God’s Guidance Allowed Me to Overcome Temptation in the Workplace (Part One) Audio Essay

Almighty God says, “A world of gaiety and splendor, one that is becoming more and more so. When people look upon the world, their hearts are drawn to it, and many are unable to extricate themselves from it; great numbers will be beguiled by those who engage in trickery and sorcery. If you do not strive for progress, and are without ideals, you will be swept away by this sinful wave” (“Practice (2)” in The Word Appears in the Flesh). Almighty God’s words expose the evil of this hedonistic world, filled as it is with all kinds of temptations: money, fame, status, power, eroticism…. These temptations are like poppies, a “beautiful trap,” and these are also the means and methods by which Satan tempts and corrupts people. Most people can’t understand Satan’s tricks, are unable to escape these temptations, fall into these traps, and so live in sin and depravity, suffering and corrupted endlessly at the hands of Satan. I recall my own experience, and I know that if not for God’s protection and the guidance of His word, I would also have fallen inextricably into this “beautiful trap.” …

I am presently 27 years old, and I originally worked as staff in a sales department. In 2013, I had the good fortunate to accept Almighty God’s work in the last days, and afterward I worked while I lived my church life. My daily job was to give customers tea, pour water, deliver snacks, and so on, and then clean after the customers left. One could say I had a lowest-level and most inconspicuous job in the sales department, and it was a job that was essentially unsupervised and unimportant. Although I did unremarkable work every day and my salary wasn’t high, I felt very fulfilled, because I didn’t have to constantly strive to please and kiss up to the department leaders to improve my performance and interact with others wearing a mask of falseness every day. In my spare time, I could also participate in church life and read God’s words and fellowship on the truth with my brothers and sisters. I felt relaxed and free, safe and secure. But that life of calm didn’t last, because before long trouble came looking for me….

Mr. Zhang, a manager of our real estate company, was 40 years old. He was handsome, wore glasses, had a scholarly look, and spoke humorously and with an engaging manner. He was very easy-going, got along well with young people, and the company’s employees were both very supportive of him and also nearly worshiped him. One day, by chance, Mr. Zhang was taking a break in the area for which I was responsible. I gave him a cup of tea, and Mr. Zhang asked me about my name and education. I answered and continued to work, but after that, every time Mr. Zhang came, I brought him tea, he always took time to say a few words to me. I had always imagined our leaders as high above us and inaccessible, and that they wouldn’t even bother to notice minor staff who do insignificant tasks, like me. I was surprised that Mr. Zhang was so approachable, which made me feel that he was very kind.

Later, Mr. Zhang came for tea more and more frequently. Once, he smiled and said to me, “Hey, do you think the sales department uniforms look good?” I said, “The sales department is our public face, of course they look good.” He shook his head and looked me up and down, “No they don’t, not as good as your uniform. I think it’s mainly because of your physique, you look good in anything….” Mr. Zhang’s compliment delighted me. I felt that working under such an amiable and humorous boss made work stress-free, relaxing, and happy.

Slowly, Mr. Zhang and I went from strangers to “getting familiar.” The area where I worked, the snack bar, became an important position in the eyes of Mr. Zhang. If there were any problems or malfunctions at the snack bar, Mr. Zhang would step forward to help me. I was surprised that a low-level, inconspicuous position like mine could get such strong support from Mr. Zhang, and I was genuinely flattered. With Mr. Zhang’s “patronage,” my status as an insignificant staff member who was looked down on in the sales department improved. My colleagues, and even our department managers, were much more polite to me. Getting time off from the manager used to be asking the impossible, but now it was as easy as asking. I felt that all my new conveniences were thanks to Mr. Zhang’s effort, and I was grateful to him. I thought, “I should work harder in the future, and even though I’m only pouring tea, I have to do my best. I have to live up to Mr. Zhang’s efforts for me.” Just as Mr. Zhang’s “glorious” image was growing in my heart, the series of events that followed completely turned my opinion of him on its head….

One day, Mr. Zhang came to the bar and saw that the flowers needed trimming, so he began to trim them for me. While I was cleaning the branches as he cut the leaves, I asked, “Mr. Zhang, do you like to raise flowers?” He said to me with a smile, “I don’ t like to raise flowers, I like to raise people.” There was an evil tinge to Mr. Zhang’s words, and I suddenly felt that something wasn’t quite right. I felt very uncomfortable, so I didn’t respond. After that, Mr. Zhang not only often came to the bar to chat with me, he also often sent text messages to ask affectionate questions, and even directly said some overly affectionate things in the messages. I realized that Mr. Zhang’s concern for me had gone beyond the bounds of a boss-subordinate relationship. Mr. Zhang had a family, and I was who believed in God, and I knew that if I continued with him like this, I wouldn’t have even a little likeness of someone who believes in God! In the long run, it would not only damage my character and dignity, it would also humiliate God’s name. For the testimony of God, I had to draw the line with him. But as I thought more about it, I knew that Mr. Zhang always took care of me at work, and my position among my colleagues had also been greatly improved. If I really chose not to interact with him, I wouldn’t have these benefits, and he might even find ways to make things uncomfortable for me. Then what would my position in the company be? I was trapped in struggle, and I didn’t know the right thing to do….

So, I went before God and prayed for the strength to overcome sin, and for the guidance to see through Satan’s tricks and walk the correct path. Shortly after I prayed, I saw a passage of Almighty God’s word, “So were you able to see Satan’s intentions? Were you able to see the purpose behind what it said? Were you able to see its plot and its cunning scheme? (No.) What kind of disposition is represented by Satan’s way of speaking? What kind of essence have you seen in Satan through these words? Is it insidious? Perhaps on the surface it smiles at you or reveals no expression whatsoever. But in its heart it is calculating how to reach its objective, and it is this objective that you are unable to see. You are then seduced by all the promises it gives you, all the advantages it talks about. You see them as good, and you feel that what it says is more useful, more substantial than what God says. When this happens, does man not then become a submissive prisoner? (Yes.) So is this means used by Satan not diabolical? You allow yourself to sink low. Without Satan having to move a finger, with these two sentences you are happy to follow along with it, to comply with it. Its objective has been reached. Is this intention not sinister? Is this not Satan’s most primal countenance?” (“God Himself, the Unique IV” in The Word Appears in the Flesh).

As I pondered God’s words, I recalled all of my interactions with Mr. Zhang, and suddenly I realized that this was a temptation from Satan! Ever since I began interacting with Mr. Zhang, he had been tempting me bit by bit, first by praising me for being beautiful to get close to me, and then by taking care of me and showing concern for me, and then helping in everything and pretending to be my “patron” to win me over, and then finally by sending affectionate text messages to achieve his evil purpose. He wasn’t doing this out of a normal concern leadership would have for staff, he was actually trying to plot against me! But I was stupidly attracted by his glamorous appearance, I thought of him as kind, easygoing, and without a boss’s arrogance. I regard him as a good person. I was so blind and ignorant! When I compared his actions against God’s word, I saw that everything he said and did was to confuse me and tempt me, all in order to achieve his ulterior motives and to entrap me. He used so many tricks for me, but I didn’t have any discernment at all toward him. Instead, I was utterly confused by the illusion of his appearance. If not for what was revealed in God’s word giving me the discernment that allowed me to clearly see his evil face, I would have been ensnared in one of Satan’s traps! If I had allowed myself to become entrapped by this evil person, the price for indulging in those sweet words and the evil desires would have been a lifetime of bearing the label of someone who destroys others’ families. I would have become the “other woman.” Would I have had any dignity in life after that? Would I still be a person who believes in God? Wouldn’t that be a humiliation and a betrayal of God? The thought of it terrified me, and I nearly lost myself to hatred. So, I made up my mind to cut my ties with Mr. Zhang, let go of my fleshly interests, practice the truth to satisfy God, and never allow myself to be tricked by Satan! Later, when Mr. Zhang tried to get close to me, I made efforts to avoid him. When he sent me text messages, I didn’t reply…. He seemed to realize that I was pushing him away, and began deliberately coming up with reasons for me to do things for him, but I still kept my distance and no longer chatted with him, I just did the jobs I was assigned. Thank be to God! When I consciously stayed away from these evil things, Mr. Zhang saw that his plan had failed, and he was too embarrassed to bother me again. I thanked God from the bottom of my heart for keeping me away from these satanic temptations.

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Christian Worship Song 2018 | "The Principles for Seeking the True Way"

Christian Worship Song 2018 | "The Principles for Seeking the True Way"


What basic principles point out the true way?
See if the Spirit works, if truth is expressed;
see who is testified, and what it brings to you.
For belief in God means belief in God’s Spirit.
Faith in God incarnate is faith in the fact that
He’s the embodiment of the Spirit of God,
He is God’s Spirit who takes the form of flesh,
He is the Word that now has become flesh.
You should also see if truth is in this way.
Truth, that is normal human’s life disposition,
normal sense, insight, wisdom, and how you behave.
Truth, God intended way back at the creation.
Does the way lead to normal life?
Does its truth ask you to live normal humanity?
Is it practical, is it timely?
If there’s truth in this way, your experience will be real,
your humanity and sense will be complete,
your spiritual life and your life in flesh will become more orderly,
your emotions more normal.
Now there is one more rule for you to tell the true way.
Has this way helped you grow in your knowledge of God, in your knowledge of God?
Truth should inspire love for God in your hearts
and should bring you ever closer to His presence.
Truth brings reality, provides supplies for life.
Find these principles, then find the way that is true,
find the way that is true, find the way that is true.
from The Word Appears in the Flesh

Recommendation：Many good sheep in the church would prefer to suffer unbridled arrest and persecution by the Chinese Communist Party just to seek and investigate Eastern Lightning.

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11. To study the true way, only listen to the voice of God; absolutely do not believe the rumors of Satan.

　Bible Verses for Reference:
　My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me (Jhn 10:27).
　So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God (Rom 10:17).
　My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge (Hos 4:6).
　Fools die for want of wisdom (Pro 10:21).

　Relevant Words of God:

　Since we are searching for the footprints of God, we must search for God’s will, for the words of God, for the utterances of God—for where there are the new words of God, there is the voice of God, and where there are the footsteps of God, there are the deeds of God. Where there is the expression of God, there is the appearance of God, and where there is the appearance of God, there exists the truth, the way, and the life. While seeking the footprints of God, you ignored the words that “God is the truth, the way, and the life.” So when many people receive the truth, they do not believe that they have found the footprints of God and much less acknowledge the appearance of God. What a serious error that is!

from “The Appearance of God Has Brought a New Age” in The Word Appears in the Flesh

　To study such a thing is not difficult, but requires each of us to know this truth: He who is God’s incarnation shall hold the substance of God, and He who is God’s incarnation shall hold the expression of God. Since God becomes flesh, He shall bring forth the work He must do, and since God becomes flesh, He shall express what He is, and shall be able to bring the truth to man, bestow life upon man, and show man the way. Flesh that does not contain the substance of God is surely not the incarnate God; of this there is no doubt. To investigate whether it is God’s incarnate flesh, man must determine this from the disposition He expresses and the words He speaks. Which is to say, whether or not it is God’s incarnate flesh, and whether or not it is the true way, must be judged from His substance. And so, in determining[a] whether it is the flesh of God incarnate, the key is to pay attention to His substance (His work, His words, His disposition, and many more), rather than external appearance.

from “Preface” in The Word Appears in the Flesh

　Those who do not understand the truth always follow others: If people say that this is the work of the Holy Spirit, then you, too, say it is the work of the Holy Spirit; if people say it is the work of an evil spirit, then you, too, become doubtful, or also say it is the work of an evil spirit. You always parrot the words of others, and are incapable of distinguishing anything by yourself, nor are you able to think for yourself. This is someone without a position, who is unable to differentiate—such a person is a worthless wretch! Such people always repeat the words of others: Today it is said that this is the work of the Holy Spirit, but chances are one day someone will say it isn’t the work of the Holy Spirit, and nothing but the deeds of man—yet you can’t discern this, and when you witness it said by others, you say the same thing. It is actually the work of the Holy Spirit, but you say it is the work of man; have you not become one of those who blaspheme against the work of the Holy Spirit? In this, have you not opposed God because you cannot differentiate? Who knows, maybe one day some nitwit will appear who says that “this is the work of an evil spirit,” and when you hear these words you’ll be at a loss, and once again bound up by the words of others. Every time someone stirs up disturbance you’re incapable of standing by your position, and this is all because you do not possess the truth. Believing in God and pursuing the knowledge of God is no simple matter. They cannot be achieved simply by gathering together and listening to preaching, and you cannot be perfected by passion alone. You must experience, and know, and be principled in your actions, and gain the work of the Holy Spirit. When you have undergone experiences, you will be able to differentiate many things—you will be able to distinguish between good and evil, between righteousness and wickedness, between what is of flesh and blood and what is of the truth. You should be able to distinguish between all these things, and in so doing, no matter the circumstances, you will never be lost. Only this is your real stature. Knowing the work of God is no simple matter: You should have standards and an objective in your pursuit, you should know how to seek the true way, and how to measure whether or not it is the true way, and whether or not it is the work of God. What is the most basic principle in seeking the true way? You have to look at whether or not there is the work of the Holy Spirit, whether or not these words are the expression of the truth, who is testified to, and what it can bring you. Distinguishing between the true way and the false way requires several aspects of basic knowledge, the most fundamental of which is to tell whether or not there is the work of the Holy Spirit. For the substance of man’s belief in God is the belief in the Spirit of God, and even his belief in God incarnate is because this flesh is the embodiment of the Spirit of God, which means that such belief is still the belief in the Spirit. There are differences between the Spirit and the flesh, but because this flesh comes from the Spirit, and is the Word become flesh, thus what man believes in is still the inherent substance of God. And so, in distinguishing whether or not it is the true way, above all you must look at whether or not there is the work of the Holy Spirit, after which you must look at whether or not there is the truth in this way. This truth is the life disposition of normal humanity, which is to say, that which was required of man when God created him in the beginning, namely, all of normal humanity (including human sense, insight, wisdom, and the basic knowledge of being man). That is, you need to look at whether or not this way takes man into a life of normal humanity, whether or not the truth that is spoken of is required according to the reality of normal humanity, whether or not this truth is practical and real, and whether or not it is most timely. If there is truth, then it is able to take man into normal and real experiences; man, furthermore, becomes ever more normal, man’s human sense becomes ever more complete, man’s life in the flesh and the spiritual life become ever more orderly, and man’s emotions become ever more normal. This is the second principle. There is one other principle, which is whether or not man has an increasing knowledge of God, whether or not experiencing such work and truth can inspire a love of God in him, and bring him ever closer to God. In this can be measured whether or not it is the true way. Most fundamental is whether this way is realistic rather than supernatural, and whether or not it is able to provide the life of man. If it conforms to these principles, the conclusion can be drawn that this way is the true way. I say these words not to make you accept other ways in your future experiences, nor as a prediction that there will be the work of another new age in the future. I say them so that you may be certain that the way of today is the true way, so that you will not only be half-sure in your belief toward the work of today and unable to gain insight into it. There are even many who, despite being certain, still follow in confusion; such certainty has no principle to it, and they must be eliminated sooner or later. Even those who are especially ardent in their following are three parts sure and five parts unsure, which shows that they have no foundation. Because your caliber is too poor and your foundation is too shallow, you have no understanding of differentiation. God does not repeat His work, He does not do work that is not realistic, He does not make excessive requirements of man, and He does not do work that is beyond the sense of man. All the work He does is within the scope of man’s normal sense, and does not exceed the sense of normal humanity, and His work is according to man’s normal requirements. If it is the work of the Holy Spirit, man becomes ever more normal, and his humanity becomes ever more normal. Man has an increasing knowledge of his disposition, which has been corrupted by Satan, and of the essence of man, and he has an ever greater longing for the truth. That is to say, the life of man grows and grows, and the corrupt disposition of man becomes capable of more and more changes—all of which is the meaning of God becoming the life of man. If a way is incapable of revealing those things that are the essence of man, is incapable of changing the disposition of man, and, moreover, is incapable of bringing him before God or giving him a true understanding of God, and even causes his humanity to become ever more lowly and his sense ever more abnormal, then this way must not be the true way, and it may be the work of an evil spirit, or the old way. In short, it cannot be the present work of the Holy Spirit. You have believed in God for all these years, yet you have no inkling of the principles for differentiating between the true way and the false way or for seeking the true way. Most people aren’t even interested in these matters; they merely go where the majority go, and repeat what the majority say. How is this someone who seeks the true way? And how can such people find the true way? If you grasp these several key principles, then whatever happens you will not be deceived.

from “Only Those Who Know God and His Work Can Satisfy God” in The Word Appears in the Flesh

　Footnotes:

　a. The original text reads “as for.”

　The Man’s Fellowship:

　You need to examine the true way, examine God’s appearance and work. Why do you believe the words of Satan the devil? This is the problem. When you examine the work of God, you need to examine the utterance of God, and see if these words of God are the voice of God, are the truth, and see if it is the work of God. And then see if the Holy Spirit’s work is in The Church of Almighty God. After believing in God for years, what effects have these people reached? Do they have any knowledge about God? Have there been any changes in their life disposition? Have the toxins of Satan been cleansed? You need to examine these things. You don’t examine the words of Almighty God, don’t examine whose words The Church of Almighty God eats and drinks, whose work they are experiencing, and why do you go to the great red dragon and believe Satan the devil’s words? Why do you believe the words of the religious pastors and elders? What kinds of creatures are they? They are wolves disguised in sheep’s clothing; they are hypocritical antichrists; they are wicked servants; they are demons that devour human souls. Why don’t you see through their substance? This is the greatest ignorance of people, isn’t it?

　To examine the true way, one must read the words of Almighty God. After reading the words of Almighty God, then you will know whether Almighty God expresses the truth, whether it is the voice of God. If it is confirmed that it is the truth and the voice of God, then you can be certain it is God’s appearance and work. If you are certain about it, when Satan says more negative words and denying words, can you still believe them? Who do you really believe? Do you believe that the word of God or the word of Satan is the truth? This is the challenge that man faces. If a person really has rationality, how should he choose? The word of God is the truth. Can the great red dragon express the truth? It can only talk nonsense, create rumors, and tell lies. It can only confuse you and keep you away from the true way. Why do you believe in it? When man wants to choose, he should first select the truth. Whoever has the truth, I will accept him. Whoever can express the truth to save me, cleanse me and perfect me, I will accept him. If you cannot express the truth to cleanse me, cannot save me, then everything you say is nonsense. I won’t believe a word of it. It is useless listening to you. Isn’t this what it is about? Some people are accustomed to listening to Satan’s words. What happens when they listen to Satan? When the true God comes, you miss Him. When the true God comes, you do not accept. What is the consequence for not accepting? The consequence of not believing in God is annihilation and death!

from Sermons and Fellowship on Entry Into Life, Volume 142

　Should we say that the information which the Chinese Communist Party spreads is hearsay? Some people, in accordance with such hearsay, say: “The way you preach is not true. Look at the leader. He is hunted by the police. He took the churches money and ran away. Isn’t he just the same as a non-believer? How can this way be true?” On hearing the rumors wouldn’t some people think this way? But such people do not believe in God because of hearing God’s voice. They just analyze the situation with the church, the leader, the man. “If this person is approved of by the government, is famous, perhaps internationally famous, if he makes a name for himself and is not accused of crimes by the government or condemned by the religious community, then we’ll accept him. If such a person is accused by the government and by the religious community, well then, he must be a villain. So, no matter how good the message is I will not listen.” Is this an analysis of the true way? This is the logic of one who is confused. It is Satan’s logic. If you research the true way, then you must seek out whether the words spoken by God incarnate really are the voice of God, whether they are the truth and whether or not they are the work of God. This is what you should be investigating. If these words are truth, if they are the voice of God, and they are God’s work for the last days, then despite what Satan may tell us, we will believe in God; because God is truth, and Satan’s mouth is filled with lies. Is there a government in this world which does not lie and deceive? Is there a government whose words are not all fallacious, are not all lies? Look at God’s words. They are the truth. His words are His work. God is righteous and holy. So, God’s work is absolutely correct. Any person can be wrong, but God can never be wrong. Any person can lie, they can be deceitful to trick others. But God does not lie, God is holy and righteous, God is the truth. Some people do not analyze God’s words, they merely look at how the religious community critique The Church of Almighty God and how they critique the leader of the Church. But does this represent God’s words? If you do not believe a person, that’s fine, but you must believe God. If such a person does not read God’s words and they always listen to what Satan has to say, then is it not Satan whom they trust? Then do they believe that it is Satan’s words which are truth? This person’s belief has problems; they actively believe Satan’s words. There are some who, when looking into the true way, look specifically to adverse information on the internet. They say, “Those words are accurate!” But, really, what are those websites? They are still of this world. Aren’t those words written by corrupt humanity? Are they not part of Satan’s evil power? Do they have truth? They do not have truth. They do not serve God, they certainly do not revere God and they are not groups which are witnessed by God. Why do you believe them? They are a pack of lies. They spread falsehoods. Whichever rumors or lies Satan’s governments create, they spread them. Therefore, are they not organizations which spread lies? Whichever rumors the Chinese Communist Party creates, or whichever ways they try to discredit The Church of Almighty God, they will write them. So, aren’t they tools for Satan to spread its lies? Aren’t they tools for Satan to deceive man? But when researching the true way why do people believe them? Do these people have something wrong with them? Do these people believe that the world is righteous and fair? If the government or religious community makes comments and claims as to which is the true way, which is the true God, then these people believe in this way, in this God. If the government or religious community says something isn’t the true way, or says that some God is not real, then these people will not believe in this way or in this God. Who do these people believe? They believe in the government, they believe in the words of the religious community and the words of religious pastors and elders. So, is this kind of person really one who believes in God? They do not believe in God. They do not trust in God, they do not believe that God is real and they do not admit that God is the truth, for they do not recognize the truth. Therefore, if such a person tries to analyze the true way, on hearing Satan’s lies and rumors, they become paralyzed by them. Is this person an intelligent person? No, they are not. They are confused! There is one principle for my belief in God. If someone is God, if He can express the truth and save humanity, then I believe in Him. My belief for Him is unmoving. And don’t we believe in God in order to receive the truth? To obtain the truth is to obtain God. If you do not obtain the truth then your faith is a failure, it is useless. Only when you obtain the truth can you obtain God. Without obtaining the truth, you cannot obtain God.

　Whatever God does, you are not qualified to condemn Him, correct? Amongst the religious community and the non-believers there are those who say that the Lord Jesus had a wife and children. There are also those who do not believe the conception by the Holy Spirit was real. They do not believe in the testimony of Mary. They do not believe the Lord Jesus’ words and that He came from God. Instead, they believe in the words of the devil and science. What is the result of all this? They joined the tide of people in the religious community who condemned and resisted the Lord Jesus; they even nailed Him to the cross. Then let us say again, we do not care whether or not the Lord Jesus was conceived by the Holy Spirit. If He expressed the truth, then I will follow Him. If He gave testament that He came from God, then I will believe in Him. I will not listen to the words of others for they should be ignored. The words of corrupt humanity are the words of Satan; they are lies. If they are not truth, then they are lies, regardless of whether they are correct. Sometimes reality is a lie, it is not truth and it does not represent truth. If the Lord Jesus really had a wife and children, would you still believe in Him? Some say they would. If He had a wife and children, why do you still believe in Him? Why? Some say, “If Jesus had a wife and children then He is not the Lord, I won’t believe in Him. If He did not have a wife and children, then I believe He is the Lord, is Christ. But if He really had a wife and children then I will not believe in Him.” This is the opinion held by some. But what is your view? Speak it. Some say the Lord Jesus is God and He could redeem humanity of their sins. Is there anything else? Is there only this one sentence to say about Him? The Lord Jesus is God incarnate, He had normal humanity. If He had a wife He is still Christ. If He did not have a wife, then He is still Christ. Whether or not He had a wife or child does not contradict His substance as Christ our Lord. His substance as Christ does not change. So, if you hear someone saying that the lord Jesus had a wife and children, will you still believe in Him? Some will continue to believe and some will not. Then, why do those who do not believe do so? Because they have conceptions about God. They start to question whether the Lord Jesus’ substance as Christ is real or false, because they think that Christ cannot have a wife or child, for if He had a wife or child then His substance as Christ would change, or become false. Can you see how such a person makes assertions about the substance of Christ? Then tell me what has Christ’s substance got to do with Him having a wife and children? It has nothing to do with it. So, on hearing rumors or negative information saying this and that, one who truly knows the Lord Jesus will not be influenced by it. Their faith in Him will be unmoving. They will obey Him and follow Him. Those who do not understand the substance of the Lord Jesus will develop their own conceptions about Him. It will be easy for them to back away or even betray Him.
　............
　Now, see how hard it is for people to believe in God. The rumors, the slander, this is what people believe when they hear it. God has spoken so many words, expressed so much truth, but they don’t believe a word of it. But Satan’s rumors, these are what they can accept and what they believe in their hearts. And these rumors stay with them for many years. So, what is the problem? A preference for believing in Satan’s rumors over God’s expression of the truth, is this not the essence of corrupt humanity? An essence of hatred for the truth? It goes without saying that these rumors are false. If they were true, would anyone still believe in God? If we say such things are true, if I tell you they are true, then to keep believing in God would not be so simple. If all these things were true and you still believed in God, what kind of faith would that be? If all those rumors were true, some people would still believe. When other people heard rumors which were clearly false they wondered whether they were true, but such a person said, “Regardless if they are true, I still believe.” What kind of faith would this be? Is this not true faith? This is true faith, is it not? This kind of faith represents a person is truly obedient and truly follows God. “I don’t care what God does. If, before my very eyes, He does something which does not adhere to my conceptions, then I will forget my conceptions, for He is God. These things which God does that do not adhere to my conceptions are still truth, they still have meaning.” Isn’t this level of acceptance impressive? To achieve this level of acceptance what kind of faith must you have? “If all the rumors are true, I will still believe in Him. Do not speak of those things. If God were to do something that is most incompatible with man’s conceptions, I would still believe He is God.” To speak of why you should still believe, you say, “Because God is the truth and because corrupt humanity cannot fathom anything. Whatever God does, I will not question it. I do not trust my own feelings, my own conceptions. I simply admit that He is God, whatever He does, He is God.” Isn’t this true faith? One who has truly achieved this type of faith, I dare say, is one who is nearly perfected. They have already received truth. They know God. They do not believe in their own personal conceptions and feelings about Him.

　Tell me, what fruit will be borne by those who pursue the truth? Some say it is to understand God and to have no conceptions about Him. Then, how does one show that they understand God? To have no conceptions about God, no matter what He does. If God said, “I will kill someone in front of you,” they would have no conceptions about this; if God said, “I will have a relationship with someone before your very eyes,” they would have no conceptions; if God said, “I will get married and have a child,” they would have no conceptions; if He said, “I will curse in front of you, I will curse Satan,” they would have no conceptions. If God then asked, “Do you still believe?” they would answer, “I believe! You are God, God is, forever, God.” This level of belief is good. They adhere to God’s will and do not resist Him in the slightest; they will not resist Him again, they have grasped who He is. Can this type of person still have conceptions about God? They cannot. If a new member of the faith produces some negative material saying, “Look, is what this says correct?” Such a person will respond, “Oh, this material is great. If all this information were correct, were the truth, I would still believe in God! God is to be adored, He is the One to be trusted, He is the true God. If it wasn’t for this information, I would question whether or not He is God. If corrupt humanity, with all its evil, was not resisting God and condemning Him, something would be wrong, it wouldn’t be right! When the Lord Jesus came into this world via the conception by the Holy Spirit, many people stood up to condemn Him. The entire Jewish faith stood up and condemned the Lord Jesus, they sullied His name. Now, in the last days, when corrupt humanity’s evil has reached its peak, if no one condemned God’s appearance, if no one spread negativity about Him, this would not be normal! So, when God of the last days appears, rumors, lies and falsehoods must surely abound. Amongst the endless flood of lies, I found God’s voice and I seized it with all my might. I believe in Him and I follow Him. I recognize Him, and recognize that He is my Savior.” Who is ready to believe in this way? Some are ready. They do not have conceptions about God. They say, “Whether You married or not, You are still God. Whether You had a wife or not, had children or didn’t, You are still Christ. However many disasters You rain down, You are still God. If You destroy the world, I would praise You, for this would allow me to see Your righteousness.” If God arrives and corrupt humanity did not condemn Him, if there were no rumors about Him, then it would be strange, would it not? … So, if those who study the true way are not principled and do not have truth, then they will always read the negative propaganda. They will not see how God’s work saves man, and they will not see God’s expression of the truth. They will merely research whether or not the lies of man, the falsehoods and the rumors are true. Were such lies true, then what of it? If they are untrue, then what of it? Is this how one should search for the true way? Is this the road toward the study of the true way? What use is it to always look for meaning in people’s lies? Will the truth fall from the mouths of people? Will living water flow from them? Isn’t all that spurts forth from people’s mouths lies? But what are lies? The falsehood which people speak, the dishonesty, the deception, these are all lies. So why do you believe the lies which people speak? Why don’t you believe the truth God has expressed? You are biased and unjust, are you not? If you could see that such are the words expressed by God incarnate, that it is the work of God in the last days, the truth, then why would you still believe the lies of corrupt man? As for corrupt humanity, from the governments to local organizations, to the thinkers, philosophers and politicians, do any of them have even a modicum of truth? Aren’t they all just part of corrupt humanity? All that they say is merely the words of man. In more straight terms what they say is all lies, not a word of it adheres to the truth. Man’s words do not hold even a modicum of the reality of truth, so are they not then lies? They are all lies. Aside from everyday conversations, that which involves politics or criticism, especially that which is critical of God’s work and His Church, is all lies! Corrupt humanity criticizing the work of God? Are they qualified to do so? They are demons, what qualifies them to criticize the work of God?! They are inviting death. They will cry only when death is staring them in the face.
from Sermons and Fellowship on Entry Into Life, Volume 138

　So the best way to fight back against Satan’s tricks is to understand the truth and to know God. Other moves besides this can only provide temporary comfort. Even if you get through and do not fall down, it does not count as standing firm to bear witness. You have to understand the truth and know God. In addition, you also have to have a God-fearing heart. We will not judge that which we cannot understand. Look and see where these words come from. Nothing good comes from Satan’s mouth. What is Satan’s mouth? It is the door to the nether worlds and the door to hell. Any evil ugly things can come out of it. Do not accept or believe anything that comes from Satan’s mouth. It is all false, deceitful, lies and deception. There are no true words, no truth and no facts in Satan’s mouth. It is all false. Remember this; it cannot be wrong. Satan will distort the truth and even if there is such a thing, after Satan distorts it, its flavor will change. Take a positive thing as an example. With God it is positive and something that God commends, but once it reaches Satan’s mouth, it will normally change into a negative and ugly thing as soon as it is processed. There are many positive things which are guaranteed to become negative, ugly things as soon as they are taken to Satan. Satan knows how to process; it can make black look white and white look black and twist the truth. This is how Satan’s things can deceive people. All that comes from God and is uttered by God are positive things. But through Satan’s processing and poisoning, they become negative things. When people hear them again they will find them different. This is a fact. So Satan’s things can confuse people so much. Satan processes and disseminates those negative things and they become positive things again. Tell me, is the twenty-five thousand li long march a positive thing or a negative thing? That is a negative thing. It is that group of reactionary forces being hunted by the National Revolutionary Army so much so that they were all in a fluster and had thrown away their helmets and coats of mail, so that they had no choice but to go on the twenty-five thousand li long march. As a result, as soon as they disseminated this, it became a positive thing. Afterward there were many angry young students who stood up, holding banners to continue the long march. Isn’t this fooling around? So the history of the great red dragon is all negative. It is all the reactionary things that oppose the people and just causes; through their processing, they all become revolutionary matters. So everything that they disseminate is fabrications, lies, distortions and deception. Those matters have been distorted and poisoned by the Communist Party. No one can tell the truth from the false. Tell me, can the great red dragon distort facts? All their history is a mess and full of lies and deceit. There is not one thing which is true. There is not one thing which has not been processed. Tell me, can they spit out true words from their mouths? What are the mouths of the great red dragon and the religious world? They are the doorways to hell and the nether worlds. All kinds of lies come from them. It is all a distortion of the truth. As soon as any positive, beautiful things reach them, they turn them into negative, dirty things. These people really are crooked. Positive things will later become glorious legends, but when they are taken to them, they are turned into negative things. These things are so crooked. They are obviously positive things but when they reach them, they are turned into negative things. Obviously much of what they do is negative, and via their dissemination, it is disguised as something positive. These are Satan’s means. If people cannot see through them they will be duped by Satan and will have to be entrapped and ruined by Satan. Do you now believe in God or in Satan? To believe in God is right. All that comes from God is classed as positive and that which comes from Satan is negative. When Satan speaks of positive it is all negative and when they speak of negative it is all positive. Do you understand? The more they resist and condemn something, the more we must support and praise it. The more they praise and support something, the more we must oppose and condemn it. This is right. To specifically go against them ensures that it will be correct and not wrong. With regard to believing in God, the more they define something as a cult ensures that it is an orthodox belief. What they define as an orthodox church is guaranteed to be a cult. This is the proper way to view it. You must have this knowledge of Satan. This will not be wrong.

from “Only People Who Stand Witness Have the Reality of the Truth” in Sermons and Fellowship on Entry Into Life (IX)

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What Is Truly Accepting Truth?

By Xiaohe, Henan Province

In the past, every time I read the words revealed by God about how people do not accept truth, I didn’t believe those words applied to me. I enjoyed reading the word of God and communicating God’s word, and I was able to accept and acknowledge everything God has said as truth—regardless of how much it pricked my heart or didn’t conform with my notions. Moreover, regardless of how many imperfections my brothers and sisters would point out, I could acknowledge it and accept it. I didn’t seek to justify myself, so I thought that I was a person who surely accepted truth. In my opinion, only people who were especially arrogant and conceited, and who had notions about the word of God and wouldn’t acknowledge that God’s word is truth were the ones who wouldn’t accept truth. It wasn’t until one day when I was listening to a sermon that I understood what it meant to truly accept truth.

It says: “It is not enough to merely acknowledge that God’s word is truth, you must accept it in your heart and allow truth to have place in your heart and wield power. It must take root in your heart and become your life. This is the true expression of accepting truth. … What does it mean to accept it in your heart? Your heart acknowledges that this sentence is truth and has a true recognition of the substance of truth. Then you must completely accept this truth and allow it to have place in your heart and take root. Afterward, you must live by this truth and see things according to this truth. This is accepting truth. … Eating and drinking the word of God and acknowledging that God’s word is truth does not mean that a person has accepted truth. Rather, it is thoroughly recognizing the substance of truth in God’s word and accepting it in your heart. It is completely denying your notions of God and former misconceptions you have held on to in order to accept God’s word as truth and live according to God’s word. This is truly accepting truth” (“How to Know Christ Is the Truth, the Way, and the Life” in Sermons and Fellowship on Entry Into Life II). When I heard this, my heart was instantly shocked. So, that was not what I thought about accepting truth. I carefully listened to it one more time, and through pondering and seeking, I finally understood what it meant to accept truth. Being able to verbally acknowledge that God’s word is truth or being able to accept imperfections mentioned by other people was not truly accepting truth as I had thought. Truly accepting truth means not only acknowledging that God’s word is truth, it is also recognizing the substance of truth and completely accepting it into your heart. It is completely denying your former notions, misconceptions, and satanic poisons. It is allowing truth to take root in your heart and being able to live by truth. This is truly accepting truth.

After understanding all this, I began to reflect on myself: I believe I am a person who accepts truth, but have I accepted God’s word in my heart? Does truth wield power in my heart? Have I denied the past notions and misconceptions that have existed in my heart? After carefully examining myself, I realized that I had not done any of this. For example: God has revealed that there is no true love among mankind, and they all take advantage of each other. Even though I verbally acknowledged the truth that God has spoken, I always felt in my heart that my wife and parents and I all had true love for each other. My lips acknowledged the truth that God does not perfect mankind based on their status, but rather according to whether or not they have truth; but my heart still held on to my personal viewpoints that in the church the higher my status was the more God would perfect me, the higher my status was the more brothers and sisters would look up to me. I thought God would also take delight in me. Therefore, I always worried about my status, and I always felt uneasy about it. I acknowledged with my mouth that God said hardships and refinements, and dealing and pruning are the love of God, are most beneficial for man’s life. But when God used people, matters, and things that were not in line with my notions to refine me and deal with me, I was not willing to accept it, even to the point that I would complain against God. I knew that God’s requirement for us to be honest people is very important for our salvation, but I didn’t emphasize putting it into practice or entering into it. I would frequently lie and deceive for my own dignity. After which, I wasn’t willing to open up to others. When encountering trouble that would require physical hardship while performing my duties, I would start to work perfunctorily and couldn’t devote myself to my duties. With my words, I accepted God’s requirement to seek His will in all things and to act according to His desires, but in real life when I faced matters, I did things as I preferred and according to my own will. I completely put God at the back of my mind. Also, when other people pointed out my imperfections, saying I was too arrogant and that I would do things my own way, my heart wouldn’t accept their criticisms. But I was afraid that others would say that I didn’t accept truth, so I would nod and acknowledge it against my will. But in reality, I did not take their criticisms into consideration. There were many things about me that showed that I had not accepted truth. But when I saw that God’s word reveals that all people do not accept truth, I did not accept God’s word as truth, and did not try to understand the substance of God’s word and examine myself. Instead, I imagined that I was an exception to God’s word and considered myself to be someone who had accepted truth. Was this not the most obvious expression of not accepting truth? At that time, I saw that I was someone who did not accept truth in any way. My so-called displays of accepting truth were completely external actions, and they were a false disguise that did not even scratch the surface of accepting truth, but I lacked self-awareness. I truly did not know myself! After becoming aware of this, I couldn’t help but feel afraid. I knew that I had believed in God all these years yet had lived outside of His words. I had truly not accepted God’s judgment and chastisement. I was simply an unbeliever, without God in my heart and without truth in life. If I continued to believe like this, God’s word would never be able to become my life. I would never be able to break away from Satan’s influence and be saved and made perfect. On the contrary, I would be condemned by God, and would fall into God’s punishment.

Praise God for guiding me and allowing me to understand what it means to truly accept truth; for allowing me to see that my past knowledge and practices were too absurd and were not in line with God’s will. I make up my mind to start anew and concentrate my efforts on accepting the substance of truth into my heart in all that God has said and implementing it into my practice. I want to be able to live by God’s word, to become a person who truly accepts truth.

Recommendation：Many good sheep in the church would prefer to suffer unbridled arrest and persecution by the Chinese Communist Party just to seek and investigate Eastern Lightning.

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The Real Meaning of Rebellion Against God

By Zhang Jun, Liaoning Province

   In the past, I believed that “rebellion against God” meant selling God out, leaving the church and returning to the world, or walking away from one’s duty; I thought these behaviors constituted rebellion, and that those who rebelled against God were all sifted out by God, and their faith in God would ultimately end in failure. So I would remind myself that I must absolutely not rebel against God as they did. Therefore, I was cautious in all my endeavors and submissively accepted all the tasks the church arranged for me to do. I neither gave up my duty when I was dealt with and pruned because I didn’t perform my duty properly, nor did I withdraw from the church when trials befell, regardless of the hardship. Thus, I believed that I had never once rebelled against God, and I felt that I had already acquired some stature and was confident that I would follow God until the end and ultimately achieve salvation.

One day during my spiritual devotions, I read this in a sermon: “There are several different types of rebellion against God. One type of rebellion is going against His will or going against His words; another type is having an arrogant disposition, lacking God in one’s heart, and thus boasting and being hostile to God—this is the rebellion of being disobedient and defiant to God; there is one more type, which is the rebellion of selling God out and forsaking God. … The rebellious behaviors that we frequently speak of in fellowship refer primarily to the first two types. This is because those who sell God out and forsake God are not within the scope of God’s salvation, and the rebellious behaviors mentioned in the words of God are also of the first two types; the third type of rebellion is not mentioned. We must not misunderstand or misinterpret God’s intentions, believing that only selling God out or forsaking Him can be called rebelling against God, as if going against His word or having an arrogant disposition weren’t a type of rebellion. This is such a one-sided understanding! So what really is rebellion? How should people recognize it? According to the word of God, all things that are incompatible with God are His enemies, and all things that go against God’s words are rebelling against His words. Rebelling against God’s words is rebelling against God, and acting as His enemy is also rebelling against Him. It seems that these two principles are not in line with human notions, but this is precisely the essence of the problem” (The Fellowship From the Above). After reading this sermon, I realized that rebelling against God was not simply expressions of selling Him out, leaving the church, or walking away from one’s duty. Rather, behaviors that went against God’s will or His word, or that opposed Him were also forms of rebellion. Under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, I began to reflect on my actions: God’s will is for us to pursue the truth and seek dispositional change as we fulfill our duties. I, however, focus only on work and on seeking to gain high status within the church when fulfilling my duty, so that my brothers and sisters would look to me and hold me in high esteem. God requires us to perform our duties loyally, to be considerate to His will when facing difficulties, and to forsake the flesh and practice the truth. However, I always seek the way that requires the least effort in fulfilling my duty, and I am slipshod and I try to deceive God. I only care for my flesh in times of hardship, complaining of my difficulties and slacking off in my duty, so much so that I even think of giving up entirely as a means of escaping my duty. God demands absolute loyalty and complete devotion. In the presence of God, however, my thoughts are often occupied by my family and relatives, and I am often in two minds about my belief in God and about performing my duty, and I am unable to give my heart to God. God asks that we learn lessons in all things and enter into the reality of His word so that we can be made perfect by Him. When I encounter unfavorable people or matters, however, I don’t believe that all things are orchestrated by God and I find myself living constantly in a state of deliberation about rights and wrongs, and am unable to submit to God’s orchestrations and arrangements. God asks that we enter into the reality of truth and accept God’s salvation in various environments and trials of hardship that He arranges for us. When I encounter dealing, pruning, setback, or failure, I misunderstand and blame God. I feel despair about the road ahead, and I lose my faith in God, to the point where I even consider leaving the church. God asks that we be serious, practical, and effective in our spiritual lives. I, however, often follow rules and procedures, and engage in religious rituals, which has resulted in me often being without a normal relationship with God and feeling numb within my spirit. God asks that we exalt and testify to Him in our work and lead people before Him. However, I exalt and testify to myself in all things, make others look to me and listen to me, thus bringing them before me. God asks that we use the truth to resolve our problems. Yet I boast and speak of letters and doctrines before other people, I limit others with rules, I solve problems according to the ways of man, and I suppress others with my status. God asks that we work strictly in accordance with the work arrangements. I, however, often follow my own desires as I perform my duty, doing things the way I deem fit without any principles. And so on. Aren’t all of these behaviors states of rebellion against God in which I’ve gone against God’s will and His word, and been in opposition to God?

At that moment, I couldn’t help but feel a sense of dread. It turns out that I had unknowingly been rebelling against God in all my actions while mistakenly believing that, as long as I didn’t sell out the church, or leave the church, or abandon my duty, then I was not rebelling against God. What’s more, I had shamelessly thought that my stature exempted me from being capable of rebelling against God. I really had no knowledge of myself, and my understanding of God’s word was so one-sided and shallow! The words of God say, “God has revealed the nature and substance of man, but man understands that their way of doing things and way of speaking is flawed and defective; therefore it is a strenuous task for people to put truth into practice. People think that their mistakes are merely momentary manifestations, which are revealed carelessly, rather than being revelations of their nature” (“Understanding Nature and Putting Truth Into Practice” in Records of Christ’s Talks). “Man’s nature is their life, it is a principle that they rely on in order to survive, and they are unable to change it. Just like the nature of betrayal—if you can do something to betray a relative or friend, this proves that it is part of your life and the nature that you were born with. This is something nobody can deny” (“A Very Serious Problem: Betrayal (1)” in The Word Appears in the Flesh). Yes, am I not precisely the type of person who makes a fuss over outward practices, who only settles for not being overly rebellious or defiant in my belief in God and in my duty, who settles for not behaving in obviously sinful ways, but who does not know my own nature? The behavior of corrupt mankind is dominated by their nature, and so our disposition is an expression of our nature. Since man’s nature is rebellious, then we will inevitably rebel against God; this is not something we can control through being cautious. Yet, I was not concerned with knowing my own nature according to what is revealed in God’s words. Instead, I was satisfied merely with keeping to some outward practices and following some rules, which resulted in me not having put any effort into pursuing the truth through all my years of following God, and not having had my life disposition changed at all. Instead, I have constantly lived by my rebellious nature, and if I continue to do so, given a conducive environment, or when I encounter persecution and tribulation or a situation that endangers my own life, I will inevitably be dominated by my nature, and will sell the church out or leave the church. And wouldn’t I then have completely lost my chance to attain salvation? This is a dangerous path indeed!

Thank God for His enlightenment that has remedied my erroneous understanding concerning rebellion against God. His enlightenment has enabled me to understand that forsaking and violating His word are forms of rebellion, and it has shown me that I am always at risk of rebelling against God, and even more so am always in danger of betraying God and abandoning Him. From this day forth, I wish to put effort into God’s word and contemplate more the reality of His word, so as to truly understand the essence of the truth and to enter and practice in strict accordance with the criteria of the truth. I am resolved to uphold God’s utterances in all circumstances and to truly resolve the problem of my rebellion.

Recommendation：if the Eastern Lightning is the true way, why has the CCP government consistently engaged in frantic oppression, arrests, and persecution against the Eastern Lightning?

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Christian Music Video | Feel the Love of God | "When You Open Your Heart to God"

When You Open Your Heart to God

When you do not understand God and do not know His nature

your hearts can never truly open, open up to God.

Once you understand your God,

you will understand what's in His heart,

and savor what lies in Him

with all your faith and heed.

When you savor what is in God's heart, bit by bit,

day by day,

when you savor what is in God's heart,

your heart will open up to Him.

When your heart is truly open,

when your heart is truly open,

you will see the contempt,

you will see the shame of your extravagant and selfish requests.

When your heart is truly open,

when your heart is truly open,

you will see an infinite world in God's heart,

and be in a realm of wonder untold.

In this realm there is no cheating,

no deception, no darkness, and no evil.

There is only sincerity and faithfulness;

only righteousness and kindness.

He is love, He is caring,

infinite compassion.

In your life, joy is felt,

when you open your heart to God.

His wisdom and power fill the infinite world,

so do His authority and love.

You can see what God has and is,

what brings Him joy,

what brings Him woes, what brings Him sadness and anger,

is there for all to see,

when you open your heart up to God

and invite Him in.

from The Word Appears in the Flesh

Recommendation：Why are good sheep in the church able to investigate Eastern Lightning? Are those people who are unable to seek and investigate God's work in the last days able to enter the kingdom of heaven after all?

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Gospel Music Video | Long for the Love of God Forever | "My Beloved, Please Wait for Me" (Korean)

Oh Lord, the church has become desolate.

Oh Lord, where are You?

Christian Music Video | Long for the Love of God Forever | "My Beloved, Please Wait for Me"

I

The moon creeps up the treetops,

its light is beautiful, like my beloved.

My beloved, where are You?

Have You heard me weep?

Who else gives me love but You?

Who cares for me but You?

Who takes care of me but You?

Who cherishes my life but You?

Moon, soon return to the far side of heaven.

Don’t make my beloved worry. Please convey my thoughts.

Don’t forget to take my love with you.

II

Wild geese fly into the distance, two by two—

can they bring back news of my beloved?

Wild geese, lend me your wings,

that I may fly back to my warm home.

I’ll return the care my beloved has shown me,

and tell my beloved not to worry any longer.

I want to give You a favorable answer, and not spoil the price You have paid.

I want to grow up quickly

and cast off this drifting life of pain.

Oh my beloved, please wait for me.

I’ll fly away from the earthly prosperity.

I’ll return the care my beloved has shown me,

and tell my beloved not to worry any longer.

I want to give You a favorable answer, and not spoil the price You have paid,

and not spoil the price You have paid.

from Follow the Lamb and Sing New Songs

Recommendation：Eastern Lightning—the appearance and work of God in the last days has rocked all sects and denominations, and all kinds of men have been revealed.

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English Christian Video "Community 'Scouts'" (2018 Short Sketch)

The Chinese Communist Party, to eradicate religious faith, uses neighborhood and village committees and various random people to closely monitor Christians and institutes a "reward for reporting" system in an attempt to round up every Christian. The skit Community "Scouts" examines how the Christian Lin Min, because of a reputation for believing in God, is secretly monitored by neighborhood committee personnel. One day, two sisters go to her home, and after the neighborhood committee director investigates through multiple channels, she immediately calls the CCP police. In the face of such adverse circumstances, how does Lin Min rely on God and cope? In the end, can she and her two sisters escape the CCP police?

Recommendation：if the Eastern Lightning is the true way, why has the CCP government consistently engaged in frantic oppression, arrests, and persecution against the Eastern Lightning?

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Western Scholars Gather in Seoul for The Church of Almighty God’s Premiering Photo Exhibit

October 24, 2018, The Church of Almighty God held its first photo exhibition in Seoul, South Korea with the theme of “The birth and development of The Church of Almighty God,” drawing eleven experts and scholars from seven countries including the USA, Canada, England, France, and Italy to attend and explore the exhibit. Massimo Introvigne, who is an Italian sociologist and the founder and managing director of the Center for Studies on New Religions (CESNUR), France’s Bernadette Rigal-Cellard, professor of North American Studies at the University of Bordeaux Montaigne, Canadian sociologist and author Susan Jean Palmer, and others raised questions on Almighty God’s work of the last days, and several Christians who accepted Almighty God’s work of the last days in its early period provided detailed answers to each one of them. They also shared their feelings and understandings from undergoing Almighty God’s work and words with the guests.

The photo exhibition displayed the course of development over the several stages of The Church of Almighty God’s birth and development, including the background of Almighty God’s appearance and work, Almighty God uttering words and providing sustenance in house churches, Almighty God officially beginning the work of judgment beginning at the house of God, and the expansion of the gospel of the kingdom. Image after image vividly portrayed true-to-life scenes of the course of the Church’s development.

Experts and scholars from countries including the USA, Canada, England, France, and Italy listening to a Christian of The Church of Almighty God describing the history of the Church’s development

Background of the Appearance and Work of Almighty God—The Son of man Incarnate

In the early 1980s, just as China’s reform and opening-up was beginning, there was a corresponding revival in religious beliefs. House churches, brutally persecuted by the Chinese Communist government, experienced rapid development and Christians sprung up all over China like wildflowers. When the development of house churches reached its peaks, just according to official figures, members of local churches (the Shouters denomination) had reached 200,000 by 1983, leading to great panic within the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). The government carried out multiple nationwide campaigns to suppress house churches in 1983 and 1987, but these Christians, true believers in the Lord, were not scared off by the CCP’s mad suppression and arrests. Some Christians in local churches (Shouters) continued to hold gatherings and read the Bible, weeping and praying to the Lord, imploring Him to return so they could be taken up to the kingdom of heaven. It was within these kinds of local churches that the Son of man incarnate began to utter words and work in secret.

Almighty God Speaks and Commences the Work of Judgment Beginning With the House of God in the Age of Kingdom

On February 11, 1991, when the Son of man incarnate began uttering words, some saw that these words were really new and moving, and that they weren’t just average words, so they shared them with their upper-level leader. This leader saw that those words really were the voice of the Holy Spirit, and so rushed to get them printed and sent to all the churches so that God’s chosen people could read them and have fellowship. Almighty God later uttered more and more words, thus Christians of The Church of Almighty God began frequently reading His practical words.

In February 1992, there was a new starting point in Almighty God’s utterances. God began to speak to the whole universe using the identity and status of the Creator; this was God formally commencing the work of judgment beginning with the house of God in the Age of Kingdom. Then the Son of man incarnate, Almighty God, went from church to church, meeting and speaking with people, expressing truths to water and sustain people any place, any time in accordance with their states and deficiencies. He directed people toward the path of practice to enter into life, such as what perspectives people of faith should have, how to establish a proper relationship with God, how to experience and obey God’s work, how to serve in accordance with God’s will, and more. His words also revealed many truths and mysteries, such as the mysteries of God’s six-thousand-year management plan; the inside story and the aims of God’s three stages of work in the Age of Law, Age of Grace, and the Age of Kingdom; the mysteries of incarnation; the difference between being saved and attaining full salvation; the mysteries of the Age of Millennial Kingdom; the outcome and final destination of every type of person. He also revealed the true essence of mankind’s deep corruption by Satan and all sorts of satanic natures, the motivations and adulteration behind people’s faith in God and their absurd methods of practice. Almighty God has bestowed the corrupt mankind all the truth that they must understand in order to attain salvation and perfection, entirely fulfilling the prophecy in the Bible: “I have yet many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. However, when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth” (John 16:12–13).

A reproduction of a real scene of God’s chosen people hand copying and binding volume after volume of Almighty God’s words strongly drew the audience’s interest

The Expansion of Almighty God’s Gospel of the Kingdom

In 1995, Almighty God’s gospel of the kingdom began to expand to various Christian denominations in mainland China. From 1997 to 1999, the gospel of the kingdom expanded rapidly throughout many provinces including Henan, Shandong, Anhui, and those in Northeastern China. Many believers within the Justification by Faith Church, Praise Church, Seventh-day Adventist Church and other Churches who longed for God’s appearance heard His voice in Almighty God’s words and turned toward Him, thus driving the expansion of the gospel to a peak. In 2002, the gospel of the kingdom officially spread to the south of China as well as its border and ethnic minority areas; by 2005 it had reached every corner of the Chinese mainland. By 2012 it had become a household name, known by everyone.

Since its establishment, The Church of Almighty God has been subjected to nonstop brutal suppression and persecution by the Chinese Communist Party, which has issued multiple confidential and top-secret documents to deploy armed police units, initiating round after round of special arrest operations targeting The Church of Almighty God. However, Almighty God’s words possess authority and power, and as soon as those who love the truth hear them, they recognize the voice of God and accept Almighty God’s work of the last days. Over just a little more than a dozen years, Almighty God’s words had conquered millions of people and they turned toward His throne, and the gospel of the kingdom had spread to every corner of mainland China. Today, it is spreading throughout the Western world, entirely fulfilling this prophecy in the Bible: “And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of Jehovah’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” (Isaiah 2:2).

Western Scholars Praise The Church of Almighty God’s Photo Exhibit

Professor Bernadette Rigal-Cellard said with feeling: “I had not realized last year the link you [The Church of Almighty God] had with Watchman Nee and Witness Lee, so here it’s very clearly presented, so that I can see the origins of your Church. … Also it’s very important for us to see the people how they worshiped in the beginning, how they met, but also afterward the persecution started. … But at the same time it shows you have the truth.”

Professor Massimo Introvigne also said: “I believe the exhibition is very useful particularly because scholars were allowed to visit the exhibition with brothers and sisters who were there since 1991, because some details were already known, but some other details are new. So the exhibition is very useful to gain a better knowledge of the origins of The Church of Almighty God, particularly of the crucial years, 1991 and 1992, which are extremely important for understanding how The Church of Almighty God came into being. … The rest of the exhibition, what happens particularly after 1995, is largely the history of phenomenal growth and persecution. … I believe that’s a very worthy work.”

Professor Holly Folk expressed, “This is a really, really wonderful exhibition.” She also said: “I’m a scholar of religion, and I do comparative work and so what is important for me is understanding the consistency of The Church of Almighty God with a broader Christian tradition, and so I am sometimes cautious and saying The Church of Almighty God is Christian because I’m aware this being a new age, and I’m aware of the fact that some people are not necessarily comfortable carrying over terminology from the Age of Grace, but as a historian and as somebody who does comparative religion work, I see The Church of Almighty God is very embedded within Christianity. It is definitely part of Christianity. … To say that The Church of Almighty God is the true Christianity, that’s a professional statement. … My job is to try to understand religions and communicate them, but I will say very, very firmly that I see The Church of Almighty God as a Christian tradition.”

Western experts and scholars speaking with a Christian of The Church of Almighty God at the photo exhibit

The photo exhibition covered a number of topics, but it was far from being able to display the entire progression of The Church of Almighty God’s birth and development. It is necessary to carefully read the words expressed by Almighty God, Christ of the last days, in order to truly understand the Church. Almighty God has now uttered millions of words, most of which are included in the book The Word Appears in the Flesh, which has been translated into more than 20 languages and published online so that people all over the world may seek and look into them. Almighty God has now made a group of overcomers in mainland China and His work in the last days of secretly coming to the earth and working is on the verge of concluding. God is going to return to Zion. After the disaster prophesied in the Book of Revelation befalls, God will appear to all peoples with ten thousand of saints, which will fulfill the prophecy of the Lord Jesus coming on a cloud: “Behold, the Lord comes with ten thousands of his saints” (Jude 1:14). “And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory” (Luke 21:27). “Behold, he comes with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him” (Revelation 1:7). At that time, all who have refused to accept God’s hidden work, who still resist and oppose Almighty God, Christ of the last days, will only be able to weep and gnash their teeth amidst disasters. They will lose their chance at God’s salvation for eternity. But those who hear God’s voice, accept Almighty God’s work of judgment in the last days, and gain purification will be led into God’s kingdom, receiving God’s promise and blessings.

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