Two last day churches – Philadelphia and Laodicea
Part 6 of the Two Witnesses Series
Two last day churches. Two people groups. Those in the sanctuary and those who are outside in the outer court. Both groups are Christian. Some have the anointing (the presence of the Lord) and are worshipers. This is Philadelphia. The church in Philadelphia is kept from the hour of testing that is coming upon the whole earth. They are kept from the tribulation. These are the overcomers.
Rev 3:10 Because you have kept the word of My perseverance, I also will keep you from the hour of testing, that hour which is about to come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth.
The others do not have the anointing (no presence of the Lord) and they are not worshiping. This is the apostate church of the last days or Laodicea. The Lord is outside the church of Laodicea. They are trodden under foot for three and a half years.
Rev 3:17 Because you say, “I am rich, and have become wealthy, and have need of nothing,” and you do not know that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked, 18 I advise you to buy from Me gold refined by fire so that you may become rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself, and that the shame of your nakedness will not be revealed; and eye salve to anoint your eyes so that you may see. 19 Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline; therefore be zealous and repent.
In today’s language, a better description for the apostate church would be the progressive church or the woke church. They think they are rich and have need of nothing but in fact they are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked. The Lord advises them to buy from Him gold refined by fire and white garments and eye salve. If they do not repent, in the tribulation, they will be stripped of everything they are bragging about. They will be trodden under foot for three and a half years. However, the Lord will not abandon Laodicea. He will reprove and discipline them just as a loving father disciplines his children.