CG7 Missed Revelation 12:14

Rebuilt Gymnasium in Sardis.

This is one of the most impressive buildings in the area of any of the seven churches of Revelation 2 & 3. However, it has been recently and massively rebuilt as its original condition was in ruin. And while it and its size are impressive, it no longer functions as it once did.

COGwriter

CG7-Denver continues to seem to wish to minimize parts of prophecy while discussing it to a degree (which reminds me of at least two other COGs). Here is what its former president wrote in the current edition of its Bible Advocate magazine:

Point on Revelation Road

Though full of war, chapter 12 offers longer, broader views than most in the Bible’s final book. by Calvin Burrell

Chapter 12 mirrors the agonies and ecstasies found throughout the book. It speaks constantly of war, fighting, conflict, and pain — the great controversy of the ages that always envelops us, choose it or not. With our beam of understanding fixed at both ends of Revelation, we can lift it to the peak at midbook, shedding ever more light along dark stretches of the roadway between…

Now there is war in our hearts (vv. 6, 17).

The same old dragon with his fiery evil tricks (vv. 4, 9, 10, 12, 13) still goes about as a wounded lion, making war on the church and seeking her sheep for supper. Now the church bears the heat and sting of this epic battle, and God-armored Christians are manning all the lines.

This war rages on many fronts: the lust of the eyes and of the flesh; sport and shopping; entertainment and amusement; Hollywood and Wall Street; the stuff of materialism; abuse, addiction, and perversion; false philosophies of men and science; the lies we tell ourselves; and the pride of life. Each hot spot amounts to a skirmish for our heart’s first love and for our time, talent, and treasure.

The conflict over our future is more intense today than ever. A generation ago, we hardly imagined the assaults that would be hurled against the people of Christ in the early years of this millennium. Now if we don’t see the imminent danger to our families, our churches, and our own souls, the enemy has us right where he wants us!

And the dragon was enraged with the woman, and he went to make war with the rest of her offspring, who keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ (v. 17).

Victory ahead

Be not afraid, oh church, for the battle is the Lord’s. He who won the war in heaven, He who won the war on earth, is winning the war in our hearts by His Holy Spirit!

They overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony (v. 11).

The triumph of God and His holy angels in heaven has spilled over into the earth through the victory of His Son. And the war’s final outcome is not in doubt. God shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly (Romans 16:20).

Even so, come Lord Jesus!

While it is perfectly find to end with “come Lord Jesus!” (cf. Revelation 22:20), this CG7-Denver article missed much.

Notice that there is no mention of Revelation 12:14 in an article that is supposed to be on Revelation 12. Also notice that there is no discussion of the two groups in Revelation 12:17.

Let’s look at Revelation 12:14-17 below:

14 But the woman was given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness to her place, where she is nourished for a time and times and half a time, from the presence of the serpent. 15 So the serpent spewed water out of his mouth like a flood after the woman, that he might cause her to be carried away by the flood. 16 But the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed up the flood which the dragon had spewed out of his mouth. 17 And the dragon was enraged with the woman, and he went to make war with the rest of her offspring, who keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ (Rev 12:14-17).

As I have long warned readers, CG7-Denver is no “place of safety” for those once in the old WCG.

It even does not wish to discuss that Revelation shows two groups: the first, the part of the true Church that will flee into the wilderness (after it has been subject to the persecutions in verse 13), and the second, which are those that are considered to be the offspring of the true Church (those who did not flee with the Church to be protected in the place in the wilderness) and, which will be subject to extreme persecution and will not be protected.

This is an important way that the Living Church of God differs from CG7-Denver. Not only will we emphasize prophecy that is relevant today’s Christians, but we will try to warn those who claim to be part of the true Church of God but that not understand prophecy well are not wise.

Recall what Jesus said to the Church of God in Sardis:

3 Therefore if you will not watch, I will come upon you as a thief, and you will not know what hour I will come upon you (Revelation 3:3).

CG7-Denver seems determined to fulfill the above verse. But you do not have to.

Articles of related interest may include:

There is a Place of Safety for the Philadelphians. Why it May Be Petra This article discusses a biblical ‘place of safety’ and includes quotes from the Bible and Herbert W. Armstrong on this subject–thus, there is a biblically supported alternative to the rapture theory.
Is There A Secret Rapture for the Church? When and Where is the Church Protected? What does the Bible really teach? Who really is left behind?
5. The Sardis Church Era was predominant circa 1600 A.D. to circa 1933 A.D. Discusses early history of the Seventh Day Baptists, Seventh-day Adventists, and COG-7th Day.
6. The Philadelphia Church Era was predominant circa 1933 A.D. to 1986 A.D. The old Radio Church of God and old Worldwide Church of God, now basically the Living Church of God.
7. The Laodicean Church Era was predominant circa 1986 A.D. to present. Non-Philadelphians who mainly descended from the old WCG.
There are Many COGs: Why Support the Living Church of God? This is an article for those who wish to more easily sort out the different COGs. It really should be a MUST READ for current and former WCG members or any interested in supporting the faithful church. It also explains a lot of what the COGs are all about.
Church of God, Seventh Day: History and Teachings Nearly all COG’s I am aware of trace their history through this group. Whaid Rose is the president of the largest CG7 group (Denver). Do you know much about them?