XVII Questions and Answers About Why the True Way Is Persecuted

Question (1) If the “Eastern Lightning” is the true way, why is the CCP government so against them? Why do religious leaders condemn them with such fervor? The pastors and elders receive much persecution from the government too. So when they tell us about the “Eastern Lightning,” why would such servants of God have the same opinions and attitudes as those of the CCP government? What’s the reason behind this?

Answer: The Bible says, “… the whole world lies in wickedness” (1 John 5:19). The Lord Jesus also said, “This is an evil generation” (Luke 11:29). So, to what extent has the world now become evil and dark? In the Age of Grace, the incarnate Lord Jesus who came to redeem mankind was nailed to the cross by the religious world and those in power then. In the last days, when Almighty God expresses the truth to judge mankind, He’s also condemned and opposed by both the religious world and the CCP regime, the regime of the great red dragon, and rejected by this age. This fulfills the Lord Jesus’ words, “For as the lightning, that lightens out of the one part under heaven, shines to the other part under heaven; so shall also the Son of man be in his day. But first must he suffer many things, and be rejected of this generation” (Luke 17:24-25). This prophecy of the Lord Jesus has now been fulfilled. All those who long for God’s appearance should find it clear that the Lord has arrived and is doing the work of judgment of the last days. The Lord Jesus’ prophecy is already fulfilled. Are any people still unclear about this fact? This atheistic regime and most religious leaders are Satan’s forces. They hate God and hate the truth. The Lord Jesus’ cruel crucifixion is proof of that fact. You see, the true way will always be rejected and condemned by godless regimes and the religious world. What’s more, those who preach and practice the true way will always face persecution and slander from the two. As the Lord Jesus said, “If the world hate you, you know that it hated me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love his own: but because you are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hates you” (John 15:18-19). And it’s for this reason that through all ages, those who can accept and follow the true way and the true God, are that small portion of humankind who love and pursue the truth. While most people, because they follow Satan’s forces or fear persecution, dare not seek the true way, so they lose their chance to receive God’s salvation. That’s why the Lord Jesus once warned, “Enter you in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leads to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leads to life, and few there be that find it” (Matthew 7:13-14).

from the movie script of Break Through the Snare

Blind trust in rumors will cause you to lose God's salvation of the last days

When hearing someone preaching Almighty God’s gospel of the last days, many brothers and sisters in the Lord don’t dare to listen to it, much less accept it, because they are frightened by some lurid rumors. They have heard some people say, “The believers in Almighty God are so powerful that you’ll be deceived once you come into contact with them, and many zealous believers in every denomination or sect have been drawn away by them….” Others say, “The believers in Almighty God are very enthusiastic in preaching the gospel. They will receive 2,000 yuan as a bonus for converting an ordinary believer, and 10,000 or 20,000 yuan for converting a leader….” Still others say, “They don’t keep a clear distance from the opposite sex, and they all commit adultery….” Some even say, “The ‘Eastern Lightening’ is an underworld organization. Once you join it, you can’t withdraw. If you want to, they will gouge out your eyes, cut off your ears, break your legs…” And so on. It is because of these rumors that some brothers and sisters who are kept in the dark dare not accept God’s salvation of the last days even now. Brothers and sister in the Lord, have you ever carefully considered or investigated whether these words are factual? Have you ever thought of the serious consequences of persisting in believing these rumors? Here, we won’t talk about who started these rumors and with what motives they do so. We’d like to give a brief analysis of these rumors so that you all can see their substance clearly.

Rumor says, “The believers in Almighty God are so powerful that you’ll be deceived once you come into contact with them, and many zealous believers in every denomination and sect have been drawn away by them….” It is true that most believers in Almighty God come from every denomination and sect and many of them are zealous in their pursuit. But it is purely a malicious slander to say that they are deceived. Just think: So many zealous believers in every denomination and sect have accepted God’s work of the last days; can it be possible that they are all deceived? Do they not have any discernment since they have believed in God for years? Even if some people were deceived, they should be those who are inactive and foolish in their faith. How can it be possible that so many who truly believe in God and who are zealous in their pursuit are deceived? As is well known, what we believe in is the almighty God, who is the Holy Spiritand also the sevenfold intensified Spirit, and only the work of the Holy Spirit can draw to God all those who truly believe in God and who are zealous in their pursuit. Nowadays many of those in every denomination and sect who are zealous in their pursuit and are familiar with the Bible have accepted Almighty God’s work of the last days. What does this show? All brothers and sisters who are keen in the spirit can think of the answer. That is: There is the work of the Holy Spirit in the church of Almighty God! If God doesn’t work personally, who can gather together the brothers and sisters from all denominations and sects? Can man work such a great miracle? Almighty God is the returned Jesus, and is the only true God appearing! In the last days, He will do the work of reaping, winnowing, and unifying all denominations and sects, and will lead all true believers in God into God’s kingdom. So the brothers and sisters from every denomination and sect have returned before His throne. Almighty God has brought the truth, the way, and the life, and He has completely unveiled the mystery of the six-thousand-year management plan and told us the mysteries in the Bible that we previously didn’t understand. When those who genuinely seek God hear these truths and see God’s appearance, how can they not accept His work of the last days? Who will not be willing to follow the footsteps of the Lamb? This is the very reason why many zealous believers in every denomination and sect have accepted Almighty God’s work of the last days. Thus it can be seen that the word “those who have accepted Almighty God’s work of the last days are all deceived” is purely a lie and slander and a blasphemy against God.

Some say, “The believers in Almighty God are very zealous in preaching the gospel. They are rewarded 2,000 yuan for converting an ordinary believer and 10,000 or 2,000 yuan for converting a leader….” The believers in Almighty God are very ardent in preaching the gospel, as rumors say, is indeed a fact. But it is utterly nonsense to say that the believers in Almighty God preach the gospel for the sake of money. It is a rumor and slander. Actually, the believers in Almighty God not only are not rewarded for preaching the gospel but spend their own savings and even everything on the gospel preaching. The reason why they are so ardent is not because they are bought off but because they have really seen God’s appearance, heard God’s utterance, received God’s great salvation, and tasted God’s love. Therefore, they are willing to expend their all and even endure all sufferings and humiliations to spread God’s kingdom gospel. Maybe some brothers and sisters have ever heard or seen how the believers in Almighty God are treated in preaching the gospel. Some are humiliated, some are cudgeled, some are driven out, and some are even delivered into the hands of the rulers and authorities and suffer all tortures…. Let us consider, if it were not for God’s great love or the work of the Holy Spirit, who would be willing to endure all kinds of beating, cursing, and humiliation to spread God’s gospel of the last days? If they hadn’t seen God’s appearance, who would be willing to spread God’s salvation of the last days at the risk of being imprisoned? If they really seek for money, is it much easier to earn money in the world? Why should they make money by preaching the gospel and enduring the humiliations and sufferings? Besides, look at the brothers and sisters who preach the gospel of the last days. Who of them wears name brand clothes and uses upmarket products? If they were rewarded 2,000 yuan for converting an ordinary believer and 10,000 or 20,000 yuan for converting a leader, as rumors say, would they have long made big money since great numbers of people accept Almighty God’s work of the last days in Mainland China every day? Have you ever seen or heard that any brother or sister of the Church of Almighty God has amassed great fortunes because of preaching the gospel? Therefore, it is a lie and slander that they are rewarded 2,000 yuan for converting an ordinary believer and 10,000 or 20,000 yuan for converting a leader.

Still some say, “The believers in Almighty God don’t keep a clear distance from the opposite sex, and they all commit adultery….” As to whether it is factual or not, let us first read the following words of Almighty God: “I am the holy God Himself. I am not defiled by impurity. And I do not occupy any impure temple.” And, it stipulates in the Ten Administrative Decrees That Must Be Obeyed by God’s Chosen People: “Man has corrupt disposition and, moreover, he is possessed of emotions. As such, it is absolutely prohibited for two members of the opposite sex to work together when serving God. Any who are discovered doing so will be expelled, without exception—and no one is exempt.” From the words of Almighty God, we can see this: God is holy and does not live in any impure temple, and His righteous disposition is intolerant of offense by anyone. Every follower of Almighty God must obey strictly God’s administrative decrees. Otherwise, he will be expelled from the church, and no one is exempt. Furthermore, most believers of Almighty God are brothers and sisters from all denominations and sects who truly believe in the Lord and who are zealous in their pursuit, and many are leaders or co-workers in their former denominations. When they believed in the Lord Jesus, they knew that God detests man’s adultery, and they kept the Lord’s commandment. Would they who fear God and could keep the former commandment of God deliberately violate the administrative decree of God’s kingdom today? They have run and given up all for the Lord and endured the suffering of the cross for years; don’t they know this basic principle? Obviously, the rumor is utterly baseless gossip.

Others say, “The ‘Eastern Lightening’ is an underworld organization. Once you join it, you can’t withdraw. If you want to, they will gouge out your eyes, cut off your ears, break your legs…” We all know that the members in the underworld organization can do any evil thing, killing people, setting fire, or retaliating, and that nobody dare offend them. Then, let us see how the brothers and sisters who preach the gospel of the last days act. In order to bring people before God, they are abused and beaten, driven out, or even bit by dogs sicced by people. If they were mafiosi, who could have dared to beat them or sic the dog on them? Could mafiosi not fight back when reviled or beaten? If they were mafiosi, why do they preach the gospel especially to those who truly believe in God and who are zealous in their pursuit? What’s more, many brothers and sisters in all denominations and sects have heard God’s gospel of the last days. Some accepted it at first but withdrew later, and some didn’t accept it. Among them, whose eyes have been gouged out? Whose ears have been cut off? Whose legs have been broken? So the rumor is made from nothing. As for the word that one cannot withdraw once he believes in Almighty God, it isn’t accordant with the fact either. Actually, it is not that the withdrawal is not allowed but that all those who truly believe in God and are certain about God’s work of the last days are unwilling to withdraw. Why is this so? Almighty God says: “God’s incarnation has shaken every denomination and group, ‘disrupted’ the original order of all religious groups, and shaken the heart of every one who thirsts for God’s appearance. Who does not adore Him? Who does not long to see God? God has personally been in the world for many years, but man has never discovered. Now God Himself has appeared and made His identity public. How could this not make man joyous?” “During the last days, God once more became flesh, and when He became flesh this time, the Age of Grace ended and the Age of Kingdom began. All those who accept the second incarnation of God will be led into the Age of Kingdom, and be able to personally accept the guidance of God.” “All those who submit under His dominion shall enjoy higher truth and receive greater blessings. They shall truly live in the light, and shall gain the truth, the way, and the life.” God’s incarnation in the last days has shocked all denominations and groups and shaken the heart of every one who thirsts for God’s appearance. All the brothers and sisters who turn to God from all denominations and sects have seen God’s appearance and heard God’s utterance, and realized that the Christ of the last days is the truth, the way, and the life. So they are unwilling to withdraw. It’s not, as the rumor says, that they dare not withdraw for fear that their eyes will be gouged out, their ears be cut off, or their legs be broken. Therefore, it’s not difficult to see that such rumor is fabricated by those with ulterior motives.

We can see from the fellowship above that all that slanders God’s work of the last days are lies and groundless rumors and are not truth at all. That a believer in the Lord bears false witness by fabricating rumors is most detestable to God and is condemned by God. It’s just as the Bible says: “… a false witness deceit.” “Lying lips are abomination to the LORD: but they that deal truly are his delight.” Then, why do they still do that since they know it’s not God’s delight? Matthew 28 records such a thing: After the Lord Jesus was risen, the chief priests and the elders, afraid that all people would believe in Him and they would then lose their position and bread and butter, assembled and took counsel to conceal the fact that the Lord Jesus was risen. They gave large money to the soldiers and fabricated a rumor saying that Jesus was not risen and that His disciples stole His body when the soldiers slept. Their action showed that they fabricated rumors all for the sake of maintaining their fame, fortune, position, and fleshly enjoyment. The same thing happened today. Since Almighty God’s work of the last days was spread throughout the Mainland China, great numbers of believers from all denominations and sects have accepted God’s new work successively. Some religious leaders see that more and more believers accept Almighty God’s work of the last days while believers in their church become ever fewer. In order to keep their position and bread and butter, they fabricate various groundless rumors to slander and condemn Almighty God’s work of the last days. In doing so, they want to deceive and threaten the believers so that they may not accept God’s work of the last days, thereby achieving their purpose of trapping and controlling them. Hence, all rumor-makers have their intentions or purposes in doing so.

If we have no discernment about the rumors and blindly trust them, we will resist, disrupt, and disturb God’s work on the side of those rumor-makers. In this way, we will not only lose God’s salvation of the last days but also will be detested, rejected, and punished by God. For example, when the Lord Jesus worked in Judea, the Pharisees fabricated rumors to slander Jesus. They blasphemed that He cast out devils by Beelzebub the prince of the devils and that He was possessed with devil. Because many Jews at that time neither had discernment about those rumors nor investigated them carefully, they blindly believed them and rejected and killed the Lord Jesus together with the Pharisees and thus walked the path of resisting God. The end of the Pharisees that fabricated rumors to slander God is known to all. Isn’t the end of the Jews who believed the rumors also very miserable? They were subjected to unprecedented destruction of their nation. For two thousand years, they drifted in countries around the world and couldn’t return their own home. They were punished by God like the Pharisees. Isn’t this the consequence of their resisting God because of their blind trust in rumors? Hence, if a believer in God doesn’t fear God, not seeking or studying God’s new work but lightly believing the rumors, he would resist God as the accomplice of Satan and become a wicked person and eventually lose God’s salvation. Today, faced with God’s work of the last days, we believers and followers of God should seek and investigate it with reverence for God. Only in this way can we keep pace with God’s work and receive God’s salvation of the last days. Otherwise, we will be used by Satan and become opponent of God and be subjected to His punishment, just like the Jews at that time.

We should know that the rumors are Satan’s schemes and are the means by which Satan resists God’s work. However, God’s wisdom is exercised based on Satan’s schemes forever. Satan not only cannot destroy God’s work, but is doing service for God’s work. For example, the Jewish scribes and Pharisees of that day did their utmost to resist and condemn the work of Jesus, and nailed Jesus onto the cross in association with the Roman government. Never had they thought that the Lord Jesus said: “It’s finished!” It can be seen that God used Satan’s schemes to fulfill His plan and accomplish His work of redeeming man. This is so today. Although some leaders and co-workers in all denominations and sects fabricate various rumors in every possible ways out of contemptible intentions to slander and oppose Almighty God’s work of the last days, it not only cannot destroy God’s work but is more beneficial to the accomplishment of God’s work of classifying man and rewarding good and punishing evil. Even though some brothers and sisters were deceived by their lies, the majority of believers who truly seek God’s appearance have eventually returned before God’s throne. The rumors can only bind the tares tightly, but they cannot bind the wheat. The wind only blows away the chaff, and the full grains will be gathered into the storehouse in the end. In other words, only those who don’t belong to God, who don’t fear God, and who parrot the words of others will be revealed and eliminated through the rumors, while all those who truly seek the truth and who thirst for God’s appearance will be taken to a wonderful destination by God. In this way, Satan’s schemes serve only as God’s tool for classifying man and rewarding good and punishing evil in the last days. Isn’t this the revelation of God’s almightiness and wisdom?

Now, I believe everyone has had some knowledge of the origin, substance, and perniciousness of the rumors. Almighty God’s work of the last days has reached unprecedented splendor and is about to be concluded with glory, and Almighty God is about to appear publicly to all nations and all peoples. At this crucial moment, are you willing to ruin your life by your blind trust in the rumors? Are you willing to lose God’s salvation of the last days because of the rumors? I believe you are surely able to make a wise choice.
                                                                            Source from : Find the Shepherd

The Discernment of the Wicked Servants Will Keep You from Being Deceived

Every true believer in God is expectantly waiting for the return of the Savior Jesus. But faced with the confusion and the varied statements in the church, many of the brothers and sisters who truly love the Lord are in a tight corner and at a loss what course to take. As they don’t know how to discern the true way from the false ones and fear that they may be deceived, they don’t dare to receive strangers, much less dare to go out to listen to messages. Due to their foolishness and lack of discernment, they are unwittingly used by Satan and deceived by the wicked servants, thereby ruining their wonderful future. So we’ll conduct a fellowship about this problem and give an analysis of it so that all the brothers and sisters who truly love the Lord may get on the right track of believing in God and live under the blessing of God.

First, let us look at the deceitful statements of the leaders of the Christian denominations and sects. Some of them say, “Don’t go out to listen to any message, however good it may be, for it’s false. Don’t listen to what they preach even if it is the truth.” Others say, “These people have come to my parish to steal my sheep.” Still others say, “Don’t receive strangers, not even give them a cup of water to drink; they are the ‘Eastern Lightning’ followers, the deceivers.” Some say, “Whoever preaches that God has come is a heretic; what he preaches is false. You should drive him away. If he doesn’t go, dial 110 for police.” Others say, “You can play mahjong, watch videos, love the world, or even worship Buddha, but you shall never believe inAlmighty God.” Still others say, “The ‘Eastern Lightning’ followers will cut off your nose and ears and gouge out your eyes.” Some even say, “Without my assignment and permission, you cannot go anywhere. Whoever disobeys will be expelled from the church.” And they say many other words like this. Are they fellowshiping the truth by saying such words? Should a faithful and wise servant say such words? Let me dissect and discern these words so that you will not be deceived by them and lose God’s salvation and be punished.

1. They forbid the brothers and sisters to go out to listen to messages. We all know that faith comes from hearing the message. In the Bible, Luke 4:42-43 say, “And when it was day, he departed and went into a desert place: and the people sought him, and came to him, and stayed him, that he should not depart from them. And he said to them, I must preach the kingdom of God to other cities also: for therefore am I sent.” We may consider it carefully. The Israelites at that time learned the law of Jehovah in the synagogues and observed it. If the people hadn’t gone out to the desert place to listen to what Jesus preached, could they have recognized Jesus? Could they have known that God had done a new work (that is, Jesus had ushered in the Age of Grace)? Revelation 2:17 says, “He that has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit said to the churches; To him that overcomes will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knows saving he that receives it.” And Revelation 3:12-13 say, “Him that overcomes will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write on him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from my God: and I will write on him my new name. He that has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit said to the churches.” Daniel 12:14 says, “But you, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end: many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased.” From the above verses we know that God requires us to seek and fellowship more so that we can know His will better. Furthermore, it is now the last days. If we want to gain the truth and life, we should all the more run to and fro and try our best to seek it so that we can understand God’s present will. But the leaders of the denominations and sects try hard to forbid the brothers and sisters from listening to what others fellowship about or preach, even though it is the truth. Dear brothers and sisters, we believe in God just in order to gain the truth. If we are not even allowed to listen to the truth, then for what do we believe in God? Isn’t that a deceptive word? Isn’t saying such a word a direct resistance against God?

2. They say that the “Eastern Lightning” followers have come to their parish to steal their sheep. They even dare to take possession of the Lord’s sheep. We all know that all believers in God are the Lord’s sheep and that only the Lord Jesus is the good Shepherd. But these people even say that the brothers and sisters are their sheep. They are simply like the archangel, and speak in the place of God. Isn’t saying so a manifestation of antichrists?

3. They tell the believers not to receive strangers, for they are deceivers. The believers in the Lord throughout the world are as numerous as the stars. How many of them are we familiar with? Is it right to say that the strangers are all deceivers and false believers? Doesn’t it go against the Lord’s will to forbid the brothers and sisters to receive strangers? In the Bible, the Lord Jesus told the people: “And whoever shall give to drink to one of these little ones a cup of cold water only in the name of a disciple, truly I say to you, he shall in no wise lose his reward.” (Matthew 10:42) When Abraham received the passing guests, he received angels unawares and was blessed by God (Genesis 18:1-16). The two angels Lot received helped him be spared from the disaster. Weren’t they also strangers to him (Genesis 19:1-25)? The two spies Rahab the prostitute received were also strangers, but they kept her and her family safe (Joshua 2:1-21). A eunuch received a disciple so that he obtained the salvation of Jesus. Isn’t this also a case of receiving a stranger (Acts 8:27-40)? From the facts recorded in the Bible, we have seen that none of those who received strangers came to grief. Instead, they all were blessed by God because of receiving strangers. We all know that throughout the history, God’s work has been preached to the ends of the universe through man (for example, God sent Noah to preach, and Jesus sent His disciples to preach). If we do not receive the strangers, can we receive God’s salvation today? Revelation 3:20 says, “Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.” If when God knocks on the door, you still don’t open it, closing it against Him, don’t you feel afraid? Don’t you think it a deception that the leaders, who read the Bible every day, teach you not to receive strangers?

4. They say that whoever preaches that the Lord has come preaches a false message. Brothers and sisters, we all know that now is already the last days, and disasters befall more and more frequently and strike more and more places. The Lord Jesus said that at the end of the age, He would do the work of judgment, and He would purify people, winnow, reward the good and punish the wicked, and classify people according to kind…. It is now the last days, which is a fact obvious to all. So how can they say that whoever preaches that the Lord has come preaches a false message? Haven’t they denied the word of Jesus? Revelation 14:6-7 say, “And I saw another angel fly in the middle of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach to them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people, Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come….” Then aren’t they who condemn them as deceivers standing in the way of God’s work? They acknowledge that now is the last days but do not allow God to do His new work; aren’t they loathed by God? Just as in Matthew 23:13, the Lord Jesus said: “But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for you shut up the kingdom of heaven against men: for you neither go in yourselves, neither suffer you them that are entering to go in.” If you believe what the leaders say, won’t you forfeit your future? They say that whoever preaches that the Lord has come preaches a false message. Doesn’t it mean that the Lord shouldn’t come? Don’t you think their word is deceitful?

5. They tell the believers to dial 110 for police at the sight of the brothers and sisters who come to preachAlmighty God. On the surface, the betrayal of the brothers and sisters, the delivery of them into the hands of those in power, seems to be an act of defending the truth, but in substance, what difference is there between it and the Jews’ act of handing Jesus over to Pilate? Aren’t they teaching the believers to be a Judas? Is this not worthy of our consideration? Although God’s work does not accord with man’s notions and man does not know or understand it, yet how should a believer in God fear God? Let us have a look at how the doctor of the law in Acts 5:33-39 treated God’s new work: “When they heard that, they were cut to the heart, and took counsel to slay them. Then stood there up one in the council, a Pharisee, named Gamaliel, a doctor of the law, had in reputation among all the people, and commanded to put the apostles forth a little space; And said to them, You men of Israel, take heed to yourselves what you intend to do as touching these men. For before these days rose up Theudas, boasting himself to be somebody; to whom a number of men, about four hundred, joined themselves: who was slain; and all, as many as obeyed him, were scattered, and brought to nothing. After this man rose up Judas of Galilee in the days of the taxing, and drew away much people after him: he also perished; and all, even as many as obeyed him, were dispersed. And now I say to you, Refrain from these men, and let them alone: for if this counsel or this work be of men, it will come to nothing: But if it be of God, you cannot overthrow it; lest haply you be found even to fight against God.” If you judge, blaspheme, and slander God and betray the brothers and sisters, then what difference is there between you and the chief priests, the scribes, and the elders at that time? Acts 5:17-18 say, “Then the high priest rose up, and all they that were with him, (which is the sect of the Sadducees,) and were filled with indignation, And laid their hands on the apostles, and put them in the common prison.” Is this in accordance with the teaching of Jesus? Brothers and sisters, have you ever thought of this? If you continue following such leaders, what will be your end? Let us then look at the Church of Almighty God. The gospel spreads quickly, the number of believers increases day by day, and their condition becomes ever better. Most of those who truly love God and who pursue the truth in all denominations and sects of Christianity have accepted God’s work of the last days. This exactly fulfills Isaiah 2:2, which says, “And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the LORD’s house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow to it.” May God open our spiritual eyes so that we will keep pace with His work instead of sitting still waiting for death and ending up regretting all our life.

6. They say that if one believes in Almighty God, his eyes will be gouged out, his ears and nose will be cut off…. It is a sheer rumor and slander. They say so in order to control and frighten the brothers and sisters, and it is a blasphemy against God’s work. You can consider this: Among those who have accepted Almighty God, perhaps some are your family members or relatives, some are your neighbors or friends, and some are the brothers and sisters from your church with whom you had been acquainted for ten years or even decades. Which one of them has lost his nose or one of his eyes, legs, or arms? Is this fact not a most convincing proof? Let us then take a look at those leaders. What is their intention or aim? Their aim is not for the brothers and sisters to gain life but for their own flesh to have enjoyment. Are their food, clothing, and house not provided by the hard-earned money of the brothers and sisters? If the brothers and sisters all come before God, will it still be possible for them to enjoy the offerings? When they speak about giving offerings, they mean to let the brothers and sisters do so, and when they speak about love, they mean to let the brothers and sisters love them. They think that they have rendered great service and deserve to enjoy those things. Some of them even commit adultery, but they don’t feel ashamed. The brothers and sisters feel angry at that but do not dare to speak anything. This is a fact known to all. But some even say that they deserve to enjoy all that, for they have suffered too much for the Lord, and that their adultery is due to their temporary weakness. Let us see what the Bible says: “A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. Every tree that brings not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. Why by their fruits you shall know them.” (Matthew 7: 18-20) Brothers and sisters, we should be discerning! Don’t these facts make us clearly discern the rumor and lie of the wicked servants? Please wake up! Otherwise, you will ruin yourselves.

7. They say that the believers should not go to any other places but stay in the church. On the surface, they seem to care for the brothers and sisters by saying so, but in substance, they are resisting God’s work. Revelation 14:4 says, “These are they which follow the Lamb wherever he goes.” This word proves that God’s work does not remain frozen at one stage but is always progressing forward, and that only those who follow the footsteps of the Lamb are the overcomers. If one stays where he is, isn’t he left by God? Isn’t he a person incompatible with God? This is because where there is the work of God, there is the work of the Holy Spirit. The people who stayed in the temple in the past were eliminated by the Holy Spirit for their failure to keep up with God’s new work, so the temple became a den of robbers. How about the church today? The brothers and sisters are weak and passive, covet money, and have envy and strife; the leaders steal offerings, have sexual liaisons, struggle for fame and fortune…. Can you deny these facts? What difference is there between such a church and the temple in the past? But those leaders say with deceptive quiet, “The church of the last days should be like this. This exactly fulfills the sign that the Lord is about to come.” Brothers and sisters, do you think this is what a good servant of the Lord should say? A good servant who can give the brothers and sisters the food at the proper time will consider their life. Confronted with the desolation of the church, he will be worried about it and will seek and examine the true way. Even if it does not accord with his notions, he will not blaspheme or condemn it, for he has a heart that fears God, and doesn’t dare to jump to conclusions. He will lead the brothers and sisters to seek God instead of binding or controlling them. Such people are just like the ones spoken of by the Lord Jesus: “Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. … Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.” (Matthew 5:3 and 8) But unfortunately such ones are so few.

Next, let us take a look at the leaders who blasphemed Almighty God. As they have trodden a path that runs contrary to God, some of them suffer from weird diseases, some have become insane, and some have their family ruined. Why is this so? It is because they have provoked God’s wrath and infuriated God. Just as Almighty God says: “If I do not speak, I will do something for everyone to see. I will cause someone’s tongue to be rotten, someone to die without a whole body, someone to lose his mind and make a complete fool of himself, or some people to suffer enough of the miseries I create for them. … For it is always that ‘good will be repaid with good, and evil with evil.’ …” From this passage of God’s word, we can see that God’s disposition does not tolerate man’s offense. Maybe you have seen the end of those leaders. While preaching the gospel, we have also witnessed the fact that some leaders were punished by God. They assigned the brothers and sisters to curse Almighty God in prayer at regular times, but this brought a curse on them instead! Isn’t this worthy of our consideration? Dear brothers and sisters, for the sake of your life, please seek the true way quickly, and don’t stick with wrong ideas any longer! Only Almighty God in the last days can bestow upon us the truth and life. Only God can take us to a wonderful destination. We cannot gain life by following any leader. Then will you still believe what the leaders say? In the past, people had to come out of the temple to find the Lord Jesus. Today we have to seek the true way courageously so that we can receive the truths expressed by God in the last days, see all the mysteries unveiled by God, and enter into the kingdom. Otherwise, all our previous efforts will be in vain. Brothers and sisters, please come out boldly! God is waiting for you!

We have dissected and analyzed the actual situation of the church. Our purpose is for every brother and sister to have discernment and see through the wicked servants and avoid being harmed by them. Brothers and sisters, there is no more time to lose; please seek the truth quickly. God’s work of judgment in Mainland China is drawing to an end. The only way to be saved is to keep up with the work of Almighty God. For the sake of your future and fate, please be bold to make a choice! Otherwise, you will regret all your life!

                                                                                  Source from: Find the Shepherd

Eastern Lightning | God's Word Is the Power of My Life | Short Film "A Life Growing in Adversity"

Yang Xiaoxue is a church leader of the Church of Almighty God. She was arrested by the CCP when having a meeting, and underwent interrogations by inhuman tortures, such as being beaten, being handcuffed behind the back, being hung and beaten, being shocked by an electric baton, and so on. She was afflicted until she was to be wounded all over, and some parts of her wrists split and bled, but she didn’t give in all along. At last, she was sentenced to two years of hard labor, during which she was inhumanly maltreated by the prison guards, and was overloaded with hard labor for a long time. Suffering from the inhuman and cruel tortures and illegal imprisonment, she deeply experienced the hardships. However, there was always a strong power supporting her, and keeping her strong, not fragile. Unexpectedly, she received a valuable treasure. What kind of treasure is it?

Eastern Lightning | True Faith | Short Film "The Persecution and Tribulation Made Me Love God More"

Liu Zhen is an ordinary rural old lady, aged 78 years old. Since she accepted the end-time work of Almighty God, she listened to the recital of God’s word every day, and often prayed, had meetings and performed duty with the brothers and sisters. Her life was full of happiness. However, good times didn’t last long. The CCP police arrested and persecuted her because of her believing in God, and threatened and instigated her family to strictly confine and constrain her.... Since then, she lost the church life, lost the supply of God’s word, falling into a plight. She lost her sleep and appetite, spending everyday like a year and suffering agonies of leaving and losing God. In the persecution and tribulation, she prayed earnestly and called to God. Unexpectedly, Almighty God personally made a way out for her: She accidentally dropped into a severe coma, but miraculously regained consciousness after being in a coma for eighteen hours. That wonderful deed of Almighty God not only amazed the people around, but also made her family no longer persecute her. From then on, she regained her freedom and a new lease of life….

Where does the “Eastern Lightning” come from?

Most believers in Jesus Christ have heard the “Eastern Lightning” from their pastors, elders, or preachers. But actually no one knows exactly where the Eastern Lightning comes from. There are different opinions about the origin of the Eastern Lightning among the denominations and sects. Some think that the Eastern Lightning is an emerging Christian denomination, some even condemn it as a cult.… People have such erroneous opinions of the Eastern Lightning because they do not have any knowledge of God’s work.

God’s work is continuously moving forward. However, because people do not know the principle of God’s work being always new and never old or the purpose of God’s work of saving mankind and because they have satanic disposition—being arrogant and self-right and obeying no one, each time when God does a new work, it will inevitably be blasphemed, persecuted, and condemned by the religious world which obstinately sticks to the old way, and those who accept the new work and preach the true way are imposed on various false charges and are misnamed. The records in the New Testament show us a fact: In order to deliver mankind from punishment for being unable to keep the laws, God was incarnated and began the work of redemption in the Age of Grace. At the time when Jesus worked in Judea, He performed many miracles and signs, healed and cast out demons, bestowed upon people rich grace, and expressed many truths. That was sufficient proof that Jesus was really and completely God Himself, the Messiah that would come. However, the Jewish chief priests, scribes, and Pharisees didn’t believe that Jesus was the Messiah they had desperately longed for. They even slandered, judged, and condemned the work of Jesus as a heresy, a cult. As Jesus grew up in Nazareth and started doing His work in Nazareth, they called Jesus and His followers the Nazarenes. They also accused Paul of being a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes. (cf: Act 24:5) What can we see from this fact? Every believer in the Lord knows this: When Jesus did the work in Judea, He ushered in the Age of Grace and did the new work of redeeming mankind fully according to God’s own management plan. Whether the Jews or the Gentiles, whether the Zelotes or the Sadducees, as long as they truly thirsted for and sought the true way and followed the only true God, they would be forgiven of their sins and receive God’s salvation. God didn’t need to establish and had never established any religion, organization, or party, so how could He found the sect of the Nazarenes? Therefore, the sect of the Nazarenes was an offensive term fabricated by the chief priests, scribes, and Pharisees who “served” Jehovah in the temple for the purpose of attacking and framing Jesus and condemning His work. It was because of being deceived and controlled by these so-called servants of God that the Jews crucified Jesus and the entire Jewish nation was thus subjected to unprecedented destruction in the end.

Similarly, to free man from the endless cycle of committing sins and confessing them and completely rid man of his corrupt satanic disposition and sinful nature so that he will become holy and be fully saved by God, God is incarnated again in the last days and expresses the truths to judge and chastise the corrupt mankind, carrying out a new work in order to utterly purify them. The brothers and sisters who accept God’s gospel of the last days and keep up with God’s new work have undergone the judgment, chastisement, trials, and refinements of God’s word, and seen clearly that Almighty God who expresses the truth in the last days is exactly the returned Lord Jesus. They shout with joy and sing praises to God from the bottom of their hearts, for they have truly realized God’s great exaltation and salvation for them. In order to repay God’s love and help more people follow God’s footsteps and return to God’s household, they rush about everywhere to preach the good news to the brothers and sisters in the Lord who are still eagerly expecting the return of Jesus, telling them that the Lord Jesus has already returned to flesh and come to the east of the world—China, and He ushers in the Age of Kingdom and does a new and high work, the work of judging and purifying man. This has fulfilled Matthew 24:27: “For as the lightning comes out of the east, and shines even to the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.” The truth God brings this time is higher than in times past, and the brothers and sisters who truly believe in God have all come to the light. And the reaping work God does in the last days will be finished in a short time like lightning. In more than ten years only, God’s kingdom gospel has spread all over the Mainland China, and now is expanding to the entire universe. However, those arrogant, self-right, and stubborn ones in all denominations and sects who hold to the old things and don’t keep up with God’s new work that is irreconcilable with man’s conceptions not only don’t seek or investigate it, but even seize on this Biblical prophecy by which the brothers and sisters testify God’s work of the last days, and wantonly judge, condemn, and slander the Church of Almighty God to be the sect of the Eastern Lightning. What they do is no different from the act of the Jewish religion which attacked, slandered, and condemned Jesus’ disciples and apostles as the Nazarenes. They resist and attack God’s work of the last days in such unbridled way and hinder the people from following God’s footsteps and obeying God’ work. Are they not the Pharisees of the present age who resist and condemn Christ? Is the substance of their act one of hating the truth and blaspheming the Holy Spirit?

If Almighty God didn’t speak and disclose the mysteries, we would never understand what the true meaning of the prophecy “For as the lightning comes out of the east, and shines even to the west.” Almighty God says: “Just when all men are giving their attention, when all things renew and revive, and when all people assuredly obey God and are willing to undertake God’s burden and shoulder grave responsibility, the Eastern Lightning comes forth, flashing from the East to the West, and the whole earth is greatly startled because of the coming of this beam of light. God, at this moment, begins a new life again. … That is, in the East of the world, from the time God Himself begins to be testified, to the time He begins to do the work, and to the time His divinity begins to reign on the whole earth, the light beam of the Eastern Lightning shines upon the whole universe all along. When the kingdom of the world becomes the kingdom of Christ, it will be the time the whole universe is lighted up. Now it is the time that the Eastern Lightning comes forth; the incarnate God begins to work and speaks directly in divinity. It can be said that when God begins to speak and utter His voice on earth, it is the time the Eastern Lightning comes forth. To put it exactly, when the living water flows from the throne, that is, when the voice emanates from the throne, it is the time the seven spirits formally begin to speak.” (from “The Interpretation of The Twelfth Utterance” of God’s Utterances to the Entire Universe in The Word Appears in the Flesh) “Throughout the universe I am doing My work, and in the East, thunderous crashes issue forth endlessly, shaking all denominations and sects. It is My voice that has brought all men to the present. I let My voice be that which conquers man; they all fall into this stream and all submit before Me, for I have long ago reclaimed My glory from all the earth and issued it forth anew in the East. Who does not long to see My glory? Who does not anxiously await My return? Who does not thirst for My reappearance? Who does not long for My loveliness? Who would not come to the light? Who would not see the richness of Canaan? Who does not long for the return of the Redeemer? Who does not adore the Great Almighty? My voice must spread throughout all the earth; I wish to speak more to My chosen people. The words I utter shake the mountains and rivers like mighty thunders; I speak to all the universe and to mankind. Hence My words become man’s treasure, and all men cherish them. The lightning flashes from the East even to the West. My words are such that man loathes to give them up and finds them unfathomable, but moreover, man rejoices in them. Like a newborn infant, all men are glad and joyful, celebrating My coming. Because of My voice, I shall bring all men before Me. Thenceforth, I shall formally enter among men so that they come to worship Me. The glory I give forth and My words make it such that all men come before Me and see that the lightning flashes from the East…. For I have long since been resurrected, gone away from among men, then reappeared among men with glory. I am He who was worshiped before the ages, and the ‘infant’ forsaken by the Israelites before the ages. Moreover, I am the all-glorious Almighty God of the present age!” (from “The Seven Thunders Peal—Prophesying That the Kingdom Gospel Shall Spread Throughout the Universe” in The Word Appears in the Flesh) From the words of Almighty God, we can see that God’s work and word of the last days is the lightning coming from the East. The “lightning” refers to the way of God’s judgment in the last days, that is, the word by which God chastises and judges man. And moreover, it will spread from the East to the West, which is to says, Almighty God first makes complete a group of people who have a true knowledge of God in the East (China), and then has them spread His gospel of the last days to the West, so that people all over the world can receive His salvation of the last days. The lightning of the East (God’s work of judgment in the last days in China) can even more enable us to receive the whole of God’s love and salvation for mankind, know God’s true countenance, and have true reverence and worship for God. God’s word, like the lightning, brings mankind light and hope. All those who accept the lightning of the East, God’s work of the last days, can bear testimony to it.

God is the Lord who created the heavens and earth and all things. As mankind was corrupted by Satan, God began to work to save them. In the end, God will make all people throughout the universe see His deeds—all denominations will become one and worship the Creator. God will purify and save all those who seek His appearance with a true heart and who keep up with His footsteps, and bring these people who are after His heart into His kingdom and allow them to enjoy peaceful rest with Him. So, every brother and sister who truly believes in God and is eagerly expecting the return of the Lord Jesus should drop their religious notions and seek and examine the true way. Don’t believe the rumors and blindly oppose it lest you lose God’s salvation of the last days. We all should keep pace with God’s work and follow His footsteps closely. Only in this way can we be saved and brought into the kingdom by God in the end.

                                                                                           Source from: Find the Shepherd

Eastern Lightning | Power of God's Word | Short Film "God's Love Accompanied Me in the Affliction"

         

Ge Zhen is a church leader of the Church of Almighty God. Because of believing in God, she was watched by the CCP government secretly for half a year. Once in transferring the money used for preaching the gospel, she was arrested by the police. In order to seize more church offerings, the CCP government cruelly tortured Ge Zhen and another church leader over and over, even dragging them to a secret place in deep mountains to set up a court and interrogate by cruel torture. Under the extreme torture of the devils, Ge Zhen's endurance reached its limit. However, Almighty God kept her secretly, inspiring and encouraging her with his words, and giving her faith and strength, so that she overcame the torment and transcended the dark power of satan. At last, Ge Zhen and the other sister were praised by the CCP lackeys to be the modern Sister Jiang and Liu Hulan. Later, the interrogation was resultless, and Ge Zhen was forcibly sentenced to two years in a labor camp. After experiencing this cruel torture, Ge Zhen thoroughly saw through the CCP government's devilish nature of being hostile to God, and truly tasted God's loveliness and beauty and good. She made a resolution to love God for a lifetime....