1917_The_Finished_Mystery_Text

I know thy works.— The Laodicean Church hasmuch zeal, but not according to knowledge. Sheclaims that her principal object is to convertsinners, to bring forth spiritual children. TheProphet puts these words into the mouth ofnominal Christians when they awake to aknowledge of the situation: ‘We have been withchild, we have been in pain, we have as it werebrought forth wind; we have not wrought anydeliverance in the earth; neither have theinhabitants of the earth fallen (becomeconverted).' (Isa. 26:16-18.)" (Z.'16-347.)The literal city of Laodicea was distinguished forthe raven blackness of the fleeces (black sheep)there to be had.That thou are neither cold.— Making nopretense whatever to be exponents of God'sTruth.— Luke 7:36-50.FM66Nor hot.— Full of warm, loving devotion toChrist.— 2 Tim. 3:5; Ezek. 5:6.I would thou wert cold or hot.— "Ephraim is acake not turned."— Hos. 7:8. 3:16So then.— "The Spring of 1878, correspondingto the date at which our Lord assumed the officeof King, rode on the ass, cleansed the Temple ofits moneychangers, and wept over and gave up todesolation that nominal church or kingdom,marks the date from which the nominal churchsystems are not the mouth-pieces of God, nor inany degree recognized by Him."— B235.Because thou art THUS lukewarm and ARTneither [cold nor hot] HOT NOR COLD—"Retaining the forms of worship and faith in aCreator and in a future life, but viewing thesechiefly through their own or other men'sphilosophies and theories, and ignoring the Bibleas an infallible teacher of the Divine purposes.These, while retaining the Bible, disbelieve itsnarratives, especially that of Eden and the fall.Retaining the name of Jesus, and calling Him theChrist and the Savior, they regard Him merely asan excellent though not infallible Exemplar, and