In the Book of Revelation we find Jesus Christ speaking to the Apostle John whom He had instructed to record what he was about to see and hear. Jesus was preparing to dictate a series of letters to seven churches that were located along a Roman mail route in the area today known as the nation of Turkey. What Jesus would tell John about each church would describe each congregation whose character, faith, obedience, disobedience, etc. would characterize the religious status of professing Christianity as long as that church remained in existence. As each church (era) faded from view, the next church (era) would come on the scene and would represent the character, etc. of professing Christianity until it faded from view as the next era took its place. Each church (era) represented what Christianity represented as long as it stayed on the scene. In this way what Jesus said about each church represented an era of church history. In all there would be seven church e0ras. Beginning with the church located in the city of Ephesus, each succeeding church, representing an era, would rise to prominence, exist for a number of years, then fade away as another church (era) replaced it in church history. The final era (Laodicean) would represent the end-time church that is in existence today. The present era will end at the time of Christ’s Second Advent. Read The Kingdom of God. Key word–Kingdom.

In each church era there would always be a remnant (tiny group) who would remain true to the will (Word/Law) of God as the majority turned away from God’s teachings as ministered by His apostles. This pattern would remain true until Christ’s return. The church in each era would contain both true and counterfeit Christians. Read Matthew 25 for a parable which describes this situation. Also read Who Are God’s People? and “My People Called by My Name.” Key words–People and Called respectively. Those series explain the who, what, when and how of the two spiritually opposite groups that have comprised God’s church since the early stages of her existence.

In each era there would be a few parishioners who would continue to live in obedience to God as one era faded away and another rose to prominence. These people would then become part of the following era. They would refuse to change as those of the new era departed from the ways of the Lord. For example, there are some true believers today who have experienced the transition from the Philadelphia (6th) era church (Rev. 3:7-13) which came on the scene during the 1950’s and remained until the late 1980’s. The 7th (Laodicean) era came on the scene at that time and departed from the Words of the Lord like no era before it.

Jesus had only good things to say about the Philadelphia era church. Sadly, the following (Laodicean) era rapidly departed from the Lord as the church fell into apostasy as prophesied by the Apostle Paul as recorded in Second Thessalonians 2:3. Only the Lord’s tiny (Philadelphia) remnant continued on His Biblical path. As Jesus prophesied in Matthew 7:13,14; 22:14, only a “few” have remained true to His teachings as the church morphed into the current Laodicean era described in Revelation 3:14-18. As is always the case, those who cling to the Biblical God and His teachings are a tiny minority who are rejected by those who embrace the “new and improved” way of serving God that each era has presented during its time. Today the Laodicean Church numbers in the billions globally while only a few thousand Philadelphians remain true to God’s Word/Law/Truth. In spite of their stark differences the Lord identifies those who claim allegiance with Him as “My People Called by My Name.” As this series will reveal, there is a new day coming during which God’s true saints will separate themselves from all others and become pariah’s to what is called “the church.” The time is very near when God will separate His true “spiritual Jews” (Philadelphians–spiritual Jews) from those who “… say that they are Jews, but who lie” (Laodiceans–spiritual Gentiles).

We will now turn to Revelation 2:8 and 3:7 to address the question concerning the identity of those whom Jesus calls true “Jews” and those who are “Jews” in name only. In 2:8 Jesus is addressing the church located in the city of Smyrna, whom He praises for remaining true to Him through all of their trials and tribulations. He notes that they have in their midst those who commit blasphemy by identifying as Jews when they are in fact of the synagogue of Satan. Notice that those who are blaspheming and are serving Satan ARE IN GOD’S CHURCH.

Now turn to Revelation 3:9 where we find Jesus identifying the same category of religious people in the church at Philadelphia who say they are Jews but do lie. They are also of the synagogue of Satan. As was the case in Smyrna, these blasphemers are members of God’s church. That all people in all seven cities (church eras) are in God’s church is proven in Revelation 1:17-20 where Jesus identifies Himself as the Alpha (beginning) and the Omega (ending) of the church. He identifies the seven golden candlesticks as “… THE SEVEN CHURCHES” (vs 20) to whom John would send Christ’s messages. Note also that Jesus was standing in the midst of the golden candlesticks, meaning that He was the Head of each of the churches during their respective time in church history.

Notice that Jesus does not tell His obedient people in each era to leave those congregations. This holds true until the final era in which the church goes into full apostasy (falling away from Him) and separates herself from Him in every way possible. With the exception of a “few” true believers, the church of the Laodicean era has become a “SYNAGOGUE OF SATAN.” As noted earlier in this segment, there will soon come a time when God’s true saints will be forced to leave the larger body as those in that group will turn on them with a vengeance.

In the following posting we will turn to Romans chapter two where we will learn who is a spiritual Jew and who is a counterfeit Jew. We will also determine why being a spiritual Jew is what God commands of His saints. We will examine a subject that the Institutional Church refuses to consider, one which will soon cause true Christians many problems. We are about to enter an era of extreme persecution toward God’s true saints–His spiritual Jews. The vast majority within professing Christendom will join with the rest of the world in condemning those who remain true to the Lord. Though very few in number, we will be victorious and will overcome the forces of Satan as we defend and prove the Truth of God’s Word, will and way. Find out how I know this in the series whose key word is Gun. L.J.