They Publicly Declare They Know God But Disown Him By Their Works!

Christendom's Ungodly Acts

1. WAR

“For though we walk in the flesh we do not wage warfare [Lit., “we are not doing military service”]  according to what we are in the flesh.  For the weapons of our warfare are not fleshly, but powerful by God for overturning strongly entrenched things.”­­­  2 Cor 10:3; Eph 6:12; Matt 26:52; Rom 12:17, 19; 1 Cor 9:21; Eph 6:11-17

It is said that some of the bloodiest wars in history were fought by Christians.  Two reasons why Christians cannot participate in carnal wars:

1)To participate would involve becoming a part of the world. A world Christians are warned to be no part of. 

2)Christians are under the Law of the Christ. Under Christ law Christians cannot fight carnal wars as Jews did in Bible Times. (2 Cor 10:3) Two important facts escape the notice of apostate Christians [Christians who have abandon true worship] as regards the wars fought by Jews.

--When the ancient Jews fought, they were defending God’s kingdom which was represented on earth through the kingdom of Judah.  When Christians fight they are defending kingdoms of the world- kingdoms under the power and influence of the devil

--It is wickedness in the eyes of God to take innocent lives- persons not deserving of death. Even in times of war the ancient Jews who received divine assistance in their wars were warned against taking innocent lives. Over the centuries, apostate Christians in disobedience to Jesus command to be “no part of the world” have gotten involved in world wars and various other wars that have taken the lives of countless thousands of innocent people. “Woe to the one who kills an innocent man.” 

Christians who wage war on their enemies and kill people who are not the intended target (collateral damage) are viewed as murderers,  gun toting Bible carrying Christians, and warmongers by the people of the world. Certainly these so-called Christians cannot truly believe they are unblemished and without spot from the world?

2. THEY LACK TRUE LOVE  

“By this all will know that you are my disciples if you have love among yourselves.” ( Jo 13:35) ‘If anyone makes the statement: “I love God,” and yet is hating his brother, he is a liar…’ 1 Jo 4:20

An important mark of  true Christians is that of love.  Brotherly love [agape] is what holds true Christians of the same faith together in a perfect bond of unity worldwide.4 The same cannot be said of apostate Christians. Members of so-called Christian churches have been in the forefront of attempted genocide and savage atrocities e.g., crusades, inquisitions, holocaust, ethnic cleansing etc., since the birth of Satan’s religious organization Christendom.5 Satan uses many weapons in his arsenal to get Christians to hate one another.  Apostate Christians have fallen into his traps.  He has used race and cultural differences to prevent them from worshiping as one.  He has used religious differences to get them to hate one another to the point of war (e.g., the Thirty Years war, holy war). Nationalism is another of Satan’s weapons. It was nationalism that caused them to slaughter their fellow believers of another country during WWI and II.  Christians against Christians and belonging to the same faiths.  The love they preach for one another in church is temporarily pushed aside when their respective nations go to war.   Their first priority is to be “good citizens” of the kingdoms of the world first, putting their nation’s interest above Christian brotherhood!  They obey men as ruler rather than God.  If Christians, as “good citizens” join the army in their respective countries which are all under the control of Satan and ruled by worldly rulers (e.g., worldly Christians, pagans, atheist), Christians kill Christians when these kingdoms go to war. 

3.  THEY HATE GOD

“For although they knew God, they did not glorify him as God ….although asserting they were wise they became foolish ….therefore, God in keeping with the desires of their hearts, gave them up to uncleanness….even those who exchange the truth of God for the lie and venerated and rendered sacred service to the creation instead of the One who created…” ___Rom 1:21-25

A) THEY REPLACED GOD WITH JESUS

When clergymen make statements such as " Jesus alone is everything to us, and he alone can satisfy all our desires" Is there any wonder why their members think only of Jesus when God is mentioned?  Instead of glorifying God through Jesus they instead glorify Jesus. They exchange the truth of God for the lie and venerate and render sacred service to the creation [e.g., the firstborn of all creation Jesus Christ, as well as other creations of God] instead of the One who created, Jehovah God.   Youngs Literal Translations read [Ps 100:3]: "Know that Jehovah He [is] God, He made us…”  (See also Pr 30:4)    Some apostates choose to get rid of God because they see him as an angry vengeful God however they keep Jesus [God’s Son] because according to them, Jesus is big on love.  “This is the anti-Christ the one who denies the Father….”   Any who follow these foolish ones will know only of God’s Son they will not know God.  They are not the only ones however who deny the Father.  Although Jesus referred to God as “My Father” and though the Jews said Jesus was calling God “his Father”, many Christians deny Jesus has a Father, claiming Jesus is the Father [the Heavenly One].  (Mt 23:9) They’ll boast the sweetest name they know is the name Jesus because they do not know Jehovah and are not glorifying him as God.  “That men may know that thou whose name alone is JEHOVAH, art the most high over all the earth.” (KJV Ps 83;18) The Father alone is called Jehovah therefore, the Father alone is Most High, the Father alone is God; yet it is Jesus his Son who is glorified by many as God.

A religion that stress Jehovah is doing all things for God's glory whereas those that stress Jesus are doing all things for the glory of God's Son.  “Therefore, whether you are eating or drinking or doing anything else, do all things for God’s glory.” ___1 Cor 10:31; 1 Pet 4:11

C) THEY DESPISE GOD’S NAME [JEHOVAH'S NAME]

“A son for his part, honors a father; and a servant, his grand master.  So if I am a father, where is the honor to me? And if I am a grand master, where is the fear of me? Jehovah of armies has said to you O priests who are despising my name.” “And you have said, ‘In what way have we despised your name?’”  “By presenting upon my altar polluted bread.”  Mal. 1:7

There are of course many ways in which one can despise God’s name; treat it with contempt, hate, and disdain.  Malachi mentioned one way wherein priests were offering to God blind, lame, and sick sacrifices that not even a governor would approve of.  Today, churches that claim to worship God have shown how much they like these ancient apostate priests despise God’s name.  How?  By offering to God polluted worship- worship contaminated by pagan rites and traditions.  Here is another way they show their contempt for God’s name:  “The use of any proper name for the one and only God, as though there were other gods from whom he had to be distinguished, was discontinued in Judaism before the Christian era and is entirely inappropriate for the universal faith of the Christian Church.”  [Preface of the Revised Standard Version] Their own view of what is appropriate has been relied on as the basis for removing from the Bible the personal name of its Divine Author.6   A word that could properly be applied to these ones is presumptuous.

Fact: God’s name Jehovah as well as his titles Almighty God and Most High, differentiates him from those called gods in heaven especially Jesus his Son, as well as those called gods on earth.  It is not until you know someone by their personal name that you really get to know the person.  It is the same with God.

4. THEY LACK RESPECT FOR THE BIBLE

“Look out:  perhaps there may be someone who will carry you off as his prey through the philosophy and empty deception according to the tradition of men, according to the elementary things of the world and not according to the Christ.” Col 2:8; Mt 15:3; Mr 7;13; Titus 1:13,14

A) THEY ADHERE TO TRADITIONS THAT CONFLICT WITH IT

1.     Following Jewish tradition they removed God’s name from the Bible [YAHWEH, the covenant God of Israel; YHWH in the original Hebrew]  According to Jewish custom, because of reverence, the divine name was not to be spoken, so the Hebrew words for Lord and God were substituted.  Whenever the words ‘Lord’ and ‘God’ appear in large and small capital letters, the original Hebrew reads YHWH.”  [Dictionary-Concordance of the King James Version]  The Bibles of apostate Christians are void of God’s name, either partially or totally.  Their dislike for God’s name is evident in their unwillingness to return it to its rightful places in the Bible. (Mal 1:6, 7)  They also removed even the 4 letters [YHWH/JHVH] representing the Father’s name.  Instead of hallowing the Father’s name as Jesus stated in Matthew 6:9, they removed it!  Did the Father request that his name be removed from the Bible?  Are they obeying Christ to sanctify the Father’s name or are they doing the devil’s work?

2.    God’s written word they set aside for pagan rites and traditions e.g., holidays__   2 Tim 3:1-5; Rom 1:32

3.  Following tradition they have Jesus crucified on a cross instead of impaled to a stake, pole__ Num 21:8,9; Joh 3:14  

The use of the cross as the instrument on which Jesus died is another of Christendom’s bad tradition.  At John 3:14 it states just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness so the son of man would be lifted up. The copper serpent was impaled to a pole, a stake. Serpents do not have hands therefore they cannot be crucified.  If Jesus died on a cross rather than a simple stake, then Number 21:8, 9 and Joh 3:14 would be invalid.  “Christ by purchase released us from the curse of the Law by becoming a curse instead of us, because it is written:  ‘Accursed is every man hanged upon a stake.” (Gal 3:13; Deut 21:23)  The instrument of Jesus’ death was a stake so that Jews might be freed from the curse of the law.7

NOTEWORTHY SIMILARTIES BETWEEN JESUS AND THE SERPENT OF COPPPER:

    Jesus like the serpent was accursed, and just as those who looked upon the serpent lived so too those who exercise faith in Christ would live. And just as Moses impaled or fastened the serpent on a signal pole so too Jesus would be impaled or fastened on a pole/stake.

    The copper serpent was used by God to save the lives of those who were bitten by poisonous serpents on the ground.  The copper serpent was the instrument of God’s salvation-the means by which God would save those dying from snake bites. (Num 21:4-9)  As time passed the Jews began to worship the copper serpent which use to be called the copper serpent-idol. (2Ki 18: 4)  Many years later God sent his Son Jesus into the world so that the world could be saved through him.  Like the serpent of copper Jesus becomes the instrument of God’s salvation- the means by which God would save a dying race. (1 Cor 15:22)  Much like the idolatrous Jews in Bible times, several centuries after the death of the apostles The Logos, God’s Son and the instrument of God’s salvation was the first to be added (1st council of Nicea) to what was called “the Godhead” and deem worthy of sacred worship.  God's Son became known as God the Son. The Holy Spirit was added at a much later council. 

B) MEMBERS FAIL TO LIVE BY IT

"Now the works of the flesh are manifest, and they are fornication, uncleannness, loose conduct....those who practice such things will not inherit God's kingdom." Gal 5:19,21

"What! Do you no know that unrighteous persons will not inherit God's kingdom?  Do not be misled. Neither fornicators, ...nor adulterers, nor men who lie with men, nor thieves, nor greedy persons, nor drunkards, nor revilers will inherit God's kingdom."  1 Cor 6:9,10; 1 Thess 4:7,8

Apostate Christians have the Bible and even study it, but the way they live their lives show they do not respect it.8  Gross sexual immorality, uncleanness, as wells as unnatural sex acts are practiced and condoned by many clergymen and their members. For example: living together before marriage, adultery, common law marriages, oral sodomy [oral copulation or the blow job], anal sodomy, mutual masturbation [husbands and wives fondling each other's genitalia], and homo and bisexuality. Immorality while sometimes preached against as always been widely tolerated.8b Some even try to justify works of the flesh. (Gal 5:19,20)  Many on daily basis break God’s law on lying, cheating, and stealing and think nothing of it.  Then there are those who cannot hold a conversation without using profanity; while an increasing number are finding pleasure in poking fun at Bible verses, making a mockery of the Bible.  It is now commonplace to see Christians take Christians to court which is altogether a defeat for them. (1 Co 6:7)  Does a person respect God’s Word if he fails to live by it?9 The churches have disregarded God's counsel to remove the wicked from among them.  Many feel that removing the wicked is not he right thing to do, loving them more in their opinion is better. When church members are permitted to remain in good standing within their churches practicing these and other wrongs it is evidence that their religious organization is not approved by God.  These are not examples of the conduct of people in a righteous standing before God. (Jo 12:48)

Note:  Jehovah’s Witnesses are possibly the only Christian faith that disfellowship members who sue the religion.  

C) CLERGY LACK RESPECT FOR IT 

Today, a number of clergymen publicly disavow large sections of the Bible10   e.g., Adam’s fall into sin, the flood of Noah’s Day, Jonah and the big fish, and others.   And while many believe the Bible contains the Word of God they argue that portions of it must be rejected such as those treating women as property, those that speak of genocide, or of homosexuality as a sin.11  When clergymen make the statement that the Bible was written by very human people and that these people incorporated their own beliefs and concepts about God, are they encouraging respect for God’s Word?12 When clergymen deny the miracles of Christ such as turning water into wine, [claiming instead that it was water flavored to taste like wine and not real wine] because it contradicts their false belief that drinking wine is a sin, are they showing respect? When clergymen deny that Jesus is the only way to salvation, make statements that the Bible’s view on sex is outdated, perform  same sex marriages and are themselves in same sex marriages, ordain gays and lesbians, are they showing respect for God’s Word?  When clergymen approve of the removal of God’s name from the Bible because God’s name JEHOVAH, which does not include the Son or the Holy Spirit does not fit in with their Triune Deity are they showing respect for God's Word?   When clergymen make remarks that Christianity in its purest form is boring, are sworn to secrecy to not divulge serious crimes committed by their members, consent with women who want to terminate their offspring, are they showing respect for God’s Word?  Are they not sharers in the wicked works of their members?  Many consider the words of their clergymen, and not the Bible, the final authority on matters.  If the church or religion has no respect for God’s Word, neither will its members. _ Tit 1:16

D) THEY ADD AND TAKE AWAY FROM IT

"If anyone makes an addition to these things, God will add to him the plagues that are written in this scroll…If anyone takes anything away from the words…God will take his portion away from the trees of life.”  Rev. 22:18,19

1. Subtractions

God’s Personal Name and Title name Removed - God’s name Jehovah was removed and replaced with Lord and God. God’s title name, Jehovah of Armies, was changed to Lord of Host. The change was not sufficient for some. The title, Lord of Host, was completely removed from some translations. Why?  According to one version, for most readers today the phrases “Lord of Host” and “God of Host” have little meaning, so they removed it.

2. Spurious Additions

Trinity text added in 6th century -The verse in 1 Jo 5 that states, “There are 3 witness bearers, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, and these three are one” was added in the 6th century by apologetic Christians who wanted to push the doctrine of the trinity.  Many Bible translations omit that verse as a spurious [false] addition.

At 1 Tim 3:16  the word God added in the 8th and 9th century - Instead of reading, he was manfested in the flesh,  some manuscripts read God manifested in the flesh.  St. Joseph Ed. of the New American Bible footnote on 1 Tim 3:16 states: "..the reference is to Christ, who is himself 'the mystery of our devotion.' Some predominately Western manuscripts read 'which' harmonizing the gender of the pronoun with that of the Greek word for mystery; many later manuscripts [eight and ninth century on] ...read 'God,' possibly for theological reasons."

The Contemporary English Version (CEV) footnote says of 1 Tim 3:16:

"Christ: The Greek text has 'he,' probably meaning 'Christ.' Some

manuscripts have 'God.' " 

At John 8:58 the word am is capitalized to covey the idea of a title -  In the New living Translation it reads: "Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was I Am." However in its footnote it says: the Greek reads: "before Abraham was, I am".  This translation is not the only translation that tries to capitalized the word am to covey a title.  In the King James Version for example it reads "I am".  In the New King James version that same passage reads: "I AM".  Thus they endeavor to connect the expression with Exodus 3:14.  Most bible translations have the words "am" in lower case letters.

At John 1:1 a capital "G" is used instead of a commong "g"- John 1:1 should read and the Word was a god or the Word was divine but in many translations it reads and the Word was God.  Footnotes of various bible translations help to identify what kind of a god Jesus is.  When the phrase "the Word was God" is cross reference all bible translations with footnotes use text such as Php 2:6; Isa 9:6; Jo 20:28.  These text prove not that Jesus is Almighty God but rather is called a "Mighty God" a title name that would identify the messiah and also prove that Jesus is not equal to God.  Therefore the Word (a mighty god) could not be (Almighty) God.  Personal names and title names must be written in capital letters that is why the "G" in "Mighty God" is in capital letters.

Addition of the Deutero-Canonical & Apocryphal Books-  These books are not a part of Bible Canon and are not considered inspired by God.

Addition of the word Lucifer - Lucifer is a Latin word for "shining one" or "light" and has no place in English translations of the Bible.  Because "shining one" when translated into Latin sounds like a personal name [Lucifer], misinformed individuals are of the belief it is Satan's name.

Addition of the word Passover -   In some translations of the bible, the word Easter appears in place of the word Passover.  Easter celebration is NOT the same as the Passover.

Addition of the word Cross as the device on which Jesus was executed- "There is not a single sentence in any of the numerous writings forming the New Testament, which, in the original Greek, bears even indirect evidence to the effect that the stauros used in the case of Jesus was other than an ordinary stauros; must less to the effect that it consisted, not of one piece of timber, but of two pieces nailed together in the form of a cross...It is not a little misleading upon the part of our teachers to translate the word stauros as "cross" when rendering the Greek documents of the Church into our native tongue..." The non-Christian Cross by J.D. Parsons (London, 1896)

5.  THEY ARE GUILTY OF EVERLASTING SIN

"Consequently whoever eats the loaf or drinks the cup of the Lord unworthily will be guilty respecting the body and the blood of the Lord.  First let a man approve himself after scrutiny, and thus let him eat of the loaf and drink of the cup. For he that eats and drinks eats and drink judgment against himself…” 1Co 11:27-29

A man in a disapproved state (someone who is sinning), should not eat the loaf and drink the wine; for he who eats the loaf and drink the wine unworthily is guilty of everlasting sin for which there is no forgiveness forever. (2 Co 13:5; Mr 3:29)  In many religions within the Christian world, individuals who are not worthy to partake, do so.  These individuals include:  children, un-baptized individuals, members of different faiths, and ministers and members committing grave sins.  In fact, none of those belonging to the churches of Christendom are worthy to eat the bread and drink the wine because they are all in a disapproved state.  All are committing grave sins.  There is no one righteous among them. No one who is doing good and is not sinning, not even one! Interestingly in some churches members are not permitted to wear makeup or jewelry to church, yet, they can fornicate and commit adultery and still partake of the bread and wine.  Which is the sin? In other churches members go as far as to use the loaf in voodoo rituals and other blatant forms of satanic worship. 

6. THEY USE DECEPTIVE MEANS TO SPREAD THEIR *SO-CALLED GOSPEL OF JESUS

“For such men are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into apostles of Christ...But their end shall be according to their works._2 Cor 11:13-15 *So-called because it is a false gospel of Jesus (e.g., Jesus is Jehovah, Jesus is part of a trinity, and Jesus is Almighty God).  Not only is it a false gospel it is the wrong gospel it is not what Jesus commanded his follower to preach. They are to be preaching the gospel of the kingdom not the gospel of Jesus. (Mt 24:14)  Apostate Christians are of the belief that anything goes when it comes to saving souls.  Many use deceptive means to spread the gospel such as Bait and Switch.  For example, during Halloween they deceive Halloween goers into church by enticing them with scary dramas then spring the gospel on them.  This led to an outcry from parents who sent their children to the church to get a good scare on Halloween not to be preached the gospel.  A few of those parents were most likely Christians who don’t mind their kids getting a good scare but do mind them hearing a different gospel.

A situation occurred in Iraq where Christianity is banned.  Christians under the guise of healthcare workers were spreading the gospel to patients-who assume they were just humanitarian workers unaware it is an evangelism tactic used by some Christians. It made international news when it was discovered what they were up to.  Undercover work you say.   There was no deception found in Jesus. Should his disciples be any different?  Certain ministries such as: rescue, bikers, paintball, and drama ministries are baits -started for the main purpose of attracting a large number of people or certain groups of people by appealing to their fleshly desires with the hidden intent of spreading the gospel.  Bribery is another evangelism method used by apostates.  They lure people to their churches with worldly benefits e.g., free gas, offers of cash, clothing, foods, and jobs.  Cultural Imperialism is another method used. 

The missionary enterprise is used as a justification and a cover for the domination of people. There is a interrelation between mission, technology, and imperialism-__The Church and Its Mission: A Shattering Critique From the Third World. Orlando E. Costas,  1974, Pg 245. Many apostates feel it is their duty to take possession of the kingdoms of the world so they'll become the kingdom of God and of his Christ.  To do this, they will take over the banking system, the government by putting Christians in important positions, built schools, and theaters that show Christian movies. Syncretism of Christian beliefs with non-Christian beliefs is yet another method used by apostate Christians in making disciples of people. 

7. THEY ARE BLOODGUILTY

“The holy spirit and we ourselves have favored adding no further burdens to you, except these necessary things, to keep abstaining from fornication…and from blood....If you carefully keep yourselves from these things, YOU will prosper.  Good health to YOU!__ Acts 15:28.29

“My decision is not to trouble those from the nations who are turning to God, but to write them to abstain from fornication…and from blood.”____ Acts 15:19, 20

“As for the believers from among the nations, we have sent out, rendering our decision that they should keep themselves…from blood…and from fornication.”_____ Acts 21:25

Blood is sacred to God because it has been given over exclusively to a single purpose____ atonement of sins (forgiveness of sins).13  Anything outside its single purpose is misuse of blood.14   Sucking one's own blood or the blood of another person after a cut, eating rare meat, and blood transfusions are the three main ways in which humans partake of blood.  There is an ever increasing demand for blood by blood banks, the Red Cross, and hospitals because of the life-sustaining properties of blood.  Of course the churches are always ready and willing to lend a hand of assistance through their blood drives, ignoring the admonition of the holy spirit and the apostles.  With respect to human blood, many think it is okay to partake of it than to risk dying.  The question that arises is:  If a Christian is in danger of losing his life and breaking God’s law could save it, is he free to disobey God’s law, or his he still bound to them? Sadly, many prove Satan was not lying when he said, “Skin for skin! A man will give all he has for his own life.”  (Job 2:4)

Abstaining from blood means the same as when a doctor tells a patient to abstain from alcohol.15 It means to not take it into one’s body at all.16   [Abstain -to refrain deliberately and often with an effort of self-denial from an action or practice considered unhealthy or improper eg., abstain from fornication (sex outside of marriage), abstain from blood]   If a Christian should die he would be assured of a resurrection for remaining obedient to God as far as death, in imitation of Jesus___ God’s beloved Son. Jesus said, “Whoever wants to save his soul (life) will lose it; but whoever loses his soul for my sake will save it.”  (Lu 9:24; Mt 7:21)  It requires faith to reject as treatment; blood, that could save one’s life, but without faith it is impossible to please God well.  Oftentimes, it is when a life is to be lost that one’s faith is truly put to the test. (Rev 21:8; Heb 11:6)  Christians become blood guilty when they; murder, support blood guilty organizations, eat and drink blood or transfuse it through their veins for medical treatment.17    (Ps 55:23)

Abstaining from blood is a serious matter because it has been put on the same level as fornication.18   Fornicators will not inherit God’s kingdom, and neither will those who partake of blood.19   It is God’s wish that his people abstain from blood, the blood of every sort of flesh, human and animal.  God does not approve of blood banks, sperm banks, or egg banks. The restriction on blood was given to Noah and his sons long before the Law Covenant given to the Jews and applied to all of Noah's descendants. (Gen 9:4) If one is to abstain from fornication and from blood, the route of administration is not important because no route can be used. If a route is used one is partaking and not abstaining.  Mystic Food a Hoax?  The belief that the bread and wine literally becomes Jesus’ body and blood after consecration is a hoax. God will not go against his own law against drinking blood.  When Jesus prayed over the water it became wine.  When clergymen pray other the bread and wine no change occurs.  Yet, many are deceived into believing they are literally eating and drinking Jesus body and blood. 

8. THEY DISRESPECT THEIR HOUSE OF WORSHIP [Religious Sacrilege]

God: "Has this house upon which my name has been called become a mere cave of robbers in your eyes?  Here I myself also have seen it” is the utterance of Jehovah.” __Jer 7:11; Isa 56:7

God's Son: " Take these things away from here!  Stop making the house of my Father a house of merchandise!”  Mt 21:13; Jo 2:16, 17; Jer 7:11

*Their houses of worship are not the House of God.  They are the dwelling places of demons and a lurking place of every unclean exalation.  Apostates at times use their houses of worship as asylums for drug dealers and illegal aliens seeking refuge from the law, a place where criminals hide criminals.  They are often used for: blood drives, political rallies, as polling places, burial grounds, gambling casinos, market places, army recruiting platforms, theatres, dating services, and to conduct secular business.

A. Political/Recruiting Platform for the Armed Forces: The churches have become a place where politicians of opposing sides seeking Christian votes can discuss their political agenda.  It is also used to recruit men and women for the armed forces.

B. Polling place [voting station]: During elections the church is used as a voting station, a place where ungodly individuals can cast their votes for lawlessness.

C. Marketplace, House of Merchandise -  Church Bazaar (the buying and selling of goods for charity), Rummage sale, Bake sale, Flea-market, and Yard sale are held on many church premises.  It is not unusual to see Christmas trees being sold on some church lot.20   In some lands during harvest season, produce is brought from the fields and blessed.  From in front of the alter where it had been blessed; the food is sold to members. Not surprisingly, some members will carry scales inside the church to weigh the produce they sell to other members after the service.  Many of Christendom’s churches will either have a Souvenir shop, a Thrift shop, or a Book shop inside their churches or on its premises.  In some European churches one can buy just about anything.

D. Blood Drives - Blood is collected on church premises and sent to blood banks where it is stored and sold to hospitals.  The churches ignore the Holy Spirit and the apostles command to keep abstaining from blood…the blood of every sort of flesh.

E. Used to Conduct Secular Business: E.g. During the week the church functions as a Day Care Center. It is also used to advertise church flea-markets, rentals, sales, secular jobs and businesses. 

F. Theatre House - It also functions as a theatre where one can go to watch movies, plays, and concerts.

G. Come as You are Dress Code -  Because of dwindling church numbers many churches now resort to having people especially young people come as they are [dress anyway the want to].   This they hope will keep them in the church.  They come as they are and stay as they are.

H. Gambling Casino [another way the churches make money]- Many churches promote gambling on church property by playing bingo with jackpots of four hundred dollars or more.  The selling of raffle tickets is another in which the church gambles. There are people who buy more than one raffle ticket hoping to increase their odds of winning only to lose and then complain they should have won something. Apostates condemn the state for selling lottery tickets while they themselves are selling raffle tickets. “How can you say to your brother, “Brother, allow me to extract the straw that is in your eye,’ while you yourself are not looking at the rafter in that eye of yours?” Hypocrite! ...” (Lu 6:42)  Other examples of gambling includes: sweepstakes, games played at the Fair, and scratch-offs.  With gambling one is not guaranteed to win and afterwards may have feelings of loss and anger. God detests practices that promote a superstitious believe in luck (Lady Luck), promotes a love of money, promotes a greed for money, and a interest in the supernatural (bets based on personal superstition, astrological tables, self-styled seers, and venerable ‘dreams books’).21  Gambling by its very nature, promotes all these.22__Isa 65:11

I. Dating Service -  Church socials include “Singles Night”.  On singles night the church functions as a dating service.

J. Graveyard - Many desecrate their church grounds and inside their churches by using it as a burial ground and crypt.

These abominable things occur in churches in America and around the world.  Note: The word “church” refers to a body of people.  However Christendom’s members also call the building in which they worship a church.

9. THEY STRAIN OUT THE GNAT BUT GULP DOWN THE CAMEL

"Woe to YOU, scribes and Pharisees [clergy of Christendom], hypocrites! because you give the tenth of the mint and the dill and the cumen, but you have disregarded the weightier matters of the Law, namely, justice and mercy and faithfulness.  These things it was binding to do, yet not to disregard the other things.  Blind guides, who strain out the gnat but gulp down the camel! __ Mt 23:23-24 (insert added for modern application)

The scribes and Pharisees were very strict and precise in smaller matters of the law but disregarded weightier matters. It is not the scrupling a little sin that Christ here reproves; if it is a sin, though but a gnat, it must be strained out;  but it is doing that, then swallowing a camel, committing a greater sin that he reproves.22a

How are apostate Christians today like the scribes and Pharisees? Many churches require their members give exactly 1/10th of their earnings as tithe to the church, while others are very strict on exactly what their members can and cannot wear [in the form of jewelry and clothing] to church, others express great concern and disgust over non-Christians terminating their offspring that they set up special interest groups to Defend Life.  Yet, the things that are of greater importance, the things that weigh more__their bad fruits or serious sins, they disregard.  Take for example God's name.  In spite of the efforts of many translators to restore God's name in the Bible, there has always been religious pressure to eliminate it. 23 Those who object to the name doing so on account of problems of pronunciation or because of Jewish tradition, might be compared to those who Jesus said "strain out the gnat but gulp down the camel!24 They stumble over these smaller problems but end up creating a major problem—by removing the name of the greatest personage in the universe from the book that he inspired. 25  Blind guides!  Which in fact is worse, using the most recognized pronounciation of God’s name (which may or may not be mispronounced) or removing God's name or the 4 letters representing His name [tetragrammaton] from the Bible?

10. THEY ARE SPIRITUALLY BLIND

"Then the disciples came up and said to him:  'Do you know that the Pharisees stumbled at hearing what you said?'...Let them be.  Blind guides is what they are.  If, then, a blind man guides a blind man, both will fall into a pit."  Mt 15:12-14

"...and you are persuaded that you are a guide of the blind, a light for those in darkness...do you however the one teaching someone else do not teach yourself?  You, the one preaching "Do not steal," do you steal?  You the one saying "Do not commit adultery," do you commit adultery, You the one expressing abhorrence of the idols, do you rob temples? You, who take pride in law, do you by your transgressing of the Law dishoner God?  For 'the name of God is being blasphemed on account of you people among the nations' just as it is written." Rom 2:19-24;

Because Christendom's clergy are blind guides they have difficulty differentiating the sacred from the non-sacred.  They tend to trivialize or make light of the truth. For example, they will deny faith must be accompanied by righteous works which is necessary for salvation, they downplay God's law on blood claiming it was only meant for those who EAT blood and are stumbled ove a simple thing as the pronounciation of God's name.  Christendom's clergy and members are persuaded that they are a guide to the blind, a light for those in darkness though they trangress the law of God thereby dishonoring God, practice idolatry, spread false doctrines, tolerate immorality and other works of lawlessness. Even God is a incomprehensible mystery to them.  How can a blind man guide a blind man? Both they and their members are headed for Hellfire (the Lake of Fire).

11. THEY BEAR WITNESS AGAINST THEMSELVES THEY'RE SONS OF MURDERERS

" Woe to you Scribes and Phrisees , hypocrites!... you say, "If we were in the days of our forefathers, we would not be shearers with them in the blood the prophets.  Therefore you are bearing witness against yourselves that you are sons of those who murdered the prophets. Well, then, fill up the measure of your forefathers."  Mt 23:29-32; Jo 16:2

Jesus illustration of workers in the vineyard found at Matthew 19:30 thru chapter 20:16 illustrates this point perfectly.

Bible Times:   The full-day workers in the illustration represent the Jewish leaders who have been occupied continually in religious service.  The 11th-hour workers are the 1st century Christians, who for most of their lives were employed in fishing or secular occupations.26  It was not until 29 C.E. that Jesus gather these to be his disciples.27  Thus they became “the last” or the 11th-hour workers in the vineyard.28 The wage the full-day workers expected they did not receive. Their murmuring and objections take the form of persecuting the 1st century Christians_ the 11th-hour workers.29  The Jewish religious leaders despised 1st century Christians and tried every means to ban their preaching work; yet, it is these very ones that the Jewish religious leaders despised who receive the denarius__ the honor of serving as anointed ambassadors of God’s heavenly kingdom, the honor of being a spiritual Israelite (members of the church).30 This illustration also has fulfillment in our day.

Modern Times: Christendom’s clergy by reason of their positions and responsibilities been first to be hired in God’s symbolic vineyard.31The clergy consider dedicated preachers associated with the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society as 11th-hour workers in the vineyard, the last ones, appearing towards the end of the symbolic work day__ the 11th-hour.32  The wage the first to be hired expected they did not receive.  Like their predecessors of Bible times they resort to persecuting the 11th-hour workers.  Yet, it is these very ones that Christendom’s clergy despise who receive the denarius__ the honor of serving as anointed ambassadors of God’s heavenly kingdom, the honor of being a spiritual Israelite, members of the church.33

How have Christendom’s clergy persecuted God’s people, the last workers in the vineyard? In some lands the clergy tell their members to throw water on Jehovah’s Witnesses if they should knock on their doors and in some African lands, to desecrate their house of worship.  In past decades Jehovah’s Witnesses have been rounded up and sent to death camps with the aid of Christendom’s clergy.   In western lands, the clergy laid false accusations against them that sent a number of their leaders to prison for three or more years. Sometimes the persecutions take the form of stoning and mob attacks that injure their young children.  Jehovah’s Witnesses come under attack in Protestant dominated lands and as well as lands dominated by Catholics.34 They have become objects of hatred by all nations on account of Jesus’ name.  Their preaching work exposes Christendom’s doctrine of the trinity as a lie, and as cause them much persecution at the hands of Christendom’s clergy and members.  Christendom’s clergy have on many occasions tried to ban the preaching work of Jehovah’s Witnesses.  The clergy follow in the footsteps of Jewish religious leaders who claim to worship God but who attack and persecute Christ’s disciples- those who truly worship God.  True Christians have, and will continue to suffer persecution at the hands of apostate Christians and the rest of the world.  God has not forgotten their evils and he will call their acts of injustice to mind.  He will do to them twice what they did to those they persecuted.

NOTEWORTHY SIMILARTIES BETWEEN THE 1ST CENTURY CHRISTIANS AND JEHOVAH’S WITNESSES:

• Both 1st Century Christians and Jehovah’s Witnesses come under attack by those who allege to be God’s people because of Jesus’ name:
  

-The 1st Century Christians because they believe Jesus

is the promised Messiah of the Jews.

-Jehovah’s Witnesses because they deny the Deity of Jesus

• The Jewish religious leaders tried to ban the preaching work of the 1st Century Christians, and Christendom’s clergy continually try to ban the preaching work of Jehovah’s Witnesses.
  

• Both 1st Century Christians and anointed members of Jehovah’s Witnesses are 11th-hour workers_ appearing toward the end of the symbolic work day.
  

CHRISTENDOM’S FOREFATHERS PERSECUTED AND KILLED CHRIST DISCIPLES

While Jewish religious leaders persecuted Christ disciples_ the 1st Century Christians, their forefathers were responsible for the persecution of God’s prophets in past centuries.  Similarly today Christendom’s clergy persecute Christ disciples _Jehovah’s Witnesses. Their forefathers are responsible for the death and torture of many Christians in past centuries. 

The Inquisition for example, which began in the reign of Christendom’s Emperor Constantine A.D. 306 to 337 punished those who oppose the teachings of the Catholic church. Church teachings were regarded as the foundation of law and order.  "Heresy was considered an offense against the state as well as the church.  For centuries civil rulers tried to stamp out heresy.  The Catholic church took over the role of punishing heretics after some civil rulers refused or became unable to do so." [Wikipedia.org/wiki/inquisition] Edward O'Brien in his article A New Look At the Spanish Inquisition said " ... no Catholic should ever whitewash the Inquisition. We must honestly acknowledge that three Popes-Sixtus IV, Innocent VIII, and Alexander VI-tried to moderate the undue severity of the early Spanish Inquisition. We must also face this question: Why should anyone ever be put in prison or put to death for believing heresy? That is not the way of the Gospel, nor the path of reason. Walsh pointedly says that no Catholic today wants a return to the Inquisition. Nor do we want cover-ups of  the past, for as Leo XIII said, 'The Church has no need of any man's lie.' "

The Protestant Reformation did little to quell the flames of intolerance. Protestants showed the same intolerant spirit as the Catholic Church which they were once a part of, persecuting and torturing those they consider heretics, dissidents, and witches.  "The principle which the Reformation had upheld in the youth of its rebellion - the right of private judgment - was as completely rejected by the Protestant leaders as by the Catholics . .."  (Historian Will Durant)  "It is well-known that belief in the justice of punishing heresy with death was so common among the 16th-century Reformers-Luther, Zwingli, Calvin, and their adherents - that we may say their toleration began where their power ended."(Catholic Encyclopedia., s.v., "Inquisition," 8:35).

The blood of those put to death over the centuries by Catholics and Protestants clergy and members cries out to God for vengence. Today, their descendants condemn the killings and other cruelties done by their forefathers.  By doing so they bear witness against themselves they are sons of murderers.  During those dark ages many were tortured to death, beheaded, or burnt at the stake.  Some were put to death for trying to translate the Bible into the language of the common people (e.g. William Tyndale), others for just owning a Bible.  Bodily maiming and imprisonment were also used.   No doubt these Christians who had long since abandon true worship sincerely believed they were rendering a sacred service to God by wiping out heresy a sin they themselves were guilty of. But sincerity alone is not enough. (See Matthew 7:22, 23) 

NOTEWORTHY SIMILARTIES BETWEEN THE JEWISH RELIGIOUS LEADERS AND THE CLERGY OF CHRISTENDOM:

• Both the Jewish religious leaders and Christendom’s clergy are responsible for the persecution and deaths of 11th-hour workers
  

• The forefathers of the Jewish religious leaders and Christendom’s forefathers were also responsible for the persecution and deaths of God's people.
  

12. THEY BELIEVE IN INTERFAITH WORSHIP

“Do not become unevenly yoked with unbelievers.  For what fellowship do righteousness and lawlessness have?”  2 Co 6:14

“Believe it! It’s an Interfaith World!”  The religious world has indeed become an interfaith world.  The term interfaith refers to activities that involve an interaction between different faiths (Christian and non-Christian), such as; worshiping, marrying, and praying.  The Bible warns true Christians not to become unevenly yoked with unbelievers.  Interfaith worshipers are of the belief that:  ‘As long as you believe in Jesus it really does not matter which church you belong to,’ or that ‘religions are just different roads leading to the same God.’  Interfaith is detestable to God for the following reasons:

• Not all people worship the same God, not even different concepts of the same God.__ 1 Co 8:5,6
  

• God opposes god’s of the nations and their forms of worship.____ Ex. 12:12; Num. 25:2-5; Zeph. 2:11
  

• Solomon’s practice of interfaith was “bad in the eyes of Jehovah.”___ 1 Ki. 11:5,6,9
  

• God rejects worship mixed with idolatrous rites, even though supposedly offered to him.__ Ex. 32: 1,4,5,7,8,10, 1 Ki. 12:26-28,30; 1 Co 5:11
  

• Jesus Christ condemned religious beliefs and practices not in strict accord with God’s word.__  Mt. 16:6,12; Mr. 7:6-9; 2 Jo: 9-11
  

• Jesus refused to acknowledge spiritual brotherhood with religious leaders of his day.__ Jo. 8:42-44; Mt. 23:29-33
  

• Failure to keep clean from false religious rites leads to divine disapproval.__ Ps. 106:35-40; 1Ki. 11:5,6,9
  

• Wrong doctrine and conduct can corrupt even professedly Christian worship.__ Jude 3,4; 2Co. 11:3;  2Pet. 2:1-3
  

• Many professed Christians embrace teachings of apostates.__  Acts 20:29,30; 1 Tim. 4:1-3
  

• Not all who profess faith in Christ practice religion acceptable to God.__ Mt. 7:21-23; 2 Co. 11:13-5.
  

• True Christians to keep separate from all false worship.____ 2 Cor. 6:14-17; 2 Tim 3:2,5; Rev 18:4
  

-List taken from: Make Sure of All Things. Hold Fast to What is Fine.  Interfaith. Pages 257-264 Watchtower Bible and Tract Society of New York, 1985 

12 Marks Of The True Christian Faith

1. Worship God and make Known God's Holy Name

A key mark in identifying the true Christian faith from false faiths is its belief on the nature of God.  To whom is it rendering sacred service? The true Christian faith render sacred service to God ALONE and magnify God's holy name [Jehovah], while false Christian faiths render sacred service to God's creations most notably Jesus Christ [it is God's Son Jesus whom they worship and whose name they magnify though the scripture clearly states there is only one God ...and the Head of the Christ is God].

2. Holy- Its actions Godly, it's doctrines Biblical. [1Pet 1:16]

Spiritually clean- The true faith is a true prophet.  It preaches the unalloyed [pure, unmixed] word of God.  Its teachings are not contaminated by spiritism, paganism, doctrines of demons, idolatry, and spiritual adultery.  It adheres to the Bible as its final authority and not the teachings of some church. 

Physically clean-  Its houses of worship are kept clean inside and out; and grounds  free from idols such as flags, crosses, and graven images.

Morally clean- Its members maintain a fine conduct among the nations. They do not live together before marriage.

Mentally clean-  It will not tolerate obscene jesting, homosexuality, or foul language from its shepherds and members

3. Unity in the true faith [Eph 4:13] - The True Christian Faith is not divided.  It will not tolerate divisions (associate churches).  To accept divisions is to accept apostasy. If any of its members should break away and form their own “church” they will not be accepted as part of the faith, and are not permitted to use its legal name. That way there continues to be oneness in the true faith. Thus, the true Christian faith is unified by teachings and Christian love.  It exhibits the 3 marks of a true brotherhood which are: Allegiance to God; Righteousness through obedience to God's morality; and Knowledge that is true of God and his Son Jesus. (Jo 4:24) These 3 marks form an acronym A.R.K that serve as their spiritual Ark and will carry true Christians safely through God's impending calamities__ the Great Tribulation and Armaggedon.

4. Worship is a Way of life not some ritualistic devotion

For many Christian faiths their worship is a largely ritualistic.  For the true Christian faith it is a way of life.

5. No Part of the World as Jesus was No Part of it.

[Joh 17:16] - The True Christian Faith is in the world but is not a part of the world. It does not get involved in its nationalism, politics, and class struggles; nor is it involved in the world’s economic, religious or social issues. It is separate from the world and its affairs and from control of the state.  It is without spot from the world__ James 1:27.

6. No part of Babylon the Great [Rev 18: 2, 4,5; 2Co 6:17] - "Babylon the Great’ embraces all religions, whose doctrines and practices are out of harmony with the knowledge of God."  Christendom whose doctrines and practices are not in harmony with the knowledge of God is the dominant part of Babylon the Great.  The true Christian faith is no part of Christendom and no part, of Babylon the Great.

7. Found worldwide [Mat 28:19] - The true Christian Faith can be found in every nation under the sun.

8. Demonstrate True Faith in Christ

The true Christian faith demonstrate true faith in Christ through works of OBEDIENCE to Jesus teachings and commands.  It shows its faith by its works. In other words, it practice what it preaches.

9.  Not a Sect [Tit: 3:10, 11] - Not an offshoot of an established religion.  It is not a denominational Protestant, an offshoot of the Catholic faith. Nor is it a non-denominational Protestant, an offshoot of denominational Protestant faiths. Neither is it Catholic, an offshoot of early sects that broke from The Way.  The two main sects in Christianity are Catholicism and Protestanism.

It does not follow a human leader- Its one leader is the Christ. It rejects derisive nicknames given to it by its enemies, especially those that foster a sectarian spirit.35   Acts 24:5; 28:22; 1Co 3:4,5

10. Members love one another and maintain a fine conduct among the nations-

They do not go to war and kill members of their own religion or other religions.  They do not live together before marriage (which is fornication). They show genuine concern for their brothers in the faith during times of distress.

11. Not a Large Faith [Mt 7:14] - There is an old saying: There is safety in numbers. Not so with salvation.  Safety lies not in numbers but among those who have the right concept of God and are faithfully doing God’s will. History has always shown these ones to be small in number.  "How narrow the gate and constricted the road that leads to life.  And those who find it are FEW." [ Mt 7:14- NAB] 1 Pet 3:20; 2 Pet 2:6-9; Lu 13:24

12. Members are Active Witnesses concerning God's Kingdom [Mat 24:14] - “And this Good News of the Kingdom will be preached in all the inhabited earth for witness to all the nations; and then the end will come.” 

The true faith will obey Jesus’ command and preach the Good News of the Kingdom in all the inhabited earth. Which Christian faith is noted for sending its members, young and old, to the doors of imitation Christians and non-Christians all over the world telling them about God’s kingdom and what it can do for mankind?  The answer is Jehovah’s Witnesses.

If a man realizes the faith he belongs to lacks the 12 important marks of the true faith, what should he do?  Leave and seek out the true Christian faith which enjoys all 12 marks.  To remain in a false faith only mean one approve of its wrongdoings.  Those who are of the truth will associate with those who speak the truth.  “I have not sat with men of untruth; And with those who hide what they are I do not come in.  I have hated the congregation of evildoers, and with the wicked ones I do not sit.”­­ (Ps 26:4, 5; Ps 36:1; Ps 1:1)..

The purpose of THE true religion is to:

1. Give praise and glory to God_the creator of all living things

2. Its second purpose is to teach its members to benefit themselves.

By familiarizings oneself with the marks of the true faith it becomes easy to identify the many counterfeit Christian faiths.

13. THEY FAIL TO OBEY JESUS COMMANDS

“He that exercises faith in the Son has everlasting life; he that disobeys the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God remains upon him.” (Jo 3:36) Jesus said, “Why do you keep saying to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ yet do not do the things I say.”

Christians are to do all things to God’s glory and one way they glorify Jehovah God is through Jesus his Son.   It pleases God when those who worship him obey his Son.  Those who fail to obey Jesus’ commands the wrath of God remains upon them.  Do imitation Christians obey Jesus’ commands?  The answer is emphatically, “no!”  If Jesus says, “turn left.” They turn right.  If Jesus says, “stop.” They move.  Jesus said, "If you love me, you will obey my commands." Action speaks louder than words. Here are a few examples of how they show their lack of respect for Jesus by failing to obey his commands.

A. Jesus Forbade the Use of Religious Titles - “But you do not you be called Rabbi, for one is your teacher, whereas all you are brothers.  Moreover, do not call anyone your father on earth for one is your father the heavenly One.”  Mt 23:8-12; 1Pet 5:3,6; Luke 6:46

Jesus did not approve of religious titles when at Matthew the 23 rd chapter he warns against being called Rabbi, Leader, or Father for all are brothers.  In Christianity there are many teachers and few fathers, but neither those who teach nor those who father can give to themselves the title “Teacher” or “Father” for that would contradict Jesus’ words in the book of Matthew.  Paul was an apostle who led, taught, mothered and fathered (nurtured and disciplined) many Christians; yet, he could not be called their Leader or Teacher for one is their Leader and Teacher, the Christ.  Neither could he be called their Father for one is their Father, the Heavenly One [Jehovah]. In many religions within the Christian world Jesus command is ignored.  Not only do they [wicked slaves] allow others to do obeisance to them they exalt themselves over the flock by the use of titles.   Examples of some of those titles are as follows:

• His Holiness ;His Eminence; The Holy See; Holy Father
  

• His Grace; Mother Superior; Your Excellency
  

• Supreme Pontiff- Constantine’s pagan Title (Pontificus Maximus)
  

• Reverend Mother; Prophetess; Rabbe (LDS); Prophet
  

• Rabbi (Messianic Jew); Father;  The Venerable
  

• The Most Rt. Reverend; The Most Reverend; Reverend
  

• The Great; Reverend Doctor
  

“But Jesus, calling them to him, said: ‘You know that the rulers of the nations lord it over them…This is not the way among you...’” (Mt 20: 25-27) The special garments worn by the clergy class [which is further divided into upper class and lower class] is another way they exalt themselves, “lord their position” over the laity class- the passive body of believers. Unlike Jesus and his apostles who wore modest clothing, the clergy’s dressing is similar to that of the Scribes and Pharisees who adorn themselves for the glory of men.  Outwardly they may appear righteous but inside they are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness; for, like the Pharisees, they profane God’s word with their traditions and philosophies of men.36   (Lu 16:15; Lu 9:48)   When Jesus said the greatest among you should be your ministers, was it Jesus’ intent for ministers to “lord their position” over the flock by the use of titles and special garment? Jesus is a source of salvation only to those OBEYING him._ Heb 5:9

B. They Fail to Proclaim God’s Kingdom -"This good news of the kingdom will be preached in all the inhabited earth for a witness to all the nations; and then the end will come.” (Mt. 24:14)  “If, now, I am declaring the good news, it is no reason for me to boast, for necessity is laid upon me.  Really, woe is me if I did not declare the good news.” __ 1 Cor 9:16; Acts 20:20

A necessity, an obligation was laid upon all true Christians to “Go” and make disciples.  Those who do not participate in the disciple-making work have no reason to boast for woe [calamity] will befall them. Five types of people who disregard Jesus’ command to declare the Good News: 

• Those who believe works of obedience to God and his Son are not required to be saved.
  

• Those who are ashamed or embarrassed to talk about God.
  

• Those who don’t mind preaching but don’t know what to say or lack accurate knowledge
  

• Members and clergy of large religions feel they don’t need to preach because the people will come to them
  

• Those who feel Jesus did not commissioned all disciples to preach; preaching to the billions of people headed for destruction should be left to the clergy. 
  

There are two reasons why the preaching work is necessary for salvation (1 Tim 4:16):

    It will save the lives of those who listen.  How?  The end, which is the end of bad people and their way of living, is near at hand.  By obeying Jesus’ command God will feel no regrets when he punishes the ungodly and the sinners for rejecting the Good News - that God’s kingdom by his Son Christ Jesus will solve all of mankind’s problems (sickness, hopelessness, poverty, violence, crime, hunger, death, etc) and for ignoring the Warning: Take sides with God’s kingdom or suffer destruction, for very soon God’s kingdom will crush Satan’s kingdoms and all their supporters. Unbelievers [apostate Christians and non-Christians] who accept the Good News and obey the warning when they hear it, will live.— (Ps 37:11; Isa 65:21-25; Rev 21:3,4,5; Dan 2:44; Ps 68:11)   

       It will save the lives of those who preach. How? Because God will not hold obedient Christians who preach the Good News and sound the warning accountable for the blood of the ungodly and the sinners. Like Jonah [if Jonah had ignored God’s command a second time God would probably have killed him] they will have saved themselves and those who listen to them._ Jonah 1:1-17; 2: 1-10

Note: Because Christendom’s clergy and members have abandoned true worship, for them preaching is a waste of time, for they subject their converts to hellfire [Gehenna/eternal destruction] twice as much so as themselves.

C. Jesus Said to Address All Prayers to The Father - “… a certain one of his disciples said to him:  ‘Lord, teach us how to pray, just as John also taught his disciples.’ Then he said to them:  'Whenever you pray, say, ‘Father, let your name be sanctified...’”____ Luke 11:2; Mt 6:6; Mt 6: 1-3; John 17:1

Although Jesus addressed his prayers to his Father Jehovah and taught his disciples to do likewise with one exception, they end their prayers in his (Jesus’) name (the mediator), many apostate Christians do not.   They address their prayers to the Son, the Holy Spirit or all three. Some will even address their prayers to saints, angels, and dead relatives who’ve passed on.  All such prayers are unacceptable to God. (Isa. 8:19; Ps 115:4, 6; Ps 135:15, 17) It is very clear that many who claim to be Christ disciples do not know how to pray, a result of following false prophets who draw believers away from the truth of God’s word.While it is true that humans can be prayed to.  For example petitions and supplication made to men; beseech or implore another person who is visibly present to do something e.g., Ge 44:18; 50:17; Ac 25;11.37 This is what was done to Jesus at Ac  7:59 and Rev 22:20 where Stephen and John in a vision reacted as if they were in  Jesus' personal presence.38  It is also true that only God should receive SILENT prayer - petition made to a person who is not visibly present and is able to hear and examine silent thoughts.39 

D. Jesus condemn Mechanically Repetitious Prayers - “But when praying, do not say the same things over and over again, just as the people of the nations do, for they imagine they will get a hearing for their use of many words.” (Matt 6:7)  "One cry arose from them all as they shouted for about two hours: ‘Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!’”  Acts 19:35

Prayers such as “For the sake of His sorrowful Passion” “Hail Mary” and “Jesus save us” are three examples of mechanically repetitious prayers that are repeated for about half an hour to one hour sometimes more by members and clergymen of certain sects.  

E. Jesus Forbade the Use of the Sword - Then Jesus said to him:  “Return your sword to its place, for all those who take the sword will perish by the sword.  Matt 26:52

Knowing Jesus means more than just knowing his name. It involves knowing the type of person he is and as a disciple follow in his footsteps. Many so called Christians see nothing wrong with being trained killers.  They fail to realize in order to be a trained killer they would have to disobey Jesus’ command at Mt 26:52 and take the sword.  A number of these so called disciples make their living by taking the sword and just as Jesus said would happen they perish by the sword e.g., Police, Soldiers.  The apostles further reiterated Jesus’ point (his disciples are not to take carnal weapons) by saying as Christians... we do not wage warfare the way the world does because their weapons are carnal. 

It is a conflict of interest if Christians were to take the sword and defend the kingdoms in which they live- kingdoms that have taken their stand against Christ, because they feel a sense of duty to Satan’s kingdoms in which they were born.  “The kings of the earth take their stand and high officials themselves have massed together against Jehovah and against his anointed one [Christ or messiah].” (Ps 2:2 compare with Rev. 19:19) “And I saw the wild beast and the kings of the earth and their armies gathered together to wage the war with the one seated on the horse and with his army.”  By policing the kingdoms of the world apostates show by their actions they support Satan’s rulership.  True disciples upon accepting Christ would have to beat their swords into plowshares.  Individuals who are not willing disown Satan’s kingdoms are not worthy to follow Jesus. 

F. Jesus Said Religious Worship Should be Rendered Only to God - In reply Jesus said to him: “It is Jehovah your God you must worship, and it is to him alone you must render sacred service.”  (Lu 4:8) “ .. even those who exchanged the truth of God for the lie and venerated and rendered sacred service to the creation rather than the One who created …” Rom 1:25

Have the churches of Christendom obeyed Jesus’ command by rendering sacred service to God alone?  The answer is emphatically, “No!”  Acts of devotion to flags and singing of songs that glorify nations, prayers addressed to humans and angel are a few ways in which they render service to the creation. They also render sacred service to God’s Holy Spirit as well as God’s created Son Jesus Christ.  They, like Satan their father the one Jesus rebuked in Luke 4:8 don’t listen very well.  They have ears to hear but cannot hear.

Note:   Sacred service which should be rendered to God ALONE is different from the service or worship given to humans ­­ See rotten fruit #30 for elements involved in sacred service.

G. Jesus Said to Baptize in the Name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit - And Jesus approached and spoke to them, saying: “...Go therefore and make disciples of people of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the holy spirit …”____Matt 28:18, 19

To some apostates baptism in the Name of the Father (Jehovah), the Son (Jesus), and holy spirit is “trinitarian baptism” so they ignore Jesus’ command at Matthew chapter 28 and baptize in Jesus’ name only.  Instead of subjecting themselves to the righteousness of God and his Son Jesus they create their own righteousness.

H. Jesus Said His Disciples Would be No Part of the World - Jesus in prayer to his Father said, “I request you, not to take them out of the world, but to watch over them because of the wicked one.  They are no part of the world, just as I am no part of it.___ Jo 17:15, 16 

While on earth neither Jesus nor his disciples got involved in the affairs of the kingdom in which they lived.  They were occupied with God's work.  True Christians would likewise be occupied doing God's work, of saving lives for God's kingdom,  not concerning themselves with the affairs of the kingdoms in which they live, the kingdoms of the world, for it is futile.  "And in the days of those kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that will never be brought to ruin. And the kingdom itself will not be passed on to any other people.  It will crush and put an end to all these kingdoms and it itself will stand to times indefinite." (Dan 2:44) 

Apostates find it hard to be in the world and not be a part of it, not get involved in its affairs.  In fact, many do not feel they are in the world if they are not a part of it. They do not follow in Jesus footsteps. Ways they get involve in the affairs of the world includes:

1. voicing their opinion on public airways, through public

protest, and through voting, on issues of social controversies

such as; abortion, gambling, and  same sex marriages etc

2. as policy makers, shaping public policy

3. running for public office, etc. 

4. supporting world leaders and their fight against terrorism

e.g.,   members are active as military, reserve,  institutional,

correctional/law enforcement or specialized chaplains;

members who serve in the Army, Navy, Air Force, Police

Force, Coast Guard as well as the National Guard and

Reserves

They fail to grasp the meaning of "No Part" of its affairs. 

I. Jesus Said False Prophets (i.e. False Christian Faiths) can be Known by their Fruits

He said, "A good tree cannot bear bad fruit...By their fruits you will know them." Mt 7:18

Many counterfeit Christians disagree with Jesus claiming it is wrong to judge Christians by their fruits/works (actions, and beliefs).  While others say Jesus could not be right. Why?  Because the tree they belong to bear bad fruit.  Jesus said, "look at their fruit".  Some apostates say, "look at their history." Looking at their history rather than their fruit can be deceiving.  For example,

• One could easily assume the Christian faith that existed first, is the true faith. But does that faith bear bad fruit, practice serious sins? If it does then as Jesus said it is not a good tree.  A good tree does not bear bad fruit.
  

• One could also assume that a religion that has made no changes to its teachings must be the true religion because of their erroneos belief that the true religion must be infallible in matters of faith.  Again the question is, does that religion bear bad fruit?  And if God reveals information gradually why as it not made any changes to its teachings?
  

• One could also easily assume that the true Christian faith is not the true faith, if its history is looked at in a negative way.  Reason being, in its infancy wheat tends to look like weeds.  It is not until the harvest [a time of separation, before the harvest imitation Christians grew alongside true Christians] when the wheat is fully grown that a clear distinction can be made between the wheat and the weeds.  We now live in the time when a clear distinction can be made._ Mt 3:12; Rev 14:15; Mt 13:24-30
  

14. THEY LACK TRUE FAITH 

A. They Suffer From the World’s Fears 

“Happy is the man in fear of God…he will not be afraid even of bad news…his heart is unshakable he will not be afraid.”  Ps 112:1,7,8

• They Fear death [Heb 2:15; Heb 11:6] - “.. and [that] he might emancipate all those who for fear of death were subject to slavery all through their lives.” Death is the end of life.  Is this end permanent?40  That depends on the individual. 40b The following are myths that appear in their teachings of death, a sign they lack faith in God.__Heb 11:6
  

Once someone exists they can never stop existing.

Christians may get to heaven in a space shuttle

There is life after death before resurrection.

God takes people in death to be with him.

Soul has not fallen asleep in death

A person does not have to die to enter heaven.

Christians do not experience physical death

• They Fear men [ Mt 10:28] - “And do not become fearful of those who kill the body but cannot destroy the soul; but rather be in fear of him [God] who can destroy both soul and body in Gehenna [Hellfire].”
  

• They Fear calamity [ Lu 21:25-31] - “Also there will be signs in the sun and moon and stars, and on the earth anguish of nations not knowing the way out because of the roaring of the sea and [its] agitation, while men become faint out of fear and expectation of the thing coming upon the inhabited earth..”
  

• They have Superstitious Fears - Fear that not being in church before midnight on New Year’s Eve will cause bad luck the rest of the year or that the year will not start off right.  In other lands they have other customs to ward of ill fortune for the New Year.  They co-opted a pagan custom and picked up the fear that went along with it.  Other examples of superstitious fear include not putting one’s bag on the floor for fear of poverty, and turning around 7 times when a black cat crosses one’s path. 
  

____List Taken from Make Sure of All Things Hold Fast to What is Fine. Friendship with the World,  Watchtower Bible and Tract Society of NewYork, 1985

B. They Use Material Objects of Devotion to Bring Them Safety and Blessings - Apostate Christians look to dungy idols, valueless objects of devotion…valueless gods, for safety and blessing instead of putting their full trust in God. E.g. Man made images; crucifixes; miniature shrines; house Scapular; Saint Christopher charms, medals, etc.  Saint Christopher is the patron saint of safety- the god of safety.

god-  

• 1: capitalized : the supreme or ultimate reality: as a: the Being perfect in
  

power, wisdom, and goodness who is worshipped as creator and ruler of

the universe41

• 2: a being or object believed to have more than natural attributes and powers and to require human worship ; specifically : one controlling a particular aspect or part of reality42
  

• 3: anything that is worshiped can be termed a god, inasmuch as the worshiper attributes to it might greater than his own and venerates it.43  
  

• 4: a venerated object or person; anything that takes center-stage in one’s life placed above spiritual service e.g., fleshly desires: riches, one’s belly.44
  

C. They Seek Help From the Spirit Realm when Divine Help is Slow in Coming - In times of distress when help from above is not speedy they seek help from the spirit world (e.g., psychics, spirit mediums, necromancy manuals, etc).

D. They Doubt the Bible is Truly the Infallible Word of God - With the copying and recopying of the Bible many wonder if mistakes have not crept in.45  Others have doubts because of additional books found in some versions that are not in other versions, as well as minor discrepancies in different versions and what they believe to be contradictions in Bible.  This as caused many to doubt whether the Bible contains the original information that the Bible writers received from God.46  They lack full trust in God that he can preserve his Book for over 2,000 years from those who hate it or would make changes to it to suit their own beliefs.

E. They Practice Bad Works -  If true faith produce [righteous] works, then the fact that counterfeit Christians practice [bad] works is proof they lack true faith.

F. They Doubt God will Reward Those Earnestly Seeking Him

NOTEWORTHY: A Christian who has true faith will have along with accurate beliefs; a wholesome fear of God, and full trust in God

15. THEY CO-OPTED PAGAN FESTIVALS & USE THEM IN WORSHIP

“Watch out for yourself for fear you may not be entrapped after them, and for fear you may inquire respecting their gods, saying, “How was it these nations used to serve their gods?  And I, yes, I will do the same way.”__  Deut 12:30-32

Apostate Christians in defiance to God’s command have chosen to worship as the nations do with every occasion a time for either — merrymaking, feasting or giving gifts. They fail to heed the warning at Deut. 12: 30-32 choosing instead to adopt pagan festivals and continue their pagan way of worship.  They disguised their wicked deed by renaming these festivals but their evil would not remain hidden forever.  The following is a list of pagan religious festivals that were adopted and renamed. Special Church service is held on these days.  None of these services honor God.

A. Christmas [the day pago-Christians celebrate the birth of Christ] - The most popular of the Christian holidays- Christmas, has it roots in sun worship.  The date December 25th was already observed by the people of Rome as the Feast of Saturn, in which they celebrate the birthday of Mithras the Sun god.  This festive day was adopted and used as the birthday of the Son of God.  Most of the Christmas customs and traditions now prevailing are heathen customs (Saturnalia and Yule) that have been absorbed or tolerated by the church.46  Christmas is also called Christ Mass, Xmas, and Yule Tide.  Aside from its pagan customs the holiday is polluted with religious lies. They practice sin in Jesus name. 

B. Easter [named after eastre the goddess of spring and fertility] - Easter is a combination of pagan and Christian.  Easter [resurrection Sunday] takes its name from Eastre, the Anglo-Saxon Teutonic goddess of spring and fertility and the sister of Baal.  The Germanic people referred to her as Ostara; the Canaanites and Phoenicians called her Astarte [Ashtoreth].  Customs that are associated with Easter, such as the Easter rabbit and egg, as well as the dating of Easter can be traced back to the festival dedicated to the goddess.  Eastre’s festival symbolized rebirth/spring.  Apostate Christians consider Jesus’ resurrection a rebirth and so they combined Eastre’s festival with Jesus’ resurrection.   The dating of Jesus’ resurrection is calculated using the vernal equinox [an indicator of spring] so that it falls close to the festival of the spring goddess.  Easter is the 1st Sunday on or after the vernal equinox.  “Everywhere they hunt the many-colored Easter eggs, brought by the Easter rabbit.  This is not mere child’s play, but the vestige of a fertility rite, the eggs and the rabbit both symbolizing fertility.  Furthermore, the rabbit was the escort of the Germanic goddess Ostara who gave the name to the festival by the way of the German Ostern.”  [Dictionary of Folklore, Mythology and Legend] Other customs associated with Easter, such as the Hot Crossed buns of Good Friday, and the dyed eggs of Pasch or Easter Sunday go as far back as ancient Babylon where they were once a part of Chaldean [Babylonian] rites.

C. Halloween  - Customs connected to Halloween can be traced back to a Druid ceremony in pre-Christian times.  The Celts had festivals for major gods…a sun god called Baal, and a god of the dead called Samhain.  The festival that occurred on the evening of October 31 was called Samhain or La Samon.  The Celts believe that on this night [October 31] the veil between the living and the dead was so thin that Samhain; the god of the dead, allowed the souls of the dead to return to their earthly homes.  “In the A.D. 800’s, the Church established All Saint’s Day on November 1 so that the people could continue a festival they had celebrated before becoming Christians.  The Mass that was said on this day was called All Hallow Mass.  The evening before became known as All Hallowe’en or Halloween.”__ The World Book Encyclopedia, Vol. 9, 1982

D. Valentine’s day  - Valentine’s custom comes from an ancient Roman festival called Lupercalia, which took place every February 15.  The festival honored Juno, the Roman goddess of women and Pan, the god of nature.  This lewd superstitious custom was adopted and given the name of a Catholic saint called Valentine.  The lewdness of this holiday continues even today with fornicators offering an intimate night to their partners as a Valentine’s gift.  With some (e.g.,teenagers, young adults) giving their virginity as a gift on that day.  The winged infant with the bow and arrow commonly associated with this holiday is the god Cupid, son of Venus, the Roman goddess of love.

E. Birthdays  - The custom of celebrating birthdays has its origin in the realm of magic and religion. The customs of offering congratulations presenting gifts and celebrating…complete with lighted candles… in ancient times were meant to protect the birthday celebrant from the demons and to ensure his security for the coming year.48 The blowing out of the candles began with the Greek goddess of the moon Artemis. On her birthday, lighted candles on cakes that were as round as the moon, were placed on alters within the temple.  During the festival the candles were blown out with one breath, and Artemis would gaze favorably upon her worshipers.49  Birthday candles, in folk belief, are endowed with special magic for granting wishes.50  Birthday celebrants are usually ask to make a wish and then blow out the candles. Up until the 4th century Christianity rejected the birthday celebration as a pagan custom.51 Birthday celebration is not only linked to magic, it is also linked to divination with birthday celebrants acquiring birthstones which are associated with the zodiac/sun sign astrology.  Horoscope and natal charts (a horoscope calculated for the birth of a child) are used to gain information about an individual using their birth date._ (Deut 18:11,12)   Among some Jewish sects birthdays are viewed as a special day because on that day one's Mazal, good fortune, shines extra strong. Others consider it a pagan custom.  Birthdays are also used to honor men, organizations, and nations which is idolatry.  For example, Elvis Presley's birthday, Martin Luther King's birthday, and America's birthday--Independence Day.

F. Thanksgiving -    Thanksgiving celebration comes from pagan harvest festivals.  Thanksgiving Day was intended to be a day of patriotism and religion.  Sarah Hale who worked for 30 years to make it a holiday wrote:  "Then in every quarter of the globe our nationality would be recognized .... every American... would thrill his soul with the purest feelings of patriotism and the deepest emotions of thankfulness for his religious enjoyments."52 Sarah's dream came through. Thanksgiving has been made into a public holiday in the United States and is a time for people to give thanks to their respective gods.  People of various religions;  Christians, Muslims, Buddhist, Satanist, Hindu’s, and Wiccans participate in the celebration, giving thanks to their own  god on Thanksgiving Day.  Would the true God want any part of a celebration that includes other gods or stem from pagan customs?  Would the true God approve of a so-called Christian land permitting the FREEDOM of ALL RELIGIONS? "The things the nations sacrifice they sacrifice to demons, and not to God; and I do to want you to become sharers with the demons? (1 Co 10:20)  If Thanksgiving was truly Christian, would non-Christians want any part of it? With all so-called "Christian holidays" non-Christians are selective, participating only in the pagan part and tossing the Christian part e.g, Easter and Christmas, both a combination of Christian and pagan.  Apostate Christians on the other hand are not selective, they participate in everything.

G. Mother’s day [mother worship festival]  - “A festival derived from the custom of mother worship in ancient Greece.  Formal mother worship, with ceremonies to Cybele, or Rhea, the Great Mother of the Gods, were performed on the Ides of March throughout Asia Minor.”  [Encyclopedia Britannica: (1959), Vol. 15, p.849] This pagan custom of worshiping mothers was adopted by the church and celebrated on the fourth Sunday of Lent to honor the Mother Church, and possibly Mary, the Mother of Christ, who is considered by many the Mother of God.  The holiday was eventually expanded to include all mothers.  Many mothers expect their children to worship the ground they walk on for creating them (giving birth to them) much like humans are expected to worship the creator for creating them.

H. New year’s   - Babylonians as early as the third millennium B.C.E celebrated New Year’s.53  The celebration was observed in mid-March.  It is said that at that time the god Marduk decided the destiny of the country for the coming year.54 In 46 B.C.E the pagan emperor Julius Caesar decreed New Year’s should be on the 1st day of January, the month which was dedicated to Janus the Roman god of gates, doors, and beginnings.  The date of New Year’s changed from mid-March to January, but the carnival atmosphere persisted.  As in ancient Babylon, superstitious rituals play a part in New Year’s festivities.  In some areas of South America, many welcome the New Year while standing on their right foot.55  In other countries people make sure New Year’s catch them inside of a church.  Such superstitious rituals, designed to ward off ill fortune and guarantee prosperity, merely perpetuate the ancient belief that the turn of the year is a time for deciding destinies.

I. Mardi gras  - “Mardi Gras also known as Shrove Tuesday or Carnival is an annual festival marking the final day before the Christian fast of Lent, a 40-day period of self-denial and abstinence from merrymaking.  Mardi Gras is the last opportunity for revelry and indulgence in food and drink before the temperance of Lent.”  [Encarta.msn.com] Mardi Gras is celebrated in some parts of the United States and in a few other countries.  Mardi Gras celebration goes back to an ancient Roman custom of merrymaking before a period of fast.  Secret societies known as Krewes organize and pay for the parades and other festivities.  These secret societies are named after Greek and Roman gods and goddesses.  Examples of these gods and goddesses include the krewe of Rex and Comus, Roman gods of night life and pleasure [nocturnal entertainment]; the krewe of Venus, Roman goddess of love; the krewe of Bacchus, Roman god of wine and intoxication.  Visitors to Mardi Gras usually return with souvenirs such as a necklace portraying the Roman god Bacchus.

J. All souls day [day of the dead]   - A day set apart in the Roman Catholic church for the commemoration of the faithfully departed.56  “Essentially, All Souls is the adoption of an almost worldwide custom of setting aside a part of the year [usually the last part] for the dead.  The Babylonians observed a monthly feast of All Souls in which sacrifices were made by priests.  The Greek commemorative feast of All Souls was held on the last day of the Anthestheria; the Romans celebrated theirs during Parentalia… In China and Japan the ceremony in honor of the dead is known as the Feast of Lanterns.  In many Catholic countries the belief that the dead return on this day [All Souls Day] is so strong that food is left on the tables [Tirol, Italy] and people [France, Italy, Germany] still decorate the graves of their dead.”__ Funk & Wagnalls Standard Dictionary of Folklore, Mythology and Legend, New York; 1949, Vol. 1, p.38

Apostate Christians have kept ancient mythological gods alive through the adoption of pagan religious festivals.  How many people would know of Cupid if it were not for Valentine’s Day? How many would know of Bacchus if it were not for Mardi Gras? (Ex 20:1-3) God, who is wisest of all, knows that adopting heathen customs would not make them holy.  Rather than being holy they would be an entrapment into false worship.  These pagan holidays that apostates claim are sanctified by there adoption into the church are polluted with lies, deception, revelries, idolatry, pagan tradition, loose conduct, drunken bouts, and spiritism all of which are detestable to the true God.  Christendom’s members find these holidays so enjoyable that they will not give them up.  Are they trapped into false worship? “Absolutely!” The ancient Jews did a similar thing.  They adopted a pagan religious custom from Egypt and renamed it a festival to Yahweh (Jehovah).  Since they put Jehovah’s name on it, they assumed their worship would be acceptable to Him. How wrong they were! Jehovah removed the names of three thousand Jews from his Book of Life because it. Shunning practices that God disapproves of should in no way deprive true Christians of happiness.  Genuine love for one’s heavenly Father will cause true Christians to rejoice not over unrighteousness but with truth.

16. THEY CLAIM INFALLIBILITY IN PROPHESY INTERPRETATION

“…when a prophet speaks in the name of Jehovah and the word does not occur or come true, that is the word that Jehovah did not speak.  With presumptuousness the prophet spoke it.  You must not get frightened at him.”  Deut 18:22

“Woe to the one who calls a righteous man wicked and a wicked man righteous.”

Only God is infallible- incapable of making errors.  When some deny infallibility in matters of faith, many claim they are infallible in prophesy.

Deuteronomy 18:22 is often misapplied because many believe the gifts of the spirit such as the gift of prophesying--INSPIRED telling forth of messages from God-- have not ceased and are still signs used to determine whether a prophet is of God.  But did not the scriptures say that “speaking in tongues is a sign to unbelievers but prophesying is a sign for believers”?  This was true when the gifts of the spirit abound in the 1st century, but today the same does not hold true.  Why?  All the gifts have ceased.  Christians today do not have the miraculous gifts of the spirit [e.g., tongues, prophesying, or interpretation of prophesy, etc.] bestowed upon the Christians of the 1st century and prophets of the Old Testament.  So none of what Christians say today can be considered INSPIRED- INFALLIBLE. Therefore, these gifts which have been done away with cannot be used to detect a true prophet from false ones.  *Correct understanding of Bible prophesy would still be made available by God but not through a supernatural gift e.g., Joseph’s ability to interpret prophetic dreams or the gift of discernment of inspired utterances granted to some first-century Christians (1 Cor 12:10), but through diligent study and investigation of the Bible which is not infallible.58  Error in interpretation of Bible prophesies does not in itself make a religion a false prophet (one who does not speak God's Word), since none are infallible.  The religion has to be looked at in its entirety.  A claim of infallibility in any matter relating to faith is a mark of false prophets.

Why did the gifts cease?  With the maturity of the Christian congregation and completion of the Bible it was no longer necessary to use miraculous gifts [supernatural abilities] to determine whether a prophet is of God.29_ 1Co 13:8, 9

Since the gifts have been done away with, what rule is there for believers and unbelievers to use in determining whether a prophet is true or false?  Jesus gave the rule when he said, “By their fruits you will recognize them”.  Since false prophets [false religions] are recognized by their bad fruits, one needs to ask oneself the following questions:  ‘Are the fruits produced by my religion righteous or wicked?’  For example: ‘Are its teachings based solidly on God’s Word the Bible; or are they based on the commands and traditions of men, paganism, spiritism, doctrines of demons? Are they coming through compromise, are they rooted in Hellenism [pagan Greek thought/philosophies] and so forth? Are its deeds in harmony with God’s written word?’  ‘Is my religion/church teaching its members to do the will of the Father which is necessary for them to be saved?’   Make no mistake!  Just as accepting Christ Jesus [God’s Son] is essential to true worship, doing the will of his Father [God] is as essential.__ Matt 7:21

*Many will look at the true church and call it a cult, or a false church,  because it does not go along with their apostate teachings and practices, or because it makes adjustments to its teachings.  There are 4 reasons why changes must be made:

• God reveals information gradually, thus, what was once believed in the new light of scripture must be adjusted.
  

• “Keep finding out what is acceptable to the Lord...”   If by searching the scriptures they realize that certain practices or teachings are not in harmony with God’s written Word, they must make the necessary changes.
  

• They accept the teachings of the Christian world until they have reasons to believe otherwise.  Because in the creeds of the churches, “elements of truth” have been buried under a morass of pagan teachings that had infiltrated Christendom during the centuries-long apostasy.59  God would revive true worship in the Last Days.  The true church will not go along with Christendom’s long cherished errors.
  

• Since true Christians are not infallible, and since they do not have the gift of prophesy or interpretation of prophesy (both of which have been done away with) if an error occurs, it must be corrected if they are to remain in truth.
  

All 4 reasons cause the path of the righteous to get lighter and lighter. “The path of the righteous ones is like the bright light that is getting lighter and lighter until the day is firmly established.”  (Proverbs 4:18; John 16:13)  Therefore, members of the true Christian faith must be pliable. Those belonging to false faiths are not pliable. Once they learn something even if later it is found to be wrong, they will not change.  Four reasons for their rigidness include:

• They believe the true church is incapable of errors in matters of faith e.g., doctrines, morals, and especially prophesy interpretation.
  

• They love the darkness (unrighteousness) rather than the light (truth). “Now this is the basis for judgment, the light has come into the world but men have loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were wicked”.__ Joh 3:19; Job 24:13; Isa 5:20; Joh 12;48
  

• God has allowed an operation of error to go to them that they may get to believe the lies they teach are truths.  Why?  Because they refuse to believe the truth when they hear it, preferring instead unrighteousness.  
  

• Satan has blinded their minds so the truth might not shine through.
  

A few people will see the truth and change but the vast majority are destined for destruction because they will not see. "Narrow is the gate and cramped the road leading off into life and few are the ones finding it."

17. THEY WORSHIP THE BEAST AND ITS IMAGE

“If anyone worships the wild beast and its image, and receives a mark on his forehead or upon his hand, he will also drink of the wine of the anger of God that is poured out undiluted into the cup of his wrath.”  (Rev 14:9-12)  "And they worshiped the dragon [Satan] because it gave the authority to the wild beast, and they worshiped the wild beast with the words: “Who is like the wild beast, and who can do battle with it?”

The wild beast is a vicious monster, a brute.  “The seven heads mean seven mountains…and there are seven kings...” (Rev 17:9, 10)  “And the ten horns that you saw mean ten kings…these ones have one though …they will battle with the lamb but because …he is king of kings, the lamb [Jesus Christ], will conquer them.” The beast is a political wild beast, and is antichrist as can be seen with the horns [militaristic portion of the beast] doing battle with the lamb.  True Christians are pro-Christ.  They cannot and will not give their support nor lend a hand of assistance to the antichrist kings of the earth and their kingdoms U.S.A included. (Ps 2:2)  Any Christian who lend a hand of assistance and cooperation to any portion of this antichrist political wild beast, actively taking part in its campaigns and nationalistic plans and projects, wear its mark.  The mark is a mark of identification to show to whom or to what a person belongs or to which God a person renders sacred service. Christian idolaters consider the object of their patriotic nationalistic adoration worthy of praise however God considers it a hideous blasphemous thing.60 Nationalism and patriotism are subtle forms of idolatry, and are ways in which apostate Christians worship the political wild beast of Revelation. Invisibly printed on their forehead and upon their hand is the mark of the beast, 666. ___Rev. 14:11

18.  WOMEN PERMITTED TO BE PASTORS

“Let the women keep silent with full submissiveness. I do not permit a woman to teach, or to exercise authority over a man, but to be in silence.”  1 Tim 2: 11, 12; 1 Co 14:33, 34; Gen 3:16

In the Christian congregation women are required to be in full submissiveness they are not permitted to teach__pastor a congregation. 

Does this mean women are not permitted to speak at all in the congregation?  No.  Women must keep silent means they must show full submissiveness in the congregation not trying to exercise authority over men or argue with them.61  When they speak it must be in a position of subjection.  At 1 Corinthians 1:2; 11:3,5,10,13 women when 'praying or prophesying' in the presence of their husbands or in the congregation must wear a head covering as a "Sign of Authority".62  Because women are not permitted to teach, or exercise authority over a man, they cannot be pastors whose job it is to teach and exercise authority over men and at times discipline them.  Christian women are permitted to take the lead in the Christian congregation in the absence of men qualified to teach (baptized or unbaptized) and at home in the absence of their husbands.  In the business world a woman can be head over a man e.g., be his boss.

Jesus gave Peter the 3 keys (divinely provided knowledge) of the kingdom of the heavens and whatever Peter may bind on earth will be the thing bound in the heavens, and whatever he may loose on earth will be the thing loosed in the heavens. (Matt 16:19)   In other words, whatever Peter forbids on earth must be what is already forbidden in heaven, and whatever he permits on earth must be what is already permitted in heaven.  It was Peter who said, “...I do not permit a woman to teach, or to exercise authority over a man but to be in silence.  For Adam was formed first, then Eve.”  Paul was also in agreement when he said, “…let the women keep silent in the congregations, for it is not permitted for them to speak, but let them be in subjection, even as the laws says”.  (Matt 18:18) To allow women to be pastors, the true church would have to loose what both Peter and Paul bound on earth, and permit what is forbidden in heaven.  The true Church does not have the authority to change, add, or remove anything from the Holy Scriptures.

What is the difference between a prophetess and a priestess?  A prophetess is a woman who prophesies or carries on the work of a prophet.63  A priestess on the other hand is one who does the work of a priest.64 Although some women of the 1st century had the “gift of prophesy” they still had to subject themselves to the headship of their husbands or to that of men within the Christian congregation.65 Christian women are permitted to preach and teach God’s Word to those OUTSIDE the Christian congregation.  In Bible times there were no female priestesses/pastors.  This was, and is strictly forbidden within God’s arrangement.  (Phil 4:3; Ps 68:11; Acts 21:19; Tit 2:3)  Female priestesses/pastors are found only in false Christian religions.__ Eph 5:21, 22; 1Co 14: 33, 34

A Christian religion or church that was started by a woman or is led by a woman does not have God's approval. Worship God on his terms not mans'.

"For a Certainty I perceive that God is not partial, but in every nation the man that fears him and works righteousness is acceptable to him."__Acts 10:34,35

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All Refs.- Taken from books, Public Talks, Watchtower  and On-line articles published by Jehovah's Witnesses unless otherwise stated.

22a- http://bible.cc/matthew/23-24.htm

"Faith Alone"

Christians believe  salvation is not  dependent on works. Yet, they condemn certain religious groups to an Eternal Hellfire because of their works [actions and beliefs]

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