Here is where you 'err', You Know:
"Apostasy" means a 'standing away from'... and for the purposes YOU intend... standing away from God. What you are DOING, however, is what your leaders have taught you and that is accuse all those who 'stand away' from the WTBTS... as also standing away from God. This is not necessarily TRUE, for those who 'stood away' from the Jewish system of things, with its temple, did not necessarily 'stand away' from God. My Lord was one of these, as were his disciples.
In addition, such 'standing away' FROM God... would have to be in reference to those who stood WITH God... and it is only those who at one time was 'in union' with God... who could do so. The WTBTS, however, has PRECLUDED MANY... from coming to, being with and remaining in union with God, by means of their very 'shutting up the kingdom of the heavens'. How so?
To 'apostacize' in the manner spoken of by the disciples would mean to 'stand away'... FROM THAT UNION. And the ONLY way ones come 'in union' with God... is by being 'in union' with Christ. And the ONLY way ones come to be 'in union' with Christ is:
1. Love - for ALL, including one's enemies and PARTICULARLY one's brothers and neighbor...
2. Faith - in the WORD of God, that he died for us, but is now ALIVE and so SPEAKS to us from 'heaven'... and is 'with [us]', although invisible in 'presence'...
3. Obedience - TO that 'voice', in what it directs us to speak... and do... including heeding the words that:
"He that OBEY my commandments remains in union with me;"
"UNLESS you eat the flesh and drink the blood of the Son of Man...
YOU HAVE NO LIFE IN YOURSELVES";
"Remain in union with me, for apart from me... you can do NOTHING of your own selves..."
He that eats my flesh and drinks my blood... REMAINS IN UNION WITH ME..."
He that loves ME... will OBEY my commandments;"
"KEEP doing this... in remembrance of me."
Yet, is those who claim to BE of the Household of God, by reason of an 'anointing'... who PRECLUDE ones from coming into this union. Yes, the judgment WILL start with us first. However, my Father... in His INFINITE wisdom and mercy... KNEW... and thus, my Lord knew... that it would be those claiming to be of his household who would 'shut the door'... HIM... to others, so that they would not enjoy such union. And He would NEVER consider as 'standing away' from such 'union'... and the NEW Covenant... those never allowed IN it.
For such ones, then, another provision has been made: the "Rahab" provision, wherein such ones CAN get life... STILL... based on how they treat the brothers of my Lord, and thus, in essence, him.
You are like your brothers, You Know... those who preach condemnation and death... the LAW COVENANT... rather than mercy, forgiveness... and LIFE... the NEW Covenant. You are like your forefathers before you, who, rather than invite ALL into such New Covenant... 'shut up the kingdom of the heavens before men.' Why? Because they themselves... do no go in.
Yes, indeed, the judgment WILL start with the Household of God; take care, then, that it does not start with YOUR... 'abode'.
A slave of Christ,
SJ