For many decades we all heard the "Philadelphian" labeled attached to Herbert Armstrong's version of Christianity. He claimed the doors were opened to the "Philadelphian" era to take the "gospel" to all the wold. God was working specifically with the "Philadelphian" era. It was alive, vibrant. and powerful. Prophetic messages abounded with abandon.
God loved the "Philadelphian" era so much that he was going to protect it in Petra for 3 1/2 years while the lukewarm "Laodiceans" languished during wars, famines and persecution. It was to be their wake-up call to really choose the right path. Though they were still loved by God they were having their lives strengthened by fire and tribulation.
Then, horror of horror's, Herbert Armstrong died. The prophet and end time apostle that was going to usher in the Kingdom of God on earth died and left the church in the hands of others. The church imploded swiftly with hundreds and hundreds of splinter groups breaking off to start their own versions of the "Philadelphian" era, or at least they thought they were. Armstrong always said that the era to follow the "Philadelphian" era was the the "Laodicean" era. None of these groups could ever accept the fact that they were/are lukewarm and "Laodicean." Its always the OTHER group that is the "Laodicean," never ones own group.
Armstrong taught otherwise, even though Pack, Flurry, Meredith, Hulme and others all claim they are NOT the "Laodicean"era.
A reader here sent the following to me.
Christ warns that the Laodicean Era of
Revelation 3:14 is asleep and about to be "spewed out" of His mouth.
Given that the present Laodicean Era followed the Philadelphian Era with
copied doctrine and ministry, what's that tell you about the teaching of the
present ministry? What's that tell you about the ministry during Mr.
Armstrongs time?
Not
one of Mr. Armstrongs prophecy's ever came to pass and since he proclaimed
them, he obviously considered himself to be a prophet (amongst every other
conceivable title he could think of).
This
applies also to those who profess to be prophets today.
Given
the warnings by Christ regarding false prophets and teachers to come at this
time (time of the end), apply this doctrine to the present day
ministry/organizations: Revelation 19:10 .... for the testimony of Jesus
is the spirit of prophecy. It follows that without the spirit of prophecy,
which is blatantly obvious, they "DO NOT have the testimony of Jesus".
That
should shock and rock their laity to the very core.
Don't count on it. Everyone of these groups feel they do have the testimony of Jesus and are God's only mouthpiece. All truth resides with in their isolated groups.