*** 💥 Pastor: New Testament Church

 

 

 

A pastor provides a setting for edification, exhortation, and comfort for the church, a place where the Holy Spirit is free to function.  He is not shepherd of the church.  That is Jesus by the Holy Spirit for each individual.  However pastor is careful to see that the church gatherings edify the body of Christ in every way.  (Building the church in faith in God founded on truth of the Holy Bible.)

Exhortations are also important for they warn the church.  (exhort: advice and warning)

And certainly comfort by the scripture through the power of the Holy Spirit is appropriate.

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The apostle Paul presents an instruction for the gathering of the church as follows:

I Corinthians 14

26 How is it then, brethren? when ye come together, every one of you hath a psalm, hath a doctrine, hath a tongue, hath a revelation, hath an interpretation. Let all things be done unto edifying.

27 If any man speak in an unknown tongue, let it be by two, or at the most by three, and that by course; and let one interpret.

28 But if there be no interpreter, let him keep silence in the church; and let him speak to himself, and to God.

29 Let the prophets speak two or three, and let the other judge.

30 If any thing be revealed to another that sitteth by, let the first hold his peace.

31 For ye may all prophesy one by one, that all may learn, and all may be comforted.

32 And the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets.

33 For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.

34 Let your women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but they are commanded to be under obedience, as also saith the law.

35 And if they will learn any thing, let them ask their husbands at home: for it is a shame for women to speak in the church.

36 What? came the word of God out from you? or came it unto you only?

37 If any man think himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things that I write unto you are the commandments of the Lord.

38 But if any man be ignorant, let him be ignorant.

39 Wherefore, brethren, covet to prophesy, and forbid not to speak with tongues.

40 Let all things be done decently and in order.

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James 1:27  Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.

* visit means: judge the condition of the fatherless and widows in their affliction to see if there is any "need".

* keep himself unspotted from the world:  live godly lives unaffected from sins of the world such as those in I Corinthians 6:9-10  Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate (homosexual), nor abusers of themselves with mankind, 10 Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.

First, the pastor must live a godly personal life in Christ Jesus.  Then pastor, after setting example for the other men in the church, keeps order in the church by not allowing sin into the church.

I Corinthians 5  (Paul says:)

1 It is reported commonly that there is fornication among you, and such fornication as is not so much as named among the Gentiles, that one should have his father's wife.

2 And ye are puffed up, and have not rather mourned, that he that hath done this deed might be taken away from among you.

3 For I verily, as absent in body, but present in spirit, have judged already, as though I were present, concerning him that hath so done this deed,

4 In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when ye are gathered together, and my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ,

5 To deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.

6 Your glorying is not good. Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump?

7 Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us:

8 Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.

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9 I wrote unto you in an epistle not to company with fornicators:

10 Yet not altogether with the fornicators of this world, or with the covetous, or extortioners, or with idolaters; for then must ye needs go out of the world.

11 But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat.

12 For what have I to do to judge them also that are without? do not ye judge them that are within?

(We are not supposed to judge the world. God will do that.  But we, the church, are supposed to judge the church.)

13 But them that are without God judgeth. Therefore put away from among yourselves that wicked person.

Paul is telling us not to keep company with anyone who is a "brother" who is committing sins of fornication, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat.

Put such a person out of the church.  A "brother" who is doing such already knows that is a sin.  Therefore you cannot counsel him and set him straight for to try to do that will "crucify Jesus afresh".

Hebrews 6

4 For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost,

5 And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come,

6 If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put HIM to an open shame.

7 For the earth which drinketh in the rain that cometh oft upon it, and bringeth forth herbs meet for them by whom it is dressed, receiveth blessing from God:

8 But that which beareth thorns and briers is rejected, and is nigh unto cursing; whose end is to be burned.

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Hebrews 10

26 For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins,

27 But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries.

28 He that despised Moses' law died without mercy under two or three witnesses:

29 Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace?

30 For we know HIM that hath said, Vengeance belongeth unto ME, I will recompense, saith the Lord. And again, The Lord shall judge HIS people.

31 It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

We must understand from the scriptures that we cannot restore a brother who had been enlightened.  If we do as Paul says and turn that brother over to Satan for the destruction of his flesh by putting him out of the church and by refusing to keep company with him, we give chance for his spirit to be saved in the day of the Lord.

TV preacher, Jimmy Swaggart, was caught with a prostitute.  He came on his TV show with tears running down his face saying, "I have sinned,"  

The leadership of the "Assembly of God" church decided to counsel "brother" Swaggart and pray for him and let him continue to be a minister.  They did not follow the rules set for the church by the apostle Paul in I Corinthians 5.

Then a second time Swaggart was caught with another prostitute.  This time Jimmy Swaggart said that the Lord said it was "flat out" nobody's business what he did. 

Then the leadership of the "Assembly of God" church defrocked Jimmy Swaggart.  

(That didn't affect Swaggart.  He just kept preaching on his TV program.)

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Sinners in the church! A terrible thing.

The church are those who are "saved", born again, having the Holy Spirit of God.

I Corinthians 14:40   Let all things be done decently and in order.

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There are several scriptures in the Old Testament speaking of pastors:

Jeremiah 23:1  Woe be unto the pastors that destroy and scatter the sheep of MY pasture! saith the LORD.

Jeremiah 3:15  And I will give you pastors according to MINE heart, which shall feed you with knowledge and understanding.

Jeremiah 12:10  Many pastors have destroyed MY vineyard, they have trodden MY portion under foot, they have made MY pleasant portion a desolate wilderness.

Jeremiah 10:21 For the pastors are become brutish, and have not sought the LORD: therefore they shall not prosper, and all their flocks shall be scattered.

Jeremiah 22:22  The wind shall eat up all thy pastors, and thy lovers shall go into captivity: surely then shalt thou be ashamed and confounded for all thy wickedness.

Jeremiah 2:8 The priests said not, Where is the LORD? and they that handle the law knew ME not: the pastors also transgressed against ME, and the prophets prophesied by Baal, and walked after things that do not profit.   

Jeremiah 23:2  Therefore thus saith the LORD God of Israel against the pastors that feed MY people; Ye have scattered MY flock, and driven them away, and have not visited (judged) them: behold, I will visit upon you the evil of your doings, saith the LORD.

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Paul warns us about the evil in the church in the last days and especially evil done by the pastors in the church in the end time which we live in today.

2 Timothy 3 (Paul says)

1 This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. 2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,

3 Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, 4 Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; 5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.

(They have a form of godliness such as attending church but they will not live by the instructions of Christ by the Word of God.  From such turn away.)

6 For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts, 7 Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.

8 Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith.

9 But they shall proceed no further: for their folly shall be manifest unto all men, as theirs also was.

10 But thou hast fully known my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, charity, patience, 11 Persecutions, afflictions, which came unto me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra; what persecutions I endured: but out of them all the Lord delivered me.

12 Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.

13 But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.

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2 Peter 2

3  And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: 

17 These are wells without water, clouds that are carried with a tempest; to whom the mist of darkness is reserved for ever.

18 For when they speak great swelling words of vanity, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through much wantonness, those that were clean escaped from them who live in error.

19 While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption: for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage.

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Ministers of Satan:  (Paul says)

2 Corinthians 11

12 But what I do, that I will do, that I may cut off occasion from them which desire occasion; that wherein they glory, they may be found even as we.

13 For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ.

14 And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.

15 Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.

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Jesus speaks of false ministers and false Christians who do not have the Spirit of God, but put themselves into the church in the end times.

Matthew 24

1 And Jesus went out, and departed from the temple: and HIS disciples came to HIM for to shew HIM the buildings of the temple.

2 And Jesus said unto them, See ye not all these things? verily I say unto you, There shall not be left here one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down.

3 And as HE sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto HIM privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of THY coming, and of the end of the world?

4 And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you.

5 For many shall come in MY name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.  

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2 Timothy 3

14 But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of WHOM thou hast learned them;

(We learned spiritual truths from God by HIS Spirit.)

15 And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.

16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:

17 That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.

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Jesus tells us the last days before the end of this world, the times will be so evil that if the days were not shortened even the elect would not be saved.

Matthew 24 

12 And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold. 13 But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved. 

21 For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be. 22 And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened.

(I think we are close to being in that time now because there is so much evil in the churches and in the world, how much longer could it continue.)

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Pastors must lead by being godly ... and the church must be filled with the godly.

Instead I am finding the apostasy in the churches that I visit today where doctrines of Christ are perverted and antichrist reigns in the heart of disobedient people who love their church more than they love the Holy Scriptures.

The church is often a show instead of holy.

Faith is a sham when professed.

When tested you will see.

It will get worse and worse until Jesus comes and then Jesus will destroy the apostate churches and take the elect of God to heaven to live in the new heaven and new earth created by God for HIS children.

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Destruction of the apostate churches.

2 Thessalonians 2

8 And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of HIS mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of HIS coming:

9 Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders,

10 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.

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Matthew 24

29 Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken:

30 And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.

(Why will they "mourn" when they see Jesus coming?  Why not rejoice?  Because they do not belong to Jesus and it will be the end for them.)

31 And HE shall send HIS angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together HIS elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.

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The gathering of the church should be structured to:  edification, exhortation, comfort

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*** 💥 Evangelists: New Testament Church

 

 

In the Bible, Philip is named as an evangelist and so is Timothy to whom the apostle Paul wrote epistles.

We see the following examples of the work of an "evangelist" concerning Philip.

Acts 8

25 And they, when they had testified and preached the word of the Lord, returned to Jerusalem, and preached the gospel in many villages of the Samaritans.

26 And the angel of the Lord spake unto Philip, saying, Arise, and go toward the south unto the way that goeth down from Jerusalem unto Gaza, which is desert.

27 And he arose and went: and, behold, a man of Ethiopia, an eunuch of great authority under Candace queen of the Ethiopians, who had the charge of all her treasure, and had come to Jerusalem for to worship,

28 Was returning, and sitting in his chariot read Esaias the prophet.

29 Then the Spirit said unto Philip, Go near, and join thyself to this chariot.

30 And Philip ran thither to him, and heard him read the prophet Esaias, and said, Understandest thou what thou readest?

31 And he said, How can I, except some man should guide me? And he desired Philip that he would come up and sit with him.

32 The place of the scripture which he read was this, HE was led as a sheep to the slaughter; and like a lamb dumb before his shearer, so opened HE not HIS mouth:

33 In HIS humiliation HIS judgment was taken away: and who shall declare HIS generation? for HIS life is taken from the earth.

34 And the eunuch answered Philip, and said, I pray thee, of whom speaketh the prophet this? of himself, or of some other man?

35 Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus.

36 And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized?

37 And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.

38 And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him.

39 And when they were come up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip, that the eunuch saw him no more: and he went on his way rejoicing.

40 But Philip was found at Azotus: and passing through he preached in all the cities, till he came to Caesarea.

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Robert Tilton announced himself to be an evangelist and he traveled from place to place with his wife, Marte.

Later he decided he was a pastor so he started Word of Faith church in Farmer's Branch, Texas, and his wife was said to be in the ministry office of a prophet.

I attended Tilton's church group from approximately 1977 to 1982, when God brought me out.

It concerned me that Bob started as evangelist and then switched to a pastor.

Later he and his wife divorced and she set up her own church as a pastor while she had said she was a prophet.

Then Bob remarried and he and wife # 2 divorced and he remarried a third wife.  (adultery)

Matthew 5:32  Jesus says:  But I say unto you, That whosoever shall put away his wife (divorce his wife), saving for the cause of fornication, causeth her to commit adultery (if she remarries): and whosoever shall marry her that is divorced committeth adultery.

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Certainly you can have more than one ministry office for Paul was a preacher, apostle, and teacher.

2 Timothy 1  (Paul says)

9 Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to HIS own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began,

10 But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel:

11 Whereunto I am appointed a preacher, and an apostle, and a teacher of the Gentiles.

12 For the which cause I also suffer these things:

But Paul knew the ministry offices to which he was called by Jesus and there is no evidence he changed ministries from one office to another.  Paul was both apostle & teacher doing both works together.  

I am apostle/prophet and God showed me exactly what these offices do in the church but I never stop doing one office and do the other office.  Both offices function together.  

I've even heard one man say he was currently a pastor, but hoped to arrive at being an apostle.  I'm certain this is wrong.  You do not earn the ministry office because of your achievement.  Jesus appoints from heaven the ministries of:  apostle, prophet, evangelist, pastor, teacher  (Eph. 4:11)  And when we are appointed by Jesus we are taught by Jesus how to function in the ministry office according to the will of God.

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Some churches deny that apostles or prophets exist today.  

They say Paul was the last apostle when Matthias was the 12th apostle replacing Judas.  (Acts 1)  

Paul was the one of the first of those New Testament ministers who was appointed by Jesus from heaven as in Ephesians 4:11  And HE gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;

12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:

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Often men from around the   world have contacted me calling themselves "pastors."  I could tell by talking to them they really didn't know what the work of pastor was or how to do that work.  They were just copying other men who said themselves to be pastors.

Jude vv. 17-19

17 But, beloved, remember ye the words which were spoken before of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ;

18 How that they told you there should be mockers (men copying other men) in the last time, who should walk after their own ungodly lusts.

19  These be they who separate themselves, sensual, having not the Spirit.

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There was one man who said he was a pastor and when I really questioned him he said to me, "OK ... I'm an evangelist."

(As if it really didn't matter.  But it does matter for from heaven Jesus gave: apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers.  And these callings do different kinds of ministry work.  If the minister doesn't know to which ministry he is called how can he do the real work and how can the church expect to know what to expect from him?)

My understanding from the Spirit of God is this:  evangelists are called to go to the unsaved and preach Jesus.  Pastors care for the sheep in one church concerning following the doctrine of Christ

Prophets are different from either of these.  Prophets are sent to the church, not to the world and often bring messages, sometime corrections, to the church and to the born again individuals at various church groups.  

Apostles:  Have a special anointing from God to deal with doctrines of Christ in the churches.

In these end time days as the apostasy increases by the churches falling away from certain scriptures and setting up other doctrines, apostles and prophets would certainly try to help the individuals to return to the Bible scriptures and established doctrines by the New Testament Bible and prove those doctrines that are being taught today.

Basically it is a mess today throughout churches with people following all manner of doctrines in churches today.  This is the end time apostasy today in the church groups.

What each individual should do today is this:

2 Timothy 3:16-17

16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:

17 That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.

(Prove your doctrine by the NT Bible.)

At the judgment seat of Christ each individual will be responsible for the doctrine he chooses to believe.

2 Corinthians 5:9-11

9 Wherefore we labour, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of HIM.

10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.

11 Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men;

So if we speak and believe opposite from doctrines of the New Testament Bible, we will be held responsible by God and judged for that which we believe that is opposite to God in the NT Bible.

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Example of the work of Philip the evangelist.

💥   Philip the evangelist:

Acts 8

5 Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and preached Christ unto them.

6 And the people with one accord gave heed unto those things which Philip spake, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did.

7 For unclean spirits, crying with loud voice, came out of many that were possessed with them: and many taken with palsies, and that were lame, were healed.

8 And there was great joy in that city.

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*** 💥 Prophets: New Testament Church

Throughout the Old and New Testaments we have examples of prophets working in the churches and temples.

The prophets in the Old Testament examples were sent to the people of God.  They delivered information, warnings, specific instructions sent by God.  Some prophets performed great miracles.  Some such as John the Baptist performed no miracles.

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A prophet must be faithful to God to deliver all the counsel God gives that prophet.  God strongly instructed the prophet Ezekiel concerning this matter and showed Ezekiel the consequences that could come upon him if he failed to deliver the message from God.

Ezekiel  2

1 And HE (God) said unto me, Son of man, stand upon thy feet, and I will speak unto thee.

2 And the spirit entered into me when HE spake unto me, and set me upon my feet, that I heard HIM that spake unto me.

3 And HE said unto me, Son of man, I send thee to the children of Israel, to a rebellious nation that hath rebelled against ME: they and their fathers have transgressed against ME, even unto this very day.
 
4 For they are impudent children and stiffhearted. I do send thee unto them; and thou shalt say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD.

5 And they, whether they will hear, or whether they will forbear, (for they are a rebellious house,) yet shall know that there hath been a prophet among them.

6 And thou, son of man, be not afraid of them, neither be afraid of their words, though briers and thorns be with thee, and thou dost dwell among scorpions: be not afraid of their words, nor be dismayed at their looks, though they be a rebellious house.

7 And thou shalt speak MY words unto them, whether they will hear, or whether they will forbear: for they are most rebellious.

8 But thou, son of man, hear what I say unto thee; Be not thou rebellious like that rebellious house: open thy mouth, and eat that I give thee.

9 And when I looked, behold, an hand was sent unto me; and, lo, a roll of a book was therein;

10 And HE spread it before me; and it was written within and without: and there was written therein lamentations, and mourning, and woe.

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Ezekiel 3

Moreover HE said unto me, Son of man, eat that thou findest; eat this roll, and go speak unto the house of Israel.

2 So I opened my mouth, and HE caused me to eat that roll.

3 And HE said unto me, Son of man, cause thy belly to eat, and fill thy bowels with this roll that I give thee. Then did I eat it; and it was in my mouth as honey for sweetness.

4 And HE said unto me, Son of man, go, get thee unto the house of Israel, and speak with MY words unto them.

5 For thou art not sent to a people of a strange speech and of an hard language, but to the house of Israel;

6 Not to many people of a strange speech and of an hard language, whose words thou canst not understand. Surely, had I sent thee to them, they would have hearkened unto thee.

7 But the house of Israel will not hearken unto thee; for they will not hearken unto ME: for all the house of Israel are impudent and hardhearted.

8 Behold, I have made thy face strong against their faces, and thy forehead strong against their foreheads.

9 As an adamant harder than flint have I made thy forehead: fear them not, neither be dismayed at their looks, though they be a rebellious house.

10 Moreover HE said unto me, Son of man, all MY words that I shall speak unto thee receive in thine heart, and hear with thine ears. 11 And go, get thee to them of the captivity, unto the children of thy people, and speak unto them, and tell them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; whether they will hear, or whether they will forbear.

12 Then the spirit took me up, and I heard behind me a voice of a great rushing, saying, Blessed be the glory of the LORD from his place.

13 I heard also the noise of the wings of the living creatures that touched one another, and the noise of the wheels over against them, and a noise of a great rushing.

14 So the spirit lifted me up, and took me away, and I went in bitterness, in the heat of my spirit; but the hand of the LORD was strong upon me.

(Prophets often have hard messages to deliver and the church fights them so you see why a prophet might "go in bitterness" but the fire of the message drives them and God's hand is strong upon them.)

15 Then I came to them of the captivity at Telabib, that dwelt by the river of Chebar, and I sat where they sat, and remained there astonished among them seven days.

16 And it came to pass at the end of seven days, that the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,

17 Son of man, I have made thee a watchman unto the house of Israel: therefore hear the word at MY mouth, and give them warning from ME.

18 When I say unto the wicked, Thou shalt surely die; and thou givest him not warning, nor speakest to warn the wicked from his wicked way, to save his life; the same wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand.

19 Yet if thou warn the wicked, and he turn not from his wickedness, nor from his wicked way, he shall die in his iniquity; but thou hast delivered thy soul.

20 Again, When a righteous man doth turn from his righteousness, and commit iniquity, and I lay a stumblingblock before him, he shall die: because thou hast not given him warning, he shall die in his sin, and his righteousness which he hath done shall not be remembered; but his blood will I require at thine hand.

21 Nevertheless if thou warn the righteous man, that the righteous sin not, and he doth not sin, he shall surely live, because he is warned; also thou hast delivered thy soul.

22 And the hand of the LORD was there upon me; and HE said unto me, Arise, go forth into the plain, and I will there talk with thee.

23 Then I arose, and went forth into the plain: and, behold, the glory of the LORD stood there, as the glory which I saw by the river of Chebar: and I fell on my face.

24 Then the spirit entered into me, and set me upon my feet, and spake with me, and said unto me, Go, shut thyself within thine house.

25 But thou, O son of man, behold, they shall put bands upon thee, and shall bind thee with them, and thou shalt not go out among them:

26 And I will make thy tongue cleave to the roof of thy mouth, that thou shalt be dumb, and shalt not be to them a reprover: for they are a rebellious house.

27 But when I speak with thee, I will open thy mouth, and thou shalt say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; He that heareth, let him hear; and he that forbeareth, let him forbear: for they are a rebellious house.

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It is a very serious thing for a prophet to withhold a message and fail to warn the person to whom you are sent.  

God used these scriptures to train me to do the work of a prophet and to deliver "all" the messages from God.

I said to God:  "Is there anywhere in the New Testament where it says their blood is on my hands if I hold back the messages?"

God reminded me of this concerning the apostle Paul:

Acts 20  (Paul speaking to the elders of the church at Ephesus.)

25 And now, behold, I know that ye all, among whom I have gone preaching the kingdom of God, shall see my face no more.

26 Wherefore I take you to record this day, that I am pure from the blood of all men.

27 For I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God.

28 Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which HE hath purchased with HIS own blood.

29 For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock.

30 Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them.

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God gives us messages to deliver.  We must deliver that message which God wants delivered.  If we alter the message and fail to deliver the message that God sends,  then that person may die in his sins.  The message gives the person opportunity to see his sins and repent and be saved.

We must not hold back the message to make the person feel better. We must deliver the message that we believe to be from God.

The apostle Paul said:

Galatians 1:10  For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ.

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Jeremiah 1

4 Then the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,

5 Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations.

6 Then said I, Ah, Lord GOD! behold, I cannot speak: for I am a child.

7 But the LORD said unto me, Say not, I am a child: for thou shalt go to all that I shall send thee, and whatsoever I command thee thou shalt speak.

8  Be not afraid of their faces: for I am with thee to deliver thee, saith the LORD.

9  Then the LORD put forth HIS hand, and touched my mouth. And the LORD said unto me, Behold, I have put MY words in thy mouth.

10 See, I have this day set thee over the nations and over the kingdoms, to root out, and to pull down, and to destroy, and to throw down, to build, and to plant.

God started training me with these old Testament prophets in the Old Testament Bible.

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God used the New Testament to confirm to me that there are prophets working in today's churches.

Prophets are trained by God through the OT scriptures showing the work of prophets.  Prophets are sent to the church not to the world.  Prophet must be diligent to deliver all the counsel which God gives to them.

Prophets often work in the spiritual gift of knowledge (I Cor. 12:8) where God shows them that which they had no natural way of knowing.

They often travel from church to church delivering messages from God to the church.

Ephesians 4:11-12  And HE (Jesus) gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; 12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:

Prophets can be given by God multiple offices to help the church.  

(Paul was given the offices of apostle/teacher.  I was given work of apostle/prophet.  God spent several years working with me through every scripture in both Old and New Testaments teaching me the work of prophet. God showed me by examples in the Bible how the church people will fight the prophets and even kill the prophets but I must deliver the message.) 

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Jesus speaks of the Jews who kill the prophets whom God sent to them.

Matthew 23

1 Then spake Jesus to the multitude, and to HIS disciples,

2 Saying, The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses' seat: 3 All therefore whatsoever they bid you observe, that observe and do; but do not ye after their works: for they say, and do not.

4 For they bind heavy burdens and grievous to be borne, and lay them on men's shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers.

5 But all their works they do for to be seen of men: they make broad their phylacteries, and enlarge the borders of their garments, 6 And love the uppermost rooms at feasts, and the chief seats in the synagogues, 7 And greetings in the markets, and to be called of men, Rabbi, Rabbi.

8 But be not ye called Rabbi: for one is your Master, even Christ; and all ye are brethren.

9 And call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven.

10 Neither be ye called masters: for one is your Master, even Christ.

11 But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant.

12 And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted.

13 But woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye shut up the kingdom of heaven against men: for ye neither go in yourselves, neither suffer ye them that are entering to go in.

14 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye devour widows' houses, and for a pretence make long prayer: therefore ye shall receive the greater damnation.

15 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye compass sea and land to make one proselyte, and when he is made, ye make him twofold more the child of hell than yourselves.

16 Woe unto you, ye blind guides, which say, Whosoever shall swear by the temple, it is nothing; but whosoever shall swear by the gold of the temple, he is a debtor! 17 Ye fools and blind: for whether is greater, the gold, or the temple that sanctifieth the gold? 18 And, Whosoever shall swear by the altar, it is nothing; but whosoever sweareth by the gift that is upon it, he is guilty. 19 Ye fools and blind: for whether is greater, the gift, or the altar that sanctifieth the gift?

20 Whoso therefore shall swear by the altar, sweareth by it, and by all things thereon.  21 And whoso shall swear by the temple, sweareth by it, and by HIM that dwelleth therein.  22 And he that shall swear by heaven, sweareth by the throne of God, and by HIM that sitteth thereon.

23 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.

24 Ye blind guides, which strain at a gnat, and swallow a camel.

25 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full of extortion and excess.  26 Thou blind Pharisee, cleanse first that which is within the cup and platter, that the outside of them may be clean also.

27 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men's bones, and of all uncleanness.

28 Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.

29 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! because ye build the tombs of the prophets, and garnish the sepulchres of the righteous, 30 And say, If we had been in the days of our fathers, we would not have been partakers with them in the blood of the prophets.

31 Wherefore ye be witnesses unto yourselves, that ye are the children of them which killed the prophets.

32 Fill ye up then the measure of your fathers.

33 Ye serpents, ye generation of vipers, how can ye escape the damnation of hell?

34 Wherefore, behold, I send unto you prophets, and wise men, and scribes: and some of them ye shall kill and crucify; and some of them shall ye scourge in your synagogues, and persecute them from city to city: 35 That upon you may come all the righteous blood shed upon the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel unto the blood of Zacharias son of Barachias, whom ye slew between the temple and the altar.

36 Verily I say unto you, All these things shall come upon this generation.

37 O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!

38 Behold, your house is left unto you desolate.

39 For I say unto you, Ye shall not see ME henceforth, till ye shall say, Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord.

Today the churches often try to "kill" the prophet by stopping the prophet from speaking messages from God.

In 1982, God said to me:  "The time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God."

A few days later, God showed me sins that were being committed by several big-time radio/television ministers.

When I couldn't get these messages to these ministers, God had me speak the messages on my own radio broadcast which was coast to coast at that time, giving the minister's name and the sin being committed.

One of the ministers owned 2 of the radio stations where I was broadcasting.  He put me off the air immediately.

The radio station manager in Seattle was standing outside my meeting room door in Seattle waiting for me to arrive.  When he saw me he said:  "Joan ... you have many wonderful messages.  Just speak those messages.  If you continue to speak these judgment messages, I don't know what might happen to you.  We might have to put you off the air."

Instantly the Holy Spirit brought to my mind words which I spoke to the radio station manager as follows: 

"George ... if I don't speak the message I believe to be from God, then I don't have a message and I may as well be off the air."

Prophets warn people and give "all" the counsel of God holding back nothing.  If we fail to speak what God shows us to speak in order to please people, the blood of those people will be on our hands.

And this is true for other ministers in different offices also.

Paul said to the church at Ephesus:

Acts 20

20 And how I kept back nothing that was profitable unto you, but have shewed you, and have taught you publickly, and from house to house,

26 Wherefore I take you to record this day, that I am pure from the blood of all men.

27 For I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God.

29 For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock.

30 Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them.

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Scriptures about prophets in the New Testament churches.

Acts 11:27 And in these days came prophets from Jerusalem unto Antioch.

Acts 15:32  And Judas and Silas, being prophets also themselves, exhorted the brethren with many words, and confirmed them.

Acts 15:40-41 And Paul chose Silas (a prophet), and departed, being recommended by the brethren unto the grace of God.  And he went through Syria and Cilicia, confirming the churches.

1 Corinthians 14:29-32  (Instruction for the gathering of the church)  Let the prophets speak two or three, and let the other judge.  If any thing be revealed to another that sitteth by, let the first hold his peace. For ye may all prophesy one by one, that all may learn, and all may be comforted. And the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets.

Acts 13:1 Now there were in the church that was at Antioch certain prophets and teachers; as Barnabas, and Simeon that was called Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene, and Manaen, which had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul.

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There are several places in the book of Acts where we see New Testament prophets working in the churches after the resurrection of Jesus.

New Testament Church ministry offices today:  apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, teachers

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*** 💥 Apostles: New Testament Church

 

 

Shortly after I was born again in 1975, in the night while sleeping God transported me into heaven.  I was with God, and with Christ, and with the Holy Spirit.  ( I saw no physical type images.  It was a spiritual experience.)  At that time I was "merged" into the body of Jesus, made one with the Word of God, God and the Holy Spirit witnessing.

A few nights after this, the exact same thing happened a second time.

At that time I thought this happened to everyone when they were born again.

Later I found that not to be the case, and I felt God had ordained me into two ministry offices:  apostle and prophet, to which I was called by God and set by Jesus in the New Testament church.

Ephesians 4:11-12  And HE (Jesus) gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; 12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:

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This is what God taught me about the office of a New Testament apostle and the work apostles do in today's churches:

God took me to Acts 15 to show me the work of apostles of Jesus in the New Testament churches.

A primary role of an apostle has to do with establishing church doctrine.

In the early church, they did not have the New Testament to prove church doctrine.  Apostles, appointed by God, judged the doctrine and set the doctrine in the church and established the doctrine of the New Covenant in the churches.

An example:  (Apostles considered a controversy and made a ruling for the NT church.)

Acts 15

1 And certain men which came down from Judaea taught the brethren, and said, Except ye be circumcised after the manner of Moses, ye cannot be saved.

2 When therefore Paul and Barnabas (apostles) had no small dissension and disputation with them, they determined that Paul and Barnabas, and certain other of them, should go up to Jerusalem unto the apostles and elders about this question.

3 And being brought on their way by the church, they passed through Phenice and Samaria, declaring the conversion of the Gentiles: and they caused great joy unto all the brethren.

4 And when they were come to Jerusalem, they were received of the church, and of the apostles and elders, and they declared all things that God had done with them.

5 But there rose up certain of the sect of the Pharisees which believed, saying, (Concerning the Gentiles) That it was needful to circumcise them, and to command them to keep the law of Moses.

(But The New Covenant is not the same as the law of Moses.)

6 And the apostles and elders came together for to consider of this matter.

7 And when there had been much disputing, Peter  (apostle) rose up, and said unto them, Men and brethren, ye know how that a good while ago God made choice among us, that the Gentiles by my mouth should hear the word of the gospel, and believe.

8 And God, which knoweth the hearts, bare them witness, giving them the Holy Ghost, even as HE  did unto us;

9 And put no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith.

10 Now therefore why tempt ye God, to put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear?

11 But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved, even as they.

12 Then all the multitude kept silence, and gave audience to Barnabas and Paul (apostles) declaring what miracles and wonders God had wrought among the Gentiles by them.

13 And after they had held their peace, James (apostle) answered, saying, Men and brethren, hearken unto me: 14 Simeon hath declared how God at the first did visit the Gentiles, to take out of them a people for HIS name.

15 And to this agree the words of the prophets; as it is written, 16 After this I will return, and will build again the tabernacle of David, which is fallen down; and I will build again the ruins thereof, and I will set it up: 17 That the residue of men might seek after the Lord, and all the Gentiles, upon whom MY name is called, saith the Lord, WHO doeth all these things.

18 Known unto God are all HIS works from the beginning of the world.

(James, an apostle, presents the ruling for the church concerning the doctrine of Christ in the matter at hand.)

19 Wherefore my sentence is, that we trouble not them, which from among the Gentiles are turned to God: 20 But that we write unto them, that they abstain from pollutions of idols, and from fornication, and from things strangled, and from blood.

21 For Moses of old time hath in every city them that preach him, being read in the synagogues every sabbath day.

22 Then pleased it the apostles and elders, with the whole church, to send chosen men of their own company to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas; namely, Judas (a prophet) surnamed Barsabas, and Silas (a prophet), chief men among the brethren:

23 And they wrote letters by them after this manner; The apostles and elders and brethren send greeting unto the brethren which are of the Gentiles in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia:

24 Forasmuch as we have heard, that certain which went out from us have troubled you with words, subverting your souls, saying, Ye must be circumcised, and keep the law: to whom we gave no such commandment:

25 It seemed good unto us, being assembled with one accord, to send chosen men unto you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul,

26 Men that have hazarded their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

27 We have sent therefore Judas and Silas, who shall also tell you the same things by mouth.

28 For it seemed good to the Holy Ghost, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things;

29 That ye abstain from meats offered to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication: from which if ye keep yourselves, ye shall do well. Fare ye well.

30  So when they were dismissed, they came to Antioch: and when they had gathered the multitude together, they delivered the epistle:

31 Which when they had read, they rejoiced for the consolation.

32  And Judas and Silas, being prophets also themselves, exhorted the brethren with many words, and confirmed them.

33 And after they had tarried there a space, they were let go in peace from the brethren unto the apostles.

34 Notwithstanding it pleased Silas to abide there still.

35 Paul also and Barnabas (an apostle) continued in Antioch, teaching and preaching the word of the Lord, with many others also.

36 And some days after Paul said unto Barnabas, Let us go again and visit our brethren in every city where we have preached the word of the Lord, and see how they do.

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Today we have the New Testament Bible which tells us the doctrines of Christ for the New Testament Churches.

Current apostles still have a special anointing by God concerning the doctrines of Christ for the church.  

We try to get individuals to judge their doctrines by scriptures returning to the New Testament Bible, for many churches today have fallen away from some scriptures in the New Testament Bible and have set up anti-christ doctrines, doctrines opposite to Christ the Word, thus the end time apostasy of the end time churches working in churches right now.

2 Thessalonians 2:3-4  (Paul says)

3 Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day (of the Lord) shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;

4 Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.

(In 1982 while reading the above scriptures, God said to me:  "The falling away are not people leaving the churches.  The falling away are churches leaving the scriptures.")

An example:  One day I heard television news present an interview with Catholic pope.  The newscaster asked this man what he thought about homosexuals and lesbians.  This pope said:  "Well ... I don't see anything wrong with being homosexual or lesbian."

I screamed at the TV and said:  "What about the Bible?"

Romans 1

21 Because that, when they knew God, they glorified HIM not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.

22 Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,

23 And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.

24 Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves:

25 Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, WHO is blessed for ever. Amen.

26 For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature:

27 And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet.

28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;

(This is what the Bible says about homosexuals and lesbians in the New Testament Bible.)

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2 Timothy 3:16-17  

16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:

17 That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.

Prove your doctrine by the scriptures of the New Testament Bible.

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In the end times, before Jesus returns and before God destroys this present heaven and earth, the apostasy comes into many churches where they fall away from certain scriptures and preach and teach another doctrine.

Jesus said: 

Matthew 5:32  But I say unto you, That whosoever shall put away his wife, saving for the cause of fornication, causeth her to commit adultery: and whosoever shall marry her that is divorced committeth adultery.

(I've never heard any church teach this doctrine.)

* If a man divorces a faithful wife and she remarries she commits adultery but her husband who divorced her caused her adultery.

* The man who marries a divorced woman commits adultery.

Romans 7:2-3  For the woman which hath an husband is bound by the law to her husband so long as he liveth; but if the husband be dead, she is loosed from the law of her husband.

3 So then if, while her husband liveth, she be married to another man, she shall be called an adulteress: but if her husband be dead, she is free from that law; so that she is no adulteress, though she be married to another man.

I Corinthians 7:10-11  And unto the married I command, yet not I, but the Lord, Let not the wife depart from her husband:  But and if she depart, let her remain unmarried, or be reconciled to her husband: and let not the husband put away his wife.

(I've never heard a church teach this.  And it is often violated by women in churches who leave their husbands and marry another man.)

39 The wife is bound by the law as long as her husband liveth; but if her husband be dead, she is at liberty to be married to whom she will; only in the Lord.

Mark 10  (Jesus says)

6 But from the beginning of the creation God made them male and female.

7 For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and cleave to his wife;

8 And they twain shall be one flesh: so then they are no more twain, but one flesh.

9 What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.

11 And HE (Jesus) saith unto them, Whosoever shall put away his wife, and marry another, committeth adultery against her.

12 And if a woman shall put away her husband, and be married to another, she committeth adultery.

(These scriptures are often changed in today's NT churches.  This is the end time falling away where churches omit scriptures and set up doctrines which are not according to NT scripture.  Antichrist in the churches.  The end time apostasy before Jesus returns to gather the elect.)

NT apostles will try to convince church people to return to these scriptures and follow these instructions.)

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