Is God telling the true believers (elect), at this time, to come out of the churches?

Question

In Luke 21:5, 6 we read, "And as some spake of the temple, how it was adorned with goodly stones and gifts, he said,
As for these things which ye behold, the days will come, in the which there shall not be left one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down."

If you go to the Wailing Wall (Western Wall), you will still find the original "stones" that composed the Temple when Jesus spoke these words. You can Google "Wailing Wall" and see photographs.

In 1 Peter 2:5 we read, "Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ." In this verse we see that "stones" refers to true believers or His sheep (John 10:27).

In Luke 19:40 we read, "And he answered and said unto them, I tell you that, if these should hold their peace, the stones would immediately cry out." Here again, "stones" refers to God's elect or wheat that deaire to praise and give thanks to God.

In Matthew 24:15, 16 we read, "When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:)
Then let them which be in Judaea flee into the mountains:" Judaea and Jerusalem are representative of the external Kingdom of God. When Christ died on the cross, God was finished with national Israel as the caretaker of the Gospel. He (God) then utilized the local confregations as the external representation of the Kingdom of God. They were also to be the caretakers of the Gospel-to spread it through the world. However, the churches like Israel departed from the commandments of God and set up "doctrines" contrary to God's word. This is the "falling away" spoken of in 2 Thess 2:3, "Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;"
Also check Revelation 18:4. "Her" cannot be the world.

We always see the local "churches" referred to with a feminine pronoun.

The Lord also tells us in 2 Thessalonians 2:3, 4 that the "man of sin" or "son of perdition", who can be shown to be satan, is now sitting (ruling) in ALL the local churches (the temple of God). We read the solemn warning, "And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.
11 And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie:
12 That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness." Those remaining in the local churches are being sent a strong delusion to believe the lies of satan, who is ruling in the churches now. The true believers will obey God and leave (flee) from the churches (Matthew 24:15, 16; Rev. 18:4).

l-o-d tiger...stop looking at the links and read what God says in Revelation 18. Pay particular attention to verse 4 and verse 23. The Bridegroom is the Lord Jesus. The Bride is the true believers. The light is of course the Gospel. The churches are proclaiming "another gospel" (Galatians 1) that cannot save! Besides, the Lord tells us in 2 Thessalonians 2 that satan is now ruling in ALL the local churches. ALL those who remain there are being sent a strong delusion. These are not my words...these are God's words! The churches have become Babylon-the dominion of satan.

Jack-these are not my words...these are God's words ie., the Bible.

overanxious neurotic-That is just the prblem...people are listening to theologians rather than the Bible. Mr. Borg may have publications but that does not mean he is saved-a child of God.

NBM-show me that in the Scriptures. The true believers are "stones" in the Temple (the Kingdom of God). The Temple in Jerusalem and the local churches of today were external representations of the Kingdom of God--they were NOT the Kingdom itself.

woodster-I appreciate your suggestion but if you read the Bible (KJV), you will see that we are not to add nor subtract from the Word of God. The Jehovah's Witnesses have done that. I am sorry.

RB- I do appreciate you bringing up that verse. If you'll examine this verse in the Greek you will find something different that what is recorded. In Hebrews 10:25 where God commands that as Judgment Day approaches, we are not to neglect the assembling of ourselves together. The word "ourselves" surprises us. During the church age, we would expect to see the word "church" or "congregation" rather than the word "ourselves." However, during the Great Tribulation God does not use an earthly organization such as He had used national Israel or as He used the local congregations throughout the church age. He uses individual believers.

It is true that believers can come together in an organization to facilitate the sending forth of the Gospel into the world. But "fellowships" or groups have no membership. It does not have any spiritual rule over those who come. It has no Biblical standing as a God-ordained organization. Because we know that it is God thar works in the believer to ...

will and to do of His good pleasure, we know that only God can raise up an organization like Family Radio. We must give God all the glory for whatever successes it may have as it sends the Gospel into all the world. But it must be simply looked at as a convenient vehicle by which individual believers can be used of God to accomplish the task of evangelizing the world during the season of the latter rain. By bringing together the resources of a number of believers, radio stations, and other means can be owned and operated to assist with the task of evangelization. This can be done on a scale that would be impossible for a single believer to do.

The truth that during the Great Tribualtion the Gospel mandate is strictly carried out by individual believers therefore agrees with the statement of Hebrews 10:25 where God commands that as Judgment Day approaches we are not to neglect the assembling of ourselves together. However during the Great Tribulation God does not use an earthly organization such as national Israel which He used during the Old Testament or such as the local churches which He used throughout the church age. The vineyard which God had planted and which externally represents the Kingdom of God which was first under the care of national Israel and then under the care of the churches had ceased to exist.

Midnight Crier-you are neglecting what God says in Mark 4:33, 34...."And with many such parables spake he the word unto them, as they were able to hear it.
34 But without a parable spake he not unto them: and when they were alone, he expounded all things to his disciples."

A parable is an earthly story with a heavenly meaning. This means that the Gospel is hidden within the verses of the Bible-hidden treasure. Secondly, sister, you are in error attempting to teach a man. 1 Timothy 2:12 states: "But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence." The whole Bible is the word of God; not just the verses we like.

Rachel-I am sorry to have upset you. If you do not like the question, just fo to another.....no one forces you to answer.

Answer 1

I got your back brother.....very Good! Cant break it down much better then that. God is calling out a peculiar people......The Elect will know there fathers voice.

Godspeed!

Answer 2

I am of the belief that religious dogma does not edify the soul. True spiritual growth from within is what God wants. I have read these same things. The Bible does say that during the end times there will be those of us who do not follow religious dogma and live in the light.

There are many who consider this to be sacrilegious, but we each must follow our heart. The Holy Spirit does lead the individual into the truth, if they are not hindered by beliefs in religious dogma.

Answer 3

Sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ is something that can be done in many different ways.
As a Christian Preacher, writer and Evangelist, I personally feel that we need to come out from the safety of our four walls and walk among the people.
We need to set an example, as Christ did for us.

Answer 4

To tell people to leave the church is against the Word.
Heb 10:25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.
I do see this as instead the falling away instead.

Answer 5

In answer to your main question, no. Christ would not call His bride to come out of the churches. Quite the opposite. We are instructed to fail not in the assembling of ourselves, and that much more as ye see that day approaching, meaning the day of the Lord.

As for your other observations, there is much more than you are understanding. In 1 Peter 2:5, looking in the Greek dictionary, 'stones' means figuratively, stones. Spiritually, as in mill-stone, or stumbling-stone.
What is being p[ointed out here is that in the OT, the priesthood was restricted to a qualified minority, whose distinctive activity was to offer sacrifices to God on behalf of His people, and communicate directly with God.
Now, through Jesus Christ, every Christian is made a priest before God. The priesthood of all believers means the following:
1.) All believers have direct access to God through Christ.
2.) All believers are under obligation to live a holy life.
3.) All believers must offer up "spiritual sacrifices" to God, includung living in obedience to God and non-conformity to the world; praying to and praising God; serving with whole hearts and willing minds; performing good deeds; giving of our material possessions, and presenting our bodies to God as instruments of righteousness.
4.) All believers must pray for one another, and for all people.
5.) All believers must declare the Word, and pray for it's success.
6.) All believers may administer baptism and the Lord's Supper.

In Luke 19:40, He clearly meant that even the stones themselves would cry out in praise, should He rebuke His followers, as the Pharisees wanted Him to do. He was actually talking about stones. Looking up stones in this context in the Greek dictionary in Strong's Concordance, it means literally "stones".

Answer 6

No. Out from the "whore". The vatican seat of global, spiritual corruption, that is, the catholic chuch of the "Holy Roman Empire" which is, on a very real spiritual basis, still alive and well.

For the time being.

Answer 7

True believers worship the True God Jehovah.

Want the Truth ? Visit the closest Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses. It is there where you will find the Truth.

Answer 8

Who read that? I didn't. Why do christians always post big long texts regarding Luke 45: 94 Peter 12:69 etc Who cares!!!

It is just a book!!!

Answer 9

Yes and no. The true believers are to separate themselves from non-belief and from the perversions that have taken over some churches. We are to become only His followers and not followers of traditions and religions.

Answer 10

It is definately time to WAKE UP!!!!! as in the parable of the ten virgins waiting for the bridegroom(Jesus). see also links below!