"Heavens"
for dead people
OAC member
#1 wrote: “...like it or not The OAC has the
formular on how to enter the Heavens and they always have...”
OAC member
#2 wrote: “...see souls entering the gates of
heaven in the sealing service. Also like 5 or 6 ppl writes doen what they see
and it is exactly the same souls or spirits they see...”
OAC member #3 wrote: “...enjoy ur sealing lion and be there by spirit so that ur forefathers can enter the kingdom of heaven through u...”
OAC member #3 wrote: “...enjoy ur sealing lion and be there by spirit so that ur forefathers can enter the kingdom of heaven through u...”
The
word of the one (officer) above you is God…
Because
everyone is Jesus they are all in Heaven…
Not
the same heaven though; there are 7 Heavens. One for sisters; one for Brothers;
one for Underdeacons; one for Priests; one for Elders; one for the fourfold
ministry; and the Apostles and children share the same Heaven…
You
HAD to be there at the church every night, around 19:00-20:00, otherwise you
won't get salvation. That was applicable to South Africans; the OAC members in
the rest of the world had to be in church on Sundays only for salvation…”
Former OAC
member #1 wrote: “…The eye-opening thing for me was
when I recalled how they baptised people by making a cross between your
eyebrows, saying they're opening your 'spiritual eye'. We already have two
natural eyes, so that would surely be our 'third eye'? In the occult, the third
eye is the all-seeing eye of Satan…
'Sealing
services' (versegelingsdienste) are held in the OAC at least once a year. This
is when the apostle comes and 'seals' those who have been baptised in the OAC.
At these 'sealing services', a 'fourfold officer' and his wife are baptised and
'sealed' on behalf of those souls who had come to the OAC faith after having
'passed out of the flesh', and now had no bodies of their own. (The Bible
clearly teaches that the dead know nothing, and that everybody rests in their
graves until Jesus comes to fetch His people. When we die, we don't go from
having a body, to being a 'body-less' being, wandering around heaven and earth.)
We were taught that the apostle has the key to heaven. At a certain time during
these 'sealing services', the apostle would unlock the door of heaven so those
who had died in the faith since the last 'sealing service', could enter into
heaven. At these 'sealing services' many members who had been 'gifted' to see
'die doderyk' (kingdom of the dead) by asking their 'owergestelde' for this
'gift', or receiving this 'gift' when their 'spiritual eye' was opened at their
baptism, would say they saw so-and-so (happy and dressed in white if they were
fortunate to be going through the 'door' when the apostle unlocked the door of
heaven, or sad if they didn't make it, having known the 'truth', but not being
'op hulle plek')…
When
someone died, the priest (or higher officer, depending on which 'heaven' the
person who had 'gone out of the flesh' had been in) would say at the graveside,
as the coffin was being lowered into the grave, "Go into the rest of the
(f)ather you served." ("Gaan in, in die rus in van die vader wat JY
gedien het.") According to their teaching, if your 'heaven' while you were
alive, was to go partying, when you 'went out of the flesh' you would go to
that 'heaven' as that was where the father you served was. It would be hell for
you because you wouldn't have a body anymore to be able to dance. If your
heaven was drinking, it would be hell for you not to have a body and be able to
pick up a drink and swallow it. That would be the permanent state of those who
had not been 'op hulle plek'. (You could have been 'op jou plek', attending all
the activities, paying your tithe and 'facing east', but that one time you
perhaps decided to go somewhere else, like a movie, which was 'into the world',
and you died in an accident, you could lose your salvation, having 'backslided'
at the time of your death!)…”
Former OAC
member #2 wrote: “...I was "baptized" in
the Old Apostolic church…
During
this procedure, they open your spiritual eye so that you can
see/feel/communicate with spirits…
Once
a year the Apostolics "open the gates of heaven for the lost souls"
that are on earth for 15 minutes…
They
believe in communication with the dead…
Believe
in no heaven up there but only around us…
after
you die, you get a second chance. Spirits can "convert" other spirits
to God's will...”
Former OAC
member #3 wrote: “…The OACSA has a philosophy others can only wish for.
There is no heaven and God dwells in the heads of mankind. Mortal human beings
can gain the power to lock or unlock the portals of heaven when empowered to do
so by the high officials of the church…”
Former OAC
member #4 wrote: “…If the person died before he
ever met an Old Apostolic he will have an opportunity to be saved if his soul
makes its way to a sealing service and he makes use of the opportunity that the
Apostle makes for souls to enter the Kingdom when he opens the gate at the
Sealing Service as I described before. Evidently it is very dark on the “other
side” and the Sealing Service is this huge light that attracts lost souls like
moths to a flame to coin a phrase. But God will decide who is actually admitted
so the Sealing Service is only an opportunity. Any soul that turned their back
on the one true God will be rejected. Devil Worshippers and atheists etc do not
count as people who rejected God as they did not really reject God if they did
not turn their back on the OAC…
The
OAC believes that when a person dies his soul stays near his body until the
funeral. At the funeral the presiding officer will say words to the effect of
“Go into the rest, faithful soul” although God will decide if the soul actually
goes into the rest or not…”
A non-OAC
member wrote: “…Wat vreemd van hulle is is hoe
hulle geeste oproep wat getuig in die kerk - my een oom wat 'n ou apostel is
het ernstig vertel hoe Hitler glo in 'n diens deur iemand gepraat het en vertel
het hoe hy die "lig" gesien het in die Ou Apostel Kerk…”
For those of
you who don’t understand Afrikaans, this person is saying that “...What makes
them peculiar is how they call up spirits to testify in the church - my one
uncle who is an old apostle earnestly tells how Hitler apparently spoke in a
service through someone and told how he had seen the "light" in the
Old Apostle Church...”
 |
| Necromancy - art of predicting by means of communicating with the dead; witchcraft |
When you ask
for the passages of Scripture defending these statements, OAC members will
either change the subject or give a vague answer along the following lines: “…So now, what is the fate of those who never received the
gospel of Jesus Christ, the Gospel of peace, or do you not believe in a
compasionate God? Is God not perfectly loving and just? Does God not desire
that all His children is to be saved? What happens to the billions that have
never had the chance to be saved? …”
This topic
is usually avoided during discussions with non-OAC members because it is a
controversial topic and considered to be “heavy meat” for new prospects. New
prospects first need to be fed “milk” before they’re strong enough
(sufficiently indoctrinated) to eat “meat”. This is commonly referred to as the
“bait-and-switch” tactic so typical of cults.
- The complex parts of the religion are deliberately hidden
- The complex parts of the religion are the most objectionable
Would someone
enter a trap if they knew in advance that it is a trap?
THE OLD APOSTOLIC CHURCH OF AFRICA CONFESSION OF FAITH
“WE BELIEVE”
“…in the administering, through the living for the dead, of
the three holy sacraments unto the souls in the realm of the dead…”
When I was
first given the above CONFESSION
OF FAITH, I was instructed to keep it to
myself and not to share it with anyone “in the world” because they wouldn’t
understand. Compare this approach and confession to what’s written in the
Bible:
John 3:16-21 For
God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever
believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not
his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him
might be saved. He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that
believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of
the only begotten Son of God. And this is the condemnation, that light is come
into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds
were evil. For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the
light, lest his deeds should be reproved. But he that doeth truth cometh to the
light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.
OAC members
believe their interaction with “spirits” proves that the OAC is the right
church. For a Christian the only standard of truth is Scripture (2 Timothy
3:16-17), and Scripture has clear warnings about “familiar spirits”
(Leviticus
19:31, Leviticus 20:6, Deuteronomy 18:10-12, 1 Samuel
28:3-14, 2 Kings 21:6, Isaiah 8:19-20). In every instance in Scripture where "familiar spirits" are mentioned, it is accompanied by the word "wizards" in the same sentence.
According to
Strong’s, the word “wizard” is translated from the Hebrew word yidde‛ônı̂y and is defined as:
properly a knowing one; specifically
a conjurer; (by implication) a ghost: - wizard.
The Bible
clearly tells us that demon possession is also possible. Devils (daimonizomai in Greek - to be exercised
by a daemon) or spirits of divination can also speak through people (Matthew 8:28-32,
Mark 1:23-26,
Mark 9:17-27,
Luke 4:33-35,
Acts
16:16-18).
The Bible
makes it quite clear that it is sin to try and contact the dead and God condemns
it.
If interaction with the dead is proof that the OAC is the right church, then it’s right for all the wrong reasons.
If interaction with the dead is proof that the OAC is the right church, then it’s right for all the wrong reasons.
2 Corinthians 11:13-15 For
such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the
apostles of Christ. And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an
angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be
transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to
their works.
Do not
believe every spirit (1 John 4:1-3), angels from God usually take on
the form of man to bring messages to God’s people (Luke 1:11-38, Luke 2:9-14).
God’s angels are ministering spirits (Hebrews 1:13-14) and don’t appear as familiar
spirits, but as strangers (Hebrews 13:2).
The Bible
teaches that there are no opportunities for salvation after death. Any doctrine
that teaches otherwise is both false and dangerous.
Hebrews 9:24-28 For
Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the
figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of
God for us: Nor yet that he should offer himself often, as the high priest
entereth into the holy place every year with blood of others; For then must he
often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end
of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself. And
as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: So Christ
was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him
shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.
Catechism of the Old Apostolic Church of Africa…Part 2;
Question 2 (pages 47-48):
“Where is the
Kingdom of Heaven?”
“Ans. Within those to whom the Kingdom is given.
Firstly unto the Apostles in whom the Father had the good
pleasure of giving the kingdom (refer Luke 12 v. 32) and for whom Christ prayed
exclusively (refer John 17 v. 9). Secondly unto them which shall believe in
Christ through the words of the Apostles (refer John 17 v. 20)”
The verse
quoted in the OAC catechism in defence of this statement is as follows:
Luke 12:32 Fear
not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the
kingdom.
When reading
the verses quoted in the OAC catechism in defence of this statement, we see how
the OAC tries to change the context of these verses. Jesus was talking to his
disciples of which He had many, not just the twelve apostles (Luke 12:1,
Luke 12:22).
Jesus was telling them to have no fear or be anxious (Luke 12:4-7, Luke 12:22-34),
one’s life doesn’t consist of worldly riches (Luke 12:13-21). Jesus prayed for
eternal life to be given to as many as God had given him (John 17:2), the men given to Him
out of the world (John 17:6) and also for them which shall
believe on Him (John
17:20). Nowhere does Jesus say that heaven is in a person and that
these gates will be opened once a year for spirits to enter. People that were
full of spirits were actually filled with demons and Jesus cast them out! The kingdom of God is righteousness,
peace and joy in the Holy Ghost (Romans 14:17). You can also read how the OAC
interprets the Kingdom
of God “spiritually”.
Catechism of the Old Apostolic Church of Africa…Part 2;
Question 17 (page 56):
“What is Heaven?”
“Ans. : It is a condition of rest unto the soul,
blessedness and peace that we will taste if we submit ourselves in the house of
the Father and become small as little children. Such a child is an angel in
heaven and beholds the face of the Father which is in heaven every day. (Refer
Matt. 18 v. 10.)”
The verse
quoted in the OAC catechism in defence of this statement is as follows:
Matthew 18:10 Take
heed that ye despise not one of these little ones; for I say unto you, That in
heaven their angels do always behold the face of my Father which is in heaven.
Notice that the verse is talking about the
angels of the little ones and not the little ones as angels. There’s also no mention
of what Heaven is. It’s ironic that the OAC
catechism would say that OAC heaven is a condition of rest unto the soul with
blessedness and peace. From the statements at the beginning of this post this
is clearly a lie. OAC members with the “gift” of seeing ghosts never get any
rest because these “spirits” are continuously bugging them because they have
the so-called “light”. It was explained to me once by my “priest” that the
“world” is dark and when you shine a light at night, all the insects and bugs
come to swarm around the light. Similarly this “gift” is supposedly a “light”.
It is not unusual to hear of “gifted” members being molested or smothered by
some “seeking soul” (read demon). These members are so revered because it is
deemed to be special to have such a “gift”.
- The soul (nephesh in Hebrew) that sins will die (Ezekiel 18:20)
- Our bodies will return to dust (Genesis 3:19)
- Our spirit (rûach in Hebrew, pneuma in Greek – breath of life or life force) returns to God (Ecclesiastes 8:8, Ecclesiastes 12:7, Luke 23:46, Acts 7:59)
- The dead know nothing and have no reward (Psalms 146:4, Ecclesiastes 9:5, Isaiah 26:14, Luke 16:19-31)
- The Bible describes death as being asleep or buried (Job 7:21, 1 Kings 2:10, Daniel 12:2, Acts 2:29, 1 Thessalonians 4:13)
There were
pagan religions where baptism for the dead was practiced. Just north of Corinth
there was a city named Eleusis, the location of a pagan religion known as the
Eleusinian Mysteries. They held initiations every year for the cult of Demeter
and Persephone. It was a major festival during the Hellenic era and later spread
to Rome. The ceremonies and beliefs were kept secret and the initiated believed
they would be rewarded in the afterlife. It is believed that the Eleusinian
Mysteries are derived from the Mycenaean period which predates the Greek Dark
Ages. Modern scholars believe the Eleusinian Mysteries intended “to elevate man
above the human sphere into the divine and to assure his redemption by making
him a god and so conferring immortality upon him”. During an all night feast of
dancing and merriment known as Pannychis, a bull would be sacrificed and
initiates would honour the dead by pouring a drink-offering from special
vessels. The Corinthians were known to be heavily influenced by other customs
and religious practices and this is also what Paul had to contend with.
False
teachers had influenced the church at Corinth and taught that there was no
resurrection of the dead.
Paul refutes
these false teachings. There were eye witness accounts of Christ’s
resurrection:
1 Corinthians 15:5-7 And
that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve: After that, he was seen of
above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this
present, but some are fallen asleep. After that, he was seen of James; then of
all the apostles.
If there is
no resurrection then:
- Christ has not risen (1 Corinthians 15:13, 1 Corinthians 15:16)
- Paul was preaching in vain and their faith was in vain (1 Corinthians 15:14)
- Paul and the other apostles were false witnesses (1 Corinthians 15:15)
- We are still in our sins (1 Corinthians 15:17)
- All who have fallen asleep (died) in Christ have perished (1 Corinthians 15:18)
To counter
these false cultist leaders, Paul stated that the heart of the gospel was
Christ’s resurrection after dying on the cross for our sins. Christ's historical
death, burial and resurrection IS
the gospel.
Paul explains
that Christ has been raised, He is the firstfruits of all that will be raised
and that all enemies including death have been subjected and conquered by
Christ (1
Corinthians 15:20-28).
Then Paul
points out an inconsistency in the practice of these false teachers, if they did not believe the dead would
rise, why did they baptize them
after death? It was a contradiction. People who deny the resurrection for the
dead ought not to get baptized for the dead.
1 Corinthians 15:29 Else what
shall they do which are baptized for the dead, if the dead rise not at
all? why are they then baptized for the dead?
You’ll
notice that Paul is referring to “they”,
not “us” or “we”. From the context of the whole chapter it is clear that Paul
does not condone baptizing a living person on behalf of someone else who is
dead already. Baptism pictures being buried with Christ, we are buried with
Christ so that we can be raised to life with Him.
Romans 6:4 Therefore
we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up
from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in
newness of life.
Colossians 2:12 Buried
with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of
the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead.
In the
second century (AD 135 to as late as AD 177) there was a sect in Phrygia under
the leadership of “prophet” Montanus and two female “prophets”, Prisca and
Maximillia. They had an immediate expectation of Judgement Day and their
entranced utterances were deemed oracles of the Holy Spirit. According to Epiphanius
in “Against Heresies”, the Phrygians were seen as false prophets because they
acted irrationally and were not in control of their senses. This Phrygian sect seems
to have developed the practice of baptizing actual corpses based on their
interpretation of 1 Corinthians 15:29.
Baptism for
the dead has been practiced by the Mormons ever since 1840. Their “prophet”
Joseph Smith first taught this doctrine at a funeral sermon of a deceased
member of their church. The sermon was based on 1 Corinthians 15:29. He wrote
about it in a letter dated October 19th, 1840 to the “Quorum of the
Twelve Apostles” (governing body of the Mormons) who were on a mission in the
United Kingdom at the time.
 |
| Portrait of the Mormon "prophet" Joseph Smith |
Something
mentioned only once in Scripture cannot be given the same weight of importance
as the central themes of Scripture. Heterodoxy skirts around the central truths
while peripheral matters become life-and-death issues. When something is
mentioned only once, the likelihood of misinterpretation is high while matters
that are discussed repeatedly in various contexts will be clarified by
repetition.
You can also
read:
OAC Confession of Faith
The Biblical truth is, ONLY Jesus Christ has the authority to be a proxy regarding Salvation.
OAC Confession of Faith
The Biblical truth is, ONLY Jesus Christ has the authority to be a proxy regarding Salvation.
1 Timothy 2:5-6 For there
is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; Who
gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.
2 Corinthians 5:1-10 For we
know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a
building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. For in
this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is
from heaven: If so be that being clothed we shall not be found naked. For we
that are in this tabernacle do groan, being burdened: not for that we would be
unclothed, but clothed upon, that mortality might be swallowed up of life. Now
he that hath wrought us for the selfsame thing is God, who also hath given unto
us the earnest of the Spirit. Therefore we are always confident, knowing that,
whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord: (For we walk by
faith, not by sight:) We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent
from the body, and to be present with the Lord. Wherefore we labour, that,
whether present or absent, we may be accepted of him. For we must all appear
before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done
in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.
Hebrews 9:11-14 But
Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more
perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building;
Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in
once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us. For if the
blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean,
sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh: How much more shall the blood of
Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God,
purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?
There is
only one REAL
Jesus and He is the ONLY
Messiah.
