The Only Guaranteed Way to Escape End-Time Catastrophes

CHAPTER 14

PHILADELPHIANS DO NOT LET ANY MAN TAKE THEIR CROWN

Because of Expectation of a Trouble-Free Blessed Life

The sixth category of members who became lukewarm and could lose their crown were those who when they had the truth revealed to them that there is an Almighty God who exists, makes promises to human beings such as Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Judah and David and keeps them, wanted to be on God’s side. As God had blessed the patriarchs, they expected to be miraculously blessed the same way with material wealth and a happy, abundant, full life. But instead of blessings, when they experienced a life full of trials and troubles with barely being able to make ends meet, they were disillusioned with God’s promises in the Bible. Many such members began to fall by the way side even when Mr. Armstrong was alive. Then after Mr. Armstrong’s death on seeing the Church going astray from the way he taught, they were completely disillusioned and simply withdrew from the Church.

Many of us in reading the Bible mainly focus on and are inspired by God’s miraculous intervention in the lives of the patriarchs. We tend to expect the same kind of miracles and blessings in our lives as well. But we fail to realize that each of the patriarchs also suffered much tribulation, persecution and hardship in their lives that built character in them, after which God was pleased to bless them. And they were mighty men who were blessed for their diligence in work. Blessings were not just showered at them by just sitting at home and praying to God.

The truth is that God can make whatever promises He wants to whomever He wills. He has not made the same promises to every human being who joins His Church in this human life. Therefore we have no right to expect the same type of miracles and blessings from God that the patriarchs experienced in their lives. So the expectation of a blessed, happy, abundant full life for every member in God’s Church was not based on any promises from God but on our own thinking.

Though God has not promised each of us riches like the patriarchs in our physical lives, He has promised to take care of our needs. Jesus said in Matthew 6:25-34 (NKJV): “25 "Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? 26 Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? 27 Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature? 28 So why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; 29 and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 30 Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? 31 Therefore do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' 32 For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. 33 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.”

Peter the apostle wrote in 1 Peter 5:6-7(NKJV): “6 Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, 7 casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.”

In addition to promising to take care of our needs, God did specifically promise us tests, trials and tribulations in our physical lives. Jesus said in John 16:33: “These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation…”

Paul stated in Acts 14:22: “…we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God.” Paul also stated in 1 Thessalonians 3:4: “For verily, when we were with you, we told you before that we should suffer tribulation; even as it came to pass…” Our goal is the kingdom of God. These scriptures tell us that we must enter the kingdom of God through much tribulation.

We are also promised in 1 Timothy 3:12 that “all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.” Peter told us in 1 Peter 2:21 that we are to follow in Jesus Christ’s steps. He wrote: “21 For even hereunto were you called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow his steps.” These scriptures show that our calling is to suffer as Jesus Christ suffered.

Paul told Timothy in 2 Timothy 2:3: “You therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.” We members in God’s Church are Christ’s soldiers and the lot of soldiers is to endure hardship in battle. Romans 5:3-4 tells us why we must endure tribulation: “3…we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; 4 and perseverance, character; and character, hope.”

The purpose of tests, trials and tribulation is to build character in us, to qualify to obtain eternal life as God’s literal sons and enable us to become worthy rulers with Jesus Christ. Romans 8:17-18 also reveals that destiny: “17…if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together. 18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.” And what is that glory? Verse 19 tells us: “19 For the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God.” We shall be glorified as literal sons of God.

Revelation 21:7 tells us: “He that overcomes shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.” “Inherit all things”, literally means the universe.

Thus we see, the Bible clearly reveals that though God can materially bless members in His Church, He has not made any promises of a materially blessed, abundant life like the blessings received by the patriarchs Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and Joseph. On the contrary, the specific promises made to all members are a life of much tribulation, tests, trials and persecutions, and at the end of this life, if we endure to the end in faith, the entire universe as our inheritance. So the ultimate promises to us are far greater than the physical blessings of the patriarchs.

Members of God’s Church who drifted away from the Church or left it because they were not within a few years materially and physically blessed after they began following God’s way of life, need to seriously repent of their attitude. By leaving God’s Church they have not endured to the end in the faith. If they do not repent now and renew their faith, they will lose their one and only chance for eternal life, because Jesus said in Matthew 24:13: “13…he who endures to the end shall be saved.”

Some may have expected to be materially blessed with little effort on their part, while others may have been very diligent in their work and expected to be rewarded with riches. But they may have neglected their spiritual growth in pursuit of wealth. Jesus describes such members of His Church who have fallen into this trap in the parable of the sower in Matthew 13:22: “22 He also that received seed among the thorns is he that hears the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becomes unfruitful.” A person who becomes unfruitful because of the pursuit of riches will lose his or her chance for eternal life. Members of God’s Church need to guard against becoming unfruitful in spiritual development.

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