Zeal Lacking
Back to 1The Bible’s Greatest Prophecies Unlocked!
The final era of Christ’s Church—Laodicea (Rev. 3:14-22)—lacks sufficient zeal to receive God’s blessings and promise of protection. We have seen that Jesus describes those of this era as “lukewarm,” stating that because they are “neither cold nor hot, I [Christ] will spew you out of My mouth” (Rev. 3:16). Rev 3:17 continues with Jesus describing a smugness that has taken hold of even many of His people.
In the world at large, most people do not get excited about much of anything, preferring to “relax”—“be cool”—“take it easy”—not get “worked up.” But this is not a picture of the true Christian. He is one who is on fire—for all things of God! His whole heart, mind and being is committed to living God’s Way. He continually seeks to fully submit to God, yielding to God’s direction in all matters. He recognizes and practices this instruction: “I beseech you…brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service” (Rom. 12:1).
Most in the world do not want to sacrifice for any but themselves, feeling this to be very unreasonable. They are committed to “getting while the getting is good”—unconsciously seeming to follow the unstated goal of “seeing who can die with the most toys.” The vast majority of people lead lives reflecting little more than seeing how much they can accumulate in this life. And dynamite cannot separate them from possessions or money.
But the Christian recognizes that his life belongs entirely to God. He is then committed to using it entirely for God’s purpose. He is interested in serving others—in giving rather than getting (Acts 20:35). His heart is in preaching (giving!) the gospel to the world (Matt. 24:14) and God’s warning message (Ezek. 33:1-9) to the modern nations descended from ancient Israel. He wants to help fulfill Christ’s command, incumbent on His servants for 2,000 years: “Go you therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them [into] the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit: teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you” (Matt. 28:19-20).
In a covetous, pleasure-driven world, few any longer understand sacrificing and going without wantsthey previously thought were needs, as the 1930s generation came to understand by suffering through over 10 years of the Great Depresssion, before going straight into World War II.
In a sense, it could be said that those who escape all that will come will have paid a certain “price” so that this could happen. There is no free lunch for anyone. These will have given of themselves beyond all measure. They will have truly comprehended Jesus’ words, “For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for My sake shall find it” (Matt. 16:25).
The Church of God is truly an exception in the modern world. Each member understands that bearing an historic “much is given, much is required” burden is individually required (Luke 12:48)—and according to ability—to complete the Work set before the Church. But all willingly and cheerfully (II Cor. 9:6-7) shoulder the burden of this necessary duty—involving time, prayers, service and financial sacrifice!—so others can learn—be given!—what they were privileged to receive.
The Church and God’s Work
Jesus understood and taught His disciples that of Himself He could “do nothing” (John 5:30). The Spirit of God enabled Him to accomplish all that He did. Prior to His ascension to heaven, Jesus told His disciples He would soon send them God’s Holy Spirit.
This event, the beginning of the Church of God, occurred in AD 31. Jesus described the significance of what happened at that time: “But you shall receive power, after that the Holy Spirit is come upon you: and you shall be witnesses unto Me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth” (Acts 1:8). Ten days later, God gave His Spirit, initially to just 120 disciples.
Infused with His Spirit, God’s people were now empowered to fulfill His mission. Like the first-century Church, this same twenty-first-century Church has neither millions of members nor political power or clout.
Only One Church
Jesus said, “I will build My Church” (Matt. 16:18). No matter how men interpret this verse, it speaks of a single Church! Jesus continued, “and the gates of hell [the grave] shall not prevail against it.” He promised that His Church could never be destroyed. At this point in the book, it should be obvious that Jesus kept His word.
In a previous chapter we read, “But in vain they do worship Me [Christ], teaching for doctrines the commandments of men” (Matt. 15:9). In Mark’s parallel account, Christ continued, “Full well you reject the commandment of God, that you may keep your own tradition” (Mk 7:9).
The world’s Christianity is filled with traditions, assumed by most to be biblical—when the Bible often teaches the exact opposite. One of the largest is the traditional view of what is the New Testament Church. Most ministers, theologians and religionists typically define the church in this way: “All those who sincerely believe in Jesus as their Savior constitute the church.” This is often followed with the also familiar cliché, “There are many routes to heaven.” Though the Bible nowhere teaches that heaven is the reward of the saved, the clear implication of this statement is that people can largely believe what they want, or be part of any group they choose, and still be Christians. While people may sincerely believe these traditional ideas—they are sincerely wrong!
Since “God is not the author of confusion, but of peace” (I Cor. 14:33), His Church would reflect peace—not confusion! You need not be confused about the identity of the true Church. Recall God inspired Paul to write, “Prove all things; hold fast that which is good” (I Thes. 5:21). Surely God would not exclude something of such magnitude—such supreme importance!—as the matter of what and where His true Church is. And He would never tell people to prove what cannot be proven!
God’s Church walks in complete unity—agreement—with all of the Bible’s doctrines. God’s servants live Christianity, practicing all the truths and ways of the Bible without compromise. While persecuted in a world that rejects God’s authority, they press forward, determined to fulfill their incredible human potential!
When speaking to His disciples about the importance of seeking the kingdom of God, we saw Jesus said, “Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom” (Luke 12:32). By no stretch of the imagination can churches comprised of over two billion professing Christians be considered a “little flock.” However, somewhere on Earth today is that same little flock faithfully yielding to and obeying God, and fulfilling His supreme plan in this age.
You must set out to prove the location of God’s true Church! Time is running out to do this—and it is running out both to hear the Word of God and to help DO the Work of God!
Under God’s Shadow
One of the most remarkable passages in the Bible is Psalm 91:1-16. It speaks of those who “abide under the shadow of the Almighty” (Psa 91:1) during times of great difficulty and distress. It speaks of those whom God protects.
These “say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in Him will I trust” (Psa 91:2). God in turn delivers them “from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence [disease]. He shall cover you [each faithful Christian] with His feathers, and under His wings shall you trust: His truth[what only one Church teaches!] shall be your shield and buckler” (Psa 91:3-4).
Psa 91:5 reveals how completely those whom God protects are to rely on Him. Notice: “You shall not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flies by day.” Understand! An atmosphere of terror, even missiles flying over—“arrows that fly by day”—will not shake God’s people! Psa 91:6 states that those God protects will not fear “the pestilence that walks in darkness; nor…the destruction that wastes at noonday.”
How all-encompassing is God’s promised protection? “There shall no evil befall you…” (Psa 91:10), and “A thousand shall fall at your side, and ten thousand at your right hand; but it shall not come near you. Only with your eyes shall you behold and see the reward of the wicked” (Psa 91:7-8).
For the relative few who seek and obey God, protection is certain! Amidst thousands—millions—even billions!—only these faithful individuals avoid punishment! They are those who escape.
Once time has run out for God’s Work to be done, certain specific events—absolutely critical to understand—will come to pass. They represent matters of extraordinary importance in God’s timeline of “what will happen next”—and what to watch for. At a point, all eyes will be on Jerusalem. But most will not know what to look for.
One specific event towers above all others…