| 1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
| Ephesus |
Smyrna |
Pergamos |
Thyatira |
Sardis |
Philadelphia |
Laodicea |
| "First,
Desirable" |
"Bitter
Affliction" |
"Earthly
Heighth" |
"Sacrifice
of Labor" |
"Prince
of Joy" |
"Love
of A Brother" |
"Just
People" |
| 33-70 AD |
70-313 |
313-1157 |
1157-1367 |
1367-1517 |
1517-1874 |
1874-? |
Paul
35-64 AD |
John
70-100 |
Arius
313-336 |
Waldo
1157-1217 |
Wycliffe
1367-1384 |
Luther
1517-1546 |
Russell
1874-1916 |
| 7 Golden
Candlesticks |
First & Last,
Dead and Alive |
Sharp 2-Edged
Sword |
Eyes like Fire,
Feet like Brass |
Livest and
Art Dead |
Key of David |
Amen,
Faithful & True
Beginning of Creation |
| Left 1st Love |
Synagogue of
Satan |
Antipas |
Jezebel |
Come as Thief |
Hast Little
Strength |
Lukewarm |
| Nicolaitanes |
Tribulation 10
Days |
Balaam &
Balac,
Nicolaitanes |
Depths of Satan |
Defiled Garments |
Keep from Hour of
Temptation,
Hold Fast Crown |
Gold Tried,
White Raiment Eyesalve,
Knock at Door,
Sup with Him |
| Tree of Life |
Crown of Life,
Not Hurt of 2nd Death |
Hidden Manna
White Stone, New Name |
Rod of Iron,
Potter's Vessel
Morning Star |
White Raiment,
Confess Name to Father |
Pillar in Temple,
Name of God, New Jerusalem, & New Name |
Sit in Christ's
Throne |
For more detail, click on
individual Church name.
Church of Laodicea
Revelation 3:14-20
Roughly from 1878 to the End of
the Harvest
The Seven Churches
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The messenger of Laodicea was Pastor Charles Taze Russell.
He not only returned many of the truths lost through the
centuries, but started a systematic and topical study of the Bible that brought the entire
weight of the Scriptures to bear on most Biblical subjects.
The reader watched the truths emerge verse by verse as the testimony of
God’s Word was collected, while harmonizing the Bible as never before.
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Charles Taze Russell (1852-1916)
Never were
doctrinal truths made plainer to the general student of God’s Word.
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Not
only was Bro. Russell a critical student of God’s Word, but he began a ministry which
lasted some 40 years.
He incorporated a full company of believers on all levels to help accomplish
the work of harvest.
His management skills enabled him to get every believer’s shoulder to
the wheel.
The work accomplished far exceeded the potential for such a small
company of saints.
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Studies in the Scriptures
Keys to Topical Bible Study
While the
harvest of the "wheat" continued, and still continues, albeit with less dynamic
leadership and results, the work is still managed by the Lord of the harvest who knows
what must be done to gather in the last grains of "wheat." |
"Laodicea" is said to
mean "justice for the people," or "judged people," and "just
people."
This period, then, has to do with a people judged or just and to whom
justice would prevail. This period is unique, and differs from all others. In this
harvest, God rejected the great body of nominal believers, and calls his faithful out into
a condition of separation.
The saints are called out of "Babylon." Most
of the Reformers tried to reform the Mother Church or Protestant factions. The Laodicean
period, while it called for repentance, asked the true believer to separate from Babylon
the Great. Small numbers left their church affiliations and joined the Truth movement.
However, they did not all come out clean.
The truth movement, therefore, went through periodic siftings. Those who had
some special interests, or who had a special agenda, were led by the nature of siftings to
leave or try to make another movement. The dynamics of the truth movement were responsible
for its growth and influence, far out of proportion to its actual membership.
"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:
"I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the
fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that
the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou
mayest see.
"As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore
and repent.
"Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my
voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and sup with him, and he with me." Revelation
3:14-20
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The
condition described is rather pathetic for the Christian community.
They fancy themselves as being in a splendid condition and fail to
realize that from God’s vantage point they are "poor" and "blind"
and "naked."
However, the highlight of this period is that the "Lord is
standing" at the door and will enter into every heart that will open unto him.
These may feast with the Lord who brings the supper, the best
"meal on wheels" in our time (Luke 12:42).
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The
harvest is the "end of the age" (Matthew 13:39).
This was to be a time of separation of "wheat" from
"tares." The time for them to be together was ended.
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The "wheat" is to be gathered into
the Gospel Garner. The "tares" are bound together in bundles. They
obviously like being "bundled" because it gives them the allusion of strength
and greatness. However, the "tares" fail to realize this "bundling"
will lead to their being piled high and burned as "tares," or as professing
Christians.
The "tares" look at the small clumps of "wheat"
with disdain. They actually prided themselves in being bundled into large church
organizations, and then in having these church groups join in Federated groups such as the
World Council of Churches. Little do they realize this massive grouping is nothing more
than piling high the "tare" bundles to be burned to their profession of being
Christian. One of the ways the "tares" will be burned is when they come to
realize "what is the real church of Christ" (Reprint 5951, par. 3).
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The end
of the "harvest" will find the remaining saints placed in a position to make a
strong defense of the Truth acting as the "sword" of his "mouth"
(Revelation 19:15).
We believe 1878 was the time when "Babylon" was cast off or
"fallen" from God’s favor. No longer could "Babylon" be
God’s mouthpiece.
Revelation 18:1, 2
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Not only are the "tares" separated,
but also before the harvest ends Elijah must be separated from Elisha. The "wise
virgins" must be separated from the "foolish virgins." The harvest will not
end before this happens.
The story of the "seven churches" covers
the Gospel age, consummating in the triumphant completion of the true church of God.
Each of the seven churches saw the Lord calling to his sheep and guiding the faithful. To
all the churches were given the seven "spirits" or promises of God. All
the promises were theirs. Jesus Christ, after opening the seven "seals," knew
what would transpire and was thus able to prepare the "angel" of each church
appropriate warnings and encouragement that would sustain the faithful while reprimanding
the wicked.
The ending of the seventh church will see the
separation of the "wheat" and "tares" completed.
Then
"shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father."
Matthew 13:43
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Victory,
victory, victory at last comes for the true church.
All the "exceeding great and precious promises" will at last
be realized by the "more than conquerors" of the Gospel age.
This will be the crowning moment in God’s eternity, when at last
He has His jewels for an eternal possession.
In Zephaniah 3:17 we read: "The Lord thy God in the midst of thee
is mighty; he will save, he will rejoice over thee with joy; he will rest in his love, he
will joy over thee with singing."
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Click to go to the following:
For more information on The Work of the Harvest.
Topical Studies on:
7 Churches Topical Study Home Page
Ephesus - Smyrna - Pergamos - Thyatira - Sardis - Philadelphia - Laodicea
Chapter/Verse by Verse Studies on:
7 Churches Verse by Verse Home Page
Ephesus - Smyrna - Pergamos - Thyatira - Sardis - Philadelphia - Laodicea
Topical Study Home Page - Chapter Study Home Page
- Sinaitic Manuscript - Questions - Glossary.
E-Mail
Day7000@sbcglobal.net with comments.
Copyright 2001 John Class
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