Surviving “Perilous Times”

Article Four -
Why So Many “Splinter” Groups?

BY DAVID C. PACK

Why did the 20 percent surviving the apostasy scatter into many disagreeing groups? Is Christ divided? Is God only concerned about doctrines considered “core,” “basic,” “fundamental” or “essential to salvation”—however these are defined? What did Mr. Armstrong teach?

TABLE OF CONTENTS

This is an extensive article. It was written to give meaning to both the apostasy of the 1990s and the many splinters that arose from it. Since it appeared, the title question has been answered in much greater detail in the book “Anoint Your Eyes” – Christ’s Warning to His People. (A few portions included here are expanded in that book.) Therefore, the following article is best viewed as a helpful introduction to that vital book—which must be thoroughly studied for personal application in your life!

Prophecy is right on schedule. Nothing is out of control. Though Mr. Armstrong warned for nearly 40 years about the coming “falling away” (II Thes. 2:3), now that it has come, many are confused. This should not be!

While considering the title question, do not assume you already know its answer. Carefully study this article, trying to see the big picture!

It is now clear that the WCG totally left the true God, finally, in effect, disfellowshipping Him altogether. If you accept this reality, a giant question looms: If the WCG is not even Laodicea, then where are all the people of the dominant, seventh era? In other words, where are all the laodiceans? (Remember, they form the majority of God’s people at the end. Their numbers are so dominant that Christ states that they form their own era.)

You cannot escape directly confronting this towering question!

WCG No Longer Relevant

The WCG is no longer part of God’s spiritual equation in these closing years. It has simply gone off the Christian radar screen, becoming a dead church. Unless you accept this fact, you cannot move forward to answer the question, “Why so many splinter groups?”

Each group that arose from the apostasy either retained or developed a variety of false teachings, and usually both. Some groups are aware of them, and some seem oblivious to what they are teaching. People within these groups fall into the same categories. Some are aware of the heresies around them and do not care. Others do. Some are oblivious to these teachings but will wake up. Others will continue to sleep. This is basic human nature.

World To Come on The True Church

Somebody Else—Somewhere Else?

It has been my experience that most brethren even willing to consider Laodicea’s identity start with the assumption: Laodicea is somebody else—somewhere else! This is the crux of why the majority today are Laodicean! This very majority factor is why God calls it an era. Ask: How could this happen when we were forcefully warned for 40 years that this era would come?

Now it is here and few were ready!

Rarely does anyone start with the assumption, “If this is the Laodicean age, odds are that it includes me.” The biggest reason people do not start with this is because Laodicea, among other things, is known for being “blind and naked” (Rev. 3:17). These characteristics work together. Would anyone walk around naked if he were not also blind to his condition? The worst part of being “poor, wretched, miserable, blind, and naked” is blindness!

Why? Because if one is not blind, he may see the rest of this description applies to himself. This is why Christ tells Laodicea to first “anoint your eyes with eye salve.” These brethren do not see! This article is to help you see what so many others cannot. Unfortunately, prophecy shows the majority will never awaken to their condition—will never attempt to “be zealous…and repent”—choosing the Tribulation by default. Of course, all people are free moral agents.

You need not remain blind.

Christ, the Head of the Church, promised to “knock” on each man’s “door” (Rev. 3:20) of those in the last era, and the living Jesus Christ always keeps His word. Will you answer when He knocks—or are you one who hides in your house until visitors leave?

Grasp this picture! People of two separate conditions departed the apostasy! They remained co-mingled as brethren went to different splinters that they thought would help them hold fast. Invariably, those who wanted all of God’s truths found that the organizations they joined were only partially holding fast. People of two mindsets are now circulating around the world. Of the final two eras, only one is trying to carefully determine where God wants them to be. The other is oblivious and generally unconcerned—and the Great Tribulation will ultimately awaken only half of these.

False or Lukewarm?

People still might not see that they can and must leave when leaders abandon part of the truth, and try to persuade them to do the same. Throughout history, true Christians have had no choice but to leave when the larger group succumbed, fully or partially, to the pull of the world.

If most brethren are lukewarm, then so are most ministers. But they are lukewarm, not false. (However, other books explain how the splinter leaders are God’s enemies.) A lukewarm minister is not a false minister, anymore than lukewarm brethren are false brethren (II Cor. 11:26)! False brethren and false ministers are not the same as lukewarm brethren and lukewarm ministers!

Do you see this distinction?

During the separation, most fell into the trap of believing that all Sabbath-keepers are true Christians. This is no more true than the WCG assertion that all Sunday-keepers professing Christ are true Christians. All true Christians are Sabbatarians, but not all Sabbatarians are true Christians. Since Sabbath-keeping is not enough to make one a real Christian, why do so many splinter members think that merely keeping the Commandments and basic truths makes them Philadelphians?

Another of Mr. Armstrong’s Warnings

Mr. Armstrong knew that people could keep the Sabbath and be unconverted! Unlike many today, he never believed that keeping the Sabbath, even when accompanied by other truths—the Holy Days, tithing, clean and unclean meats, and so forth—was enough to make one Philadelphian. In fact, he made plain the majority of such people did not have God’s Spirit—period! At best, people could be Laodicean only if they have significant, additional truths beyond the very basics. Remember, it was Mr. Armstrong who so often said that the majority in the WCG—those thought to be God’s people—were probably not converted—never “got it.” This was true, even when the entire Church was exposed to and, theoretically, believed and practiced all of the truth. Where does this leave people who have neglected, or even openly rejected, several—and generally many!—of those important truths?

Consider this from Mr. Armstrong in a broadcast of over 35 years ago. It is found almost verbatim in his booklet The Plain Truth About Easter (pp. 15-16). The powerful impact of its message is an amazing parallel for our time:

“And even in Paul’s day many among those attending at Antioch, at Jerusalem, at Ephesus, at Corinth, and other places began to apostatize and to turn away from the truth. Divisions sprang up and those individuals unconverted or turned from God’s truth and way of life were no part of God’s true Church though visibly assembling with those who were. [Author’s note: Notice that Mr. Armstrong understood that numerous “divisions [splinters] sprang up” from the first-century apostasy.] The mystery of iniquity was already working as the apostle Paul wrote in II Thessalonians, the 2nd chapter, and it was working inside of the visible churches. This apostasy increased and by the year of 125 AD the majority in most churches now, the majority assembling for services in most churches [were continuing in many of their old pagan beliefs and practices, though professing to be Christians]. And, incidentally, they still assembled on the Sabbath day—believe it or not—that’s the day we call Saturday…Now, gradually, a smaller and smaller portion of the visible churches going by the name Christian remained truly yielded to God and to His truth and lead by His Spirit. And after Emperor Constantine took virtual control of the visible professing church, in the early 4th century, the visible organization became almost wholly pagan and they began excommunicating and persecuting all who held to the true Word of God—the Bible! And finally it became necessary for all real Christians, even as a scattered people, it became necessary for them to flee. And they, the ones that were led by the Spirit of God, the ones in whom Jesus Christ was living His life in them, they alone composed the true Church and they had to flee the jurisdiction of the government in order to truly worship God. That’s what’s happened my friends, to the Church, but God still has His ministers. God still has His Church. [Author’s note: Mr. Armstrong never doubted that God still had His one Church, even in the wake of the only other full apostasy that we know of.] I want to tell you that God’s truth is still written in the pages of your Bible if you’ll blow the dust off of it and look at it as it is.” (Emphasis mine throughout.)

Laodicea has always been prophesied to appear, consisting of Sabbatarians who are Christians, but, because of lukewarmness toward God’s full truth and Work, must suffer the Tribulation. But they keep the commandments (Rev. 12:17).

The WCG Conditioned Against Church Eras’ Importance

Notice who first blurred the importance of eras. Consider this remarkable quote:

“Over the years, some have referred to the faithful in the Church as Philadelphians, and the unfaithful as Laodiceans…It is simply not biblical to say that the best spiritual state is the state of being Philadelphian, and that we should strive to be Philadelphian above others.”

Joseph W. Tkach, Personal, WN, Jan. 9, 1989

Read it again. Never forget it! Then recognize how long ago—early 1989!—that the conditioning began.

Accept that it was the apostates who first conditioned you to the idea that Laodiceans are not weaker than or spiritually inferior to Philadelphians! This quote is but one example of the conditioning affecting many who no longer believe the One True Church doctrine. Will you allow them to subvert your mind?

On two occasions, Mr. Armstrong said the following to me personally about how he saw the rise of Laodicea: (1) They will arise suddenly, (2) they will do a small Work, if they do a Work at all, because the “open door” is in front of Philadelphia, (3) they will be the larger number because they are the dominant era at the end, since Philadelphia has but “a little strength,” and (4) they will arise from the WCG. (Many of his other statements about Laodicea, showing that he always felt doctrinal compromise, on details, would be one of their greatest hallmarks, are included in Except the Lord Build the House and in the last article in this book!)

Let me say that I have always believed that one must leave Laodicea to remain Philadelphian. My three-sermon “30 Reasons” series clearly reflects this, and why it is true. The “Body of Christ” series explain how the Bible makes plain why these two conditions cannot remain co-mingled. Since they do not doctrinally agree, they cannot walk together (Amos 3:3).

The Full Scope

Many have generally understood only some of what happened in the WCG. Why only some? Brethren began leaving it in about 1990. Of course, as more groups formed—giving people more options—more left. This process lasted through the 90s. The longer people remained, the longer they were exposed to more false doctrines—and the longer they were conditioned to subconsciously accept and absorb them, without awareness.

However, upon leaving the WCG, they invariably saw themselves as “standing up for the truth.” The reality is that the proverbial 99.9 percent of those who left stood up for some or even much of the truth. However, the longer people stayed, the more doctrinal baggage they took with them—and usually unwittingly. As when ancient Israel left Egypt, the apostates sent doctrines of modern spiritual Egypt hidden in the baggage of spiritual Israel.

The final, burning question that each person with God’s Spirit must address is, “How far back am I willing to go to retrieve all the truth—‘the whole counsel of God’ (Acts 20:27)?” Anyone wishing to return to all that Mr. Armstrong taught will find only one Church teaching it without compromise. Most seem to unknowingly conclude, in effect, that the apostle James was wrong, having come to believe that sweet and bitter water (good and bad doctrine) can come from the same fountain (3:11-12), and now accept some or even many false doctrines. To some, “going back” to anything seems like retrogressing, not progressing. Yet, God used Mr. Armstrong to “restore all things”—from the apostolic era—to the Church.

Did Mr. Armstrong retrogress or progress when he rediscovered original truths written thousands of years ago, but lost to Sardis?

The RCG may have “little strength,” but it is the Church of January 1986, differing only in size. We teach the truth, as everyone once believed it, do the Work, as we all once saw it and feed the flock, as the entire Church was once fed—under the same method of government taught by Mr. Armstrong.

Laodicea Means “The People Rule” Instead of God

In a repeat of the early 90s in the WCG, many are waiting a second time, in lukewarm organizations (and incredibly, a few are still doing this in the WCG), for Christ to “set their organization back on track.” This is terribly flawed thinking, leading them to unwittingly accept more false doctrinal ideas.

God named the last era Laodicea, meaning “the people rule, judge, or decide” (Laos means “the people” and dike means “decide, judge, rule”). Christ depicts Himself outside it, knocking on individual’s doors, because He does not rule this era—THE PEOPLE DO! He will not turn that era around because He is not leading it—THE PEOPLE ARE. Besides the fact that most groups ignore proper government, they have excluded many other truths. Two or three do practice hierarchical government, but they operate like brutal dictatorships, especially when addressing members who cannot accept their heresies.

Never allow yourself to believe Christ has forgotten He does not rule the seventh era, when it was HE who named it “The PEOPLE rule”!

WCG System of Government Flawed?

Many believe the apostasy was produced by the system of government that Mr. Armstrong taught, rather than by the men who infiltrated that system. They think it was a false system that permitted false leaders to capture the Church—or corporation. This is ridiculous logic. The Protestant reformers had the same reaction when they recoiled from hierarchical Catholic government 500 years ago. They did restore a little truth, but practiced democratic, congregational (also called collaborative or presbyterian) government—and, as a result, have never stopped splitting!

America’s founding fathers made this same mistake when they rejected “taxation without representation.” They created a people-driven democracy because they would not have a monarchy reign over them. Of course, God was not working through a carnal king, so they were right to escape that tyranny. And being carnal themselves, their mistake was in not seeking God to rule them. Their new democratic government guaranteed that the United States would never be united. Of course, this is true of every democratic nation today.

No wonder Winston Churchill declared, “Democracy is the worst form of government, except for all the others.” Obviously, this is not true, if God’s Spirit is present, leading correctly-implemented hierarchical government—the government of God!

God’s people never copy the Protestants, and do not forget Churchill’s insight, because democracy leaves God out of the picture. Rejecting God’s form of government is the single greatest doctrinal error because, without decisions from the top down (but with a multitude of counsel), there will come endless disagreements and doctrinal divisions.

Understand! The main reason democratic government does not work in the Church is that god is not leading it—nor can he! His form of government is and always has been from the top down. In fact, this truth is at the core of the gospel. Men cannot change God’s form of government, and then declare by simple assertion that He is working through their new invention—and them! Make no mistake—either Jesus Christ rules in His Church or the people (and ministers) do! It must be one or the other. It cannot be both. Beware the democratic siren song—danger lies ahead (all eloquent protests notwithstanding)! So many forget the old lesson of history: “The only lesson man has learned from history is that no one learns from history.”

Portions of Except the Lord Build the House quote Mr. Armstrong about why he recoiled from the dangerous democratic path. He did learn from history in the Sardis era—in which democracy never worked! That book, with The Government of God, has many quotes from Mr. Armstrong explaining why God had to show him the truth about government (in the winter of 1952-53). They show why he so often said, “Government is everything,” and why this is the most important truth God inspired him to restore.

This is why I gave six sermons titled, “The Towering Government Doctrine.” I cannot stress enough how you are urged to hear them all.

Why a Complete Falling Away Was Actually Necessary

God’s plan for His Church has never been out of control. Since the falling away was foretold 2,000 years ago (II Thes. 2:3), it has always been part of His Master Plan for the Church.

But why? Several building blocks must be placed on top of one another to understand. Let’s “reason together!”

Recall how Mr. Armstrong recognized the majority did not “get it.” It is more apparent than ever that he was right! Most left the truth as easily as leaving a restaurant. If Mr. Armstrong could see this, God saw it long before! He has always known the vast majority in the WCG would not be converted. He understood they would simply be tares, flatterers and false brethren. Therefore, in God’s mind, they are not and never have been part of the spiritual equation in His Plan!

This is immensely important to understand—and we will momentarily address what it means.

First, we must briefly revisit how the majority of brethren leaving the WCG fell into lukewarmness. How did so many become so blind? Let me explain. The very act of leaving the WCG makes its own statement to the people doing it, that they “saw” what was occurring. In other words, they reasoned that the blind remained, while those who “saw” left. By leaving, people automatically assumed they were wide awake—and their eyes were wide open! The act of leaving makes the mind virtually intractable to considering it could still be asleep, naked or blind.

Herein lies the deadliest part of the trap!

Remember, most of the 80 percent of the Church that so easily left the truth were never part of God’s Plan to reproduce Himself! I repeat, they were never part of God’s Plan for salvation now! Therefore, they were also never part of the equation defining and separating Laodicea from Philadelphia.

The following will help explain how so many could give up everything to follow false leaders. Because prophecy required Mr. Armstrong’s ministry to become large and have enormous impact, many tithepayers had to be brought into the Church to support such a large Work. Many contributors never entered the Church, choosing rather to become co-workers. Merely think of the 80 percent who became members, but returned to the world at first opportunity, as having been largely “in-house co-workers.” Most of these were probably never converted and are, therefore, neither Philadelphian nor Laodicean. No doubt, some few were converted and fell away. God knows!

Laodiceans (Matt. 25) are described as asleep. About half will awaken in time to receive salvation. Mr. Armstrong long taught that the Parable of the Virgins was entirely about Laodicea. All of the virgins were Laodicean, because “they all slumbered and slept.” (“Anoint Your Eyes” – Christ’s Warning to His People makes this plain.) This introduces another important role that the 80 percent played: They provided the necessary justification for the majority of true brethren to assume they can “see” when they are actually blind! In their thinking, it is the other 80 percent who are the “blind.”

It should now be crystal clear how so many brethren could remain so blind while asserting, “we see!”

Consider. God has always understood that two types of converted mindsets would exist at the end. The first purpose of the apostasy was to test all those who have God’s Spirit to see if they would flee false leaders and obvious false doctrines. Almost everyone understands this first great aspect of God’s long-planned test for His end-time Church while not understanding the trial was never for or about the vast majority of people we once fellowshipped with. So many of these were merely “filler”—seed that Satan had sewn into the field to confuse God’s people (of course, God permitted and used it). Although we thought they were “wheat,” most never were.

The first test was always designed to measure what all converted minds would do! But few understand that the overall test is ongoing—that it is a two-part test! Most have assumed that their only decision was whether or not to leave the WCG. This certainly was the first decision—the first part of the test. The second part was always intended by God to determine who loves all the truth. Most people love some of God’s doctrines—a few love them all.

So there is a second decision: Which condition will you choose?

The balance of this age will reveal who takes the second step—escaping Laodicea and the Tribulation, just as they did the apostasy. Be careful! Do not underestimate human nature, in yourself or others. The majority will never be willing to come to where Christ is gathering all those who “speak the same thing,” have “no divisions among them,” and are “perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment” (I Cor. 1:10)—in the same way that Mr. Armstrong taught!

Philadelphians can and therefore do walk together because they agree with one another—they agree with the end-time Elijah that God used to “restore all things”—and, most importantly, they agree with God. These people took the time to “prove all things.” One of the greatest truths Mr. Armstrong restored is that there is only one true Church and one unified Body of Christ. The obvious answer to Paul’s rhetorical question in I Corinthians 1:13, “Is Christ divided?” has always been a resounding NO! But, while He has never been divided, the last era will always be. Again, Christ is not ruling it.

But His Church remains undivided, in submission to His government!

Heresy Loves Company and Brings Division

In I Corinthians 11:18-19, Paul explains why God allows heresy to strike the Church. When present, it actually fulfills a part of God’s pre-ordained plan for each Christian. Verse 18 speaks of “divisions” in the Church and sets the stage for a remarkable statement: “For there must be also heresies among you, that they which are approved may be made manifest [obvious] among you” (vs. 19). Where division exists, there is heresy—and where heresy exists, there is division. One always begets the other. Whenever either happens, everyone coming in contact with it is tested to see whether they will “blow” with the “winds of [new] doctrine” (Eph. 4:14-15), which, in this age, have reached hurricane force. We might say that a “Katrina” struck God’s people.

Many know the phrase “misery loves company.” So does heresy. Like cancer and leaven, it always spreads, both within the mind of the one overtaken by it (into other doctrines), and from that person to others. It then breeds division between those who accept it and those who do not. This is not hard to understand. What occurred at the end of the twentieth century was simply that the trial happened on a grand scale. Whether heresy overcomes five people out of a group of ten or 120,000 out of one exceeding 150,000 is irrelevant. The principle and the dynamics with which it develops and spreads are exactly the same.

Never forget this!

Eventually, the last era would fall away completely if this process were not cut short by Satan’s wrath—the Great Tribulation. God, in His mercy for these brethren, will use the Tribulation to stop the process before it is too late for even the one half of Laodiceans who will awaken.

Do not let people sway you into any false ideas about why you should stay where any heresy is tolerated! Laodiceans tolerate heresy, thus failing to hold fast, but they do keep the commandments (Rev. 12:17). Their false teachings bring disagreement, which brings splitting, because people cannot disagree and walk together (Amos 3:3). With splits come terrible accusations between organizations, resulting in the “scattering” foretold in Daniel 12:7. However, once people remove themselves from both the wrong teachings and division, and hold fast to everything, they are no longer part of this process!

The Splinters Are All About the Same

While the many splinters vary in “color, shape, size and texture,” they are all basically the same flavor. In various ways, they all disagree with what God taught His Church through Mr. Armstrong.

Here is their problem. They cannot agree on where to disagree. Perhaps, if they could do this much, they could all walk together. They would still all be wrong together on various points, but the “scattering of the…holy people” (Dan. 12:7) would largely never have happened! Recognize that the nature of leaven and cancer is that they both spread in an irregular, unpredictable way. Different individuals and groups have developed different kinds of doctrinal cancer and leaven in their thinking, with the last era doomed to further scatter and divide. Though painful to watch, this will continue where the “spirit of error” (I John 4:6)—“another spirit” (II Cor. 11:4)—is now so obviously leading!

Recognize how the false leaders of the WCG still have great influence on the beliefs and practices of all the splinters! This ought to deeply trouble you. When you or your organization tolerates errors that they taught, then they are, to a degree, still controlling YOU! They still control the leaders who control YOUR organization.

Be brutally honest with yourself and admit this!

Take a look at your group. What errors has it accepted? For instance, does it permit birthday celebrations? Has it abandoned God’s Work—or significantly altered it? Has it rejected God’s form of government? Has it altered the gospel to include focus on the Person of Christ? Are members allowed to marry outside the Church? Is makeup permitted? What about interracial marriage? Does your group still believe in Church eras? Has it accepted the Old Testament Passover as having been on the 15th of Nisan? Has Sabbath dress become lax? (Traditions are also to be kept – II Thes. 2:15 and 3:6.)

Are there debates about divorce and remarriage? Are people told they can occasionally skip Sabbath services—the “assembling of [themselves] together”? Has third tithe been dropped? Has the one true Church doctrine been blurred or rejected? Do people still believe in a literal Place of Safety? Does your organization believe—and teach—that Mr. Armstrong was the Elijah who “restored all things”? Has it rejected or de-emphasized whole sections of prophecy, or revised its view of some aspects of it? Does it repeatedly emphasize the need for more miracles, when Mr. Armstrong never did this?

Has the starting time of the Sabbath come under debate? Are some wondering about when Pentecost should be kept? Are there calendar questions in your group? Is your leader taking Christ’s role as “That Prophet” of Deuteronomy 18:15—among other divine and religious titles? Are people dabbling in sacred names? Do some feel no need for a ministry to guide or correct them? Do they believe Philadelphians will be gathered only at the time of flight? Do some feel dining out on the Sabbath is a sin? Does your leader agree with the Catholics, seeing the Key of David as government instead of Israel’s identity in prophecy? Do some in your group believe they are “born from above,” or that conversion is a “new birth,” though phrasing this very carefully, as though it is not really a change? Does your group no longer believe that the Church is our mother—and/or so many other ideas?

I know many who believe that they are holding to everything Mr. Armstrong taught—except for their favorite “pet” idea, in effect, making them “one issue Christians.” Their thinking is particularly frustrating to deal with because it is “so close but yet so far.” (However, these people almost invariably have other hidden doctrinal problems that they overlook because they are so focused on one issue.)

Does any of this describe you, your organization or its ministry? Ask God to open your eyes. If you honestly assess your situation, you will answer YES! (I cannot stress strongly enough the importance of reading and carefully studying “Anoint Your Eyes” – Christ’s Warning to His People…)

Remember, the tares remain with the wheat until the harvest (Matt. 13:24-30). Therefore, so do flatterers (Dan. 11:34-35) and false brethren (II Cor. 11:26). Left unaddressed, these cause endless turmoil, confusion and division in all the groups.

Give much thought to the above list (with the article “ENDLESS FALSE DOCTRINES…”) and any other false teachings either openly or tacitly permitted to infect and influence your group. Open your eyes and carefully weigh whether a Philadelphian patiently tolerates endless “wind[s] of [false] doctrine” (Eph. 4:14).

Consider the newspaper known as The Journal. This publication reflects the kaleidoscope-like rainbow of absolutely incredible doctrinal ideas permeating the splinters and slivers. The ongoing confusion, division and, in some cases, outright WAR among the groups that this paper actively spreads for all to see, is astonishing (Matt. 24:9-10). Reading just one issue will remove all doubt that the last era is “wretched, miserable, poor, blind and naked,” exactly as Christ described, and that supposed “reporters” are helping to make it so. Zeal for the truth, for which Philadelphia is known, has vanished from the minds of so many who have now fallen into things only a little less horrendous than did the apostates.

Prophesied to Not “Endure Sound Doctrine”

To those in the end time, Jesus instructs, “He that shall endure to the end, the same shall be saved” (Matt. 24:13), and “Because you [Philadelphians] have kept the word of My patience” (Rev. 3:10), and “In your patience possess you your souls” (Luke 21:19). God made clear that the great end-time trial includes endurance—people’s spiritual stamina is being tested! These passages, among others, make clear that Christ’s truest servants, particularly as the age ends, patiently endure all that is happening around them—and to them! Those passing the test will be protected from the “hour of trial” (Rev. 3:10) lying ahead for the whole world.

Notice a lengthy warning in II Timothy 3:13-4:4. The time frame is identified as the “last days” (3:1). Examine some key phrases. In chapter 4, it states, “For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; and they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables” (vs. 3-4).

This time has come. Do you—will you—believe it? Do you see that most now seem unable to endure sound doctrine, and that this trend did not stop with the WCG? Here is why this cannot be talking of the people there.

One characteristic of those not enduring sound doctrine is they “heap” teachers who are only too willing to “itch their ears” with new ideas and teachings. In the Greek, heap means “to pile up.” Today, there are, and almost literally, piles of teachers spreading every conceivable idea that “itching ears” will accept.

For every idea, there is a teacher who will present it. For every teacher, there is an idea(s) that suits him. For every teacher with an idea, there is an audience willing to hear it. For every audience looking for teachers, there are heaps of them waiting to satisfy such people with unsound ideas.

So says your Bible!

This is one reason Paul describes our time as “perilous.” Perilous means DANGEROUS! False doctrines place you and your crown in clear and present danger. There are now more “fables” turning people from the truth than Aesop could have written in a hundred lifetimes. There are also now so many “tape ministries” that people fall into the trap of believing they can subscribe to as many as possible and feed themselves—if they just remain “balanced.”

If this is you, then, as Mr. Armstrong said, “You may be sincere, but you are sincerely wrong!”

Determine to quit following piled up “ministers” preaching endless new, false ideas! Then recognize that the people still in the WCG are generally not doing this sort of thing. They are long gone!

But it IS common in the splinters! This is where people are failing to endure, and you do yourself a terrible disservice if you fail to recognize that the problem is not “back there”—in the WCG. It is here and now, and is surrounding YOU. Remember, most “back there” have never been part of the equation in God’s mind!

I have listened to many sermons produced by various “ministers” and “tape ministries” now available. Some of what they say leave me incredulous! What people claiming to love the truth seem willing to believe is astonishing! One sermon was filled with some of the most cunning, serpentine, unsound logic I have ever heard. The message was 75 minutes of why the speaker, a very popular tape ministry leader who specializes in prophetic speculation, believed Mr. Armstrong was an apostle, but taught various wrong doctrines. It was brilliant, and to hear this man reduce I Corinthians 1:10 into an admonition basically only applicable to Corinth, and to similarly dissect and dismiss other verses, trying to explain away the need to hold fast, was a wonder to behold! Yet, his popularity seems to grow.

Paul warned, “evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived” (II Tim. 3:13). Verse 8 in the context there, referenced on the back cover, shows these to have “corrupt minds” and to be “reprobate concerning the faith.” (The Greek word translated reprobate is adokimos, meaning unapproved. This awful condition is explained in detail in “Anoint Your Eyes” – Christ’s Warning to His People.) Again, the WCG is gone from the picture. The leaders “back there” cannot grow much worse. Here is the point: In the splinters, people can still be captured by dangerous ideas from corrupt men supposedly “standing for the truth.”

Remember. Through this time, Philadelphians know to “hold that fast which you have, that no man take your crown” (Rev. 3:11). Keep it simple, brethren. Do not complicate God’s Word. Do not be fooled by “evil men and seducers” trying to deceive you into accepting new ideas palmed off as “growing in grace and knowledge.” The apostates did the exact same thing—and you walked away!

Paul warns, “But continue you in the things which you have learned and have been assured of, knowing of whom you have learned them” (II Tim. 3:14). You and I learned the truth from God through Mr. Armstrong. Continue means ENDURE. If something is durable, it is strong—hard—and continues!

Are you strong, hard and continuing in all of the doctrines of God?

Lukewarm Is a Temperature Range

Christ tells Laodicea that He would rather it was cold or hot than lukewarm. Cold, hot and lukewarm are not precise, single degrees of temperature. Each reflects a temperature range. For example, ice cold is colder than plain cold but warmer than absolute zero, the coldest temperature in the universe. Hot ranges from about 90 degrees (hot to a human being) all the way to the temperature at the center of the sun (27,000,000 degrees Fahrenheit). Yet, astronomers say that the sun is a “cold star.” So even this level of heat is relative.

Here is the point. The brethren of the lukewarm era reflect a range of temperatures. Depending on the group, they could be a little hotter or a little colder. Have you recognized this? This is what leads many to think they are better, or “Philadelphian,” while others are not. Having a little more truth does not make one Philadelphian. Being a little warmer than others does not make one HOT! However, those who are warmer are more likely to remain faithful through martyrdom in the Tribulation. Consider! Mr. Armstrong taught hundreds of doctrines—not dozens, as some think! Some groups are about half correct. Others believe two-thirds truth. Others have 80 percent. One or two might have 90 percent, but I have never seen one. Some claim to be 100 percent—but are not close!

Be careful you are not unconsciously settling for merely being within the higher end of lukewarm. Only one Church has all the truth and is practicing real brotherly love, including to the other groups.

Back to the Beginning

Laodicean ministers can and do, sometimes subconsciously, employ the same psychological tricks the apostates used. (I discuss these at length in Section I of There Came a Falling Away.) Many lukewarm ministers adopted some of these gimmicks and ploys, just as they adopted some of the false doctrines taught in the WCG. Whether or not this was intentional is not relevant. Some of these same tactics are being employed in the same way, and, as a result, people in the splinters continue accepting some of the same wrong doctrines the WCG promoted.

The “seducers” of II Timothy 3:13 are both “deceiving, and being deceived.” Remember, only God knows which ministers are lukewarm and which are completely false—unconverted. Of course, apostate ministers are simply not converted. Whether they once were, or never were, is irrelevant. They are not now. So do not judge lukewarm ministers as completely false when they may, in fact, be “weak brothers” standing at a pulpit. While you must not attend with them, extend brotherly love to them, even though they may be deceiving friends and brethren. Besides, some of these men may, in time, anoint their eyes and wake up. If you are awakening, and it is not too late for you, then it is not too late for some of them. Time will tell who heeds Christ’s instruction.

There is no question that many unsound, deceitful—and, in some cases, unconverted—ministers left the apostasy and joined a splinter. Satan has always been able to use false ministers in every era to persecute, divide, confuse, discourage, teach heresy and accuse faithful ministers. God has always permitted this—and warned of it!

This is the nature of the ongoing test, and has always been part of God’s Plan (I Cor. 11:19)!

Should You “Mark” Some Ministers?

Romans 16:17-18 warns to avoid those who “cause divisions and offenses contrary to the doctrine which you have learned.” I hope it is also clear that applying this passage makes no distinction whether ministers (or brethren) are false or lukewarm! If they teach false doctrine, you must “mark” (Greek: “take note of”) and avoid them. Some may be enemies of God, and others may be weak Laodicean brothers. God always knows which are which, and we sometimes do not.

Romans 16:17 makes no distinction between these two categories. Nothing in this passage distinguishes one from the other. I am not suggesting that you attempt to publicly mark all of the men teaching various wrong nuances, subtleties and details of doctrine. This is wrong. Why it is absolutely unscriptural is carefully explained in Should Accusers Be Answered? – Do You Believe Obvious Lies? You should, however, mark such men in your mind and avoid them. Why? “For…by good words and fair speeches [they] deceive the hearts of the simple” (vs. 18).

Do not be seduced by people telling you that you “do not have love,” or that you are “judging” ministers or brethren, if you acknowledge their errors. Do not fall into this dangerous tolerance trap!

“For They Know His Voice”

John 10 describes the relationship between sheep and shepherds. This chapter is about wolves, strangers, thieves and robbers threatening Christ’s sheep. He explains that His sheep know His voice and follow Him when “He calls His own sheep by name, and leads them out” (vs. 3-5). When they are in danger, Christ calls them “by name” and leads them “out” (away) to safety! This is specific—individual—personal. But the sheep must be willing to follow Him.

This is the John 10 message!

Christ promises that He will knock on the door of every Laodicean (Rev. 3:20) and show them how to “be zealous…and repent” (vs. 19). Like John 10:3, this is a promise that He cannot break. The greatest Shepherd will call His sheep to where He has placed His name. For 2,000 years, He has always done this. Certainly, in the worst time of threat to His flock in Church history, Christ would not abandon it or fail to call it to protection. Remember, Jesus promised He would “never leave or forsake” His Church—His people.

In John 10, the Greek word for “voice” is phone (fo-NAY’). Telephone derives from it. Literally, Christ’s voice is His phone. Like most today, Christ has a phone and actively uses it. But, just as some do not answer their phone or a knock at their door, most will not answer Christ when He calls them from danger. As He keeps His promise, are you answering His call? Christ makes it clear where His government, true Work, full truth and unified Body are found, and each sheep must decide what to do when presented with this knowledge. You are being presented with it now.

Built on a Rock

Christ closed the Sermon on the Mount by contrasting those who build their houses on rock with those who build on sand (Matt. 7:24-29). In fair weather, both houses look and function the same. His parable compares those who hear and do His Word with those who merely hear them. To act on Christ’s Words—what constitutes the Rock—is equivalent to building your house on Him—on what He says!

The reason every home’s foundation must be completely solid is because fair weather never lasts forever. Rain, floods and wind eventually beat on every house. Sand always washes away, and eventually takes, all houses built on it. What weather event in nature brings enough rain and wind to “beat” on a house long enough that it creates a flood? Only a hurricane (sometimes called a typhoon) can do all of these things—and bring catastrophic devastation to the homes and buildings in its path. Recall Katrina.

Christ explains that all Christians periodically lie in the path of spiritual “hurricanes.” The apostasy-hurricane that God’s people all lived through was probably the worst of all time—truly a “category 5.” Most have already been swept away and, it could be said, without having escaped their house before drowning. Like some flood victims, they have disappeared, never to be found.

Doing exactly what Christ taught through His apostle and Elijah is your “rock.” If you truly believe this, as you did when Mr. Armstrong was alive, then you must be found doing all of the words that comprise the “Rock.”

Some people build like those who constructed the Leaning Tower of Pisa, which was constructed on a foundation of half rock and half hardpan clay. Engineers have struggled to save it, after long, slow, continuous further leaning. While it has taken many centuries to reach this point, it will topple if it is not shored up!

This article is not written to those who have built completely on sand. They cannot hear its message. It is for those who partly follow the words of Christ, and partly bought into error. This describes those of the seventh era. They have some or even much truth, but have not coveted all that Christ taught. If there is any sand under your house, then dig it out and replace it with rock. On God’s authority, I tell you there is another even greater hurricane that still lies ahead! If you doubt this, review prophecy and what is in store for all whose spiritual condition reflects the Leaning Tower of Pisa.

What Will You Do?

This article can help you face the big decision looming before you. Life involves choices!

Will you close your eyes or open them wide?

Will you do nothing or vigorously fight for every one of God’s restored doctrines?

Will you sit still—enduring compromise and missing God’s blessings—or take action?

Be under no illusions. Prophecy reveals that the odds are stacked heavily against you. The path you may now be considering is not easy. However, for those who choose the easy path now, the Great Tribulation will be infinitely harder later.

You alone know whether you love all God’s truth.

You alone know whether you still care about His true Work.

You alone know whether you will yield to His government.

You alone know whether you will walk with others of like mind.

You alone know whether you will settle for less, or are prepared to pay the price of the path you choose!

Does God forbid Christians to dine in restaurants on the Sabbath? Is this a worldly tradition carried over from Sunday worshippers? Is it “conducting business”? Does it cause others to profane the Sabbath by “laboring on our behalf”? Must Christians abstain from “indulging” in pleasure on God’s Sabbath? What does God’s Word teach? Here are the scriptural facts—the truth made plain!

Continue to: Article Five – DINING OUT ON THE SABBATH—WHAT DOES THE BIBLE TEACH?

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