"Get out of her my people!" (Rev.18:4) - Worldwide letter

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As an anointed person, it is through God’s word that Holy Spirit inspires/directly teaches us, but only if we as part of "the body of Christ" remain attached to him, Jesus, the "vine" (John 1:1; 1 John 2:27; John 15:1-7; 1 Cor.12:12-31; Col.1:15-20; 2 Pet.1:19-21).  All of us, whether anointed or not, are admonished to "test all things" - there is no exception or person excused from having their teachings scrutinized, even if such teachers implore us not to, or advise against gathering together with others to discuss scripture (1 Thess.5:19-21; 1 John 4:1; Matt.18:20).  Remember, when the “Bereans” received Paul's teachings, they didn't just take Paul's word for it, but they searched the scriptures every day to test for themselves whether what Paul said was true (Gal.1:12; Acts 17:11).  The apostle Paul was not fearful of the Bereans careful search of his teachings, so then, how much more so today, during these last days, should anointed persons not be fearful of others testing their teachings, for if such teachings are truly from Jesus, what is taught will stand before all meticulous scrutiny.  To become spiritually drowsy and not scrutinize what we are fed as spiritual food, is dangerous, because Jesus warned us that false prophets will arise, distort truth, and mislead many, but will be difficult to identify because of their smooth-sounding words and being well-spoken of by many, so why would we ignore Jesus warning? (1 John 4:1; 2 Cor.13:5; John 18:38; 14:5,6,23; 1 Cor.3:16,17; 2 Pet.2:1; 1 Thess.5:20-22; Matt.7:15; Luke 6:26; Matt.24:25,11; Mark 13:22; 2 Cor.6:16; Acts 17:24; Jer.14:14; Psalm 55:21; 1 Rom.16:18; Matt.7:21-23; Rev.16:13).  We are given scriptural admonition to test all things, including prophecies, for indeed, right now and in front of you there are apostate anointed leaders, false prophets, that have arisen and are misleading many (1 Thess.5:19-21).   

For example, have you carefully examined the scriptures the word says about Armageddon?  Scripture is clear that God is love, and Jesus made in the Father’s image and having made the Father known, are not destroyers, murderers, annihilators, but rather it is Satan, “the devil,” the “great dragon” who is the destroying angel, the thief, murderer and liar from the beginning and whose children do not practice righteousness but lie and deceive just like their father (1 John 4:8; Col.1:15; John 1:18; 17:3; Rom.5:8; John 3:35; 1:12; 14:6; 15:9-10; 17:22-23,26; Acts 2:39; Rom.8:16-17; 1 John 3:1-9; 1 John 3:4-8,10; Num.23:19; Heb.6:18; John 8:44; Rev.21:8; 1 Chron.21:11-12; Exod.12:23; Gen.3:1,4; 2 Cor.11:3; Matt.8:11,12; 2 Pet.2:15; Matt.12:34; Acts 13:10; Matt.24:48-51; Rev.12:9; 3:9).  Examine the scriptures referenced at the end of this paragraph. Read them and you will see that God’s word is like “fire,” and the “rod,” “sword,” and “arrows” are metaphoric, symbols describing a spiritual battle led by the authority of Jesus and his chosen faithful anointed who, girded with spiritual armor, engage in a spiritual war – notice in Revelation, Jesus is described as having a sword protruding from his mouth, this signifying the spoken word of God – yes, Armageddon is a war in which the truthful testimony of God led by Jesus along with his chosen faithful anointed, engage in a spiritual battle conquering the false testimony of unfaithful rebellious anointed who prefer the lie and whose father is Satan (John 1:1; Jer.23:29; 2 Cor.10:4,5; Eph.6:13-17; Rev.1:16; 2:16; 16:16; 19:11-16; Micah 6:9; Psalm 2:9; Isa.11:4; Prov.14:3; Jer.18:6; Rom.9:20,21; Rev.2:27; Isa.11:4; Eph.6:17; Heb.4:12; Isa.49:2; Jer.5:14; Isa.66:16; Rev.11:3-6; 16:13-16; Psalm 127:4,5; 57:4; Prov.25:18; 26:18,19; Jer.50:14; Job 6:4; 2 Thess.5:20-22; Psalm 127:4,5; 57:4; Prov.25:18; 26:17-19; Jer.50:14; Job 6:4; 2 Thess.5:20-22).

 

We are now in the valley of decision, all are now being judged by God’s son and word, Jesus - we will either take our stand for and place faith in Jesus’ truthful words testified by the children of God, or uphold a false testimony and perish by choosing the lies of the devil and his children, children who were subjects of the kingdom but rebelled, who exchanged the truth for a lie and are false witnesses breathing out lies (John 1:1; 8:12; 3:19; Rom.1:25; Isa.65:11-12; 66:15-16; Joel 3:2,13-15; Ezek.32:7; Matt.24:29; Isa.13:9-13; Joel 1:5; Rev.13:1; Isa.57:20; Rev.13:4-5; Dan.7:25; Rev.13:6-8; 16:13-14; Rev.1:5-6; Rev.16:15-16; 2 Cor.10:4-5; 1 John 3:1-3,9-10; 5:3-5,9-12; 1 John 2:18-19,22-29; Heb.2:14; 1 Cor.15:57; Prov.12:17; 14:5; John 8:44; 1 John 3:4-8; John 17:12; 1 John 4:1; Acts 13:6,9-10; Matt.8:11-12; 13:34-43; 3:12; 7:15-20; Psalm 1:1-6; Job 19:29; 15:20-22,30-34; John 12:31; Matt.25:46; Exod.23:1; Prov.19:5,9; 25:18; 6:16-19; Isa.30:15,30-33; Rev.14:9-11; 19:20). Yes, right in front of your eyes are rebellious anointed leaders who have “turned their backs” to God, have “fallen away,” do not walk in “Spirit” but have left the “straight path” to wickedly “follow the way of Balaam” and walk in the name of an idol religious organization, an abomination prophetically foretold and symbolized in Revelation as a “wild beast” (2 Thess.2:3; 2 Pet.2:15; 2 Cor.6:16; Prov.3:5; 2 Pet.2:20-22; John 14:6; John 14:24; 1 Cor.3:11-13; 1 Cor.10:18,6-8,14,19-22; 1 John 5:21; Acts 17:24-25; John 4:24; Exod.20:23; John 14:6; Rom.8:1,9; John 3:18; Eph.2:19-22; 1 Cor.3:17; Lev.18:30; Exod.20:4-5; Hos.11:7; Jer.2:11,26-27,19; Rev.13:4,14-15; Job 19:29; Rev.19:20; 15:20-22,30-34; Matt.25:46; Jer.16:10-13). Jesus is appointed by God to judge, and he has chosen spirit-anointed persons who have repented from their idolatrous ways, returned to him as their head, and are his witnesses, delivering his message of condemnation and judgment upon rebellious unfaithful anointed who broke their spiritual covenant with God (John 1:1-5; 12:47-49; Acts 10:42; John 5:22,28-30; 2 Cor.5:10; Heb.12:2; Rev.1:8; John 6:44; 15:15; 1 John 2:20; John 14:16,26; Rom.12:4; John 13:18; 2 Cor.1:21; 2 Cor.6:19,20; 1:22; Rom.2:12,16; Rev.1:5-7; 2 Cor.13:1; Heb.10:26-29; Deut.17:6; 19:15; Matt.24:30; Isa.43:10; Rom.13:1-5; Rev.11:3-6; Isa.58:1; John 12:48; Jer.25:4; Hos.6:5; John 3:36; Rev.16:19; Rev.14:9-11; Isa.66:16; Jer.25:33; Matt.7:21-23; Dan.7:9-11; Rev.20:10-15; Matt.25:46). 

 

Listen to the divine pronouncement of judgment.  Just as God called unfaithful Israel a “prostitute,” a “harlot” due to their idolatrous deeds, the unfaithful anointed leaders, “priests,” have ignored divine law and are a harlot by their idolatrous ways (Hos.4:7,10-12; Mic.1:7; Judges 2:17; 8:33; Psalm 106:39; Isa.1:21; 23:17).  They are dull-hearted and without knowledge, false prophets who have deceptively replaced the sanctity of God’s spiritual dwelling (His holy priesthood/all anointed, each being a “living stone” that builds God’s spiritual temple) with a “carved image,” a physical religious organization people willingly donate money to, just as the Israelites donated their gold to building a golden calf they claimed represented God (2 Pet.2:1-3; Jer.10:21,14,8; 1 Cor.10:6-7; 1 Pet.2:9,5; 1 Cor.12:12-14; Gal.3:26-28; Deut.18:9; 1 Cor.3:16-17; Exod.32:2-9; 1 Cor.11:19; Dan.2:43; Jer.2:11-12,14,23; Rev.14:9-11).  These unfaithful anointed leaders have broken their covenant with God by their false testimony and dividing of the spiritual “kingdom” with “iron” (not-anointed men appointed over God’s holy priesthood trampling it), refusing to repent of their abominations and harlotries, and so God has dismissed them from His presence and has rejected and deposed them as kings/priests – they have no inheritance in the Kingdom of Christ and God - Jesus does not abide in them and without him, there is no eternal life (Exod.19:5,6; Rev.1:6; Jer.7:23; John 14:6,23; 15:5,7; Eph.3:17; Acts 17:24,25; John 14:24; 1 John 5:20,12; John 15:10; 2 Cor.6:16; Rev.1:5,6; Isa.30:8; Titus 1:10; Isa.30:9; Titus 1:16; Jer.2:5,8-11; Acts 7:49; Isa.46:5; Hab.2:18-19; Jer.4:1; 7:26; 2:8; 7:9-11; 3:8; 16:12; Hos.4:1,2,12; 1 Cor.6:9,10,15; Jer.2:23,35; Jos.4:6,7,12; Jer.11:10;Rev.17:1,18; Nah.3:1,2-6,19; Ezek.5:11; Dan.5:22-23,5,26; Hab.2:18-19; Jer.4:1; 7:26; 2:8; 7:9-11; 3:8; 16:12; Hos.4:1,2,12; 1 Cor.6:9,10,15; Jer.2:23,35; Hos.4:6,7,12; Jer.11:10; Rev.17:1,18; Nah.3:1,2-6,19; Ezek.5:11; Jer.35:15; Dan.5:22-23,5,26; Jer.2:20; 1 Sam.15:23,26; 3:13-14; Isa.30:8,9; John 4:10; Psalm 36:9; John 8:12; Jer.2:13; Isa.30:12-14; Deut.32:5-6,16-18; Dan.2:40-45; Rev.17:12-18,1-2; 18:3,6-8; 19:2; Jer.16:10-13).  The unfaithful anointed leaders apostatized, detached from Jesus, the “vine,” and worship the “dragon,” choosing Satan as their father and are a root bearing poisonous fruit, divinely “cut off,” “removed,” “uprooted” and “cast out” of God’s House, His spiritual Temple…it is impossible for them to be “revived again into repentance,” there is no more atonement for them (1 Cor.3:17; 2 Thess.2:3,8; Ezek.16:2; 2 Pet.2:15,17,21; Ezek.17:18; Psalm 93:5; Zeph.3:1-4; Rev.17:1,2; Ezek.7:3; John 8:44; 1 John 3:4,8-10; Matt.7:21-23; Isa.22:14; Jer.18:6; 19:11; 1 Sam.15:23; Heb.6:4-6; 10:26,29; 12:15-17; John 15:5,6; Rom.11:21; Prov.2:22; Rom.11:22; Deut.32:32; Isa.18:5; Job 18:16; 2 Cor.9:24-27; Luke 12:42,45,46; Jude 1:11,12; Matt.13:40-42; 24:50-51; Rev.17:1,2,4-6,18; 14:8; 18:2,3,7,24; Jer.50:31,14-15; Amos 8:7,14; Nahum 1:14; Rev.18:8; John 8:12; 3:19; Rev.18:23; Isa.9:14; Rev.19:20; 20:10; Psalm 9:5; Jer.16:10-13; Zech.5:1-4).  On top of all their abominations, the false prophet together with their “image,” not-anointed overseers whom have been given power and “breath” to act on their behalf, accuse genuine faithful anointed of lying when they share Jesus’ truth given them by Holy Spirit exposing the unfaithful anointed leaders’ idolatry and false testimony….this is speaking against the Holy Spirit, an unforgiveable sin (Rev.13:4-6,8,11-18; 19:20; 1 Cor.12:12,18-21; Heb.10:26,29; 1 John 2:27; John 14:17; Mark 3:29,30; Matt.12:31,32; Matt.25:40,46).  

 

Please listen carefully not-spirit anointed overseers, whether you have been deceived into believing that scriptural reference to “elders” applies to not-spirit anointed men, or self-deceived into believing you have kingly power or a “princely” position in the spiritual temple of God, you must understand that Jesus has assigned spiritual duties to those whom he has chosen as priests, spirit-anointed persons.  Not-consecrated, not-Spirit anointed men/“Gentiles” may not replace and perform priestly duties…to do so would be to take away the “constant feature,” the “sacrifices of the lips” the responsibility of spirit-anointed persons, the holy spiritual priesthood, who as “stars” (if) remaining in Jesus’ light shine, proclaim, truthful teachings that leads those who listen, to life (Lev.4:16; Isa.66:21; Exod.29:42-45; Ezek.44:9; Exod.19:5; Mal.2:7; Heb.8:1-2,5; 1 Pet.2:9,5; Eph.2:20-22; Rom.2:28-29; Rev.5:6,9-10; 1 John 2:20-21; 1 Cor.3:16,17; 2:13; Heb.13:14-15; Acts 9:15; Col.3:12; 1 Cor.6:2; Rom.6:13; Prov.10:21; Gen.22:17; John 1:1,4; 3:15-16; 14:6; Matt.5:14-16; Rev.1:20; Deut.1:10; Dan.12:3; Deut.28:58-63; Luke 6:43-45).  To violate divine law and presumptuously take a “seat” in God’s spiritual temple, “the holy place,” is vehement, an act of lawlessness, wickedness, and a “disgusting thing,” yet that is what not-anointed men are doing, swarming into the temple like locusts, charging in as an army riding on horses attacking the temple, as a band of robbers plundering its spiritual treasures - you are the “man of lawlessness” and if you do not heed this divine warning, you will meet the same judgment as the harlot (2 Thess.2:3,8; Ezek.44:9; Jer.51:51; Ezek.7:20-26; Dan.7:23; 8:10-11,13; 9:27; 11:31; Luke 21:20,24;Matt.24:15,16,21,22; Rev.9:3,7-11,17-20; Dan.5:3-4; Lam.1:10; Psalm 79:1; Joel 1:6-7; 2:4,5; 1:4; 2:9; Jer.6:22-23; Matt.21:13; John 8:44; 10:10; Luke 21:20-22; Nahum 3:1-4; Ezek.6:1,9; Psalm 50:18; 2 Chron.26:18; 1 John 3:4-10; Jer.9:25; Dan.2:40-44; Rev.13:2,15-18; 14:9-11; 17:8,11; 19:20).  “Let the reader use discernment,” use spiritual discernment to “catch sight” of the man of lawlessness, and “when YOU catch sight of the disgusting thing that causes desolation, as spoken through Daniel the prophet, standing in a holy place,” you are to flee! Discern, and listen, you must flee! (Matt.24:15-16; Mark 13:14-16; Dan.9:27; 11:31,36-39; 12:11; 11:45; 1 Cor.10:14,18-22). 

 

Jesus communicated with parables and signs to indicate when the kingdom of God was near; when asked “when the kingdom of God would come,” Jesus answered, “The kingdom of God does not come with observation” (Luke 7:20,21).  What did he mean?  Well, “natural men” are unable to spiritually discern the end time signs because they are spiritual conditions not physical observations (e.g., natural disasters) thus, a natural man will be unable to discern that Jesus’ disciples are not persecuted by political governmental agencies, but are persecuted/“beaten” by their own “brothers”….why?  Because they have tested and are correcting through scripture their brothers’ false teachings, which their brothers hate because they love their prominence, just as the Pharisees hated Jesus for threatening their positions in their religious society (Rom.8:14-17; 1 Cor.2:14; Matt.13:10,11; Matt.16:2-4; 23:1-36; Luke 12:54-56; 1 John 5:19; John 18:36; John 15:20; Matt.10:22; Luke 21:17; Eph.6:10-12).  But, those of us who use spiritual discernment are not unaware, all this Jesus foretold to occur, and we as a remnant who “see” have repented of our idolatrous ways, fled the idol organization and returned to our head, Jesus, having faith in the promise that the spiritual temple administration will be completed and God’s kingdom will come (Psalm 51:1; Eph.5:14; Isa.10:20,21; 2 Cor.3:16; Matt.4:16; 2 Cor.4:6; Eph.2:5,8; Rom.3:24; Titus 3:5,6; Isa.60:1; John 3:21; Isa.10:22; Jer.50:28; Luke 4:18; John 4:10; Matt.7:7-11).  The great tribulation is happening now, a time of distress when the abomination of desolation is trampling God’s spiritual holy priesthood (Prov.3:5-6; Amos 9:8; Mal.3:6; John 14:1; Mark 1:15; Mal.3:7; Isa.1:16; Ezek.37:23; John 4:23,24; 14:6; 8:12; Isa.42:16; Isa.9:2; Matt.4:16; Col.1:13; 2 Pet.1:19; Matt.13:11; Isa.27:9; Dan.11:35; 9:25; Matt.24:21; Dan.12:1; Rev.7:14; Zech.4:7; Dan.7:14; 1 Cor.15:24; Dan.7:27; Isa.48:26).  Please friends, trust in God, place faith in Jesus, “test all things,” and when you catch sight of the disgusting thing/abomination of desolation, Jesus warns us to flee!  Do not delay...flee! (Rev.18:4).

 

Jesus’ load is light and his life-giving waters are free - any who desire may join this remnant in worshipping in “Spirit and truth.” No money donations asked for, required, or accepted, and no membership and allegiance to a physical religious idol organization required for salvation (Hos.10:13; Isa.1:16; Zech.1:3; John 4:23,24; 14:6; 3:16; Matt.11:28-30; 1 John 5:3; John 4:14; Isa.55:1; Rev.21:6; Acts 26:18; John 1:5; 2 Cor.4:3).  As 1 Thessalonians 5:19-21 tells us, "Do not quench the Spirit. Do not treat prophecies with contempt. Test all things; hold fast what is good" (1 Thess.5:19-21; John 6:60-65,68,69; John 1:1-5,14).

Rachel Pruden-Roman

Additional faith-strengthening testimonies of scriptural truths can be found posted at the FB page:  JWs, "Come out of her, my people!" | Facebook

Also, please visit another anointed person's blog site that contains extensive writings in testimony of scriptural truth:  WELCOME--MAIN PAGE: YHVH's Genuine Mountain (4womaninthewilderness.blogspot.com)

Apostasy...what does it mean, and who are the apostates? (6/2021 Worldwide letter)

Dear friends,

I know you feel the same as I do about just the mere mention of the word “apostate”…a strong feeling of revulsion wells up.  That is a good thing!  Who wouldn’t fear rebelling against the Most High.  We are incredibly thankful that through preservation of God’s word the Bible, we can clearly identify an apostate.  Since we are unable to meet in person at the moment due to safety precautions, I am writing you, and perhaps in your personal study, you, too, researched this subject of apostasy.  Did you realize that an apostasy was prophetically foretold to occur?  You may have, but it is still shocking to read about it in the scriptures.

The Hebrew and Greek scriptures give us a complete blueprint for identifying apostasy.  In the Greek scriptures, “apostasia,” translated “apostasy” (2 Thess.2:3) means a rebellion, a falling away, a defection from truth – “Jesus said to him [Thomas]: “I am the way and the truth and the life.  No one comes to the Father except through me.”  Apostasy, a defection from truth, is a departing from Jesus, rebelling against his instruction, and not imitating his example (1 Tim.6:3; 1 Tim.1:3; 2 Tim.4:4; 1 Cor.11:3; Luke 21:8; Rom.16:17; Matt.7:15; Heb.3:12; 1 John 2:6; 2 Thess.2:3).  The scriptures recorded the history God’s chosen ancient nation of Israel’s actions, both good and wayward, “examples…written for our admonition” (1 Cor.10:6-11; Heb.3:5; 9:1,6,9; 10:1,11,3,5-8).  In the Hebrew scriptures, we find God’s people, his nation of Israel, repeatedly became rebellious.  A Hebrew word was used for their disobedience: “meshubah,” defined, “apostasy,” “turning back/away,” “backsliding,” “waywardness,” and “unfaithful” (Prov.1:32; Jer.3:6,8,11,12,22; 5:6; 8:5; 14:7; Hos.11:7).  Time and again we read scriptural accounts of Israel’s unfaithfulness/apostasy due to their “abominations,” which described various kinds of wickedness they were warned against and described as “detestable things/images” and “disgusting thing/idols/god/practices” (Deut.12:31; 18:9-12; 20:18; 1 Kings 14:24; 2 Kings 16:3; 21:2; 23:24; 2 Chron.28:3; Jer.4:1; 16:18; 32:34; Ezek.5:11; 7:20; 11:18).  Ancient Israel was God’s “treasured possession,” a “holy people,” and where He dwelled, but their abominable idolatrous practices were considered adultery/prostitution/“acts of harlotry,” and resulted in God describing them as a “prostitute”/“harlot” (Deut.7:6; 26:18; 14:2; Exod.34:14-16; Num.35:34; Jer.2:11,20; 5:7; 13:27; 16:18; Hos.3:1; 4:15; 9:1; Psalm 106:39; Isa.1:21; Ezek.16:15,22,25,34,36).  Did you ever take note of the pattern of ancient Israel’s priesthood?  The priesthood were the only consecrated persons to permitted to carry out “daily sacrifices,” or offerings in God’s tabernacle and Temple…all others/”foreigners uncircumcised”/Gentiles/non-consecrated persons were forbidden from duties in the Temple, at the penalty of death (Jer.33:18; Deut.17:14,15; Lev.3:16; 17:5,6; 2 Chron.23:6,7; 1 Chron.9:33; Exod.29:38-40,42-44; 40:45,46; Num.18:7; 28:6; Lev.6:9-12; Ezek.44:9).  Despite being repeatedly told that that no one “except the priests and Levites” were permitted to serve in the Temple, the Israelites even departed from that divine command and appointed uncircumcised foreigners to “keep charge” of God’s sanctuary (Ezek.44:6-8,10,12,15; 20:30,31; Num.18:7).

We recall that “all the things that were written beforehand were written to instruct us” (Rom.15:4).  What a constellation of apostate acts have been recorded and described in the scriptures!  Both the Hebrew and Greek scriptures come together perfectly to present a complete picture that perfectly guides us on how what apostate acts are, and how to identify apostasy, according to God and Jesus.  Let’s first start with the Hebrew scriptures, which describe God’s chosen people, the nation of Israel, and the divine commands regarding worship they were not to depart from: 

·         God referred to the nation of Israel as “My people,” “a holy nation,” “holy people,” and His “dwelling place” (Deut.7:6; 26:19; 28:9; Exod.19:6; 22:31; 25:8; Lev.21:15; 2 Chron.7:14; 1 Kings 8:16; Isa.51:4; Ezek.21:12; 37:27).

·         God established a covenant with His people whom He chose, and gave them divine commandments and instruction for building the Temple and sanctuary (Deut.14:2; Gen.17:4; Exod.25:8,9; Exod.19:5; 24:8; Deut.4:13; see Exod.24-26).

·         Temple duties were limited to a consecrated priesthood, anointed to carry out the daily sacrifices/offerings/sacred service (Exod.29:1,9,29,44; Lev.6:9-12; Num.18:7; Jer.33:18; 1 Chron.9:33; 23:24; 2 Chron.23:6,7; 26:16-18; 13:10,11; 35:3; Neh.12:44-47; 13:10,11; Ezek.44:6-8).

·         Uncircumcised foreigners/Gentiles were forbidden from sacred service duties in God’s Temple and forbidden to be appointed as king over Israel (Deut.17:14,15; 2 Chron.23:6; Ezek.44:6-9; Lam.1:10; 5:2).

·         God’s holy people were commanded not to imitate the customs of worship of the surrounding nations, and their abominable idolatrous and detestable practices (Deut.12:30; 18:9; 20:18; 2 Kings 9:9, 17:7-15).

·         Warnings against idolatry included setting up physical idols and setting up “idols in their heart” (Deut.4:16,23; Exod.20:1-5; 23:13; 34:17; Lev.19:4; 26:1; Ezek.44:12; 14:1-5).

·         Israel had a choice:  Obey God’s commandments, be blessed and looked upon with favor, or do not obey God’s commandments and lose blessings and favor, and bear the consequences of their sin/unfaithfulness (Deut.7:12; 11:13-17; 28:1,15; Lev.26:3-13,14-39; 1 Chron.9:1; 2 Chron.7:19-22; Hosea 10:15; 11:7; Ezek.15:8; 39:23,26; 44:10-12; Joh.22:20; Dan.9:7). 

·         Israel’s record reveals they often became wayward/apostate/unfaithful, and their rebellious acts likened to adultery, prostitution, and the “sin of divination” (1 Sam.15:23; Lev.17:7; Jer.3:6,8; Zeph.1:3-5; Hosea 6:7; 9:1; Ezra 9:1,2; Josh.7:1; 1 Chron.5:25; 2 Chron.28:22; 29:6; 30:7; Ezek.20:27).

·         Israel’s acts of unfaithfulness included “detestable practices of the nations,” idolatry/trusting in idols, and breaking the divine commands of who may perform sacred service in the Temple (2 Kings 17:7-11,15,41; 9:22; 21:21; Exod.32:4,8; Judges 18:31; 2 Chron.26:16-18; 36:14; Jer.48:7; Isa.44:17; Ezek.23:49; Hosea 4:12; 10:5,13; Psalm 52:7; 135:15-18).

·         Detestable and idolatrous acts were likened to sexual immorality; God described His people’s “acts of harlotry” and adultery as sexual immorality and called them a “prostitute”/”harlot.” (Isa.1:21; Lev.17:7; Jer. 2:17,19-22; 3:6-9; 9:2; Isa.1:21; Ezekiel 16:1,2,14-17,20-26,32,33,35,36; Micah 1:7; Hosea 4:12; 9:1).

·         When Israel was unfaithful, God “kept warning them by means of his messengers, warning them again and again, because he felt compassion for his people and for his dwelling place,” and good news that a repentant remnant of Israel, at times, only a few refugees, would be saved (2 Kings 17:12,13; 2 Chron.36:14,15; Isa.1:9;19,27,28; 10:20-22; 28:5; 41:8,9,27; Jer.23:3; 44:14; Ezra 9:8; Nahum 1:14,15; Micah 2:12; Hos.1:10; Joel 2:32).

The apostles drew attention to the first covenant Temple arrangement as it foreshadowed, illustrated, and served as a pattern for the spiritual Temple arrangement under the new covenant established by Jesus’ sacrificial death (1 Cor.10:6,7,11; Heb.7:19; 8:5; 9:1,8-10; 10:1; Col.2:17; Rom.4:18,22-25).  

·         All anointed “have an anointing from the Holy Spirit” by God, and become part of “Christ’s body.”  Christ’s body is “not of one member but of many” with each part given different gifts according to the Holy Spirit given them from God (Matt.16:18; 2 Cor.1:21; Col.2:9; 1 John 2:20; Heb.12:23; Acts 1:4; Rom.8:15,28; 12:4,5; 1 Cor.2:11-13; 10:17; 12:12-18,27-29; 14:33; John 2:19,21; Mark 14:58; Jude 1:13; Rev.1:5,2).

·         All anointed are “living stones,” a “spiritual house” in which “the whole building,” “God’s household,” is built together into “a holy Temple.” Christ is the “foundation cornerstone,” a “chief cornerstone,” and “Son over God’s house,” in which “there is no salvation in anyone else, for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must get saved” (1 Pet.2:4,5; Heb.3:6; Acts 4:11,12; 1 Tim.3:15; Eph.2:19-22; Matt.21:42; Isa.28:16; 1 Pet 2:4,5,9,10; 1 John 2:27 John 14:26).

·         All anointed are “God’s Temple” and “dwelling place.”  Ancient Israel and their Temple worship served as a “copy and shadow of heavenly things.  When the Holy Spirit came upon Jesus’ disciples, they grasped that the physical city of Jerusalem was no longer God’s Temple for worship, and expressed that as “living stones,” they are God’s Temple and dwelling place and that He dwells in them.  Yes, the early Christians had fellowship and congregated in homes, and the apostle Paul drove the point home to them that God does not dwell in man-made Temples.  Jesus, as high priest, and “mediator of a better covenant,” is now seated at the right hand of the throne of God, and is a minister of God’s sanctuary and true tabernacle erected not by man, but by God (1 Cor.3:16,17; Matt.12:6; Acts 7:48,49; 17:24; Heb.8:1-6; Heb.9:11,24; Heb.10:19-21; John 4:21-24; Isa.66:1; 2 Cor.5:1).

·         All anointed are a “holy priesthood” with Jesus as “high priest.”  Jesus “has become surety of a better covenant,” making obsolete the old covenant with his death.  Jesus has a “permanent priesthood,” those who God considers to be “My people,” just was ancient Israel, but now ordaining a spiritual priesthood for acts of divine service, a sacred service without the limitations of physical burnt offerings, but “spiritual sacrifices” (Heb.3:1; Heb.7:22,24,26-28; Heb.8:1,9,10; Heb.9:1,6-10; Heb.10:5-10; Rom.12:1; 1 Pet.2:5,9).

·         All anointed, Christ’s body, are Jesus’ “congregation.”  Jesus Christ is the “firstborn” and “the Ruler of the kings of the earth” -  Jesus is not the ruler of the world, but he is the “head” and the ruler over his “body,” his “congregation” of all anointed (John 12:31; 14:30; 1 Cor.2:12; 12:12-18,27-29; Rev.1:5,6; 2:11; 5:10; 3:21; 12:9; 20:4,6). 

·         All anointed are taught directly by the Spirit.  Spirit teaches all anointed, and together, as a “holy priesthood,” they must carry out their priestly duties by offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.  These “sacrifices” are not literal burnt offerings as was carried out by ancient Israel’s priesthood who served in God’s Temple.  All anointed, as God’s Temple, are to offer themselves as a “living sacrifice,” and through a perpetual “sacrifice of praise,” which is a bearing of “much fruit,” “the fruit of the lips”; sharing with others what the Spirit has taught them (John 14:26; Heb.13:15,16; Psalm 119:108; Rom.12:1; 1 John 2:20,27; 1 Cor.1:21; 2:10; 12:7,11-13; Matt.7:17; 13:23; Mark 4:20; John 2:27; 14:16; 15:4,5,16,18,26; 12:24; 16:3,7,13; Acts 2:33; Jer.33:18; Rev.22:3-5). 

·         All anointed are ”branches” that must remain attached to the “vine”/Jesus.  All anointed must remain faithful to Christ’s teachings, lest they stray, become unfaithful, and be “cut off” from the vine/Jesus, discarded/”thrown into the fire.” Yes, it is possible for anointed to stop following Jesus, become apostate, and lose their “light.”  Without “light” in darkness and become false teachers, producing “fruit”/teachings that “rot”/expire and are thus, lies (Heb.3:12-15; 4:7,11; 6:4-6,18; John 3:19; 8:12; 15:5-7,16; 2 Cor.2:11; 4:6; 11:13,14; Rom.11:17-22; Acts 26:18,23; Matt.22:14; 7:15-23; 15:8,9; Mark 13:22; 1 John 2:11; John 8:44; Num.23:19).

We now have the keys, the scriptures, to identify an apostate!  Carefully examine the example of ancient Israel, God’s people, and take note of the divine laws regarding the Temple/tabernacle arrangement….THIS is a pattern and foreshadow of God’s spiritual Temple (Eph.2:14-16; 1 Cor.10:6,7,11; Rom.4:23; Num.18:1,5-7; 2 Chron.23:5,6,18,19; Heb.8:5; 10:1; Col.2:17).  According to scripture, here is what we are shown: 

·         Jesus’ faithful death fulfilled the old covenant, making it obsolete, and established a new covenant, one where God’s Temple is made up of spirit-anointed persons that include Gentiles, who are spiritual Jews, a “holy priesthood”/Jesus’ congregation. All anointed are God’s Temple, “living stones” that build His “house” (1 Pet.2:5; 1 Cor.3:10; 12:27,28; Rom.12:4-8; Eph.2:19-22; Rom.2:25-29; Col.2:11; 3:11,12,15; Phil.3:3; 1 Cor.7:19; Gal.5:6). 

·         Jesus foretold that “many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people” (Matt.24:10,11).  Deception is an attempt to lead you in the wrong way, away from true teachings of Jesus Christ. Jesus said, “watch out for false prophets” (Matt.7:15-20), “Watch out that no one deceives you” (Mark 13:5). 

·         Will it be easy to identify a false prophet?  No, it will not. Jesus warns that false prophets will deceive by appearing sheep-like and be successful because they will actually be well-perceived and praised by many people (Luke 6:26; 1 Cor.2:14; 2 Cor.11:13-15; 1 John 4:1; Heb.5:14; Matt.7:15; 24:11,25; 22:14; Rom.12:2; John 7:24; 1 Tim.4:1; 1 Thess.5:21). 

·         Jesus said, “The kingdom of God is not coming with striking observableness” (Luke 17:20).  However, a “natural person” is enticed by the “senses,” and unable to “hear” and “see” because of not using spiritual discernment (1 Cor.2:14; Matt.13:13,14; 16:1-4; 12:39; 23:27,28; Mark 8:11,12; Luke 12:54-56; 2 Pet.2:18; Rom.8:5-8; 11:8; 1 John 4:1; 2 Thess.2:2; Jer.5:21).  Such persons will be easily deceived by false prophets who were foretold by Jesus to perform “great signs and wonders,” observable acts done to elicit a reaction of awe from onlookers, and to deceive, “if possible, even the elect,” spiritual Jews/anointed (Mark 13:22; Matt.24:24,22,31; John 4:48). 

·         Jesus said we would recognize false prophets by their “fruit.”  What fruit?  Jesus’ truthful unchanging teachings; he is the “fruit of the light,” “the light of the world” and reflects God’s light, God’s truth (John 3:19,21; 8:12; 12:46; 14:6; 17:17; Eph.5:9; 1 John 1:5-7; 2:8; 2 Cor.4:6; Luke 11:36; Psalm 27:1). 

·         The teachings, the “fruit,” we ingest from those we trust to be faithful anointed taught by Holy Spirit, does that “fruit” rot away and expire over time?  If so, we are ingesting “fruit” from a false prophet, an anointed that has departed from Jesus’ teachings.  Do not be deceived, God and Jesus will not vacillate or flip-flop in truth, nor provide teachings relayed with the “Spirit of truth” that only later expire, for as we know, “It is impossible for God to lie” or to “change His mind” (Heb.6:18; Titus 1:2; James 1:17; Num.23:19; John 14:17,26; 15:26; 1 John 4:6; Psalm 25:5).  Truth that “rots” is a lie, a hallmark of Satan who “masquerades as an angel of light,” and is the father of the lie (Matt.7:15-23; 12:33;15:8; Luke 6:43,44; 2 Cor.2:11; 11:13,14; John 8:44; Heb.6:18). 

·         Jesus’ apostles too warned of individuals who are among God’s household, His Temple, who would lead in teaching others, yet would become unfaithful/apostate.  “The inspired word clearly says that in later time some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to misleading inspired statements and teachings of demons” (1 Tim.4:1; 2 Tim.4:3,4; Acts 20:29,30; 2 Cor.11:3,13-15; 6:16; Eph.2:21,22; 1 John 4:1; Col.2:8; 1 Tim.4:1).  The apostles did not exclude their own teachings from being thoroughly tested against scripture, and reminded the early Christians to “test all things,” a reminder preserved for us today in which no one is excluded from (1 Thess.5:21; 1 John 4:1).

What Temple of God was the apostle Paul speaking about?  Ancient Israel?  No.  Remember, the scriptures tell us that those anointed by Spirit are “living stones,” they are God’s Temple.  (1 Pet.2:5; 1 Cor.3:16,17).  Is it feasible to think the Father departed, apostatized from His own truthful words, breaking His covenant with His people and directing His son Jesus to select a religious group among all the religions on the globe as a representation of the Most High?  That instead of all anointed being God’s Temple, anointed leaders are to imitate surrounding physical religious organizations common today, perhaps imitating televangelists, or churches, in the sense of man-made buildings/structures.  Did Jesus depart from his own teaching that anointed, who are the parts of his “body” and taught directly by Spirit, are now, not to receive direction from him, their “head,” and that he now, diverts his authority over his own “congregation”/”body” to not-anointed elders/overseers/physical Gentiles to teach and judge them? (Ezek.20:32; 2 Cor.6:16; 1 Cor.6:15,19,20; 12:12,13,27,28; Eph.1:23; 1 John 2:27; John 14:16,26; 15:26; 16:7,13; 1 Thess.1:9; Eph.5:5; Isa.42:8; Lev.19:4; 26:1; 1 John 5:21; Rom.1:21-23; Gal.1:6-9; Deut.12:29-32; Lev.20:22,23; Jer.10:2-4; 1 Cor.2:14; Deut.7:26; Matt.24:15; Mark 13:14). We are warned that an “apostasy comes first” before “God’s day.”  “Let no one lead you astray in any way, because it [God’s day, vs.2] will not come until the apostasy comes first and the man of lawlessness gets revealed, the son of destruction. He stands in opposition and exalts himself above every so-called god or object of worship, so that he sits down in the Temple of God, publicly showing himself to be a god” (2 Thess.2:3,4). 

This very thing was prophesied to occur, is happening now, and has been revealed in Revelation.  What anointed leaders have departed from Christ’s teachings and have become adulterous, a “prostitute,” by their idolatrous acts, lauding and claiming a physical religious organization, an idol, is “God’s earthly organization”?  “Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ? Should I, then, take the members of the Christ away and join them to a prostitute? By no means!” (1 Cor.6:15).  This “wild beast,” Watchtower, is led by a “false prophet” who has “breathed life,” a spirit of divine authority into its “image,” not-anointed elders/overseers (Rev.13:1-18).  The only spirit this “image” has been given is out of the mouth of the “false prophet,” a deceiving spirit that originates from Satan and blasphemes God, “slandering his name and his dwelling place,” His holy people…inciting God’s wrath (Rev.13:4,7-10; Rom.2:5-8; Rev.14:9-11; 1 Pet.2:9; Heb.13:14; Col.3:12; Eph.2:6-10-12,19-22; Phil.3:3; Rom.2:28,29; 1 John 14:6; 2:44; 8:44; Jude 1:4; Deut.7:26; 29:17; Jer.16:18; Isa.62:12; Ezek.5:11; 11:21; 16:36; 20:7,8; Ezra 9:1,2; Rom.2:17-24; Acts 17:24; Acts 7:48-53; Titus 1:2).  Do you dare to confront the leaders of Watchtower or their elder/overseer representatives who speak for them about their false teachings, or openly disagree with them?  If so, will you be left “unharmed” (avoid shunning, disfellowshipping)?  “Who is like the wild beast [Watchtower], and who can do battle with it?” (Rev.13:4). “And it [the false prophet] was permitted to give breath [appearance of divine spirit and authority] to the image of the wild beast [not anointed elders/overseers], so that the image of the wild beast should both speak and cause to be killed (symbolic for disfellowshipping and shunning) all those who refuse to worship the image of the wild beast” (Rev.13:15).

Can you now, using scripture, spiritually discern the apostasy that has occurred and the man of lawlessness/Gentiles/not-anointed that have taken a seat in God’s Temple and are trampling God’s spiritual Temple?  (2 Thess.2:1-4; Exod.20:3; 1 Cor.3:16,17; 6:2; Mark 13:1,2,14; Luke 21:20-24,28; 17:20,21; Matt.24:12,15,16; Rom.12:1; Dan.11:31; Rev.11:1,2; 13:7; 17:15; 21:27; John 18:36; Matt.24:4; Ezek.5:11; Deut.7:26; 2 Kings 17:41).  God’s spiritual Temple and Jesus as the head of this “congregation,” is being surrounded, hemmed in and trampled by not anointed/physical Gentiles (Luke 21:24; Rev.11:2; 12:17; Heb.10:29; Dan.8:13; Acts 3:17-20; Jer.12:10; 17:5; 32:36-44; Isa.1:4-9; Rom.9:31-33; 6:16,20-22).  Do you discern the abomination?  It is time to flee! (Matt.24:15; Mark 13:14; Luke 21:21; Dan9:27).  “But a physical man does not accept the things of the spirit of God, they are foolishness to him; and he cannot get to know them, because they are examined spiritually” (1 Cor.2:14).
 
God is right 100% of the time…all His prophecies come true (Dan.8:13; 1 Thess.5:20,21; 1 Cor.14:32; Deut.18:18,19; Jer.12:10; 17:5; 32:36-44; Heb.10:29; Hos.12:10; Amos 3:7; 2 Chron.20:20; 24:19; Isa.1:4-9; 8:20; 30:10; Matt.5:11,12; Rom.12:6,7; Eph.4:11-13; 1 John 4:1).  God always warns His people when they become wayward, sending messengers to warn them, and with good news...a remnant will repent, and return to their “head,” Jesus, worshiping God in truth and spirit (Rev.22:12-16,18,19; 21:22-27; Eph.4:15; 5:23; Col.2:10; John 4:23,24; 16:13; Rev.3:12; 12:17; 19:20; Acts 3:17-20; Jer.4:1; Isa. 10:20-23; Ezek.11:18; 2 Kings 19:30,31; Rom.6:16; 9:27). Who do you believe and have more faith in…Christ’s teachings, or the Watchtower’s? (John 5:22-24: Luke 10:16; 1 John 2:23; Isa.29:13; Mark 7:6; Matt.15:8; Eph.2:8,9; Titus 1:16). 

“Get out of her, my people, if you do not want to share with her in her sins, and if you do not want to receive part of her plagues” (Rev.18:4). 

Rachel Pruden-Roman, personal email: lifeswaterfree4u@gmail.com

Please contact me, in confidentiality, should you have any questions or desire more scriptural explanation.