NOW IS THE TIME             

Now is the time.  Jesus return for His faithful Church is at hand.  I have tried to explain it in terms easy to understand, how that the Song of Songs dovetails directly into Revelation 3 with respect to the last two of the seven churches.  Remember that all members of all 5 prior churches are dead and they await resurrection.  Both Philadelphia and Laodicea have living members, eligible for the rapture of the living. (I Thess 4:16-18).  The reason that Philadelphia, the 6th church is the church of the first phase of the rapture of the living is because she was faithful to obey the Lord Jesus in His commands.  This is what Jesus said about that, and the way I interpret its meaning:

    1.    “I will make them of the synagogue of Satan who say they are Jews and are not but do lie; behold I will make them to come and to worship before thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee” (Rev 3:9)  This is the apostate church, Laodicea, called by the awful title of the “synagogue of Satan”, that will be left in the world to learn obedience, and who will be humbled by the Lord in the presence of Philadelphia when it, Laodicea is finally raptured.
    2.    “Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep you from from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world to try them that dwell upon the earth” (Rev 3:10 )  This is the pre-wrath rapture of the Philadelphian church that was faithful.  It occurs perhaps 90-120 days ahead of the Laodicean rapture.  At this point please remember that in the Song of Songs, the first phase of the rapture is in the springtime (now) of some year. That year is 2015.  That event is in chapter 2 of the Song of Songs.  The second phase comes when the flora is summertime, that is 90 – 120 days later.  Also in 2015, I believe. That event is in chapter 6 of the Song of Songs.
    3.    “Behold, I come quickly; hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown” (Rev 3:11).  We have no power to tell people that Jesus is coming, because they simply will not listen.  So, because He knew this, Jesus laid no criticism at the door of the Philadelphian church, but He did emphasis that we should let no one take our crown (of watching for Him; of those who love His appearing).

The Song of Songs also ties into this mix the parable of the ten virgins (Matt 25: 1-13).  The virgins consisted of the living churches.  The first five are dead and in their graves.  Thus the Philadelphian and Laodicean churches are the virgins.  All of the living church heard the cry that the Bridegroom cometh.  All had lamps, but only 5 of the 10 had oil.  The lamp is salvation; the oil is the Holy Spirit.  All had accepted Jesus and He honors His word to save all who call upon Him for salvation, but He also demands our living for Him.

Five were apostate.  In describing the Laodicean church, Jesus said in Rev 3:16ff “So, then, because thou art lukewarm and neither cold nor hot, I will spew (vomit) thee out of my mouth.  Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing”.  This describes the apostate church of our day.  These have fallen away from the clear teachings of Scripture which requires that we live for Jesus.  Think of the megachurches whose aim is mostly to gain members, in order to become larger and larger.  And in so doing, they preach, so as not to offend, but rather to tickle the ears to gain wealth and power in the “church world”.  

Jesus continued “And knowest not that thou art wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked”.  (Rev 3:17).  What a mess!  Spiritually dry, without the oil of the Holy Spirit to light the lamp when Jesus comes for them.  He said to them “I rebuke and chasten” because He loved them..they were after all, saved.  That rebuke and chastening finds its substance in their being left behind when Philadelphia is taken, to learn obedience and the meaning of Jesus commands. And the teaching comes through great tribulation.  Afterward they will be brought to heaven.  Many will suffer and die, and it is so sad.  But after all, Jesus stood outside their door and knocked and knocked, but alas, there was allowed no entry for Him.

In the Song of Songs chapter 7 is seen the marriage of Christ to His Shulamite bride.  She is the entire seven churches now, complete and ready.  And she is whole, with church seven joining in for the wedding.  But, it appears that Laodicea missed the wedding supper, which was given in heaven before the wedding takes place.  

I wish I could scream out the warning to the world, but I cannot.  I can only encourage those of you who read this with the joyful thought that we are going home and I think we are going right now!!

I wish to thank John Tng for his insightful articles about the man of sin as well as other topics and for maintaining this web site.  His reward will be great.

May God bless all of the posters on Five Doves for their faithfulness in watching.  

Maranatha

Gerry Almond
sgalmond@yahoo.com