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The Messages to the 7 Ecclesias - page 3 (continued) APPLICATION 3: AD1847 to the return of Christ The Christadelphians in Biblical Prophecy Philadelphia: AD1947-1958 ch.3v7-13 During this period of time, the disaster foreshadowed above took place. It saw the re-entry of errors previously withdrawn from, under the euphemistic description of "reunion". Toleration of false doctrine, begun in 1917, was cemented by the end of 1922. In 1947, a conference (Detroit, USA) heard a shocking "official" defence of toleration, which resulted in the admission of those holding error by a conference (Jersey City, USA) 20 Sept. 1952. Then by the end of that year, a report in 'The Christadelphian' gave "official" recognition to "reunion" with errorists. After one "hour"* (thirty years, 2 periods) the judgments prophesied came upon them. It has been all downhill since that disaster. The "hedge" of fellowship having been broken down, every type of error has found a home in this compromised community. One notable error, 'clean flesh', which has plagued the Christadelphian assemblies since its inception, has won its final victory. The most devilish form of this error, which has mesmerised and overcome resistance, is exposed in 'sacrifice' & 'committees'. * - "the hour of temptation" - cp Matt. 24v44,50 "in such an hour as ye think not...an hour that he is not aware of" - re the symbology of one "hour" link to 'feasts' & 'the Lord's day' - 6th Vision. Note that the Lord promises the faithful that He will "keep (them) from this "hour". These events bring into focus the prophecy of the Lord, which is contained in Matthew 24, and upon which we also have more to say below & in 'proverbs'- see page 2. Sound teaching on both doctrine & fellowship has been gradually replaced with what is simply a re-hash of the harlot's teaching under a different label. "And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many (lit. Grk . 'the majority') shall wax cold. But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved" - Matt. 24v12,13. A "fretting leprosy" has corrupted what was once the Master's spiritual "house" - link to 'leprous'. For proof of this declension link to 'committees' & also 'words'. And the "meat in due season" has recently been replaced with the "smit(ing) of fellowservants" and "eat(ing) and drink(ing) with the drunken" - i.e. those "made drunk with the wine of her (the harlot's) fornication". The sad fulfilment is easily seen from the pages of ecclesial history, & the prophecy is applicable both individually & collectively - cp Matt. 24v42-51 & Luke 12v35-48. Concerning the "harlot" of Rome & her spiritual progeny see Revelation 17v1-5 - she is always looking to add to their number. We noted under 'Sardis' that extreme views were also being promulgated. These views became entrenched even further in the period of time we are now considering. As we have set out in our 'appeal' letter, the twin evils of laxity and extremity are now apparent for all to see. They allow us to be guided to the plumbline, which is the Truth in its purity, but with no added doctrines or commandments of men. Both declensions from the Faith must be resisted by those called to be members of Christ's ecclesia. Jesus Christ links the warnings of Matthew 24v42-51 with the 3 parables of Matthew 25 when He says in v.1 "then"- at that time. They demonstrate sequentially "faith which worketh by love" - Galatians 5v6. But more specifically, in the context of apostacy, we must ask the questions, in connection with the 3 parables: 1. The wise & the foolish virgins - do we have the Truth in its purity? 2. The faithful & the unfaithful servants - do we openly promote it? 3. The providers & the non-providers - do we minister to those who show their need of it ("the least of these my brethren")? See also No. 3 below for a dire warning. In 'proverbs' - p.3 we consider related aspects of these obligations. There are also some very personal questions which we must ask ourselves in the light of John 2v23-25; 17v3 applied to these 3 parables: 1. Does the Lord know and recognize us as "wise", and thus able to enter "with him to the marriage", or will He say unto us when "the door (is) shut" - "Verily I say unto you, I know you not". 2. Do we know the Lord & work faithfully, or are we "afraid" to do so, thinking of Him as "an hard man", demanding too much? 3. Do we know and support the Lord's true "brethren", who will be saved, or have we neglected, forsaken & even opposed them? The Lord issued a dire warning concerning No. 3 in Matthew 18v1-10. In these last two messages of Philadelphia and Laodicea, we find doors which are open, & doors which are shut. We deal with the principles involved in 'foundation'. The door of opportunity was shut for those who closed their eyes to the compromise. However to the faithful Christ says: "behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it". The faithful were few - "for thou hast a little strength". Those tolerating the errors in this ungodly "reunion" became "the synagogue of the satan"* (Grk.), "which say they are (spiritual) Jews, and (but) are not, but do lie". *We remember that this description occurs also in the message to Smyrna. These are the only two ecclesias of which no fault is recorded, & both withdrew from "the synagogue of the satan". Yes, "the satan" is a personification of all those who falsely claim to represent the Truth - link to 'satan' and 'proverbs' - page 2. Note Romans 2v29 - "But he is a (spiritual) Jew, which is one inwardly...whose praise is not of men, but of God". The few showing faith remained separate or withdrew. They cherished the promise of Christ that in the Kingdom Age He would "make...him that overcometh..a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out". There was need for faith - a quotation from Isa. 22v22 confirms it. Christ is "he that hath the key of David" in v7. The practice was for one bearing a large key to precede the king. The key "upon" the "shoulder" represented the authority of "government", both then and pointing forward to the future rule of Christ, Isaiah 22v20-22, cp ch.9v6,7. Hezekiah was tested at that time, & showed faith, so that the Assyrian advance was halted outside Jerusalem, and the enemy destroyed - cp Isaiah 36 & 37. As a sign of his faith, Hezekiah also replaced Shebna (sig. 'lead captive') with Eliakim (sig. 'El (God) will set up') - cp Isaiah 22v15-22 with ch.36v3. This clearly demonstrated that he did not rely upon the arm of the flesh, but instead committed his righteous cause to God. Hezekiah also held the greatest Passover ever in Judah according to the principle of faith. Individuals responded to his call from the corrupted northern kingdom. Consider 2nd Chronicles 30. The application to our own responsibilities in similar circumstances of prevailing apostacy is clear. Hezekiah "opened the doors of the house of Yahweh" which had been "shut"- see 2nd Chronicles 29v3; 28v24. The faithful few in Philadelphia had this "open door" set before them - not so with Laodicea (below). Philadelphia is the 6th ecclesia - in common with previous time - applications of 6 we see the great struggle between the spirit & the flesh : truth and error : set forth - link further to 'structure'. The conflict and the battle with self must be won. It is in situations of smallness of numbers and strength that this struggle provides the greatest test of our faith. The next message to Laodicea shows us the door of opportunity has been shut. Total indoctrination involving toleration has by now taken control over a hapless "Christadelphian" community, except for those maintaining the Truth in its purity. This involves not adding to or detracting from God's holy word-see 'appeal'. The little-understood parable of the wise and foolish virgins in Matthew 25v1-13 we shall expound, if it is the Lord's will, in the context of Proverbs & 'Laodicea' below. Note "the door was shut". An infamous 'addendum' has been crafted, allowing toleration of the error of 'clean flesh'. This is exposed in 'committees'. The 'addendum' formed part of what is still termed in Australia the 'Unity Book' - but it was deception, and the only unity to be revealed was the toleration of errorists within the ecclesias. Similar deception on the American continent has brought further loose fellowship by many joining together with various previously withdrawn from (see 'Thyatira'). Refer again to 'committees'. Compromise is thus world-wide, and has carried forward into the epoch of Laodicea below. It is convenient to summarise this here. The appeal of Christ, as we shall see, is now only to individuals. Laodicea: AD1958 to Christ's return - ch.3v14-22 This is the last of the seventh epochs, just prior to the coming of Christ. We have suggested elsewhere, in 'the time of the end', that the date of "Armageddon" may be AD2027. The return of Christ must be before Armageddon, for He must first judge those who will have become responsible to judgment by a knowledge of the Truth. He must then organize the accepted saints preparatory to His conquest of the world. Link to 'the Lord's day' and also 'feasts'. Therefore our preparation for the coming of the Lord is of the greatest urgency. Let us consider this message in that light. Remember also that death could overtake us at any time, & the time of opportunity, as in Israel's history, will be gone forever. The time-application to this last epoch is brought forcibly to our notice by Christ's self-identification as "the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God". See what this involves - link to 'apocalypse' re "testimony" and "witness". He condemns this faithless "lukewarm" end-product. He states "I would thou wert cold or hot" - v15…i.e. refreshing - "cold", Proverbs 25v13,25...zealous - "hot", a related Greek word is translated "zealous" in v19 - "be zealous therefore, and repent". Being neither of the above, but insipid, Laodicea, is only fit for one possible action - the Lord will reject them as vomit - v16. Israel was rejected in the same way - cp Lev. 18v25,28 & 20v22. It is noteworthy that in the litany of faults recorded against Laodicea we see "wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked". It is surely significant that such terms have a connection with the Sacrifice of Christ, and His resurrection & immortality: See Romans 6v24, 1st Corinthians 15v19, Revelation 16v15. The heresy of 'clean flesh' which denies this essential doctrine is fatal to those who adopt or tolerate it - link to 'sacrifice'. And a very tragic aspect of this declension from the One Faith is that they do not understand what they have done, & that the consequences, both personally and ecclesially, are disastrous - this is made clear by the Lord's comments "thou knowest not", and because they are insipid "I will spue thee out of my mouth". Concerning their ignorance, cp 'proverbs' - p.2 'the simple ones' esp. Prov.7v22,23 - "he knoweth not that it is for his life" - & Matt. 24v44 - "in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh". As noted above, in these very last days of "Laodicea", the "door" of opportunity is shut. It is a stark contrast to "Philadelphia", which enjoyed "an open door". An "open door" is a sign of Divine approval - link to 'foundation'. These two facts inextricably link these epochs with the parable of the "wise" and "foolish" virgins of Matthew 25v1-13. In this parable we read "they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut". It would be wrong to believe this refers only to the acceptance granted at Christ's return, for "afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open unto us". This does not fit with the Judgment Seat of Christ, where both the accepted & the rejected will appear together to be judged, and then separation occurs - link to 'judge' - page 1. Primarily we see the days of "Laodicea" when in the parable "the foolish" are told to "go..and buy for yourselves". And to the same class in "Laodicea" Christ says: "I counsel thee to buy of me gold..white raiment..eyesalve". This gracious invitation will not be renewed at the judgment. There is a connection with Psalm 119, which contrasts those who love God's word and endeavour to obey it, with those who despise it. "At midnight I will rise to give thanks unto thee because of thy righteous judgments. I am a companion of all them that fear thee, and of them that keep thy precepts...Thou through thy commandments hast made me wiser than mine enemies...thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path...the wicked have laid a snare for me: yet I erred not from thy precepts...depart from me, ye evildoers: for I will keep the commandments of my God" - Psalm 119v62,63,98,105,110,115 (& whole psalm) - cp Matt. 25v6-8. Consider also Proverbs 31v15,18 (& whole chapter) - "She riseth also while it is yet night...her candle goeth not out by night". "at midnight...all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps…five were wise, and five were foolish...the foolish said unto the wise Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone (mg. going) out. But the wise answered, saying, Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves". As stated previously, there is only one way to obtain light, as also expressed in Psalm 119v130 - "The entrance of thy words giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple" - cp Psa. 19v7, 8: "The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple. The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes". Only "the bridegroom" is able to "sell" to those who "buy" in the way appointed, "without money and without price" - cp Isaiah 55v1; Revelation 3v18. Re "wise", "simple" & "foolish" link to There is still time, but it is fast running out. When the Lord has returned, there will no longer be this golden opportunity. "He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still". Let us not lose this last opportunity. The door has been "shut" by wicked men, but with faith any can "open the door", and Christ "will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me" i.e. fellowship will be restored. For more details on this vital theme link to 'foundation' - p.1. Remember the gracious words of the Lord in Matthew 7v7, 8 - "Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened to you: for every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened". With the final victory of "clean flesh", its promoters have stepped up the false charge of 'Andrewism' to hide their own hideous error - see 'Thyatira'. And the purveyors of open association (i.e. "the doctrine of Balaam" - see 'Pergamos') are in a frenzy, with many false reservations against sound fellowship. One ploy is to label obedient believers as 'a man-made organization'. In both things we see the full subtilty of the serpent mind. Such subterfuges were evident in the days of John, who needed to denounce them. In "the last days" of Israel's existence prior to AD70, the Apostle John fought against heresy ("deceivers...who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh") and the toleration of heresy ("he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds") - 2nd John. Is it any wonder then, that we must combat these same two disasters in "the last days" of Gentile times just prior to the return of Christ? Because of the iron-clad compromise which has allowed error to appear respectable, the appeal of Christ is only to individuals: "If any man hear my voice...". We must show faith & courage. As in the days of old, we must have "understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do" - 1st Chronicles 12v32. And like them, we must do it - "faith without works is dead" - James 2v26. The promoters of this web-site are willing to assist any who desire further information and assistance. Remember also that the Lord says - "As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten". Heb. 12v1-13 tells us "For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth". Note also that the word for "love" in Christ's appeal to Laodicean believers is from the Greek 'phileo', signifying a personal affection. It is significant that the epoch of "Philadelphia" enjoyed an "open door:. This was the time of the pioneer brethren - see page 2. We suggest that we are being told there must be a return to the principles for which they stood That is the purpose of this web-site and our 'appeal' letter. We see a similarity with the words of Malachi, who prophesied of a final work of Elijah to Israel "before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD" to "turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers" - Mal. 4v5,6. See also ch.3v16, where the prophet records the association together of those "that feared the LORD, and that thought upon his name". And in v17 & 18 there is set out the future vindication of those who are faithful in this our day of opportunity. There is more on this glorious theme in 'proverbs'. There is an 8th ecclesia referred to in Revelation 2 and 3. It is the Christ-body, which will be composed of individuals who hearken to the words that recur throughout these chapters: "He that hath an ear, let him hear what the spirit saith unto the ecclesias". We must "read..hear..and keep those things which are written therein" in order to be "blessed" by the Lord - ch.1v3. Whereas the number 7 speaks of completion, the number 8 speaks of perfection - link to 'structure' & also 'grace' - page 2. May we attain to this perfection by our dedication to the Truth, & our maintenance of sound doctrine and fellowship. The epochs of time dealt with in the messages to Sardis, Philadelphian, & Laodicea, will be the subject of prophetic import in 'Proverbs and Parables in the New Testament' now gradually being uploaded to this site. We are pressing on with this work. WE EXPECT CRITICISM FOR THIS THIRD APPLICATION OF THE MESSAGES TO THE 7 ECCLESIAS. HOWEVER THIS CAN MAKE NO DIFFERENCE TO OUR RESOLVE TO SO EXPOUND IT. AND LET EACH VIEWER TEST THE ABOVE BY THE WORD OF GOD. ALSO LET US REMEMBER THE WORDS OF THE LORD: "And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil"…"But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God" - John 3v19,21. It is time for the light of truth to dispel the darkness which has descended upon the Household of Faith in these terrible last days of Gentile times. OUR APPEAL IS DIRECTED TO THOSE WHO LOVE THE TRUTH. These are vital matters which must be understood. We welcome constructive correspondence directed to: webmaster @pioneerchristadelphians.org |