Jerusalem (The Church) and the Prophet

Article yE 1990

Although the New Testament does not speak as much about prophets as does the Old Testament yet it does speak of them. Some New Testament Scriptures concerning prophets after the time of Pentecost are, "And in these days came prophets from Jerusalem unto Antioch" (Acts 11:27). "And as we tarried there many days, there come down from Judea a certain prophet, named Agabus" (Acts 21:10). "Now there were in the church that was at Antioch certain prophets and teachers..." (Acts 13:1). “And Judas and Silas, being prophets also themselves, exhorted the brethren with many words, and confirmed then" (Acts 15:32). And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets..." (l Cor 12:28). "Let the prophets speak two or three, and let the other judge" (1 Cor 14:32). "Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit;" (Eph 3:5). "And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;" (Eph 4:11). Jesus speaking of prophets which could involve prophets of the New Testament era said, "He that receiveth a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet's reward..." (Matt 10:41). "...A prophet is not without honor, save in his own country, and in his own house..." (Matt 13:57). yE-1

Repeatedly throughout history God has called out individuals which were called prophets to perform a special work for Him. God throughout history often used prophets as instruments through which he endeavored to call His chosen people Israel back to that standard of true worship which He could bless with Spiritual power and salvation. God told His prophet's to, "Cry aloud, spare not, lift up thy voice like a trumpet, and shew my people their transgression, and the house of Jacob their sins" (Isaiah 58:1). It is very true that one must respect and be open to the light of Jerusalem or his brother and that often such light is correct. Yet today in 1990 there is an element among God's beloved church which largely teaches the following; firstly that God no longer reveals his will to one individual but rather will only and always speak through Jerusalem, secondly that if one's conviction, revelation, or experience does not fit in or flow with the Spiritual standard of which Jerusalem is upholding then this individual's conviction, revelation, or experience is assuredly in error, and thirdly this element simply teaches that God will no longer call one individual to show Jerusalem her sins (Spiritual need). This element places much confidence in that the reasoning, thinking, and proving of the majority needs be right. This element places much emphases in that one should trust his brother, the majority, and the church. This element teaches quite strongly that all should focus at the good that is within Jerusalem. This element places to much security in the doctrine of the church and glories therein in a wrong way. This element places much emphases on the thought that God has a one and true church but seems to forget that God does not always have a one and true church because even though His church is to be one, His church is not always true as it's drifting into error is repeatedly revealed throughout history. This element places a wrong emphases on the following Scripture, "...upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it" (Matt 16:18). Jesus in speaking of this vital rock was speaking of the rock upon which apostle Peter's faith in Christ was built, which rock consisted of a revelation from the Father (God). One's faith only saves if it instigated by a revelation from the Father and thus built upon this rock. Jesus sanctioning and blessing Peter's faith in Christ, and speaking of how Peter's faith in Christ was ins instigated by a revelation from the Father, rather than being instigated by human teaching said, "...Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood [human teachings] hath not revealed it [that Christ is the Son of God] unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven. And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven" (Matt 16:17-19). These keys are only given to those who stand upon this rock upon which Peter did. The element which places a wrong emphases on the phrase "and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it" has largely not considered that although the gates of hell will not prevail against the church when it is upon this vital rock, that yet the church has often drifted from it's original and powerful connection to this rock. Yet it is true that Jesus speaking of the very elect portrayed the thought that they could not be deceived saying, "if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect". God has repeatedly through out history brought His church (the elect therein) back to it's original connection to the apostolic Peter rock, even though often times the greater of the church continued to drift from the rock. One should consider how long was the bride all slumbering and sleeping before the midnight cry was made? Revelations 11 speaks of the witnesses of God laying dead (visible yet lacking life as was had earlier) on the streets for 3 1/2 days, just before Christ's second coming, which is for how long? The element which places a wrong emphases on the doctrine of the church firstly seems to not have considered the following Old Testament scriptures which speaking of the city of God, Zion, and Jerusalem say, "God is in the midst or her; she shall not be moved: God shall help her, and that right early" (Psa 46:5), "They that trust in the Lord shall be as mount Zion which cannot be removed but abideth for ever" (Psa 125:1). "...a tabernacle that shall not be taken down: not one of the stakes thereof shall ever be removed, neither shall any of the cords thereof be broken" (Isaiah 33:20), and secondly seems not to have considered that yet often during the old era Jerusalem had drifted far from God and even persecuted the prophets which God sent to them to help them find the faith of their fathers. yE-2

Considering the slumbering of the bride, the witnesses of God being overcome and laying dead on the streets, and the loosening of Satan, which all three were prophesied to care to pass during the period of time preceding the dawn of eternity, could it not be possible that toward the end of the New Testament era, that Jerusalem (the church) would experience many similar things such as did Jerusalem in the old era? If God would awaken one or some at midnight, when the bride is slumbering how would such an one or ones relate to, or fit in, with the rest of the sleeping bride? How will God accomplish the midnight cry? yE-3

The following Scriptures should be considered when considering the relation between the church (Jerusalem) and the prophet. May no one take offense at the following collection of Scriptures but soberly consider the message of each individual text and their message as a whole. God speaking through Isaiah said, "Hear the word of the Lord, ye that tremble at his word; Your brethren that hated you, that cast you out for my names sake, said, Let the Lord be glorified; but he shall appear to your joy, and they shall be ashamed" (Isaiah 66:5). "The Lord God which gathereth the outcasts of Israel saith... His watchmen are blind: they are all ignorant, they are all dumb dogs, they cannot bark; sleeping, lying down loving to slumber. Yea they are greedy dogs which can never have enough, and they are shepherds that cannot understand; they all look to their own way, every one for his gain. from his quarter" (Isaiah 56:8-11, verses 8-12 could all be read). God spoke to Ezekiel saying, "Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel, prophesy and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord God unto the shepherds; woe be to the shepherds of Israel that do feed themselves should not the shepherds feed the flocks? Ye eat the fat, and ye clothe you with the wool, ye kill them that are fed: but ye feed not the flock" (Ezekiel 34:1-2, verses 1-31 should all be read). Jeremiah said, "Take ye heed every one of his neighbor, and trust ye not in any brother: for every brother will utterly supplant, and every neighbor will walk with slanders. Therefore thus saith the Lord of hosts, Behold, I will melt them, and try then; for how shall I do for the daughter of my people?" (Jeremiah 9:4&7, verses 1-9 should all be read). "Trust ye not in lying words, saying, the temple of the Lord, The temple of the Lord, the temple of the Lord, are these" (Jeremiah 7:4). Prophet Micah who prophesied in the days of Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah speaking of conditions of Jerusalem with in that time said, "The good man is perished out of the earth: and there is none upright among men: they all lie in wait for blood: they hunt every man his brother with a net. The best of them is as a brier: the most upright is sharper than a thorn hedge: the day of thy watchmen and visitation cometh; now shall be their perplexity. trust ye not in a friend, put ye not confidence in a guide: keep the doors of thy mouth from her that lieth in thy bosom" (Micah 7:2&4-5, verses 1-6 should all be read). yE-3.5

Apostle Paul speaking of conditions of New Testament Jerusalem said, "For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw disciples after them" (Acts 20:29-30). "Am I therefore become your enemy, because I tell you the truth? They zealously affect you, but not well; yea, they would exclude you, that ye might affect them. But it is good to be zealously affected always in a good thing, and not only when I am present with you" (Ga1.4:16-18). Speaking to the Corinthians Paul said, "But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged of you (Corinthian church?), or of man's judgment: yea, I judge not mine own self" (l Cor 4:3). "...the more abundantly I love you, the less I be loved" (2 Cor 12:15). Apostle John speaking of a need within the new era Jerusalem said, "I wrote unto the church: but Diotrephes, who loveth to have the preeminence among them, receiveth us not. Wherefore, if I come, I will remember his deeds which he doeth, prating against us with malicious words: and not content therewith, neither doth he himself receive the brethren, and forbiddeth them that would, and casteth then out of the church" (3 John 9-10). yE-4

The following Scriptures pertain to trusting God rather than man. "In God I will praise his word, in God I have put my trust: I will not fear what flesh can do unto me. In God have I put my trust: I will not be afraid what man can do unto me" (Psalms 56:4&11). "It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in man. It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in princes" (Psalms 118:8-9). "I, even I, am he that comforteth you: who art thou, that thou shouldest be afraid of man that shall die, and of the son of man which shall be made as grass; And forgettest the Lord thy maker, that hath stretched forth the heavens, and laid the foundations of the earth; and hast feared continually every day because of the fury of the oppressor, as if he were ready to destroy? and where is the fury of the oppressor? (Isaiah 51:12-13). "Thus saith the Lord; Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the Lord" (Jeremiah 17:5). yE-5

(Count 2106 3/4/01)