Christian Living

THE APOSTATE CHURCH

by Jeff Van Hatten
08/11/23
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What Does The True, Remnant Church Look Like?
The true church, called the Remnant Church, is made of individuals who all are expected to know Yahweh’s Word. In the synagogues during Yeshua’s time, and even still today, every male is required to study Torah and to memorize it so that at any time, he can be called upon to read the word and then expound upon it. Everyone is encouraged to be a teacher and a preacher. Not all respond, but many do. All are expected to know scripture and be able to lead others to salvation in Yeshua. The Remnant Church celebrates Yahweh's Moedim and Sabbaths.

What do other churches look like?
Does the church require or recommend that its attendees read the Bible frequently, or better yet, daily?
If not, why not? Any church that does not expect individuals to have a personal, intimate knowledge and interaction with the Word of Yahweh may not be a Remnant Church, but may be an apostate, a Laodicean, a “slacker” church as Mr. Strickland from Back to the Future would say, or worse yet, a Ziggurat of Satan.

Does the church teach that the church has replaced Israel and is now the recipient of Yahweh’s promises to Abraham and his descendants?
If so, then such a church promotes the lie of Satan and cannot be considered a Remnant Church. Read Romans, especially chapters 10 and 11.

Does the church deify anyone besides Yeshua?
If so, then such a church promotes the lie of Satan and cannot be considered a Remnant Church. Scripture tells us there is only one way to the Father, one way to eternal life, and that is through Yeshua Ha'Mashiach (John 1:4; 3:16; 3:36; 5:24; 6:47; 14:6).

Does the church require or recommend that its priest or pastor be called “Father” rather than “Pastor” or “Reverend”?
If so, then either this church does not know scripture, or is a Ziggurat of Satan, not a Remnant Church. Scripture states very clearly that we are to: “Call no one on this earth father; for one is your father and He is in heaven.” (Matthew 23:9).

Does the church have a hierarchical structure?
If so, then this church cannot be a Remnant Church. There are many gifts of the Spirit, some apostles, some teachers, etc. but no hint that a “pope” is higher than a “bishop”, a “bishop” higher than a “priest”, a “priest” higher than a “lay person”. We are all one in Yeshua. We are not to lord it over each other as the pagans do (Matthew 20:25–28).

Does the church promote the “Name it and Grab it dribble”?
If so, then this church cannot be a Remnant Church. This message, too, is a lie of Satan. This message that we can have it all now, and have it instantly is a perfect example of Instant Gratification expectations run amok!

Does the church attend or support the ecumenical movement to bring all faiths together under one banner?
If so, then this church cannot be a Remnant Church. This is a shadow of the One World Church under the direction of the False Prophet. This message is regularly espoused by the Vatican and Pope Francis. (for more click on the yearly Vatican Update articles).

Does the church serve communion each time it meets, or just one day each month?
The apostles and early believers “met in the Temple courts daily and broke bread in their several homes” (Acts 2:46).

Conclusions
If the answers to the above questions are “yes”, then once again I must question if it is truly a Remnant Church, or more likely is it an apostate, a Laodicean,  a “slacker” church as Mr. Strickland from Back to the Future would claim; or a Ziggurat of Satan.

I fully believe it is time to return to the first century model and once again institute home churches. The organized church is headed in the wrong direction, precisely as prophesied in scripture. Just one more hint that we are in the season of Yeshua’s return, and that we may expect the trumpet to sound, the archangel to shout, and the Lord to call us to his side in the Father’s house. The birth pains have begun their march . . . but the end is not yet. Keep watch . . . the baby is coming!!!

1. The Non-Remnant Church is becoming less theologically literate.
Hence a diminished preaching that Yeshua is Elohim, the Ruach Ha'Kodesh is Elohim, and God the Father is Elohim. Hence a diminished preaching that Yeshua is our salvation, and no one comes to the Father except through Yeshua’s blood, death, and resurrection. The church seems to be headed back into a period of dark ages, where the Bible is neither preached nor studied. It is a rare Remnant Church that encourages everyone to know scripture and be able to lead others to Yeshua by teaching and preaching. When the Bible is mentioned, it is just “good, moral stories” and no longer believed to be the inerrant Word of Yahweh.

2. The influence of the Bible on culture and individual lives is largely invisible.
Hence the continuing and growing persecution of Biblical teaching and people by governments, politicians, courts, and law enforcement throughout the world. This persecution speaks loudly to this fact. No longer is the Bible held up as the standard by which a person’s actions are judged. No longer is there a set standard of right and wrong. We are once again living in a era of the past, when everyone “did what was right in their own eyes” (Judges 21:25).

3. Growing numbers of people are less interested in spiritual principles and more desirous of learning pragmatic solutions for life.
Hence the “name it and claim it gospel”. Hence the belief that "whatever you conceive you can achieve." Hence the popularity of New Age gurus. No longer do we seek that which is right, no longer do we seek heaven. No longer is hell something to be avoided at all costs!

4. The postmodern insistence on tolerance is winning over the "Christian" Church.
Hence the growing number of churches that allow “anything goes” as long as you show up and claim to know Yeshua, and which also claim you have salvation in Mashiach, no matter what lifestyle you choose to live or which gods you choose to follow. Hence the false teaching that Yahweh and Allah are the same. Hence the growing ecumenical movement towards the One World Church.

Take heart, however, Yeshua simply says to each of us, come out from amongst such entities. Come out from under such satanically generated delusions. Read the Bible, read the truth. Be Holy – Be separate from the world.

Final Thought for 2023
The stage for Yeshua’s return is being set. Prophecy continues to unfold in an escalating pattern as foretold by the Hebrew prophets. The season of the birth pains is here – they are burgeoning and not going away. Time is short – Yeshua Ha’Mashiach is coming soon – be sure you have salvation in Yeshua and keep busy reaching the lost.

The topics discussed below are likely to be even more controversial. If you are sensitive and/or easily offended, you may choose to stop reading at this point to avoid being agitated or outraged.

Does the church teach that there are more than two sexes?
If so, then such a church promotes the lie of Satan and cannot be considered a Remnant Church. Scripture is very clear that human beings are made either male or female (Genesis 1:27 and 5:1; Matthew 19:4; Mark 10:6). Servants are also only spoken of as male or female (Genesis 12:16, 20:14, 24:35, 30:43; Deuteronomy 12:12, 12:18; 2 Kings 5:26; Ezra 2:65; Nehemiah 7:67; etc.)

Does the church teach that a woman can be a pastor or elder?
If so, then such a church promotes the lie of Satan and cannot be considered a Remnant Church. Scripture is very clear that a woman is not permitted to have authority over a man, and that a pastor or elder "must be the husband of one wife." (1 Timothy 3:1-7; Titus 1:6-9)

Does the church teach that an active homosexual can be a pastor or elder?
If so, then such a church promotes the lie of Satan and cannot be considered a Remnant Church. Scripture is very clear that human beings are to "be fruitful and multiply" (Genesis 1:28, 9:1-2, and 9:7). Not naturally possible for a homosexual of either gender.