What message should God’s Church be hearing, before partaking in the Passover for 2017?
Christ provides the answer in Revelation 3:16, 19:
“So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will (am about to) vomit you out of My mouth. As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be[come] zealous and repent.”
For those with eyes to see, it is clear this message is not being stressed by the ministry of the Church of God today.
God’s Church has fragmented into numerous organizations and splits since the death of God’s late apostle, Mr. Herbert W. Armstrong. Paul spoke out about such divisions within the Church.
“I plead with you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment” (I Cor. 1:10).
Sadly, God’s Church does not speak the same words. Different organizations claim as their purpose the need to take the gospel to the world, yet cannot join together in doing it. One proof this part of God’s plan is fulfilled (Matt 24:14).
God’s people do not share the same mind and judgment and thus cannot be joined together in perfection. Different beliefs and ideas, generated by the ministry have created great divisions within God’s Church, preventing the brethren from being joined together.
In teaching Christ’s message to “be[come] zealous and repent,” the ministry must first become zealous and repent of its actions, before instructing God’s people to do the same.
The New Testament provides many examples of men within God’s Church who sought to exalt themselves and pursue personal interests over the integrity of God’s Word. The actions of these men have put God’s people in grave spiritual danger.
“Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood. For I know this, that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock. Also from among yourselves men will rise up, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after themselves” (Acts 20:28-30).
The Tkach administration acted as “savage wolves” in undermining and perverting God’s Restored Truths immediately following the death of Mr. Armstrong. Other men arose afterwards claiming support for God’s work through Mr. Armstrong, by making boastful claims about who they are and the work God was doing through their organizations.
Peter explains how these men are able to deceive and mislead God’s people.
“For when they speak great swelling words of emptiness, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through lewdness, the ones who actually escaped from those who live in error. While they themselves (ministry) promise them (brethren) liberty, they themselves (ministry) are slaves of corruption; for by whom a person is overcome, by him also he is brought into bondage” (II Pet. 2:18-19).
The only way to see through “great swelling words of emptiness” and not be robbed of spiritual liberty, is to know what your Bible teaches and follow it.
Men within God’s Church today desire to have “the preeminence” over God’s people, instead of serving the brethren as Christ instructed.
“I wrote to the church, but Diotrephes, who loves to have the preeminence among them, does not receive us” (III John 1:9).
“Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you shall be your servant” (Mark 10:43).
In the wake of Mr. Armstrong’s death, various men within God’s Church have set themselves up as God’s representatives promoting such false teachings as:
* the world falling away from God’s Truth, when the world is currently cutoff from understanding God’s Truth (Gen. 2:24, Rev. 20:12),
* the 2 witnesses will be resurrected back to physical life, when the Bible is clear, those of the 1st resurrection will be resurrected to spirit life (I Cor. 15:52, Rev. 11:11-12),
* a book written in the early 1990's is the "little book" of Revelation 10, which Scripture clearly points out is a command to John to record the remaining prophecies of the Book of Revelation (Rev. 10:8-11).
These men identify themselves with biblical titles belonging to Jesus Christ and make boastful claims their group is more Philadelphian than all other Church of God groups now in existence. These men should be more concerned with how God views their misrepresentation of His word, than what other groups are doing.
“Therefore behold, I am against the prophets, says the LORD, who steal My words every one from his neighbor. Behold I am against the prophets, says the LORD, who use their tongues and say, He says. Behold, I am against those who prophesy false dreams, says the LORD, and tell them, and cause My people to err by their lies and by their recklessness. Yet I did not send them or command them; therefore they shall not profit this people at all, says the LORD” (Jer 23:30-32).
God’s people do not profit when messages to become zealous and repent are not being emphasized during this final era of God’s Church. Christ is ready to vomit many in the Church out of His mouth into Great Tribulation for their "lukewarm" spiritual condition. Now is not the time for recklessness. These are very serious times!!!
Ask yourself, “Are my ministers teaching Christ’s message for the Church today? Is becoming zealous again for God’s Truth and recapturing your “first love” being emphasized regularly as end-time prophecy unfolds? Are your ministers relentless in teaching the need for God’s people to repent of being spiritually lukewarm?
The message to become zealous and repent is not a pleasant message to apply to oneself. Yet, Christ describes such a message as “food in due season,” meaning food at the right time.
“Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his master made ruler over his household, to give them food in due season? Blessed is that servant whom his master, when he comes, will find so doing” (Matt. 24:45-46).
As the 2017 Passover draws near, will you partake in this solemn service inspired with zeal for God's Truth or the lukewarm spirit of a Laodicean?
Suggested further reading:
Blog - Work Out Your Own Salvation
Restored Truth Bible Study - #6 - Firstfruits