The Holy Spirit can help saints digest this warning. Just read the NT and cling to John 4:23-24;17:17-23.
Below helps protect Christ’s lovers (Eph 5:11). Don’t be fooled by a religious appearance (John 14:15). Real leaders understand Gd’s word because their job requires it (1 Timothy 3:2); they know how to apply it. Fake ones don’t (Matthew 11:25;13). Shepherds that lead these gatherings are guilty because they claim they can see = John 9:41. The good news is that if they repent, Gd will forgive them!
These are left-hand gatherings. Jesus will put the sheep on his right, goats on his left.
man-made legal entity
Any professed flock of Christ in the U.S. that is a “recognized 501(c)(3)” is the devil’s whore. (A sole proprietor or corporate business “ministry” is the same.) Why? Easy. Because the Scriptures command us not to be unequally yoked. Be ye clean = Isaiah 52:11, Mark 8:15. JC said his kingdom is not of this world; it’s spiritual.
He has physical people on earth. WE go into the world’s beast spaces to profess Christ (streets, work, web [www] w=23, 6 in Hebrew). Sometimes, I hold up Gospel signs on the street, like I’m doing on the web. We can use communication tools and public spaces. But, Christ’s local bodies don’t marry themselves to the enemy’s kingdom.
For example, a spiritual body or personal ministry can’t physically own property, like a gov’t creation or person could. Can a spiritual church have a bank account? No. It’s impossible! Many saints in unfriendly Christian countries are fighting church-gov’t unions with their lives. Early saints did so as well. This search tool will help you find these whore gatherings so you can avoid them.
https://apps.irs.gov/app/eos
anti(in place of)christ structure
We can’t usurp the Scriptures in favor of man. In the NT, we consistently see that all believers in a city/township are one local body. You are automatically a part of the local ecclesia where you reside or where your home base is. Of course, people may split up so that everyone can participate in collective worship. We should go to the gathering closest to us, not the one we prefer.
Our church fathers (or their helpers) eventually chose a body of elders for each town, like the mother ecclesia in Jerusalem = Acts 14:23;15:2. (We see this in the OT as well – Deut 19:12;21). Before that, there are none. Pastor-bishop-elder is used interchangeably. This presbytery works together and oversees things (1 Peter 5)(Acts 11:30;20:17)(James 5:14-16)(1 Timothy 5:17). Pastors don’t operate independently of others in the same city (nor should a man be the only bishop of a city; tiny towns at least 2 or 3). The resurrected Jesus now sits in the seat of Moses (Matt 23). There’s only one King.
We’re commanded to mark & avoid those who divide our local church = Romans 16:17, 1 Corinth 12:25, 1 Corinth 1:10. These imposters must repent or perish = Gal 5:19-21! Jesus says Christ lovers don’t scatter his 🐑 (Matthew 12:30). Like a sheepdog, they gather them and protect them from wolves.
Most “professed Christ bodies” blatantly disobey Gd’s commands and kingdom structure. They traffic in chaos and disorder; everyone is doing their own thing (Acts 20:29-30). That’s not of the Holy Spirit.
This is one reason there are ‘lone’ sheep in cities. A few saints refuse to follow the crowd of evil doers (Exodus 23:2)(Ephesians 5:11), like the Levites, as we see in Rev 2 & 3. Lot was alone and so was Noah. If they can find other saints in these last days, they may gather with each other as they hope for healing of their local church and the universal Body of Christ. We pray without ceasing, regardless.
They don’t give themselves a vanity church name to divide themselves from their local assembly. There are tares among the wheat (Matthew 13:24-30)(Galatians 2:4). We see the church in Jerusalem or Corinth. You could narrow things down by neighborhood. The title of this site describes what it’s about.
Of course, like Noah (2 Peter 2:5), they warn unbelievers and fake or disobedient Christians in their city (Daniel 12:3)(Jude 1:22-23)(James 5:19-20). You may do this for 60+ years and feel hopeless; look at Jeremiah or Isaiah. I understand fleeing persecution, but we shouldn’t move to another city because ours is too wicked (unless the Lord tells you to – Gen 19:15). Though, the Church may be thrown into the wilderness soon as gov’t demands force us to become wandering foreigners. The Holy ecclesia has been in a spiritual wilderness for over a thousand years.
participation is prohibited
When we gather for Christ’s resurrection party, Holy instruction shows that no bums are allowed. There’s also no main headliner with opening acts. Everyone is a star and has something to contribute, though men lead the gathering (1 Peter 2:5-9).
Women can’t teach or participate in biblical discussions, which matches ancient synagogue worship. NT worship has some differences. When I studied the related passages carefully, I saw that women can pray, prophesy, or lead a congregational song during meetings (1 Corinthians 11:4-5). 1 Corinthians 14:23-24 refers to everyone, male and female. So, we know that the word ἀδελφός in verse 26 is used generally in this instance, like in (Matt 7:3)(Acts 13:15), etc. The Word often speaks directly to men because they lead and do authoritative teaching.
quinches the Spirit
These groups practice artificial worship instead of spirit & truth worship that Jesus commands. Gd controls the whole celebration, so it concludes when the Lord decides = Acts 20:7. True collective worship follows NT instructions + operating in your spirit. People have control of their spirits so that things don’t get out of hand = 1 Corinthians 14:32-33. The Word commands that we don’t despise prophesying. Everything said is judged. People will sometimes add to another message. You’ll likely see a theme that no one knows beforehand.
Allowing the Holy Spirit & Word to lead is absolutely necessary so people can see that the real Christ is among them. How else will you know? God-controlled worship can never be replaced by AI. It also helps confirm your worship and teachings are a pleasant fragrance to the Lord (Leviticus 10:1-2)(Malachi 2:3), not a stench.
resists correction
People within a gathering may expose errors in the community. Of course, everyone should test what is said. In 3 John 1, we see that John tried to send teachers to an assembly, but Diotrephes kicked them out and usurped his apostolic authority. Thankfully, other saints tried to help. Truth seekers speak up when someone tries to hinder growth, not follow their vain leader.
In Revelation, we learn that Jesus can send personal messages to believers in cities to encourage them or tell them to repent. He could also send messengers to false Christian gatherings or events to warn people about artificial Christianity. Jesus, the apostles, teachers, etc, went to the religious people of the day.
If people are visited by or stumble upon a messenger, they should be like the ecclesia in Ephesus (Rev 2:2). You may entertain angels (person or spirit) unaware. Try people and investigate! I’ve seen countless “professed Christ assemblies” visited by possible messengers. The people weren’t always bringing truth, but no man could prove them wrong.
The majority of the groups in the U.S. didn’t display the fruit of the Spirit and often called the ‘Romans guards’ on peaceful people. They weren’t humble truth seekers. They didn’t examine the people. They acted like know-it-alls and rolled their eyes at people who questioned what they do or their doctrine. Gd hates a proud heart (Proverbs 6;16:5)(James 4:6)! It appears the leaders don’t know the Scriptures well and neither do their cult followers (John 3:20). The gatherings I observed fell into all the popular sects, such as Protestant, Roman Catholic, or Greek Orthodox.
Believers that LOVE Jesus and walk in truth can defend their beliefs and actions. They would also LOVE correction and rebuke, not resist it.
Other references to confirm this message: Matthew 23, John 13:20, John 18:36, Acts 5:29, Acts 14:23, 1 Corinthians 11,12, 14, 2 Corinthians 6:14, 1 Thessalonians 5:19
Is this message too much for you? Time to walk away = John 6:66