Phase 7–Church that is Wealthy but Wretched

Revelation 3:14-21

Click for a description of the mark of the beast.
Click here for a description of the image of the beast.

This is the seventh of seven churches. At this point the Gospel of Christ has been left, the faithful are being slandered and persecuted, the church is corrupted, they are teaching their members to live by the “secret knowledge,” they are lively but dead to God, the faithful has little strength left, and now they are wealthy and completely wretched.

“To the angel of the church in Laodicea write: These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God’s creation.” Revelation 3:4

This message is from the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God’s creation. Wealth isn’t the same thing as being the one in charge. Jesus Christ, the faithful and true witness will put an end to the prosperity of a wretched world. He is the ruler over God’s creation.

Indifference of the Wealthy
“I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth. Because you say, ‘I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing’—and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked—“ “Revelation 3:15-17

Complacency and indifference are the same as being lukewarm which is neither cold nor hot. Any type of Christian is better than somebody who is totally indifferent to God. Just be a Christian. A cold Christian is still a follower of Jesus Christ, just be a Christian. A hot Christian is still a follower of Jesus Christ, just be a Christian. A person indifferent to Jesus Christ is not a follower of His. It’s better to be hot or cold than to be completely indifferent to the Gospel of Jesus.

The present church has a complete lack of interest, concern, or sympathy towards the Gospel of Jesus Christ. God has no place for them in His heart. They have made their decision to live by the beast that forms what they think, feel do, and speak. That beast gives breath/life to the image of the beast to speak by speaking and living through them. By what they are given to say and do they are groomed to the mark, name, and number of the beast.

In exchange for serving the beast which has power over physiology, they live in the luxury of community support while acquiring wealth to continue their church/community programs. They are living for the prosperity within the “democratic” society of the beast. They think they have it all with their community connections and the influence, respect, and dignity that comes with it. Really, when it comes to the message of the Cross, they are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind, and naked.

They are naked because, through the eyes of God, it is easy for those who live for Jesus Christ to see exactly what they are doing. They are tossing aside Jesus Christ, ignoring the Holy Spirit, and partnering with the goals of the atheistic community culture. They are blind because they do not see that they are this seventh church, and they do not understand the scriptures. They are poor because they do not have the Holy Spirit but instead, they have emotions that make them feel lively, righteous, and moral. They are pitiful because they are trusting in their worldly wealth and flatteries that they receive from the public instead of seeking lost souls to bring to the Cross of Christ. They are wretched for knowingly drawing masses to the beast which forms what they think, feel, do, believe and speak.

Call for Earnest Repentance
“I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see. As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent. Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me.” Revelation 3:18-20

The same way that the wealthy acquires their wealth is how they need to come back to the Gospel roots. They rejected the Gospel of Christ and made their god to be the beast that forms what they think, feel, do, believe and speak. It was profitable for them. Now they need to reject the ungodly source of their wealth and come back to God. That would require giving up their wealth and influence to include themselves with the faithful few who are slandered, persecuted, and have little strength. It would throw them out of favor with city government and throw them into the fiery trials of community disapproval. God’s discipline would bring their Salvation, open their eyes, and clothe them in the Holy Spirit. Jesus Christ stands at the door ready and willing to enter into the heart of those who open themselves to Him.

Faithful Will Sit on the Throne with Christ.
“To the one who is victorious, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne,  just as I was victorious and sat down with my Father on His throne. Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” Revelation 3:21-22

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Phase One…..Gospel of Jesus Christ is Abandoned
Phase Two….Those Faithful to Christ are Slandered and Persecuted
Phase Three…Corruption sets In
Phase Four…..Learning to Live By the “Deep Secrets”
Phase Five…..Lively but Dead to Jesus Christ
Phase Six……Those Faithful to Jesus Christ have Little Strength
Phase 7………Wealthy but Wretched

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I found this laying on the ground near to my front door on July 30th. This church is just one of the several lively and wealthy churches in the city. There is another church that is known for its fireworks extravaganza in August, and another one that is known for its “Trunk or Treat” extravaganza in October. The music is fun, lively, good-feel music but no real Gospel roots. It almost recreates the environment of a county fair. Every church in this city is on the same sheet of music, and the chords are composed by the global culture of the beast.

“….to you who do not hold to her teaching and have not learned Satan’s so-called deep secrets,“
‘I will not impose any other burden on you, except to hold on to what you have until I come.’”
“I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take your crown.”
Revelation 2:24-25, 3:11