The last or seventh assembly of people has been called out to receive spiritual knowledge and to receive the promises for overcoming their dangerous situation. All of the messages to the seven assemblies are not only age transcending but also “end time” or, more exactly for our time: the end of the seventh age. These called-out people have existed in every generation from the time of Adam!
The time is at hand during which all who are among the called-out ones must act quickly to change any of their unprofitable works into works of righteousness. This Bible study shows that this last assembly could apply to millions of people or to only thousands. These are the people of Laodicea.
Even though these are names of congregations found cities in Asia Minor during the time John was told to write down the words of the Book of Revelation, means little to us. The words spoken to each are far more important than any meaning applied to a name, except “Philadelphia ” (a love for the brothers), which seems to fit the works of the “loners.”
In the prior post in this Bible study series I referred to the “congregation of Satan” who said they were “Jews” but lied. The most fitting application of that turned out to be the followers of Herbert W. Armstrong who out of necessity created the Worldwide Church of God. It appears as though their intentions may have been “pure” in their own eyes, but their, works, particularly of the ministry, showed otherwise.
Does this group belong to any of the assemblies of Revelation chapters two and three?
Even though many congregations can fit into this last assembly, it appears that it also fits “HWA” and “WCG” very well.
The Message to the Assembly in Laodicea, Revelation 3
And to the messenger of the assembly Laodicea write:
The Amen, the Trustworthy and True Witness, the Beginning of the Creation of Elahim, says this:
There is much said in these introductory words. “The Amen” simply means “The Truth” and relates to Eyahushuah‘s statement: “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life, and no one comes to My Father except through Me.” John 14:6
This also ties in to the next statements: “The Trustworthy and True Witness.” There are no wasted words here or in any of these statements. What He says in these opening statements sheds Light on the deeper problems of those in each of the assemblies.
Also He is “the Beginning of the Creation of Elahim.” He is the Firstborn (Hebrews 1:6). He is not the last born or the only born. He is the First and the Beginning, which says there will be others, which He calls Brothers.
In bringing many sons to glory, it was fitting that Elah, for whom and through whom everything exists, should make the author of their salvation perfect through suffering. Both the one who sets-apart men [and women] and those who are set-apart are of the same family. So Eyahushuah is not ashamed to call them brothers. Hebrews 2
This is interesting because Armstrong’s followers understood the meaning of first born and of the Family of Elahim, although they called it the Family of God.
However, their message was not trustworthy. They were not the Way, the Truth and the Life. Nor were they True Witnesses who carefully guarded the Works and Words of Eyahuwah, the One who became Eyahushuah.
I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I would that you were cold or hot. So, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I am going to vomit you out of My mouth.
What happened to the followers of Armstrong after he died?
Armstrong, for some reason, appointed a most unlikely person to succeed him. According to some Armstrong may have suffered from Disordered Narcissism. Content from Wikipedia on Narcissism describes this affliction:
- Overreacts to criticism, becoming angry or humiliated
- Uses others to reach goals
- Exaggerates own importance
- Entertains unrealistic fantasies about achievements, power, beauty, intelligence or romance
- Has unreasonable expectations of favorable treatment
- Seeks constant attention and positive reinforcement from others
- Is easily jealous
- Has a sense of entitlement
- Is interpersonally exploitative
- Lacks empathy
- Displays arrogant behavior
- Displays haughty behavior
Was Armstrong’s appointment of a weak leader as his successor a result of narcissism or was the appointment the result of spiritual wisdom?
The record shows that events, which happened in a very short time immediately after the death of Herbert Armstrong, triggered the decline and breakup of the church!
Herbert W. Armstrong died on Thursday, January 16, 1986 at 5:59 A.M. He was 93 years old.
Even though I may have thought the reactions of Herbert W. Armstrong to have been an affliction, I do not think that now.
Here is why.
When one is entrusted with a calling or mission from the Spiritual Kingdom of God or Elahim, the eyes are opened to perceive what are the thoughts and plans of others. This forces that one to also take up the commission to “guard the commands and words of Eyahuwah,” and as Jesus [Eyahushuah] said in Revelation 3:11, “Hold on to what you have, so that NO ONE WILL TAKE YOUR CROWN!”
The prophet Hosea saw this situation, and it pertains to our time:
The days of punishment have come, the days of retribution [payback] have come. Let Israel know this! Because your sins are so many and your hostility [hatred] so great, THE PROPHET IS CONSIDERED A FOOL, the “man of the Spirit” A MANIAC! Elohim‘s watchman over you, Ephraim, is the prophet, yet SNARES AWAIT HIM on all his paths. Enmity [hatred] is in the House of his Elohim!” Hosea 9:7-8
Another name for “House of his Elohim [God]” is the Church of God, and in particular in this context, “The Worldwide Church of God.” Herbert W. Armstrong’s church was a hotbed of enemies. From HWA’s own words to the church in 1985:
“In a few days I will be 93 years of age. For some years now, there have been some, like vultures, waiting for me to die. They would like to come back and take over the leadership of the church in my stead. I have been deeply concerned about this, but in no sense worried. This is the Church of God [House of my Elohim], not of any man. Jesus Christ is the living Head of this Church. I am not. If Christ should remove me, He will direct the Advisory Council of Elders to select one of them to continue leading you until the coming of Jesus Christ in power and in glory.”
These are not the words of a narcissist or a mentally disturbed man!
Four days before his death, Herbert Armstrong, was moved to NOT ALLOW the Advisory Council to name a successor. My guess is that he realized something: The Advisory Council was incapable of appointing a successor. The reason being that in the entire population of the Worldwide Church of God there was no successor! The last 57 years of Herbert Armstrong’s life was a calling that only he could fulfill. There was no heir. NO ONE ELSE HAD BEEN CALLED OR CHOSEN TO DO THIS JOB!
In short, when Herbert W. Armstrong died, the job ended!
His job was to preach a message to the world about the coming of the Kingdom or RULE of GOD [Elah and Elahim] to the earth. This is the GOOD NEWS that Jesus declared would be preached in all the world as a WITNESS. Then the END WOULD COME.
We are now living in the END TIME!
Not long afterward, some from within the Worldwide Church of God brought in teachings and doctrines borrowed from the religions that plagued the other assemblies of Revelation 2 and 3: Baalism, false teachings, Church traditions, Paulism, Evangelicalism, Fundamentalism and more. So from a single church group that followed the Jewish Feasts and the Jewish Sabbath, and appeared to follow the Torah, came many factions that cooled off into wishy-washy lukewarmness. In other words, they became religious and stood for nothing. Instead of moving forward, becoming humble, and learning the truth, they went backward to what they originally wanted to avoid. They all became lukewarm.
Now here is something that has not been known by the Worldwide Church: They all had their part in bringing the gospel to the world. Then in 1986, at the death of Mr. Armstrong, not only did his job come to an end, so did theirs. The success of the “work” as it is called flowed through the contributions of each donor, coworker, and member! The entire operation was an organism of people who were called out of the world to be part of the mission given to Herbert Armstrong. Many were called, but only one was chosen. Apparently, though this could change, they do not have any other role to fulfill.
The Plague of Wealth
Because you say, “I am rich, and I am made rich and need nothing at all,” you do not know that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked.
Maybe not all the people who sat in the seats of the Worldwide Church of God around the world, but for certain those in leadership positions saw the wealth, expensive properties, grand buildings, artwork, private jets, limousines, commissioned art works, concert halls, and, in short, all the things the church was known for. All these were acquired through collecting tithes and offerings. Also writings, broadcasts, and presence in the world added to this feeling of “richness.” But this in the end counts as nothing:
I advise you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, so that you become rich; and white garments, so that you become dressed, so that the shame of your nakedness might not be shown; and anoint your eyes with ointment, so that you see.
In spite of all the apparent richness including the adoption of Jewish Feasts and Sabbaths, they really have nothing. How are they to pay for this refined gold and white garments? The advise is to “buy from Me!” the things that they really need, apparently something that they failed to do. To buy new refined Gold and clean garments takes humility, repentance, and overcoming, perhaps with more difficultly than any other assembly. In other words, they must sell all that they think they have (spiritually and physically) and purchase from Eyahuwah, what they really need!
This affliction is not limited to the Worldwide Church(es). It also applies to “The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints,” to the “Jehovah’s Witnesses,” to the Catholic Church (the supercult), to the new independent “Pop Churches,” and to any other religious organization that thinks they have a special connection to God and are “rich and need nothing” — any who do not stand in awe of Eyahuwah, and who do not “guard His words and His works.”
Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have boldness toward Elah. And whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we guard His commands and do what is pleasing in His sight. And this is His command, that we should believe in the Name of His Son Eyahushuah Messiah [lit. "Eyahuwah, our Savior, the Chosen and Anointed One"] and love one another as He has given us command.
And the one guarding His commands stays in Him, and He in him. And by this we know that He stays in us, by the Spirit that He gave us. I John 3
To those listed above and any others who have fallen into this dangerous state, He says:
As many as I love, I reprove and discipline. So be ardent and repent!
See, I stand at the door and knock, If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I shall come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me.
Dining means to feast upon the Truth, not church traditions, and teachings. It means to eat new bread (spiritual food), and drink new wine (not the stupefying wine of deception). These must stop trying to live on their corrupt and unclean food. They must cease trying to worship on their own terms. They must open their hearts and repent. Also Eyahuwah promised:
I shall lead the blind by a way they have not known. In paths they have not known I lead them. For I make darkness light before them, and crooked places straight.” Isaiah 43:16
The promise to those who overcome:
To him [or her] who overcomes, I shall give 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 assemblies.
Beware…. there is not a Christian Church congregation that I have not attended that does not state, imply, act upon, give impression of, that they have the truth, that they are “safe” in their interpretation of the scriptures! This does not apply exclusively to the JWs, Mormans, Armstrong movement, Jews, but also to Anglicans, Catholics, SDA’s Baptists, Pentecostals. It is the decease of the Christian Faith and by focusing on the errors of other faiths concepts we often hide the Laodicean condition of ourselves. Truth will set us free, good overcomes evil, perfect love castes out fear, if I be lifted up I will draw all men to me. Whilst it is important to point out theological errors of various denominations, beware, this is not evidence of the Laodiceans. This conditions was the condition of the people who knew all truth and all knowledge of God, not the false teachers and false prophets. The sins, of clicks in the church, the inability to balance “loving the Lord and loving your neighbor,” quick to point out the “sin” or false hoods of other churches, will give us a smug, content feeling and lull us to sleep in our pews… not having the Holy Spirit and living abiding relationship with Christ will lead us to the Laodicean condition. Pilgrim’s Progress is a great story to keep us from falling asleep and becoming luke warm.
God bless
Liz
Liz,
Allow me to make an attempt at clarity.
First, the religions, including the big three or four, and all that descend from them, present conditions in this world that must be overcome by those who have been “called, invited, or summoned” to come “out” of the world. These are the ekklesia, who, while trying to follow that call, found themselves involved in these religions, while looking for the precious oil that they can burn in their lamp!
Second, if you read the next post in this series, you should learn who is really in control of religion and what is to happen quickly both to him and to the world he rules.
Third, you should read the post about the coming end of all religions, a prerequisite so that righteousness, truth, judgment, understanding, and true knowledge can fill the earth.
There are, in chapters 2 and 3 of Revelation, messages to the ekklesia in all seven places. The places mean little. The unique situation of each must be understood. The time of the writing (circa 90 A.d.), or that these are considered by some to be “church eras” means little. What is important is that these messages to each of these seven groups applies to people living now, who have been “called”. They must see the problems and identify what applies to their present condition, and then “overcome” or conquer their situation. Those who succeed will be the recipients of great promises and rewards! Those who don’t will find themselves on the outside looking in. (Their lamp will be taken away.)
The world, its leader, its systems, its contexts, its religions will all come to an end before the next age begins, the age of right-ruling, truth, and peace.
“Remember Lot’s wife!” This is time to turn and walk away from everything the world holds dear and near, and not look back! Now is the time for the true gold lamps to gather pure oil, trim their wicks, and light their lamps and place them high up so the world can see.
Concerning Pilgrim’s Progress: not the right source. Look to our fathers, including Noah and his fathers, and to the Law, the Prophets, and to Eyahushuah and His Apostles (not including Paul, the Pharisee). If you master what these tell us, then maybe you can examine Pilgrim’s Progress under a clear light. It is a product of the Age of Apostasy, in which we have lived for almost 2,000 years and is now near its end.