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Excellent point! Thank you. I think it should be obvious that, though the spirit of antichrist was always around pushing people away from the truth, God REMAINS a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.

Indeed, what an excellent point, dear roamer_1!

The Pharisees and scribes had a thousand plus year old claim to teaching authority. But Jesus said:

Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching [for] doctrines the commandments of men.

For laying aside the commandment of God, ye hold the tradition of men, [as] the washing of pots and cups: and many other such like things ye do. And he said unto them, Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition. - Mark 7:7-9

They probably had traditions which do not reject the commandments of God, but Christ continued with an example of one that does:

For Moses said, Honour thy father and thy mother; and, Whoso curseth father or mother, let him die the death: But ye say, If a man shall say to his father or mother, [It is] Corban, that is to say, a gift, by whatsoever thou mightest be profited by me; [he shall be free]. And ye suffer him no more to do ought for his father or his mother; Making the word of God of none effect through your tradition, which ye have delivered: and many such like things do ye. - Mark 7:10-13

So regardless of the label on the assembly of Christians, it is crucial to test all traditions against the words of God. His words come first and we must not add to them or take anything away from them.

Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish [ought] from it, that ye may keep the commandments of the LORD your God which I command you. – Deuteronomy 4:2

Thank God that His own words are active - Spirit and life - so that each Christian can discern between the words of men and the words of God.

To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out. And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice. And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers. – John 10:3-5

It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, [they] are spirit, and [they] are life. - John 6:63

And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Esaias, which saith, By hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and shall not perceive:- Matt 13:14

Why do ye not understand my speech? [even] because ye cannot hear my word. – John 8:43

But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know [them], because they are spiritually discerned. - I Cor 2:13

He is our teacher.

But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him. - I John 2:27

God's Name is I AM.

Thanks for your reply : )

I think it should be obvious that, though the spirit of antichrist was always around pushing people away from the truth [...]

While I will admit that you are certainly right in your statement, I am drawn to the distinction being made - WHY the distinction? Why not just identify 'the accuser' as the bulk of Hebrew writings would do? I think there is a particular tangent to ponder here.

[...] God REMAINS a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.

Amen to that!