TheStarswillFall
01-06-2024, 05:30 AM
I am persuaded that the practical application of Rev 2:2 (testing the self-appointed apostles) is the KEY to overcoming the pharisaic seat of authority (Matt 23:2) installed in the Lord's Recovery.
The apostles are the unique foundation of God's building (Eph 2:20, Rev 21:14). Jude 3 & 17 confirm that this foundation was completed "once for all" during the service of the apostles of Jesus Christ. No other foundation can be laid (1 Cor 3:11). Every believer in Christ throughout the history (and future) of the church must build upon the foundation of the apostles (1 Cor 3:12-15; Rev 21:14). It follows spontaneously that the apostles represent a common fellowship for all regenerated believers throughout the entire span of the church's existence (1 John 1:1-3). To discern the apostolate is no small matter; therefore the Lord praises the believers in Ephesus for discerning the false apostles (Rev 2:2)
Let us consider Rev 2:2
"I know your deeds, your hard work and your perseverance...., that you have tested those who claim to be apostles but are not, and have found them false."
The verdict is the triumph of the saint who succeeds in proving the false apostles. Please pay special attention to the fact that the process of testing the self-appointed apostles consummates with a decisive verdict - "you have found them to be false." Game over. No more confusion, the uncertainty has been eliminated.
You see, people (especially believers) are just like sheep. We easily follow those who are all too eager to lead. The Lord warns in Matt 24:4 that we should guard against those who lead astray. Paul warns of men seeking a following amongst the Lord's people (Acts 20:30) and calls this type of behaviour a PERVERSION of the truth. The Lord Himself speaks the clearest word regarding leadership (authority) in Matt 23: 8-10, wherein He particularly rejects the idea of titular authority amongst the Lord's people and unambiguously places all believers on the same level - "you are all brothers."
Anyway, I'll try my best not to make this opening thread too long winded. Naturally, in order for a believer to discern the self-appointed (false) apostles it is requisite for him to first and foremost be able to discern the authentic apostles. Although many books and many dialogues have been had wrt the "problem" of the apostolate, Scripture is crystal clear concerning the constituting elements of genuine apostleship. The primary constituent of the apostleship is the event of the resurrected Christ's sending of the incumbent. Yes, Scripture clearly stipulates that all the apostles were first-hand eyewitnesses of the resurrected Christ. The second constituent of the apostleship is the ability to perform signs and wonders (miracles) as the seal of Christ's commission. Yes, all the apostles were able to perform miracles, Scripture makes this clear also. The prophetic nature of the book of Revelation also strongly points to the fact that the apostolic office has ceased after the close of the initial church age represented by the Ephesian church. Not a single word of the apostolate is mentioned in the Lord's speaking to the remainder of the 6 churches in Rev 2 -3. This is significant.
Even if for some reason we can't agree on these two most primary markers of apostolic legitimacy, we surely must agree that Scripture implores us to TEST the self-appointed apostles. No, don't cover the false apostle, discern the false apostle. Again, the Lord acknowledges the believers' discernment of the self-appointed pretenders to the apostleship. The verdict acknowledged by the Lord in Rev 2:2 is that "you have found them to be false." The self-appointed apostles are FALSE. In other words, they can be identified via their lies and deceit. Surely, these men are not merely false and deceitful in their claim to the apostleship, but in their actions and words. The false apostle might have a perfect Christology, but he remains FALSE. All lies will eventually be brought into the light. The history of the Lord's Recovery is just one example of this principle.
Let us now turn our attention to Witness Lee aka MINISTER OF THE AGE, ORACLE OF GOD, GOD'S UNIQUE DEPUTY AUTHORITY, ONLY WISE MASTER BUILDER... Let us prove Witness Lee's claims of apostolic authority. If he was false, it is our responsibility to prove so.
Although many on this forum are privy to numerous distinct accounts exposing the multilayered hypocrisy imbedded in the Lord's Recovery under the exclusive leadership of Witness Lee (and issuing from), you will be amazed how readily history proves Witness Lee to be a false apostle.
Here we go:
Fact (i): Witness Lee claimed unanimously to be the TOP APOSTLE with the full revelation of God's New Testament economy who ALL THE SAINTS ACROSS THE EARTH HAD TO RECOGNIZE AND FOLLOW AS THE UNIQUE LEADER OF ALL THE CHURCHES. Book 7 Elders Training: Chapter 5 (Pg 57 - 67).
W Lee made a definite distinction between the "top apostle" and the other apostles by alluding to Paul and Peter. According to Witness Lee Peter was not up to Paul's standard and therefore a second-tier apostle. Guess with whom Witness Lee identified himself?
Of course, the occasion alluded to above is only one of many where W Lee identified as an apostle.
Fact (ii): Witness Lee testified under oath that he is not an apostle.
Brothers, why do you now refer to Witness Lee as an apostle when he never referred to himself as an apostle? As a matter of fact, in a sworn deposition, under penalty of perjury, Witness Lee clearly denied that he considered himself as an apostle, and swore under oath that he asked his followers not to refer to himself as an apostle.
-
It is further documented in W Lee's own ministry (A Word of Love) that "I have never called myself an apostle." I kid you not!
Verdict:
Fact (i) and Fact (ii) are essentially irreconcilable. The mere fact that either (i) or (ii) must be false, it is self-evident that (i) is false.
Not only was Witness Lee deceitful in his apostolic claims, he portrayed strong characteristics of a man who was mentally ill. What man with a sober mind and a heart subject to the Lordship of Jesus Christ can claim for himself to be the top (brother) apostle who all the churches across the earth must recognize and follow as their unique designated leader and on another occasion casually state that he has never alluded to himself as an apostle?
History proves that Witness Lee's personal claims to the apostolic office are contradictory, erratic, double-minded and ultimately deceitful.
The current state of the Lord's Recovery is not a misrepresentation of Witness Lee and his ministry, it is the issue of Witness Lee and his ministry. The Lord said in Matt 23:15 that the proselyte of the Pharisee is twice as corrupt his master. The Lord can never be wrong.
History proves Witness Lee to be a false apostle, and Lee's proselytes will continue to do the same. History is the alibi. The Lord asks of us to discern.
The apostles are the unique foundation of God's building (Eph 2:20, Rev 21:14). Jude 3 & 17 confirm that this foundation was completed "once for all" during the service of the apostles of Jesus Christ. No other foundation can be laid (1 Cor 3:11). Every believer in Christ throughout the history (and future) of the church must build upon the foundation of the apostles (1 Cor 3:12-15; Rev 21:14). It follows spontaneously that the apostles represent a common fellowship for all regenerated believers throughout the entire span of the church's existence (1 John 1:1-3). To discern the apostolate is no small matter; therefore the Lord praises the believers in Ephesus for discerning the false apostles (Rev 2:2)
Let us consider Rev 2:2
"I know your deeds, your hard work and your perseverance...., that you have tested those who claim to be apostles but are not, and have found them false."
The verdict is the triumph of the saint who succeeds in proving the false apostles. Please pay special attention to the fact that the process of testing the self-appointed apostles consummates with a decisive verdict - "you have found them to be false." Game over. No more confusion, the uncertainty has been eliminated.
You see, people (especially believers) are just like sheep. We easily follow those who are all too eager to lead. The Lord warns in Matt 24:4 that we should guard against those who lead astray. Paul warns of men seeking a following amongst the Lord's people (Acts 20:30) and calls this type of behaviour a PERVERSION of the truth. The Lord Himself speaks the clearest word regarding leadership (authority) in Matt 23: 8-10, wherein He particularly rejects the idea of titular authority amongst the Lord's people and unambiguously places all believers on the same level - "you are all brothers."
Anyway, I'll try my best not to make this opening thread too long winded. Naturally, in order for a believer to discern the self-appointed (false) apostles it is requisite for him to first and foremost be able to discern the authentic apostles. Although many books and many dialogues have been had wrt the "problem" of the apostolate, Scripture is crystal clear concerning the constituting elements of genuine apostleship. The primary constituent of the apostleship is the event of the resurrected Christ's sending of the incumbent. Yes, Scripture clearly stipulates that all the apostles were first-hand eyewitnesses of the resurrected Christ. The second constituent of the apostleship is the ability to perform signs and wonders (miracles) as the seal of Christ's commission. Yes, all the apostles were able to perform miracles, Scripture makes this clear also. The prophetic nature of the book of Revelation also strongly points to the fact that the apostolic office has ceased after the close of the initial church age represented by the Ephesian church. Not a single word of the apostolate is mentioned in the Lord's speaking to the remainder of the 6 churches in Rev 2 -3. This is significant.
Even if for some reason we can't agree on these two most primary markers of apostolic legitimacy, we surely must agree that Scripture implores us to TEST the self-appointed apostles. No, don't cover the false apostle, discern the false apostle. Again, the Lord acknowledges the believers' discernment of the self-appointed pretenders to the apostleship. The verdict acknowledged by the Lord in Rev 2:2 is that "you have found them to be false." The self-appointed apostles are FALSE. In other words, they can be identified via their lies and deceit. Surely, these men are not merely false and deceitful in their claim to the apostleship, but in their actions and words. The false apostle might have a perfect Christology, but he remains FALSE. All lies will eventually be brought into the light. The history of the Lord's Recovery is just one example of this principle.
Let us now turn our attention to Witness Lee aka MINISTER OF THE AGE, ORACLE OF GOD, GOD'S UNIQUE DEPUTY AUTHORITY, ONLY WISE MASTER BUILDER... Let us prove Witness Lee's claims of apostolic authority. If he was false, it is our responsibility to prove so.
Although many on this forum are privy to numerous distinct accounts exposing the multilayered hypocrisy imbedded in the Lord's Recovery under the exclusive leadership of Witness Lee (and issuing from), you will be amazed how readily history proves Witness Lee to be a false apostle.
Here we go:
Fact (i): Witness Lee claimed unanimously to be the TOP APOSTLE with the full revelation of God's New Testament economy who ALL THE SAINTS ACROSS THE EARTH HAD TO RECOGNIZE AND FOLLOW AS THE UNIQUE LEADER OF ALL THE CHURCHES. Book 7 Elders Training: Chapter 5 (Pg 57 - 67).
W Lee made a definite distinction between the "top apostle" and the other apostles by alluding to Paul and Peter. According to Witness Lee Peter was not up to Paul's standard and therefore a second-tier apostle. Guess with whom Witness Lee identified himself?
Of course, the occasion alluded to above is only one of many where W Lee identified as an apostle.
Fact (ii): Witness Lee testified under oath that he is not an apostle.
Brothers, why do you now refer to Witness Lee as an apostle when he never referred to himself as an apostle? As a matter of fact, in a sworn deposition, under penalty of perjury, Witness Lee clearly denied that he considered himself as an apostle, and swore under oath that he asked his followers not to refer to himself as an apostle.
-
It is further documented in W Lee's own ministry (A Word of Love) that "I have never called myself an apostle." I kid you not!
Verdict:
Fact (i) and Fact (ii) are essentially irreconcilable. The mere fact that either (i) or (ii) must be false, it is self-evident that (i) is false.
Not only was Witness Lee deceitful in his apostolic claims, he portrayed strong characteristics of a man who was mentally ill. What man with a sober mind and a heart subject to the Lordship of Jesus Christ can claim for himself to be the top (brother) apostle who all the churches across the earth must recognize and follow as their unique designated leader and on another occasion casually state that he has never alluded to himself as an apostle?
History proves that Witness Lee's personal claims to the apostolic office are contradictory, erratic, double-minded and ultimately deceitful.
The current state of the Lord's Recovery is not a misrepresentation of Witness Lee and his ministry, it is the issue of Witness Lee and his ministry. The Lord said in Matt 23:15 that the proselyte of the Pharisee is twice as corrupt his master. The Lord can never be wrong.
History proves Witness Lee to be a false apostle, and Lee's proselytes will continue to do the same. History is the alibi. The Lord asks of us to discern.