There has rarely been a time that so clearly illustrates what the deep sleep of the last church of God, Laodicea, described in Revelation 3, actually looks like. The extent of it is terrifying, and the potential consequences are even more worrying if the awakening only begins when it is already far too late.
Inhalt / Content
- 1 And they sleep peacefully and deeply
- 2 Then and now
- 3 The last (problem) church of God
- 4 Stop beating around the bush, speak plainly!
- 5 The Gospel has something to offer for everything relevant.
- 6 The nightmare would start AFTER waking up
- 7 The consequences are often completely underestimated.
- 8 Start preparations now!
And they sleep peacefully and deeply
It is both a sad state of affairs and a confirmation of biblical prophecies to witness how not only some, but most local Seventh-day Adventist (SDA) churches know exactly what the Bible predicts, even passing on these prophecies, yet fail to heed them themselves. The actual dissemination of the prophetic warnings of the Gospel to “outsiders” rarely involves the entire local congregation, but rather individual members who are fulfilling (or wish to fulfill) the responsibility given to them by the Lord.
The blatant, obvious, and highly visible developments, especially in the USA, are alarming. But sermons in local congregations address these truly stupendous circumstances only vaguely, or not at all. Not to mention the absolutely essential preparation for immediate action when the times demand it without compromise. The sad thing is that this doesn’t just affect congregations that, through their own active involvement in ecumenism, have long since abandoned the paths of the Gospel and instead embarked on the road to Rome, but also those congregations that, at least in theory, still adhere to the Gospel.
“By their fruits you will recognize them,.” This is what Jesus Christ says in Matthew 7:16. While this refers to the pronouncements of false prophets, He clearly points out that ultimately, actions are what matter. For beautiful words are mostly just empty words; what truly counts is the completed deed, the work done. For action is what counts.
Then and now
Jesus Christ also demonstrates the incredible urgency of initiating the right action at the right time without delay, i.e., immediately, during his exhortation on the Mount of Olives (Matthew 24). In verses 15 to 20, Jesus Christ says:
“When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:)
Then let them which be in Judaea flee into the mountains: Let him which is on the housetop not come down to take any thing out of his house: Neither let him which is in the field return back to take his clothes. And woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck in those days! But pray ye that your flight be not in the winter, neither on the sabbath day:“
The archetype refers to the two Roman sieges of Jerusalem and its final, complete destruction in 70 AD. The antitype refers to the end-times scenario on a global scale. For this reason, Ellen G. White repeatedly warned against remaining in major cities for extended periods, even as a last resort. She urged people to leave the cities and move to the surrounding rural areas. The years 2020 and 2021 demonstrated how quickly an entire city can be shut down within a matter of hours, including curfews and bans on the use of vehicles or public transportation (which will be shut down anyway).
The extent to which the neighborhood can be informed of the presence of a “potential threat” is also demonstrated by the years 2020 to 2023 through the widespread deployment of so-called warning apps. The repeated, surprise attacks under the current US CEO, Donald Trump, show how quickly special units, elite troops, and task forces of state powers can and will ruthlessly intervene in these regions. All of this has already happened, even very recently, and is clearly still happening today.
The last (problem) church of God
Revelation 3:14-22 describes the circumstances and the harsh words of Jesus Christ to the last church of God in the historical sequence leading up to the end of all things (Info). The church of Laodicea is not only the last of the six previous churches, but also the worst of the seven. For it is asleep, self-righteous, lazy, and believes itself to be in a completely inflated (self-)assurance based on its own position. Jesus Christ has not a single syllable of praise for Laodicea, but only rebuke.
“I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth. Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:” (Revelation 3:15-17)
Stop beating around the bush, speak plainly!
Jesus’ words at Laodicea don’t sound “nice,” do they? But Jesus Christ never wanted to be “nice” anyway. Certainly not in the way that today’s socially demanded “normopathy” requires. Neither should the churches or their individual members be “nice.” Jesus Christ, the “great example,” so goes the proclaimed truth. But it is not His “niceness” that is important, but rather His openness, His love (not romantic, soporific drivel – Info), His justice, His grace, and His directness. He never minced words and spoke his mind as it was and as it will be (e.g., Matthew 23).
Yes, those who speak of the love of Jesus would readily endorse citing the Lord as their role model. But here too, the saying applies: “By their fruits you will know them!” However, the more than one billion church members demonstrate just how deluded or blind one must already be to cling to the so-called “mystical body of Christ” despite the visibly rotten fruit of the Roman Catholic Church (Info).
Yes, the rotten fruit also applies to the once Protestant churches. But the “mother church” in Rome demands its position in the elevated center. Therefore, this “heathen swamp” should also be confidently and repeatedly brought into focus and mentioned exclusively.
The Gospel has something to offer for everything relevant.
Another example, very well given in the Gospels, is that of the 10 (or 5 foolish) virgins. They all hoped for the Bridegroom and knew that He would come soon. None of the 10 virgins knew exactly when His arrival would be. ALL of them fell asleep.
When the bridegroom finally appeared (only) at midnight, all the virgins awoke and immediately relit their extinguished lamps, but only 5 out of 10 were successful. This was because 5 had spare oil with them, while the other 5 did not. They waited for the bridegroom, but ultimately were not allowed to participate in the wedding feast. They were cast out into the darkness (Matthew 25:1-13).
Chapter 25 of this parable given by Jesus Christ also indicates that this warning refers to the end times. For it followed Matthew 24, after His warning sermon on the Mount of Olives to His disciples!
To be the light in this world—that is God’s command to every single member of His (final) church. This is to be achieved through the oil (a symbol of the Holy Spirit). But if the Spirit of God is “lost,” if He is no longer present, then it is all over. Neither can the light burn, nor is one’s own steadfastness and adherence to God’s will and His law secure, despite the adversary’s actions, which are still utterly unimaginable today. Without the Holy Spirit, one cannot withstand the pressure.
It will likely culminate in the acceptance of the mark of the beast, in order to relieve the excessive pressure to conform to the norm and thus turn one’s back on God’s will and law! (Info)
The nightmare would start AFTER waking up
It will end as prophesied. God’s eternal fire will completely consume the lost. Nothing will remain. The so-called second death, non-existence, as if one had never existed (also Revelation 20).
The idea of one’s soul being roasted in an eternally burning hell is a horrific fairy tale. Invented by the “spiritual leaders” of Hellenism, adopted and cultivated by the Roman Catholic Church with unbridled enthusiasm to support its greed for power and money, and also reintroduced by the formerly Protestant churches (Info).
Revelation 13 contains more details about the mark of the beast: who introduces it, and whom it affects (everyone). One consequence is that those who do not accept this mark of the beast, but remain faithful to God, will no longer be able to buy and sell. This, too, is known to the sleepy church members. But it is apparently dismissed as “something in the distant future,” or as “it won’t be that bad,” completely underestimated, or both. Yet it would be very wise to project oneself, one’s daily life, all habits, and needs onto such a situation.
The consequences are often completely underestimated.
The consequences of economic exclusion due to the personal ban on buying and selling are enormous. Not being able to shop at the supermarket is just a small part of the bigger picture. The far-reaching consequences are broken down in more detail here. This is precisely what needs to be considered and prepared for. Instead, people are making plans for “someday,” the realization of which would be entirely uncertain even without the very visible developments of one prophetic fulfillment after another.
That’s just as unrealistic, practically pathetically ridiculous, as when the federal government regularly commissions forecasts for the pension situation in 30, 40, or even 50 years to justify its political decisions TODAY. Who actually knows what will happen in three months? Things can change so quickly. Anything significantly beyond that is on par with fortune-telling at a carnival. Charlatanism.
The year 2020 provided a prime example of how quickly the situation can suddenly shift from euphoria to utter darkness. This happened completely unexpectedly. Everything was suddenly “completely different”! Ironically, this was even initiated by the same government that had perhaps just a month earlier announced a “decades-long forecast” for pension trends.
Start preparations now!
Preparation NOW! Not stockpiling food, that wouldn’t make sense anyway, because as Matthew 24 makes clear, clothing and shoes should be sufficient to escape in time. See also Isaiah 33:15-16:
“He that walketh righteously, and speaketh uprightly; he that despiseth the gain of oppressions, that shaketh his hands from holding of bribes, that stoppeth his ears from hearing of blood, and shutteth his eyes from seeing evil; He shall dwell on high: his place of defence shall be the munitions of rocks: bread shall be given him; his waters shall be sure.“
It mentions “heights, rocks, bread and water,” but not “upholstered chambers, feasting, grapes, wine, women and songs”!
The necessary preparation takes place in the mind and heart! It involves parting with mostly superfluous possessions, because where do your priorities lie? These must be prioritized according to the Gospel (Info). Selling things, using the money for better purposes than satisfying cherished consumer desires and filling shelves with junk that ultimately ends up in storage boxes, basement boxes, or garage boxes. What do I want, what do I need? This is the first step in self-reflection. Returning to reality, grounding yourself—as they say. Studying God’s Word, heeding it, internalizing it, and above all, living it (its good fruits)!
The (worldly) price can also be very high, as Jesus Christ says in Matthew 10:37:
“He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.“
In the end, the decision could be much easier, because Jesus Christ already addressed this just two verses earlier:
“For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law. And a man’s foes shall be they of his own household.“
Here, too, one reads very different words than the ubiquitous (papal) narrative of a “united humanity”, the human family living in peace, joy (and pancakes…).
“Grounding” on the rock
The best course of action is to remain standing on the foundation of the Gospel, the solid rock of Jesus Christ. A gradual awakening from one’s deep slumber allows more room for urgent preparation than a completely sudden jolt from ice-cold water. One awakens suddenly and ends up standing there like the five foolish virgins without oil! To be the light in this world, to warn one’s own people and others, despite the resistance, unfortunately also from within one’s own ranks (who do not want to be awakened).
The following concluding verse contains everything that is especially important NOW and in the future!
Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward. For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise.
For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry. Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him. But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul.
Hebrews 10:35-39
Bible verses from King James Version
Deutsch
English
