Choosing the right messenger, continued
Our next question would naturally be,
Who then were these seven men especially chosen by the Lord to deliver his message to each stage of the church throughout its history?
Who do the professing church say they were?
From my own searches I have noted, that is with a few minor exceptions, that they are rather reluctant to say who they believe they were and tend to beat around the bush a lot, never making any direct statements. This is generally evidence that one has little or no idea for sure.
The surest way to determine if we have the right angel or messenger is how well their teachings match up with the corresponding message, seal and trumpet. The specific time in which the individual delivers his message is also of importance and can help to determine if we have the right messenger.
Take for instance the seventh messenger, now many in the professing church would suggest that this messenger should be recognized as one of the more popular and influential teachers of the twentieth century, possibly someone like Stewart, Graham, Swindoll, Buttrick, Osteen or etc.
Unfortunately, these preachers, however admirable they may appear to some fail in three points as qualified candidates to be chosen as the Lord’s messenger to the seventh stage of the church.
First and foremost, the teachings of these particular candidates fail to coincide with the corresponding message, seal and trumpet of the seventh period.
Secondly none of these candidates are found preaching at the period of time in which the scriptures indicate that this particular messenger would be about his work in the Lord’s service
And lastly, as evidenced in his selection of the previous six messengers, conforms with the general tender of his choice for one of his messengers.
In regards to point one, we will be covering that when we examine the seventh message, seal and trumpet.
As for point two, the scriptures tell us that this particular servant would be chosen at our Lord’s return.
“Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his master made ruler over his household, to give them food in due season? Blessed is THAT SERVANT whom his master, when he comes, will find so doing.” (Matt 24:45, 46)
“When he comes”:
This verse teaches that only AFTER the Lord’s return, and after this faithful servant’s continuance in giving the meat for sometime was he promoted to be “that servant”, the seventh or Laodicean Messenger ruler (instructor, teacher) over the Master’s household (his faithful people) to give to them food (scriptural nourishment, understanding) in “due season”, the seventh and final stage of the church’s history.
None of the before mentioned preachers even lived at the time of our Lord’s initial Parousia (1874 A.D.) so none of these could have been found providing meat to the household at the time of our Lord’s arrival. The fact is none of these even believe or teach the Lord’s invisible presence, they all preach that it is still some visible future event, this despite the scriptural testimony otherwise.
As for the final point none of these before mentioned individual meet the qualifications, how so you might ask?
Well if we look back at the history of the first six messengers, we note that for the most part they were all despised and rejected by the professing church (orthodoxy) in their day, and as such were deemed heretics and or false teachers, now should we expect anything less of the seventh messenger? Did not our Lord say:
“A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his master. It is enough for a disciple that he be like his teacher, and a servant like his master. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebub (the Prince of Demons), how much more will they call those of his household!” (Matt 10:24, 25)
Our Lord as well as his message although generally accepted by the common people was for the most part despised and rejected by the professing church, the Scribes and Pharisees, the Doctors of the Law at that time, and so it has been with regards to all of the Lord’s chosen messengers throughout the history of the church, each has faced the wrath of the professing church, and they and their teachings cast out as false and misleading. Nevertheless, they all held true to the Lord’s admonition to speak the words of truth to them regardless of whether they heard or refused to hear, thus fulfilling their vow and duty as the Lord’s chosen messengers. They were likewise assured with the Lord’s words:
“Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.” (Matt 5:11,12)
Now have any of the before mentioned candidates, Stewart, Graham, Swindoll, Buttrick, Osteen or etc., been persecuted for their teachings, NOT by the world, but by the professing church?
No, to the contrary they have all been graciously accepted by orthodoxy, because they have all for the most part complied with orthodoxy teachings.
Always keep in mind what the Lord said when he stated, (paraphrased),
‘My ways are not your ways, neither are my thoughts your thoughts, you may imagine that I should choose one of the highly esteemed and popular individuals in the church to be one of my servants, but not so, rather it has pleased me to choose the foolish things of this world; that is foolish to you; to choose the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty, those individuals highly esteemed and honored by you.
No, rather I have chosen the base things, insignificant ones, those not so highly esteemed by either you or the (professing) church, those individuals which you have despised, ridiculed, and cast out from among you as false teachers, and yet they have been true to my word.
I have chosen these who are not, that is not highly esteemed by you to bring to nothing the things, those individuals highly esteemed by men, the great Doctors of Law and of Divinity, the popular ministers and teachers of your day.' (1 Cor 1:27,28)
For more on this see the following:
How to Study the Book of Revelation “Qualifications for being one of the seven angels” Part 36
The Study of Revelation, Part 88 Chapter 2
Zechariah’s Vision, the “Vision of the Lampstand and Olive Trees”
We begin with Revelation Chapter 3 Verse 14 in our next post.
