Introduction:

For some months now, after answering a reader's question about how to interact with those still clinging to the apostate church, it has been increasingly necessary to explore my answer and perhaps help others discover how the Sons of Zadok must conduct themselves. Jesus and His disciples met the Temple folks on a daily basis. They refused to be debased by them and consistently rose to a spiritual response that stood as a witness against those exhibiting an apostate Temple lifestyle. With gusto, Jesus and His disciples also ministered to thousands who garnered no solace within Temple gates but found miracles, healing and hope outside its walls-whether it be on Galilean hills or at Samaritan wells. Led by the Spirit, Jesus' path crossed predestined routes and encountered satan's temptations and lepers' pleas. Like David before Him, He ministered to God the Father and chose to see through mindless religion and protracted and prescribed social norms.

Jesus, the Witness, to the Temple Apostates:

Perhaps no other time in history parallels the Temple time experienced by Jesus like these last days. It has occurred to me many times that the apostate Temple demanded Jesus' first earthly sojourn and the modern apostate church demands His Second Coming. Both abandoned His glory and both offered a message far afield from truth. Both reached a point where there was and is no hope of reformation or revival within their domain.

A man in Arizona asked, "Why is it that you say things like that, yet feature some who are clearly a part of it?" My reply was direct: "Some who are still in church or organizational structures meet the three criteria of Jesus and His Disciples, therefore stand as a witness among their peers. They are not well integrated into their church systems and often incur the wrath of those who are...yet they stand as a solid testimony, and their testimony demands of their peers both action and interaction. What they say and do has to be dealt with!" They often are the last beam of light before darkness covers the masses. One must consider Jesus in this light as He cleansed the Temple yet continued to observe feasts and Temple events.

Everyone immediately considers the "cleansing of the Temple" as "The symbolic Act" showing Jesus' displeasure and disassociation. A closer examination reveals the cleansing as an act showing His authority and demanding attention to His correct posture before the Almighty Jehovah. Consider the following passages:

Do not give what is holy to the dogs; nor cast your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you in pieces. Matt 7:6 NKJV

But Jesus knew their thoughts, and said to them: "Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation, and every city or house divided against itself will not stand." Matt 12:25 NKJV

The scribes and Pharisees watched Him closely, whether He would heal on the Sabbath, that they might find an accusation against Him. 8 But He knew their thoughts, and said to the man who had the withered hand, "Arise and stand here." Luke 6:7-8 NKJV

Now when He was in Jerusalem at the Passover, during the feast, many believed in His name when they saw the signs which He did. 24 But Jesus did not commit Himself to them, because He knew all men, 25 and had no need that anyone should testify of man, for He knew what was in man. John 2:23-25 NKJV

Four mighty truths are conveyed in these selected scriptures:

• The first is simple "When Dealing with the system folks, don't seek to teach them what you know, but let them know through action and word you have something they do not!" Jesus let them know through superior knowledge of the word, He was a factor to be considered. He let them know through miracles. He let them know through superior discourse on any subject of their choosing. He did not commit Himself to them.


• The second scripture is like the first: "He knew their thoughts" through the Spirit. He dealt with the inward man, not the superficial exterior. With candid expression, He clearly told the Temple folk: "Your kingdom is divided and will fall." That is the simple message to today's apostate groups. For them there was extended no resuscitation, no hope of renewal, no hint of revival or re-structure-only decimation.


• The third scripture was chosen, like the first two, for its interaction outside the Temple mount. Jesus was on open turf, healing the multitudes, but aware of the Temple representatives' presence. He knew their interest in Him was to accuse, like their father the devil. He gave them no legitimate reason to accuse Him, neither must the modern witness.


• The fourth passage is truthfully the clearest of statements regarding Jesus' interaction with those of the Temple. During the Passover, when communion with one another other was heightened, "Many believed in His Name." He knew their depth and did not commit himself to them. This is the path of the modern witness. Thousands hail the "name of Jesus," but the Sons of Zadok must not commit themselves to them...the Spirit reveals their hearts and thoughts.

Jesus evangelized those outside the Temple:

Just because Jesus attended worship services in the Temple and would not commit Himself to the Temple apostate forum did not mean He did the same with the needy multitudes. Clearly He taught them, through parables and deeds, the ways of the Most High. He truly was the High Priest in reality, although a false one (though politically and religiously duly ordained) ministered in the Temple. The Sons of Zadok will find similar ministry with the multitudes, many of which find no solace with the religious cultists. In a day when thousands flock to massive gatherings, evidence abounds that outside the walls of "Praise and Worship Teams" lies healing, help and harvest.

Note that John the Baptist suffered the consequences of casting his pearls before Temple folk and was beheaded. When news of this arrived, observe Jesus.

And the apostles, when they had returned, told Him all that they had done. Then He took them and went aside privately into a deserted place belonging to the city called Bethsaida. 11 But when the multitudes knew it, they followed Him; and He received them and spoke to them about the kingdom of God, and healed those who had need of healing. Luke 9:10-11 NKJV

Immediately following this passage came a series of events: the loaves and fishes provision, then the query of Simon about His identity among the crowds and finally, a significant warning was issued when revelation came to Peter:

And He strictly warned and commanded them to tell this to no one, 22 saying, "The Son of Man must suffer many things, and be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised the third day." Luke 9:21-22 NKJV

Inevitably, the Sons of Zadok will find themselves rejected by the Apostates. Regardless of their ministry, regardless of the number of miracles, signs and wonders associated with their work, they will be shut out of the Apostate fellowship. In reality, there is no way to remain inside Apostate tolerance without compromise. One major truth must be gleaned from Jesus' words: the Sons must not share with the Apostates their intimate revelation. Herein, has been the root of much travail!

Jesus followed only the Spirit:

Whether ministering to multitudes outside the Temple or gathering with His Disciples (which He regarded as one ministry), Jesus simply followed the Spirit. His life was a vibrant testimony of the power of a yielded witness. He knew that those He confronted were put there with the same preciseness whereby He knew the donkey waited at a certain juncture. Forewarned by the Spirit, He was able to slip away from death plots which did not conform to God's timing. His perfect timing and correct response constituted the textbook for modern Sons. It is simply too late in history for Sons to walk in the witchcraft of man's "haphazardry." There is no place for a mistake if one is guided by the Spirit; the gift of spiritual discernment can no longer be dismissed as a secondary element to the eight others. Faith has reached its fruition, and the world will see the Sons demand truth be unleashed in the Apostate church and a reckoning of leadership and parishioner. Those outside already know the difference between Sons of Zadok priesthood and that of the inner sanctums of sodomy and sin. Clearly, the break is complete and the time for interaction is mostly finished. Once again, the Spirit is prompting, "Tell no man." Without hesitation, true Sons find only the voice of the Spirit to be reliable, trustworthy and worthwhile. The Voice lost in the garden has been restored to the Sons; His voice is again heard regularly, inquiringly and comfortably. There is no sin to grovel in, no whining accusation of associate or friend, no apology for naked lack. There is communion on a level which can never be known by the Apostates, a fellowship of Sons created for such an hour as this. There is exclusion from the work of the flesh while tending to the work of God.

34 And Jesus answered and said to them (the Sadducees), "The sons of this age marry and are given in marriage. 35 But those who are counted worthy to attain that age, and the resurrection from the dead, neither marry nor are given in marriage; 36 nor can they die anymore, for they are equal to the angels and are sons of God, being sons of the resurrection. 37 Now even Moses showed in the burning bush passage that the dead are raised, when he called the Lord 'the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.' 38 "For He is not the God of the dead but of the living, for all live to Him." 39 Then some of the scribes answered and said, "Teacher, You have spoken well." 40 But after that they dared not question Him anymore. Luke 20:34-40 NKJV

There comes a time when all the questions lead to the same conclusion: He is right, the Apostates are wrong. No further questions are valid.

That time has come again at the end of the Ages.

Until Next month,

Dr. Cosby R. Oliver, PhD.