"The City Will Be Overthrown" (2) - Why Has Woe Befallen the Hypocritical Pharisees?

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2,000 years ago,
the Jewish chief priests, scribes, and Pharisees
nailed the Lord Jesus to the cross.
2,000 years later,
the religious leaders have caused history to repeat itself
by nailing God to the cross again!
Why were the Pharisees cursed by the Lord Jesus?
In what ways did they resist the Lord?
How did they display their blatant hypocrisy?
Why did they incur the wrath of God?
Sister Ma,
I heard Cheng Huize has invited some of the Eastern Lightning people.
Yeah.
They're in that abandoned church in the east of the city.
I'm afraid the Eastern Lightning has stolen more of our good sheep. (Yeah!)
Elder Gu wants us to check it out. We should go now. (Right.)
I just heard this too.
Pastor Huang told me that we can't call the police like before,
every time we saw the Eastern Lightning's people. (Right.)
Once we're there, let's listen to them first, then debate with them. (Yeah.)
If that doesn't work, we'll report them!
Good. It's a plan.
Thank the Lord.
Listening to Brother Liu and Brother Qin these past few days,
we know Almighty God's work is God's work in the last days,
the work of judgment starting from the house of God.
Yes. That's right.
Almighty God expresses all truths that judge and cleanse humanity.
It reveals God's righteous disposition and authority and fully convinces us.
We're already certain Almighty God is the return of the Lord Jesus.
Amen!
Yes, thank the Lord. Very true.
In past years,
we weren't able to search for or study Almighty God's work in the last days,
because we've been deceived and controlled by the pastors and elders.
Religious leaders are on the CCP's side.
They just spread lies and rumors.
They resist, condemn, and blaspheme Almighty God. (That's right.)
They've deceived and controlled the religious community.
Yes. That's right.
They are even worse than the Pharisees, scribes, and chief priests
who resisted the Lord Jesus
and deceived and controlled believers
who sought to accept the true way back then.
We must be able to see and discern
the root of religious leaders' resistance of God.
That's the only way we'll break free of their controlling,
accept God's work in the last days,
be raptured before His throne,
and be cleansed and made perfect. (Amen!)
How did they get in here?
Sister Cheng, what's going on? (Be calm.)
It's Sister Ma.
Here, have a seat please.
Sister Ma, Brother Zhang, Brother Wang, please.
This is like a black cat crossing our path. A bad omen.
It seems threatening.
Everyone, we've seen the four blood moons appear.
The great disaster is about to fall.
Yes.
If we only accept God's work of the last days
when we see the Lord descend on a cloud after disaster,
aren't we like doubting Thomas who has to see to believe? (Yes.)
Can we obtain the Lord's praise?
Definitely not. No.
Many still can't discern the Pharisees, elders,
and pastors in the religious world.
This is dangerous.
The religious world is so harmful.
They'll be left in the disaster and punished.
Yeah. Yes.
So then, we invited Brother Liu, Brother Qin
to tell us of God's work in the last days.
Okay. Sounds good.
Let's see how the satanic CCP regime
and the religious antichrist forces resist God's work.
If you have any questions, feel free to ask.
Amen.
This is great.
Yes, this is a great opportunity.
Thank the Lord. I have a question.
We all know it's important to discern the religious Pharisees' essence.
Yes. That's right.
It affects whether or not we can meet the Lord when He returns
and be raptured before His throne.
Yes. That's right.
However, most brothers and sisters don't understand.
Before the Lord Jesus came,
the Pharisees interpreted the Bible to others.
They often prayed before others and condemned people with Bible rules.
They looked reverent like they wouldn't ever betray the Bible.
But then why were the Pharisees cursed by the Lord Jesus?
Ah, that's a good question. I wonder why.
What's the reason?
In what ways did they resist the Lord?
How did they display their blatant hypocrisy?
Why did they incur the wrath of God? (Yeah.)
My brothers, please tell us the reason.
Okay.
Yes. This is something we should surely know.
If we understand these issues,
we can discern modern-day religious pastors and elders.
Isn't this the goal?
Yes, we need to know badly. Let's listen.
Yes, let's listen!
Thank God. This problem is really an important one.
Believers know that the Lord Jesus hated the Pharisees,
and that He cursed them and pronounced seven woes on them.
This is meaningful.
It allows believers to discern them,
to break away from their control, and to obtain God's salvation.
But it's a shame.
Most believers can't see the essence of the Pharisees' hypocrisy.
They don't even understand why the Lord Jesus hated the Pharisees so much.
Today, we can discuss this and learn about these problems.
That sounds great.
The Pharisees often interpreted the Bible to others.
They prayed before others, used the Bible rules to condemn people.
To outsiders, they seemed like reverent keepers of the Bible.
Then why did the Lord hate and curse them so?
Yes, why?
In reality,
the reason is that in essence, they were hypocrites and resisted God.
They only cared about religious ceremonies and rules.
They interpreted the Bible doctrines
and did not commune God's will.
They didn't practice God's words or God's commandments.
They just ignored the commandments.
Everything they did was in opposition to God's will and demands.
That's the essence of their hypocrisy.
That's the reason why the Lord Jesus hated and cursed them.
Yes. Yeah.
They only talked; they didn't take action.
The Lord Jesus said this when He exposed them,
Amen!
Now that the Lord Jesus had exposed the Pharisees,
we can clearly see
though they interpreted the Bible to others in the synagogue,
they did not revere or magnify God at all.
They didn't follow God's commandments.
And they replaced them with the traditions of men, discarding God's,
openly opposing God. (Yes.)
Doesn't this prove how the Pharisees served God and yet resisted Him?
True. That's true.
How could they avoid God's curses and hatred?
Yes. That's right.
God's commandments stated,
But the Pharisees ignored God's commandments.
They bore false witness, condemned,
killed the prophets and righteous men, resisting God. (Yes.)
That's why the Lord Jesus condemned them and said this,
Amen.
They fanatically resisted God and killed the prophets and righteous men.
They tried to destroy God's work and thwart His will.
They enraged God's disposition. (That's right.)
How could they not be cursed by Him? (Yeah.)
Everything that the Pharisees did is a true fact. (Right. Yes.)
Can we still not see the essence of this of their hypocritical actions?
We have discernment. It's clear now.
That's right.
This is really the truth.
They abandoned God's commandments and openly opposed Him.
They all openly gave false witness and killed the prophets sent by God.
They were evil and hypocritical devils.
They deserved to be cursed.
You're right. They were quite hateful.
Yeah.
He's right. (Yeah.)
The Pharisees seemed reverent outwardly,
but they were good at tricking others.
Their essence was insidious cunning.
If the Lord Jesus had not exposed their deeds
such as abandoning God's commandments,
we would not be able to see the essence of their hypocrisy.
Yeah.
Let's look at the Lord Jesus' exposure and condemnation of the Pharisees.
Sure. Okay.
Matthew 23:23-24,
Amen.
27-28,
Amen.
They pretended to be reverent before others.
They purposefully prayed on street corners and in the synagogue.
When they fasted, they tried to look very sad.
They wrote scriptures on their garments tassels.
They made sure that others saw them donate. (Yeah.)
They made sure to not forget to pay their tithes of mint, cummin, and of anise.
They even followed historical rules like not eating without washing hands.
They focused extremely closely on details.
But they didn't follow God's requirements:
love God, love others, and be righteous, merciful, and faithful.
They didn't obey God's commandments at all.
That's right. Yes.
They just talked theology, Bible knowledge,
performed ceremonies, and obeyed rules.
That is the height of their hypocrisy, the way they fooled others.
Amen.
That's true.
This behavior of theirs clearly shows us
everything they did was part of an attempt to deceive and constrain others.
They only wanted to be worshiped.
They were only concerned with their own meal tickets and their own positions.
They traveled down a wrong path of hypocrisy, resisting God.
For that reason,
their resistance led God to curse them. (Yes, that's right.)
Yes. Those who resist God should be cursed. (I agree.)
It's the truth.
The Pharisees disliked the truth.
They didn't focus on God's words or His commandments.
They just did religious ceremonies and were resisting God.
Therefore, when the Lord Jesus came to work and preach,
their satanic nature of hypocrisy and hostility against God was exposed. (Yes.)
They knew very well the Lord Jesus' words had power, authority.
They did not seek the essence and source of the Lord Jesus' words and work,
but they attacked and defamed the Lord Jesus,
saying that He drove out demons by Beelzebub.
They labeled the Lord Jesus' work filled with God's authority as madness.
They committed the sin of blasphemy against the Holy Spirit.
They offended God's disposition.
Not only did the Pharisees condemn the Lord Jesus themselves,
they incited believers to resist and condemn the Lord Jesus.
They made the faithful lose the Lord's salvation
and turn into their funerary objects and victims.
They were so hateful.
So when the Lord Jesus condemned and cursed them, He said,
Amen.
Amen.
It's harmful!
So we can see,
these were all antichrists and hypocrites
who committed blasphemy against God and stood as God's enemies.
Yes. Amen.
They were a devil group that led men into hell.
That's right.
So then,
the Lord Jesus denounced them with the seven woes due to their behavior.
This shows God's holiness and righteous disposition that cannot be offended.
Amen!
Am I telling the truth? (Yes!)
It's so perceptive.
I finally understand why Pharisees were cursed by the Lord Jesus.
Wait. Why do I feel like the pastors and elders act just like them?
How can you say that?
It is similar.
I feel the same way!
Thanks be to God.
Now, we have some discernment about the hypocritical essence of the Pharisees.
Let's look at the modern-day pastors and elders.
Okay.
They just interpret biblical knowledge and theological theory.
They just perform ceremonies.
They don't practice God's words or carry out commandments.
They're just like the Pharisees.
On their path, they serve but also resist God.
Yes.
Amen.
Those who love God should follow His words,
care for His will,
and be responsible for brothers and sisters.
Yes. Yes, indeed. That's so true.
Pastors now face desolate churches and a decline in the believers' faith.
They don't find the living water of life for the believers.
When Almighty God comes to express the truth,
they reject and condemn it.
What's more, they try to prevent others from searching for the true way.
Yes.
They forbid contact with the Church of Almighty God
and reading Almighty God's words.
They curse and beat those that spread the gospel of His kingdom.
They may even call the police and have them arrested.
In this, are they not resisting God and doing evil?
That's right! They are.
How is all this any different from the Pharisees resisting the Lord Jesus?
Yes.
There is no difference. It's true.
To protect their standing,
these pastors prevent others from accepting God's salvation in the last days.
Aren't they dragging people to hell?
Yes. This is true. Absolutely true.
Aren't they the evil servants the Lord Jesus spoke of?
Are they not the modern-day Pharisees?
They are indeed. That's just what they are.
This is indeed the case!
These pastors and elders clearly are not true believers of God.
They abandon the Lord's commandments,
betray His words, and treat Him as the enemy. (Yes.)
The Lord Jesus said
only those who do the heavenly Father's will shall enter His kingdom.
Amen!
Yet they claim that those who've been saved by grace
will enter the heavenly kingdom.
Are they not speaking in direct contradiction of the Lord?
Yes, they are.
The Lord Jesus commands,
Amen!
The pastors and elders lie and blaspheme against Almighty God.
They wrongly defame the Church of Almighty God.
Yes.
These pastors bar believers
from receiving those who spread the gospel of the kingdom.
If any do, they are cast out.
Yes, that's what they do.
The Lord wants people to be wise virgins
who'll greet Him upon hearing the Bridegroom's voice.
But when pastors hear someone bearing witness to the Lord Jesus' return,
they judge and condemn it without ever having examined it.
I don't know what sentence of the Lord's words
these pastors could be practicing.
Yes.
Yes, it's true.
If the pastors and elders genuinely believed in God,
if they were the least bit God-fearing,
they would not be spreading these terrible lies,
nor would they fanatically resist Almighty God.
Yes!
This is the truth.
And so, they're the modern-day Pharisees.
This is quite correct!
That's right! The pastors and elders are Pharisees.
Yes.
From the outside, the pastors and elders do seem reverent.
But in fact, they're insidious and sinister! (It's true.)
These past few years,
they've continued their fanatical resistance of Almighty God.
They curse and beat those who preach the kingdom gospel;
they even report them to the police.
Yes. It's true.
Aren't these the antichrists exposed by God's work in the last days?
Yes, they are. They sure are!
Are they not the modern-day Pharisees? (Yes.)
Such brood of Satan are bound to be cursed and punished by God!
Hey, that's not right! (Yeah!)
Everyone, we can't blindly condemn pastors and elders. (That's right.)
The Eastern Lightning has stolen lots of our good sheep.
The pastors and elders are just trying to protect the flock. (Yes.)
We have to understand them.
Think about it:
If the believers are all stolen,
will pastors still be able to give sermons? (No!)
As humans, shouldn't we all have a conscience?
We can't treat them like the Pharisees. (Yes!)
That the Pharisees resisted the Lord Jesus is quite true,
but the pastors aren't resisting the Lord Jesus. (Indeed.)
Don't make blind assertations and put labels on them!
They may not practice the Lord's words or keep His commandments;
they condemn the Eastern Lightning,
but isn't that to guard the Lord's way and protect the flock? (Amen!)
They don't do it to protect their positions or livelihood.
How can you say the pastors and elders are hypocritical Pharisees? (Yes.)
Brother Zhang, is what you say actually true?
How is it not true?
Almighty God is the return of the Lord Jesus.
The pastors and elders don't study Almighty God's words or work;
and yet they spread lies, resist, and condemn Him.
How is that any different from what the Pharisees did to the Lord Jesus?
It's not different at all. It's the same.
This is clear for everyone to see.
How can that be making blind assertions? (Yeah!)
Now the church is desolate. We all have no road to travel.
The truth expressed by Almighty God gives us all life.
It resolves the difficulties within our faith. (Yeah.)
Yet the pastors and elders seal the church;
they'd rather see the sheep die of thirst
than let believers search for the living water of life.
Is that protecting the sheep or ravaging the flock?
Obviously they're ravaging the flock! Ravaging the flock!
Then are they good servants or evil servants?
Evil servants!
Discerning people can clearly see this.
Are you really unable to? (Yeah!)
Brother Zhang, please sit down and listen to them.
I think Brother Lin is right.
Yes. I can understand what they're saying.