B. 5b,§6(8)10
Boek Openbaring §6,(8,)10, Zegels in het algemeen: End-Time Church Age
Shalom!
^ God has predicted the future. This is how it is going to happen. Believers just have to be constantly awake and e.g. to study God's Word. So we can be in harmony, and we do not oppose what is constantly progressing around us.
Prayer of them, who work out their salvation with fear and trembling (Phili. 2:12), Bert
¤ There have been two chains of events throughout the era of the churches. After the revival age of the Ephesian church, three other weaker and weaker revival ages followed, during which knowledge of God's Word and awareness of a healthy Christian life decreased all the time. The darkness became darker and darker. At the end there was literally a long dark age (1b§1-3, Rev. 2:5).
After that, another development chain began with the Reformation. Under Luther's leadership believers were unified and became stronger. Many strange teachings of the Church of Rome were exposed. In this church age of Sardis, the Protestants united against the Roman Catholic structures of power. Next, in the Philadelphian church age in the English-speaking world the Gospel was powerfully spread, and a pure and humble Christian way of life developed.
¤ In the end time, in the church age of Laodicea, spiritual gifts were found back on a large scale, and there was a lot of evangelizing in the streets and persistent prayer meetings. But gradually the spiritual life according to God's perfect Will changed to God's permitted Will.
Today, almost every church believes that they have the only (or almost) true and correct teaching, faith and way of life. They/We are so blind that they/we do not even realize that they/we are blind (Rev. 3:17).
¤ We live very close to the Presence of the Lord Jesus in the clouds. Many and deep truths have been rediscovered. But they are of no use if the Giver of Life is no longer involved (1c§1-3, =), Rev. 3:20, <“…. Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in and dine with him, and he with Me. ….”>
There is a lot of confusion about this verse because so many use it in personal evangelism. Jesus would be knocking at the door of every sinner's heart for entrance. Thus it could be said that if the sinner opens the door, the Lord would enter. But this verse is not speaking to individual sinners. This entire message is a summary for all the churches of that church age, Rev. 3:22, <“…. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”>
¤ This is a message to the believers of the churches of the last age. This is the condition of the church of Laodicea as its end approaches.
The Spirit tells us where Jesus is. Christ has left the church. It is the logical result or end. God’s Word has been put aside for creed, the Holy Spirit deposed for popes, bishops, presidents, counsellors, etcetera, and the Saviour set aside for work programs, or joining a church (congregation), or accepting some kind of church system. This is the apostasy! This is the falling away! This is the open door for the antichrist!
¤
The other half of the page can be found in the book
(ISBN 9789528096245)