The Church Exalts Itself

Where did the popular idea of 'the church' as the bride of 'christ' originate? Is it connected to the theory that there will be a 'rapture of the church'? Which church? From whence did the word 'church' originate? How misleading has all this become?

Folks who assume that 'the church' is the bride haven't read Revelation 21. And this assumption also goes against what is written in Luke 14 in regards to placing ourselves in a position of importance. Y'shua was once again trying to teach the scribes and Pharisees the Truth. 

Luke 14:8- (I lightly paraphrased) When you are invited to a banquet house, do not go and seat yourself in the front seat else there should be invited a person more honorable than you. You will be ashamed when you have to get up and move to a lesser place. Rather, when you arrive seat yourself in the back, that when the one who invited you will say, "My friend, move yourself up and seat yourself higher" and you will have glory in front of all who sit with you.

Verse 11: "For anyone who exalts himself will be humbled and anyone who humbles himself will be exalted".

(Please read the entire chapter for it is a wonderful teaching shining Light on this topic of imagined importance.)

Revelation 21 starting with verse 9, we are told exactly who the bride is, the wife of the Lamb is the New Jerusalem.  The Creator will restore all things at that time.

I have learned from the research of Andrew G. Roth that from the Aramaic to English translation, the word originally used is 'assembly' and not 'church'; even the Greek equivalent which is ekklesia  refers to a body of people, an assembly.  The term is closest to the Hebrew term adat, meaning congregation, a general gathering of believers: Netzarim (those who live by the Instructions of Yahweh and believe in Y'shua).  Assemblies are meeting places where the Ruach haKodesh is invited and welcomed, a place for studying the Word of Yahweh, prayer and worship, which facilitates education and emulation of Torah values for the common good of the community.

Netzarim Assemblies existed as a recognized people group up until 400 AD, however heavy opposition from both Christian and Rabbinical sources forced them underground. There are increasing numbers of people today who are interested in returning to the Netzari Faith.  Discovering one's Hebrew roots is a stepping stone in this direction, but can also become a snare for those coming out of traditional backgrounds, holding onto their old ways. Regardless, Israel and her seed are they who keep the commandments of Elohim and have the testimony of Y'shua.  This unified covenant exemplifies the Faith that is upheld by all Netzari Assemblies.

Ecclesia

^^Quote from this link:

Let us make it clear from the very beginning that the established religious system, which manifests itself in the abomination called "church", is NOT of God. We intend to make it very clear, by studying the Greek words found in the New Testament, that the pattern which God intends His people to follow and live by is the ECCLESIA system, and is RADICALLY different than that which calls itself "church" in our day.

The Mysterious Word 'Church'

Quote from this ^^ link:

THE KING JAMES VERSION
The story gets interesting when King James I of England, or Queen James as he was often referred to because of homosexual lifestyle, decided to authorize his own translation of the Bible in 1611. The other versions fell to his disfavour because their footnotes failed to honour the King. To correct this, he gathered fifty-four scholars and gave them fifteen edicts to follow as they translated and published his Authorized Version. The first edict was that they use the Bishop's Bible (which used "congregation") with as few changes as possible. The third edict specified that, in select places, they were to use the word "church," and not "congregation," in place of ekklesia. His fourteenth edict stated that they could use the Tyndale, Matthew, Coverdale, the Great Bible (also called the Whitchurch, Cranmer, and Cromwell Bible), and the Geneva versions of the Bible wherever they were closer to their accessible manuscripts.  

Why would the King be so adamant about using a word, "church", that he knew to mean circle rather than using the correct translation? What do we know about this King?  One detail of his life that history books do not often discuss occurred before he became King James I of England—while he was James VI, King of Scotland.

"On the west wall of the lodgehall used by Lodge Scoon and Perth No. 3 in Perth, Scotland, can be found a mural depicting James VI kneeling at their altar at his initiation. The oldest existing record of the Lodge, called The Mutual Agreement" of 24 December, 1658, records that James was "entered Freemasonry as a Fellowcraft of the Lodge of Scoon" on 15 April, 1601."

On April 15, 1601, King James entered the secretive society of the Freemasons. In fact, Masons credit him as being the originator of the worldwide system of lodges within Freemasonry. His version of the Bible became, and still is, their favoured version. One of the most important symbols in Freemasonry is a circle with a dot in the center—part of their motif-the shape that is drawn by the compass. 

SYMBOLS OF NOTE
Throughout Europe and England, the circle was a significant occult symbol and remains so today. It connotes inclusion or influence, as does that of being surrounded. Many good symbols such as the five-pointed star and the six-pointed Star of David become the occult pentagram, pentacles, and the hexagram when encircled, and each is used with prominence in Freemasonry and Witchcraft. Does a circle surrounding these and other symbols place them under the influence of occult powers?  Adherents of the occult believe symbols have power and influence, and especially so when those carrying or connected to the symbol are not aware of it. Would the expression "Ignorance of the law is no excuse" apply to spiritual concerns too? 

Recently, I had occasion to pray with an individual whom Jesus was calling out of a high position within the occult. During our prayers, she asked if we could use a word other than "church" as we prayed. That startled me and when I asked, her reason was that what we refer to as occult covens are referred to as churches by those within occult circles. She wanted to be clear that her prayers referred to the Body of Christ and not to occult churches/covens/circles. Why do occult organizations such as the Church of Illumination, Church of Scientology, Church of Wicca, Church of Satan, and others embrace the word "church" in their identity? Do they better understand its true meaning and significance? Could it be that we are naive?

Let me point out that this is not a verbal assault on all church-goers because, as it is with many 'habits' we do what we do because that's the way it's always been. Just because Ma and Pa lived this way doesn't make it right in the eyes of our Creator.  And our parents did things that way because they learned it from their folks.... traditions passed on through the generations that do not adhere to the Plan nor please our Creator Yahweh Elohim. This information is provided for your benefit in making future decisions concerning your walk as you follow after the Messiah.

If we are to return to YHWH and the Faith once delivered, then we need to come out of the world system we've been so comfortable with.  When we rediscover the Truth of His Word how could we want to continue in those old pagan ways any longer? 

Quote: "Eventually, through the manipulation of organized religion "church" came to replace "ecclesia" by popular acceptance. Again, we must emphasize the importance of knowing word meanings in order to know the intent of those who wrote the Scriptures.

Quote:

In Acts 17, verses 1-6 we see that Paul and Silas had a reputation that preceded them. They were "turning the world (system) upside down." What was their inflaming message? Were they telling the people to find a minister and support him; go to church every weekend; be nice to their neighbors? Or maybe they were asking people to send their tithes to them so they could build a nice church or develop a Christian recreation center? No? What were these guys doing that was "turning the world system upside down"? The answer is found (beginning in verse 6):

"And when they found them not there, they drew out Jason and the Brothers who were there, and brought them before the chiefs of the city, crying out: These are they who have terrified all the country, and they have come here also; and this Jason is their entertainer and they all resist the commands of Caesar, saying that there is another king, one Y'shua."

Paul and Silas weren't "church builders" like preachers today claim. They were kingdom builders! They were dethroning rulers in the minds of the people and alienating them from the mental hold Caesar had upon them through a pagan (central) government. They were teaching the principles of YHWH's government. They were putting forth the call of (YHWH) to whomever would hear and obey, and those whose hearts responded to the call became citizens of His kingdom and joined themselves to the ecclesia, or community of believers. (Grafted into the House of Israel. They did not join or get baptized into any church or religious organization.)

The word "church" has no foundation in scripture, being a transferred word and not an interpretation or transliteration. We should consider that there might be negative spiritual ramifications resulting from our identification with this word (circle).

Becoming Set Apart is not about places, buildings, or circles; rather, it is about unique and precious people. The Samaritan woman at the well changed the course of her discussion with Y'shua to places of worship. Y'shua turned that discussion toward people who would worship in spirit and in truth.

John 4:21 ~ Woman, believe me, an hour is coming when neither in this mountain nor in Jerusalem will they worship the Father. You worship something that you do not know; we worship what we know, for life is from the Yehudeans. But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshippers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, indeed. For the Father, He seeks worshippers as these. For Elohim is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship Him in spirit and truth.

Ekklesia-Assemblies-Congregation is about calling out people from Mystery Babylon (false worldly religious systems), and not into institutions. Now is the time to assemble with like minded folks who are becoming Set Apart because He is Set Apart.  Stop going to church which is probably decorated with images and icons and bleeding heart pictures of Jesus Borgia, statues of Ashtar Mary mother of Tammuz, communion wafers and wine for the cannibal offering... and the building itself sports the pillar of Tammuz (the steeple).  Oh I see some head shaking going on... Please study it out for yourself, that's pretty much what I have been getting at here.  We must discover the truth in order to deprogram from years of brainwashing.

Government under Y'shua and the commandments of YHWH is what Torah foreshadows - not a religious organization for meeting on weekends. There is no Scriptural authority for 'believers' to build churches, attend churches, or support churches.  We should be forming assemblies of Set Apart believers in our communities instead of joining churches with their con games, entertainment, rock bands, childishness and worldly nonsense. 

If you are one of many who think the word "church" describes the body of believers, or the bride of christ', I pray you can now see the difference and begin to put the old church ways behind you.