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THE 8th CHURCH - FACT or FICTION?, part 3 quotes

1) #3. These seven churches represent 7 different conditions manifested by the various churches of God at different periods in the history of the world.

This 3rd inspired interpretation is that not only can individual Christians manifest 7 different characteristics in their Christian walk, but groups of Christians and churches can manifest 7 different conditions symbolized by these messages to the churches.

“Christ is spoken of as walking in the midst of the golden candlesticks. Thus is symbolized His relation to the churches. He is in constant communication with His people. He knows their true state. He observes their order, their piety, their devotion. Although He is high priest and mediator in the sanctuary above, yet He is represented as walking up and down in the midst of His churches on the earth....

“Christ is represented as holding the seven stars in His right hand. This assures us that no church faithful to its trust need fear coming to nought, for not a star that has the protection of Omnipotence can be plucked out of the hand of Christ.”Acts of the Apostles, p 586.

“‘Who walketh in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks’ (Rev. 2:1). This Scripture shows Christ's relation to the churches. He walks in the midst of His churches throughout the length and breadth of the earth. He watches them with intense interest to see whether they are in such a condition spiritually that they can advance His kingdom. Christ is present in every assembly of the church.” Testimonies, vol 6, p 418-419.

2) Are any of these messages applying to groups of Christians and churches limited to any particular time period?

“The messages given to the churches in Asia, portray the state of things existing in the churches of the religious world today.” Manuscript Releases, vol 1, p 372.

These 7 different church messages apply to all the different groups of Christians and church denominations in the world. This means that any one of these 7 messages can represent the condition of any group or church denomination existing today, and not just one particular church condition.

“I wish to emphasize the fact, that the churches to which John was told to send the instruction given him represent all the churches in our world...” Manuscript Releases, vol 1, p 372.

3) Many believe that the time for the Philadelphian message to the church to be seen among God’s people was between 1798 and October 22, 1844, and after that time no Philadelphian message to the church is applicable. Yet this is not what inspiration states!

“After the passing of the time of expectation, in [October 22] 1844, Adventists still believed the Saviour's coming to be very near; they held that they had reached an important crisis, and that the work of Christ as man's intercessor before God, had ceased. Having given the warning of the Judgment near, they felt that their work for the world was done, and they lost their burden of soul for the salvation of sinners, while the bold and blasphemous scoffing of the ungodly seemed to them another evidence that the Spirit of God had been withdrawn from the rejecters of his mercy. All this confirmed them in the belief that probation had ended, or, as they then expressed it, ‘the door of mercy was shut.’

“But clearer light came with the investigation of the sanctuary question. Now was seen the application of those words of Christ in the Revelation, addressed to the church at this very time: ‘These things saith he that is holy, he that is true, he that hath the key of David, he that openeth and no man shutteth, and shutteth and no man openeth; I know thy works; behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it.’ [Revelation 3:7, 8.] [What church is being addressed by these words after October 22, 1844? Was it the church of Laodicea? No, it was the church of Philadelphia!] Here an open as well as a shut door is brought to view. At the termination of the 2300 prophetic days in 1844...Christ had ended one part of his work as our intercessor, to enter upon another portion of the work; and he still presented his blood before the Father in behalf of sinners. ‘Behold,’ he declares, ‘I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it.’” Spirit of Prophecy, vol 4, p 268-269 (Great Controversy, p 429-430).

4) What if a group or church denomination were manifesting the characteristics that made it apparent that the Laodicean message applied to them, and then they repented and overcame that Laodicean condition; would the message of Laodicea then continue to apply to them? The correct answer is no. This is because a group of Christians and a church can change their position out of Laodicea and into another church condition.

“I ask the church, Will you remain in the condition of the Laodicean church, or will you change your position?” Manuscript Releases, vol 16, p 147.

“Make diligent efforts to redeem the past. No longer remain in the condition of the Laodicean church.” Counsels On Health, p 430.

This means that if a group of Christians or a church overcame their Laodicean condition, then they would no longer be in that position that made the Laodicean message apply to them. But they would now be in another church condition, and hopefully one that receives no condemnation – such as that of Smyrna or Philadelphia. As this is true, then no group and no church is forced to remain in the Laodicean condition, but they can repent and overcome it, and get out of this condemned position!

5) It is extremely important to understand that it is not the particular group or church denomination itself that represents one of these 7 churches, but it is the condition of one of these 7 churches that can apply to these groups or denominations. It is not that a particular group or church denomination can claim to be the church of Ephesus, but it is the condition of Ephesus that can apply to that particular group or church denomination because they are manifesting the same characteristics as Ephesus.

Just because a group or church denomination manifests the Laodicean condition does not make them become the Laodicean church of Revelation 3! Yet the SDA church claims to be the Laodicean church itself!

"...in the case with the Laodicean Church, as a church, is different, the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. The last church will not be spewed out; it will not be rejected; it will go through triumphantly." Review, November 9, 1939.

"The Laodicean Church is the translation church...this is the very church that will be translated into the Kingdom of God." Review, November 30, 1939. (General Conference president J.L. McElhany)

"...[God's SDA] church is Laodicea which undeniably has its problems. But no less sure is God's offered remedy...The promise that Christ at His coming will ‘present it to Himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing.’" Adventist Review, March 7, 1991, p 10.

“Today we hesitate to claim we’re the remnant; but as for Laodicea, that’s us! Us alone!...No other Christian group vies with us for the dubious privilege of being identified with it....claiming exclusive rights to Laodicea is not politically incorrect. So, unchallenged, we’ve become anchored in the view that Seventh-day Adventists are the sole group envisioned in the apocalyptic concept of that term.” Adventist Review, August 28, 2008, p 5.

"This church to which we belong will emerge a victorious company to stand some day on the sea of glass....Adventism is destined to triumph gloriously....They [God's people] will patiently watch and pray until God in His own time and in His own way purifies His church...The church will fulfill its prophetic role and will triumph. Let us stay with the church so that we can share in that victory." Messenger, October, 1994, p 11.

Why would the SDA church claim to be the Laodicean church of Revelation 3 that is condemned and destined to be spewed out and lost? It is so they can claim that they are the very last church of God, and then lead people to also believe that since Laodicea is the last church listed of the 7, then there will be no other groups or churches of God that will be seen before Christ comes! With this claim, the SDA church gains leverage with which to deceive people into believing that they must join and remain within the SDA Laodicean church, no matter how corrupt or apostate she becomes, because God is forced to save this church since there are no other churches beyond Laodicea!


	"LET THERE BE LIGHT" Ministries home \| Sermon Quotes THE 8th CHURCH - FACT or FICTION?, part 3 quotes 1) #3. These seven churches represent 7 different conditions manifested by the various churches of God at different periods in the history of the world. This 3rd inspired interpretation is that not only can individual Christians manifest 7 different characteristics in their Christian walk, but groups of Christians and churches can manifest 7 different conditions symbolized by these messages to the churches. “Christ is spoken of as walking in the midst of the golden candlesticks. Thus is symbolized His relation to the churches. He is in constant communication with His people. He knows their true state. He observes their order, their piety, their devotion. Although He is high priest and mediator in the sanctuary above, yet He is represented as walking up and down in the midst of His churches on the earth.... “Christ is represented as holding the seven stars in His right hand. This assures us that no church faithful to its trust need fear coming to nought, for not a star that has the protection of Omnipotence can be plucked out of the hand of Christ.”Acts of the Apostles, p 586. “‘Who walketh in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks’ (Rev. 2:1). This Scripture shows Christ's relation to the churches. He walks in the midst of His churches throughout the length and breadth of the earth. He watches them with intense interest to see whether they are in such a condition spiritually that they can advance His kingdom. Christ is present in every assembly of the church.” Testimonies, vol 6, p 418-419. 2) Are any of these messages applying to groups of Christians and churches limited to any particular time period? “The messages given to the churches in Asia, portray the state of things existing in the churches of the religious world today.” Manuscript Releases, vol 1, p 372. These 7 different church messages apply to all the different groups of Christians and church denominations in the world. This means that any one of these 7 messages can represent the condition of any group or church denomination existing today, and not just one particular church condition. “I wish to emphasize the fact, that the churches to which John was told to send the instruction given him represent all the churches in our world...” Manuscript Releases, vol 1, p 372. 3) Many believe that the time for the Philadelphian message to the church to be seen among God’s people was between 1798 and October 22, 1844, and after that time no Philadelphian message to the church is applicable. Yet this is not what inspiration states! “After the passing of the time of expectation, in [October 22] 1844, Adventists still believed the Saviour's coming to be very near; they held that they had reached an important crisis, and that the work of Christ as man's intercessor before God, had ceased. Having given the warning of the Judgment near, they felt that their work for the world was done, and they lost their burden of soul for the salvation of sinners, while the bold and blasphemous scoffing of the ungodly seemed to them another evidence that the Spirit of God had been withdrawn from the rejecters of his mercy. All this confirmed them in the belief that probation had ended, or, as they then expressed it, ‘the door of mercy was shut.’ “But clearer light came with the investigation of the sanctuary question. Now was seen the application of those words of Christ in the Revelation, addressed to the church at this very time: ‘These things saith he that is holy, he that is true, he that hath the key of David, he that openeth and no man shutteth, and shutteth and no man openeth; I know thy works; behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it.’ [Revelation 3:7, 8.] [What church is being addressed by these words after October 22, 1844? Was it the church of Laodicea? No, it was the church of Philadelphia!] Here an open as well as a shut door is brought to view. At the termination of the 2300 prophetic days in 1844...Christ had ended one part of his work as our intercessor, to enter upon another portion of the work; and he still presented his blood before the Father in behalf of sinners. ‘Behold,’ he declares, ‘I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it.’” Spirit of Prophecy, vol 4, p 268-269 (Great Controversy, p 429-430). 4) What if a group or church denomination were manifesting the characteristics that made it apparent that the Laodicean message applied to them, and then they repented and overcame that Laodicean condition; would the message of Laodicea then continue to apply to them? The correct answer is no. This is because a group of Christians and a church can change their position out of Laodicea and into another church condition. “I ask the church, Will you remain in the condition of the Laodicean church, or will you change your position?” Manuscript Releases, vol 16, p 147. “Make diligent efforts to redeem the past. No longer remain in the condition of the Laodicean church.” Counsels On Health, p 430. This means that if a group of Christians or a church overcame their Laodicean condition, then they would no longer be in that position that made the Laodicean message apply to them. But they would now be in another church condition, and hopefully one that receives no condemnation – such as that of Smyrna or Philadelphia. As this is true, then no group and no church is forced to remain in the Laodicean condition, but they can repent and overcome it, and get out of this condemned position! 5) It is extremely important to understand that it is not the particular group or church denomination itself that represents one of these 7 churches, but it is the condition of one of these 7 churches that can apply to these groups or denominations. It is not that a particular group or church denomination can claim to be the church of Ephesus, but it is the condition of Ephesus that can apply to that particular group or church denomination because they are manifesting the same characteristics as Ephesus. Just because a group or church denomination manifests the Laodicean condition does not make them become the Laodicean church of Revelation 3! Yet the SDA church claims to be the Laodicean church itself! "...in the case with the Laodicean Church, as a church, is different, the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. The last church will not be spewed out; it will not be rejected; it will go through triumphantly." Review, November 9, 1939. "The Laodicean Church is the translation church...this is the very church that will be translated into the Kingdom of God." Review, November 30, 1939. (General Conference president J.L. McElhany) "...[God's SDA] church is Laodicea which undeniably has its problems. But no less sure is God's offered remedy...The promise that Christ at His coming will ‘present it to Himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing.’" Adventist Review, March 7, 1991, p 10. “Today we hesitate to claim we’re the remnant; but as for Laodicea, that’s us! Us alone!...No other Christian group vies with us for the dubious privilege of being identified with it....claiming exclusive rights to Laodicea is not politically incorrect. So, unchallenged, we’ve become anchored in the view that Seventh-day Adventists are the sole group envisioned in the apocalyptic concept of that term.” Adventist Review, August 28, 2008, p 5. "This church to which we belong will emerge a victorious company to stand some day on the sea of glass....Adventism is destined to triumph gloriously....They [God's people] will patiently watch and pray until God in His own time and in His own way purifies His church...The church will fulfill its prophetic role and will triumph. Let us stay with the church so that we can share in that victory." Messenger, October, 1994, p 11. Why would the SDA church claim to be the Laodicean church of Revelation 3 that is condemned and destined to be spewed out and lost? It is so they can claim that they are the very last church of God, and then lead people to also believe that since Laodicea is the last church listed of the 7, then there will be no other groups or churches of God that will be seen before Christ comes! With this claim, the SDA church gains leverage with which to deceive people into believing that they must join and remain within the SDA Laodicean church, no matter how corrupt or apostate she becomes, because God is forced to save this church since there are no other churches beyond Laodicea!