The Laodicean church is built on the foundation of who Jesus Christ is.

My wife and I had been shown, by a church member, plain scriptures that proved Jesus Christ was the born Son of God from the beginning, [prior to creation, not from eternity.] Jesus Christ was born: not created.

The implications of this knowledge were not immediately apparent.

After an in-depth study into the Passover and the nature of God; I realised I was learning new knowledge, which had been hidden since the time of the Apostles.

As John 17 v 3 became clear, I realised God was revealing the knowledge of the truth: which is the true gospel of the Kingdom: the words of eternal life. My wife joined in the study, and we have believed, loved and obeyed this new truth as we have learned it. [We have never been perfect, but our attitude is to believe, love, and obey God.]

This plain knowledge has been resisted fiercely by forums, and churches, and individuals.

Toward the end of the year 2000, we had good understanding of what we now knew, was the knowledge of the truth. The exodus from the Passover to the entering of the Promised Land was a direct type of our calling from carnality to eternal life.

The Philadelphian era; with Mr. Armstrong as the physical leader, was not given this knowledge. They had to hold fast to what they had, and were to be kept from end time events.

We sent this new knowledge to the United Church of God on the first of January 2001. It was our desire that the United Church would believe the Bible and adjust their doctrines accordingly, and teach this plain new knowledge. They rejected it out of hand, and we were asked not to attend church in April 2001.

The Laodicean era of God’s church began on the first of January 2001: with the understanding of the revealed knowledge that Jesus Christ is the Son of God from the beginning, [before creation: not from eternity.] The knowledge of this era has started as a mustard seed and will eventually fill the whole universe. Jesus Christ, at the time of writing, is building His church with end time knowledge. Jesus Christ will decide when to add members to His church.

The Laodicean church will go through the time of Jacob’s trouble, the day of the Lord, and will see the return of God the Father and Jesus Christ. This church will receive understanding of the prophecies of Daniel, it will see the fierce vengeance of God the Father, and will be given understanding of the covenants of God.

End time men of God who are to appear; include the watchman of Ezekiel, Elijah [Elijah is a resurrected John the Baptist.] Two Witnesses and a resurrected King David. Also a resurrected Prince David. [There are two David’s]

The Laodicean era has far and away the best reward, but it will be far and away the hardest era to be in.

Some members will be deceived by the beast into instigating the abomination of desolation, mentioned in Ezekiel Ch. 8. Self-righteousness or lukewarmness will be a characteristic of this church. As in all the church eras, there will be over-comers.

Each era of God’s church has had different knowledge and different rewards. The Philadelphian era had to hold fast to what they learned; and their reward is to be pillars in God’s Kingdom. The genuine Philadelphians were to be kept from end time events.

With each era: old teaching from the previous era is loosed in heaven, and new knowledge is revealed and bound in heaven. Scriptures that were right for one era have a different understanding for the next era. We believed that ‘beginning’ meant eternity when applied to the nature of Christ. That teaching was correct for that time, but it is not correct now.

When Mr. Armstrong was starting the Philadelphian era of God’s church, he learned knowledge regarding the Passover. He gave this knowledge to the existing era of God’s church……the Sardis era. This knowledge was totally rejected by the Sardis era, even though it was correct for the Philadelphian era, it was not accepted by the church of the Sardis era. It is the same today, the new knowledge given to the Laodicean era has been totally rejected by the leaders of the Philadelphian era.

Since Jesus Christ has started building His church in 2001: [We use this date, because that is when we gave the knowledge to the United church, and were then asked not to attend.] However, we began understanding the knowledge of the truth in 1999. The world has changed dramatically. The English-speaking Nations are under constant threat of terrorist attack, and are gradually being alienated from the rest of the world. Arab hatred is increasing, as God the Father stirs up the Nations to punish Ephraim and Manasseh for their sins. Homosexuality, blasphemy, and other sins are rife in the English-speaking countries.

The over-comers in the Laodicean church of God will sit on thrones with Christ.

The following scriptures show the importance of knowing God the Father, and His Son Jesus Christ. We will not be in God’s Kingdom without having the knowledge of God and Christ. [This does not include previous eras of the church. They had to hold fast to the knowledge of the church era that they were in.]

Joh 17:3  And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.

Hab 2:14  For the earth will be filled With the knowledge of the glory of the LORD, As the waters cover the sea.

Notice carefully that we have a dual responsibility; we have to know God, and obey God.

2Th 1:7  and to give you who are troubled rest with us when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with His mighty angels,

2Th 1:8  in flaming fire taking vengeance on those who do not know God, and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.

2Th 1:9  These shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power,

The gates of hell [the bottomless pit] will be a bitter enemy of the Laodicean church, but will not prevail. The rock is the knowledge that Jesus Christ is the Son of God from the beginning.

Mat 16:13  When Jesus came into the region of Caesarea Philippi, He asked His disciples, saying, “Who do men say that I, the Son of Man, am?”

Mat 16:14  So they said, “Some say John the Baptist, some Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”

Mat 16:15  He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?”

Mat 16:16  Simon Peter answered and said, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”

Mat 16:17  Jesus answered and said to him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven.

Mat 16:18  And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.

Isa 5:14  Therefore Sheol has enlarged itself And opened its mouth beyond measure; Their glory and their multitude and their pomp, And he who is jubilant, shall descend into it.

The Laodicean era of God’s church will be the hardest era to be in, but will have the best reward.

Jesus Christ will build His church on the knowledge that He is the Son of God, from the beginning.

Let’s look at the following scriptures.

Jesus asked Peter, who do you think I am?

Mat 16:15  He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?”

Now look closely at the answer from Peter, you are the Christ the Son of the living God. Now he was not talking about His birth by Mary, because everyone knew that He was born of Mary.

Mat 16:16  Simon Peter answered and said, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”

The following verse shows that Peter was not referring to the birth by Mary……it was common knowledge that He was Mary’s Son, but the Father revealed the knowledge of who Christ was……this verse is referring to the fact that Jesus is the born Son of God before creation.

Mat 16:17  Jesus answered and said to him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven.

Mat 16:18  And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.

The Laodicean era will understand prophecies. The prophecies of Daniel will be understood.

Dan 12:9  And he said, “Go your way, Daniel, for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end.

The knowledge of the covenant will be understood.

Psa 25:14  The secret of the LORD is with those who fear Him, And He will show them His covenant.

The great anger of God the Father will be understood.

Jer 23:20  The anger of the LORD will not turn back Until He has executed and performed the thoughts of His heart. In the latter days you will understand it perfectly.

All things will be restored.

Act 3:21  whom heaven must receive until the times of restoration of all things, which God has spoken by the mouth of all His holy prophets since the world began.

The Laodicean church is described very clearly in the Bible. It has a lot of spiritually lukewarm people in it, but it also has over-comers with a tremendous reward.

Christ is called the beginning of the creation of God: Other scriptures show that God the Father began His creation with the spiritual birth of a spiritual Son. Christ was born of God. He was not created.

Rev 3:14  “And to the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write, ‘These things says the Amen, the Faithful and True Witness, the Beginning of the creation of God:

Luke-warmness, or self-righteousness is a predominate aspect of the Laodicean church. This attitude needs to be repented of.

Rev 3:15  “I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot.

Rev 3:16  So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth.

Rev 3:17  Because you say, ‘I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing’ and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked

Rev 3:18  I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see.

Rev 3:19  As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent.

We must hear Christ’s voice, [understand the words of eternal life] before the door is opened to us.

Rev 3:20  Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me.

The Laodicean church has the best reward for over-comers.

Rev 3:21  To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.

Rev 3:22  “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”

All things will be restored by Elijah [A resurrected John the Baptist] prior to the day of the Lord.

Mat 17:11  Jesus answered and said to them, “Indeed, Elijah is coming first and will restore all things.

Mal 4:5  Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet Before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD.

The “knowledge of the truth” will be available. Notice carefully: the knowledge of the truth is required to be saved; it is only available from God. God’s Spirit of life is given by God when we believe, love and obey the knowledge of the truth.

1Ti 2:4  who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.

When we have the knowledge of the truth: we have eternal life inherent in the form of God’s Holy Spirit of life. We will be the recipients of the new covenant. If we sin wilfully [turn our back on God] after knowing this truth, we will not be in God’s kingdom.

Heb 10:26  For if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins,

Heb 10:27  but a certain fearful expectation of judgment, and fiery indignation which will devour the adversaries.

Heb 10:28  Anyone who has rejected Moses’ law dies without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses.

Heb 10:29  Of how much worse punishment, do you suppose, will he be thought worthy who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, counted the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified a common thing, and insulted the Spirit of grace?

Heb 10:16  “THIS IS THE COVENANT THAT I WILL MAKE WITH THEM AFTER THOSE DAYS, SAYS THE LORD: I WILL PUT MY LAWS INTO THEIR HEARTS, AND IN THEIR MINDS I WILL WRITE THEM,”

2 Timothy Chapter 3 describes the people who will not learn the knowledge of the truth. Note that this chapter refers to the last days. This is the time of the Laodicean church.

2Ti 3:1  But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come:

2Ti 3:2  For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,

2Ti 3:3  unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good,

2Ti 3:4  traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God,

These are church members who appear to be righteous, but in their lives they deny God.

2Ti 3:5  having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away!

They pervert sex.

2Ti 3:6  For of this sort are those who creep into households and make captives of gullible women loaded down with sins, led away by various lusts,

It is impossible to come to the knowledge of the truth unless God gives it.

2Ti 3:7  always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.

The knowledge of the truth is the knowledge of God the Father, and Jesus Christ.

Joh 17:3  And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.

The next verse is a great mystery, which is now explained. The keys are now available. The teachings from previous eras are loosed in heaven and earth; and the knowledge of the truth is being bound in heaven.

Mat 16:19  And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.”

The knowledge, that Jesus is the anointed one of God, was kept secret.

Mat 16:20  Then He commanded His disciples that they should tell no one that He was Jesus the Christ.

Each church era had different knowledge for different rewards, and the knowledge was superseded as the next era took over. Mr. Armstrong gave new knowledge to the Sardis era; which completely rejected it. The knowledge of the truth has been completely rejected by the remnant of the Philadelphian era. Notice that the true Philadelphians were to hold fast to what they learned, and were to be kept from end time trouble.

Rev 3:10  Because you have kept My command to persevere, I also will keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth.

Rev 3:11  Behold, I am coming quickly! Hold fast what you have, that no one may take your crown.

The above verses prove conclusively that the Laodicean church will preside over the time of the end.

The keys of the kingdom are explained in our articles ‘the keys of the kingdom’ and ‘the knowledge of the truth.’ They are, in no particular order: All the keys must be kept to attain salvation.

[1] Belief.

[2] Fear [being in awe and reverence] of God.

[3] Obedience to God.

[4] Commandment keeping.

[5] Love toward God.

[6] Love toward man.

[7] Doing good.

[8] Keeping Passover correctly.

[9] Knowing God the Father and God the Son.

[10] Love of the truth.

[11] Faith.

[12] Endure to the end.

There will be particularly evil beings in the Laodicean church. These people are of the devil seed, and do not have salvation offered to them.

Jud 1:4  For certain men have crept in unnoticed, who long ago were marked out for this condemnation, ungodly men, who turn the grace of our God into lewdness and deny the only Lord God and our Lord Jesus Christ.

Jude is about the end time church.

Jud 1:18  how they told you that there would be mockers in the last time who would walk according to their own ungodly lusts.

The book of Jude needs to be carefully read. It is about children of the devil who are in the Laodicean church. They are homosexual and perverted in all their ways.

Jud 1:8  Likewise also these dreamers defile the flesh, reject authority, and speak evil of dignitaries.

Salvation is not available to these people.

Jud 1:12  These are spots in your love feasts, while they feast with you without fear, serving only themselves. They are clouds without water, carried about by the winds; late autumn trees without fruit, twice dead, pulled up by the roots;

Jud 1:13  raging waves of the sea, foaming up their own shame; wandering stars for whom is reserved the blackness of darkness forever.

These people are the church members who have set up the abomination of desolation in the temple of God.

Eze 8:6  Furthermore He said to me, “Son of man, do you see what they are doing, the great abominations that the house of Israel commits here, to make Me go far away from My sanctuary? Now turn again, you will see greater abominations.”

When God the Father returns to earth; He avenges the desolation of His temple.

Eze 9:4  and the LORD said to him, “Go through the midst of the city, through the midst of Jerusalem, and put a mark on the foreheads of the men who sigh and cry over all the abominations that are done within it.”

Eze 9:5  To the others He said in my hearing, “Go after him through the city and kill; do not let your eye spare, nor have any pity.

Eze 9:6  Utterly slay old and young men, maidens and little children and women; but do not come near anyone on whom is the mark; and begin at My sanctuary.” So they began with the elders who were before the temple.

The church members in the book of Jude are completely perverted and reprobate. They are destroyed by God the Father.

The devils in the church are completely immoral and haters of God, but they actually deceive some seemingly genuine members.

2Pe 2:1  But there were also false prophets among the people, even as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Lord who bought them, and bring on themselves swift destruction.

2Pe 2:2  And many will follow their destructive ways, because of whom the way of truth will be blasphemed.

2Pe 2:18  For when they speak great swelling words of emptiness, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through lewdness, the ones who have actually escaped from those who live in error.

There will be some who remain righteous unto death. These people will have a great reward. It is because of the loyal few that God will not destroy mankind.

Mat 24:22  And unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved; but for the elect’s sake those days will be shortened.

The Laodicean era of God’s church will require its members to believe God and love the truth, these attributes will be made possible through prayer study and faith and the giving of the Holy Spirit of power, by God the Father, the holy one of Israel, the only true God.