The Prophet Zephaniah, though writing to the Jews of his day, was at the same time writing to the church in the latter days of the world’s final era–the era in which we are now living. This duality of messages and message recipients is common throughout the Holy Scriptures. What God said to and how He dealt with the twelve tribes of Israel in Old Testament days was recorded and preserved for the teaching of His people who would be living in the latter days (1 Cor. 10:11) which He called the “the church” and “the Israel of God” (Gal. .6:16). This DUALITY OF MESSAGE AND ACTIONS is found from Genesis to Revelation. Approximately 1/3 of the Old Testament is prophecy directed toward His people who would be living during the days in which we now live. God is no respecter of persons (Acts 10:34). His message to Adam was His message to you and me. His dealings (both positive and negative) with Adam characterize His dealings with you and me.

In chapter one verse nine the prophet states that the Jews were “COMMITING VIOLENCE against their Master’s (God’s) house.” Doing violence against their Master’s house would include everything that was in His “house”–His Temple. This would include the Ark of the Covenant and everything in it. The modern Church has come violently against the two things that were inside the ark–the Ten Commandment Law by which God rules His true saints, as well as Aaron’s rod–God’s government which is the Law’s day-to-day mechanism by which He controls the lives of His obedient saints. Bear in mind that the “Temple” of God today is His Very Elect saints (1 Cor. 3:16) who keep His Ten Commandment Law in their hearts (minds–Jer. 31:31/Heb. 8:8-12) and obey it. He rules (governs) them through Aaron’s rod–His government based on His Law.

How much more “violence” can a churchite exhibit than to spiritually and physically do away with the very Law that God wrote in stone and in the hearts (minds) of His true saints along with the government by which he rules them? The Laodicean Church has summarily rejected God’s rules of engagement by which they are required to “walk”–the totality of life. The Prophet Amos asks: “Can two walk together unless the agree (3:3)? The Institutional Church agrees with the Almighty on very few issues, which explains the spiritual poverty in which professing Christianity exists today. In the “Voices” series I point out that the only difference between the church and the world it so perfectly fits into is where the former spends a couple of hours each sun god day. The objective observer quickly notes that the church and the world into which she so snuggly fits are like twins. When “the church” “goes to church,” it is in reality the world going to church. The only difference between them is the god each professes to acknowledge. The church claims to believe in the God of the universe (its Creator–Gen. 1:1) while the world openly bows to the god of this world (its destroyer–(2 Cor. 4:4). In that the former is not what it claims to be and the latter is what it claims to be–the latter is the most honest of the two.

In First John 5:3 we are told that God’s Law expresses His great love for mankind. How? By offering man a way to spend eternity with Him in paradise. Removing that Law from the heart of man reveals Satan’s great hatred toward mankind which he will be allowed to express during the first 2 1/2 years of the Tribulation Period, During the following Day of the Lord (final year of the Tribulation Period), God will pour out His wrath on sinning man. Read about the Great Tribulation and the Day of the Lord, key word–Tribulation. As stated, the church’s sins involve spiritual violence toward 1) God’s Ten Commandment Law and 2) Aaron’s rod which we will now examine.

The end-time Laodicean Church has violently attacked Aaron’s rod which represents God’s righteous government. “The church” rejects God’s government which is administered by His chosen and faithful men. In order to remain in God’s spiritual presence His ministers must put forth His Law and their disciples must obey it. If both do their assigned parts, false religion will never be able to enter the church and mix with God’s true religion. God’s pure church, with no weak parts, is a strong spiritual wall that stands against all denominational doctrines and the churches which created them. This ministers-disciples connection is brought out in Ephesians 4:11-13 where it is written that, before He returned to heaven Jesus created certain offices within the church and designated certain categories of men to fill those offices: “And He gave some apostles and some prophets and some evangelist and some pastors and teachers.” Why did He create these positions within His church? “FOR THE PERFECTING OF THE SAINTS, FOR THE WORK OF THE MINISTRY, FOR THE EDIFYING OF THE BODY OF CHRIST UNTIL WE ALL COME TO THE UNITY OF THE FAITH, AND OF THE KNOWLEDGE OF THE SON OF GOD, TO A PERFECT MAN, TO THE MEASURE OF THE STATURE OF THE FULLNESS OF CHRIST. WHO IS THE “PERFECT MAN.” Note it: WE MUST EACH WALK AS DID JESUS CHRIST (1 JN. 2:6/ REV. 3:21): “BE YE PERFECT AS YOUR FATHER IN HEAVEN IS PERFECT” (Mat. 5:28).

Within the true church, any weakness detected must be addressed and corrected, or the guilty party must be cast out of the church. If neither of those actions take place, true believers must leave the church. You will find that in 99.9% of the cases, one will have to leave the church. Satan’s spiritual stranglehold on the masses will not allow them to admit to being wrong, which would necessitate a 180 degree change of life. In such cases, true believers must obey Second Corinthians 6:14-7:1 which addresses this Truth head-on. Read what God says about the change which must be affected when sin is detected, resulting in unanswered prayers (Second Chronicles 7:13-15). Read that very important message carefully, noting what sinners must do in order to be accepted by the Lord. Notice that God calls these people His people, called by His name.

Counterfeit churchites reject the above-stated Biblical Truths. Why? Because the Holy Scriptures proclaim the Truth that to be God’s people requires much more than belief in Jesus. We must recognize that a house (God’s church) is made up of many parts. Like a chain, all parts must be of sound stature. Through Zephaniah God is speaking to the “only believe,” “sinners saved by grace” faction (99.99%) of professing Christendom. But no one is exempt from His hard-and-fast governing principles. He will punish any and all who profess Him if they do not obey His Law and allow themselves to be governed by that Law. Because of a church-wide, centuries-long apostasy (falling away), those who are so governed are very few in number, just as Jesus warned would be the case in Matthew 7:13,14; 22:14)

Once again, the irony of the situation cannot be ignored. Churchman adamantly insists that everyone must obey the national, state and local laws, or be punished for not doing so. Yet that same churchman insists, even more adamantly, that he has the right to ignore the very Law that will determine his eternity. He claims that God’s grace allows him to do so because he is “saved and born again.” And Satan smiles, knowing that he has churchman exactly where he wants him. The Lord always knows how church people view His Law and His government by which His Law is implemented. As the “Voices” series points out, He does not spare the (Aaron’s) rod when dealing with those who spoil themselves by disobeying His Law. Be sure to read the “Voices” series to see how He deals with Law-breakers, known Biblically as workers of iniquity and socially as “Christians.”

Concerning the subject of spiritual “violence” toward the things of the Lord, it is written about the Kingdom of Heaven that it “suffers violence and the violent take it by force.” (Mat. 11:12). This statement can be confusing unless you understand that God’s Kingdom, like everything else in the Holy Bible, has a dual application. I personally separate the two kingdoms (Kingdom of God and Kingdom of Heaven) into the earthly kingdom (of heaven) and the heavenly kingdom (of God). Again, this is my personal way of reasoning. Simply stated, I call God’s true Very Elect, Law-keeping church the “Kingdom of Heaven” and the parent church in heaven (“the mother of us all”– ) the kingdom of God which Jesus will duplicate on earth upon His return.

Just as we often call a male child a “little man,” I call God’s true church now on earth the “kingdom of heaven”–God’s “little man” (Eph. 4:13). Just as we individually must live as did Jesus (Eph. 4:1-14/1 Jn. 2:6/Rev. 3:21) in this life as God’s “children” who are in the maturing process. When we reach spiritual adulthood we become part of His true church, which I call the Kingdom of Heaven. Upon His return to earth, Jesus will establish the Kingdom of God on earth, complete with a NEW JERUSALEM which will descend from Heaven intact. In this stage His true congregation (Kingdom of Heaven) comprises only a tiny part of what is called “the church” and “My people called by My name.” The other 99.9% consists of the various churches, denominations, faiths, etc. that make up the rest of the end-time church. Read Revelation 3:14-22. Read The Kingdom of God series, key word–kingdom. The key to my reasoning is that unless we learn the kingdom walk now and walk it until death during our human stage, we will not be allowed to enter the Kingdom of God upon Christ’s return.

I cannot stress enough how serious is the damage that the Catholic/Protestant Religious System has caused and continues to cause the billions of congregants who blindly take their leaders’ word for everything spiritual. I will again remind readers that if you are involved in either Catholicism, Protestantism or any other “ism,” the Lord’s COMMAND is written in Second Corinthians 6:14-7:1 where you are COMMANDED to have nothing to do personally with Satan’s church system.

I know from personal experience how it is to be surrounded by family and friends who reject God’s Word and embrace Satan’s Word known as “church doctrine.” As Jesus warned, those closest to you will reject you on the spiritual level (Mat. 10:36). I have lived in that situation for approximately half of my 85 years. Added to this automatic rejection is the fact that I speak and write what I believe. I am an embarrassment to my family, with one exception. On the social and familial level I am accepted and loved. My people are addicted to television and to their hand-held gadgets. I do not watch television and do not own one of those gadgets. As you might guess, I spend most of my time alone. The Lord, through His abiding Holy Spirit, assures me that I am never truly alone. Praise His Holy Name. L.J.