Lessons and Commandments on Division
Peter and Rohnel, apostles by the will of God, raised to shepherd and serve the Lord’s flock in this generation; grace and peace unto you in the name of the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ. To the little children in the Gospel, these are the last days we are now living. The Lord is come to bring division within His house, making manifest who is approved and who is not. Those who departed from the Gospel were not of us, whom the Lord now takes out of the way. They were placed in our lives to try our faith and to fulfill the Scriptures, as all things are ours.
1Jn 2:18 Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time.
1Jn 2:19 They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us.
The Lord separates the wheat from the chaff and brings in the harvest of the saints being saved in every generation. Not many come to the wedding feast, as many are called, few are chosen, and even fewer are given to be faithful to Christ until the end. Those first invited, the spiritual Jews, do not come as they are too busy buying and selling their carnal knowledge.
Mat 22:8 Then saith he to his servants, The wedding is ready, but they which were bidden were not worthy.
Those who make light of the Lord’s Commandments do not come to the feast, preferring to stay in Babylon and engage in their merchandising [carnal reasonings] about the holy things, rather than just doing the Commandments. They treat the Lord’s servants sent to them spitefully, hating us in their hearts, and thus the King of Kings is sending His armies, the wicked one, to destroy their house and burn their cities.
Mat 22:5 But they made light of it, and went their ways, one to his farm, another to his merchandise:
Mat 22:6 And the remnant took his servants, and entreated them spitefully, and slew them.
Mat 22:7 But when the king heard thereof, he was wroth: and he sent forth his armies, and destroyed those murderers, and burned up their city.
Those who hear the voice of Christ come when the invitation is made to the wedding feast. If you thirst for righteousness, come to the Lord’s table and drink of His living waters in this place [truthinscripture.com and in our Sunday and Wednesday gatherings], which is the place where the Lord has chosen to place His Name.
Rev 22:17 And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.
Deu 12:5 But unto the place which the LORD your God shall choose out of all your tribes to put his name there, even unto his habitation shall ye seek, and thither thou shalt come:
Those who add to the Commandments are overcome by many plagues [sins], and those who take away from them are written out of the Book of Life in this age. Some brethren have taken away, saying there is no sin unto death or blasphemy of the Holy Spirit that is not forgiven in this age, as the Lord Commands. They make light of the Commandments, professing them only by their lips and not their hearts. These brethren have rejected the Gospel, rejecting those Christ sent to them, taking many things out of the book and speaking evil of His Commandments. They are cut off from the living, the true Israel of God, and do not enter into the holy city of New Jerusalem, nor do they fulfill all the prophecies written in the Book.
Rev 22:18 For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book:
Rev 22:19 And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.
Being taken out of the Book of Life is being cut off from the Israel of God, where the living congregate and dwell. We first see the Lord cutting off people and protecting a tiny remnant in the story of Noah. This sets the pattern for what the Lord is always doing: separating to Himself a peculiar people, a little flock, set apart for His holy purposes. The covenant of circumcision by the Commandments also reflects the Lord’s methods of operation in cutting off those in Israel who are not circumcised of heart. The Israel of God is made holy and blameless by the winnowing hand of God, who takes away those He did not give a love for the truth [Commandments].
Gen 17:13 He that is born in thy house, and he that is bought with thy money, must needs be circumcised: and my covenant shall be in your flesh for an everlasting covenant.
Gen 17:14 And the uncircumcised man child whose flesh of his foreskin is not circumcised, that soul shall be cut off from his people; he hath broken my covenant.
The Lord’s little flock, the elect of God, is tiny and far smaller than we ever believe until we live it out and see it with spiritual eyes. Not all Israel is Israel, and this is manifested to us in our day of the Lord.
Deu 7:7 The LORD did not set his love upon you, nor choose you, because ye were more in number than any people; for ye were the fewest of all people:
The identity of the true Israel is a mystery revealed only in the last days, which we are now fulfilling. Israel in the flesh, and I speak not of physical Jews, but of those who call themselves by Christ’s Name, are not the Israel of God. It is only those born of the seed of Isaac, not of Abraham’s seed, who are counted as the children of God. The revealing of the true Israel is done by the Lord’s hand through the division and sword He brings to those who claim the name Israel.
Rom 9:6 Not as though the word of God hath taken none effect. For they are not all Israel, which are of Israel:
Rom 9:7 Neither, because they are the seed of Abraham, are they all children: but, In Isaac shall thy seed be called.
The Lord’s pattern of sifting, cutting off, and destroying, conveyed by many terms, describes how the true Israel of God comes forth. The end times are upon those whom the Lord is saving now, as the Gospel has been preached and has taken root in the hearts of the true ones. The Lord comes suddenly as in the days of Noah. Those not marked to get into the Ark are deceived and are swept away by the flood of lies. Thus, the Lord takes the wicked away from us as the true ones are being separated unto holiness and delivered from our sins.
Psa 17:13 Arise, O LORD, disappoint him, cast him down: deliver my soul from the wicked, which is thy sword:
Those being saved are alert and watching for the signs of the apostasy, the great falling away, that is, the flood sweeping the wicked away. The flood IS now come, for the day of the Lord is at hand. Those being saved are already in the Ark, representing the Commandments, and are standing and resting in them. The door to the ark, which is Christ, is being shut, and there is no time to waste. Choose today whom you shall serve, as one cannot be in two places and serve the Lord.
Mat 24:37 But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.
Mat 24:38 For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark,
Mat 24:39 And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.
Mat 24:40 Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left.
Mat 24:41 Two shall be grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken, and the other left.
Mat 24:42 Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come.
The result of the Lord’s coming is that one is taken, and one is being left as the Lord sifts His flock, bringing the division by means of fiery trials. Division of those in our own house is guaranteed, as these trials of our faith are what prove we love God more than men.
Luk 12:49 I am come to send fire on the earth; and what will I, if it be already kindled?
Luk 12:51 Suppose ye that I am come to give peace on earth? I tell you, Nay; but rather division:
Luk 12:52 For from henceforth there shall be five in one house divided, three against two, and two against three.
Those striving to obey all the Commandments are not engaging in sorcery and witchcraft, which is the making of subtle lies that corrupt the Commandments of God and show a form of godliness that is actually disobedience. These wicked deeds disqualify one from entering the holy city of Heavenly Jerusalem. Those in bed with corruption remain in spiritual Babylon and do not heed the call to come out, and are destroyed by the flood of deception that follows. We, as the angels of the Lord, the Cherubims, guard the way to the tree of life, fiercely guarding the gates into the holy city. We are not letting anyone in who denies the Commandments and uses sorcery [flatteries, feigned love], and who fornicate with their false gods. They remain outside, and we separate from them as they are cut off.
Rev 22:14 Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.
Rev 22:15 For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie.
Doing this is Godly love rather than the carnal reasonings of men who admire flesh and have respect of persons. Jude and all the Apostles warn of those who would come in the last days and corrupt the Gospel and engage in flattery and admiration of flesh to gain advantage. Beware.
Jud 1:16 These are murmurers, complainers, walking after their own lusts; and their mouth speaketh great swelling words, having men’s persons in admiration because of advantage.
The time of separation is now, as the harvest is now, and those being saved are entering into the Kingdom of God, being separated by the Lord. We have no part with those who continue to worship Baal and fornicate with the gods of this world.
2Co 6:15 And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?
2Co 6:16 And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.
2Co 6:17 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,
The Sin unto Death
The Lord causes all things, and when the sin unto death is committed, it is a trial of faith for the Lord’s people to separate and cut off the brother or sister in obedience. It is a time to stand and do the Commandment rather than try to reason them away with further carnal deceptions and reasoning. The Commandment to cut off those who speak evil of the Commandments or against the Lord’s anointed is clear and consistent throughout the Scriptures. The sin of blasphemy of the Holy Spirit, also known as the sin unto death, has specific actions we take to obey. Those who have tasted of the heavenly gift, that is, heard the Gospel, no longer claim ignorance, and thus the sin unto death is not forgiven in this age as the Lord Commands.
Mat 12:31 Wherefore I say unto you, All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men: but the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men.
Mat 12:32 And whosoever speaketh a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but whosoever speaketh against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, neither in the world to come.
All sin is eventually forgiven, yet we obey the Lord regarding the specific sin that is against the Holy Spirit [The Lord, the Commandments] as opposed to those who sin against us as men. We forgive all who sin against us, but we do not forgive the sin that is against the Holy Spirit. Forgiving those who trespass against us is a completely different matter from forgiving those who sin against the Lord. There are no stories of restoration of heretics, antichrists, and deceivers who spoke evil about the Commandments because, per the Lord’s Word, they are not restored; there is no repentance granted in this age. We reject them as commanded, because their actions show that the Lord has rejected them and is separating them from us. We do not engage in foolish questions and disputes over the Commandments. We withdraw from them and obey the Commandments [See Tit 3:10, 1Ti 6:3-5].
The Lord is the same yesterday, today, and forevermore. When we sin against the Lord, meaning His Name, the Commandments, one is blotted out of His book until the age to come. Being blotted out means being cut off, since the sin is not forgiven until the harvest of all men in the next age.
Exo 32:33 And the LORD said unto Moses, Whosoever hath sinned against me, him will I blot out of my book.
At the appointed time, all who sin against the Lord are written back into the Book of Life. The sin against the Holy Spirit, the Commandments, is not forgiven, meaning it is not remitted in this age. Christ and His Christ retain it. The Lord gives His disciples this power and the Commandment.
Joh 20:21 Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you.
Joh 20:22 And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and said unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost:
Joh 20:23 Whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whose soever sins ye retain, they are retained.
Pharisees and scribes in our ranks accuse Christ and His Christ of eating with unwashed hands, which is a parable [Mark 7] speaking about eating the Word of God while not forgiving [washing their hands] all sins. In truth, the opposite is true in terms of whose hands are dirty in the eyes of God. Clean hands in spirit are those who are doing all the Commandments, even the hard ones requiring us to cut off former brethren.
We share the sorrow of Christ for the rejection of the Gospel, but we are not surprised, as we live out all the prophecies written in the Book.
Mat 23:37 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!
Mat 23:38 Behold, your house is left unto you desolate.
Jesus Christ did not forgive those who had heard both Him and John preaching the Gospel of repentance of sins and put Him to death. Christ retained their sin as we also do in obeying the greatest Commandment that has us obeying all the Father’s Commandments [loving God with all our heart, mind, and soul]. As these evil men crucified Christ on the cross, Christ asks the Father to forgive them. It is because Christ and His Christ ask the Father that the sin is forgiven, but only in the age to come, so the Scriptures are always fulfilled. Christ had the power and forgave many sins, but not this one; He obeyed His Father in heaven. We do the same as we are being crucified in the hearts of those who rejected Christ.
Luk 23:34 Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots.
Obeying the Commandment is not forgiving what the Lord says is not forgiven in this age. The Commandment is to separate from those the Lord has marked as enemies of the Gospel. We do not pray for those who commit this sin; we obey God and separate from them.
1Jn 5:16 If any man see his brother sin a sin which is not unto death, he shall ask, and he shall give him life for them that sin not unto death. There is a sin unto death: I do not say that he shall pray for it.
1Jn 5:17 All unrighteousness is sin: and there is a sin not unto death.
The Lord caused some brethren to speak evil against the Commandments and against the rule and authority the Lord has set in His church. Saying a Commandment is not true is saying it is a lie and is attributing it to Satan. This is evil speaking about it, and it is a parable that the many called are not given to understand.
The question we need to ask ourselves is what shall we do? The answer is always to obey the Commandments, which says we separate from them and all who are aligned with them that have likewise become partakers of their evil deeds. Do we love God or the esteem and praise of men? Godly repentance is not being granted to any of them in this age, even though they, like Esau, may seek it with tears [Heb 12:15-17]. We obey the Lord and fear only Him. Remember the mystery, not all Israel is Israel.
Heb 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,
Heb 6:5 And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come,
Heb 6:6 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.
The falling away of Israel happens when some are offended at the Commandments, which they corrupt in their own deceits. Falling away from faith is called stumbling over the stumbling stone, that is, the Living Christ, the Commandments. The error of the wicked is their refusal to separate and retain the sin as the Lord commands. They reason let us just love and forgive everyone, making up their own god out of the other Commandments to forgive those who sin against us. This is idolatry, the making of idols of our knowledge and thoughts apart from the Commandments. We mortify, meaning put to death covetousness [Col 3:5-6], and are content with the Commandments, not adding to or taking away from them. The greatest Commandment is to love the Lord thy God with all their heart, soul, and mind. Anything else is idolatry, regardless of what one’s flesh thinks.
Mar 12:29 And Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord:
Mar 12:30 And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment.
Mar 12:31 And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these.
Those who stumble go about seeking to establish their own righteousness by perverting the words and meaning of the love of God. The Commandment is a rock of offense to them, and instead, they respect persons and disobey and dishonour the Lord and His Commandment.
Rom 9:30 What shall we say then? That the Gentiles, which followed not after righteousness, have attained to righteousness, even the righteousness which is of faith.
Rom 9:31 But Israel, which followed after the law of righteousness, hath not attained to the law of righteousness.
Rom 9:32 Wherefore? Because they sought it not by faith, but as it were by the works of the law. For they stumbled at that stumblingstone;
Rom 9:33 As it is written, Behold, I lay in Sion a stumblingstone and rock of offence: and whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.
Those who obey the Commandments to separate and be set apart are the chosen generation being moved on to salvation as the Lord’s people. The others were appointed to stumble as the Lord declared all from the beginning of time.
1Pe 2:8 And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed.
1Pe 2:9 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:
We judge no man but all actions because it is the Lord who is working all things, including all the heresies and divisions, according to His will. It is through these disputes that the approved of God are being made manifest by the division the Lord orchestrates. These heresies always concern the Commandments, that is, the Lord’s Supper, which is the living bread of life we eat to inherit eternal life and gain salvation from sin.
1Co 11:19 For there must be also heresies among you, that they which are approved may be made manifest among you.
1Co 11:20 When ye come together therefore into one place, this is not to eat the Lord’s supper.
In the latter times, we are shown the man of sin, the abomination of desolation in the house of God. Those who see the abomination of desolation flee from that house and city and do not go back to fetch anything. While this has an inward application, it certainly applies outwardly in our fellowships and gatherings as the Lord sifts and divides His house into the sheep and the goats.
Mat 24:15 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:)
Mat 24:16 Then let them which be in Judaea flee into the mountains:
Mat 24:17 Let him which is on the housetop not come down to take any thing out of his house:
Mat 24:18 Neither let him which is in the field return back to take his clothes.
The last days are here, and antichrists, who oppose the Commandments and the Lord’s Christ, His anointed ones, are denying that Jesus Christ has come in our flesh and thus deny that we are Christ in this world. The Lord has deceived them, sending strong delusion, and there is nothing anyone can do to persuade them otherwise, as they have already made their bed. God has many mysteries, including the mystery of inequity, which is now being made manifest to us by His mercy. The Lord takes the wicked away in order to move the remnant escaped from Zion onwards to salvation.
2Th 2:7 For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way.
2Th 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:
2Th 2:9 Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders,
2Th 2:10 And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.
2Th 2:11 And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie:
2Th 2:12 That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.
Our former brethren speak evil of things which they are not given to understand, and thus corrupt themselves and those who hear them. They are gone the way of Cain and Balaam, seeking the reward of knowledge and the esteem and flattery of men rather than obeying the Commandments.
Jud 1:10 But these speak evil of those things which they know not: but what they know naturally, as brute beasts, in those things they corrupt themselves.
Jud 1:11 Woe unto them! for they have gone in the way of Cain, and ran greedily after the error of Balaam for reward, and perished in the gainsaying of Core.
They were not given to understand the sin of blasphemy against the Lord, and falsely speak about the meaning of the parables of Christ, where the sin against the Spirit is taught. They have, in turn, accused Christ and His Christ of casting out demons by the power of Beelzebub. Commandments cast out lies, and when the Commandments that cast out the lies are then attributed to the power of Satan, the Commandments have been evil spoken of. Those who deny the Lord, the Commandments before men are denied before the angels of God. Christ did not forgive the Pharisees and Sadducees who spoke evil of the Commandment and His anointing. Those who blaspheme the Commandment are not forgiven by Christ. We ask the Father to forgive them in the next age as we are dying, but we obey the Father’s Commandment and do not forgive them as we are Commanded to deny them.
Luk 12:9 But he who denies Me before men will be denied before the angels of God.
Luk 12:10 “And anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man, it will be forgiven him; but to him who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit, it will not be forgiven.
The correct teaching of the Commandment to separate and not bid such a one, even Godspeed, has been rejected by some who have now in turn spoken evil of the Commandment and of the Lord’s anointed. Thus, the Lord continues to sift the flock and is making quick work as the time of the end is at hand.
By speaking evil of the Commandment to retain the sin, they accused Christ and His Christ of having an unclean spirit, and thus, there is no forgiveness for them in this age. Saying the Commandment was not true is attributing it to Satan, the father of all lies, and thus these brothers sinned the sin unto death.
Mar 3:22 And the scribes which came down from Jerusalem said, He hath Beelzebub, and by the prince of the devils casteth he out devils.
Mar 3:23 And he called them unto him, and said unto them in parables, How can Satan cast out Satan?
Mar 3:28 Verily I say unto you, All sins shall be forgiven unto the sons of men, and blasphemies wherewith soever they shall blaspheme:
Mar 3:29 But he that shall blaspheme against the Holy Ghost hath never forgiveness, but is in danger of eternal damnation:
Mar 3:30 Because they said, He hath an unclean spirit.
The Lord proclaims woe to those who are wise in their own eyes and who justify the wicked, not cutting them off for a fleshly reward. Such love men more than God, and this was their appointment. Mixing up the things of God, some truth, some error, their self-righteousness is disobedience.
Isa 5:21 Woe unto them that are wise in their own eyes, and prudent in their own sight!
Isa 5:23 Which justify the wicked for reward, and take away the righteousness of the righteous from him!
One is either with Christ, with the Commandments, or they are against Christ. Many who welcome Christ into their city later turn on Him and seek to crucify Him. Those speaking evil of Christ as Beelzebub are not the people of the world; it is the people, the leaders of the house of Israel, the Jews, the Scribes, the Pharisees, and Sadducees. These branches of Israel are cut off in the Lord’s timing in the latter days when we, as Christ in this world, are being rejected and spoken evil for teaching the Commandments.
Sins of ignorance before we hear the law are forgiven, as where there is no law, there is no sin. Once the Gospel has been preached, there is no more ignorance and no more excuse, but only the prescribed judgment of God. The Old Testament likewise spoke of presumptuous sins, meaning those committed in the knowledge of the Commandment. When one despises the Commandment presumptuously, speaking evil of it and against those who preach it, they are utterly cut off from the land and turned over to Satan [the flood of lies], who sweeps them away into perdition.
Num 15:30 But the soul that doeth ought presumptuously, whether he be born in the land, or a stranger, the same reproacheth the LORD; and that soul shall be cut off from among his people.
Num 15:31 Because he hath despised the word of the LORD, and hath broken his commandment, that soul shall utterly be cut off; his iniquity shall be upon him.
We cut off those with whom we are connected, where Israel is being caused to sin by disobedience and speaking against the Lord [ Commandments]. It is better to enter into life with one hand, foot, and eye than to remain in the everlasting torment of man’s carnal reasonings of right and wrong.
Mar 9:43 And if thy hand offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter into life maimed, than having two hands to go into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched:
Mar 9:44 Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.
In our initial warnings over this matter, when a brother spoke evil of the Lord’s Commandments and the rule in the church, there was understanding and agreement that the Commandment to cease from all fellowship and to cut off the fallen brother should be obeyed. That agreement proved to be a false peace, as recent events have quickly revealed. Sudden destruction has now sprung forth from the hand of the Lord, and they are not escaping.
1Th 5:3 For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.
The Lord previously revealed to us the hidden disobedience to the Commandment regarding cutting off the brother who blasphemed. A conversation among elders was held to discuss the issue and the consequences for the whole flock if it was not stopped. During that discussion, it was in the elder brother’s hands to tell us the truth and admit to the ongoing communications taking place regarding the restoration of the cut off brother into the fellowship. However, this knowledge and information were withheld from us. The elder lied to the Holy Spirit and to us and has now himself committed the sin unto death, which we do not pray for. We have fulfilled the story of Acts 5, where the Lord cuts off Ananias and his wife for their sin unto death. We are being taught the fear of the Lord by witnessing His quick work in saving the remnant and cutting off those ordained to disobedience. Selling land is a parable for trading in knowledge, and the fallen elder and anyone aligned with him (his wife in spirit) on this matter no longer have any part of the Israel of God, the small remnant being saved. They have been cut off, sinning the sin unto death. Read with eyes to see.
Act 5:1 But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession,
Act 5:2 And kept back part of the price, his wife also being privy to it, and brought a certain part, and laid it at the apostles’ feet.
Act 5:3 But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land?
Act 5:4 Whiles it remained, was it not thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thine own power? why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart? thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God.
Act 5:5 And Ananias hearing these words fell down, and gave up the ghost: and great fear came on all them that heard these things.
Act 5:6 And the young men arose, wound him up, and carried him out, and buried him.
Act 5:7 And it was about the space of three hours after, when his wife, not knowing what was done, came in.
Act 5:8 And Peter answered unto her, Tell me whether ye sold the land for so much? And she said, Yea, for so much.
Act 5:9 Then Peter said unto her, How is it that ye have agreed together to tempt the Spirit of the Lord? behold, the feet of them which have buried thy husband are at the door, and shall carry thee out.
Act 5:10 Then fell she down straightway at his feet, and yielded up the ghost: and the young men came in, and found her dead, and, carrying her forth, buried her by her husband.
Act 5:11 And great fear came upon all the church, and upon as many as heard these things.
Peter did not pervert the Commandment or the love of God. He cut Annanias and his wife off in obedience, as the Holy Spirit, the Commandment was blasphemed. Was Peter doing evil or obeying God here? Judge by the Commandments, all of them, and the truth is clear to those the Lord has had mercy on. The rule and authority the Lord sets in His church are His watchmen, and they are obeying the Lord to protect the sheep and keep the house of God undefiled from sorceries and anything that defiles.
As watchmen, we have warned about those the Lord cuts off and the egregious error of anyone continuing to commune with them, even wishing them Godspeed [2Jn 1:6-11]. Some hearkened unto our warnings, but some have not, and thus the Lord has brought a sword upon the land to cut off the dead who have not obeyed. The dead are severed from the living through division by the Lord. We have faithfully warned, and thus their blood is not on our hands.
The end-time prophecies align with our current experiences. The Messiah, the Christ whom the Lord has raised, is cut off from Jerusalem after the Gospel has been preached, which is the building of the walls and streets of the city. The Lord then confirms His covenant with a few and creates a division within the city, where the daily sacrifice and obedience to the Commandments cease, leading to the rapid desolation of that city.
Dan 9:25 Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the Messiah the Prince shall be seven weeks, and threescore and two weeks: the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublous times.
Dan 9:26 And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself: and the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; and the end thereof shall be with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolations are determined.
Dan 9:27 And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate.
The prince of this world, Satan, soon returns in the place of Christ [the Commandments] and destroys that city and sanctuary, and the end is with a flood of carnal apostasy as the wicked are swept away. When we see the abomination as we looked at earlier from Matthew 24, we flee from the city and go to the mountains, that is, Christ and His Commandments. We sternly warn all who hear us not to return to that house to get anything out of it. Do not be partakers of their evil deeds.
Nothing unclean enters into the Holy City, the city of Heavenly Jerusalem, which is different than spiritual Jerusalem, that is actually spiritual Babylon and Sodom. As the angels of the Lord, we are now calling those who hear the voice of the shepherd to come out of her now. Flee to Christ, the day of salvation, the time of your visitation is come.
Rev 18:1 And after these things I saw another angel come down from heaven, having great power; and the earth was lightened with his glory.
Rev 18:2 And he cried mightily with a strong voice, saying, Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and is become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird.
Rev 18:3 For all nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, and the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth are waxed rich through the abundance of her delicacies.
Rev 18:4 And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.
The cry of the angels to come out to meet the bridegroom has been made. The wise virgins who have heard and previously prepared themselves through study and prayer are ready and are coming in by the door. The foolish virgins who did not prepare are shut out, as there is no longer time to buy oil, and the door is now shutting. It is midnight right now, and there is much darkness over the land. Choose today who you are serving.
Mat 25:6 And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him.
Mat 25:7 Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps.
Mat 25:8 And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out.
Mat 25:9 But the wise answered, saying, Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves.
Mat 25:10 And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut.
Much of the New Testament is warnings to help us discern the truth from error. We do not judge by swelling words that allure to the wants and desires of our flesh. We only use the Commandments, the plumbline as our measuring rod. One can be washed in John’s Baptism as we have been doing in studying the Commandments, and then return to the mud of their carnal reasoning. We see this happening right now if we are paying attention. We have just witnessed those whom the Lord cut off return to their vomit, having once tasted of the heavenly gift. They forgot the lesson of Lot’s wife, and looked back to Sodom from whence the Lord’s angels had delivered them through the Gospel. It is better to have not known the way of truth, the Gospel, than to know it and then turn away from the Commandments, as there is no coming back in this age.
2Pe 2:18 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.
2Pe 2:19 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.
2Pe 2:20 For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning.
2Pe 2:21 For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them.
2Pe 2:22 But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire.
Those straying from the Commandments, mixing their respect of persons and fleshly emotions and love, pervert the Word of God, defile the bread of life, and are cut off from the living. The Lord makes the wicked, and He sends strong delusion. Our commandment is to obey and not contend with those whom the Lord is blinding and cutting off. Satan in our midst comes with all kinds of lying signs and wonders, or else nobody is deceived. Most are deceived, beguiled by smooth words, and only a precious few, an escaped remnant, come out of Zion [the daughter of Zion] and are identified as the true sheep of God. The Lord is having mercy on us, as our eyes have been opened to see the deceivers and to fulfill the Scriptures.
2Pe 2:12 But these, as natural brute beasts, made to be taken and destroyed, speak evil of the things that they understand not; and shall utterly perish in their own corruption;
Jud 1:4 For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ.
Purging our house of the vessels of dishonour is required for us to be made into a vessel of honour. The Lord puts both kinds of vessels into His gatherings, the good and the bad, to try our faith and test our obedience to the Commandments to be separated unto holiness.
2Ti 2:20 But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honour, and some to dishonour.
2Ti 2:21 If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master’s use, and prepared unto every good work.
Our intention in writing this study was also to review the many Old Testament witnesses that confirm the Commandments and define what the love of God looks like in action when dealing with false brethren. Given the length of this study, we save further exploration for a later time. We do mention some of them below and encourage you to eat at home. Some of the more memorable stories of rebellion against the Lord and the resulting cutting off of Israel include:
- Korah’s rebellion against the rule the Lord established [Numbers 16]
- Balaam causes Israel to fornicate, 23K destroyed [Num 23-25]
- Phinehas obeys the Lord and slays [cuts off] the wicked princes openly fornicating in the house of God [Num 25]
- King Saul obeyed only portions of the Commandments, corrupting them, which is likened unto witchcraft. No repentance was granted as the Lord took his kingship, and he soon died [1Sa 15]
- Ezra discovers corrupt elders and priests fornicating and defiling Israel, requiring separation from them [See Ezra 9]
- False prophets turning Israel away from Commandments [Jer 28-29]
We are fulfilling Scriptures, and the identification of the false prophets and false brethren, the tares of the field, comes about in the last days, the time of the harvest. The Lord did not identify the tares earlier until some of you had grown stronger in the faith. The Lord is faithful to His Word, and He said to wait until the harvest to pull up the tares so the young wheat is not harmed.
Mat 13:29 But he said, Nay; lest while ye gather up the tares, ye root up also the wheat with them.
Mat 13:30 Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn.
Many have been led right out of the truth and into destruction, being seduced by smooth words and flatteries by those the Lord has not raised. Denying the sin unto the death and the Commandment to retain the sin is a damnable heresy disguised as good, but it is evil and against the Truth.
2Pe 2:1 But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.
2Pe 2:2 And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of.
2Pe 2:3 And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not.
Those who betray Christ and His anointed [His Christ] are not those enemies out there. They are from our own spiritual house; they are brothers and sisters we have known and walked with. At the appointed time, Christ and His Christ is betrayed by those of His own house. The Lord is come with His sword, and He is dividing and cutting off the enemies of the Gospel to make us, the tiny remnant, a holy and set-apart people.
Mat 10:34 Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword.
Mat 10:36 And a man’s foes shall be they of his own household.
There are always divisions among the Jews concerning Christ. Some believed His words, others did not. And so it is today, but in the true body, the remnant the Lord is calling out, the daughter of Zion, there is no division, and all are united in the Commandments of the Lord. A divided house is not standing, and thus the Lord cuts off those in error.
1Co 1:10 Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.
These splits and separations are spiritual earthquakes that shake our heavens and our earth as we seek to know the way to walk and what to choose. The shaking is not yet over. The Lord says there is yet one more shaking of our heaven and our earth to come. We do not know the details of that, but we remain alert and watchful for the trial so we may be found worthy and awake when the Lord comes. Guard yourself with all diligence and let no man take your crown through subtle deceit and flatteries which corrupt the Commandments. Hold fast what you have heard.
Rev 3:11 Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown
The everlasting city of God is descending out of the heavens of those who hear the words of Christ being spoken and who obey them. The spiritual city of God is established with many walls that separate the holy from the profane, built through the fiery trials of separating from the unclean. Only the holy is entering the city of God and the light of Christ, the Commandments, are always on and there is no longer any darkness. Christ is being revealed unto all who hear these words and they are entering in.
Rev 21:10 And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain, and shewed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God,
Rev 21:12 And had a wall great and high, and had twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels, and names written thereon, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel:
Those who are not given understanding do evil and teach lies, and they are cut off from the city of the Lord.
Psa 101:7 He that worketh deceit shall not dwell within my house: he that telleth lies shall not tarry in my sight.
Psa 101:8 I will early destroy all the wicked of the land; that I may cut off all wicked doers from the city of the LORD
The Lord is come. The day of His visitation is today. May the Lord give the increase and understanding to those prepared aforetime. Let us serve Him with reverence and fear.