts. (Revelation 3:20)
Ponder, if you will, the relationship between lukewarmness and falling away.
6. Though the above generally refers to an age, the astute reader will correctly perceive it also refers to individuals who populate the age.
Ponder, if you will, what does this mean for you, dear Reader, as you carefully examine any ‘Laodicean likeness’ in your personal lifestyle.
7. Jesus sternly chided religious scholars of His day for their inability to ‘discern signs of the time’, and thereby modify their thoughts, words and actions. (Matthew 16 and Luke 12) Their response signaled their strong dislike for being judged.
Ponder, if you will, relationships between discerning and judging. Are you aware that Christ-followers are called upon …to do both??  (See: Judging, Misjudged (Poem))
                                      (Stay tuned for Part 3)
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1 The 7 Church Ages are:
The Loveless Church            (@Ephesus)
The Persecuted Church        (@Smyrna)
The Compromising Church    (@Pergamos)
The Corrupt Church             (@Thyatira)
The Dead Church                 (@Sardis)
The Faithful Church             (@Philadelphia, ancient city)
The Lukewarm Church         (@Laodicea)
Rapture: The global event that will signal the start of the predicted 7-year tribulation period of God’s wrath poured out on the Christ-rejecting world.
2 “And to the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write, “These things says the Amen, the Faithful and True Witness, the Beginning of the creation of God: ‘I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth. Because you say, ‘I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing’ -- and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked -- I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see. As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent. Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me. To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’”” (Revelation 3:14-22)
4 ‘The United States has the largest Christian population in the world, followed by Brazil and Mexico.’ Christianity by Country