II. Despising the Flesh in Which God Is Incarnate

The topic of the last fellowship was the tenth manifestation of antichrists—despising the truth, publicly flouting principles, and ignoring the arrangements of God’s house. This item is further divided into three more sections for detailed fellowship. The first section is despising God’s identity and essence, the second is despising the flesh in which God is incarnate, and the third is despising the word of God. These three sections are used to dissect the tenth item of the various manifestations of antichrists. The first section has been fellowshipped, and for the second section, despising the flesh in which God is incarnate, it is divided into four parts for fellowship. What are these four parts? (First, fawning, flattery, and fair-sounding words; second, scrutiny and analysis, along with curiosity; third, how they treat Christ depends on their mood; and fourth, merely listening to that which Christ says, but neither obeying nor submitting.) The first two parts were fellowshipped last time; this time, we shall fellowship the third part.

C. How They Treat Christ Depends on Their Mood

The third part is “how they treat Christ depends on their mood”; this simple phrase makes evident the various manifestations of antichrists. In your impression, or from what you have seen and experienced, shouldn’t there be some examples regarding this part? Some people say: “I have never had contact with Christ; I’ve only heard sermons. I have no real experience with this manifestation, nor have I seen others exhibit it in reality.” For those who have real experience with this part, do you have any feelings or understandings that correspond with it? None? Then we really need to have an in-depth fellowship, don’t we? (Yes.) On the surface, this part involves various attitudes and manifestations when people come into contact with Christ. In fact, from this part, one can not only see the various manifestations and attitudes of people toward the flesh in which God is incarnate, but also discern in people’s treatment of the flesh in which God is incarnate their true attitudes and manifestations toward God. That is, from this, it is evident with what attitude people treat God Himself who has God’s identity and essence, and whether they have a God-fearing heart, genuine faith, and true submission. When facing various situations, people’s attitudes toward Christ reveal their attitudes toward the God they believe in. In treating this ordinary person, Christ, whether you have any notions, genuine faith, or true submission indicates whether you have genuine faith and true submission toward the God you believe in, God Himself. In people’s treatment of the God in heaven—their attitudes, views, and what they truly think—they are quite vague, not revealing their real attitudes toward God. However, when people actually encounter God and see the tangible, flesh-and-blood body in which God is incarnate, their true attitudes toward God become completely exposed. The words people speak, the thoughts in their minds, the viewpoints they establish and hold in their hearts, and even their thoughts and attitudes toward Christ in their hearts, are in fact various manifestations of how they treat God. Since the God in heaven is invisible and intangible, for how people think of Him, how they treat Him, how they define Him, and whether they are submissive, there is actually no standard in people to measure whether their manifestations are correct or conform to the truth. But when God becomes incarnate as Christ, all this changes: There becomes a standard to measure all these manifestations and attitudes of people toward God, making evident people’s true attitudes toward God. Often, people think they have great faith in God and genuine belief, feeling that God is great, supreme, and lovable. But are these a reflection of their true stature or merely a mood? It’s hard to determine. When people can’t see God, no matter how well-intentioned they are in treating Him, their treatment of Him is always adulterated with vagueness, hollowness, and impracticality, always fraught with some empty imaginings. When people actually see and come into contact with God, the extent of their faith in God, their level of submission to God, and whether they have true love for God become fully exposed. Therefore, when God becomes incarnate, especially when He becomes a person that is as ordinary as one can possibly be, for all people, this flesh, this ordinary person, becomes a trial for everyone and also exposes each person’s faith and true stature. You may have been able to follow God when you first acknowledged His existence, but when you accept the God incarnate, seeing God become an ordinary person, your mind becomes filled with notions. At this time, the Christ you believe in—this ordinary person—becomes the greatest challenge for your belief. Today, then, let’s fellowship the impact that this ordinary person, the flesh in which God is incarnate, Christ, has on people, and the real manifestations people exhibit toward this ordinary person, Christ, which expose their various true attitudes and viewpoints toward God.

The main content of the third part is that people treat Christ depending on their mood. What exactly this mood refers to is the center, the focus of today’s fellowship. Of course, this mood is just a metonym, a generalization. It is not just a mood; behind it lurk various notions and imaginings of people, as well as all sorts of their corrupt dispositions, even their satanic nature essence. When one does not face any obstacles in doing their duties in God’s house, there isn’t anything that affects their mood, and everything goes smoothly, they can often pray before God, and live a very regular life, full of joy and peace. The environment around them is also smooth, most of the brothers and sisters get along with each other, God often guides them in their performance of duties and in learning about certain technical fields, providing enlightenment and illumination, and the principles of practice are relatively clear—everything is so normal and goes so smoothly. At this time, people feel they have great faith in God, feel particularly close to God in their hearts, can often come before God to pray and confide, feel intimately connected with God, and find God especially lovable. Their mood at this time is very good; they often live in peace and joy, actively speaking at gatherings, and they are able to pray-read God’s words and learn hymns on time every day. When all is going so well and smoothly, people continuously thank God in their hearts, silently pray to God, and resolve to expend themselves for God for their whole lives, offer everything they have, and withstand hardships and pay the price to fulfill their duties well. They feel that God is so great, so lovable, and they have the resolve and willingness to offer themselves to God, dedicating their entire lives to Him. Isn’t this condition particularly proactive and positive? From here, it seems we can see people’s loyalty, their love for God, and the sacrifices they make. Everything appears so wonderful, peaceful, and smooth. From all these manifestations, it seems that people are just actively trying on their part, cooperating with God’s work and His requirements, without anything unfavorable. Thus, in their hearts, they continuously thank God, thank the God in heaven, and thank Christ on earth, filled with endless love and reverence for Christ. Whenever they sing hymns about “this insignificant person,” they feel immensely moved, thinking, “It truly is this insignificant person who saved me, who gave me this opportunity, allowing me today to do my duty as a created being in God’s house!” Even some people directly pray: “Oh, practical God, God incarnate, Christ: I thank You, I praise You, for You have given me all these blessings, You have graced me. You are the God in my heart, You are the Creator, You are the One I wish to follow. I am willing to expend myself for You for my whole life.” All these scenes are so peaceful, so beautiful, and seem so perfectly harmonious, as if being saved is so easy and effortless. But can this harmony and peace really last forever? Can it remain unchanged? It’s not that simple.

1. Their Behavior When Confronted With Being Pruned

In the process of doing their duties, it is inevitable for people to reveal their corrupt dispositions, to grumble in the circumstances they encounter, to have their own views, and even more so to do things willfully and rashly. In such situations, people inevitably are confronted with being pruned. When confronted with being pruned, does a person who is full of enthusiasm, who is filled with imaginings and notions about God, really have the stature to face all this, to genuinely experience all this, and to successfully navigate such situations? This raises a question, and here lies the problem. When people feel everything is so wonderful, when they feel God is so lovable, that God loves people so much, that His love is so great and so real, and then they are faced with being pruned, with being exposed, those who do not understand the truth often feel bewildered and confused, fearful and afraid. They suddenly feel like they have fallen into darkness, unable to see the path ahead, not knowing how to face the current situation. When they come before God, they seek the same feelings they had before, praying with the same mood, thoughts, viewpoints, and attitude as before. But then they feel they can’t sense God anymore. When they feel they can’t sense God, they start thinking: “Does God not want me anymore? Does God spurn me? Could it be that because of my corrupt disposition God doesn’t like me anymore? Is God going to cast me out? If so, aren’t I done for? What’s the point of my existence now? What’s the point of believing in God? I may as well not believe. If I didn’t believe, maybe I could have a good job now, a harmonious family, a bright future! Believing in God until now hasn’t brought me anything, but if I truly stop believing, wouldn’t that mean all my previous efforts were wasted, that all my previous expenditures and sacrifices were in vain?” Upon these reflections, they suddenly feel desolate and uncomfortable all over, thinking, “The God in heaven is so distant, and this God on earth, apart from fellowshipping and providing the truth, what else can He help me with? What else can He give me? He seems so insignificant, and so inconsiderate. What’s the big deal with having a bit of a corrupt disposition? If this were handled in a human way, God would overlook people having a bit of a corrupt disposition; He would handle it with leniency and not nitpick people’s minor faults. Why is God pruning and disciplining me like this, and even ignoring me, over such a small matter? It’s no big deal to reveal such corrupt dispositions in this kind of situation, but God actually detests me. Does He really love people or not? Where is His love revealed? How exactly does He love people? Anyway, at this moment, I can no longer feel God’s love.” When they can’t feel God’s love, they instantly feel very distant from the God in heaven, and even more distant from this Christ on earth, this ordinary person. When feeling this desolation in their heart, they pray repeatedly, comforting themselves, “Don’t be afraid, put your hope in the God in heaven. God is my shield, God is my strength, God still loves people.” At this moment, where is the God they speak of? In heaven, among all things, that God is the One who truly loves people, the God whom people look up to and adore, who can be their shield, their ever-present help, and can comfort their hearts. He is the reliance for their spirit, heart, and flesh. But given what this God on earth is capable of doing, there’s now no longer any reliance in people’s hearts. Their attitude changes. In what situation does it change? When they are confronted with being pruned and revealed, and encounter setbacks, their true faith is exposed.

Once people are confronted with being pruned, their so-called true faith immediately finds reliance on the vague God in heaven. As for the visible God on earth, what is their attitude? The first reaction of people is to reject and let go, to no longer rely on or believe in, but to avoid, hide, and distance themselves from Him. This is the kind of mood people have. When confronted with being pruned, the truth people understand, their so-called true faith, loyalty, love, and submission, become so fragile. When all these circumstances change, their attitude toward the God incarnate also changes accordingly. Their previous sacrifices—their so-called loyalty, expenditure, and the price they paid, as well as their so-called submission—are revealed at this moment not to be any sort of loyalty or true submission, but merely enthusiasm. And what is mixed in with this enthusiasm? It is adulterated with human feelings, human goodness, and human allegiance. This allegiance can also be understood as hotheadedness, as in, “If I follow someone, I must show true brotherly allegiance, be willing to lay down my life for him, exert myself, take a stab for him, offer up everything for him,” which is a manifestation of human hotheadedness. Such human manifestations are revealed at this moment. Why are they revealed? It is because, in people’s thoughts and viewpoints, they appear to have accepted that this ordinary person is God incarnate, is Christ, is God, and that He possesses God’s identity—but looking at their actual stature, the truth they understand, and their knowledge of God, they have not truly accepted this ordinary person, nor have they treated this ordinary person as Christ, as God. When everything is going well, when everything is as one wishes, when people feel that God is blessing, illuminating, leading, and gracing them, and when what people receive from God aligns with their notions and imaginings, they can subjectively accept the ordinary person testified by God as the God of man. However, when all these circumstances change, when God takes away all these things, and when people lack true understanding and do not possess true stature, everything about them is revealed, and what they express is precisely their true attitude toward God. How does this true attitude arise? Where does it originate from? It originates from people’s corrupt disposition and their lack of knowledge of God. Why do I say this? What is this corrupt disposition in people? (After being corrupted by Satan, people internally guard against God and form a barrier against Him. No matter what God does, they always wonder, “Is God going to harm me?”) Is the relationship between people and God merely a matter of there being a barrier? Is it that simple? It’s not just a matter of there being a barrier; it’s a problem of two different essences. Humans have corrupt dispositions—does God have a corrupt disposition? (No.) Then why is there discord between people and God, why are people hostile toward God? Where does the reason lie? Is it in God or in people? (In people.) For example, if two people have a quarrel and stop speaking to each other, even if they do speak, it’ll only be superficially, with a barrier formed in their hearts. How does this barrier come about? It arises because they have different viewpoints that cannot reconcile, and neither is willing to give up their viewpoint, preventing unity. This is how barriers between people are formed. But if we describe the relationship between people and God as merely having a barrier, isn’t that a bit of an understatement, not quite hitting the mark? It’s true there is a barrier, but if we just use the term “barrier” to explain the problem of people’s corrupt disposition, that would be too mild. This is because after being corrupted by Satan, people have satanic corrupt disposition and essence; their innate nature is hostile to God. Satan is hostile to God. Does it regard God as God? Does it have faith in or submission toward God? It has neither true faith nor true submission—this is how Satan is. People are the same as Satan; they possess Satan’s corrupt disposition and essence, and also lack true faith in and submission toward God. So can we say there’s just a barrier between people and God due to this lack of true faith and submission? (No.) This only indicates that people are hostile to God. When what God does aligns with people’s tastes, moods, and needs, satisfies their preferences, and makes everything go smoothly and as desired for them, people then feel that God is very lovable. But is this feeling of God being lovable at such times genuine? (No.) This is just people taking advantage, offering a few nice words in return; this is what’s known as reaping benefits and then feigning niceness. In such situations, do the words people say reflect a true knowledge of God? Is this knowledge of God real or fake? (Fake.) This knowledge does not conform to the truth, nor to the essence of God. It is not a true knowledge but an imagining, a notion arising from human feelings and hotheadedness. When this notion is shattered, exposed, and revealed, people feel frustrated; it implies that all they wished to gain has been taken away. Hasn’t people’s previous perception of God being lovable and good in various ways been criticized and condemned? This is exactly the opposite of what they believed before. Can people accept this fact? (No.) When God gives you nothing, He simply lets you live by His words, speak and act, do your duty, serve God, get along with others, and so on, all according to His words. When you do live by His words, and you can feel God’s painstaking care and you can genuinely love and submit to God, then the impurities in you are less, and the loveliness and essence of God that you feel are genuine.

When people are confronted with discipline and being pruned, they develop notions, complaints, and misunderstandings about God. When these things emerge, people suddenly feel that God is inconsiderate, as if He’s not as lovely as they imagined: “Everyone says God is lovely, but why can’t I feel it? If God is indeed lovely, He should bless and comfort me. When I am about to make a mistake, He should warn me instead of letting me embarrass myself or err; He should do these things before I err, preventing me from making mistakes or taking the wrong path!” Such notions and thoughts churn in people’s minds when they face adversities. At this time, the way people speak and act becomes less open. When people are confronted with being pruned, when they face adversities, their mood worsens; they start to feel that God does not love them as much or treat them with as much grace, that they are not favored as much. They think to themselves: “If God doesn’t love me, why should I love Him? I won’t love God either.” Previously, in their conversations with God, they were very active; whatever God asked, they answered. They always wanted to share more, never running out of things to say, wanting to express and convey everything in their hearts, aspiring to be God’s confidant. But when confronted with being pruned, they feel that God is not so lovely anymore, that God doesn’t love them as much, and they don’t want to love God either. When God asks something, they simply reply briefly and perfunctorily, giving only one-word responses. If God asks, “How well have you been doing your duties recently?” they answer, “Alright.” “Do you have any difficulties?” “Sometimes.” “Can you cooperate harmoniously with the brothers and sisters?” In their mind, they think, “Humph, I can’t even take care of myself, how can I cooperate harmoniously with others?” “Do you have any weakness?” “I’m alright.” They become unwilling to talk more, displaying a completely negative, complaining attitude. Their whole being becomes depressed and despondent, filled with grievances and a sense of being wronged, unwilling to say more than necessary. Why is this? Because their mood is not good now, their state is relatively depressed, and they are not in the mood to talk to anyone. When asked, “Have you prayed recently?” they reply, “My prayers are still just those same words.” “Your state hasn’t been good recently; have you sought the truth when confronted with difficulties?” “I understand everything, I just can’t be proactive.” “You have developed misunderstandings about God. Do you see where your problem lies? What corrupt dispositions are stopping you from coming before God? What is causing you to be so negative that you don’t even feel like coming before God to pray?” “I dunno.” What kind of attitude is this? (Negative and confrontational.) Correct, there is not a hint of submission, but rather they are filled with complaints and grievances. In their spiritual and mental world, they perceive God as similar to a Buddha or Bodhisattva figure as described by humans. Regardless of what people do or how they live, those Buddha or Bodhisattva figures never utter a word, simply submitting themselves to people’s manipulations. They believe that God should not prune them, much less harm them; whatever wrong they do, God should only soothe them, not prune, expose, or reveal them, and certainly not discipline them. They want to believe in God and do their duty according to their own moods and dispositions, doing as they please, thinking that no matter what they do, God should be satisfied, happy, and accepting. However, things do not go as they wish; God does not act in this way. People then think, “If He doesn’t act as I imagined, is He still God? Is He still worth my investment, expenditure, and sacrifice? If not, then offering my sincere heart would be foolish, wouldn’t it?” Thus, when the time comes for being pruned, people’s initial response is not to listen, from the perspective of a created being, to what God is saying or what His requirements are, nor what the human problems, states, or dispositions God exposes are, nor how man should accept, regard, or submit to these things. Such things are not on people’s minds. No matter how God speaks to people or how He guides them, if His tone or manner of speech is inconsiderate—if their moods, self-esteem, and weakness are not taken into account—then people get notions, and they do not want to treat God as God, nor do they want to be created beings. The biggest problem here is that when God delivers good times, enabling everything to go the way people want it to, they are willing to act as created beings, but when God presents adversity in order to discipline and reveal people, to have them learn a lesson, and to let them understand the truth and know His intention—at these times, people turn their backs on Him at once and no longer desire to be created beings. When a person does not want to be a created being, then, from that perspective and that position, will they be able to submit to God? Will they be able to accept the identity and essence of God? They will not. When the times of good moods, fine states, and enthusiasm—those times when people want to be confidants of God—give way to times when people want to abandon Him in the face of being pruned, of environments laid out by God, what a dramatic change it is! What, exactly, is the truth of this matter? What is it that people should know? Should a person not know what type of attitude they should have toward God as a created being? What are the principles that need to be followed? As a person—a corrupt human being—what perspective and position should one adopt toward everything God gives man and the environments He arranges? What attitude should people adopt toward God’s pruning of them? How should they regard it? Should people not ponder such matters? (Yes.) People should reflect on and ponder such things as these. No matter when and no matter how a person treats God, the identity of man does not, in fact, change; people are always created beings. If you are not reconciled to your status as a created being, it means that you are rebellious and far from changing your disposition, far from fearing God and shunning evil. If you are reconciled to your place as a created being, then what sort of attitude should you have toward God? (Unconditional submission.) At the very least, you must be possessed of this one thing: unconditional submission. That means at any given time, what God does is never wrong; it is only people who err. Regardless of the environments that crop up—especially in the face of adversity, and especially when God reveals or exposes people—the first thing one should do is to come before God to reflect themselves and examine their words and deeds and their corrupt disposition, instead of examining, studying, and judging whether God’s words and actions are right or wrong. If you stay in your proper position, you should know exactly what it is you ought to be doing. People have a corrupt disposition and do not understand the truth. This is not such a big problem. But when people have a corrupt disposition and do not understand the truth, yet still do not seek the truth—now they have a big problem. You have a corrupt disposition and do not understand the truth, and you can judge God arbitrarily, and approach and interact with Him as your mood, preferences, and emotions dictate. However, if you do not seek and practice the truth, things are not going to be so simple. Not only will you not be able to submit to God, but you could misunderstand and complain about Him, condemn Him, oppose Him, and even scold and reject Him in your heart, saying that He is not righteous, that not everything He does is necessarily right. Is it not dangerous that you may yet give rise to such things? (It is.) It is very dangerous. Not seeking the truth can cost one their life! And this can happen at any time and at any place. However exuberant your emotions, aspirations, desires, or ideals are at present, and however much you love God in your heart at this moment, it is all temporary. It’s just like when a pastor officiates a wedding and asks both parties, “Do you take him (or her) to be your husband (or wife)? In sickness and in health, in disaster, in poverty, and so on, are you willing to spend your life with him (or her)?” Both parties, with tears brimming in their eyes and hearts surging with emotion, vow to devote their lives to each other and take lifelong responsibility for one another. What are these solemn vows at that moment? They are merely people’s fleeting emotions and wishes. But do both parties truly possess such integrity? Do they truly possess such humanity? That remains an unknown; the truth will be revealed over the next ten, twenty, or thirty years. Some couples divorce after three to five years, some after ten years, and others, after thirty years, break things off just like that. Where did their initial wishes go? What happened to their solemn vows? They were long cast beyond the hills. What role do these solemn vows play? None at all; they are just wishes, momentary emotions—emotions and wishes don’t determine anything. What is required for a couple to truly spend a lifetime together, to grow old together? Speaking ideally, at the very least, both individuals need to have a good personality and upright character. Speaking more concretely, during their lives, they will encounter many things—big and small, good and bad, hardships, setbacks, difficulties, mostly things that are not as desired. This requires both parties to have genuine tolerance, patience, love, consideration, care, and other relatively positive things in humanity to support each other until the end of the road. Without these qualities, relying solely on vows and on the ideals, wishes, and fantasies from the time when they got married, they certainly cannot make it to the end. The same applies to believing in God; if one does not seek the truth but relies only on a bit of enthusiasm and wish, they definitely cannot stand firm and absolutely cannot follow God to the end.

How can one believe in and follow God without depending on their mood and without being influenced by their mood or environment? Just how can one achieve this? What is the minimum requirement for believing in God? It requires having an attitude of loving the truth and seeking the truth. Some people ask, “Are having willpower and making vows important?” These are indispensable but depend on the stage of belief. If someone is in the first one or two years of believing, without these, their enthusiasm cannot be ignited. Without enthusiasm, a person who starts to believe in God might be lukewarm, not very zealous in their pursuit, nor retreating, just doing whatever is asked of them. Such a person struggles to progress, and they lack a clear attitude. Therefore, new believers need this enthusiasm. This enthusiasm can bring many positive things to a person, allowing them to quickly understand the truth, the vision, and the aim of God’s work, and to quickly lay a foundation. Additionally, when people expend themselves and pay the price actively and enthusiastically, they enter into the truth reality more quickly. Initially, one needs this enthusiasm and should have willpower and ideals. However, if after more than three years of believing in God, one remains at the stage of enthusiasm, there might be a danger. Where does this danger lie? People always treat their belief in God and the matters of dispositional change based on their imaginings and notions. They try to know God and gain an understanding of His work and His requirements for humans based on their imaginings and notions. Can such people enter into the truth reality or understand God’s intentions? (No.) If a person cannot understand the truth, problems arise. Is there anyone who believes in God and lives their entire life in a pampered environment, always within grace and blessings? No, sooner or later, everyone must confront real life and the various environments God has set up for them. When you encounter these different environments and face various issues in real life, what role can your enthusiasm play? It can only drive you to restrain yourself, to pay a price, to suffer, but it cannot lead you to understand the truth or God’s intentions. However, if you seek the truth and understand the truth, it’s different. How is it different? When you understand the truth and face these situations, you no longer treat them based on your enthusiasm or notions. Whenever you encounter anything, you first come before God to seek and pray, to find the truth principles. You can then become submissive, with this awareness and attitude. This attitude and awareness are crucial. It may happen that in a particular trial, you don’t gain anything, don’t enter too deeply into the truth, and don’t understand just what the reality of the truth is. However, during this trial, having such a submissive awareness and attitude allows you to truly experience how people, as created beings, should act and what they should do in order to be the most normal and proper before God. Although you may not understand God’s intentions or know precisely what God wants you to achieve or gain in such an environment, you feel that you can submit to God and to such circumstances. From the depths of your heart, you can accept the environment God has set up for you. You feel you have maintained your proper place as a created being, not rebelling against or opposing God, and your heart feels secure. While feeling secure, your reliance on God in heaven is not vague, and you don’t feel distant or reject the God on earth. Instead, from the depths of your heart, there’s a bit more fear and also a bit more closeness. Look at this, the difference between someone who seeks truth and can submit, and someone who relies on enthusiasm and has only a bit of willpower—is it significant? The difference is huge. A person who relies on enthusiasm and has only willpower, when faced with situations, will resist, argue, complain, and feel wronged. They might think, “Why is God treating me this way? I’m still young, why doesn’t God coax me? Why doesn’t God count my past achievements? Why punish instead of rewarding me? I’m still so young, what do I know? Even my parents at home never treated me like this; they cherished me as their precious child, their little baby. Now that I’ve grown up a lot after coming to God’s house, for God to treat me this way seems too inconsiderate!” These are the kinds of flawed arguments they make. How do such flawed arguments arise? If a person seeks and understands the truth, can they still have these flawed arguments? If a person understands these truths and has this knowledge while doing their duty ordinarily, can they still harbor such complaints and impetuousness when faced with situations? (No.) They would definitely not speak like this. Instead, they would see themselves as an ordinary created being and come before God, without regard to age, gender, or standing and status, simply submitting and listening to God’s words. When people can listen to the words God says and His requirements, they have submission in their hearts. When a person can consciously submit, when they have an attitude of submission, they truly stand in the position of a created being, having love, submission, and fear of God, not relying on their moods or emotions. These are some reactions when people are confronted with being pruned. What are the main reactions? They are feeling bad, feeling frustrated, feeling wronged, and needing comfort. When they don’t receive comfort or warmth, they start harboring complaints and misunderstandings about God in their hearts. They no longer wish to pray to God, and deep down, they consider abandoning God, wanting to distance themselves from Him—both the God in heaven and the God on earth. Some people, if I prune them a bit, will avoid Me the next time we meet, not wanting to interact with Me. Usually, when they are not being pruned, they are always around Me, offering tea, asking if I need anything, being in a good mood, diligent, talkative, and close in their relationship with God. But once they are pruned, it’s not the same anymore—they no longer offer tea or send greetings, and if I ask them a few more questions they just leave, no longer to be seen.

Back when I was in mainland China, I stayed in the homes of some brothers and sisters. Some of these people had bad humanity, some were new believers, some developed numerous notions upon our first contact and they did not understand the truth, and others were not pursuing the truth at all. Seeing these people reveal their corruption, I couldn’t prune them; I had to speak gently and tactfully. If you were to really prune them, they’d develop notions and rebelliousness, so you’d need to coax and negotiate with them, and fellowship the truth more to guide them. If you didn’t negotiate or fellowship and just made direct demands, it absolutely wouldn’t work. For example, you could say, “This meal is a bit too salty; maybe next time make it a little less salty. Eating too much salt is not good for your health. As believers in God, you should also apply common sense and not be ignorant; you must accept positive things. If you don’t believe me, you can ask a traditional Chinese medicine practitioner about the effects of too much salt on the kidneys.” This approach is acceptable for them. But if you say, “This food is so salty, are you trying to salt someone to death? Why always make it so salty? It’s too salty to eat! How can you be so ignorant? Don’t make it so salty next time!” then that won’t work. The next meal, they might not add any salt at all. Then you say, “Why is this so bland?” “Bland? Didn’t you say it was too salty? Too much salt harms the kidneys, so isn’t it better not to put any salt at all? Then it won’t harm the kidneys.” Being too harsh won’t work; you need to negotiate and coax. Many people are quite troublesome; when talking to them, you have to be careful about the manner and timing of your speech, and also consider their mood—you have to do some negotiating. Sometimes, if you accidentally speak a bit too harshly, you might hurt them, and they may resist internally. On the surface, it might not seem like much, but inside, it’s different. Normally, when you ask them to do something, they do it promptly, but if you hurt their feelings, they become less enthusiastic about doing things, dragging their feet and being utterly unwilling. They say, “How can I be good to you when I’m in a bad mood? I’ll be nicer when I’m in a good mood, but when I’m not, just getting by is enough.” Just what sort of creature is this? Aren’t people difficult to deal with? (Yes.) People are just like this, impervious to reason and beyond logic. When they reflect on themselves later, they may bow their heads, confess their sins, and weep bitterly, but they still react the same way when they once again face such matters and are pruned. Is this a person who seeks the truth? (No.) What kind of person is this? Such a person is willful and does not accept the truth at all. This is the kind of attitude people have toward God when they are confronted with being pruned, and when they face adversities. In short, they are not submissive, cannot accept the truth, and when hurt, they treat God according to their impetuousness. Isn’t this a serious problem? When I encounter some people, even before I prune them, just by speaking about the matter at hand, their faces fall, they speak grumpily, have a bad attitude, and even throw things. You can’t speak frankly to them; you have to beat around the bush and be tactful. Can I speak in such a roundabout way as people do? Regardless of whether you can accept it or not, I have to say what is true—things must be done according to the truth principles in God’s house. Some people show no outward reaction when they are pruned, but inwardly they are sulking. Can such a person do their duty well? (No.) If they cannot properly do their duty and they keep making mistakes, the church has to handle them according to principles.

2. Their Behavior Toward Christ When He Was Being Hunted, With No Place to Rest His Head

There is danger every day in believing in God and following Him in mainland China. It is an exceptionally harsh environment for it, in which one might be arrested at any time. You have all experienced an environment of being hunted—and have I not, as well? You and I lived in the same environment, so in that environment, I could not avoid hiding Myself away often. There were times when I had to change locations two or three times in a day; there were even times when I had to go somewhere I had not dreamed of going. The hardest times were those when I had nowhere to go—I would hold a gathering during the day, then at night, I would not know where there was safety. Sometimes, having struggled hard to find a place, I had to leave the next day, because the great red dragon was bearing down on it. What do people of true faith think when they see such a scene? “That God came to earth in the flesh to save man is the price He has paid. This is one among the sufferings that He has undergone, and it quite fulfills His words that go, ‘The foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man has nowhere to lay His head’ (Matthew 8:20). Things are truly so—and Christ incarnate personally undergoes such suffering, the same as man does.” All who truly believe in God can see how very arduous His work of saving man is, and for this, they will love God, and they will thank Him for the price He pays for mankind’s sake. Those with particularly bad humanity, who are malicious and utterly reject the truth, as well as those who follow Christ merely out of curiosity or wanting to witness miracles, do not think this way when they see such scenes. They think to themselves, “You have no place to stay? You are God, working to save people, yet You can’t even save Yourself and don’t know where You’ll stay tomorrow. Now You don’t even have a place to take shelter—how can I believe in You or follow You?” The more perilous the circumstances, the more they rejoice, thinking, “Luckily, I didn’t fully forsake everything; luckily, I kept a backup plan. See? You have nowhere to call home now! I knew it would come to this—You don’t have any place to rest Your head, and I even have to help find a place to shelter You.” They have been revealed, haven’t they? If such people were to witness the scene of the Lord Jesus being crucified, how would they behave? When the Lord Jesus was carrying the cross toward Golgotha, where were such people? Could they continue to follow Him? (No.) They denied God’s identity, His essence, and even His existence. They fled, going off to fend for themselves, no longer following God. Regardless of how many sermons they had heard before, all of them vanished from their hearts, disappearing without a trace. They believed that everything they saw before them was real and of human origin, unrelated to God. They thought, “This person is just a human; where in Him is the identity or essence of God? If He were God, would He hide and conceal Himself like this, hunted by Satan with no place to rest His head, no place to find refuge? If He were God, He should suddenly transform and vanish before everyone’s eyes when being hunted, making it so that nobody would be able to see Him, and knowing how to make Himself invisible—that would be God!” In the dangerous environment of mainland China, some brothers and sisters, seeing that I had gone to their place, risked their safety to host and protect Me, while others fled, disappearing without a trace. Some even watched with amusement, looking on from the sidelines. Who are these people? They are the nonbelievers, antichrists. When these people saw Me with nowhere to hide, how did they perceive this situation? How did they understand it? “Christ is also in danger, about to be captured. Alas, the church is finished, the work of God’s house is done for. This stage of work is a mistake, what God testified is wrong—this isn’t what God testified. I better hurry up and live my own life; I’m off to go make a fortune!” This is the behavior of an antichrist. When Christ faced being hunted with nowhere to hide and no place to rest His head, instead of joining hearts to suffer with God and continuing the church’s work with Him in such an environment, they became bystanders who watched Him and mocked. They even incited others to cause destruction, disruptions, and disturbances, and furthermore, when some people saw Me with nowhere to hide and no place to settle, they took the opportunity to disturb the church’s work and seize the property of God’s house. This is just like how when Jesus was crucified, many nonbelievers and antichrists thought, “The church is finished, God’s work is done for, completely demolished by Satan. We better escape and start dividing up the goods!” Regardless of the circumstances they face, these nonbelievers and antichrists will always reveal their vicious dispositions, revealing the true features of nonbelievers. Whenever the church encounters the slightest sign of trouble or adverse circumstances, they want to flee at once, eager for all the brothers and sisters to disband, retreat, and no longer follow Christ. They earnestly wish that this stream is wrong, and that God’s work is left incomplete. These are the true features of antichrists. This is the attitude of antichrists toward Christ when facing such circumstances.

3. Their Behavior When They Engender Notions About Christ

Another item is the manifestations of antichrists when they have notions about the flesh of God incarnate. For instance, when they see the incarnate God doing certain things or saying certain words that are very human-like, not perceiving the slightest hint of divinity, they develop resistance and engender notions and condemnation from the depths of their hearts, thinking, “No matter how I look at Him, that person doesn’t seem like God; He just looks like an ordinary person. If He’s like a human, then can He still be God? If He’s a human, wouldn’t following Him like this be incredibly foolish?” They engender notions about Christ’s speech and actions, about Christ’s lifestyle, His clothing and appearance, and even the way He speaks, His tone, His choice of words, and so on—they can engender notions about all of these. When these notions arise, how do they respond? They harbor these thoughts and don’t let them go, believing that grasping these notions is like seizing the key. They think that this “key” comes just in time, that once they have these notions, it gives them leverage, and once they have leverage, it becomes easy to handle. This is how antichrists think; they feel that having notions is equal to holding leverage, and so they can deny Christ at any time and place and can deny the fact that the flesh in which God is incarnate possesses the essence of God. Some people ask, “Why do antichrists harbor such intentions?” Tell Me, do the antichrists, those of Satan’s cohort, hope for the successful completion of God’s work, or not? (They do not.) Why don’t they hope for it? What gives it away? Antichrists are inherently averse to the truth, and all words expressed by God are the truth, which they find thoroughly repulsive in their hearts and are unwilling to listen to or accept. God’s words of exposure and judgment to mankind are condemnations of these antichrists and evil people, and for them, these words are condemnations, judgments, and curses, making them feel uncomfortable and uneasy when they hear them. What do they think in their hearts? “All of these words that God speaks are judging and condemning me. It seems that someone like me cannot be saved; I’m the type that gets cast out and rejected. Since I have no hope of being saved, what’s the point of believing in God? But the fact is that He is still God, He is the flesh in which God is incarnate, who has spoken so many words and has so many followers. What should I do about this?” This matter makes them anxious; if they can’t gain something, they don’t want others to have it either. If others can gain it while they cannot, they become bitterly hateful and unhappy. They hope that the incarnate God is not God and that the work He does is false and not done by God. This way, they feel balanced inside, and the problem is resolved at its root. They think to themselves, “If this person is not the incarnate God, then aren’t those who follow Him being fooled? If that’s the case, then sooner or later these people will disband. If they disperse and none of them gain anything, then I can rest easy and feel balanced knowing I didn’t gain anything, right?” This is their mentality; they can’t gain anything, so they don’t want others to gain anything either. The best way to prevent others from gaining anything is to deny Christ, to deny the essence of Christ, to deny the work that Christ has done, and to deny all the words spoken by Christ. This way, they won’t be condemned, and they are resigned to and at peace with not gaining anything, no longer needing to be concerned about this matter. This is the nature essence of people like antichrists. So, do they have notions about Christ? And when they have notions, do they resolve them? Can they let them go? They cannot. How are their notions engendered? It’s easy for them to engender notions: “When You speak, I scrutinize You, trying to understand the motive behind Your words and where they come from. Are they something You’ve heard or learned, or did someone instruct You to say them? Did someone make a report or lodge a complaint to You? Who are You exposing?” They scrutinize in this way. Can they understand the truth? They can never understand the truth; they resist it in their hearts. They are averse to the truth, resist it, and hate it, and they listen to sermons with this kind of nature essence. Apart from theories and doctrines, all they gather are notions. What kind of notions? “Christ speaks this way, sometimes even telling jokes; that’s not reverent! He sometimes uses allegorical sayings; that’s not serious! His speech isn’t eloquent; He’s not highly educated! Sometimes He has to ponder and think about His choice of words; He didn’t attend university, did He? Sometimes His speech targets someone specific—who? Has someone lodged a complaint? Who was it? Why does Christ always criticize me when He speaks? Is He watching and observing me all day long? Does He spend the whole day pondering about people? What’s Christ thinking in His heart? The speech of God incarnate doesn’t sound like the thunderous voice of the God in heaven with its unquestionable authority—why does what He manifests seem so human-like? He’s just a person, no matter how I look at Him. Does God incarnate have any weaknesses? Does He hate people in His heart? Does He have any philosophy for worldly dealings in His interactions with people?” Aren’t these notions plentiful? (Yes.) The thoughts of antichrists are filled with things unrelated to the truth, all stemming from Satan’s thinking and logic, from Satan’s philosophy for worldly dealings. Deep within, they are brimming with wickedness, filled with a state and a disposition that are averse to the truth. They come not to seek or gain the truth, but to scrutinize God. Their notions can arise anytime, anywhere, and they engender notions while observing, while scrutinizing. Their notions form during their judgment and condemnation, and they hold onto these notions tightly in their hearts. When they observe the human side of God incarnate, they engender notions. When they see the divine side, they become curious and astonished, which also leads to engendering notions. Their attitude toward Christ and toward the flesh in which God is incarnate is not one of submission or of genuine acceptance from the depths of their hearts. Instead, they stand opposite Christ, observing and scrutinizing His gaze, thoughts, and bearing, and even observing and scrutinizing every expression of Christ, listening to every kind of tone, intonation of speaking, and choice of words, and to what is referred to in Christ’s speech and so on. When antichrists observe and scrutinize Christ in this way, their attitude is not one of intending to seek the truth and understand it so that they can accept Christ as their God and accept Christ to be their truth and become their life. On the contrary, they want to scrutinize this person, to thoroughly scrutinize and comprehend Him. What are they trying to comprehend? They are scrutinizing how this person resembles God, and if He truly resembles God, they accept Him. If no matter how they scrutinize Him, He doesn’t seem like God, then they completely give up on the idea and continue to hold onto notions about the incarnate God, or, believing there’s no hope of receiving blessings, they look for an opportunity to leave quickly.

It’s quite normal for antichrists to engender notions about the flesh in which God is incarnate. Due to their essence as antichrists, their essence which is averse to the truth, it’s impossible for them to let go of their notions. When nothing is happening, they read from the book of God’s words and see these words as God, but upon coming into contact with the incarnate God and finding that He does not resemble God, they immediately engender notions and their attitude changes. When not in contact with the incarnate God, they merely hold the book of God’s words and regard His words as God, and they can still harbor a vague fantasy and an intention of receiving blessings to reluctantly exert some effort, do some duties, and play a role in God’s house. But, as soon as they come into contact with the flesh in which God is incarnate, their minds swarm with notions. Even if they are not pruned, their enthusiasm for doing their duties may significantly wane. This is how antichrists treat God’s words and the flesh in which God is incarnate. They often separate God’s words from the flesh in which God is incarnate, treating God’s words as God and the flesh in which God is incarnate as a human. When the flesh in which God is incarnate doesn’t align with or violates their notions, they quickly turn to God’s words and pray-read them, trying to forcibly suppress their notions and lock them away. Then, they worship God’s words as if they were worshiping God Himself, and it seems as though their notions have been resolved. In reality, however, their inner noncompliance and contempt toward Christ are not resolved at all. In their treatment of Christ, antichrists continually engender notions and stubbornly cling to them until death. When they don’t have notions, they scrutinize and analyze; when they do have notions, not only do they scrutinize and analyze, they also stubbornly hold onto them. They neither resolve their notions nor seek the truth; they are convinced that they are right. Is this not satanic? (Yes.) These are the manifestations of antichrists when they have notions about God incarnate.

4. Their Behavior When They Are Promoted or Dismissed

In the church, some people have a bit of caliber and some ability to carry out work. When they get promoted, their enthusiasm is great, they actively do their duties, take responsibility, are willing to pay the price, and also have loyalty. However, when they are dismissed from their position because of an incapacity to perform the work and lose their status, their attitude toward God changes. When they had status, they spoke to God like this: “The brothers and sisters of our family are like so, our family’s building needs to be renovated, our family’s yard needs to be tidied up....” Everything is about “our family.” When they were promoted, they became part of God’s house, they were seemingly of one heart with God, like family, able to take care of the work of God’s house in consideration of God’s heart and alongside Him, and interact with God as equals. When they were promoted and placed in an important position, they felt honored, and at the same time, felt their responsibility. Whether speaking to Me or to the brothers and sisters, they often said “our family.” Upon hearing this, you’d think this person is not bad, has a good heart, is warm-hearted, treats God’s house as their own home, cares about and has so much responsibility toward everything, and thinks out everything in advance, appearing to be someone who pursues the truth and is enthusiastic about paying the price. But do they still speak like this after they are dismissed? Once they are dismissed, they no longer have the same mood—that attitude is gone. They no longer say “our family,” and when asked to do something, they are no longer so enthusiastic. What do they think? “Before, when you promoted me, I had status, and I was wholeheartedly with you. Now that I have no status, we are no longer a family, so you do it yourself. Don’t confer with me about how you do it, and don’t let me know, it has nothing to do with me. I’ll just deliver messages for you and that’s all—I’ll do a bit of whatever you ask me to do, but I am no longer of one heart with you.” They then treat you as an outsider. If you ask them to do something, they work as if they’re just doing a job for someone else, superficially going through the motions. Previously they might have done five tasks, but now they just do one or two, just going through the process, muddling through, doing some superficial work, and that’s it. Why is this so? They say: “Before, I was wholeheartedly with you, helping you with this and that, treating your matters as my own, as our common task, working on your behalf. But then you just dismissed me without considering my feelings at all! You don’t consider my feelings—how can I work for you? If you promote me again and give me status, that’ll be okay. But if you don’t give me status, then forget it. If you want to call on me to do things again, it won’t work as well as before. If you use me, you have to give me fame and status. If there is no status, and you instead just give a command and expect me to do some work, where’s the recognition in that? There should be some explanation!” Now when you speak, it’s no longer effective. When you ask them to do something, they’re no longer as dedicated as before, no longer devoting their whole heart and mind; their attitude has changed. If you ask them to do something again, or if God’s house asks them to do something, they treat it as an extra task, as an outsider’s affair, as if them going to do it is already giving you great face. They feel that if they don’t do it, it seems unjustifiable, especially since they believe in God. But if they do go to do it, they do so unwillingly and just go through the motions. Why do they do this? They think, “I trusted you 100% before, treated your matters as my own, but then you threw me aside just like that, which hurt my heart and my self-esteem; you ignored me. Fine, if you’re unkind to me, don’t blame me for being unrighteous. If you use me again, I can’t possibly be like before, because our relationship has already broken down. I’m not so easily ordered around, to come when called and go when sent away. Who am I? If it weren’t for believing in God, would I let others manipulate me like this?” When antichrists are dismissed and lose their status, their attitude can undergo such a significant change. When they had status, although they called God’s house “our family” and spoke of it often, they didn’t really treat the matters of God’s house as their own. After being dismissed and losing their status, if God’s house asks them to do their duty, they are unwilling to do so without negotiation, and even then, they require an explanation or some sort of recognition. Some even say, “Last time you dismissed me, throwing me aside just like that. If you want me to do something now, unless the man used by the Holy Spirit personally speaks to me, or God incarnate Himself comes to speak to me, otherwise, forget it!” How presumptuous they are! Tell Me, should God’s house use such people? (No.) They think they are someone significant, but in fact, God’s house doesn’t value such people. No matter how talented, capable, or skilled at leadership you are, God’s house will not use you. Some may ask, “Is it because You won’t bow to evil people?” No; this is the administrative decree of God’s house and its principle in using people. If antichrists were allowed to hold power in God’s house, would it be a good or bad thing for the brothers and sisters, for the church? (A bad thing.) Can God’s house do such a bad thing? Absolutely not. When it was not revealed that they were an antichrist, God’s house reluctantly promoted them to render service. Once it was revealed that they were an antichrist, could God’s house still promote them? It’s not possible. They are engaging in fantasy and thinking quite wishfully. Some antichrists think like this: “Humph, God’s house can’t function without me. No one in God’s house can take on this work besides me. Who could replace me?” Antichrists want to make this claim. Let’s show them whether God’s work can proceed smoothly and achieve completion without these antichrists in God’s house.

The smooth progress and development of various work in God’s house now—does it have anything to do with clearing out and expelling all sorts of antichrists and evil people from the church? It’s extremely related! The antichrists do not realize this; they are unaware that it is precisely because of their being cleared out, expelled, and restricted that the work of God’s house can progress smoothly—they even put on airs and complain! What are you complaining about? You think you’ve got talent and brains, caliber and the ability to do work, but what can you do in God’s house? These people merely play the role of Satan’s lackeys, of disturbing and sabotaging God’s work. Without their presence, the church life of God’s chosen people, the life of doing their duties, and their everyday life would all be more tranquil, smoother, and more peaceful—something antichrists don’t realize. These antichrists overestimate their capabilities and don’t realize what they really are. They think that God’s house cannot function without them, that the work cannot be carried out and the various technical tasks cannot proceed without them. They do not understand that it is righteousness and truth that hold power in God’s house. Why don’t they know? Why can’t antichrists understand such a simple matter? This only shows that antichrists have an essence that is averse to the truth and hostile toward it. It is precisely because they are averse to the truth and hostile toward the truth that they do not know what the truth is, do not know what positive things are. On the contrary, they think that their wicked, malicious behaviors that resist God are good and correct, without any mistakes. They believe that only they understand the truth, are loyal to God, and only they are worthy of holding power in God’s house. They are wrong! It is the truth that holds power in God’s house. All antichrists are to be condemned, rejected, and cast out; they cannot possibly have a place in God’s house and can only be forever rejected.

Some antichrists possess some gifts, a bit of caliber, and some capability, and are skilled in playing power games. They think that in God’s house, they should be the ones to be promoted and placed in important positions. But looking at it today, that’s not the case. These people have been condemned, restricted, and rejected, and some have even been cleared out or expelled from the church. They never imagined that such “noble” figures like themselves, with great abilities and high aptitudes, would actually stumble in God’s house and be rejected. They just can’t understand why. So, should we continue to work on them? There’s no need. Can you reason with Satan? Trying to reason with Satan is like preaching to the deaf; there’s only one way to describe Satan—impervious to reason. It’s like how some people say, “God asks people to be honest, but what’s so good about being honest? What’s wrong with telling a few lies, deceiving people? What’s wrong with being crooked and deceitful? What’s wrong with being disloyal? What’s wrong with being slick, with being perfunctory? What’s wrong with judging God? What’s wrong with having notions about God? What’s wrong with rebelling against God, what big mistake is that? It’s not really a matter of principle!” Even some people say, “Isn’t it very normal for someone capable to establish their own independent kingdom? In this world, it’s all about the big fish eating the little fish, a world of the strong preying on the weak. If you have the ability, you should go ahead and create your own kingdom, what’s wrong with that? Everyone has as much power as their ability determines, and should govern however many people their power allows!” Others say, “What’s wrong with being promiscuous? What’s the issue with promiscuity? What’s wrong with following wicked trends?” and so on. After hearing these words, what do you feel? (Disgusted.) Just disgusted? After hearing these words, one feels, “We all wear the same human skin, so why do some people not only not detest these negative things but even cherish them? And why do some people detest these things? Why is there such a big difference between people? How come those who are averse to the truth and positive things don’t love positive things? Why do they cherish negative things so much, even considering them as treasures? Why can’t they recognize the wickedness and loathsomeness of these negative things?” Such reflections arise in people’s hearts. When hearing those words from the antichrists, people feel disgusted in one sense and speechless in another. The nature of such people is unalterable; they cannot change, which is why God says He doesn’t save devils or Satan. God’s salvation is for humankind, not for beasts or demons. People like these antichrists are exactly what God refers to as devils and beasts; they cannot be counted among humankind. This is clear, isn’t it?

5. Their Behavior to the Church in Changing Circumstances

How antichrists treat Christ depends on their mood—how many aspects of this item were fellowshipped just now? They treat Christ a certain way when confronted with being pruned, that’s one aspect. What else? (When they engender notions about God incarnate, when they’re promoted or dismissed, and when Christ was being hunted.) That totals four aspects. Let’s continue the fellowship. Antichrists are averse to the truth, so they believe in God not to gain the truth—they believe in God to receive blessings; they have their own plans, intentions, and purposes. Moreover, they like power and influence, so they believe in God with a wait-and-see attitude. How do they wait and see? It means that while they believe, they also observe to see if the number of people in God’s house is increasing, how the gospel work is expanding, whether it is smooth or not, and whether the influence of God’s house is continuously growing. Additionally, they also observe whether the number of people doing their duties in God’s house is increasing, whether there are more and more people willingly rendering service to God, and whether there are more and more people willing to do things for God’s house. They also observe the social and educational background of those doing duties in God’s house, what their identity and status in society are really like. Through observation, they see that more and more people believe in God, the number of people in God’s house is increasing, and more people are willing to forsake their families, jobs, and prospects to do their duties in God’s house. When they notice these things, they feel they can no longer remain indifferent and should also devote themselves to the work of God’s house, to the ranks of those doing duties, becoming a member so that they too may have a share in the future blessings. Although they can do their duties in God’s house and play a role there, they never give up on their prospects and destiny, and remain continuously calculating in their hearts. Because this group, these antichrists, have such ambitions and dispositions, it determines that their attitude toward Christ and God will change as the status and fame of God’s house continue to rise. Therefore, in the process of doing their duties, in one regard, they are vigorously planning, calculating, and managing for the sake of their own prospects and destiny; in another, they are also watching the development of God’s house, its influence abroad and domestically, whether the number of people is gradually increasing, whether the scale of the church is continuously expanding, whether the church has connected with some well-known people in society, whether it has gained a certain level of renown in the West, and whether it has established a solid foundation. They are constantly watching and inquiring about these matters. Even some people who do not participate in the church’s work and do not do their duties are constantly calculating for the sake of their own prospects and destiny, showing great curiosity about the development of the church. Thus, they both search for this information on the church’s website and inquire about these matters within the church. When they find out that the work of God’s house overseas is expanding smoothly and becoming more promising, that the work in the West is expanding better and the situation is improving, they feel reassured in their hearts. Does their feeling of reassurance indicate a true change in them? (No.) While they feel reassured, their attitude toward God incarnate, toward Christ, is merely a little more “respect” and admiration, without true submission.

When Christ was working in mainland China, antichrists often wondered, “Can God incarnate be arrested? Can He fall into the hands of the governing authorities?” When they thought this way, they developed a bit of contempt for this “insignificant person.” When they heard that God incarnate often had no place to call home, no place to rest His head, and was hiding wherever He could to avoid being caught, their slight curiosity and very reluctant “respect” for God incarnate were completely shattered. However, when they heard that God incarnate, Christ, was in the United States, in the land of freedom that humankind yearns for, they felt envy toward God incarnate—not respect, but envy. But when they heard that God incarnate was in the West, rejected, slandered, condemned, and judged among humankind, waves of turmoil arose in the depths of the antichrists’ hearts: “You are God, why don’t people accept You? You are God, why doesn’t the religious community accept You, but instead spreads so many rumors about You? Why don’t You come forward to defend Yourself? You should hire a team of lawyers! Look at those defamatory and slanderous words online, the rumors created by the religious community that make You sound so terrible! We feel embarrassed to follow You, and it’s awkward to even mention these things. You are condemned in the East and in the West, rejected by the religious community, by humankind, by this world. We feel dishonored following You.” This is the mentality of the antichrists. While feeling dishonored in their hearts, they also developed disdain and sympathy—a most reluctant sympathy—for this “insignificant person” as they saw Him in their eyes and hearts. How did this sympathy arise? They thought, “You are doing such great work without worrying about personal gain or loss, which could be considered selfless dedication. Enduring such great suffering and humiliation, what are You aiming for? Logically speaking, You must be a good person; otherwise, how could You endure such great humiliation and suffer so much pain? It’s quite pitiable and not easy; You must feel very wronged in Your heart.” Thus, they felt a bit of sympathy for Christ. They pondered, “If it were me, I couldn’t bear such great suffering; I’d argue my case to humankind. In one regard, I’d hire a team of lawyers to erase those false rumors online, and in another, show some miracles and wonders in the religious community to let them see who God is—who is true and who is false—to shut the mouths of those who slander and condemn, to punish them and teach them a lesson. Wouldn’t they not dare to do it anymore? Why don’t You do that? Why don’t You ever defend Yourself? Is it because You lack the power, the courage, or the bravery? What’s really going on? Could it be cowardice? Oh, You have so much hidden in Your heart, enduring such great injustice and keeping silent, still expanding the work, and speaking patiently and earnestly to the people in the church, supplying them, yet they always have notions and are rebellious. Your heart must be suffering! Seeing that You can endure all this, You are indeed a pretty good person, deserving of sympathy.” That’s how their sympathy came about. This is the sympathy of the antichrists. From the beginning of exposing antichrists until now, this is the only kind of “good” they have done. How well is this “good” done? Is it genuine? (No.)

The antichrists follow Christ and have accepted the words spoken by Christ for many years, yet they have never felt honored for being able to accept Christ as their Savior in this life, nor have they ever felt honored to suffer as Christ did, being condemned and rejected by the world just like Christ. Instead, they regard the sufferings of Christ as leverage and evidence with which to despise and deny Christ. They do not have the willingness or attitude to share in all these sufferings with Christ. Rather, they stand as onlookers, observing all the sufferings Christ endures, observing how humankind treats Christ, and they base their treatment of Christ on these observations. When God’s name is proclaimed and the gospel work gradually expands among all humankind, and the prospects of the gospel work look promising, antichrists gradually draw closer to God incarnate, feeling a bit of respect and envy for Him. At the same time, they make great efforts to draw closer to God’s house, striving to become a member of God’s house and a part of the expansion of God’s work. Is it just that? Is it that simple? No; they change their attitude toward God’s house and Christ based on the status of the expansion of various work projects in God’s house, doing so at any time and any place. If they hear that among humankind, and especially in the West, a certain race of people says, “These words are truly God’s words, they really have authority! From God’s words, we see God’s essence, we are certain that this ordinary person is God, and this way is the true way,” the antichrists secretly rejoice in their hearts: “Fortunately, I didn’t leave; it really is the true way! Look, even the Westerners are saying where God incarnate is. I should listen more to His words, I need to hurry and listen to the sermons!” At this moment, the antichrists feel that God’s voice is so beautiful, so purifying to their souls, and they feel it should be cherished. However, when God’s house faces some occasional setbacks in the expansion of its work overseas and among humankind, or when God’s house’s work is disturbed or affected, interfered with by external forces, or even when God’s house faces some difficulties, the antichrists become unsettled in their hearts again: “Where is God incarnate? Is He speaking? How is this matter being handled? Does God make things right? Have God’s chosen people been frightened? Are there any who have left God’s house? Are there any well-known or senior people from the outside world speaking out or taking action for God’s house, or standing up for it? I heard there aren’t any. What should be done then? Is God’s church done for? Should I get out while I can?” Is this turmoil significant? At this moment, when listening to God’s sermons again, they think: “Don’t talk about those empty words or speak so loftily anymore. I’m not listening to You now. God’s house could be engulfed by the world at any moment; what use are those words? Can they save people? The influence of God’s house can disappear in the blink of an eye; its people will all scatter just like that.” They no longer like to listen to what I say. Is there any respect left? Any sympathy? (None.) What remains? Just a desire to watch and mock. Some people say nasty things behind the scenes, speak damaging words, and gloat over the misfortunes of God’s house: “I think trouble is brewing, I don’t think You can stand firm. Are those truths of any use? Are Your words effective? What now? Trouble has come, hasn’t it?” Their demonic side emerges. Isn’t everything antichrists do just what devils would do? They lack even the most basic human morals; they are utterly wicked, biting the hand that feeds them! They eat from God’s house, enjoy the sustenance of God’s words, enjoy God’s protection and grace, but at the first sign of trouble, they side with outsiders, betray the interests of God’s house, and gloat over its misfortunes. What are they, if not devils? They are devils through and through! When they see God’s house gaining momentum, they “plop” right down on their knees in front of God incarnate, as if they were followers of God. But when they see God’s house besieged and condemned by Satan, they no longer prostrate themselves before God. Instead, they stand proud and tall, believing themselves too dignified to kneel before anyone, waiting eagerly to mock you. The tone and volume of their speech when they talk to you also become louder; they start speaking officiously, acting abnormally, their demonic demeanor emerging, changing swiftly. Tell Me, when will these people ever fear God? (Never.) That’s exactly right, that’s a very true statement. These people are of Satan’s ilk; they will never fear God because they do not accept the truth—they belong to Satan. This is the nature essence of those belonging to Satan, the hideous face of antichrists, who belong to Satan. They are always ready to mock God’s house, always looking to ridicule God incarnate, constantly preparing and gathering material with which to deny Christ and deny God’s essence, and they are always ready to side with outsiders and betray the interests of God’s house. The more troubles God’s house faces, the happier and more delighted antichrists are. When the brothers and sisters can do their duties normally and everything about the work in God’s house is in order, they feel uncomfortable and discontent, wishing for troubles to promptly befall God’s house, hoping the work of God’s house doesn’t proceed smoothly, that it encounters setbacks and obstacles. In short, if everything is going well in God’s house, and the brothers and sisters can do their duties normally and act according to the truth principles, antichrists find no joy in their hearts. When the brothers and sisters listen to God’s words, practice according to His words, honor God and Christ as great, and can bear witness to and exalt Christ, it’s the most unbearable time for antichrists, the time they are most judged and tormented.

Antichrists inquire about various news in God’s house. If they cannot find out for a long time how the expansion of the gospel work of God’s house is progressing, how the various professional tasks in God’s house are developing, whether they are proceeding smoothly, whether the number of people overseas is increasing, whether the scale of the church is expanding, whether churches have been established in various countries, or if they cannot hear about more aspiring individuals or people of renown in society entering God’s house, then they feel that believing in the incarnate God is boring and uninteresting. They stop paying attention to the God incarnate and even consider joining other more vibrant or influential denominations. However, if they occasionally hear some good news about God’s house, such as videos of brothers’ and sisters’ testimonies sparking interest and drawing significant attention in some human rights organizations, their hearts are filled with happiness, hope, and joy. For instance, if God’s house receives attention or coverage from a well-known group, they become even more delighted and excited: “It seems this ordinary person is not simple at all; it looks like He’s going to accomplish something great!” If the name of the church is fortunately mentioned by a prominent figure or even a leader, antichrists become even more stirred up: “In this life, I have made the biggest and most accurate choice, which is to follow Almighty God. From now on, I have decided never to leave Almighty God, to treat Him as God, and to revere Him in my heart, because this God is respected by the leader So-and-so. If he respects Him, then I should respect Him too. This God has been named and recognized by leaders, so what regrets could there be in believing in Him and following Him? Shouldn’t I follow Him even more resolutely? From now on, I am determined never to entertain the idea of leaving The Church of Almighty God. I must perform well, endure more suffering, pay a greater price, confer more with the brothers and sisters when doing things, and follow whatever the church says. Maybe in the future, as the church expands and I gain greater renown, I might get a high-ranking title and stand out!” Thinking about this, they feel delighted in their heart: “I made such a good, such an accurate choice! How clever am I! I had even thought about leaving before—how foolish and ignorant I was at that time! I was young and impulsive, prone to making wrong choices and judgments. Now that I’m older, I’ve become more stable and know how to hide, and I finally see hope. Thankfully I didn’t leave, didn’t believe those rumors, and wasn’t misled or swayed by them. That was quite dangerous! I need to be more careful in the future. It seems this person is extraordinary, and I must treat Him well!” Upon getting excited and impulsive, they bought some health products and some nice things to offer, writing on them: “Dedicated to my beloved God, with the following items.” At the bottom, they signed: “Specially presented, respectfully submitted by So-and-so on such-and-such a date.” This was a special and valuable gift, but there’s a story, an ulterior motive behind it. Hearing this, wouldn’t you say, “So this is how You’ve been understanding the offerings people give to God?” It’s not that I understand it this way, nor do all people act in this manner, and not all offerings come with such motives. However, it cannot be denied that some people’s act of offering things is indeed influenced and driven by such intentions and such a background. Is this an objective view? (Yes.)

When antichrists calculate everything in their minds, their primary consideration is self-interest. They are selfish and despicable, having their own calculations in everything. Regarding the progress of the various tasks in God’s house, most of those who pursue the truth, as well as the majority of all ordinary believers, don’t wish to know or inquire about such matters, because knowing about these general affairs has no relevance to pursuing the truth. Being aware of them is of no use; it doesn’t mean you possess life or the truth, nor does ignorance of them imply you are of small stature. These matters are unrelated to the truth and do not aid in understanding the truth or achieving fear of God whatsoever. This is a level that people with reason can reach. However, antichrists cling to these matters tenaciously, treating them as the supreme truth. They inquire and collect information about these matters. After collecting information about these matters, they don’t just keep it to themselves; they spread it everywhere, believing that every brother and sister is curious about these things, though in reality, many people are not interested. I rarely inquire about these matters Myself. If I happen to meet someone involved, I might chat about it, but I don’t actively seek out people to inquire. There’s only one situation where I do inquire: concerning how some work should be done, the progress of your work, and whether there are any problems or oversights. Only in this case do I inquire, but apart from this, I absolutely don’t inquire out of curiosity or concern. My inquiries are related only to the work, not to the source of the information or curiosity. Antichrists, who do not love the truth, are keen to delve into these matters, and they have a specific purpose in doing so. They use external situations and environments, including the church’s circumstances in various periods and among different denominations, races, and ethnic groups, to judge the rightness or wrongness of God’s work and even to judge whether Christ is God. What sorts of creatures are they? Are they believing in God? Clearly, they are nonbelievers. No matter how much truth you fellowship, they cannot hear or understand it. However, they inquire in great detail about the external evaluations of the church and the church’s status and circumstances in various countries, virtually indistinguishable from nonbelievers. These are the manifestations of nonbelievers with a hidden agenda. Are there any such people around you? You might not have noticed. Each time we gather and expose the various essences of antichrists, a portion of these people are condemned. Once exposed, their true colors recede, and they dare not show themselves. Especially after this fellowship, some people will no longer dare to inquire. But although they may not dare to ask directly anymore, they still gather rumors behind the scenes. They stop asking among the brothers and sisters but secretly inquire on the internet. In addition, they go out of their way to find out what unbelievers, denominations, and Western countries think and say about our church, almost like they’re crazed. Isn’t this a bit deranged? They are obsessed, they can’t help themselves. People who do not love the truth and are averse to the truth are beyond reasoning.

What we just exposed is how antichrists treat the church and the flesh in which God is incarnate according to the church’s circumstances and the expansion of God’s work. This is one aspect of how antichrists treat Christ depending on their mood. Are these things I’ve discussed happening in the church? Are they serious matters? Are they worth mentioning? (Yes.) What is the value in fellowshipping these matters? Does it mean that after hearing this, some people will no longer dare to inquire about these matters, no longer daring to be curious about the church’s situation and circumstances? Is that the only value? (No.) Then, what is the value in exposing these things? What truth should people understand from this? If you haven’t thought of it yet, you can refrain from speaking. I will fellowship it with you at the end. These matters are too distant from you, so you might find it difficult to articulate them immediately. You need to collect your thoughts and organize your language; you might not know where to start, or you might not be able to express it clearly. The amount of things people understand is too little, it’s very pitiful. Not being able to clearly explain the essence and cause of a matter is a sign of not seeing through things.

When people believe in the God in heaven and expend themselves and do their duties for God, one could say that the church, God’s house, and God are basically the same concept for people. Doing one’s duty in the church is considered expending oneself for God; doing things for God’s house is the same as doing things for the church, and it is also being loyal to God and accepting God’s commission. These can be discussed interchangeably and are seen as one concept. However, when God becomes flesh and appears as an ordinary person, for most people, the church, God’s house, and God (that is, Christ) become easily separable. People think, “Doing things for the church is the same as doing things for God’s house, for God; doing things for God’s house is doing one’s duty. But things aren’t so clear when it comes to doing things for Christ. Doesn’t it imply serving a person? It somehow seems like working for a person.” Deep in the hearts of many, it’s hard to clearly distinguish and to connect these three. For most people, when they do their duties in God’s house, this is their basic concept regarding whom they do their duties for: When they do their duties within the church, they are doing their duties for the sake of the entity that is the church, this designation. Then who is the so-called superior of the church? Of course, it’s the God in heaven, which is unquestionable in everyone’s mind. Doing things for God’s house is understood by most people as serving the title and group of the brothers and sisters, and it can certainly be categorized as doing one’s duty; it is doing one’s duty, which is of course also directed toward God. Therefore, in people’s minds, the church, the brothers and sisters, and God’s house can be equated, all targeting the vague God in heaven. What does this imply? For most people, in God’s house, whether doing their duties or managing affairs, they are doing it for the church as an intangible institution, the tangible group of brothers and sisters, and especially the vague, invisible God in heaven—it is these three that they do their duties for. As for God incarnate, people might consider Him as a member of the church, or as the highest leader among the brothers and sisters, and of course some also understand Christ as a spokesperson or representative of God’s house. Therefore, for many people, the concept of whom they are doing their duties for in the church is very vague. For instance, if one is asked to do something for the brothers and sisters, or provide a service, they feel completely justified in doing so. Or if they are asked to do something for the church or God’s house, they are happy to do it, feeling it is their undeniable duty. However, if the incarnate Christ charges or entrusts them with a similar task, they feel disheartened: “Doing work for a person? I didn’t come to believe in God to serve people; I came to do my duty. I’m not here to wait on someone, I’m not here to serve or render service for someone!” There are many people doing their duty in the church. If you ask them to do something for the church, to do something for God’s house or the brothers and sisters, they accept these tasks with joy, feeling they have a solid basis for doing so. What basis? “I accept this from God; it is my duty, my responsibility.” But when the incarnate God asks them to do something, their theory of “accepting it from God” disappears, and they become reluctant and unhappy, unwilling to do it. They think, “If it’s for the church, it’s okay, because I’m someone who does work for the church; if it’s for the brothers and sisters, they all belong to God’s house, to God, then that’s also fine; if it’s for God’s house, the name ‘God’s house’ is so sacred, so grand and noble, then doing things for God’s house is perfectly justified; it brings glory and recognition. But to do something for an insignificant person like You, what is that? Is that doing my duty? It doesn’t seem right or proper. This isn’t doing my duty, nor is it work. How should I treat this?” They face a dilemma, unsure how to handle it. They ponder, “This isn’t work, nor is it doing my duty, and it certainly isn’t benefiting the brothers and sisters. If You ask me to do it for You, fine, I’ll do it simply, but I won’t be happy or satisfied about it. It doesn’t seem right or proper! Who will remember or know what I do for You? Can it win anyone’s favor? Will it earn me any reward? Does this count as doing my duty? Should I do it according to the truth principles?” They are unwilling in their heart, feeling it to be an inconvenience, unnecessary, like accepting a task they shouldn’t accept. They feel troubled and reluctantly do it, all the while hoping for some benefit, and even vocally expressing, “I don’t want to do this,” showing great reluctance. I say if you don’t want to do it, you don’t have to. I don’t force anyone to do personal tasks for Me. If you want to do it, do it; if not, I’ll find someone else. Whoever is willing, I’ll ask them. Isn’t that simple? With so many people following in God’s house, it’s easy to find someone who is agreeable and willing to do the work. I can find such a person. It’s not essential to choose you; this is very easy! Is it difficult to find someone in God’s house who is reliable, guileless, and capable of handling tasks? (No.) Although I have not developed a particularly close or good relationship with any individual privately, nor have I had any personal friendships or deep emotional connections, over these thirty years, it is all My words that everyone in The Church of Almighty God has eaten and drunk, and listened to. These people, whether in essence or deep within their hearts, on the surface or verbally, believe in and follow Me. Although I have not directly given anyone special benefits or promises, nor have I directly praised or promoted anyone, everyone who has followed Me from the beginning until now has eaten and drunk plenty of God’s words. Through what I have spoken, whether these people have understood some truths or understood doctrines of self-conduct, haven’t they all gained quite a bit? (Yes.) From this perspective, I shouldn’t owe anything to you, right? I shouldn’t say this, but today here I need to mention it. Shouldn’t it be you who owes Me something? (Yes.) So, if I personally ask any of you to do something, you shouldn’t be unwilling, right? (We are willing.) No matter from which perspective, when I ask you to do something, should I have to coax or fawn on you, or offer you pleasing words and promises? (No.) But some people are unwilling, saying: “Why is it so uninspiring to do something for You? Not only is there no benefit, but it’s also tiring and troublesome!” How do you feel when you hear this? (Indignant.) If an ordinary person, unremarkable in the eyes of the world, were visited by a high-ranking official who entrusted them with a task, they might try to flatter him in every way, feeling overjoyed and honored, and would never forget that small matter for their entire life. If people can treat someone of status like this, why can’t they do the same for Christ? Why is it unachievable for them? How come? (Because humans are inherently hostile toward God.) That’s correct; this only proves that point. People can be compatible with a high-status Satan, but from their hearts they despise Christ, resisting, rejecting, denying, and abandoning Him. If asked to bow and worship a devil, they would happily crawl on their knees, but when it comes to Christ, this ordinary person, from whom they have received so much, they are unwilling even to stand and speak or interact with God as equals. What are such creatures? They are demonic, not human. Later, I asked someone else to handle the task, and this individual was all right. The person who relayed the message about this said: “The individual handling the task this time is really happy, they’re very willing to do something for God.” I said, “Fine, if they’re willing, that’s good. But what’s the big deal about doing such a small task? It’s expected, there’s no need to send a message to declare it.” What do you think about this message that was relayed? How do you feel when you hear it? Does it leave you feeling cold? (It does.) Why does it make you feel cold? (It’s something people should do, but they’re trying to ingratiate themselves before God, as if doing something for God is granting God a huge favor.) So, what kind of person is the one who said this? What about their character? (They have low character, they lack conscience.) This is a lack of humanity.

For some people, as soon as they hear about God’s grace and blessings, about God providing for man, their hearts are deeply moved, and they incessantly thank God: “God loves man so much!” They are overwhelmingly excited! Whenever these topics are mentioned, these people’s eyes fill with tears, their hearts stirred, and they resolve to expend themselves diligently for God. But when they are asked to do a little something for this visible and tangible God incarnate, they feel immensely humiliated, reluctant, and unwilling. What’s going on here? (They believe in a vague God, not in the God incarnate. They regard the vague God in heaven as grand, but see the God incarnate as insignificant.) I’ve heard that some people are more than willing to clean shoes, wash socks, and even do laundry for the brothers and sisters, but when asked to do a little something for Christ, they are unwilling. Others can’t stand to watch this and say, “What’s wrong with this person? They’d rather do things for the brothers and sisters than for Christ. What kind of person is this?” Some people, when I assign them a task, having them act according to the principles of God’s house and the church’s regulations, don’t take it seriously after hearing it. They say: “What are You talking about? I need to ask the brothers and sisters; I need to consider the brothers and sisters, to benefit the majority of them.” For instance, I assigned some people the responsibility of planting fruit trees and also instructed them to visit the market to see what kinds of fruit trees are suitable for cultivation in this area. In one regard, they must be suitable for the local climate and soil, and in another, we should look at which fruits the local people consider to be of high nutritional value and choose those for planting in appropriate quantities. After I finished speaking, how should those who heard Me act? (They should promptly implement what You asked.) How should they implement it? (They should look up relevant information, ask knowledgeable people, learn about some details, and then implement it.) Implementing in this way is following My instructions, which are to consider the local climate and also to check which fruits are nutritious. Now, do you think My considerations were comprehensive and practical? However, how did those who heard My words implement them? They asked for the opinions of all the brothers and sisters in the local church, asking everyone what fruits they liked to eat, and then tallied up everyone’s favorite fruits to plant according to quantity and proportion. This is how they implemented it. They sought the opinions of the brothers and sisters, considering this group, this title, as supreme in their hearts. Serving the brothers and sisters is the purpose and goal of their duty. They believe that serving the brothers and sisters is serving God’s house, and serving God’s house is serving the brothers and sisters. If the brothers and sisters are happy and satisfied, God is also happy and satisfied. The brothers and sisters are the full representatives of God, the symbols of the truth, and the spokespeople of God. The brothers and sisters have the final say; they are the mainstay in God’s house. Therefore, no matter what is done, it cannot be separated from the title and group of the brothers and sisters. For anyone doing things or doing their duty in God’s house, only the brothers and sisters are the proper objects of their service. This was how they implemented it; what I said did not matter. No matter how detailed My instructions were, to them they were just hollow doctrines, mere slogans. They believed that allowing the brothers and sisters to fully express their opinions, granting them ample speaking and decision-making rights, and practicing democracy in God’s house, was the highest truth. No matter what I said, this was how they viewed it: “You’re just firing blanks, going through the motions, and then it’s the brothers and sisters’ business, not Yours anymore. You can stand aside! What we eat and drink has nothing to do with You; just pony up the cash and that’s it. We have food and drink, and that is the supreme truth. Serving God’s house, serving the brothers and sisters, making the brothers and sisters happy, allowing them to enjoy full human rights and freedom, this is the highest truth.” What kind of people are these? Isn’t this what antichrists would do? The first manifestation of antichrists being averse to the truth is that they condemn and deny the truth; then, they find an alternative set of theories and slogans that they believe are viable and hold water to implement, publicly flouting the truth, publicly condemning and rejecting Christ. It is in such a small matter that antichrists are revealed. Are they people who accept the truth? (No.)

I often hear some people say, “Oh, look how upset the brothers and sisters are”; or, “Oh, look how happy the brothers and sisters are”; or, “Oh, look how much the brothers and sisters are struck down; they are really suffering.” Why do the brothers and sisters hold such high status in their hearts? Why do they love the brothers and sisters so much? To love so many people, how magnanimous must they be? Fine then; I’ll say something and you do as I say, okay? You can accommodate so many people, adding just one more person like Me shouldn’t be a problem, right? You should be able to accommodate Me too? On the contrary, they cannot accommodate what I say, nor can they accommodate just Me. They can accommodate all the brothers and sisters, they can accommodate everyone in the church, but they just cannot accommodate Christ. What sort of creature is this? Is this a human being? Is such a person worthy of being a follower of Christ? (No.) Then how should we define them? (A devil, an antichrist.) Aren’t they misinterpreting the concept of democratic elections in God’s house? Involving the brothers and sisters in the affairs of God’s house, letting them express their opinions, letting them elect and replace leaders, and letting them make decisions—do they think that the brothers and sisters are supreme in God’s house? Isn’t this a misunderstanding of democratic elections in God’s house? What is the principle of democratic elections? Does allowing the brothers and sisters to vote democratically mean that they have the final say? Does it mean letting people’s corrupt dispositions have the final say? Does it mean letting devils and Satan hold power? No, it means letting the truth understood in the hearts of the brothers and sisters hold power, not the brothers and sisters themselves, these natural and corrupt humans. It is not letting impetuousness hold power, not letting human notions hold power, not letting human rebellion and resistance hold power, and not letting people’s wicked dispositions hold power—it is letting the truth hold power. Some people ask, “Why do some church elections end up electing antichrists, or why do church leaders and workers make wrong decisions?” That is because people’s stature is too small; they do not understand the truth and cannot discern people. However, the principle of church elections is based on the truth principles; it is founded on the truth. So, these antichrists—those who do not have spiritual understanding—what do they mistakenly believe? In God’s house, they think that the brothers and sisters are honored as great, that the brothers and sisters are exalted, that the title and group of the brothers and sisters are seen as honorable in the eyes of God. But in fact, are the brothers and sisters honorable? Do they possess the truth? Most brothers and sisters do not possess the truth reality, lack principles in their actions, and can even cause chaos in the various work projects of God’s house. If it weren’t for the intervention and timely correction and resolution of problems from the Above, could these brothers and sisters do their duties well? Not only could they not do their duties well, but they could also cause many disturbances and disruptions. Do these people have the truth? Are they worthy of being honored as great? They are not. Then why do antichrists still act this way? This is their innate nature. They find an excuse to deny the truth and condemn Christ—isn’t this their innate nature? They have the nature of Satan; they are uncontrollably driven by it!

The main focus of today’s fellowship is on how antichrists treat Christ depending on their mood. Every aspect of what we’re fellowshipping is related to the mood of antichrists. On the surface, it appears this way, but in fact, how does this mood arise? It is determined by the corrupt disposition and essence of antichrists. Due to having the essence of an antichrist, they engender all sorts of thoughts, and under the governance of these various thoughts, they engender various notions, viewpoints, perspectives, and stances, thereby generating various moods. After these moods arise, antichrists treat the God in heaven and the God on earth—Christ—in various ways and with various methods and attitudes. From these ways, methods, and attitudes, it’s enough to prove the essence of antichrists as being averse to the truth, being hostile toward the truth, denying Christ, and condemning Christ. Whenever they are confronted with matters involving the truth, and the essence and identity of God incarnate, they consciously stand in opposition to God, playing the role of God’s enemies. When nothing is wrong, they shout God’s name, even constantly referring to “God, my God” in their speech. Everything they say must start with a call: “God, look,” “God, do You know,” “God, listen to me,” “God, I have a matter to seek,” “God, this is the situation,” and so on. While calling out “God,” in their hearts, they are full of notions, hostility, and contempt toward Christ. When the church, God’s house, and Christ face various environments and circumstances, the attitude of antichrists toward Christ and God changes repeatedly, undergoing different transformations. When Christ makes demands of them and shows them kindness and amicability, their attitude seems quite gentle and meek; when Christ is severe with them, pruning them, their attitude toward Christ becomes one of repulsion, loathing, and contempt, even avoidance and rejection of Him. When Christ clearly promises them rewards and blessings, they secretly rejoice in their hearts, and even curry favor with, fawn on, and flatter Him, not hesitating to sacrifice their dignity and integrity to obtain these benefits. However, regardless of their attitude, they never have a true acceptance of and faith in Christ, much less do they genuinely submit to Him. Their attitude toward Christ is always one of avoidance, condemnation, and observant hesitancy, rejecting Him from the depths of their hearts. No matter where they are or what their mood is, their essence remains unchanged. Even if they occasionally show some unexpected changes or turns, these are temporary. The reason for this is that the nature essence of antichrists is hostile to Christ, so they will never sincerely accept this ordinary person as their Lord, their God.

The fellowship on the various aspects of how antichrists treat Christ depending on their mood has essentially been covered. The last issue to address, as I previously asked you, is what is the value of exposing these matters, and what is the truth that people should understand. The value of exposing these matters can be simply stated from two aspects. One aspect is that it exposes what the essence of people’s true attitudes toward God really is, allowing people to recognize the various manifestations of humankind’s corruption. This is beneficial for knowing oneself and for knowing people’s corrupt dispositions. The other aspect is that it lets people know what the correct attitude toward God should actually be. You might think that the way you treat God is already treating Him as God, but in fact, there is much impurity in this, many elements belonging to Satan—these are manifestations of antichrists, which God does not acknowledge or accept. This is an impurity that needs to be purified. There is both positive and negative value here: At the very least, from a negative perspective, it lets you know that these things are adverse, they are manifestations of an antichrist. The positive aspect is that it lets you know that God does not like these things, He does not accept your treating Him in this way. The implication is that, no matter how correct, how good, how logical, or how in line with human sentiments people believe their treatment of God is, God does not buy it. If God does not buy it, then what should you do? If you say, “I will do it this way, I believe it’s good and I’ll stick to it; regardless of whether You buy it or not, I am just being upright,” is this okay? (No.) We won’t discuss whether this attitude is correct in regard to other matters; in treating God, acting this way is very dangerous, and you should reverse course. What should be the attitude of people toward things that God cannot accept? The only attitude people should have is to accept everything that comes from God; whether it seems good or bad to them, whether it sounds pleasing or harsh and disagreeable, they should unconditionally accept and submit, treating it as the truth to change and purify themselves. What is the value of exposing these matters? Hasn’t it been addressed from both negative and proactive aspects, from both positive and obverse perspectives? Then, what is the truth that people should understand? (God is the truth, God is the Creator. Whether incarnated in the flesh or appearing in any other way, the words He speaks are the truth, and we should unconditionally submit and accept.) Can everyone say amen to this statement? (Amen.) I also say amen to that; unconditionally accepting and submitting, this is the truth. No matter in what form or manner God appears and lives among people, regardless of what form God exists in, God is forever God. This is the truth, and it’s the truth that people should most understand. Secondly, the attitude a created being should have toward God is one of unconditional submission. Additionally, there is another point people don’t understand: Why do people follow God? Is it to alleviate boredom? To fill their minds and address their spiritual emptiness? Is it to resolve their future destiny? Is it to be made clean, or to attend a university of truth? What do people seek to resolve by following God? This is something people need to know. (They seek to resolve their corrupt disposition.) Correct. People follow God to resolve their corrupt disposition. Can people resolve their corrupt disposition themselves? Can people with fame, knowledge, and education resolve it? Is there anyone among humankind who can resolve this issue? (No one can resolve it.) God has come today to resolve this problem; only God incarnate, only God Himself can resolve it. Why can the incarnate Christ, who appears to be the same as a human, resolve this problem? Humans have language, thoughts, and ideas, so why can’t they resolve it? Where does the difference lie? (God is the truth, the way, and life; humans do not possess the truth.) God is the truth, the way, and the life. Only by accepting this fact and accepting all of the flesh in which God is incarnate can people’s corrupt dispositions be resolved. This implies that people come before God to resolve their corrupt dispositions, which means coming to God to obtain the truth. Only by obtaining the truth can people’s corrupt dispositions be resolved. How can you resolve them without obtaining the truth? Can doctrines resolve a corrupt disposition? Can knowledge? Can notions and imaginings? They cannot. Only the practical God incarnate can help you resolve it. Therefore, it’s futile to worship any famous figure, great person, or sage; they cannot resolve your real difficulties or save you. Moreover, learning any subject, profession, or body of knowledge cannot resolve your real difficulties or real issues. If you say, “I just look down on this ordinary person,” then your view needs to change. The fact is as it is; this is how God has acted. If you want to accept God as your life, you should accept every sentence God says and every action God takes. If you acknowledge God as the truth, then you should believe and admit the unequivocalness and absoluteness of the fact that no matter in what way or form God exists or appears, He is always the truth. After admitting this fact, with what attitude should you then treat the flesh in which God is incarnate, this ordinary person? There lies the truth to be sought.

Exposing the manifestations of how antichrists treat Christ depending on their mood, what is the underlying truth that people should understand? Summarize a few items so that they’re clarified and you understand and are clear about this truth. (We summarized four items: The first is that God is always God, and this is the truth. The second is that the attitude a created being should have toward God is one of unconditional submission. The third is that God is the truth, the way, and life, and only by accepting this fact and accepting all of the flesh in which God is incarnate can people’s corrupt dispositions be resolved. The fourth is that if people acknowledge God as the truth, they should believe and acknowledge the unequivocalness of the fact that no matter in what way or form God exists or appears, He is always the truth.) Are these four items crucial? (Yes.) Actually, everyone knows each of these items in terms of doctrine, but when it comes to which truth principles are involved in the matter of how to treat Christ, people become confused when faced with actual situations. They don’t know how to practice them, and the truths they previously understood become mere doctrines that cannot be applied. This sufficiently shows that no matter how many doctrines people understand, it’s useless; without understanding the truth, their problems still can’t be resolved.

June 20, 2020