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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 3

See the series here

As noted in Parts 1 and 2 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.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 letter to the the Church at Laodicea. 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 

‘But Jeshurun grew fat!’

Unfortunately, this pre-death, predictive warning from Moses to the people of Israel became true, both spiritually and, so some extent, physically. This warning may well reflect much of Church America today, not only spiritually, but also physically, in light of America’s obesity epidemic. In his warning, Moses posits strong correlations between the physical and spiritual health of a person or a people. This correlation was later echoed by John, The Apostle, in his words, ‘Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers.’ (3 John 2) In light of this, let's consider correlations between the much-touted impacts of excess body fat to what Moses likely meant in his warning, and what John infers in his prayer.

Excess body fat surrounds and puts pressure on (squeezes) a person’s internal organs, especially the lungs and heart, and excretes unhealthy chemicals that negatively impact many core body functions. This triggers a host of dis-eases that are now prevalent across our nation and world. Imagine what this could be symptomatic and indicative of in our personal and collective spiritual life.

When ‘Jeshurun grew fat’ (became financially and economically prosperous/satisfied), God was slowly squeezed out of the nation’s spiritual heart. Material prosperity reduced the need and capacity for earnest, fervent  prayer, represented by the life-sustaining function of a person’s lungs. Life became mostly about markets and money, the oil of markets. This progressed to the point that God’s vast supply of patient Grace was exhausted, ushering in His Judgment and its ensuing Righteousness, if only temporarily. According to Jeremiah 9:24, God is in the Earth exercising (1) loving kindness/Grace, (2) judgment, and (3) righteousness. Bible and world history unveils these always occur in the noted order. (See: What’s Really Going On (…Inside)

From Jeshurun’s history and Jeremiah 9:24, God infers:
#1 Grace is always protracted, with a generous supply of warnings
#2 Judgment always follows Grace, especially when there is no repentance
#3 Judgment is intended to always usher in a Righteousness remnant
#4 Righteousness flourishes for a while as the spiritual eyes of that remnant are opened, and they ‘straighten up and fly right’ (if but for a season)
Judgment remnants are those who
remain to remember and to relay
their Judgment experiences on to their descendants

Apply this insight to the Laodicean Church, and by extension to Church America, given its prominent role toward the perceived end of the Church Age. In many respects, we are similar to the Laodicean church, predicted in Revelation 3:14-22, walking in our own sinful hypo-crisies and contradictions. Could The Lord now be seeing in our hearts similar lukewarmness He upbraided the Laodicean Church about? The entire earth realm is a huge planting field God designed to draw out (extract) and plant that which is rooted/hidden in people’s hearts, whether good, bad or ugly. This is why Proverbs 4:23 warns us to:

Keep/guard your heart/spirit with all diligence,
for out of it spring the issues of life.

Does reading about the Laodicean church make you consider what The Lord might be revealing/exposing in our hearts. My own reflections on the points, noted in Parts 1 and 2, prompted me to repent, and as a Psalmist, to sing this prayer. If this resonates with your spirit as well, please join me in this prayer:
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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)