[jigsaw44]

But I have some points to witness lee analysis on the local churches in relations with the church in Philadelphia

From LSM /Witness Lee

The church is keeping the Lord’s word. [In Revelation 3:8b the Lord Jesus says, “You have a little power and have kept My word.’’ One outstanding feature of the church in Philadelphia is that she kept the Lord’s word. According to history, no other Christians have kept the Lord’s word as strictly as those in the church in Philadelphia. The church in Philadelphia, the recovered church, does not care for tradition; she cares for the word of God.]

[In 3:8 the Lord also says that the church in Philadelphia has not denied His name. The brothers who were raised up by the Lord in England in the early part of the nineteenth century did not take any name other than the name of the Lord. The word is the Lord’s expression, and the name is the Lord Himself. The apostate church has deviated from the Lord’s word and has become heretical. The reformed church, though recovered to the Lord’s word to some extent, has denied the Lord’s name by denominating herself with many other names. The recovered church has not only returned to the Lord’s word in a full way but has also abandoned all names other than that of the Lord Jesus Christ. The recovered church belongs to the Lord absolutely, having nothing to do with any denominations (any names). To deviate from the Lord’s word is apostasy, and to denominate the church with any name other than the Lord’s is spiritual fornication. The church as the chaste virgin betrothed to Christ (2 Cor. 11:2) should not have any name other than her Husband’s. All other names are an abomination in the eyes of God.]

[In 3:8a the Lord says, “I know your works; behold, I have put before you an open door which no one can shut.’’ As the One who has the key of David and who opens and no one shall shut (v. 7), the Lord has given the recovered church “an open door which no one can shut.’’ Since the recovery of the proper church life began, in the early part of the nineteenth century, until now, a door has always been wide open to the Lord’s recovery.]

[“Because you have kept the word of My endurance, I also will keep you out of the hour of trial which is about to come on the whole inhabited earth, to try them who dwell on the earth’’ (3:10). This promise actually refers to the rapture of the overcomers before the great tribulation. “Trial’’ in 3:10 undoubtedly denotes the great tribulation (Matt. 24:21) “which is about to come on the whole inhabited earth,’’ as indicated by the fifth, sixth, and seventh trumpets with the seven bowls (Rev. 8:13-9:21; 11:14-15; 15:1; 16:1-2). The “trial’’ may also include the supernatural calamities of the sixth seal and the first four trumpets. The Lord promises the recovered church that He will keep her “out of the hour of trial’’ (not only out of the trial but out of the hour of trial) because she has kept the word of His endurance. This promise of the Lord, like that in Luke 21:36, indicates that the saints who have kept the word of the Lord’s endurance will be raptured before the great trial.]
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Now for my response

1. Yes it is true that the Church in Philadelphia is a very sacred church to the lord and is blessed at the end of times. But I have to say, how much weight does the "name" of a church denomination have? The local churches are surely a denomination as they fit the criteria for one. Any person can make the argument they are the supreme church because they hold a name that only addresses the lord directly rather than indirectly. A little church in rural Kansas can have the name "Church of Christ", but does the name/title of the church mean everything and disregard the actions/practices of it? Surely not, if the little church in Kansas called "church of Christ" practiced deceitful and wicked things, then their name is actually insulting because they tarnish such a sacred name. It sort of like when the lord says, they are not Jews but a synagogue of Satan. They claim to be something of standard and faith but in reality, their name does stand true to who they really are. In essence the name itself in my opinion is not really significant, and is only used to distinguish one from another- its why humans and institutions, and places of worship all have some sort of name/identity- to distinguish.

Witness Lee then says the LR/LC keeps the word of God to the utmost standard. Yet, they devalue and deemphasize books, verses, and chapters of the bible if it does follow the doctrine of man. In the LR/LC, the doctrine of man is the standard and highest pedestal of teaching and in practice and that even scripture must align with it, or else it is devalued, deemphasized, and even disregarded completely. The LC/LR is perhaps not the only group of churches to practice this for certain, there have been and will be more churches who will put the pedestal of doctrine of man over god. The Church of Philadelphia is certainly not this kind of church, no church that exhalts the doctrine of man over scripture in their daily life is the church of Philadelphia.

Also, the 7 churches of Asia all describe one way or another the state of churches that fit the description of the 7 revelation. Whether: wretched, righteous and glorious, lukewarm and half filled, the struggling poor but rich in faith, and the church that has a few ones rich in faith that overshined the many poor in wickedness (Sardis).

2. The funny thing is, while the LC preaches about how it is one church and they will be judged as one- this is not true cause if it was, the deception and wickedness of the locality of Anaheim alone will be one heck of a weak link in the times of revelation.... Trust me I doubt the LC would prefer if God judged all the localities of the LC based on a composite scale... That would be not very good for a lot of genuine LC folk who are just delusioned.... Just as the Lord judges the churches independently and fairly in revelation based on their historical practices- he will do the same thing for all churches and persons around the world. As seen in Sardis, individuals who are independently faithful and holy will not have to suffer the actions of those close to them. The LC headquarters of Anaheim is wicked, full of megalomaniacs, deceivers, and insecure men who wish to domineer and lord over those below them and place themselves above one another (Matthew 20:25). But the Church Anaheim does not represent the little locality in rural North Carolina who although is deceived by doctrine- are genuinely good people at heart.

So witness Lee speaks of the local church being Philadelphia- what locality can even live up to that standard? Philadelphia is a tremendous standard and just having the pride and arrogance thinking and trying to convince others you are this standard- just speaks volume in itself. In my opinion the exalting of doctrine above scripture rules out any locality as a whole. But as seen in Sardis- the individual represents himself more so than the church he/she is associated with. Perhaps there are LC folk who don't really take up the lee doctrine at all and only keep quiet due to fear- maybe more so than I think. No one truly knows what church lives up to the standard of Philadelphia, but is not the LC as a whole for sure-- way too many issues that they might cover up and fool man with but they sure are not fooling the lord. They even persecuted men falsely and deceitfully in the name of the lord. They tarnished the lords name and use his name for their self interest of power and control. May John Ingalls rest in peace, after reading a portion of his book I am became angered and distraught for how they treated him. Only a wicked and devious person can treat a man like Ingalls like that. John Ingalls sixteen points only wished to put the lord above all, and they didn't even want that. Speaks volume for the wickedness of Anaheim.

3. Witness Lee a name of a church does not qualify of spiritual fornication, the exaltation and worship of the doctrine of man superseding that of scripture is fornication with the holy word. The teachings of witness lee have led to the utmost vainglory, deception, and disdain of many individuals. They look down and lash their tongue at other Christians while exalting themselves as superior when they are just as flawed as any other man. They worship doctrine and slash scripture based on the word of man over God. Lastly, they do this in the name of Christ? To the LC, the you do not spread the gospel/teachings of Christ and therefore the lord shall not return because of the spread of your teachings. But he will indeed judge you so be prepared as for all who will be subject to judgement at the end of times.