THE TALE OF TWO CITY CHURCHES

It is the best of times, and the worst of times!  Forgetting the downward spiral of spirituality, sanity, economics, politics, morals, racial hatred, etc., born again believers are witnessing the days (maybe hours or even seconds) before Christ's coming to remove His true Church - those saved by trusting in Jesus as both Lord and Savior (Jn. 14:1-3; 1 Cor. 15:51-54; 1 Th. 4:13-18; etc.)!  Because we are living in the Church Age, an age known for God's mercy and grace, the Church will be removed before Daniel's Seventieth Week, a.k.a. Time of Jacob's Trouble (Dan. 9:24-27; Jer. 30:7; Mt. 24:1-28; 1 Th. 1:10; 5:9; Rev. 6:16-17; etc.). 

The worst of times is seen in Christ's description of the days leading up to "Noah's Flood," being just like those of our world's headlines today (Mt. 24:37-38; Heb. 11:7; 1 Pet. 3:20; etc.).  Moses wrote: 

"And GOD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.  And it repented the LORD that He had made man on the earth, and it grieved Him at His heart.  And the LORD said, I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth; both man, and beast, and the creeping thing, and the fowls of the air; for it repenteth Me that I have made them" (Gen. 6:5-7).

In Revelation 3:7-22, the Apostle John describes the end-time church being of two types of churches, or having two types of church members; those who are faithful in following Christ in the face of persecution ("the church in Philadelphia" - first century Asia Minor), and the church "playing church" even to the point of excluding Christ Himself ("the church of Laodiceans - also first century Asia Minor - Laodicea means "the people rule" instead of Christ ruling as with the church in Philadelphia.  "Laodicea" is what has been described as "church-anity," while "Philadelphia" is the true, biblical Christianity.  John wrote in Revelation Chapter Three:

[7-10] "And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write....I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept My Word, and hast not denied My name....Because thou hast kept the Word of My patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth."

[14-20] "And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write....Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear My voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with Me."

Today is the day salvation is being offered to you!

Born again believers in Christ are not appointed to experience God's wrath!

"Christians in name only" will experience His wrath as other unbelievers!