Where is the Church in Revelation?

Where is the Church listed in Revelation after chapter 3?

To answer that question we must first define the Church of Christ and His Body. These numerous Holy Scriptures below will accomplish and make clear the definition of the Church.

Romans 12:4.  For as we have many members in one body, but all the members do not have the same function,  5.  so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another.

Colossians 1:18.  And He (Jesus) is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.

Colossians 1:24.  I now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up in my flesh what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ, for the sake of His body, which is the church,

Ephesians 1:22.  And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, 23.  Which is his body, the fullness of him that fills all in all.

1Corinthians 10:16.  The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ?  17.  For we, being many, are one bread and one body; for we all partake of that one bread.

1 Corinthians 12:12.  For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ.13.  For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.14.  For the body is not one member, but many.

1 Corinthians 12:20.  But now indeed there are many members, yet one body.

1 Corinthians 12:26.  And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; or if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it.  27.  Now you are the body of Christ, and members individually.

Ephesians 5:30.  For we are members of His body, of His flesh and of His bones. 31.  "For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.''  32.  This is a great mystery, but I speak concerning Christ and the church.

1Corinthians 6:15.  Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ? Shall I then take the members of Christ and make them members of a harlot? Certainly not!  16.  Or do you not know that he who is joined to a harlot is one body with her? For "The two,'' He says, "shall become one flesh.''  17.  But he who is joined to the Lord is one spirit with Him.  18.  Flee sexual immorality. Every sin that a man does is outside the body, but he who commits sexual immorality sins against his own body.  19.  Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own?  20.  For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God's.

The reason that there are seven churches listed in Revelation is because there are seven different members: Ephusus, Smyrna, Pergamos, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea. These seven represent the gentiles, Israel, Judah,Jerusalem,  Zion, house of Joseph, the 144000 virgins and the prophets with watchmen. All of us who claim to be Christians belong to one of those churches. The identity of some of these houses is hidden to most people. The gentiles, Joseph and the virgins all wear coats of many colors indicating that they are intermixed with the gentiles.  You are not sure which church you belong to so you must watch and pray always because you do not know when you will die and which watch in which you will be taken from the earth to be with the Lord. To watch means to study the Bible daily, looking for signs, meanings and warnings while guarding the Word of Truth with your life. For most it is wishful thinking and almost delusional to believe that you are of the church of Philadelphia in these last days of famine for the hearing of the Word of God. This is the reason why Jesus wondered aloud for our sake whether he would even find faith when he returns. Millions of people cannot fit into a space reserved for 144000 living members. These virgins are predestined and chosen; you can only attempt to be spotless and without guile as they are in the body, praying always that you will be accounted worthy to escape this fiery trial upon the whole earth which is the time of great tribulation. Blessed you are to be one of the Church of Philadelphia. The imminence of the return of Christ is for every believer in that they must be ready and be counted worthy at their death in the body to join the Holy saints who preceded them.

Here are some of the different members of the Church listed in Revelation highlighted in red.

Revelation 1:1.  The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show His servants things which must shortly take place. And He sent and signified it by His angel to His servant John,  2.  who bore witness to the word of God, and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, and to all things that he saw.  3.  Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written in it; for the time is near.

Revelation 2:7.  "He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes I will give to eat from the tree of life, which is in the midst of the Paradise of God.'' '

Revelation 2:11. “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. He who overcomes shall not be hurt by the second death.'' '

Revelation 2:17. “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes I will give some of the hidden manna to eat. And I will give him a white stone, and on the stone a new name written which no one knows except him who receives it.'' '

Revelation 2:26. “And he who overcomes, and keeps My works until the end, to him I will give power over the nations. 

Revelation 3:5.  "He who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments, and I will not blot out his name from the Book of Life; but I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels.

Revelation 3:21. “To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.

Revelation 6:9.  When He opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain for the word of God and for the testimony which they held.  10.  And they cried with a loud voice, saying, "How long, O Lord, holy and true, until You judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?''  11.  And a white robe was given to each of them; and it was said to them that they should rest a little while longer, until both the number of their fellow servants and their brethren, who would be killed as they were, was completed.

Revelation 7:3.  saying, "Do not harm the earth, the sea, or the trees till we have sealed the servants of our God on their foreheads.'' 4.  And I heard the number of those who were sealed. One hundred and forty-four thousand of all the tribes of the children of Israel were sealed…

Revelation 7:9.  After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could number, of all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, with palm branches in their hands…

Revelation 7:14. And I said to him, "Sir, you know.'' So he said to me, "These are the ones who come out of the great tribulation, and washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.

Revelation 8:4.  And the smoke of the incense, with the prayers of the saints, ascended before God from the angel's hand.

Revelation 11:3.  "And I will give power to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy one thousand two hundred and sixty days, clothed in sackcloth.''  4.  These are the two olive trees and the two lampstands standing before the God of the earth.

Revelation 11:18.  The nations were angry, and Your wrath has come, and the time of the dead, that they should be judged, and that You should reward Your servants the prophets and the saints, and those who fear Your name, small and great, and should destroy those who destroy the earth.''

Revelation 12:11.  "And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death.

Revelation 12:17.  And the dragon was enraged with the woman, and he went to make war with the rest of her offspring, who keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.

Revelation 13:7.  And it was granted to him to make war with the saints and to overcome them. And authority was given him over every tribe, tongue, and nation.

Revelation 14:1.  Then I looked, and behold, a Lamb standing on Mount Zion, and with Him one hundred and forty-four thousand, having His Father's name written on their foreheads.

Revelation 14:4.  These are the ones who were not defiled with women, for they are virgins. These are the ones who follow the Lamb wherever He goes. These were redeemed from among men, being firstfruits to God and to the Lamb. 5. And in their mouth was found no guile, for they are without fault before the throne of God.

Revelation 14:13.  Then I heard a voice from heaven saying to me, "Write: `Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.' '' "Yes,'' says the Spirit, "that they may rest from their labors, and their works follow them.''

Revelation 15:2.  And I saw something like a sea of glass mingled with fire, and those who have the victory over the beast, over his image and over his mark and over the number of his name, standing on the sea of glass, having harps of God. 3.  And they sing the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying: "Great and marvelous are Your works, Lord God Almighty! Just and true are Your ways, O King of the saints!

Revelation 18:4.  And I heard another voice from heaven saying, "Come out of her, my people, lest you share in her sins, and lest you receive of her plagues.

Revelation 19:1.  After these things I heard a loud voice of a great multitude in heaven, saying, "Alleluia! Salvation and glory and honor and power to the Lord our God!

Revelation 19:6.  And I heard, as it were, the voice of a great multitude, as the sound of many waters and as the sound of mighty thunderings, saying, "Alleluia! For the Lord God Omnipotent reigns!

Revelation 21:7.  "He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his God and he shall be My son.

The fact that the word Church is not used again after Revelation 3 does not prove at all that the Church is raptured before the time of great tribulation begins. The Bible states that there will be a great falling away from the faith in the last days, not that there will be a great catching away. The great catching away is reserved for an elect few. Only the Church of Philadelphia, who is the 144,000 virgins are spared from the great trial upon the whole earth while the remnant of Jerusalem are raptured alive after enduring almost the whole tribulation period. As we read above from the scriptures there are many members of the body which is the Church, which is of Christ. It will require much research and study to interpret the members of each church. To desire to be one of the living of Jerusalem and Zion is an honor but will come with a great price, suffering tribulation, purification and refinement while witnessing the death of fellow Christians and the devastation and desolation to come upon the whole earth.

New Jerusalem is the bride of Christ, being one with the Lord through consummation is also the body of Christ.

Ephesians 2:11.  Therefore remember that you, once Gentiles in the flesh who are called Uncircumcision by what is called the Circumcision made in the flesh by hands 12.  that at that time you were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. 13.  But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been made near by the blood of Christ.  14.  For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of division between us,  15.  having abolished in His flesh the enmity, that is, the law of commandments contained in ordinances, so as to create in Himself one new man from the two, thus making peace,  16.  and that He might reconcile them both to God in one body through the cross, thereby putting to death the enmity.  17.  And He came and preached peace to you who were afar off and to those who were near. 18.  For through Him we both have access by one Spirit to the Father.  19.  Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God,  20.  having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone,  21.  in whom the whole building, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord,  22.  in whom you also are being built together for a habitation of God in the Spirit.

Here is the bride of Christ, New Jerusalem which is the whole Church described in the next scriptures:

Revelation 3:12. “He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God, and he shall go out no more. And I will write on him the name of My God and the name of the city of My God, the New Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from My God. And I will write on him My new name.

Revelation 21:2. and I John saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.

Revelation 21:9.  And there came unto me one of the seven angels which had the seven vials full of the seven last plagues, and talked with me, saying, Come hither, I will show you the bride, the Lamb's wife.  10. and he carried me away in the Spirit to a great and high mountain, and showed me the great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God, 11.  having the glory of God. And her light was like a most precious stone, like a jasper stone, clear as crystal.  12.  Also she had a great and high wall with twelve gates, and twelve angels at the gates, and names written on them, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel:  13.  three gates on the east, three gates on the north, three gates on the south, and three gates on the west.  14.  Now the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them were the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.  15.  And he who talked with me had a gold reed to measure the city, its gates, and its wall.  16.  And the city is laid out as a square, and its length is as great as its breadth. And he measured the city with the reed: twelve thousand furlongs. Its length, breadth, and height are equal.  17.  Then he measured its wall: one hundred and forty-four cubits, according to the measure of a man, that is, of an angel.  18.  And the construction of its wall was of jasper; and the city was pure gold, like clear glass.  19.  And the foundations of the wall of the city were adorned with all kinds of precious stones: the first foundation was jasper, the second sapphire, the third chalcedony, the fourth emerald,  20.  the fifth sardonyx, the sixth sardius, the seventh chrysolite, the eighth beryl, the ninth topaz, the tenth chrysoprase, the eleventh jacinth, and the twelfth amethyst. 21.  And the twelve gates were twelve pearls: each individual gate was of one pearl. And the street of the city was pure gold, like transparent glass.

Revelation 22:14.  Blessed are those who do His commandments, that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter through the gates into the city.

Amen!                                

The Twisted Teaching of Tithes and Offerings

Tithes Were Food and Offerings Distributed Equally

A tithe was always food that the human body could consume and is a tenth of seed, produce, fruit of the tree or edible grazing animals which were offered to and considered holy to the Lord.

Leviticus 27:30.  `And all the tithe of the land, whether of the seed of the land or of the fruit of the tree, is the Lord's. It is holy to the Lord.  31.  `If a man wants at all to redeem any of his tithes, he shall add one-fifth to it.  32.  `And concerning the tithe of the herd or the flock, of whatever passes under the rod, the tenth one shall be holy to the Lord.  33.  `He shall not inquire whether it is good or bad, nor shall he exchange it; and if he exchanges it at all, then both it and the one exchanged for it shall be holy; it shall not be redeemed.' ''

Numbers 18:26.  "Speak thus to the Levites, and say to them: `When you take from the children of Israel the tithes which I have given you from them as your inheritance, then you shall offer up a heave offering of it to the Lord, a tenth of the tithe.  31. And ye shall eat it in every place, you and your households: for it is your reward for your service in the tabernacle of the congregation.

Deuteronomy 12:6.  "There you shall take your burnt offerings, your sacrifices, your tithes, the heave offerings of your hand, your vowed offerings, your freewill offerings, and the firstlings of your herds and flocks.  7.  "And there you shall eat before the Lord your God, and you shall rejoice in all to which you have put your hand, you and your households, in which the Lord your God has blessed you.

Deuteronomy 12: 17.  "You may not eat within your gates the tithe of your grain or your new wine or your oil, of the firstlings of your herd or your flock, of any of your offerings which you vow, of your freewill offerings, or of the heave offering of your hand.  18.  "But you must eat them before the Lord your God in the place which the Lord your God chooses, you and your son and your daughter, your manservant and your maidservant, and the Levite who is within your gates; and you shall rejoice before the Lord your God in all to which you put your hands.

Deuteronomy 14:22.  "You shall truly tithe all the increase of your grain that the field produces year by year.  23.  "And you shall eat before the Lord your God, in the place where He chooses to make His name abide, the tithe of your grain and your new wine and your oil, of the firstlings of your herds and your flocks, that you may learn to fear the Lord your God always.

Deuteronomy 14:27.  "You shall not forsake the Levite who is within your gates, for he has no part nor inheritance with you.  28.  "At the end of every third year you shall bring out the tithe of your produce of that year and store it up within your gates.  29.  "And the Levite, because he has no portion nor inheritance with you, and the stranger and the fatherless and the widow who are within your gates, may come and eat and be satisfied, that the Lord your God may bless you in all the work of your hand which you do.

2 Chronicles 31:5.  As soon as the commandment was circulated, the children of Israel brought in abundance the firstfruits of grain and wine, oil and honey, and of all the produce of the field; and they brought in abundantly the tithe of everything.  6. and the children of Israel and Judah, who dwelt in the cities of Judah, brought the tithe of oxen and sheep; also the tithe of holy things which were consecrated to the Lord their God they laid in heaps.

Money was not a tithe and the Lord did not receive it as such. Yes, money did exist before the tithing laws were commanded and was used to purchase land and redeem people and property.  Money was not even used as a tithe in the New Testament by the evil Pharisees.  They are recorded as using mint, cumin, and other vegetation grown from the ground for tithing.

Genesis 23:5.  My lord, hearken unto me: the land is worth four hundred shekels of silver; what is that betwixt me and thee? Bury therefore thy dead.

Matthew 23:23.  Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for you tithe mint and anise and cummin, and have left undone the weightier matters of the law, justice, and mercy, and faith: but these you ought to have done, and not to have left the other undone.

Many will say that money was rare and that tithing crops and livestock was just a form of bartering, which is why we tithe money now. The Bible makes it clear that money already existed at the time that tithing was practiced.

Leviticus 25:14.  `And if you sell anything to your neighbor or buy from your neighbor's hand, you shall not oppress one another.  15.  `According to the number of years after the Jubilee you shall buy from your neighbor, and according to the number of years of crops he shall sell to you.  16.  `According to the multitude of years you shall increase its price, and according to the fewer number of years you shall diminish its price; for he sells to you according to the number of the years of the crops.  17.  `Therefore you shall not oppress one another, but you shall fear your God; for I am the Lord your God.

If a person was traveling a long distance they were temporarily allowed to sell the tithe until they reached their destination and then they were commanded to buy the necessary food to eat and sacrifice to the Lord God.

Deuteronomy 14:24.  "But if the journey is too long for you, so that you are not able to carry the tithe, or if the place where the Lord your God chooses to put His name is too far from you, when the Lord your God has blessed you,  25.  "then you shall exchange it for money, take the money in your hand, and go to the place which the Lord your God chooses.  26.  "And you shall spend that money for whatever your heart desires: for oxen or sheep, for wine or similar drink, for whatever your heart desires; you shall eat there before the Lord your God, and you shall rejoice, you and your household.

 A freewill offering was received to pay for materials, utensils and payment to the skilled workers who labored with their hands to build the holy tabernacle and temple. The silver that the Levitical priests received for the guilt offering and sin offering were used to purchase animals to sacrifice and make atonement for themselves and other offenders of the law. A fifth of the value of the guilt offering was paid to the priest in silver for his labor and service commanded by God. You must remember that a priest did real labor in those days and had many duties such as a butcher, (cutting up the meat and produce for sacrifice) chef, (cooking the sacrifice) dishwasher, (cleaning the Holy utensils and wares) maintenance worker, (temple upkeep) (warehouse work) distribution of food to the needy, etc. The priests received tithes from all the tribes of Israel for the Lord and were appointed to distribute them: One tenth of the total tithe was offered up to the Lord as a heave offering. They ministered daily in the temple which God had appointed, ate of these offerings and distributed the rest of the food to the stranger, fatherless, and the widow as they had need. They also managed homes and pasture lands wherever they dwelt with the sons of Israel when there was no temple to minister in. They received no inheritance as did all the other tribes of Israel because the Lord was their inheritance. Nowhere in the Bible is it authorized for any of God’s chosen people to increase gain or profit from the poor and earnings of other believers.

Numbers 18:21.  And, behold, I have given the children of Levi all the tenth in Israel for an inheritance, for their service which they serve, even the service of the tabernacle of the congregation.

Numbers 18:24.  But the tithes of the children of Israel, which they offer as an heave offering unto the Lord, I have given to the Levites to inherit: therefore I have said unto them, Among the children of Israel they shall have no inheritance.

Deuteronomy 26:12.  "When you have finished laying aside all the tithe of your increase in the third year, which is the year of tithing, and have given it to the Levite, the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow, so that they may eat within your gates and be filled,  13. "then you shall say before the Lord your God: `I have removed the holy tithe from my house, and also have given them to the Levite, the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow, according to all Your commandments which You have commanded me; I have not transgressed Your commandments, nor have I forgotten them.

Many greedy and ignorant false teachers have misused this next verse of prophecy as a tool to steal money from deceived people.

Malachi 3:8.  Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings.  9.  Ye are cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed me, even this whole nation.  10.  Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.

God was speaking about the food which was to be gathered, stored and distributed to the Levites, poor, needy, fatherless, widows and hungry people.

Nehemiah 10:37.  to bring the firstfruits of our dough, our offerings, the fruit from all kinds of trees, the new wine and oil, to the priests, to the storerooms of the house of our God; the tithes of our land to the Levites, for the Levites should receive the tithes in all our farming communities.  38.  And the priest, the descendant of Aaron, shall be with the Levites when the Levites receive tithes; and the Levites shall bring up a tenth of the tithes to the house of our God, to the rooms of the storehouse.  39.  For the children of Israel and the children of Levi shall bring the offering of the grain, of the new wine and the oil, to the storerooms where the articles of the sanctuary are, where the priests who minister and the gatekeepers and the singers are; and we will not neglect the house of our God.

Nehemiah 12:44.  And at the same time some were appointed over the rooms of the storehouse for the offerings, the firstfruits of the tithes, to gather into them from the fields of the cities the portions specified by the Law for the priests and Levites; for Judah rejoiced over the priests and Levites who ministered.

Nehemiah 13: 12.  Then all Judah brought the tithe of the grain and the new wine and the oil to the storehouse.  13. As supervisors of the storehouses I appointed Shelemiah the priest, Zadok the scribe, Pedaiah one of the Levites and, as their assistant, Hanan son of Zaccur, son of Mattaniah, since they were considered reliable people; their duty was to make the distributions to their kinsmen.

Deuteronomy 15:11.  For the poor shall never cease out of the land: therefore I command thee, saying, Thou shalt open your hand wide unto thy brother, to the poor, and to thy needy, in thy land.

There is also another spiritual element in Malachi 3:8 present here and the key word is meat (food) which are also classified as fruits in the storehouse of the Lord. The Law of tithing was a foreshadow of future events as was the model of the heavenly temple. In the days of harvest God has and will receive unto himself the first fruits of all his people rather than food. Many times in prophecy, God’s people are described as crops, wine, oil and grazing animals. Not coincidently, these are the same exact items used for tithing.

Isaiah 6:12.  The Lord has removed men far away, and the forsaken places are many in the midst of the land. 13.  But yet a tenth will be in it, and will return and be for consuming, as a terebinth tree or as an oak, whose stump remains when it is cut down. So the holy seed shall be its stump.''

The law of giving tithes to the priests was null and void as well as the entire old covenant law when he died on the cross for our sins and established the New Covenant. Giving food to the poor, needy and servants of God fulfills the same thing in the New Covenant command. In the book of Hebrews you will learn that there is no longer a need for an earthly priest as Jesus is now our High Priest. Tithes and sacrificial offerings were never received by the disciples or apostles after Jesus ascended up into heaven but a doctrine of equality was practiced to provide for any who were in need whether it be the leader or least of the flock. If one had abundance, all had abundance. Money was not demanded for ministry by the Apostle Paul, but requested to meet his and other churches needs if he was not able to work with his hands due to traveling and persecution. Yes, the apostles were at liberty to forbear labor due to the hardship of their service to God, but even then they worked with their hands when possible. Paul even considered it robbery to receive offerings from others and did not want anyone to misconstrue his service to God to be done for evil gain.

The church leaders are robbing God by not giving the collections to the poor and needy. Instead they keep it for themselves and give it to Zionists and Secret Societies who govern Mystery Babylon.

Matthew 25:41.  Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:  42.  For I was hungry, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink:  43.  I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not.45.  Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me.  46.  And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.

To freely give offerings to the poor and the needy is a highly commendable form of faith to show our love for the Lord Jesus Christ.

Matthew 25:35.  For I was hungry, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in:  36.  Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.  37.  Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee hungry, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink?  38.  When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee?  39.  Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?  40.  And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.

2 Corinthians 11:7.  Have I committed an offence in abasing myself that ye might be exalted, because I have preached to you the gospel of God freely? 8.  I robbed other churches, taking rations of them, to do you service.

Most Bible translations interpret the Greek word opsonion to mean wages. The word was used to describe the rations allotted to soldiers in that day

The doctrine of giving offerings is set forth here in the New Testament:

Acts 4:34.  Neither was there any among them that lacked: for as many as were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the prices of the things that were sold, 35.  And laid them down at the apostles' feet: and distribution was made unto every man according as he had need. This would include food, clothing and shelter.

2 Corinthians 8:13.  For I mean not that other men be eased, and ye burdened: 14.  But by an equality, that now at this time your abundance may be a supply for their want, that their abundance also may be a supply for your want: that there may be equality:  15. As it is written, (Exodus 16:18) He that had gathered much had nothing over; and he that had gathered little had no lack.

Have you ever once been taught this doctrine written above in your church and is it practiced?

2 Corinthians 9:7.  Every man according as he purposed in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loves a cheerful giver.

2 Corinthians 11:9.  And when I was present with you, and wanted, I was chargeable to no man: for that which was lacking to me the brethren which came from Macedonia supplied: and in all things I have kept myself from being burdensome unto you, and so will I keep myself.

Ephesians 4:28.  Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labor, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that is needy.

Acts 18:1.  After these things Paul departed from Athens, and came to Corinth;  2.  And found a certain Jew named Aquila, born in Pontus, lately come from Italy, with his wife Priscilla; (because that Claudius had commanded all Jews to depart from Rome:) and came unto them.

Acts 18:3.  And because he was of the same craft, he abode with them, and wrought: for by their occupation they were tentmakers. Yes Paul worked as a tentmaker when he was able.

1 Corinthians 4:11.  Even unto this present hour we both hunger, and thirst, and are naked, and are buffeted, and have no certain dwelling place;12.  And labor, working with our own hands: being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we suffer it:

 Yes, this is the life of an apostle who is at liberty to forbear working with his hands.

1 Thessalonians 4:11.  And that ye study to be quiet, and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you;

12.  That ye may walk honestly toward them that are without, and that ye may have lack of nothing.

2 Thessalonians 3:10.  For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should eat.11.  For we hear that there are some which walk among you disorderly, working not at all, but are busybodies. 12.  Now them that are such we command and exhort by our Lord Jesus Christ, that with quietness they work, and eat their own bread. 14.  And if any man obey not our word by this epistle, note that man, and have no company with him, that he may be ashamed.

Philippians 4:15.  Now ye Philippians know also, that in the beginning of the gospel, when I departed from Macedonia, no church communicated with me as concerning giving and receiving, but ye only. 16.  For even in Thessalonica ye sent once and again unto my necessity.

Philippians 4:18.  But I have all, and abound: I am full, having received of Epaphroditus the things which were sent from you, an odor of a sweet smell, a sacrifice acceptable, well pleasing to God.

Titus 1:10.  For there are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers, specially they of the circumcision:  11.  Whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole houses, teaching things which they ought not, for filthy gain's sake.

 It is no coincidence that many of America’s churches are run by Zionists and secret societies whose secret goal is to bring back to Jerusalem the temple kingdom by the works of man and bring in the Antichrist who will attempt to kill all of God’s true Church.

Matthew 10: 6.  But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.

7.  And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand.

8.  Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give.  9.  Provide neither gold, nor silver, nor brass in your purses,  10.  Nor scrip for your journey, neither two coats, neither shoes, nor yet staves: for the workman is worthy of his meat.

Once again this is missionary work with sustenance, clothing and shelter being provided for the workers. It is interesting to note that many who claim to have done these commandments will be rejected by the Lord: 

Matthew 7:21.  Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. 22. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?  23.  And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

Jesus did not contend that they had not done these acts but that they did not do the will of the Father and they were workers of iniquity. They were serving the kindom and leadership of Mystery Babylon and the church of Laodicea.

The Church leader who receives this freewill offering from you is being held accountable by God to distribute these goods with equality to those in need, including themselves and their staff if they are indeed doing the will of God.

2 Chronicles 31:14.  And Kore the son of Jimnah the Levite, the doorkeeper toward the east, was over the voluntary-offerings of God, to distribute the heave-offerings of Jahweh, and the most holy things.

1 Corinthians 16:1.  And concerning the collection that is for the saints, as I directed to the assemblies of Galatia, so also do ye;2.  on every first day of the week, let each one of you lay by him, treasuring up whatever he may have prospered, that when I may come then collections may not be made;3.  and whenever I may come, whomsoever ye may approve, through letters, these I will send to carry your favour to Jerusalem.

This collection was for the needy saints in Jerusalem who were being persecuted.

These funds are not to be used as a form of increase in wealth for your pastor or your church.

Matthew 13:22.  He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful.

If the funds given are being used to build wealth in this manner, that false teacher will be judged for practicing this false doctrine and directing others to follow it. If the one giving is aware of this selfish practice and continues to support this church and leader, then that person may also be held accountable for giving God’s gifts to swine and evildoers.

Micah 3:11-12 The heads thereof judge for reward, and the priests thereof teach for hire, and the prophets thereof divine for money: yet will they lean upon the Lord, and say, Is not the Lord among us? No evil can come upon us. Therefore shall Zion for your sake be plowed as a field, and Jerusalem shall become heaps…

That is what the Lord has to say about those who charge wages up front and promise a pre-tribulation rapture that does not exist. The same sins practiced by religious leaders in the old covenant are now more rampant in the USA and all the free world. Most are ignorant of this fact but it will be no excuse in the day of judgment because the true Word of God is available in abundance in every free nation

Luke 6:46.  And why call you me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?

Fight the good fight no matter what trials and tribulations come your way. Stand on the Word of God regardless of who may come against you and your convictions, whether it be family, friends or church goers because we are in the last days and few are the elect who study, know and practice the Holy scriptures amongst an evil generation.