The Divisions of Christianity

The following excerpt is from the book entitled, "The History of the Church and the Local Churches," by Witness Lee

THE DIVISIONS OF CHRISTIANITY

As we have seen, due to the defending of the truth, different opinions were brought in among the so-called Christians. Then these opinions created great divisions. Eventually, western Christianity became the Roman Catholic Church, and eastern Christianity became the Greek Orthodox Church. Besides these two great branches of Christianity, there were the Nestorians in Persia. These were the three great divisions of so-called Christianity by the sixth century. 

Besides these three great divisions, there were many free groups. Because many free groups were breaking off from the general church, some designated the general church as the Catholic Church. Catholic means universal as one. Small free groups were formed because some Christians saw that the so-called general church had become worldly. They attempted to stay in the general church, but eventually they saw that there was no way to help it, so they began to meet by themselves. This happened again and again throughout the church’s history. Again and again free groups were formed. The problem with all these groups, however, was that they did not see the corporate goal of God.

The following Christian groups appeared between the beginning of the Christian religion to the First Council of Nicaea in 325 AD.

• Adamites
• Ebionites
• Elcesaites
• Marcionism
• Nazarenes

The following are groups of Christians appearing between the First Council of Nicaea and the Protestant Reformation which are generally considered extinct as modern and distinct groups.

• Agonoclita
• Beguines and Beghards
• Bogomilism
• Bosnian Church
• Brethren of the Free Spirit
• Catharism
• Donatism
• Dulcinian
• Friends of God
• Patarines

The Reformation (from Latin reformatio, literally "restoration, renewal"), also referred to as the Protestant Reformation, was a schism from the Roman Catholic Church initiated by Martin Luther and continued by John Calvin, Huldrych Zwingli, and other early Protestant Reformers in 16th century Europe.

THE LORD’S RECOVERY

Some of us may feel that the Lord’s recovery started with Martin Luther, but we need to realize that the Lord’s recovery with His overcomers began in the second century. Within a short time after the completion of the divine revelation, the church fell into degradation, so there was the need of a recovery. The Lord’s recovery began immediately after the degradation of the church came in. The line of the Lord’s recovery started in the second century and has continued throughout the centuries.

Throughout the centuries those who loved the Lord would not go along with worldly Christianity. They desired to keep the Lord’s word as much as they could. They desired to live with a pure conscience and worship God according to what they saw from the Scriptures. But I have to stress again and again that they were not clear about God’s corporate goal. This is why the Lord’s coming has been delayed even to this day. Regardless of how many groups of Christians there are on this earth, as long as there is no proper church life, the Lord does not yet have His goal.

We need to have the realization that we are the "church people." Day by day we are "churching." Churching is our work. We are the church. We are not denominational, interdenominational, or non-denominational. We are the church people. We are in the recovery of the Lord’s goal. This recovery is not the recovery of justification by faith, salvation, or sanctification. We are in the recovery of the church, which includes the recovery of all the foregoing items.

(The History of the Church and the Local Churches, Chapter 1, by Witness Lee)

The Prophet Malachi

Malachi - was the last of the Nevi'im/Old Testament prophets and his story dates back to 460-450 B.C. Not only did this ancient prophet see the Israelites returning to their old, wicked habits, but he vividly predicted a judgment to be delivered by a Messiah.  

Perhaps one of the most mysterious of the Minor Prophets, Malachi's early beginnings are extremely elusive and according to the 1897 Easton's Bible Dictionary, it is possible that Malachi is not a proper name, but simply means "messenger of YHWH". However, many scholars and theologians agree the ancient seer prophesied after Haggai and Zechariah (Malachi 1:10; 3:1, 3:10) during the reign of the Persian Empire.   

The editors of the 1906 Jewish Encyclopedia speculated that he delivered his prophecies about 420 BCE, after the second return of Nehemiah from Persia (Book of Nehemiah 13:6), or possibly before his return, comparing Malachi 2:8 with Nehemiah 13:15 (Malachi 2:10-16 with Nehemiah 13:23).   

Other theories arise as to the elusive prophet's identity ... 

"Some scholars note affinities between Zechariah 9–14 and the Book of Malachi. Zechariah 9, Zechariah 12, and Malachi 1 are all introduced as The word of Elohim. Many scholars argue that this collection originally consisted of three independent and anonymous prophecies, two of which were subsequently appended to the Book of Zechariah (as what scholars refer to as Deutero-Zechariah) with the third becoming the Book of Malachi. As a result, most scholars consider the Book of Malachi to be the work of a single author who may or may not have been identified by the title Malachi. ." (from Wikipedia.com)   

"The Jews of his day ascribed the Book of Malachi, the last book of prophecy, to Ezra but if Ezra's name was originally associated with the book, it would hardly have been dropped by the collectors of the prophetic canon who lived only a century or two subsequent to Ezra's time. Certain traditions ascribe the book to Zerubbabel and Nehemiah; others, still, to Malachi, whom they designate as a Levite and a member of the "Great Synagogue." Certain modern scholars, however, on the basis of the similarity of the title (compare Malachi 1:1 to Zechariah 9:1 and Zechariah 12:1), declare it to be anonymous. Professor G.G. Cameron, suggests that the termination of the word "Malachi" is adjectival, and equivalent to the Latin angelicus, signifying "one charged with a message or mission" (a missionary). The term would thus be an official title; and the thought would not be unsuitable to one whose message closed the prophetical canon of the Old Testament." (from Wikipedia.com)

Because the name of Malachi does not occur elsewhere in the Bible, some biblical historians doubt whether "Malachi" is intended to be the personal name of the prophet. None of the other prophets or prophetic books of the Hebrew Bible, as well as the Greek Old Testament, are anonymous. Many historians find a connection between Haggai and Malachi, with Haggai being expressly designated a "messenger of Elohim" (Haggai 1:13).  

Opinions also vary as to the prophet's exact date, but nearly all scholars agree that Malachi prophesied during the Persian period, and after the reconstruction and dedication of the second temple in 516 BCE (Malachi 1:10; Malachi 3:1, Malachi 3:10). The prophet speaks of the "people's governor" (Malachi 1:8), as do Haggai and Nehemiah (Haggai 1:1; Nehemiah 5:14; Nehemiah 12:26).   

The social conditions portrayed appear to be those of the period of the Restoration. More specifically, Malachi probably lived and labored during the times of Ezra and Nehemiah. The abuses which Malachi mentions in his writings correspond so exactly with those which Nehemiah found on his 2nd visit to Jerusalem in 432 BCE (Nehemiah 13:7) that it seems reasonably certain that he prophesied during the time of Nehemiah or shortly after.  

The debate will probably continue as to Malachi's identity, wondering was this Ezra or Nehemiah or Zechariah or an unnamed individual, yet one thing remains clear, this prophet of antiquity pointed out the polluted offerings of Israel, the corrupt priests and the infidelity of the people of that time. Malachi also informed through his dire messages that one day a great messenger would come and with him would bring the "Great Day of the Lord".   

In closing, it is interesting to note, the present division of the oracles (prophets) results in a total of twelve books of "minor prophets" — a number that parallels the 12 tribes of Israel. In this respect, many believe Malachi - whether that was his name or title - was indeed an individual in his own right. The Catholic Encyclopedia asserts that "We are no doubt in presence of an abbreviation of the name Mál'akhîyah, that is Messenger of Elohim."

“Remember the Law of Moses, my servant, which I commanded him in Horeb for all Israel, With the statutes and judgments. Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord." ~ Malachi 4:4-5

Eclipse Warning: History Shows America Headed for Judgment

[This is an exclusive article that was found on the website,  WND]

Eclipse Warning: History Shows America Headed for Judgment

Pastor Mark Biltz explains significance of 'signs in the sky'. 

The day has finally come. Millions will look skyward as a path of darkness cuts across the entire United States for the first time in a century. 

Some wonder if the rare event has any significance beyond producing awe and wonder. 

Pastor Mark Biltz, the man who discovered the Blood Moons phenomenon and the author of the new book, God’s Day Timer, believes it does. 

“God said He created the sun, moon and stars for signs at creation,” Biltz said. “As Earth is the only place in the solar system that can witness these rare events, that’s why God filled this place with humanity. Jesus said in the Gospel of Luke that there would be signs in the sun, moon and stars at His coming. Believers who are aware and dismiss this eclipse are as Lot, who mocked the coming destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah and had to be dragged out.” 

Biltz cautioned believers not to interpret the eclipse as a sure sign of the Last Days or of certain doom. He argues the reason God sends such messages to mankind is to offer a way for believers to avert judgment. 

“I do not believe that destruction is predetermined; it can be postponed, mitigated or even eliminated depending on our response to God’s message,” Biltz told WND. “I do not believe in the ‘end of the world’ scenarios others teach, as I believe humanity is here for at least another 1,000 years. I do not believe anything apocalyptic will happen during the eclipse either.” 

But what is God’s message? Biltz said history indicates judgment is on the way unless America’s Christians repent. 

“I do believe we are headed for major judgment, based on scientific and historical data tied to biblical prophecy. In Matthew 24, Jesus discusses His coming as being similar to the days of Noah and Lot. He also ties the generation that will see His coming to the restoration of the nation of Israel.

“The timing is significant. God gave Noah’s generation a 120-year warning. It just so happens this year is the 120th anniversary of the first Zionist Congress held by Theodore Herzel on August 29, 1897. It also just so happens that very day was the first of Elul, and here we have the eclipse happening at the new moon of the month of Elul, beginning the month of repentance! This year is also the 100th anniversary of the Balfour Declaration presented on November 2, 1917, which just so happens to be the very day Noah’s flood rains began! This is also the 70th anniversary of Israel becoming a nation and the 50th anniversary of recapturing Jerusalem!” 

Biltz argues the world is going through a historic time that could presage the return of the Messiah. 

“This time of trouble is likened to birth pains,” he said. “Who can deny the travail the world is currently going through? In the Gospel of Luke, chapter 21, it mentions the generation that sees Israel born in a day, the one that is the terminal generation before Messiah comes, will also be the one to see the signs in the heavens! Here we have had the blood moons on the biblical holy days. Now we have the sun eclipsed at the beginning of the month of repentance.” 

But the eclipse isn’t the only sign on the way. On Sept. 23, on the Feast of Trumpets, or Rosh Hashanah, there will be another sign in the sky. 

“There will be a confirmation of celestial events as described in the Book of Revelation,” Biltz said. “Revelation 12: 1-2 reads: ‘A great sign was seen in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars. She was with child. She cried out in pain, laboring to give birth.’ 

“The woman clothed with the sun is the constellation Virgo and represents the nation of Israel,” he said. “The 12 stars represent the 12 tribes of Israel. 

“Interestingly, the constellation Leo, the Lion, which is above Virgo, is made up of nine stars. The Lion represents specifically the tribe of Judah. It just so happens this year during the Days of Awe, three planets will join the constellation Leo making up 12 stars. Virgo will be clothed with the sun, and the moon will be under her feet, fulfilling this sign to precise detail!” 

Biltz further points out that the tiny nation of Israel has become a major geopolitical focus.  

“We are told Israel and Jerusalem were to become the focus of the world and it has,” Biltz said. “Jesus says when all these things are happening to look up! That is what I will be doing at the end of September! And I say if nothing happens by the end of October, then we’ve temporarily dodged a bullet – and we wait for the next Rosh Hashanah!”

Prophetic Newspaper Clipping, 1975

                                                                                                                                                                                                   

The following article was obtained from the website entitled, FromTheTrenchesWorldReport.com

Newspaper Clipping from Oct 13, 1975.

Posted on September 19, 2014 by Paul

Here is an old C.G. newspaper clipping a mother saved in her Bible.

She had been a school teacher and believed prophesy, so she always kept up on issues, long before most ever thought of them here.   

If this is not describing our current 21st century world, then you are grossly misinformed about current events! The ancient prophets, such as Daniel, foretold long ago that madness and mayhem would arise during the End Times (Daniel 11:31). Even Jesus himself prophesied of such things happening (Matthew 24:7-29). 

Not sure who the mother/schoolteacher was, but she definitely recognized a prophetic connection long before it became a mainstream media affair in our current times.

The Hebrew Birthright Blessing

Birthright Definition:

• 1) This word denotes the special privileges and advantages belonging to the first-born son among the Hebrews (later to become known as the Jews). He became the priest of the family. 

• 2) The first-born son had allotted to him also a double portion of the paternal inheritance (Deuteronomy 21:15-17). 

• 3) The first-born inherited the judicial authority of his father, whatever it might be. (2 Chronicles 21:3).  

• 4) As first-born he has an inheritance superior to his brethren, and is the alone true priest.

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Throughout the Hebrew Bible, which Christianity and Islam has adopted into their own theologies, it is recorded that many firstborn sons were bestowed with the Hebrew birthright blessing. The birthright is emphasized in the Bible because it honored the rights or privileges of the family’s firstborn son. After the father died, or in the father’s absence, the firstborn son assumed the father’s authority and responsibilities. In addition to assuming the leadership role in the family, the recipient of the birthright inherited twice that received by the other sons. In cases where a husband might have more than one wife, the birthright always went to the firstborn son of the father and could not be awarded to the son of a favorite wife without proper justification (Deuteronomy 21:15-17) or if the firstborn son’s mother was a concubine or a slave (Genesis 21:9-13; Judges 11:1-2).

As the Bible attests that the father could rescind the birthright and pass it on to a younger son, there appears to be a connected pattern that spans many generations in which the younger male offspring is given the birthright blessing of his father over his elder male sibling. 

This custom supposedly dates back before the Great Flood of Noah; it is assumed by many biblical scholars that Adam gave the birthright blessing to his youngest son (Seth) over his eldest son (Cain). However, it is interesting to note, most believe the remaining generations that led up to the Great Flood were actually the first born sons who received this honorable blessing. After the flood waters had subsided and mankind began to repopulate the world, the primogeniture once again changed; Noah split the birthright blessing between Shem and Japeth bypassing his son (Ham) altogether.

Other theologians of biblical history date the birthright blessing back to the patriarch Abraham, roughly 4,000 years ago. But once again, Abraham gave his holy commendation to his younger son (Isaac) over his elder son (Ishmael). Many scholars agree that Isaac being born to his wife, Sarah, enabled the firstborn status to be applied to Abraham's second son over the offspring of Sarah's slave (Hagar), who technically bore the patriarch his eldest son. 

And thus started a pattern for the next three generations. Isaac (son of Abraham) in turn gave the birthright blessing to his younger son (Jacob) over his elder son (Esau). Even though Esau had sold his birthright to his brother (Genesis 25:29-34) and trickery was involved in Jacob receiving his father's birthright blessing (Genesis 27), upon the death of their father (Isaac) Esau allowed Jacob to keep the divine sanction (Genesis 25:33). 

As the next generation dawned, Jacob (son of Isaac, who would later become known as Israel) had no choice but to bestow a divine appointment for the priesthood upon his third son (Levi) over his firstborn son (Reuben) as God himself had decreed it (Numbers 3:12-13; 8:18) because of Reuben's undutiful conduct (Genesis 49:4; 1 Chronicles 5:1). Be that as it may, Levi received only the priesthood blessing, not the birthright blessing. 

Once again, the birthright was split between Joseph's two sons (Manasseh and Ephraim) over Jacob's other 11 sons, totally skipping the generation of the patriarch's sons [otherwise known as the 12 Tribes of Israel]. While Joseph, the 11th son of Jacob, never received a birthright blessing from his father, he was technically a 'firstborn' son for Rachel, his second wife. When Joseph requested that Jacob bless his two sons, Jacob complied. However, once again the younger son (Ephraim) was anointed greater than his elder sibling (Manasseh) - Genesis 37:19-22; 49:1-4; 49:22-26.

Next comes Moses (son of Amram and descendant of Levi), who was younger than his brother (Aaron), yet God chose him over his elder brother to lead the Hebrews out of Egypt (Exodus 3 & 4). God chose Gideon (son of Joash and descendant of Manasseh), who was the youngest son, to deliver Israel from the Midianites (Judges 6:11-16). God chose David (son of Jesse and descendant of Judah) to be king rather than one of his 7 older brothers (1 Sam 16:1-13). And likewise, by divine appointment, King David excluded Adonijah in favor of his younger son, Solomon (1 Chr 22:6-10; 28:5).

The birthright of a king’s firstborn son included his succession to the throne (2 Chronicles 21:1-3). King Rehoboam of Judah violated this tradition by passing the birthright to Abijah, his favorite son. However, to avoid trouble with the older sons, the king paid them off (2 Chronicles 11:18-23).

In Christian theology, it is believed that Christians have an inherited “birthright” status through Jesus Christ as the firstborn Son of God (Romans 8:29; Colossians 1:15; Revelation 1:5). As God’s only begotten Son, Jesus received the kingdom from His Father and is Lord of all (Acts 2:36; Philippians 2:9-11; Revelation 19:16). Jesus promises to share with His followers His kingdom and inheritance (Romans 4:13; Galatians 3:29; Ephesians 1:18; Hebrews 11:16).

In Islam, it is proclaimed that all Muslims are heir to the birthright. Islam states clearly that everyone is born a Muslim and is therefore monotheistic by nature. We read in the Qur'an that humanity has been created with the natural disposition towards the unity of God. This is to be expected, for Allah, who has breathed His spirit into each of us, is Himself the example of perfect unity. In the words of the Prophet Muhammad: "Every person is born with the innate religious faith (to submit to God Almighty)." Thus when an individual accepts Islam, he is not turning his back on any prior revelation but rather is returning to the original and true revelation of Allah and to his own nature as a creation of Allah. This being the case, Islam is a birthright and other religious or ideological systems are either corruptions or outright denials of Islam.

In summary, the birthright blessing has been quite instrumental throughout thousands of years, dating back to biblical antiquity of the BC era. It does seem as if the younger son receiving the birthright blessing, which occurred quite frequently, was divinely ordained, yet the actual reason behind such situations still remains a bit mysterious.

"But he shall acknowledge the firstborn, … by giving him a double portion of all that he has, for he is the beginning of his strength; to him belongs the right of the firstborn." ~ Deuteronomy 21:17

Da Vinci Code Truth

Da Vinci Code Truth – The Manuscript

People are wondering if Dan Brown’s book contains Da Vinci truth. The introductory note of the book says, “all descriptions of documents and secret rituals are accurate.” Is this a true statement? Is there such a thing as Da Vinci Code truth?

The book begins with the murder of Jacques Sauniere, the curator of the Louvre Museum in Paris. The curator, a Grand Master of the Priory of Sion, an ancient secret society, wrote a cryptic message prior to his death. French police summon experts to decipher this message -- Robert Langdon, a Harvard professor, and cryptographer Sophie Neveu, the estranged granddaughter of the murdered curator. What they find is a dangerous secret linking the curator to evidence that disproves the deity of Jesus Christ and could threaten the existence of the church. They discover that artists and thinkers have planted clues in numerous places for centuries. Langdon and Neveu race through Paris and England attempting to solve this centuries-old mystery while being chased by the police.

So how much of The Da Vinci Code is truth? When asked how much of his book is based on “reality in terms of things that actually occurred,” author Dan Brown said, “Absolutely all of it. Obviously, Robert Langdon is fictional, but all of the art, architecture, secret rituals, secret societies -- all of that is historical fact. I began as a skeptic. As I started researching The Da Vinci Code, I really thought I would disprove a lot of this theory about Mary Magdalene and the Holy Blood and all of that. I became a believer.” 

Da Vinci Code Truth – The Claims

In The Da Vinci Code, Brown presents the following as fact:

Jesus was married to Mary Magdalene and her womb was the Holy Grail. Jesus and Mary Magdalene had offspring together. The truth about Christ and Mary Magdalene has been kept alive by a secret society named the Priory of Sion that was led by great minds like Da Vinci.

The gospels are not historically accurate. The Roman Catholic Church instigated a cover-up of some 80 gospel accounts that shed new light on the identity of Jesus.

The early church did not believe that Jesus was divine. Instead, they “voted” for His divinity at the council of Nicea in the fourth century.

Although Brown claims that the book is filled with truths, the reader must keep in mind that this claim is included in the first paragraphs of a fiction book. Even claims that something is true, when found in a fiction book, are still fiction. If Brown had truly wanted to enlighten the world about his true nature of Jesus and the Catholic Church, he would have done so in a non-fiction setting. Why then did Brown assert in interviews that the information contained within his book was true? Listen to many interviews with well-known authors of fiction; they hold fast to the notion that their worlds, bizarre and even otherworldly, are true. Many authors do this to conjure interest in their books to increase sales. Others do this because to them, the worlds they have created do exist inside their minds. While much of the book is filled with fallacy, we will touch on the last two false claims from the list above.

Da Vinci Code Truth – Are the Gospels historically accurate?

One of the key points put forward by Brown as Da Vinci code truth is that the Bible cannot be trusted. Certain portions of the literature that Brown proclaimed as “Bible” do have fallacies. The early books called the Gnostic Gospels often disagree with the inspired gospels of God’s Word. Historians and theologians have studied these writings for thousands of years since the second century when they first surfaced. The church fathers speak of the heresies of these groups: Irenaeus (ca. 130-200), Hippolytus (ca. 170-236) and Tertullian (ca. 160-after 200), all write about the Gnostics. The writings were rejected by early church fathers because they did not correspond with the clear teachings of the 27 other books that were already being considered as the canon of Scripture.

Brown claims that the church knew of more than 80 gospels, but only chose four. The Nag Hammadi Library (published in 1977) is considered one of, if not the best resource on biblical and extra-biblical history. This library lists a total of 45 titles, and not all of them were gospels. Another collection, The Gnostic Scriptures (by Bentley Layton) has just short of 40 works, only three of which have the title gospel. Many of these overlap the same works in the Nag Hammadi list. At best, there were 60 works, and the strong majority were not gospel accounts.

Have these extra “gospels” provided new information on the identity of Jesus -- information that contradicts the four inspired gospels? Yes, but not for the reasons that Brown proposes. He claims that these extra writings defined Jesus as merely a man and not divine. That is simply not true.

As honest seekers study the question, "Is the Bible true?" and consider its prophetic record, the historical evidence, the archaeological evidence, and learn of its authorship, they will discover that the Bible is inspired and can be trusted.

Da Vinci Code Truth - The Lie: Jesus Was Not God

Is this a Da Vinci truth or a Da Vinci lie? In the book, Brown claims that the core beliefs of Christianity had not been formulated until the time of the Council of Nicaea in the fourth century. This is a strange claim since the New Testament books give a clear understanding of orthodoxy and core beliefs.

By the time of the Council at Nicea in A.D. 325, history shows us that the central faith and belief system of Christianity had long been established. The council came together to affirm what the bishops and church leaders had been teaching for 200 years. They rubber-stamped the gospels by a vote of 218 to 2, which is not “a relatively close vote” as Brown claims. In fact, Paul asserted to the deity of Jesus almost 300 years prior to the Nicene Council and Constantine.

The similarity and concise understanding of Jesus’ identity as the Son of God and salvation are written quite clearly by Matthew, Mark, Luke, Peter, John, James, and Paul in the first century. The Pastoral Epistles (1 and 2 Timothy and Titus) are incredibly clear about what constitutes true salvation and sound doctrine.

> The above article was obtained from AllAboutGOD.com

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The Da Vinci Code Complete Documentary