Would it be correct in believing that if the Bible is not the word of God, and has been too much tampered with by human hands and interests, then it is equally futile (if not more so) to attempt to organize an earthly organization claiming to represent God (e.g. WTBS, the Catholic Church, etc.)?
ABSOLUTLEY futile, dear Mr. F (peace to you!). Absolutely! As my Lord explained it to me (when I wondered which religion was "truly his")... there IS NO "earthly organization" - there CAN'T be! Because... right NOW... God's kingdom... is NO PART... of THIS... world! Yes, at one time it WAS (and will be AGAIN... when New Jerusalem "comes down out of heaven"... so that, through HER, God "brings together AGAIN the things in the spirit realm (heavens) and the things in the physical realm (earth)). To that extent, there was the establishment of [Old] Law Covenant and the erection of the tabernacle (as God' temple and "temporary" (because it was a TENT) dwelling place... on EARTH!). The tabernacle was replaced by a more "permanent" structure, the temple at Jerusalem (the last VISIBLE "representation" of God on earth), but even that structure wasn't indestructible.
When Christ came, however, God's spirit... which "dwelled/resided" in the MOST Holy compartment of the Temple... above the Ark of the Covenant... LEFT that edifice and went... where? INTO Christ! HE became the "temple" of God (which is why he SAID, of HIS body, "Tear this temple down and I will raise it up in three days"). At Pentecost 30 CE, however, when he poured that spirit OUT... of HIMSELF (John 7:38)... he did so INTO those who were gathered there... and thus, THEY then became the "temple" of God (1 Corinthians 3:16).
That is why little flames appeared above their heads: the "shekinah light"... which appeared as a cloud during the day and a flame by night... both of which could be seen coming from the MOST Holy... which represented God's holy spirit... went into THEM. Since it occurred at NIGHT... it was manifest by little flames. Had the event occurred during the DAY... the room would have been filled with a cloud.
Today, the "temple" of God is made up of people, yes. However, such people have no official "organization" because... they are not ORGANIZED, per se, by anyone other than their LEADER, Christ. Since HIS presence is invisible... such "organization" is... you guessed it... INVISIBLE. We are scattered throughout the earth and know each other NOT by the religion we claim or identify with... but the LOVE OF GOD that is IN us... holy spirit... through Christ. By means of this our spirit BEAR WITNESS with one another... because of the UNION we share... in Christ.
He is the HEAD of us, his Body. We can't do a thing... that glorifies God... and brings honor and glory to ourselves... without him (John 15:1-6). This does not include ALL of mankind, true... but it doesn't make us BETTER than any others. It makes us SERVANTS of all others. That is why there is no one AMONG us to "take the lead"... other than in such things as looking after widows and orphans, distributing to those in need, etc.
God does not dwell in handmade temples, dear one... but in the "temple" being built by His Son, the Holy One of Israel, JAHESHUA, the Chosen One of JAH. That "temple" consists of people: Christ, the Cornerstone; the Apostles, the Foundation; the Prophets and others, Pillars; and the rest as living stones. Together, we are all being built up into a place for God to inhabit/occupy... by SPIRIT.
So, wherever one or two of US are gathered... there Christ is also. We do not need to look for him in a church or religious organization; he isn't there. He is IN... his people. And the only appropriate identification, for THIS world's purposes, would be: the Body of Christ, the Congregation of the Firstborn. However, there is no institution, organization, religion, church, congregation, etc., of THIS world that applies. We ARE the "church", the temple of God.
I hope this helps, dear Mr. F... and again, peace to you!
YOUR servant and a slave of Christ,
SA
