I Fell in the Light of Almighty God

August 22, 20150

Zhou Liwei

Bei’an City, Heilongjiang Province

I was a church leader of the Pentecostal Church in Bei’an City. I turned to the Lord by grace in 1993. Since then, reading the Bible had been my great pleasure. Several months later, I began to teach hymns and give sermons in my church. I always reckoned myself as a loyal believer of the Lord, who was most worthy to see the Lord in the future. However, when the Lord truly came, I became one who resisted His new work.

At the end of 1998, I attended a co-workers’ meeting called by the leader of the upper level. At the meeting, the leader said to us, “There now appears a false Christ, called the ‘Eastern Lightning.’ Nobody knows where this gang come from. They are very horrible. As long as you join them, you’ll never get out. If you try to do so, you’ll be beaten to death. They are purely ‘heretics,’ ‘cultists,’ and are wolves in sheep’s clothing. Tell the believers, throw them out when they come to their home, and if they don’t leave, beat them away with a stick. Such behavior is loyalty to God, not a sin.” I had no doubt about what he said, and began to hate the “Eastern Lightning” from my heart. After I came back, I immediately got the brothers and sisters together and indoctrinated them with what I heard from the leader in an exaggerated way, in order to prevent them from accepting the “Eastern Lightning.” And I also told them, “Without my permission, no one shall receive any outsider, not even your parents.” What’s more, I wrote on the blackboard the words of cursing the “Eastern Lightning,” which I put down at the co-workers’ meeting, and ordered them to recite together and to say these words in every prayer.

In May, 2001, two sisters who had once sustained me came to my home to preach God’s new work of the last days. I said to myself, “Even though you sustained me before, I can’t be soft on you.” I pulled a long face and said, “Get out of here! I don’t know you devils!” Seeing this, one sister said softly, “We mean no harm. We just came here to testify God’s new work to you. Sister, let me read God’s word to you and you’ll understand!” As the sister took out the book and was about to read, I grabbed the book with fury and dashed it to the ground, and shouted at her, “Read what? I don’t want to listen! I order you to leave at once in the Lord Jesus’ name!” With that, I pushed and shoved them out of the door.

One day in the late fall of 2001, an elderly sister came to my home in the rain. When I was well aware that she was a believer of the “Eastern Lightning,” I said to her fiercely, “Who sent you here?” “God,” said the sister. “God expects you to come to Him earlier, so He gives me this burden. That’s God’s love!” I flung her a scornful smile, “You don’t deserve to talk about ‘love,’ I don’t need this kind of ‘love.’ Go away!” The sister said sincerely, “Sister, please don’t resist anymore. God truly has come and done a new work…” “Don’t talk nonsense here. I don’t want to listen. Go away!” As I was saying, I jerked the door open and shoved the sister out with force… I felt no guilty at all as I watched her doddering away in the heavy rain. After that, many people constantly came to my home to preach the gospel, but they were all refused by me by various means. Meanwhile, I put stringent measures in “flock guarding.” I paid a visit to every believer and told them never to go easy on the people of the “Eastern Lightning” and that it wasn’t a sin to treat them with any means.

Just when I spared no effort to resist Almighty God’s new work of the last days, my five-year-old child suddenly began to keep crying all day long. No matter how earnestly I prayed, there was no effect. I took her to the church and fasted and prayed with others for her. However, she not only didn’t turn better but got even worse instead. I was so exhausted that I couldn’t eat or sleep. Just when I was in anxiety, my child accidentally stepped her foot into the pan filled with hot dish. It was scalded and the whole skin peeled off, and she cried more fiercely. My husband hence shouted his complaints at me and quarreled with me every day. Furthermore, the church fell into a gradual decline, and I got no nourishment in preaching and received no moving of the Holy Spirit in praying. Facing all these, I was consumed by an unspeakable misery. The double pressure, the family problem and the desolation of the church, put me into a tight corner. Many times I called out to God with tears, “O God! Please turn and look at me. O God! What have I done to You? Please enlighten me. O God! I can’t live without You.”

pray,  Pictures of The Church of Almighty God

When I was in a bitter struggle of weakness and disappointment, Almighty God’s great love came to me again.

One day in January, 2003, I went to the home of a relative of mine (who believed in the Lord) on business. There I met several brothers and sisters who preached God’s new work of the last days. (At that time, I didn’t know they had accepted God’s new work.) At first, we fellowshipped very harmoniously. But when they talked about God’s new work of the last days, His judging and purifying men through words, and showed me the little scroll, I took the book and slammed it aside, and said, “I didn’t expect you’re the preachers of the ‘Eastern Lightning’! You are the tares plucked out by God. But you even attempt to deceive me. A colossal joke!” But the sister said mildly, “Sister, man cannot decide who are the tares and who are the wheat, for only God can separate the wheat from the tares. It says in John 4:37, ‘One sows, and another reaps.’ Here ‘One sows’ means that when Jesus did the redemptive work in His first incarnation, He sowed the seeds of the kingdom gospel in the world. ‘Another reaps’ refers to God’s carrying out the work of judgment with words in the last days through His incarnation and separating the good from the evil, that is, separating the wheat from the tares. When Jesus sowed the seeds, the tares and the wheat grew together. But when it’s time to reap, the wheat will be gathered into the barn and the tares will be burned with fire. Sister, God’s reaping is not as simple as man imagines. God has His own plan and He does not do the work according to man’s notions. For example, at the end of the Age of Law, the Israelites expected a king, like David, to lead them to overthrow the Roman rule. But when Jesus came, He didn’t work according to people’s concepts, and so people denied the truth expressed by Him, rejected Him, and nailed Him onto the cross. Today, God has done a new work on the basis of redemptive work of the Age of Grace so as to bring the people from the Age of Grace into the Age of Kingdom. Though this stage of work is likewise inconsistent with man’s notions, yet those who truly belong to God can drop their notions and seek the truth, and they can accept God’s new work and seek the transformation of their disposition and finally become sanctified. Such people are the wheat in God’s eyes. If those who don’t know God’s work and condemn it with their notions insist on refusing to accept it until the end of the work, then they will be the tares in God’s eyes. Just as Almighty God says: “The return of Jesus is a great salvation for those who are capable of accepting the truth, but for those who are unable to accept the truth it is a sign of condemnation.” (from “When You Behold the Spiritual Body of Jesus Will Be When God Has Made Anew Heaven and Earth” in The Word Appears in the Flesh) Sister, today only those who keep up with God’s new work can be purified completely in the chastisement and judgment of God’s word, and the holy ones who are purified are the grains God desires to gain. Only such mankind can glorify God, manifest God, and testify God. These people have accepted the truth God expresses in the last days and kept pace with God’s footsteps. They are the very ones approved by God. So, we can’t confine God’s work within our imaginations and notions.” At this point, the sister read the following passage of God’s word to me: “When Jesus came into the world of man, He brought the Age of Grace and ended the Age of Law. During the last days, God once more became flesh, and when He became flesh this time, the Age of Grace ended and the Age of Kingdom began. All those who accept the second incarnation of God will be led into the Age of Kingdom, and be able to personally accept the guidance of God. Though Jesus did much work among man, He only completed the redemption of all mankind and became man’s sin offering, and did not rid man of all his corrupt disposition. Fully saving man from the influence of Satan not only required Jesus to take on the sins of man as the sin offering, but also required God to do greater work to completely rid man of his disposition, which has been corrupted by Satan. And so, after man was forgiven his sins, God returned to flesh to lead man into the new age, and began the work of chastisement and judgment, which brought man to a higher realm. All those who submit under His dominion shall enjoy higher truth and receive greater blessings. They shall truly live in the light, and shall gain the truth, the way, and the life.” (from “Preface” to The Word Appears in the Flesh) “I am never hurried in My work. No matter how man follows Me, I do My work in accordance with each step, as in My plan. Therefore, though you rebel against Me so much, I do not stop My work and still continue to speak the word I wish. I call to My house all those I predestined to listen to My word, then place all who obey and long for My word before My throne. Those who rebel against My word, those who do not obey and submit to Me, and those who openly defy Me, shall all be cast off to the side to await their final punishment. All men live in corruption and under the hand of the evil one, so not many of those who follow Me actually long for the truth. That is to say, most do not worship Me with a true heart or with the truth, but try to gain My trust through corruption, rebellion, and deceitful measures. It is for this reason I say, ‘Many are called, but few are chosen.’ All those called are deeply corrupted and live in the same age, but those who are chosen are only the ones who believe in and acknowledge the truth and who practice the truth. …” (from “Many Are Called, but Few Are Chosen” in The Word Appears in the Flesh) God’s words, with authority, struck my heart. “In the past, I thought I was most loyal to the Lord. But faced with my family problem and the desolation of the church, I either became weak or made complaints. Do I have any loyalty? I condemned and resisted Almighty God and despised and slandered the brothers and sisters who believed in Almighty God. Do I have any love? But the brothers and sisters in front of me, who were once considered as demons by me, have such a good living out, and they can suffer and pay the price for the sake of preaching Almighty God’s gospel.” Compared with them, I felt extremely ashamed, and tears rolled down my face. The brothers and sisters saw that I was moved by the Holy Spirit, and they all shed tears with excitement. I took the book of God’s word from the sister and read it sentence by sentence. Every word of God, which carried power, shook my heart. Almighty God says: “Do many people not oppose God and obstruct the work of the Holy Spirit because they do not know the varied and diverse work of God, and, furthermore, because they possess but a smidgeon of knowledge and doctrine with which to measure the work of the Holy Spirit? Though the experiences of such people are superficial, they are arrogant and indulgent in nature, and they regard the work of the Holy Spirit with contempt, ignore the disciplines of the Holy Spirit and, moreover, use their trivial old arguments to ‘confirm’ the work of the Holy Spirit. They also put on an act, and are wholly convinced of their own learning and erudition, and that they are able to travel across the world. Are such people not those who are rejected by the Holy Spirit, and will they not be eliminated by the new age? Are not those who come before God and openly oppose Him myopic little people, who are merely trying to show how clever they are? With but a meager knowledge of the Bible, they try to straddle the world’s ‘academia,’ with but a superficial doctrine to teach people, they try to reverse the work of the Holy Spirit, and attempt to make it revolve around their own thought process, and short-sighted as they are, they try to behold in one glance 6,000 years of God’s work. Do these people have any reason to speak of? In fact, the greater people’s knowledge of God, the slower they are to judge His work. Furthermore, they only talk a little of their knowledge of God’s work today, but they are not rash in their judgments. The less people know of God, the more arrogant and overconfident they are, and the more wantonly they proclaim God’s being—yet they only talk of theory, and offer no real evidence. Such people are of no value whatsoever.” (from “Knowing the Three Stages of God’s Work Is the Path to Knowing God” in The Word Appears in the Flesh) God’s words, like a sharp two-edged sword, pierced through my joints and marrow, and I knelt down, bursting into tears, “O Almighty God, I am the kind of person You speak of. I am arrogant and willful by nature and slight the work of the Holy Spirit, and I have shallow knowledge and am worthless. I, like a worm, dare to measure and condemn Your new work and reject Your coming by my only little Bible knowledge. Too arrogant I am! O God! I’m unworthy to live before You, and really deserve to be cursed. Thank You for Your mercy. You didn’t treat me according to my transgression but instead opened my blind eyes with Your words and showed me Your wonderful deeds. O God! I’m willing to accept Your work of the last days and accept the chastisement and judgment of Your word, so that I may become a person after Your heart, to glorify and testify Your holy name.”

It has been over one year since I accepted Almighty God’s new work. My family has restored to its former peace. I am performing my bounden duty under the guidance of God’s word, and feel very delighted. Dear brothers and sisters, maybe you are now full of suspicion and hostility toward Almighty God’s work of the last days and haven’t dropped your notions as I did before. I hope you may learn from my experience and come to Almighty God earlier. Almighty God will tell you all the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, and even more, bring you the truth, the way, and the life.

Recommendation:  The Church of Almighty God

What will the outcome of the CCP government and the religious world be after they madly condemn and resist God? | The Church of Almighty God

What will the outcome of the CCP government and the religious world be after they madly condemn and resist God?

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Bible Verses for Reference:

All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven to men: but the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven to men. And whoever speaks a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but whoever speaks against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, neither in the world to come (Mat 12:31-32).

But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! (Mat 23:13).

And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever (Rev 20:10).

I’d like to ask how we can find a better balance between our work, our families and seeking the truth? | The Church of Almighty God

Question 1: Living abroad, we are quite busy with our work and with things at home and sometimes we don’t have time to read God’s words or attend meetings. I feel that this is not putting God first, however, and I feel in my heart that I owe God. I’d like to ask how we can find a better balance between our work, our families and seeking the truth?

church life

Bible Verses for Reference:

For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? (Mak 8:36-37).

And he said to his disciples, Therefore I say to you, Take no thought for your life, what you shall eat; neither for the body, what you shall put on. The life is more than meat, and the body is more than raiment (Luk 12:22-23).

Relevant Words of God:

Awaken, brothers! Awaken, sisters! My day will not be delayed; time is life, and to seize time is to save life! The time is not far off! If you take exams for entrance into college and you do not pass, you can try again and cram for the test. However, My day will have no such delay.Remember! Remember! I urge you with these good words. The end of the world unfolds before your very eyes, great disasters rapidly draw near; is your life important or is your sleeping, eating, and clothing important? The time has come for you to weigh these things.

from Utterances and Testimonies of Christ in the Beginning

On this road, many men can speak of much knowledge, but at their time of death, their eyes brim with tears, and they hate themselves for having wasted a lifetime and lived for naught to old age. They had only understanding but never the opportunity to glorify God. They spent their entire lives fighting and journeying to and fro, yet upon their hour of death, there is regret in their hearts. Only in their dying hour do many come to their senses and realize the meaning of life. Is this then not too late? Why do you not seize the day and seek the truth that you love? Why wait until tomorrow? If in life you do not suffer for the truth or seek to gain it, could it be that you wish to feel regret in your dying hour? If so, then why believe in God? In truth, there are many matters in which man, if he devotes just the slightest effort, can put the truth into practice and thereby satisfy God. The heart of man is constantly possessed by demons and so he cannot act for the sake of God. Rather, he constantly journeys to and fro for the flesh, and profits nothing in the end. It is for these reasons that man has constant troubles and afflictions. Are these not the torments of Satan? Is this not corruption of the flesh? You should not fool God by only paying lip service. Rather, you must take tangible action. Do not fool yourself; what is the meaning in that? What can you gain by living for the sake of your flesh and toiling for fame and fortune?

from “You Ought to Live for the Truth Since You Believe in God” in The Word Appears in the Flesh

People always tend toward the world, harboring too many hopes, wanting too much for their future, and having too many extravagant demands. They are always thinking about and planning for their flesh and never interested in seeking the way of belief in God. Their hearts have been captured by Satan, they have lost their reverence for God, and they are devoting their heart to Satan. But man was created by God. Thus, man has lost the testimony, meaning he has lost the glory of God. The purpose of conquering mankind is to seize back the glory of man’s reverence for God. … You do not feel the preciousness of light when you are living in it, but you will be cognizant of its preciousness once you are living in the dark night. You will be sorry then. You feel fine now, but the day will come when you will be sorry. When that day comes and darkness descends and light is nevermore, your regrets will be too late. It is because you still do not understand the present work that you fail to cherish your time now. Once the work of the entire universe begins, meaning when everything I am saying today has come true, many people will be holding their heads in bitter crying. Is that not falling into the darkness with weeping and gnashing of teeth?

from “The Inside Truth of the Conquering Work (1)” in The Word Appears in the Flesh

God laments the future of mankind, and grieves the fall of mankind. He feels sorrow for mankind’s slow march toward decline and the path of no return. Mankind has broken the heart of God and renounced Him to seek the evil one. None have ever given thought to the direction in which a mankind such as this will move. It is precisely for this reason that none sense the anger of God. None seek a way to please God or try to become closer to God. Moreover, none seek to comprehend the sorrow and pain of God. Even after hearing the voice of God, man continues on his path away from God, evading the grace and care of God, and shunning the truth of God, and he would rather sell himself to Satan, the enemy of God. And who has given any thought as to how God will act toward an unrepentant man who has dismissed Him? None know that the repeated reminders and exhortations of God are because He holds in His hands an unprecedented disaster that He has prepared, one that will be unbearable for the flesh and soul of man. This disaster is not merely a punishment of the flesh but of the soul as well. You must know this: When the plan of God is made void and when His reminders and exhortations beget no response, what anger will He unleash? This will be like nothing that has heretofore been experienced or heard by any creation. And so I say, this disaster is unprecedented and will never be repeated. This is because only one creation and one salvation are within the plan of God. This is the first time and also the last. Therefore, none can comprehend the kind intention and fervent anticipation of God for mankind’s salvation.

from “God Is the Source of Man’s Life” in The Word Appears in the Flesh

Man must pursue to live out a life of meaning, and should not be satisfied with his current circumstances. To live out the image of Peter, he must possess the knowledge and experiences of Peter. Man must pursue things that are higher and more profound. He must pursue a deeper, purer love of God, and a life that has value and meaning. Only this is life; only then will man be the same as Peter. You must focus on being proactive toward your entry on the positive side, and must not submissively allow yourself to backslide for the sake of momentary ease while ignoring more profound, more specific, and more practical truths. Your love must be practical, and you must find ways to free yourself from this depraved, carefree life that is no different from an animal’s. You must live out a life of meaning, a life of value, and you must not fool yourself, or treat your life like a toy to be played with. For everyone who aspires to love God, there are no unobtainable truths, and no justice for which they cannot stand firm. How should you live your life? How should you love God, and use this love to satisfy His desire? There is no greater matter in your life. Above all, you must have such aspirations and perseverance, and should not be like those spineless weaklings. You must learn how to experience a meaningful life, and experience meaningful truths, and should not treat yourself perfunctorily in that way. Without you realizing it, your life will pass you by; and after that, will you have another opportunity to love God? Can man love God after he is dead? You must have the same aspirations and conscience as Peter; your life must be meaningful, and you must not play games with yourself! As a human being, and as a person who pursues God, you must be able to carefully consider how you treat your life, how you should offer yourself to God, how you should have a more meaningful faith in God, and how, since you love God, you should love Him in a way that is more pure, more beautiful, and more good.

from “The Experiences of Peter: His Knowledge of Chastisement and Judgment” in The Word Appears in the Flesh

As someone who is normal, and who pursues the love of God, entry into the kingdom to become one of the people of God is your true future, and a life that is of the utmost value and significance. No one is more blessed than you—and why do I say this? Because those who do not believe in God live for the flesh, and they live for Satan, but today you live for God, and live to carry out the will of God. That is why I say your lives are of the utmost significance. Only this group of people, who have been selected by God, are able to live out a life of the utmost significance: No one else on earth is able to live out a life of such value and meaning.

from “Know the Newest Work of God and Follow the Footsteps of God” in The Word Appears in the Flesh

How can one maintain their relationship with God? By what means can they maintain it? By means of imploring, praying and having the communion with God in their heart. This kind of relationship will allow you to live always before God, and so you will be a very peaceful person. Some people are always doing external things and they busy themselves with external affairs. After a day or two without engaging in the spiritual life, their heart has no perception, and after three days, or five days, it still has no perception, or it still has no perception after one or two months. This means that they do not pray or implore for anything, and they don’t engage in spiritual communion. Imploring is when you encounter issues, you ask God to help you, to guide you, to provide for you, to enlighten you, to allow you to understand, to allow you to know God’s will and to know what the truth is. Praying has rather a broad scope. Sometimes it is saying the words in your heart, speaking with God when you encounter difficulties and saying the words that are in your heart to God when you become negative and weak. You may also pray to God when you are rebellious, or you talk with God about the issues you encounter every day, both about the ones you can see through and the ones you can’t see through. This is praying. The scope of praying is basically having a chat with God, sometimes at fixed times and sometimes at unscheduled times, and it can be done at any time and in any place. Spiritual communion does not really hold to a certain format. Maybe there is an issue, maybe there isn’t; sometimes there will be something to say, and sometimes there won’t. This is spiritual communion. When there is a specific issue to talk with God about, then you can pray. When there is no issue, you just think about God, “How does God love man? How does God care for man? How does God reproach man?” “Oh God, I feel I have done this thing wrong. If I really have done it wrong, then reproach me and make me aware of it.” This is spiritual communion, and it can be done at any time and in any place. Sometimes you’re on the road and you think of something that makes your heart feel really sad. You don’t need to kneel or close your eyes, but instead you just immediately say to God in your heart: “Oh God, I pray that You guide me with this issue. I am weak and I can’t overcome it.” Your heart is stirred, and with these few simple words God knows all about it.

from “Those Who Cannot Live Always Before God Are Unbelievers” in Records of Christ’s Talks

First begin with the matter of prayer. Be single-minded, and pray at a fixed time. No matter how pressed for time, or how busy, or what comes upon you, pray every day as normal, and eat and drink God’s words as normal. As long as you eat and drink God’s words, no matter what your surroundings are, your spirit is especially pleased, nor are you bothered by the people, events, or things around you. When you normally contemplate God in your heart, what goes on outside cannot bother you. This is what it means to have stature. Begin from prayer first: Praying at peace before God is most fruitful. After that, eat and drink the words of God, and ponder God’s words and try to obtain the light, find the path to practice, know what the aims of God’s utterances are, and understand without deviation. Ordinarily, draw close to God normally in your heart, contemplate God’s love, and ponder the words of God, without being disturbed by external things. When your heart is at peace to a degree that you are able to muse, so that, within yourself, you contemplate God’s love and truly draw near to God regardless of what environment you are in, and you have ultimately reached the point where you give praise in your heart, and it is even better than praying, then in this you will be possessed of a certain stature. If you are able to achieve the states described above, then this will prove that your heart is truly at peace before God. This is the first step; it is a basic exercise. Only after they are able to be at peace before God can people be touched by the Holy Spirit, and enlightened and illuminated by the Holy Spirit, only then are they able to truly commune with God, and able to grasp God’s will and the guidance of the Holy Spirit—and in this, they will have entered onto the right track in their spiritual lives.

from “On Quieting Your Heart Before God” in The Word Appears in the Flesh

The Man’s Fellowship:

Life in a democratic country is busy! If you don’t make money, there are taxes you can’t pay, and you have to pay your rent, maintain your car, and pay your electric and water bills, that all takes money, so of course you have to work, don’t you? That presents a problem. It’s as if believing in God presents an extra burden, especially performing your duties. But would you be free of burdens if you didn’t believe in God? You would be just as burdened, if not more so. Some people ask, can there be a burden more tiring? I guarantee there is, because you’ll be suffering. Your days will be a struggle to feed yourself, a fight for survival, and there will be many difficulties and troubles, because the world is unfair and people are wicked, there will be many interruptions and hardships, and nothing will go smoothly. But through your belief in God and your growing understanding of the truth, you will gain wisdom and see paths, you will no longer contaminate yourself with devils, and you will be more sensible toward them, which will spare you much of your suffering, … You spare yourself so much suffering because you believe in God, you eat and drink God’s word, and you pursue the truth, which gives you spiritual comfort, and you enjoy the peace and happiness granted by God. Consider that one day, the great disaster will strike, and you will be calm. The unbelievers will lose their minds in panic and fear for the days ahead, feeling that this is the end of the world. But when the same disaster falls upon us, we believers in God will feel differently than the unbelievers. God is with us, and we have shares in the kingdom of Christ. What great comfort that knowledge affords us! Is this comfort not a happiness of the spirit? This is the truest happiness. We gain it because we, while believing in God, have understood the truth, known God, and become qualified to receive God’s promises. This spiritual happiness, comfort, and yearning is humanity’s most genuine happiness, and it cannot be gained without believing in God! So, when you say, “Believing in God is so busy, I have to make money and take care of my family, and on top of that I have to believe in God, read God’s word, and live the church life and go to meetings. It’s so much of a burden!” That’s not wrong, but how many blessings have you gained, and how many disasters and how much suffering have you averted?! … What is true happiness? This is true happiness! Only those who believe in God and pursue the truth find happiness, only they have that peace, that joy, that yearning, that enjoyment, that comfort, only those who gain the truth can experience these pleasures.

from Sermons and Fellowship on Entry Into Life, B8 Volume 130

No one, in all of corrupt mankind now throughout the entire world, can say for sure what happiness is. Only those who have genuinely gained the truth know what happiness is, and what the true way is. Aren’t all the advantages of the world and of the flesh gone in the blink of an eye? Wealth is gone in the blink of an eye; to have too much becomes a burden and is useless. Aren’t fame and gain empty? Nowadays, some people live for their husbands, some live for their children, and some people live for a house or for a car—is there any meaning to living like this? There is no meaning. Some people ask me: ‘Then do we really want to keep living? What would you have me base my life on?’ Does what you base your life on have anything to do with what I say? Aren’t these two entirely different things? Just because I say you shouldn’t live for those things, it doesn’t mean that I stop you from going to work. Do I say that you cannot make a living? This is entirely different from the problems I talk about. Some people consider problems in an illogical way, always asking questions irrelevantly, and not understanding the meaning of what I say. This kind of person severely lacks the ability to understand. What job you should look for or what job you should do poses no obstacle, as this is so you can survive; we cannot live for the sake of wealth, however. Are these two problems one and the same? The intentions are different here. Some people work a job, and why do they do this? They do it to live. Why do they believe in God? To find a genuine human life. These words are good and real: ‘I need to find a job to live, to survive.’ So the purpose of working a job is to earn a little money to maintain your life. ‘Why do I need to live? How should I live? How should I get to the end of the path of human life? Where are the mysteries of human life to be found? I must seek the truth. Even after eating my meal and feeling full, I must still seek the truth.’ If you lived for the sake of living a better physical life, would someone like that have a human life? What would the difference be between that person and an animal? One aspect of living is to maintain your own life and resolve the problem of survival; another is that you also need to resolve the problem of human life. Man is the spirit of all things, the master of all things, and they must resolve their problem of human life. Exactly what manner of person should man live out? What image should they live out? What path should they walk? Man first needs to understand these questions—they are fundamental. … Why does man live? That is, what exactly is a genuine human life, and how can one live a life of meaning and value? This is the first problem. The nature of this problem is to do with principles, it comes down to God’s will, and if you can solve this problem, you will then know why God wanted to create man, the meaning of human life and how man should live in conformity with God’s will. When you can solve this problem, then the path, the truth and the meaning of human life will all be solved. Those who can solve this problem will, in the end, be praised by God and will be left over, therefore herein lies the significance of God’s work.

from “Only Entering the Reality of the Truth is Genuinely Understanding and Gaining the Truth” in Sermons and Fellowship on Entry Into Life (VIII)

Read more: Is Eastern Lightning the Return of the Lord Jesus?

             The Church of Almighty God was founded by Almighty God personally?

What wisdom and omnipotence of God is revealed in His using the service of the CCP government and the religious world? | Eastern Lightning

8. What wisdom and omnipotence of God is revealed in His using the service of the CCP government and the religious world? (2)

Look at how the great red dragon blasphemes and slanders God, is it not, as a foil, rendering service to Him? What results are achieved through the service rendered by this foil? For those of you who do not love the truth, it overthrows and binds you and blocks your path to the entrance of the kingdom of heaven. For those who love the truth, it allows them to be perfected. The more that the great red dragon judges, resists, discredits and blasphemes Christ, the more they will pursue the truth and the more they will dispose of their notions, ultimately becoming more compatible with Christ. Is this not the use that the great red dragon has as a foil? So, in the Book of Revelation it is said: “He that is unjust, let him be unjust still … and he that is holy, let him be holy still” (Rev 22:11). You see. He that is unjust encounters the great red dragon doing this or that, and then he gives up his faith. He eliminates himself. For those who love the truth, the more they see the great red dragon blaspheme, disparage and attack Christ, the more they hate the great red dragon and the more they seek the truth; ultimately the effect that will be achieved is that they will be completely compatible with Christ, without a single notion about Him. And so is fulfilled God’s word that His work in the last days is to save and perfect the truth-seekers, and to reveal, eliminate and condemn those who do not love the truth, who hate the truth. Think about those who have some notions. As soon as they fellowship in the truth their notions will be resolved, and eventually they will come to have a deeper love of God. They know that these words spoken by the devil are only lies, which almost make them fall, almost ruin them, so they have even more hate for Satan the devil. For those who listen to the rumors and lies of the great red dragon, who carry notions and retreat and no longer believe, one day will come when God will appear publicly and say: “I am the Almighty God that you have persecuted and condemned.” And they shall weep and gnash their teeth! Whom can you blame? Why did you have notions and leave the church? Why did you not seek the truth? Why did you not read more of the word of God? Why did you believe the devil’s words? Some people have notions, but whenever brothers and sisters in God’s house fellowship with them out of love, some of these people’s notions will be alleviated or eliminated, and they will accept God’s work in the last days. But for some people, no matter how our brothers and sisters fellowship, it will be of no avail. Today after our fellowship is over their notions will be settled, but tomorrow when they see some bad things, once again, they will have notions. Then, our brothers and sisters will once again fellowship with them to settle these notions, and then the day after when these people see negative things, once again, they will fall down. They will continuously stand up and fall down, stand up and fall down, but in the end they will still be fallen, and eventually no one will regard them. This kind of people enjoy the words of the devil, they do not love the word of God. These people will be kicked aside, the church does not want them. They can fall down one or two times, but they are not allowed to be fallen forever, and it is in this way that some people are eliminated.

from Sermons and Fellowship on Entry Into Life, Volume 139

Outsiders consistently resist, oppose and condemn and the wave of resistance is getting higher and higher. What is the effect of the external voice of opposition, persecution and condemnation on these people? It has the effect of making people pursue the truth. As soon as people hear negative words they will naturally become skeptical and wish to investigate, seek and will always want to figure this out. Afraid of being deceived, they will examine the work of God by fellowshiping about the vision and God’s work and will gradually have a little understanding of God’s words, will no longer be skeptical and their heart will be at ease and able to quieten down and pursue the truth. Until the day they hear the voice of condemnation again and they will feel skeptical for a while, investigate again, pray again to God, seek the truth again, communicate again and understand a bit more clearly again, resulting in them feeling calm again…. After calming down, they will pursue the truth for a while and will feel illuminated and free from anxiety. After feeling free from anxiety for a while, they have notions again when some aspects of God’s work do not match their views and ideas and they then have doubts again and ponder again, “I must investigate and work this out.” They examine it over and over and see that “It is all right. It is not wrong at all.” They then feel free from anxiety again. This is how the way is completely determined as the true way through several repeated twists and turns. Have you also gone through such a process? Everyone has. So what is the effect on us of opposition, rejection and condemnation by the whole religious community? It spurs us on even more to pursue the truth and examine the true way. This is also a step in Satan’s service for God’s work. We know what role they play, don’t we?

from The Fellowship From the Above

Today the great red dragon has fabricated so many rumors and discredited God and the Church of Almighty God and some people have been revealed that they believe the great red dragon’s rumors and Satan’s lies and do not believe that God is the truth and that God is holy. Tell me, what is the problem with this? Does this reveal whether or not people have true faith in the presence of God and whether you believe in the truth and God or believe in Satan? This is when people and their problems are revealed. So in His last days’ work, what does God hope to achieve by allowing the great red dragon to render a service in this way and all of Satan’s evil forces to do these things? On the one hand, it is to perfect those who pursue the truth and on the other hand it is to reveal all those who do not love the truth and eliminate all those false believers. Now those people who do not love the truth and do not believe in God have been revealed and eliminated. You see, are God’s good intentions not present in Satan rendering a service in this way? Some people cannot see it. This is a good thing! Look and see how those people who pursue the truth are? After God’s chosen people in Mainland China have been through a period of being traced and arrested, framed, judged, set up and discredited by the great red dragon, ninety-nine per cent of people stand firm and hate the great red dragon even more and their belief in God is even truer. These people have become unbeatable by Satan. It is only the minority of individuals who are taken in and passively retreat. What is it like with the great red dragon? They still think that national suppression and destruction of the Church of Almighty God has been successful when actually they did not think that all those videos of life experience, of hymns and of God’s words and articles of testimony of the Church of Almighty God have been put online overnight. “Oh! How have so many movies been put online overnight? Where are these people? These people have not been wiped out or suppressed. On the contrary, they are even stronger!” Does this not humiliate Satan? Have these people been defeated? They have not. On the contrary, they are even stronger. How are these people who are in pursuit of the truth now? They are even stronger. Many brothers and sisters stand up, have strength and have the path of the pursuit of the truth the moment they have seen the latest twelve passages of God’s words. “We seek to act as Job and to become people who fear God and shun evil.” After experiencing this national large-scale suppression by the great red dragon, God’s chosen people are even stronger. Not only have they not decreased in number, but they have actually increased. There are less who recede than join in. What is this issue? This is the power of God’s words and the power of the truth. The word of God can accomplish everything. What role do all those demonic words and various evil practices and the arrests, persecution and torture of God’s chosen people by the great red dragon play? It serves the life growth of God’s chosen people. People who have come out of prison believe in God even more and know even better that Almighty God is the true God and someone that can be relied on and that the word of Almighty God is incomparably powerful! The word of Almighty God can be people’s life. This is completely true. The great red dragon never imagined that after this period of suppression, not only would they not have destroyed the Church of Almighty God, but on the contrary, God’s chosen people of the Church of Almighty God would be even stronger and would enter into the reality of truth even more and give beautiful resounding testimonies. … Now the whole world of nonbelievers is beginning to have a little knowledge of the Church of Almighty God and of Almighty God. After experiencing this propaganda and suppression by the great red dragon and this period of defamation, people all start to wake up and some people start to investigate the Church of Almighty God. People wonder, “How powerful is this Church of Almighty God? How can it let the great red dragon mobilize the whole nation to take concerted action to suppress it? Why is this Church of Almighty God so appealing?” People ponder this but fail to find the answer despite much thought. Finally, they go online to investigate and discover that Almighty God’s words are so true, so practical and that they are all the truth! The great red dragon is most afraid of the words of Almighty God and of all the truths that Almighty God uttered spreading throughout the world and across the universe. This is why it spares no effort in suppressing the Church of Almighty God. Do not forget! Everything can be accomplished by the word of Almighty God. It can change the world and can change mankind. Do you believe these words? (Yes.) From now on, the word of God will gain more and more attention from the whole of mankind and people will start to profoundly rethink: “How powerful is the word of Almighty God and does it deserve to be suppressed by the CCP?” People will start to pay attention to the word of God, but the awakening of mankind is slow. The twenty-first century is the era of the word of Almighty God wielding power. The book, The Word Appears in the Flesh, is the first most famous book of the next era which is praised and held in high esteem by people. It is also the brilliant blockbuster of the next era, guiding and leading mankind! In the next era, the whole of mankind must read The Word Appears in the Flesh and treat this book as life’s greatest classic work. Later more and more people will start to read the word of Almighty God. This will certainly come true. This is a fact which God wishes to complete. When the great red dragon suppresses the Church of Almighty God to the extreme, the fruits of this work will come into effect; once a certain limit is reached a change in the opposite direction is inevitable! If they do not suppress in this way, could the whole of mankind come to read the word of God? Could they examine the word of Almighty God? It could not be so. Every day we carry our backpacks to spread the gospel and give out books yet we cannot achieve this outcome. This can only come about by the great red dragon suppressing in this way! As soon as I see the great red dragon suppressing in this way, I say that God is so wise and that this move is so good. This one outcome cannot be achieved no matter what our Church of Almighty God does. This matter must have their service. If they do not render their service, then we cannot achieve this outcome. Do you see this fact? (Yes.) What has China become now? The center of world attention. The Chinese government’s every move arouses the world’s attention. So as soon as China suppresses the Church of Almighty God, the whole world pays attention and people ask: “What is actually wrong with the Church of Almighty God? Why does the Chinese government suppress it so hard? Why does the Chinese government hate the Church of Almighty God so much?” The Chinese government does not give an answer or a conclusion. They say that you are a cult, but do not say anything else and persistently suppress you. People say: “What do you base saying that they are a cult on? Tell me how they are evil. What is this based on?” They cannot say. They do not say and they are unable to say! What is the scripture of the Church of Almighty God? The Word Appears in the Flesh. Do they dare shine the light on this book? Do they dare to say that this book is an evil book? They do not dare say so, nor shine a light on it. They are afraid that everyone around the world will come and see. As a result, we highlight and hold aloft The Word Appears in the Flesh on our websites, on websites around the world and in all videos of God’s house and let it gleam. We always mention this book. As soon as people see the Church of Almighty God, they will first see The Word Appears in the Flesh and will all understand “this is the classic work of the Church of Almighty God! After reading this book we will know what the Church of Almighty God is all about.” Now people are all starting to read and study it. … Some people say: “How does your Church of Almighty God dare to confront the great red dragon? Is your confrontation with them not a hopeless battle?” Nonbelievers say that this is a hopeless battle, but what do us believers see it as? In God’s hands, the great red dragon is the defeated general and a chess piece and is rendering a service for God’s work. They have rendered a step of good service, and the work of separating all according to their kind is completed by the service rendered by the great red dragon. Those who do not love the truth and do not hate the great red dragon are revealed and eliminated through the great red dragon’s service. Those who pursue the truth but who have not distinguished the great red dragon’s satanic nature can see through the great red dragon and distinguish it through the service which the great red dragon renders and can truly betray the great red dragon. Do you see the effect this has now? These outcomes are all achieved by the great red dragon’s service. If it did not render such service, no matter how God’s family would water and lead, it would not be enough. Some service is needed from the great red dragon. From this, we again see that God is so almighty and that God’s wisdom is exercised based on Satan’s cunning schemes. Countless facts can prove that this statement is all true and not wrong at all. Everyone can come up with a lot of evidence to prove it is so. The great red dragon is God’s foil and God’s product of service. The more you look, the truer and more real it is and thus one’s faith in God and knowledge of God’s work is even greater. God is so almighty. So it is too fitting that God’s name is Almighty God!

from “Sermons and Fellowship About God’s Word ‘God’s Work, God’s Disposition, and God Himself III’ (III)” in Sermons and Fellowship on Entry Into Life (XI)

In the nation of the great red dragon, God selected the great red dragon as His foil and a service doer. Tell me, how does the great red dragon do? The great red dragon does very “well” and performs “remarkably well”! What manifestations are there of doing “remarkably well”? Its satanic nature and desires have given maximum yield and it mobilized the manpower, material resources and natural resources of the whole nation to resist God’s work and oppose God. It has been tormented by God so much that it has been thrown into confusion and battered and bruised. So it can be said that it has performed “remarkably well.” What practices has it adopted? Its search for, arrest and persecution of God’s chosen people across the whole nation has reached its limits. It has also mobilized media throughout the nation to wantonly misrepresent and condemn God’s work and has carried this out to extremes. So is it true that this “service” has spread “Almighty God” to the whole world? (Yes.) Now every nation in the world knows the Church of Almighty God. Even Israel knows about it and Israel’s newspapers have even published this news! How effective is the great red dragon’s service? It should get God’s “commendation” now. “Commendation” is in quotation marks and means punishment.

from “Sermons and Fellowship About God’s Word ‘God Himself, the Unique I’ XII” in Sermons and Fellowship on Entry Into Life (XII)

Some people do not know and say: “What is righteousness? What is holiness? What actually is the light?” Now if you are asked to speak about your own experience and to understand based on Gods work, some people will be unable to speak about it. If you are asked to speak of letters and doctrines then that is okay and you all can say a whole set, but there is nothing when speaking of reality. You do not have any understanding of God’s righteousness and God’s holiness, but do you have knowledge of Satan’s evilness, meanness and shamelessness? You should have knowledge of this, right? What aspects of God’s disposition do you think Satan’s extreme meanness and shamelessness can act as a foil for? Righteousness, justice and honorability. God acts in a just and honorable manner, right? (Right.) The great red dragon is overwhelming in its slander, judgment, fabrications, framing and discrediting of the Church of Almighty God. Is this a public fact? (Yes.) Is the great red dragon righteous? Does the great red dragon have light? (No.) From what they do, we can see clearly that they are so mean and shameless, able to distort the facts, confuse right and wrong, slander and spread rumors and experts in defamation! Does the essence of all that the great red dragon not represent the evil of Satan? (Yes.) Under this background, did God get angry with them? Did God destroy them? (Not yet.) What did God do then? For the time being God endures them and still justly and honorably witnesses God’s work and lets God’s chosen people speak about their experiences, spontaneously witness God, write articles, make films, sing hymns and put them on the Internet. Then let people around the world come and comment and let all those who have eyes and ears and can see and hear be clear about this fact: Is it God who is righteous or Satan? Is it God who has the truth or Satan? Is it God who is just and honorable or Satan? Isn’t this what God does? (Yes.) This enables us to see that God does this “Because God is just, of the light and flawlessly holy” (“God Himself, the Unique II” in Continuation of The Word Appears in the Flesh). God is not afraid of Satan’s defamation, slander and judgment. God does not care! God does His work, utters His words and leads God’s chosen people to enter the truth and achieve knowledge of God as before. This shows that God is just and honorable, holy and pure! When God has finished uttering all that He wishes to and has finished watering, providing for and feeding God’s chosen people and their knowledge of God has been achieved, that is when the demise of the great red dragon will be. That is when the wrath of God will be unleashed and when all enemy forces will be destroyed. From this, we can see that God truly is almighty! Right? (Right.) From the reactions online, we can see that some people are starting to wake up and see the word of Almighty God, the films and testimonies of God’s house and to recognize that this is a positive energy, that these people are positive and the great red dragon is negative and evil and that the great red dragon’s slander, rumors and attacks are all unfounded. So the messages online have also changed. Even nonbelievers do not stand on the side of the great red dragon. They do not believe their outright lies and many people are willing to seek and investigate the truth. What does this prove? That God is the light, that God is holy, righteous, and almighty and will always triumph and that Satan will always fail! No matter how frenzied and how disguised those dark evil forces are, one day sooner or later their true colors will be revealed!

from “Sermons and Fellowship About God’s Word ‘God Himself, the Unique II’ VI” in Sermons and Fellowship on Entry Into Life (XII)

In God’s work, God permits antichrists, all sorts of evil spirits and wicked people to enter His church. He permits the great red dragon to frenziedly suppress and capture believers. He permits the religious world’s blasphemy, resistance and condemnations. God does not strike down these people nor does He destroy them. Why is this? This is a mystery! Does this indicate God’s powerlessness or does it bear witness to God’s almightiness? We all say that it bears witness to God’s almightiness. Why do we say this? That is because God is not afraid of how you condemn or resist Him. God is not afraid of you no matter how many things you say, how many lies you speak and how savage your actions are. He allows you to do whatever you want. He allows Satan to oppress and tyrannize. Satan tells falsehood as it wishes, yet God is not afraid. He does not pay attention to any of this. What does this indicate? Since the conclusion of this step of God’s work is the destruction of mankind, before He destroys mankind, He must collect evidence and proof. Once He finishes doing this, then He can destroy mankind. God said that the God on earth is “instrumental … in seizing the facts to punish the wicked” (“How to Know the God on Earth” in The Word Appears in the Flesh). That is why, in order to collect evidence of the evil things that evil people do, He allows them to reveal themselves and demonstrate their true nature. Once they have finished revealing themselves, once the “tape recorder” has finished “recording,” then He will capture them in His net. What does this indicate? After the judgment work of the last days, God will do the work of concluding the age; if God does not have evidence, would He be able to complete this work? No, He would not. This is why God must allow Satan to act. The more savage and unrestrained Satan’s actions are, the more clearly everybody can see it for what it is. The truth would be publicly acknowledged and this evidence would be complete. If God directly destroyed the great red dragon before it resisted Almighty God and spread so many rumors, what consequences would be produced? What would the great red dragon say? “God is unjust. We have not done much evil, yet He destroys us.” Is that all? There is an even deeper matter. In the spiritual world, Satan would not be convinced. It would accuse God. That is why everything that God does must be done to convince people, to shut Satan’s mouth and put it to shame. These are the principles that God abides by. Did God know of all the evil things that the great red dragon would do and all the lies it would spread? God definitely knew that the great red dragon is resisting Him. How did God prophesy this matter? What is the purpose of God incarnating in China? It is to compete with the great red dragon. He wants to destroy the great red dragon. When God incarnated in China, the great red dragon would definitely launch a vicious counterattack. It savagely seeks to kill, resist and condemn God. What does God’s prophecy say? The great red dragon will be the first to be destroyed. Before the world gets destroyed, the great red dragon will be the first entity to be destroyed. What does this indicate? Before God incarnated in the flesh and did His work in the last days, He already knew of all these matters. God knew what the great red dragon would definitely do. That is why God first made these prophesies.

from Sermons and Fellowship on Entry Into Life, Volume 142

Do you know what they are doing when the religious community still judges and brazenly attacks Almighty God now? To use a colloquial saying, it is called seeking death. Are they seeking death? Some people say they have not died now and that it is not good to die now and that to die later looks better. So, this death must have a moment and moments of death should be carefully chosen. Tell me, do you think it is appropriate for them to die now? If you let them die, how can others be revealed? There are many demons that have not yet come out and that must all come out. All those who resist and deny God will eventually stand up and resist. They will be thoroughly revealed and round up in one clean sweep. If one appears, you kill one; one appears and one is killed. Will the next one dare to show themselves? No one will dare show themselves. Do not kill them. Let them live a bit longer. As soon as those people see they will say: Oh! They resisted God and nothing happened. “It does not look like it really is God, so let’s resist too.” They will then stand up and resist. As soon as they resist and nothing happens, people will become even bolder: Oh, it looks like it isn’t really God. Let’s all resist. And so people will all stand up and after they have resisted, Satan and the demons will all be revealed. Is it not even better for God to deal with them all together? How is separating all according to their kind achieved? It has to go through the revealing of all kinds of things during a period of time. As soon as it is revealed, then each will be sorted according to their kind. Without the process of revealing, each cannot be sorted according to their kind. So there will be a big reveal in the final stage of God’s work. This process of revealing will sort each according to their kind. So when some people resist and judge Almighty God, God cannot fly into a rage because of the resistance of one person and kill them in one “flash.” If they are killed right away like that, those demons Satan will not dare to show their faces. When they are resisting and judging God, God is silent and hides secretly observing. Those demons look all around them but they do not see the existence of God and after resisting and nothing happening, it looks like it is not the true God and one after another they all stand up and everyone attacks and judges. When they have almost all been revealed, God starts to punish people and the disasters will come and in a flash they will die. But they will not be let die completely, and they will have to see why they die. So no matter what God does, it is all significant. He is not as people imagine. What God does is most wise and most meaningful. The order of what God does is also very clever, much cleverer than people are. People do things simply.

from “Only Through Knowing God’s Inherent Disposition to Be Righteous Can One Revere God” in Sermons and Fellowship on Entry Into Life (IX)

Now the religious community is starting to collapse. Why is the religious community starting to completely collapse? They have already crucified God again, committed sin and done evil. They should be cursed. There are facts and evidence. It is not a case of them just being confused by people and half believing, half doubting and things not having been done. Now their evil and their sins have already been committed, so they should die. There are some things where the way of God doing them differs to people’s. People’s way is to put you to death the moment you have done evil. God views putting someone to death as fixed and unchangeable, but that will not necessarily happen immediately. Why will they not be put to death immediately? We must let them see a fact and see the manifestation of God so that they will be forever cursed and forever punished. In the Age of Law, did Jesus let the leaders of Judaism die when they resisted Jesus and were enemies of Jesus? Did He let the chief priests and the scribes die? No. Why did He not let them die? To let them die then would be letting them off lightly. If these people from the religious community are let die, is that not letting them off lightly? For some people, to die is easier than to live. Living is more painful than death. If we let such people die then they are freed, so why not let them suffer more? We must let them suffer more. So we cannot let them die for the time being and must let them see a fact and see that the Almighty God that they resisted is the second coming of Jesus and then let them suffer punishment forever, face everlasting perdition and never be reborn as a person. This is more formidable. Look, isn’t God’s righteous disposition completely revealed in what He does? It is much greater than people can imagine. Their evil doing makes them have to be convinced sincerely and then makes them face everlasting perdition. This is even more formidable. If you do not know God’s disposition and always do things based people’s notions and imagination, then you are so stupid. It will not do for you to know God’s disposition too simply. Isn’t letting them die now not letting them off lightly? God’s arrangements are even better. Let them be buried and doomed eternally and send them to the eighteen layers of hell. Prior to this, let them first see the facts. This is the fulfillment of the words of the Book of Revelation. “And every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him.” What does “they also which pierced him” mean? That is, those who pierced Him have not died and must still see Him. As soon as “must still see Him” is mentioned, it proves that those who crucify Christ again today cannot die and must see the manifestation of God before receiving their punishment. With regard to this matter, what further knowledge do we have of God’s disposition? God does things differently from people. God does things more profoundly, more meaningfully and more realistically. To know God’s disposition is not a simple thing. It is not alright for you to always replace knowledge of God with your notions. Your notions are not the truth, nor is your imagination the truth. Look at how God does things. That is more meaningful. God is the true and living God. He is also the almighty and wise God. So if you really thoroughly know what God does, you will see that that is the truth and can act as our eternal life. What such people gain is so rich. They will live more meaningfully.

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

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How does God treat those who believe Satan’s rumors and turn their backs on Him?

10. How does God treat those who believe Satan’s rumors and turn their backs on Him?

Bible Verses for Reference:

And the serpent said to the woman, You shall not surely die: For God does know that in the day you eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and you shall be as gods, knowing good and evil. And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also to her husband with her; and he did eat. … Therefore the LORD God sent him forth from the garden of Eden, to till the ground from from where he was taken (Gen 3:4-6, 23).

Relevant Words of God:

Those that do not belong to Me are against Me; those that belong to Me are those that are compatible with Me. This is completely without question, and this is the principle of My judgment of Satan. This principle should be known to everybody so that they can see My righteousness and justness—all those who come from Satan will be judged and burned and be turned into ashes. This is also My wrath, and one can further see My disposition.

from Utterances and Testimonies of Christ in the Beginning

And I, the entirety of the flesh, am even more so the complete manifestation of God. Whosoever dares not revere Me, whosoever dares show defiance in their eyes, whosoever dares speak words of defiance against Me will surely die from My curses and wrath (there will be cursing because of My wrath). And whosoever dares not be loyal or filial to Me, whosoever dares try to trick Me will surely die in My hatred.

from Utterances and Testimonies of Christ in the Beginning

Those who belong to Satan will be returned to Satan, while those who belong to God will surely go in search of the truth; this is determined by their natures. Let all those who follow Satan perish! No pity will be shown to these people. Let those who search for the truth attain provision and allow them to take pleasure in God’s word to their hearts’ content. God is righteous; He does not treat people unjustly.

…………

Because of their petty cleverness, those without discernment will come to ruin in the hands of evil people and they will be led astray by evil people and will be unable to return. These people should be handled in this way, as they do not love the truth, because they are incapable of standing on the side of the truth, because they follow evil people, they stand on the side of evil people, and because they collude with evil people and defy God. They know perfectly well that those evil people radiate evil but they harden their hearts and follow them, moving contrary to the truth. Are these people who do not practice the truth but who do destructive and abominable things not all doing evil? Although there are those among them who style themselves as kings and those who trail along behind, are their God-defying natures not all the same? What excuse can they have to say that God does not save them? What excuse can they have to say that God is not righteous? Is it not their own evil that will destroy them? Is it not their own rebelliousness that will drag them down into hell? Those who practice the truth will in the end be saved and made perfect through the truth. Those who do not practice the truth will in the end invite ruination through the truth. These are the ends that await those who practice the truth and those who do not.

from “A Warning to Those Who Do Not Practice the Truth” in The Word Appears in the Flesh

My concern continues to be the way in which each of you acts and expresses himself, on the basis of which I shall determine your end. However, I must make this clear: I will give no more mercy to those who gave Me no jot of loyalty in times of tribulation, for My mercy only extends so far. Furthermore, I have no liking for anyone who has once betrayed Me, much less do I like to associate with those who sell out the interests of their friends. This is My disposition, regardless of who the person may be. I must tell you this: Anyone who breaks My heart shall not receive clemency from Me a second time, and anyone who has been faithful to Me shall forever remain in My heart.

from “You Ought to Prepare a Sufficiency of Good Deeds for Your Destination” in The Word Appears in the Flesh

God’s Attitude Toward Those Who Run Away During His Work

You’ll find this kind of person everywhere: After they have been certain about God’s way, for various reasons, they depart silently and without a parting word to go off and do whatever their heart desires. For the time being, we won’t get into why this person leaves. First we’ll take a look at what God’s attitude is toward this kind of person. It’s very clear! From the moment this person leaves, in God’s eyes, the span of their belief is over. It’s not this person that ended it, but God. That this person left God means that they have already rejected God, that they already don’t want God. It means that they already don’t accept God’s salvation. Since this person doesn’t want God, can God still want them? Moreover, when this person has this attitude, this view, and is determined to leave God, they have already aggravated God’s disposition. Even though they didn’t fly into a rage and curse God, even though they didn’t engage in any vile or excessive behavior, and even though this person is thinking: If there comes a day when I’ve had my fill of fun on the outside, or when I still need God for something, I will come back. Or if God calls on me, I will come back. Or they say: When I am hurt on the outside, when I see that the outside world is too dark and too wicked and I no longer want to go with the flow, I will come back to God. Even though this person has calculated in their mind at what point they’re coming back, even though they leave the door open for their return, they don’t realize that no matter how they think and how they plan, this is all just wishful thinking. Their biggest mistake is being unclear about how God feels when they want to leave. Starting from that moment when this person determines to leave God, God has completely abandoned them; God has already established their outcome in His heart. What outcome is that? That this person is one of the hamsters, and will perish along with them. Thus, people often see this kind of situation: Someone abandons God, but they don’t receive a punishment. God operates according to His own principles. People are able to see some things, and some things are only concluded in God’s heart, so people cannot see the result. That which people see isn’t necessarily the true side of things; but the other side, the side you do not see—this is the true thoughts and conclusions of God’s heart.

People Who Run Away During God’s Work Are Those Who Abandon the True Way

So why can God give this kind of person such a serious punishment? Why is God so enraged toward them? First of all we know that God’s disposition is majesty, is wrath. He is not a sheep to be slaughtered by anyone; even more, He is not a puppet to be controlled by people however they want. He is also not empty air to be bossed around by people. If you really believe that God exists, you should have a heart that fears God, and you should know that God’s essence is not to be angered. This anger may be caused by a word; perhaps a thought; perhaps some kind of vile behavior; perhaps mild behavior, behavior that’s passable in the eyes and ethics of man; or perhaps it is caused by a doctrine, a theory. However, once you anger God, your opportunity is lost and your end days have arrived. This is a terrible thing! If you don’t understand that God cannot be offended, then maybe you aren’t afraid of God, and maybe you offend Him all the time. If you don’t know how to fear God, then you’re unable to fear God, and you don’t know how to put yourself on the path of walking in God’s way—fearing God and shunning evil. Once you become aware, you can be conscious that God cannot be offended, then you will know what it is to fear God and shun evil.

Walking in the way of fearing God and shunning evil isn’t necessarily about how much truth you know, how many trials you have experienced, or how much you have been disciplined. Rather, it depends on what the essence of your heart is with regard to God, and what your attitude toward God is. People’s essence and their subjective attitudes—these are very important, very key. With regard to those people who have renounced and left God, their contemptible attitude toward God and their hearts that despise the truth have aggravated God’s disposition, thus so far as God is concerned they will never be forgiven. They have known about God’s existence, they have had the information that God has already arrived, they have even experienced God’s new work. Their departure isn’t a case of being deluded, nor is it that they’re hazy about it. It’s even less a case of them being forced into it. Rather they have consciously, and with a clear mind, chosen to leave God. Their departure isn’t losing their way; it’s not their being cast off. Therefore, in God’s eyes, they are not a lamb who has strayed from the flock, let alone a prodigal son who lost his way. They departed with impunity, and such a condition, such a situation, aggravates God’s disposition, and it is out of this aggravation that He gives them a hopeless outcome. Is this kind of outcome not frightful? So if people don’t know God, they can offend God. This is no small matter! If someone doesn’t take God’s attitude seriously, and still believes that God is looking forward to their return—because they are one of God’s lost lambs and God is still waiting for them to have a change of heart—then this person is not that far removed from their day of punishment. God won’t just refuse to admit them. This is their second time aggravating His disposition; it’s an even more terrible matter! This person’s irreverent attitude has already offended God’s administrative decree. Will God still admit them? God’s principles regarding this matter are: If someone has been certain about the true way yet can still consciously and with a clear mind reject God, and distance themselves from God, then God will block off the road to their salvation, and the gate into the kingdom will henceforth be closed to them. When this person comes knocking once more, God will not open the door for them again. This person will be shut out forever. Perhaps some of you have read the story of Moses in the Bible. After Moses was anointed by God, the 250 leaders were dissatisfied with Moses because of his actions and other various reasons. Who did they refuse to obey? It wasn’t Moses. They refused to obey God’s arrangements; they refused to obey God’s work on this matter. They said the following: “You take too much on you, seeing all the congregation are holy, every one of them, and the LORD is among them….” In man’s eyes, are these words very serious? They’re not serious! At least the literal meaning of the words is not serious. In a legal sense, they don’t break any laws, because on their very surface it’s not hostile language, or vocabulary, much less has any blasphemous meaning. A common sentence is all there is, nothing more. Yet why is it that these words can trigger such rage from God? It’s because they are not spoken to people, but to God. The attitude and disposition expressed by them is precisely what aggravates God’s disposition, especially that of God’s disposition which cannot be offended. We all know what their outcome was in the end. Regarding those who abandoned God, what is their viewpoint? What is their attitude? And why does their viewpoint and attitude lead to God dealing with them in such a manner? The reason is that they clearly know He is God yet they still choose to betray Him. That is why they are totally stripped of their chance for salvation. Just like the Bible says: “For if we sin willfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remains no more sacrifice for sins.” Are you clear on this matter now?

from “How to Know God’s Disposition and the Result of His Work” in Continuation of The Word Appears in the Flesh

The Man’s Fellowship:

Some people cannot accept the true way, they are always giving rise to notions, so much so that they are capable of betrayal. These kinds of people really do not have love for the truth. If these people want to walk away, then let them. Do not try to stop them. These are not people who love the truth. Today they are able to accept, but once they walk away, they will walk straight into hell. They are betrayers. They will be revealed, and nobody can stop them. The entrance to the house of God is open wide, come in and you will have to go through rigorous examining, and you will have to fill out an application. You are free to leave, to walk out on your own accord. But you will have to register, and afterward you will not be able to return. It’s easy to go out, but it’s difficult to come in. If you do return, since you have already committed a betrayal once before, whether or not you are admitted again will have to be based on the manner of God, it must be based on the word of God. In the future it will become more and more difficult to enter. Each and every person who comes in has to undergo rigorous examining. Going out becomes more and more easy. You can leave as you please. Regardless of who it is, regardless of how many years they’ve believed, all they need to say is “I don’t believe,” and it’s done, they need not say anything else, they can leave without delay, and afterward they will not be allowed to return. It will be very difficult to return. This is the kind of institution that the house of God is.

from Sermons and Fellowship on Entry Into Life, Volume 140

Some people come across rumors after they accept the work of God in the last days and then they stop believing, they retreat. For them, it is easy to believe, and it is easy to not believe. The entrance to the house of God is wide open. If you stop believing then you can leave at any time, but just the same, if you stop believing after you started, then this is the same as betraying God. If you betray God then a mark will be left upon your body, a mark showing that you have betrayed God. If you listen to a lot of Satan’s words and fully believe them, and you judge and condemn God, then another mark will be left upon your body showing that you believe the rumors of Satan and that you betrayed God, judged God and offended God’s disposition. After this, once the great catastrophe comes and you see that Almighty God is real and so you want to believe again, God will say I don’t want you and He will cast you aside. So, if anyone accepts the work of the Almighty God for a period of time but then goes on to forsake Him only to then write another application letter to try to re-join the church, it will not be endorsed by God’s family.

from Sermons and Fellowship on Entry Into Life, Volume 143

If man accepts and internalizes Satan’s fallacies, rumors, and lies, then what is the problem? What will the consequences be? People who accept Satan’s fallacies and lies accept Satan’s false words, and they have been corrupted by Satan again. The point when man can accept Satan’s lies is the point when he belongs to Satan. In God’s eyes he already belongs to Satan. Then, he develops notions, viewpoints, actions, and behaviors of resisting God. Look at Adam and Eve. After being seduced by Satan and eating the fruit from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, what happened immediately afterward? They betrayed God. Then what did God say to Adam and Eve? They were driven out of the Garden of Eden, and God was no longer with them. Right? Then why was God so severe to Adam and Eve? Because they offended God’s disposition. They didn’t listen to God; it wasn’t that God did not inform them. God told them not to eat the fruit from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, “For in the day that you eat thereof you shall surely die.” They defied God’s words and did not stay true to God’s words, so they were driven out of the Garden of Eden. That was how severe the consequence was. Is accepting Satan’s suggestions a game? You all know that it’s not. To God, it was already a betrayal, and so they did not have God with them after that. God hated them. That was how severe things were. So, now that you have accepted Almighty God, if you still believe in Satan’s lies and accept its rumors, then although you have not yet left God’s church, from God’s perspective you have already betrayed Him and He is already no longer with you. If you come across these rumors and fallacies of Satan, you should pray immediately: “God, You enlighten me and illuminate me. You protect me so I can refuse and abandon Satan, and deny it forever. I do not accept Satan’s lies and fallacies. Let it be gone!” This is fine. It proves you have stood witness, and were not defeated by Satan’s temptation. You see that some people accept Satan’s rumors and errors, and in their hearts they begin to suspect God. As soon as they suspect, from God’s perspective, they have already betrayed Him. “I don’t want them, I don’t have them, I won’t save them.” Isn’t the problem so severe? Do you believe that this is truth? You all believe this is the truth.

from Sermons and Fellowship on Entry Into Life, Volume 142

Some people are accustomed to listening to Satan’s words. What happens when they listen to Satan? When the true God comes, you miss Him. When the true God comes, you do not accept. What is the consequence for not accepting? The consequence of not believing in God is annihilation and death! What is the work of God in the last days? First of all, God will make perfect a group of people, then save another group of people, and finally destroy mankind. There are only three things. The first thing is to make perfect a group of people before the catastrophe. The second thing is to refine some people and save some people. The third thing is to destroy all the species of Satan with the catastrophe. What does it mean by destroying all the species of Satan? How large is the scope of Satan’s species? God says, “… except for those now within the stream, the rest will be turned to ashes” (“The Twenty-sixth Utterance” of God’s Utterances to the Entire Universe in The Word Appears in the Flesh). That is, in the last phase of the catastrophe, all those who have not accepted the work of Almighty God will all die. Understand? Now that we can clearly see, if man listens to Satan’s rumors and nonsense, denies God’s work and refuses God’s work, what will be his outcome? He will be destroyed and turned to ashes! Now we can also be certain about a word: Those who listen to the rumors of the great red dragon and rumors of the religious circle will be destroyed by God in the end. Why will these people be destroyed? They have not accepted the work of Almighty God. What is the reason for not accepting? They are confused and trussed up by Satan. They haven’t accepted the true way, haven’t come to God, so they are destroyed by God in the end. So, outwardly, this matter appears to be very simple. “This person accepted. That person didn’t accept.” “Why did he not accept?” “He listened to negative propaganda, and so didn’t accept.” Can he still be alive without accepting? What is the consequence of not accepting? It is death and annihilation. So someone told me, “Some people fell for Satan’s rumors and tricks. They don’t believe any more.” I said, “Oh, they will perish. It is called ‘good advice cannot turn around the hell-bound fools.’” So, the consequence of listening to Satan’s rumors and nonsense is death. Isn’t it what this is all about?

from Sermons and Fellowship on Entry Into Life, Volume 142

If one day you are suspicious about God because of one of Satan’s lies, then in the very end, you will be sent to hell. In hell, you will be burned forever. Insects will bite you continuously. At that moment, you will say, “God, save me. God, save me!” God will say, “Do you believe in Me? You never believed me before. Why should I save you? My words have already been spoken. Those who do not believe in Me will be wiped out in hell. All who do not believe in Me must perish. What qualifies you to shout at Me to save you if you did not believe in Me? Did I tell you not to believe?” Why do you not believe? Do you not believe because of one of Satan’s lies? Go look for Satan. Why did you listen to Satan’s words? Do you believe what it says? Why do you not believe in God? You are the cause of your own narrowmindedness. You have tricked yourself. Did Satan bind your hands and feet? It told you one lie and you listened? You deserve to be punished for your sins. Who can you blame if you do not know God? Isn’t this the case? All those who listen to Satan’s lies, doubt God and abandon God will meet with retribution in the very end. At that time, would you still dare call out to God for salvation? Would God answer you? Whatever you say to God would be useless. God is God. The truth is the truth. Nobody can change the fact that God has accomplished.

from Sermons and Fellowship on Entry Into Life, Volume 142

The great red dragon is over there making up rumors about God and saying blasphemous words, and some people believe these words. After they believe, they develop notions about God. Tell me, what does God think of such people? God says, “You are also a devil. You are not a person to be saved. You will be destroyed like the great red dragon.” So it can be said that in such matters, you do not have a God-revering heart at all and you still want to have a hold on God. You are seeking death! You always find fault with this or that about God’s work. You go find fault then. You will be dead before you’ve finished. When you are finding faults, you are doomed and the Holy Spirit will give up on you. God says, “I hate you. I detest you” and you are done! Needless to say if you find fault for several years more, as soon as you find fault there, your heart will be condemned by God. This is God’s disposition which cannot be offended! So what are those rumors and lies of the great red dragon? I will tell you the truth. That is to put a clip or electrified power netting on some people, and as soon as they touch it, as soon as they believe, they will die. If you dare offend God then that is courting death! That’s how it is.

from “Sermons and Fellowship About God’s Word ‘God’s Work, God’s Disposition, and God Himself III’ (II)” in Sermons and Fellowship on Entry Into Life (XI)

Read more: Where Does Eastern Lightning Come From?
          The origin of the Church of Almighty God.