What is the most important question every member of God’s Church should be asking themselves right now?
It is,
“Am I a Laodicean Christian?”
Laodicea is NOW!
God’s Church is now in its 7th and final era and has been since the death of Mr. Herbert W. Armstrong.
The main proof for realizing this is to understand Christ’s prophecy in Matthew 24:14 is now a fulfilled prophecy.
“And this gospel of the kingdom [of God] shall be preached [proclaimed] in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.”
This gospel message was to go out as a witness prior to Christ’s 2nd Coming, stating that God would soon establish His Kingdom on the earth. It was NOT a message designed as a means for God the Father to call people out of this world into His Church.
Revival of God’s Church
God’s Church would not be in existence today had God not revived it through Mr. Armstrong (Rev. 3:1).
Mr. Armstrong had very little biblical knowledge when God began educating him one doctrine at a time, thus restoring biblical truth back into His Church, which had almost been completely lost over the centuries since its founding early in the 1st century.
In conjunction with this restoration of biblical knowledge and truth, God used Mr. Armstrong to begin proclaiming Christ’s gospel of the kingdom of God to the world "for a witness." This proclamation had the smallest of beginnings and when it was completed, it had reached around the world into every nation on the earth.
Mr. Armstrong summarized this phase of God's work in his 1985 booklet, “Are We in the Last Days?” on pg. 11.
“But in January 1934, Jesus Christ began proclaiming through me for the first time in 1,900 years the true gospel of the kingdom of God. It spread coast to coast across the United States and Canada. Nineteen years later, January 1953, that gospel went out on the world’s most powerful radio station, Radio Luxembourg, to all Europe and Britain, and almost immediately after that on other radio stations in Taiwan, Radio Ceylon, Radio Monte Carlo, stations in South America and elsewhere. Soon it was going to Australia, New Zealand and many other parts of the world.”
This proclamation of the Gospel through Mr. Armstrong occurred in the 6th era of God's Church, called Philadelphia.
“And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write . . . I know your works. See, I have set before you an open door, and no one can shut it; for you have a little strength, have kept My word and not denied My name” (Rev. 3:7-8).
Following this summary of taking the gospel to the world as a witness, Mr. Armstrong wrote,
“And now (in 1985), at last, we can say that gospel has gone into every nation on earth.”
Shortly after publication of this booklet, Mr. Armstrong died in January 1986, thus fulfilling Christ’s prophecy in Matthew 24:14 and bringing to an end the Philadelphia era.
Identifying a Laodicean
How can a Laodicean Christian be identified?
The spiritual condition of Laodicean Christians is given by Christ in Revelation 3:15-16.
“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 [am about to] vomit you out of My mouth.”
Christ labels the spiritual condition of Laodiceans as “lukewarm,” but what does this mean?
Christ answers the question in verse 17.
“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”
Laodiceans are very arrogant about their spiritual condition. While thinking they are doing just fine spiritually, the reality is God and Christ are not pleased with their regressive spiritual condition.
The spiritual condition of Laodicea makes Christ so sick to His stomach that He is ready to vomit these begotten children of God out of His mouth into the Great Tribulation (Rev. 3:18).
Are YOU a Laodicean?
What criteria can be used to help determine if you are a Laodicean Christian or not?
1) If you believe the gospel still needs to go to the world, you are a Laodicean!
2) If you believe the “man of sin” comes from within God’s Church, you are a Laodicean!
3) If you believe the world is to “fall away” from God’s Truth before Christ returns, you are a Laodicean!
4) If you believe that certain information Mr. Armstrong taught is not subject to biblical change, you are a Laodicean!
5) If you do not believe in Church eras, you are a Laodicean!
6) If your ministers are not emphasizing Christ’s message to Laodicea, you are a Laodicean!
7) If your ministers teach any of these unbiblical teachings and more, your ministers are Laodicean, making you a Laodicean too!
Time is very short and soon the Great Tribulation will come upon this earth! To help Laodiceans wake-up, God will allow this final era to experience the horrific punishment of Great Tribulation. This will provide Laodiceans the opportunity they need to repent and fulfill their calling to become members of God’s kingdom (Rev. 3:18; 6:9-11; 12:17).
The cure for being “lukewarm”
It is not pleasant to contemplate the thought of being a Laodicean Christian. Many of God's ministers will not ask you to do it and mean it. But it is a necessary question to ask, if you hope to escape the Great Tribulation and become a member of the 144,000 first fruits (Luke 21:36) Rev. 14:4).
And NOW is the time to ask yourself this question before it is too late and you do find yourself in the Great Tribulation. This will most certainly identify you as being a "lukewarm" Christian!
Christ provides the way for changing your “lukewarm” spiritual condition.
“As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be[come] zealous and repent” (Rev. 3:19).
“He [or she] who has an ear, let him [or her] hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”