What is the purpose, self-proclaimed mission,
of the individuals ["students"] speaking out on the Internet that study the Bible through
Shepherd's Chapel Network (SCN)?
It is to "seal" you biblically ignorant folks with God's truth according to Arnold Murray's doctrine.
Broadcasted sermons originating from SCN only hint at this mission expected of Shepherd's Chapel students. To really understand the purpose to their method, you would need to attend either the April [Passover] or September [Fall Fellowship] SCN-organized weekend of sermons/lectures. The non-publicized portion of their mission comes from the Pastors Murray, either Arnold or his son Dennis, speaking from the stage/pulpit either before or after the sermon.
Each and every sermon/lecture broadcast by SCN is the result of a live, in one "take", recorded video that is broadcast to the public through the satellite uplink on "C-band". This also feeds to Dish Network, DirecTV, and various television networks in North America and some of western Europe. A duplicate broadcast feed is offered through the Shepherd's Chapel website 24-hours a day, 365 days a year.
But .... the TV audience never gets to hear what is said before or after that recorded portion. You must be present during the live portion to hear the order given to "go seal those ignorant to God's truth in these Last Days before Christ's return".
I want to be clear about what Pastor Arnold Murray (PM), and others at SCN, are teaching concerning what the Bible says.
Some of what Dr. Arnold Murray teaches is as follows:
1. That his students "probably" are God's "elect" because they know that Satan appears at the 6th Trump and Jesus does not appear until the 7th Trump.
2. That Satan will come to this Earth speaking "I'm going to Rapture you out of here to be with me in heaven because I am God".
3. That PM's students must "seal" the truth of the doctrine taught by Pastor Arnold Murray into the minds of the 144,000 elect "that stumble" (as the church of Philadelphia) and initially follow (are fooled by) Satan who claims to be God.
4. That PM's students, as "God's elect", will be "delivered up" in person to Satan in the city of Jerusalem to have the Holy Spirit speak God's message to the entire world from their mouths. Each elect who testifies will be troubled for a period of 10 days and then set free.
5. That Ezekiel chapter 13, verses 17 through 23, is biblical proof that "God hates the teaching of a Rapture".
[There are many, many more opinions taught, but I'm not going to list them here.]
It is my opinion that this is a gross error to tell anyone through a televised sermon or lecture that he or she hearing that message is one of God's elect.
I see it as a serious personal failure in God's eyes to publicly proclaim one's self as an elect. It is called self-righteousness in the Bible.
I do not claim to be an "elect". God has never told me in any way that I was one these "elect" chosen for His purpose. Even if I were to know that I was a member of God's election, it would not change a thing about how I obey Christ or how I try and live my life each and every day as a member of the Body of Christ (as a Christian).
Don't be too hard on these students. They no longer think outside of what their pastor, Arnold Murray, says is found in the Bible.
Do not have faith in any man; only have faith in God. Pastor Murray tells folks this over and over, but I guess some folks choose not to hear that.
I previously thought that Pastor Arnold Murray did not have an opinion. I believed that he spoke the truth as it was told in the Bible. I allowed myself to be deceived by this charismatic pastor. It is not anyone's fault except my own.
SCN teaches kindergarten Bible. It is a wonderful place to start studying the Bible; that does not mean that any of us should stop searching the Bible for ourselves. Repeating what some man says, without understanding it for one's self, is a failure to obey God's voice. God tells us not to let any man to deceive us. The only way, that we will know that we are being deceived, is for us to learn what the Bible truly says by our personal effort in studying the Bible.
We must study using every tool we can find. We cannot listen to our flesh if it tells us that some pastor is God's prophet. We must listen to God. We must read His written message to each of us in the Bible. Do not believe any man's opinion until you have checked it out for yourself through years of study and searching God's Truth written in the Bible.
If you know that you can't learn it on your own, be smart enough to admit that to yourself right up front! If you do not know clearly in your own mind what the Bible really says, do not try and teach SCN doctrine to anyone. If you repeat SCN doctrine, then you are no better than Jehovah's Witnesses or Mormon men who go door-to-door passing off their religion as God's words instead of the opinions of men.
Pray for guidance and understanding. Then never, ever cease to search further into the Bible on your own to the best of your ability. You will be rewarded. God says so.
asd@holyscriptures.com