2 Churches : Real and Counterfeit

22 May 2008 - Submitted by Chris

The real church is made up with Jesus as the foundational rock. The prophets and apostles through the old and new testaments embrace Him to form a structure. We as living stones, a testament to Him, may make up the rest of the structure. The Apostle Peter whose name means stone, kefar in Hebrew, himself supports this idea in 1 Peter 2.

The stone which the builders rejected has become the Chief Cornerstone, from Psalm 118.22, epitomises the real church of the gentiles today. The testimony of Jesus is the prophetic fulfillment of the old testament text.

In Psalm 127 man labours in vain to build the house and unless God builds it, it will not stand. It makes sense that if God builds the House it will easily become like a huge mountain, like that spoken of in Daniel 2.35 and 2.45.

Interestingly, when one stands on the mountain one cannot actually see it. If we build an altar to the Lord on that mountain to fulfill Exodus 20.25 we are not to take rocks and shape them for that would be sinful. Indeed if we take rocks to shape a stair on that mountain that would also be sinful.

The rocks of the mountain are living stones to the Lord. Each is precious to Him. We are only permitted to build an altar for which He provides the Lamb.

The real church has certain simple characteristics. It is made of living stone from the Chief Cornerstone up. It is built by the Lord Himself. He chooses His living stones. It comes to resemble a huge mountain of faith, Zion.

The counterfeit church is foreshadowed by pagan empires who worshiped multiple deities and god kings. Built on the virtual free labours of a slave class. Great wealth and power was attained and influence extended across nations. To maintain influence a seemingly rigid but slightly flexible structure was put in place which is likened to a mighty tree with many, many branches.

The counterfeit church uses these exact methods today and its influence extends over all the earth into all spheres of life. It is tax free and has become so large and tall it is the envy of all trees.

The small seed of an idea taken from the conversation between Jesus and Peter “Upon this Rock I will build my House” has grown into the largest of trees. To grow and extend its influence the tree relies on multiple leaderships across social and political, religious and economic boundaries to draw in wealth and power. There are periods of phenomenal growth revival drawing from all these deep and multiple waters.

Calling Peter the first (absentee) leader was only the beginning of this process. Yet none of the disciples started a denominational church. Because of its size and power in its own theology this church has become proud and for this reason God will crush it and make it an example to all.

The parable of this tree is contained in Ezekiel 31. Biblically a cedar tree seems to always to represent a gentile tree. I believe the chosen people of God continue to naturally resist it or God will not allow them to partake of it.

The tall tree is very visible to all but unlike a mountain it is finite in substance. Wood has the spiritual connotation of representing man, and God overlaid wood with gold to represent sanctification. There is no gold in Ezekiel 31, only pride.

Jesus issues a warning from Luke 20.17 that the Rock will fall on those who are unbroken. The chief priests knew this parable was spoken against them. The tallest Tree is full of unbroken pride and will therefore be crushed to fulfill Jesus testimony. Ezekiel 31.13 parallels Mathew 24.28, both say for where the remains are there the birds of heaven will gather.

Ezekiel 31.11 states the tree will be delivered into the hands of the Anti-Christ. Mathew 24 states the elect will be saved from the false Christ’s, one and all.

We can be sucked into a growing organism or we can wait faithfully on the Lord to place us in His structure. Wait.

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