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Evidence for Eras
Chapter X
A Call to Repentance
As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten:
be zealous therefore, and repent.
Revelation 3:19
Pogo was the central character of a long-running comic strip that began in the late 1940s. In one famous cartoon he unmistakably captures the predicament that the Church finds itself in today. In the final scene, Pogo stands with a look of enormous dignity. One leg is supporting his weight, while the other is placed squarely on the bow of a boat. His heroic posture reminds readers of George Washington at Valley Forge. His sword is gripped ever so tightly in his hand. His arm is extended, pointing his weapon upward, in the direction of attack. His face is transfixed in profound and resolute conviction. Below the caption reads:
“We have met the enemy—and he is us!”
Perhaps the enemy has always been us. Since man’s beginning, we seem to have willingly found ways to distance ourselves from God. Today it is no different. We are living in a very dangerous age. We need to know what spirit is affecting us in our time. Therefore, the knowledge of Church eras is of enormous value.
It is time to wake up! Jesus Christ is coming quickly (Rev. 22:7), and we must realize that we are living in the last era of God’s Church (Mat. 24:34). Right now Jesus, our King and future Husband, is knocking at the door of our minds and hearts. He wants us to rise from our self righteous complacency and answer His call (Sol. 5:2, Rev. 3:20). He desires that we live our lives in Him, and He in us (John 15:4). He wants us to develop and grow so that we will become the absolute best that we can be.
In that light, it is in great hope that we will consider the evidence that has been given to us in His word, throughout history—even down to this—our present age. We need to understand that these seven letters to the churches are prophetic and written to God’s people living during seven eras in time. We must buy eye salve so that we can see that we are the last era and that we desperately need to repent!
Now that we have the evidence, we can be confident of this important truth. It is clear that we are living in the Laodecian era. We have been given all the proof we need to understand this undisputable fact, and we need to realize what this means to each of us.
We exist among those whom Christ spoke of as having a form of Godliness but denying His power (II Tim. 3). Many act as though it is too difficult to change, or we don’t really believe that Jesus has the power to transform our character. As a result, many are letting down. We seem to think that, because we cannot overcome every temptation, we must be okay. We have come to feel that we are good enough and that Christ will accept us as we are.
Admit the truth! We don’t fear the Almighty God the way we should! Many have become those who Jesus prophesied would believe that all things are continuing as they always have, and that Christ has delayed His return (II Pet. 3:4, Mat. 24:48). We no longer hold a vivid picture in our mind of God’s wrath. The terrible day of the Lord is being pushed aside in many of the churches. Sermons often only deal with tangential issues. They don’t demand change from us, and as a result, we have been lulled into a spiritual slumber. The return of Christ is no longer the powerful and profound reality that it once was, and it seems that we don’t deeply revere God and fear His correction that is soon to come.
If we remain doubtful that this final letter was written to us, and close our eyes to Christ’s reproof. If we turn our heads to the insurmountable evidence for eras and ignore Jesus’ rebuke, consider that the following prophetic scenario is written to God’s people:
Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity (Matthew 7:22-23).
Vast numbers of God’s people believe that this statement is only directed towards those who merely profess Christ. They believe this situation will only play out for members of false churches—people who are not called at this time. However, this is simply not the case. Christ’s warning in this is directed to those who are called! These people are convinced that they are true Christians. They actually performed works in His name. However, they did not obey Him. They did not patiently keep His word.
Like the rich young man who professed that he had kept God’s commandments, many of us believe that we keep them, but we truly don’t observe them the way God desires—in their true spirit and intent. We are half-hearted in our effort to do God’s will. Clearly, Jesus’ prophecy is regarding people that God has called—people who actually made it through the tribulation, but did not make it into the first resurrection.
Consider that even though the Scriptures contain words that everyone can benefit from, the Bible was not written to the vast majority of mankind. God, through his printed Word, is speaking to those who are called! Not those of the world! For this reason, the very next verses state:
Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock. And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it (Matthew 7:24-27).
These verses make it obvious. Christ’s admonition is directed to those who He has called. This statement was not directed towards professing Christianity—non-believers. They were spoken to us! Therefore, we need to heed the warning. Every piece of evidence declares that we are living in the last days. We are the last era of the New Testament, and we reflect the characteristics of the last era of the Old Covenant—the Pharisees.
Knowing this, we need to ask ourselves; how much have we been affected by the spirit of Laodecia? Has it altered our perception of right and wrong? Has it watered down our faith and our commitment to God? Have we allowed ourselves to partake of ungodly entertainment? Have we redirected our goals to that of attaining status or possessions? Have we accepted some Protestant teachings as valid worship of God? Have our personal opinions and inferences become the standard by which we live, instead of God’s Word?
Are we zealous about our life, our career, our congregation, and not zealous for the holiness that God wants us to practice and what He wants us to become? Are we filled with self satisfaction, and do we justify sin in our lives? Are we covetous—always wanting more? Are we allowing habits and traditions to take precedence over God’s will and His divine Commandments? Are we concerned about how we look on the outside, and close our eyes to what is going on inside of us?
We need to take an honest, unrelenting inventory of our values and standards! If we are sincere, we will admit that elements of Laodicea linger within each one of us, and therefore we must repent! We must change and not give in to the infectious spirit of our age. But instead, carefully and patiently continue in God’s Word.
If we do, our righteousness can, and will, exceed that of the Pharisees. We will please the great God as we continue to maintain and build our relationship with Him. Then, when the tribulation comes, He will keep us from it. And, when Christ returns, we will be transformed—welcomed into the glorious Kingdom of our Father. At that time, our betrothed will personally deliver the message that every true Christian longs to hear—“Well done thou true and faithful servant.”