It also speaks of Christ, Whom the builders "rejected"; and that He is the Head of the Church , "the same one who has become the head of the corner"; and that "shall be taken away ... The Kingdom of God" from the Jews, "and it will be given to the people who bear its fruits." By the way, this text directly contradicts your belief that the kingdom was taken from the Jews in 607 B.C. In fact, they lost it in the days of Herod "the Great," the first non-Jew (Edomite) king of Judah, when the Messiah was born.

Of which Jacob also prophesied: "The scepter shall not depart from Judah, nor the lawgiver from his loins, until the Mediator comes, and to Him shall be the obedience of the nations" (Gen. 49:10). The fact that the stone symbolizes the Teaching of Christ is said in the Sermon on the Mount: "Whosoever therefore heareth these words of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, who built his house upon a rock; and the rain fell, and the rivers overflowed, and the winds blew, and rushed upon that house, and it did not fall, because it was founded on a rock" (Matt. 7:24-25).

It also speaks of the invincibility of the Teaching of Christ, in other words, that the biblical truth will not "fall asleep," as strangely, to put it mildly, you teach. The Lord Jesus Christ clearly testified to the indestructibility of the Church and Her Teaching, saying: "... and upon this rock I will build My Church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it" (Matt. 16:18). In the sense of these words, the Church of Christ exists continuously from the days of Pentecost to our days and into eternity.

The prophet Daniel says about this: "And in the days of those kingdoms the God of heaven will raise up a kingdom that will never be destroyed, and this kingdom will not be given to another people; it shall crush and destroy all kingdoms, but it shall stand for ever" (Dan. 2:44).   Sectarian: As I said, we recognize that anointed Christians have existed throughout the centuries of "apostasy."

They were the ones who implemented the principle of the continuity of the witness to the gospel of the kingdom.   Orthodox: Can you name any of them?   Sectarian: Pierre Waldo, Jan Hus, Bible translators William Tyndall, Luther, etc.   Orthodox: It seems to me that you have little idea of what and how these people believed. Jan Hus is the author of a large treatise in defense of the veneration of icons, his associate Jerome of Prague was directly accused of having ties with the Orthodox, for which he was burned, Luther recognized the baptism of infants; they believed in the Holy Trinity, in the Divinity of Jesus Christ, which contradicts your worldview; The Waldenses merged with historical Protestantism.

On the other hand, their beliefs were so different that it is impossible to present their mutually exclusive concepts as a single and integral stream of Christian truths. I think that if Russell were alive today, he would not be able to become even an "unbaptized publisher" in your organization. The beliefs of the early "Jehovah's Witnesses" and the modern "theology" of the "Jehovah's Witnesses" contain mutually exclusive and contradictory concepts and ideas.

The true Church has always been and is: "... The Church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the Truth" (1 Tim. 3:15). "Affirmation of the Truth", and not mutually contradictory opinions. When the Church makes a doctrinal or disciplinary decision, She does not speak in a speculative and vague way. On the contrary, Her position is concrete and expressed with authority. Bearing witness to their faith, the Apostles said: "In this we are witnesses to Him, and the Holy Spirit, Whom God has given to them that obey Him" (Acts 5:32)

; and again: "For it is pleasing to the Holy Spirit and to us..." (Acts 15:28). The authority of the Church is unique and inimitable, extending from earth to heaven: "And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven" (Matt. 16:19). That is why Christ said: "... tell the church; and if he will not listen to the church, let him be to you as a heathen and a publican" (Matt. 18:17).

There is an ancient saying of Cyprian of Carthage: "To whom the Church is not a mother, God is not the Father."   Sectarian: I want to offer you a text from the Bible. I'm interested to know how you'll interpret it. "For I know that after my departure grievous wolves will enter in among you, not sparing the flock; and men will arise from among yourselves, speaking perversely, in order to draw away disciples after them.

Therefore watch, remembering that for three years I have been teaching each one of you day and night without ceasing with tears. And now I commit you, brethren, to God and to the word of His grace, which is able to edify you more, and to give you an inheritance with all those who are sanctified" (Acts 20:29-32). It says that at the end of the apostolic age, a spirit of apostasy will enter the church.

Then it will be necessary to pay more attention to the Scriptures. Up. Paul says: "Now I commit you, brethren, to God and to the word of His grace, which is able to edify you more." It is known that Emperor Constantine played the role of chairman at the Council of Nicaea, actively led the course of discussions. In reverence for the emperor, the bishops, with the exception of only two, recognized and signed the creed, although for many of them this meant going against their convictions.

But it is known that Constantine never refused to worship the Sun and continued to mint its image on his coins. And the day before his death, he made a sacrifice to Zeus in accordance with the title of Pontifex Maximus. Do you call it, in my opinion, "Equal-to-the-Apostles"? As you can see, we also try to study the history of Christianity. Orthodox: Have you read the speeches of Emperor Constantine at the Council, his letters to Arius? Cultist: No.

Orthodox: Then I will allow myself to read some excerpts from his letters and speeches.  "What more shall I say with my little prepared speech, except that my soul, redeemed by His blood, must remain pure." From this text we see his humility and deep hope in the significance of the redemptive sacrifice of the Blood of the Son of God. "Providence!

What a wound it has inflicted on my heart to learn that there have arisen among yourselves dissensions far more important than in Africa, that you, through whom I hoped to give healing to others, are in need of much more healing yourself." Here we see how genuinely concerned he was about the disorders in the Christian church and their consequences for the cause of spreading the Good News.