The apostate apostle claims to have acolytes asking to be baptized into his new splinter cult. He is telling them he does not have that ability at the moment and to wait. The day is apparently coming.
A point on baptism: I personally have people asking for baptism that I cannot accommodate because of a lack of means at this time. I am confidant that, that will be remedied in due course. What if a diligent lover of God and his commandments dies before he can be baptised? God will judge him on his commandment keeping, in the same way that he will judge Abel and Noah who were neither circumcised nor baptized.Circumcision and baptism are only symbols fo our commitment and there will by very many baptised people who will NOT be in God’s kingdom through their failure to overcome and keep the commandments of God.There will be many who repent and even die for the faith in the imminent tribulation who will not have the opportunity to be baptised. Baptism IS commanded and we are to do so at the earliest opportunity, yet it is far more important to love the Father enough to keep ALL of his commandments with passionate zeal; not just be baptised.Just being baptised and attending some corporate church does NOT mean you have a pass into eternal life!