[ZNPaaneah]

Originally Posted by Ohio

In Rev. 2-3 there are quite a diversity of churches. Contrary to LC teachings, their differences were both positive and negative. Yet the Son of Man walked in all of their midst, knowing each intimately, and speaking to all of their needs. He also acknowledged that there were individuals in each of the churches that were not included in the general character of the church.

Philadelphia, and to an extent Smyrna, stand out as exemplary, yet these were never heralded as "the true local church," rather they were all "true" local churches, i.e. lamp stands, with varying degrees of concerns and spiritual needs. Perhaps, since each letter was addressed to "the messenger of the church," these instructions were given to them firstly in order for them to have heavenly guidance to shepherd their own church.

Along those lines one of the most shocking quotes of Witness Lee, to my mind, is that he references Revelation 2 as proof that women should not teachers in the church and that a woman taking the lead is evidence of a heresy.

First Timothy 2, 1 Corinthians 14, and Revelation 2 all show that God forbids a woman from teaching. Any sect that is started by a woman or headed up by one, or any group in which the woman occupies the same place as the man is highly suspicious. More than half of the heresies in the world have been started by women. For example, the founder of the Christian Scientists was Mary Baker Eddy, and the founder of the Seventh-day Adventists was Mrs. White. When the Bible speaks about Roman Catholicism, it also refers to the teaching of the woman Jezebel. (Witness Lee, (Messages for Building Up New Believers, Vol. 3, Chapter 20, Section 5)