You can readily see that GOD always provided a "Father Figure" on earth to shepherd His people. GOD is the invisible Head of His children, and He is Our "Father Figure." It is no different today. GOD never changes. The truth never changes. Since GOD is infinite truth, how then could He possibly change, since any change would then imply a defect in the truth?
Therefore GOD also has exalted him and has bestowed upon him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bend of those in Heaven, on earth and under the earth, and every tongue should confess that the Lord Jesus Christ is in the glory of GOD the Father. Philippians 2:9-11
For I am Jehovah YOUR God; and YOU must sanctify yourselves and YOU must prove yourselves holy, because I am holy. So YOU must not make YOUR souls unclean by any swarming creature that moves upon the earth. Leviticus 11:44
My judicial decisions YOU should carry out, and my statutes YOU should keep so as to walk in them. I am Jehovah YOUR God. And YOU must keep my statutes and my judicial decisions, which if a man will do, he must also live by means of them. I am Jehovah."YOU people must not come near, any man of YOU, to any close fleshly relative of his to lay bare nakedness. I am Jehovah. The nakedness of your father and the nakedness of your mother you must not lay bare. She is your mother. You must not lay bare her nakedness. "‘The nakedness of your father’s wife you must not lay bare. It is your father’s nakedness. "‘As for the nakedness of your sister, the daughter of your father or the daughter of your mother, whether born in the same household or born outside it, you must not lay bare their nakedness.
"As for the nakedness of the daughter of your son or the daughter of your daughter, you must not lay bare their nakedness, because they are your nakedness. "‘As for the nakedness of the daughter of your father’s wife, the offspring of your father, she being your sister, you must not lay bare her nakedness."‘The nakedness of your father’s sister you must not lay bare. She is the blood relation of your father. ‘The nakedness of your mother’s sister you must not lay bare, because she is a blood relation of your mother. "‘The nakedness of your father’s brother you must not lay bare. You must not come near his wife. She is your aunt. "‘The nakedness of your daughter-in-lawyou must not lay bare. She is your son’s wife. You must not lay her nakedness bare. "‘The nakedness of your brother’s wife you must not lay bare. It is your brother’s nakedness. "‘The nakedness of a woman and her daughter you must not lay bare. The daughter of her son and the daughter of her daughter you must not take in order to lay her nakedness bare. They are cases of blood relationship. It is loose conduct.
"Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied. "Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy. "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. 5:5-8
My judicial decisions YOU should carry out, and my statutes YOU should keep so as to walk in them. I am Jehovah YOUR God. And YOU must keep my statutes and my judicial decisions, which if a man will do, he must also live by means of them. I am Jehovah."YOU people must not come near, any man of YOU, to any close fleshly relative of his to lay bare nakedness. I am Jehovah. The nakedness of your father and the nakedness of your mother you must not lay bare. She is your mother. You must not lay bare her nakedness. "‘The nakedness of your father’s wife you must not lay bare. It is your father’s nakedness. "‘As for the nakedness of your sister, the daughter of your father or the daughter of your mother, whether born in the same household or born outside it, you must not lay bare their nakedness.
"As for the nakedness of the daughter of your son or the daughter of your daughter, you must not lay bare their nakedness, because they are your nakedness. "‘As for the nakedness of the daughter of your father’s wife, the offspring of your father, she being your sister, you must not lay bare her nakedness."‘The nakedness of your father’s sister you must not lay bare. She is the blood relation of your father. ‘The nakedness of your mother’s sister you must not lay bare, because she is a blood relation of your mother. "‘The nakedness of your father’s brother you must not lay bare. You must not come near his wife. She is your aunt. "‘The nakedness of your daughter-in-lawyou must not lay bare. She is your son’s wife. You must not lay her nakedness bare. "‘The nakedness of your brother’s wife you must not lay bare. It is your brother’s nakedness. "‘The nakedness of a woman and her daughter you must not lay bare. The daughter of her son and the daughter of her daughter you must not take in order to lay her nakedness bare. They are cases of blood relationship. It is loose conduct.
"Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied. "Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy. "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. 5:5-8
"And you must not take a woman in addition to her sister as a rival to uncover her nakedness, that is, besides her during her lifetime. "‘And you must not come near a woman during the menstruation of her impurity to lay her nakedness bare. "‘And you must not give your emission as semen to the wife of your associate to become unclean by it. "‘And you must not allow the devoting of any of your offspring to Mo´lech. You must not profane the name of your God that way. I am Jehovah.
"And you must not lie down with a male the same as you lie down with a woman. It is a detestable thing. "‘And you must not give your emission to any beast to become unclean by it, and a woman should not stand before a beast to have connection with it. It is a violation of what is natural. "Do not make yourselves unclean by any of these things, because by all these things the nations whom I am sending out from before YOU have made themselves unclean. Consequently the land is unclean, and I shall bring punishment for its error upon it, and the land will vomit its inhabitants out. And YOU yourselves must keep my statutes and my judicial decisions, and YOU must not do any of all these detestable things, whether a native or an alien resident who is residing as an alien in YOUR midst. For all these detestable things the men of the land who were before YOU have done, so that the land is unclean. Then the land will not vomit YOU out for YOUR defiling it the same way as it will certainly vomit the nations out who were before YOU. In case anyone does any of all these detestable things, then the souls doing them must be cut off from among their people. And YOU must keep YOUR obligation to me not to carry on any of the detestable customs that have been carried on before YOU, that YOU may not make yourselves unclean by them. I am Jehovah YOUR God.’" Leviticus 18:4-30
"‘And in case an alien resident resides with you as an alien in YOUR land, YOU must not mistreat him. The alien resident who resides as an alien with YOU should become to YOU like a native of YOURS; and you must love him as yourself, for YOU became alien residents in the land of Egypt. I am Jehovah YOUR God. "‘YOU must not commit injustice in judging, in measuring, in weighing or in measuring liquids. YOU should prove to have accurate scales, accurate weights, an accurate e´phah and an accurate hin. Jehovah YOUR God I am, who have brought YOU out of the land of Egypt. So YOU must keep all my statutes and all my judicial decisions, and YOU must do them. I am Jehovah.’" Le 19:33:-37
A Prayer of Moses, the man of God. Lord, a habitation Thou -- Thou hast been, To us -- in generation and generation. 90:1
You turn human beings back to dust. You say to them, "Return to dust." To you a thousand years are like a day that has just gone by. They are like a few hours of the night. You sweep people away, and they die. They are like new grass that grows in the morning. 90:3-5
Jehovah is my shepherd; I shall not want. He restoreth my soul; he leadeth me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff, they comfort me.Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies; thou hast anointed my head with oil; my cup runneth over. Surely, goodness and loving-kindness shall follow me all the days of my life; and I will dwell in the house of Jehovah for the length of the days. Psalm 23:1-7
He will weigh me in accurate scales And God will get to know my integrity. If my heart has been enticed toward a woman, And I kept lying in wait at the very entranceway of my companion, Let my wife do the grinding for another man, And over her let other men kneel down. For that would be loose conduct, And that would be an error for [attention by] the justices. For that is a fire that would eat clear to destruction, And among all my produce it would take root. If I used to refuse the judgment of my slave man Or of my slave girl in their case at law with me, Then what can I do when God rises up? And when he calls for an accounting, what can I answer him? Job 31:6, 9-14
Why are the nations in tumultuous agitation, and [why] do the peoples meditate a vain thing? The kings of the earth set themselves, and the princes plot together, against Jehovah and against his anointed one: Let us break their bonds asunder, and cast away their cords from us! He that dwelleth in the heavens shall laugh, the Lord shall have them in derision. Then will he speak to them in his anger, and in his fierce displeasure will he terrify them: And *I* have anointed my king upon Zion, the hill of my holiness. 2:1-6
He will weigh me in accurate scales And God will get to know my integrity. If my heart has been enticed toward a woman, And I kept lying in wait at the very entranceway of my companion, Let my wife do the grinding for another man, And over her let other men kneel down. For that would be loose conduct, And that would be an error for [attention by] the justices. For that is a fire that would eat clear to destruction, And among all my produce it would take root. If I used to refuse the judgment of my slave man Or of my slave girl in their case at law with me, Then what can I do when God rises up? And when he calls for an accounting, what can I answer him? Job 31:6, 9-14
Why are the nations in tumultuous agitation, and [why] do the peoples meditate a vain thing? The kings of the earth set themselves, and the princes plot together, against Jehovah and against his anointed one: Let us break their bonds asunder, and cast away their cords from us! He that dwelleth in the heavens shall laugh, the Lord shall have them in derision. Then will he speak to them in his anger, and in his fierce displeasure will he terrify them: And *I* have anointed my king upon Zion, the hill of my holiness. 2:1-6
Ask of me, and I will give thee nations for an inheritance, and for thy possession the ends of the earth: Thou shalt break them with a sceptre of iron, as a potter's vessel thou shalt dash them in pieces. And now, O kings, be ye wise, be admonished, ye judges of the earth. 2:8-10
And just as they did not approve of holding God in accurate knowledge, God gave them up to adisapproved mental state, to do the things not fitting, filled as they were with all unrighteousness, wickedness, covetousness, badness, being full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, malicious disposition, being whisperers, backbiters, haters of God, insolent, haughty, self-assuming, inventors of injurious things, disobedient to parents, without understanding, false to agreements, having no natural affection, merciless. Although these know full well the righteous decree of God, that those practicing such things are deserving of death, they not only keep on doing them but also consent with those practicing them. For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God; but not according to accurate knowledge; for, because of not knowing the righteousness of God but seeking to establish their own, they did not subject themselves to the righteousness of God. For Christ is the end of the Law, so that everyone exercising faith may have righteousness. Romans 1:28-32;10:2-4. Jesus said in John 4:24, "God is a Spirit and they that worship Him must worship Him in spirit and in truth." For at present we see in hazy outline by means of a metal mirror, but then it will be face to face. At present I know partially, but then I shall know accurately even as I am accurately known. Now, however, there remain faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love. 1 Corinthians 13:12,13
I am strong, and I offer sensible advice and sound judgment. By my power kings govern, and rulers make laws that are fair. Every honest leader rules with help from me. 8:14-16
I am strong, and I offer sensible advice and sound judgment. By my power kings govern, and rulers make laws that are fair. Every honest leader rules with help from me. 8:14-16
Riches and honor are mine to give. So are wealth and lasting success. What I give is better than the finest gold, better than the purest silver. I do what is right and follow the path of justice. 8:18-20
In the past you were spiritually dead because of your sins and the things you did against God. Yes, in the past you lived the way the world lives, following the ruler of the evil powers that are above the earth. That same spirit is now working in those who refuse to obey God. In the past all of us lived like them, trying to please our sinful selves and doing all the things our bodies and minds wanted. We should have suffered God's anger because we were sinful by nature. We were the same as all other people. But God's mercy is great, and he loved us. Ephesians 2:1-4
For I am confident of this very thing, that he who started a good work in YOU will carry it to completion until the day of Jesus Christ. It is altogether right for me to think this regarding all of YOU, on account of my having YOU in my heart, all of YOU being sharers with me in the undeserved kindness, both in my [prison] bonds and in the defending and legally establishing of the good news. For God is my witness of how I am yearning for all of YOU in such tender affection as Christ Jesus has. And this is what I continue praying, that YOUR love may abound yet more and more with accurate knowledge and full discernment; that YOU may make sure of the more important things, so that YOU may be flawless and not be stumbling others up to the day of Christ, and may be filled with righteous fruit, which is through Jesus Christ, to God’s glory and praise. Philippians 1:6-11
For I am confident of this very thing, that he who started a good work in YOU will carry it to completion until the day of Jesus Christ. It is altogether right for me to think this regarding all of YOU, on account of my having YOU in my heart, all of YOU being sharers with me in the undeserved kindness, both in my [prison] bonds and in the defending and legally establishing of the good news. For God is my witness of how I am yearning for all of YOU in such tender affection as Christ Jesus has. And this is what I continue praying, that YOUR love may abound yet more and more with accurate knowledge and full discernment; that YOU may make sure of the more important things, so that YOU may be flawless and not be stumbling others up to the day of Christ, and may be filled with righteous fruit, which is through Jesus Christ, to God’s glory and praise. Philippians 1:6-11
I tell you the truth, we talk about what we know, and we tell about what we have seen, but you don't accept what we tell you. I have told you about things here on earth, and you do not believe me. So you will not believe me if I tell you about things of heaven. The only one who has ever gone up to heaven is the one who came down from heaven—the Son of Man. "Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the desert, the Son of Man must also be lifted up. So that everyone who believes can have everlasting life in him. John 3:11-15
I was so sure of all this that I made plans to visit you first so you could be blessed twice. I planned to visit you on my way to Macedonia and again on my way back. I wanted to get help from you for my trip to Judea. Do you think that I made these plans without really meaning it? Or maybe you think I make plans as the world does, so that I say yes, yes and at the same time no, no. But since you can believe God, you can believe that what we tell you is never both yes and no. The Son of God, Jesus Christ, that Silas and Timothy and I preached to you, was not yes and no. In Christ it has always been yes. 2 Corinthians 1:15-19
That is also why we, from the day we heard [of it], have not ceased praying for YOU and asking that YOU may be filled with the accurate knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual comprehension, in order to walk worthily of Jehovah to the end of fully pleasing [him] as YOU go on bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the accurate knowledge of God, being made powerful with all power to the extent of his glorious might so as to endure fully and be long-suffering with joy, thanking the Father who rendered YOU suitable for YOUR participation in the inheritance of the holy ones in the light.
He delivered us from the authority of the darkness and transferred us into the kingdom of the Son of his love, by means of whom we have our release by ransom, the forgiveness of our sins. He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation; because by means of him all [other] things were created in the heavens and upon the earth, the things visible and the things invisible, no matter whether they are thrones or lordships or governments or authorities. All [other] things have been created through him and for him. Colossians 1:9-16
He delivered us from the authority of the darkness and transferred us into the kingdom of the Son of his love, by means of whom we have our release by ransom, the forgiveness of our sins. He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation; because by means of him all [other] things were created in the heavens and upon the earth, the things visible and the things invisible, no matter whether they are thrones or lordships or governments or authorities. All [other] things have been created through him and for him. Colossians 1:9-16
and clothe yourselves with the new [personality], which through accurate knowledge is being made new according to the image of the One who created it, where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, foreigner, Scyth´i·an, slave, freeman, but Christ is all things and in all. Accordingly, as God’s chosen ones, holy and loved, clothe yourselves with the tender affections of compassion, kindness, lowliness of mind, mildness, and long-suffering. Continue putting up with one another and forgiving one another freely if anyone has a cause for complaint against another. Even as Jehovah freely forgave YOU, so do YOU also. But, besides all these things, [clothe yourselves with] love, for itis a perfect bond of union. Also, let the peace of the Christ control in YOUR hearts, for YOU were, in fact, called to it in one body. And show yourselves thankful. Let the word of the Christ reside in YOU richly in all wisdom. Keep on teaching and admonishing one another with psalms, praises to God, spiritual songs with graciousness, singing in YOUR hearts to Jehovah. And whatever it is that YOU do in word or in work, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, thanking God the Father through him. YOU wives, be in subjection to [your] husbands, as it is becoming in [the] Lord. YOU husbands, keep on loving [your] wives and do not be bitterly angry with them. YOU children, be obedient to[your] parents in everything, for this is well-pleasing in [the] Lord. YOU fathers, do not be exasperating your children, so that they do not become downhearted. YOU slaves, be obedient in everything to those who are [your] masters in a fleshly sense, not with acts of eye-service, as men pleasers, but with sincerity of heart, with fear of Jehovah. Whatever YOU are doing, work at it whole-souled as to Jehovah, and not to men, for YOU know that it is from Jehovah YOU will receive the due reward of the inheritance. SLAVE for the Master, Christ. Certainly the one that is doing wrong will receive back what they wrongly did, and there is no partiality. Colossians 3:10-25
I therefore exhort, first of all, that supplications, prayers, intercessions, offerings of thanks, be made concerning all sorts of men, concerning kings and all those who are in high station; in order that we may goon leading a calm and quiet life with full Godly devotion and seriousness. This is fine and acceptable in the sight of our Savior, God, whose will is that all sorts of people should be saved and come to an accurate knowledge of truth. For there is One God, and one mediator between God and mankind, a man, Christ Jesus, 1 Timothy 2:1-5
So, flee from the desires incidental to youth, but pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace, along with those who call upon the Lord out of a clean heart. Further, turn down foolish and ignorant questionings, knowing they produce fights. But a slave of the Lord does not need to fight, but needs to be gentle toward all, qualified to teach, keeping himself restrained under evil, instructing with mildness those not favorably disposed; as perhaps God may give them repentance leading to an accurate knowledge of truth, and they may come back to their proper senses out from the snare of the Devil, seeing that they have been caught alive by him for the will of that one. 2 Timothy 2:22-26
But know this, that in the last days critical times hard to deal with will be here. For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, self-assuming, haughty, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, disloyal, having no natural affection, not open to any agreement, slanderers, without self-control, fierce, without love of goodness, betrayers, headstrong, puffed up [with pride], lovers of pleasures rather than lovers of God, having a form of Godly devotion but proving false to its power; and from these turn away. For from these arise those men who slyly work their way into households and lead as their captives weak women loaded down with sins, led by various desires, always learning and yet never able to come to an accurate knowledge of truth. 2 Timothy 3:1-7
For if we practice sin willfully after having received the accurate knowledge of the truth, there is no longer any sacrifice for sins left, but [there is] a certain fearful expectation of judgment and [there is] a fiery jealousy that is going to consume those in opposition. Hebrews 10:26,27
Certainly if, after having escaped from the defilements of the world by an accurate knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they get involved again with these very things and are overcome, the final conditions have become worse for them than the first. For it would have been better for them not to have accurately known the path of righteousness than after knowing it accurately to turn away from the holy commandment delivered to them. The saying of the true proverb has happened to them: "The dog has returned to its own vomit, and the sow that was bathed to rolling in the mire." 2 Peter 2:20-22
I therefore exhort, first of all, that supplications, prayers, intercessions, offerings of thanks, be made concerning all sorts of men, concerning kings and all those who are in high station; in order that we may goon leading a calm and quiet life with full Godly devotion and seriousness. This is fine and acceptable in the sight of our Savior, God, whose will is that all sorts of people should be saved and come to an accurate knowledge of truth. For there is One God, and one mediator between God and mankind, a man, Christ Jesus, 1 Timothy 2:1-5
So, flee from the desires incidental to youth, but pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace, along with those who call upon the Lord out of a clean heart. Further, turn down foolish and ignorant questionings, knowing they produce fights. But a slave of the Lord does not need to fight, but needs to be gentle toward all, qualified to teach, keeping himself restrained under evil, instructing with mildness those not favorably disposed; as perhaps God may give them repentance leading to an accurate knowledge of truth, and they may come back to their proper senses out from the snare of the Devil, seeing that they have been caught alive by him for the will of that one. 2 Timothy 2:22-26
But know this, that in the last days critical times hard to deal with will be here. For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, self-assuming, haughty, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, disloyal, having no natural affection, not open to any agreement, slanderers, without self-control, fierce, without love of goodness, betrayers, headstrong, puffed up [with pride], lovers of pleasures rather than lovers of God, having a form of Godly devotion but proving false to its power; and from these turn away. For from these arise those men who slyly work their way into households and lead as their captives weak women loaded down with sins, led by various desires, always learning and yet never able to come to an accurate knowledge of truth. 2 Timothy 3:1-7
For if we practice sin willfully after having received the accurate knowledge of the truth, there is no longer any sacrifice for sins left, but [there is] a certain fearful expectation of judgment and [there is] a fiery jealousy that is going to consume those in opposition. Hebrews 10:26,27
Certainly if, after having escaped from the defilements of the world by an accurate knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they get involved again with these very things and are overcome, the final conditions have become worse for them than the first. For it would have been better for them not to have accurately known the path of righteousness than after knowing it accurately to turn away from the holy commandment delivered to them. The saying of the true proverb has happened to them: "The dog has returned to its own vomit, and the sow that was bathed to rolling in the mire." 2 Peter 2:20-22
“As for you, son of man, your people who talk together about you by the walls and at the doors of the houses, say to one another, each to his brother, ‘Come, and hear what the word is that comes from Jehovah.’ And they come to you as people come, and they sit before you as my people, and they hear what you say but they will not do it; for with lustful talk in their mouths they act; their heart is set on their gain. And behold, you are to them like one who sings lustful songs with a beautiful voice and plays well on an instrument, for they hear what you say, but they will not do it. Ezekiel 33:30-32. ESV. In the book of Revelation, chapters 2 and 3 contain the seven letters that God gave unto Christ to give John to be sent to seven churches that existed in John’s time in Asia Minor. For this to be true there would have to be seven churches today representing the people on earth. For reference here are the seven churches and the church age each “represents.” Ephesus - the apostolic period of the church (A.D. 30-100). Smyrna - the age of persecution of the church in the second and third centuries. Pergamos - the age of the state church, beginning with Constantine and continued until the first pope was recognized to have authority over the Catholic church. The Mother of all Harlots tied at the hip with all religion's who go against Jesus' teachings claiming Jesus is God and also claiming that Jesus has returned or his presence was in 1914.(A.D. 313-590). Thyatira - this church corresponds to the time period when the church was firmly established not only as a church, but also as a state. (A.D. 590-1517). It begins with the first pope, Gregory the great, and continues to the time of the Protestant Reformation. Sardis - this church represents the Reformation era of the church. (A.D. 1517-1790). Philadelphia - represents the age of the missionary church which began with the rise of modern missions under William Carey. (A.D. 1730-1900). Laodicea - represents the apostate church of the last days (A.D. 1900-present). Which began with Charles Taz Russell. Russell called himself the Laodicean messenger its on his pyramid shaped gravestone within which when he was alive he got his preditions out of a pyramid, many false predictions including the 1914 date. I would like to concentrate on the last church mentioned, Laodicea, because I do believe that its description by the Lord Jesus in Revelation 3:14-22 does resemble the sorry condition of the Churches in our own time and the worst apostate church, Jesus spoke of before his death saying his teachings would go apostate, of the people world-wide. Here is the passage in its entirety. “And to the angel of the church in Laodicea write: ‘The words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of God’s creation. “‘I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot! So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth. For you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing, not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked. I counsel you to buy from me gold refined by fire, so that you may be rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself and the shame of your nakedness may not be seen, and salve to anoint your eyes, so that you may see. Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline, so 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 eat with him, and he with me. The one who conquers, I will grant him to sit with me on my throne, as I also conquered 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 ESV Needless to say, I have also heard various interpretations of what Jesus meant by “lukewarm.” Some feel that this is describing a church that has lost its fire or zeal for Jehovah. It is distracted that’s all. All they need to do is get busy again sincerely repent and get out of the Watchtower's teachings and out of her. God nor his Son Jesus are not in any of the earthly churches. The Word Bethel meant House of God it became "house of hurtfulness". Causing injury or suffering; damaging. One of the characteristics of a destructive religion is an enforced policy that requires the members to shun anyone who leaves or gets expelled from the religion. It is a common trait among esoteric movements that claim to be "the Truth." Members are required to sever association with even their own family members and relatives who leave. The consequences of this harsh doctrinal policy are extreme, shattering family relationships and leaving the victims emotionally and spiritually devastated. Suicides or attempted suicides are not uncommon. Others have said that Jesus’ description, taken in its entirety, gives us a picture of a church full of unregenerate, unredeemed, lost people who are simply religious. I am in agreement with the latter, and who don't change their ways and seek The Way Jesus to his Father. I also am in full agreement that Jesus’ description of the church of Laodicea is a valid comparison with the 21st Century church we are in now or age. Let’s dig some here in this passage to see what message Jesus was pointing out to us that we can compare to our own experience. First, he says that they are neither cold nor hot, but are lukewarm. This lukewarmness could also be described as halfheartedness. In the passage I placed at the top of this post we read of God’s description of the Judean exiles in Babylon with Ezekiel. He says they delight in “religious” things, but only to be entertained by them, not to hear from God in order to obey Him nor the son of man Jesus. Does that sound familiar? The Seeker Sensitive churches actually create a climate that encourages this. The next characteristic we see in v 17 is that these people in Laodicea were backsliders. They were sinful unregenerate people. The Puritans referred to these people as “temporary Christians.” They believed when it was convenient for them to do so, but as soon as things got tough they split. As long as the only requirements put on them are religious in nature then they stay and appear to be part of the church, however, as soon as God’s genuine requirements of personal holiness are brought to bear they can’t stand. They are all form and function and organization with no spiritual substance. They can stay and be content in a formal church setting saying we have no idols in our church, but forget that repentance leads them to the Father and Son.. The Laodiceans were also indifferent. “Hey, so what if that speaker we had in here last week is anti-religion, because we're the truth, he spoke well and I got a lot out of his message.” I call this the favoristism and partially complex. The bottom one of the drawers partially came apart, well that wasn't my favorite anyway. We find this a lot today in the Leaders of the churches today and their mouthpieces. They accuse everyone who has a problem with their indifference of being judgmental. I see also that since these are unredeemed, unregenerate people they are also subject to reprobation. They have no way to control their sinful desires and the hurtful desires that they show other's in shunning, because they have not the Holy Spirit. Therefore, they are wretched, miserable, poor, blind and naked. Since they can’t control their sinful desires they do away with the “commands of Love” so that all are welcome as long as you dress well for God? After all, God doesn’t expect anyone to be perfect and He loves everyone, but he hates a false witness and lies also those who cause divisions. So come on in. They are self-righteous the whole lot of the world who looks to the god of this age with all the desires of the flesh. Their doctrines have blinded them to the point that they see themselves as having a corner on God. God know's the character in heart of every human being. Paul wrote, "We are not trying to please men but God, who see's our hearts." 1 Thessalonians 2:4, NIV. They have him while everyone else calling themselves Christians are simply bogged down in fad of times old-fashioned religion. They say they are rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing. Even in their paganism they believe they are on the inside track with God while, in reality, they are in spiritual poverty, They are full of the world and destitute with God. Their spiritual blindness keeps them from seeing their own condition. Instead they see what they want to see. When a believer rebukes them or shares the truth to them they scoff and refuse to listen. This is Spiritual Pride. Matthew 13:49 "So it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come forth, separate the wicked from among the just, Satan may be their god (or the one they worship). The Bible clearly identifies Satan as an angel. When the world rejects the truth, they will be blinded by Satan. He will do anything within his grasp to keep his followers from seeing the glory of Christ in the hope that they will never be persuaded to turn to the truth. Before Satan can blind anyone, there must first be a rejection of the truth. Look at 2 Thessalonians 2:11,12, And for this reason God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie, that they all may be judged who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness. So, does Jesus’ description of the church at Laodicea bear any resemblance to our 21st Century church? I say yes. We are in the midst of a very long and protracted downgrade fought in his day. We are reaping the fruits more so thorns of well over an hundred years of growing apostasy that began with the the church in the 19th century. Manmade Humanism has all but replaced the genuine Gospel with a counterfeit gospel that preaches a different Jesus. Spiritual blindness is rampant. Church after church is falling under the spell of Satan and his clone demons, where within the sheep are entertained and taught to focus on each other rather than God. The high-jacking rejection of the the church and temple of God is nearly complete. There are two paths I see before us one leads to everlasting life the other to destruction. Be aware during the Great Tribulation the world will have no mediator to God His Son Jesus and prayers will not be heard. God will unrestrain Satan. God’s will be done. People don’t reject the truth because they are blind; they are blinded because they have rejected the truth. God allows us to go down the path we love. If we love the truth, God will reveal Himself to us. If we choose the world or its religions over the truth, God will allow Satan to blind us. However, the choice has already been made. The decision can be reversed, but not without turning from the world and to the truth. As long as a person loves the world, they will remain blind.
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