[ZNPaaneah]

According to Witness Lee's ministry John 12 represents the miniature of the church life -- Mary, Martha, and Lazarus + Jesus.

Common sense says "the miniature" is the bare minimum required to represent all that is necessary. This may be smaller than normal, yet it was enough to create a picture of the church.

The context of Matthew 18 indicates that the reality of the church is the Lord's presence. The Lord's presence is the authority of the church (Life-Study of Matthew, Chapter 51, Section 3)

Now I understand that Witness Lee has interpreted "tell it to the church" as indicating a local church.

However, it is very clear that 2 or 3 can have the presence of the Lord -- that is the promise. They can bind on Earth, that is also the promise. The Lord will answer their prayer -- that is the promise.

Therefore, using Matt 18 why do they need to "tell it to the church"? The promise is that "whatever they bind on Earth will be bound in heaven". That is my understanding of why they need to tell it to the church. The church represents the kingdom of the heaven. It refers to all the believers on this Earth in oneness with the Lord in Heaven. It is the "Embassy" of the kingdom of the heaven.

If the 2 or 3 are in "the Lord's name" when they bind this person, then the church will also be one with this decision and what they bind on Earth will be what has been bound in heaven.