David,

There certainly were first century applications to actual existing churches.
Even so, I think each church also represents prominent periods through the Church age. For example Philadelphia was the missionary period. We are now in Laodicea. The last four church types overlap because members identified with each of them still exist on earth. The deliverance from the time of the great tribulation is only promised to members having the Holy Spirit who by nature hold on to the Word of God and His coming. Thus, the promise to Philadelphia.

Doing the Math on The Kingdom Parable of The Sower Matthew 13

Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23.
1 The same day went Jesus out of the house, and sat by the sea side.
2 And great multitudes were gathered together unto him, so that he went into a ship, and sat; and the whole multitude stood on the shore.
3 And he spake many things unto them in parables, saying, Behold, a sower went forth to sow;
4 And when he sowed, some seeds fell by the way side, and the fowls came and devoured them up:
5 Some fell upon stony places, where they had not much earth: and forthwith they sprung up, because they had no deepness of earth:
6 And when the sun was up, they were scorched; and because they had no root, they withered away.
7 And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprung up, and choked them:
8 But other fell into good ground, and brought forth fruit, some an hundredfold, some sixtyfold, some thirtyfold.
9 Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.
18 Hear ye therefore the parable of the sower.
19 When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it not, then cometh the wicked one, and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart. This is he which received seed by the way side.
20 But he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that heareth the word, and anon with joy receiveth it;
21 Yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended.
22 He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful.
23 But he that received seed into the good ground is he that heareth the word, and understandeth it; which also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some an hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.

Here is a comprehensive explanation of The Parable of the Sower presented in “The Coming Kingdom” by Dr. Andrew Woods Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23, (pgs 110-113).
Parable of the Sower In the famous Parable of the Sower (Matt. 13:1–9, 18–23), Christ explained that the gospel will be faithfully preached throughout the current age with varying results depending upon the receptivity of the human heart.. ….. if the Parable of the Sower communicates anything concerning the gospel in the present age, it conveys its lack of progress. Only on one type of soil is the gospel fruitful. Even there, it is fruitful in decreasing proportions. The lack of progress in the receptivity of the gospel as communicated in the Parable of the Sower conveys the idea that the present age should not be confused with the kingdom for the simple reason that the kingdom will represent a time in history when “the earth will be full of the knowledge of the LORD as the waters cover the sea” (Isa. 11:9). Pink observes: One great design of this opening parable is to teach us the measure of success which the Gospel would receive among the Gentiles. In other words, we are shown what the results of this broadcast sowing of the Seed would be. First of all, most of the ground upon which it fell would prove unfavorable: the hard, shallow, and thorny soils were uncongenial to productiveness. Second, external opposition would be encountered: the birds of the air would come and catch it away. Third, the sun would scorch, and that which was lacking in moisture at its roots would wither away. Only a fractional part of the Seed sown would yield any increase, and thus all expectations for the ultimate universal triumph of the Gospel were removed. The plain teaching of our present parable should at once dissipate the optimistic but vain dreams of post-millenarians. It answers clearly and conclusively the following questions: What is to be the result of the broadcast sowing of the seed? Will all the world receive it and every part of the field produce fruit? Will the seed spring up and bear a universal harvest, so that not a single grain of it is lost? Our Savior explicitly tells us that the greater part of the seed produces no fruit, so that no world-wide conquests by the Gospel, in the Christianizing of the race, are to be looked for. Nor was there any hint that, as the age progressed, there would be any change, and that later sowers would meet with greater success, so that the wayside, stony, and thorny ground hearers would cease to exist or would rarely be found. Instead of that, the Lord Himself has plainly warned us that instead of the fruitage from the Gospel showing an increase, there would be a marked decrease; for when speaking of the fruit borne He said, “which also bears fruit, and brings forth, some an hundred fold, some sixty, some thirty” (v. 23).9 End Quote.
After studying the above. my heart was stirred by the Holy Spirit to actually put numbers to this parable, to actually quantify the words in a more concrete way.

Please observe:

Most 75% never even get the word of truth. The remaining 25% who do receive the word even diminishes with time in these last days down to precisely -> 30% of that original 25%.
It looks like this:

100 people standing in a room reserved for saved people. 75 of them are lost, they want to go elsewhere and walk out of the room, leaving only 25 standing in the room. One day later 10 more change their mind and exit. Now only 15 people remain. One day later another 10 exit with 5 (barely 5 since 3O% of 15 souls is 4.5… (4+5 = 9 – Judgement).
So in summary, Out of 100 people only 5 (less than 5 actually, but 4.5 ) in these last days will actually receive the word of truth and have it thrive in their lives.
Less than 5% … We have to keep this in mind when dealing with this crazy world.
Pray that you may be found worthy to be among this small group of the faithful whom our Lord finds when our day of Redemption comes.

Amen! Maranatha!

Posted by Traveler Andrew Sheets

By the way, I really like your rules for the blog. Well done! Wish I had thought of it. I hope people continue to abide by them, and use your site to build one another up.

I’m totally impressed that you were able to get the pic from my site! Cool! That’s a pic of a young man that I’ve discipled and sent on two missionary journeys, one to Africa, and one to Israel.

Indeed, my argument on staying would be one from silence. God never states an exception to taking his entire bride.

Based on the sacrifice that Jesus made for me, the wicked sinner, I’m akin to the leper who returned. Ten were ecstatic that they were healed. Only one returned.

Perhaps my request of God is poor theology? Perhaps all God wanted was for my lost heart to mature and make the request, even though the answer would be no thank you?

Steve,

Your not getting it. The Church is the Body of Christ born of the Holy Spirit, The bride of Christ is in betrothal to the one that laid down His life for Her and purchased her with His blood. When the Bride of Christ is taken to heaven to attend the marriage ceremony all members that make up the Bride are taken. All things are possible for God but it is impossible for God to deny what He already revealed as truth.

I have asked to stay.

Perhaps God will say “thanks but no, I have this covered”. But He might say, “yes, I’ve been waiting for you to ask. Please prepare for your mission”.

Even so, come Lord Jesus.

Steve,

If your talking about those in the Body of Christ choosing to stay after He removes His body, it is an impossibility.

The scriptures gives enough points of view so that we can figure out the stuff that we need to know for faith and practice and that includes Bible prophecy. For example, there are four gospels covering the same 3.5 years that Jesus was giving His testimony on earth. Also, besides Revelation there are all the prophets of the Old Testament who also cover the end of the age prophecies.

I see nothing to share about in private in regard to your comments.

As for the logic and litteral, I’m with you 100%. The question is linear or “rewind”. If you view the movie Vantage Point, it’s script is “linear” from page 1 to say page 200, as is the book of Revelation as Jesus’ angel revealed it to John. The movie however had 6 “rewinds” from differing points of view. Once the 6 vantage points are all told, the clear picture of the story emerges.

That concept of simultaneously told stories is the last hermanutic we have been missing.

If this is getting too far off topic, I would enjoy sharing with you in private. Please advise?

Again, I wish you God’s speed.

Steve,

God has always fulfilled prophecy through a logical literal fulfillment. God does not change. People that want to suggest differently are just deluding themselves.

As for your question about God staying and ministering to the left behind, God is everywhere, He is not going anywhere. His Spirit will be dealing with those left behind after the Rapture. In fact, the reason for the tribulation is to get all on earth to make a choice about who they will serve before Jesus kingdom comes on earth.