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The Transition to Laodicea
Aug 1st, 2008
Main StoriesArt Sadlier
Categories: Printed Newsletter

In revelation chapters 2-3 we have letters written to 7 different churches. These churches:

1) Existed in the first century,

2) Were representative churches,

3) Would each hear a message that would be of great value to churches and individuals all down through the church age,

4) Present to us church history in advance (Prophecy) in 7 different stages or time periods,

5) Give us a message about apostasy.

Apostasy is a turning away from truth. Apostasy began in the Church of Ephesus in the first century and has grown all down through church age. Apostasy will climax in the last church of the church age, with Laodicea being spewed out of the Lord’s mouth into the tribulation period (Rev. 3:16).

An appropriate title for Rev. 2-3 would be “The great apostasy of the last days traced from the beginning of church history”.

Remember these two chapters were prophetic in John’s day, but they are almost now all history. John confirms in Rev. 1:3 that the whole book is prophetic; therefore chapters 2 & 3 must have prophetic application.

Today we can look back over church history and see how these letters prophesied events exactly as they have happened.

1. The Letter to Ephesus reveals a picture of the powerful, dynamic church of the first century, with the beginning of apostasy as Ephesus comes to the end of its age.

2. The Letter to Smyrna describes the 2nd to 3rd centuries with the martyrdom and persecution of that period. The persecuted church was a pure church.

3. The Letter to Pergamos reveals the compromise and the marriage of the church to the world in the 4th and 5th centuries under Constantine.

4. The Letter to Thyatira reveals the period of the dark ages of apostasy from the 6th to 15th centuries, under Catholicism.

5. The Letter to Sardis tells about the reformation, the rise of Protestantism and its ultimate apostasy.

The last two Churches are Philadelphia and Laodicea: these two churches are found running side by side in the world, in the years immediately preceding the rapture.

Philadelphia came first and was a church that was (is) pleasing to the Lord, a church who received no condemnation only commendation. Philadelphia loved the Lord and His Word. They earnestly contended for the Word, for the Faith and defended the name of the Lord. They were a church who evangelized and yet they were weak in the things of this world. Philadelphia was promised that she would not go through the tribulation period (Rev. 3:10). As Laodicea comes on the scene Philadelphia becomes a remnant, functioning today beneath the world’s radar screen.

Laodicea is the last of the seven churches and its letter is the shortest. To this church alone the Lord finds nothing good to say.

The Lord completes His work in cycles of seven, these seven churches combined, present the seven stages of the church on earth. Beginning at Pentecost and concluding at the Rapture. The harlot church is a counterfeit and does not in any way relate to the bride of Christ.

As we view Laodicea we see the tares continue to increase in the wheat, the buzzards continue to gather in the trees of Christendom, and the leaven of evil gains momentum in the church. Laodicea is the church of the end times and depicts the condition of the church when the Rapture takes place.

Laodicea means, “Rights of the people”, a definition which perfectly describes the evangelical church of the present day.

It must be understood that Laodicea is not Thyatira; the Catholic Church that is still present in the world. Although it dominated the world scene from 600-1517, it is no longer dominant. It will continue to the end of the age and go into the tribulation period as a part of the harlot church.

Laodicea is not Sardis; mainline Protestantism had its day of prominence from 1517-1750. Its day of prominence is over, but it also continues in the world in apostasy and will go into the tribulation period as a part of the harlot church.

Laodicea is not Philadelphia; fundamentalism which was the prominent church from 1750-1950. It still exists in the world but only as a remnant. She will be caught up in the Rapture as the Lord promised her.

Laodicea and Philadelphia are side by side in the world today under the name “evangelical”.

The Lord rebukes Laodicea in Rev. 3:17. This is a description of an unsaved church. In verses 18 and 20 our Lord gives Laodicea an invitation to salvation.

A recent survey tells us that 57% of evangelicals no longer believe that Christ is the only way of salvation. This is apostasy and describes an unsaved church.

Some 15 years ago I heard the leader of one of the large missions say, after talking to many leading pastors of American churches, that those pastors believed that upwards of 75% of evangelicals were not saved.

Our Lord confirms that Laodicea is an unsaved church in Rev. 3:16. A very large section of the evangelical church today fits our Lord’s description of Laodicea. Half hearted, uncommitted, choosing to remain neutral, unwilling to separate from New Evangelicalism, not contending for the faith, and satisfied with one service a week and make it entertaining. They have unwittingly embraced the social gospel and seek to win the approval of the world. The Lord says in effect, you make me sick to my stomach! I will spew you out into the tribulation period.

The most tragic story of our time is that multiplied millions of evangelicals who believe they are saved are not! When the trumpet sounds they will be cast into the tribulation period. We read about them in Matthew 7:21-23

In the last 50 years there has been a transition among evangelicals from Philadelphia to Laodicea. The transition has been so subtle that most evangelicals are not even aware of what has happened. This is the great religious deception about which Jesus forewarned for the last days.

In Matthew 24 Jesus emphasized that the greatest sign just before His Return will be great religious deception. Listen to the religious deception of Laodicea in Rev. 3:17. “…and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:”

This is the deception Jesus talked about, the deception the evangelical church, is to a large extent now caught up in!

The church of Sardis made a transition, in one generation, from a saved church to a largely unsaved church, through the vehicle of infant baptism. The church of Laodicea has made a transition in one generation, from a saved church to a largely unsaved church, through error of New Evangelicalism.

The Bible tells us about two “Day of the Lord” Judgments: in the Old Testament—there was a ”Day of the Lord” judgment when the wrath of God fell upon those who thought they were God’s children and were not, it fell upon Israel.

As Jeremiah viewed the situation it broke his heart! “Oh that my head were waters, and mine eyes a fountain of tears, that I might weep day and night for the slain of the daughter of my people!” Jer. 9:1. That’s how I feel as I look out on the evangelical church today.

Jeremiah’s warning came to pass! God’s judgment fell upon those who were self-deceived into believing they were the children of God. (Jer. 19:9, 11)

Today the world is facing the soon coming final great “Day of the Lord” which the O.T. “Day of the Lord” foreshadowed.

God’s program for apostasy is to isolate it, to separate from it (Rom. 16:17; 2 Thess. 3:6). For 50 years many have refused to do that and the error has multiplied. It is a grievous sin for Philadelphians to refuse to confront Laodiceans about apostasy and to allow them to go on in their blindness. Who is the one that loves Laodiceans? Is it the one who confronts them about apostasy or the one who says nothing and joins in with them?

I urge the Lord’s Shepherds to ask God to reveal to them whether this article is truth or error. And then by faith, determine to commit to what the Lord says to you.

The Sign of Famine
Aug 1st, 2008
Main StoriesArt Sadlier
Categories: Printed Newsletter

One of the signs Jesus gave in Luke 21:11 and also in Mt. 24:7 is the sign of “famine”. It would be one of those signs that precede the rapture as a warning that the rapture is near, even at the doors.

There have always been famines occurring from time to time, but today something is occurring that has not been seen before, signs of unprecedented famine on the near horizon. In the last several months we have seen indications of global famines on the horizon.

Let me give you just a few items from the news to demonstrate this. “Surge in violence pushes Ethiopia, Somalia to crisis point” Already plagued by drought, food shortages and massive malnutrition, Ethiopia and Somalia are now facing potentially catastrophic humanitarian crisis, say international aid workers.

“Hunger brings anguish for millions of Pakistanis” Soaring food prices and shortages of staples mean that 77 million are on the fringe of starvation

“Drought threatens drinking water for a million Australians” Up to a million people in Australia could face a shortage of drinking water if the countries drought continues. Crop failures have reduced thousands of farms to dust bowels.

“About 14 million people in the Horn of Africa need food aid because of drought and rocketing food and fuel prices, the U.N. has warned” Economic events outside of Africa are driving up food and fuel prices, exacerbating the crisis caused by lack of water in the region.

There has been a steady drumbeat of such news items for months; hyperinflation is the new ingredient in the new threat of famine.

These are unprecedented times. As I knock on doors and talk to people, I have been saying to them, “the bible indicates that we are living in the last days, what do you think?” I have been surprised to hear 50% of them say, “I agree, I think we are.”

I believe God is speaking to many in our society today, they are disturbed by what they are seeing and hearing, they sense something unprecedented is about to happen, this our moment of opportunity, perhaps our last opportunity, we dare not keep the message of life from them!

I am reminded of the words of Jesus in Mt. 24:33, “So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors.”

LIFT UP YOUR HEADS, FOR YOUR REDEMPTION DRAWETH NIGH!

Persecution
Aug 1st, 2008
Main StoriesArt Sadlier
Categories: Printed Newsletter

I can remember as a boy many years ago, hearing the stories of believers who suffered horrible persecutions in bygone centuries. I also heard of the persecutions that await the tribulation saints. The stories caused my young heart to tremble. I took comfort in the fact that there was no sign of such things about to happen in the day in which I was living.

A lot has changed in the last decade or so. Today the persecution of believers has mushroomed; the stage seems to be being set for the slaughter of the tribulation saints.

We read about those martyrs in Rev. 7: 9, 13 and 14. “A great multitude which no man could number...”

Let me give you a few headlines with a brief comment on each.

“Academia to high schools: no God allowed” – State rejects Christian education as valid for university admissions

The university of California has refused to admit students who have been educated in high schools that have used books that include a Christian perspective.

“UN scheme to make Christians criminals” – Sharia-following Islamic nations demanding anti-‘defamation’ law

Dozens of nations dominated by Islam are pressuring the UN to adopt an anti-‘defamation’ plan that would make Christians criminals under international law.

“McDonald’s: Christian boycotters ‘hate’ homosexuals”

Those who oppose homosexuality for religious reasons are participating in “hate”, according to an official for McDonald’s. “Hatred has no place in our culture,” spokesman Bill Whitman said.

He is saying that a Christian’s biblical convictions have no place in society.

“Award winning author Mark Steyn has been summoned to appear before two Canadian Human Rights Commissions”

His crime; vague allegations of “subjecting Canadian Muslims to hatred and contempt” for comments in his book, “America Alone.”

“Christians warned: offend a homosexual…get 5 years prison”

Teachers and Pastors facing jail in Brazil if the Senate passes a bill that was approved unanimously by House of Representatives.

The stage is being set, it is later than you might think.

Monthly Quote for August 2008 - Not Editable
Aug 1st, 2008
Monthly Quote
Categories: Not yet categorized

OH THAT MY HEAD WERE WATERS, AND MINE EYES A FOUNTAIN OF TEARS, THAT I MIGHT WEEP DAY AND NIGHT FOR THE SLAIN OF THE DAUGHTER OF MY PEOPLE!

Looming on the Far Horrizon
Aug 1st, 2008
Main StoriesArt Sadlier
Categories: Printed Newsletter

Two recent items in the news reveal the World Church looming ever nearer. Under the heading, “Pope Benedict xvi warns of ‘critical juncture’ for Christianity” - At a meeting with some 50 Christian leaders, including those from the Anglican, Catholic, Lutheran and uniting churches, the Pope called them to fight for unity within the Christian faith.

He said, “the ecumenical movement has reached a critical juncture.” Then he made a very significant statement, “We must guard against any temptation to view doctrine as divisive and hence an impediment to the seemingly more pressing and immediate task of improving the world in which we live.”

That is a sure formula for a World Church, a formula to unite a World Church with a world government. That is a formula that all the religions of the world will surely embrace. Revelation 17:3 jumps off the page as you hear about these things.

In another news item we read, “Madrid inter-faith summit highlights global problems and possibilities” The scale of the challenge and the glimmer of new possibilities in inter-religious understanding was on display at the July 16-18 International Interfaith Conference convened in Madrid by the World Muslim League.

The meetings follow an initiative by Saudi Arabia’s King Abdullah in bringing Muslims together.

Tony Blair stated that, “without co-existence among religions, world peace would be very difficult to sustain.”

The three day long conference, “International Conference for Dialogue”, was a gathering of some 200 participants representing Islam, Christianity, Judaism and Buddhism.

Mr. Blair seems to believe that the world’s religions have a very important part to play in world peace and he represents government, which is the other side of the scenario of Revelation 17:3

You don’t have to be rocket scientist to see what is looming on the near horizon.

It has seemed impossible that a peace treaty between Israel and Islam could be reached but this new initiative reveals it as a very real possibility. We live in a world in which things can change overnight.

King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia is working to bring peace to the world by uniting Islam, Judaism and Christianity. Tony Blair is seeking to bring peace to the world by bringing the worlds religions together. Pope Benedict is seeking to unite Christendom to bring peace to the world.

Scripture tells us of a world ruler who will come, and enter into a union with a harlot church to bring a counterfeit peace to the world. The stage is being set.

America in Danger of God's Judgment
Aug 1st, 2008
Main StoriesArt Sadlier
Categories: Printed Newsletter

A top scientist recently warned the House Armed Services Committee that America remains vulnerable to a “catastrophe” from a nuclear electromagnetic pulse attack and that could be launched with plausible deniability by hostile rogue nations or terrorists.

The scariest and most threatening kind of EMP attack is initiated by the detonation of a nuclear weapon at high altitude in the range of 25 to 250 miles above the Earth’s surface. The immediate effects of EMP are disruption of and damage to electronic systems and electrical infrastructure. Such a detonation over the middle of the continental US “has the capability to produce significant damage to critical infrastructures that support the fabric of US society and the ability of the United States and Western nations to project influence and military power,” said Graham.

“Several potential adversaries have the capability to attack the United States with a high-altitude nuclear weapon-generated electromagnetic pulse, and others appear to be pursuing efforts to obtain that capability,” said Graham. “A determined adversary can achieve an EMP attack capability without having a high level of sophistication. For example, an adversary would not have to have long-range ballistic missiles to conduct an EMP attack against the United States. Such an attack could be launched from a freighter off the US coast using a short or medium range missile to loft the nuclear warhead to attack without revealing the identity of the perpetrators. Iran, the world’s leading sponsor of international terrorism, has practiced launching a mobile ballistic missile from a vessel in the Caspian Sea. Iran has also tested high-altitude explosions of the Shahab III, a test mode consistent with EMP attack, and described the tests as successful. Iranian military writings explicitly discuss a nuclear EMP attack which would gravely harm the United States. While the commission does not know the intention of Iran in conducting these activities, we are disturbed by the capability that emerges when we connect the dots.”

Graham reminded the committee even smaller nuclear weapons can create massive EMP effects over wide geographic areas. He also pointed out that the United Nations investigators recently found that “the design for an advanced nuclear weapon, miniaturized to fit on ballistic missiles currently in the inventory of Iran, North Korea and other potentially hostile states, was in the possession of Swiss criminals affiliated with the A.Q. Khan nuclear smuggling network.

Theoretically, an EMP attack is devastating because of the unprecedented cascading failures of major infrastructures that could result. Because of America’s heavy reliance on electricity and electronics, the impact would be far worse than on a county less advanced technologically. Graham and the commission see the potential for failure in the financial system, the system of distribution of food and water, medical care and trade and production.

“The recovery of any one of the key national infrastructures is dependent upon the recovery of others,” he said. “The longer the outage, the more problematic and uncertain the recovery will be. It is possible for the functional outages to become mutually reinforcing until at some point the degradation of infrastructure could have irreversible effects on the country’s ability to support its population.”

(The above is an excerpt from a Worldnetdaily.com report)

America does not seem to be involved in the end time scenario. Russia, Iran, Europe, Turkey, the Mid-east, Israel and the North African nations around Israel, even China have a part to play but not America. America is a tremendously powerful nation, probably the most powerful in all of history. America’s tremendous power is in the way of the events foretold for the last days. Whether the nations like it or not, because of America’s awesome military power, the nations will not defy her. America has betrayed Israel in recent years, putting great pressure on her to give up the land God has promised to her and given back to her in recent decades. In recent days America has been pressuring Israel to give up Judea and Samaria and make concessions in East Jerusalem.

America has also turned away from the light God has given to her. Israel said 2,000 years ago, “We will not have this man to rule over us”, America has said the same thing in recent years in many, many ways. No nation has ever had as much exposure to the truth as America has had. This makes America more accountable than any other nation. America stands in danger of the judgment of God and may soon be removed as a power on the world stage so that the Biblical end time events can unfold. How that might happen is not ours to say, but the potential seems to be everywhere. An EMP attack could quickly reduce America to the status of a third world country.

We need to cry out for America and Canada to turn back to God before it is forever too late!