Lev 14:33-53 (KJV _ with NO modernisation.) "And the LORD spake unto Moses and unto Aaron, saying, When ye be come into the land of Canaan, which I give to you for a possession, and I put the plague of leprosy in a house of the land of your possession; And he that owneth the house shall come and tell the priest, saying, It seemeth to me there is as it were a plague in the house: Then the priest shall command that they empty the house, before the priest go into it to see the plague, that all that is in the house be not made unclean: and afterward the priest shall go in to see the house: And he shall look on the plague, and, behold, if the plague be in the walls of the house with hollow strakes, greenish or reddish, which in sight are lower than the wall; Then the priest shall go out of the house to the door of the house, and shut up the house seven days: And the priest shall come again the seventh day, and shall look: and, behold, if the plague be spread in the walls of the house; Then the priest shall command that they take away the stones in which the plague is, and they shall cast them into an unclean place without the city: And he shall cause the house to be scraped within round about, and they shall pour out the dust that they scrape off without the city into an unclean place: And they shall take other stones, and put them in the place of those stones; and he shall take other morter, and shall plaister the house. And if the plague come again, and break out in the house, after that he hath taken away the stones, and after he hath scraped the house, and after it is plaistered; Then the priest shall come and look, and, behold, if the plague be spread in the house, it is a fretting leprosy in the house: it is unclean. And he shall break down the house, the stones of it, and the timber thereof, and all the morter of the house; and he shall carry them forth out of the city into an unclean place. Moreover he that goeth into the house all the while that it is shut up shall be unclean until the even. And he that lieth in the house shall wash his clothes; and he that eateth in the house shall wash his clothes. And if the priest shall come in, and look upon it, and, behold, the plague hath not spread in the house, after the house was plaistered: then the priest shall pronounce the house clean, because the plague is healed. And he shall take to cleanse the house two birds, and cedar wood, and scarlet, and hyssop: And he shall kill the one of the birds in an earthen vessel over running water: And he shall take the cedar wood, and the hyssop, and the scarlet, and the living bird, and dip them in the blood of the slain bird, and in the running water, and sprinkle the house seven times: And he shall cleanse the house with the blood of the bird, and with the running water, and with the living bird, and with the cedar wood, and with the hyssop, and with the scarlet: But he shall let go the living bird out of the city into the open fields, and make an atonement for the house: and it shall be clean."

THIS passage serves as a useful allegory for the current state of the institutionalised Pentecostal and Charismatic denominations, which can truly be described as contaminated houses. These denominations have had many opportunities to rid themselves of the false doctrines and accompanying scandals that have polluted them, but the contamination remains, and we believe that the Lord has moved beyond the agenda of cleansing, to the agenda of tearing down. Before we examine this passage allegorically, however, let us first come to terms with its content so that our allegorical interpretation is based upon a sure understanding of the text.
The Authorised Version (quoted above) speaks in terms of a "plague of leprosy", which is probably inaccurate as leprosy was not known in the Near East until the Hellenistic period, when it is thought to have been imported from India by Alexander the Great's returning army. The Hebrew words used in verse 34 to describe the impurity in the house probably refers to some sort of fungus or mould, and this is reflected in the translations offered in other versions (JPS*1 eruptive plague, NIV spreading mildew), although the precise disease being referred to is not established. This ailment can strike humans as well as houses (Lev 13:2 etc.), and could actually refer to the resulting symptoms of some other disease rather than the disease itself.*2 This in itself is instructive. If we accept that the contamination is a result of a deeper problem, i.e. an outward manifestation of an unseen corruption, then it helps us understand what follows...

Source of the Plague

The first interesting aspect of this passage is the source of the plague:Verse 34 _ and I inflict a fungus infection
It is clear from this that the Lord sends the plague upon the house. If we view this in terms of our previous statement regarding the plague, viz. it is simply the later outward manifestation of an existing unseen problem, then the fact that the manifestation is sent by the Lord should not be seen in a negative light. Indeed, it is good that the existence of the problem is highlighted, or brought into the light, else the corruption would spread unknown to those who inhabit the house.In the same way, when the Lord brings to light those who teach false doctrines and exposes the moral and spiritual corruption of apostates, this is a good thing as it demonstrates a pre-existent problem.
In a way, it is a test to see whether the owners of the house react in the correct way...

How to React _ 1:Be open about the problem

Verse 35 _ the owner of the house shall come and tell the priest, saying, "It appears to me that there is something like an infection in my house."

Openness is very important _ this is demonstrated by a very close analysis of the text. In the previous chapter, when discussing the same contamination being present in a person, the text reads: it shall be reported to Aaron the priest (Lev 13:2). The same verb occurs in Lev 14:2 _ when it is reported to the priest. In the case of a sick person, it is the duty of another witness to report the illness to the priest. But this verb is missing in the passage that discusses the contaminated house, and for good reason _ in my house (Lev 14:35). The plague is inside the house, so only those inside the house know about it. They are thus under obligation to bring this corruption to the attention of the whole community, in order that the corruption will not spread through the whole city!
This is very instructive for us. Covering up for those who preach false doctrines and for those who are caught in scandals is the wrong reaction _ the corruption should be exposed publicly in order for the city to be cleansed of it! The householders are under a strict obligation to do this themselves, or else they put the whole city in danger.

How to React _ 2: Get everything out!

Verse 36 _ The priest shall order the house cleared before the priest enters to examine the infection, so that nothing in the house may become impure; after that the priest shall enter to examine the house.

This is a brilliant example of guilt by association, but to understand it, we must first understand precisely what is going on in this verse. The house must be examined and declared contaminated by the priest (i.e. an outside agency). But the house is not officially contaminated until declared to be by the priest. So there is still time, before the priest condemns the house, to save that which is in it. Thus the furniture and all the owner's possessions can be removed and saved from being declared contaminated, if they are removed prior to the priest's visit. Then the priest enters and examines the house.
This is a warning to those who insist on remaining inside the corrupt houses of institutionalised Pentecostalism and Charismaticism _ be removed before the Lord declares these houses contaminated, lest you also be declared contaminated. There is a period of grace, but it doesn't last long.

How to React _3: Wait and See

It is interesting to see that the house is not condemned straight away. There is a period of quarantine, during which it is hoped that the plague will depart.
Verse 38 _ the priest shall come out of the house to the entrance of the house, and quarantine the house for seven days.

The false teachers of AOG and Elim, Pioneer etc. have been highlighted time and again, both in our publications and by others. Sometimes even those within AOG have occasionally spoken up about the corruption in their own midst. But plenty of time has elapsed, and the corruption remains...
Verse 39 _ On the seventh day the priest shall return. If he sees that the infection has spread on the walls of the house...

How to React _ 4: Extract the Corrupt Element

Verse 40 _ the priest shall order the stones with the infection in them to be pulled out and cast outside the city into an impure place.

There is to be no mercy shown to the corrupt elements _ they are to be extracted and cast outside the city to a place reserved for sinners! The common scenario nowadays is for a minister's corruption to be covered up. He is then moved on to another church and allowed to continue in the ministry. This is obscene _ false teachers and immoral ministers should be openly dealt with, extracted from their positions and openly numbered amongst sinners. It is only when this happens that such can reach a true place of repentance.

How to React _ 5: Hunt for more Corruption

Verse 41 _ The house shall be scraped inside all around, and the mortar that is scraped off shall be dumped outside the city in an impure place.

The mortar is that which binds the stones and also covers them _ a kind of plastering. There is every chance that not just the stones are polluted, but also the accompanying mortar. Thus it is not enough to remove the stones that exhibit the plague, but the surrounding elements must also be removed.
When a false teacher is removed, the battle is not over. Ask yourself, "Who covered up this person's false teaching?" "Who allowed them to continue for so long?" Find out and remove the mortar also _ that which surrounded and preserved the corrupt stones, that which covered and disguised their folly for so long. It all shares in the corruption and must be removed.

How to React _ 6: Replace that which was removed

Verse 42 _ They shall take other stones and replace those stones and take other coating and plaster the house.

Obviously these new stones and plaster are not to come from the impure place mentioned before. They are to be clean from any infection _ the tragedy is that in many cases these new stones are only placed there to prove a point... that the corruption is irreversible and will corrupt even new stones...

How to React _ 7: Continue to be vigilant

Verse 43 _ If the infection breaks out again in the house, after the stones have been pulled out and after the house has been scraped and replastered,

Remember that it is the Lord who has exposed the hidden corruption of this house by allowing it to manifest. Now He demonstrates that the problem is not with one or two stones, but that the house is corrupt beyond repair and must be destroyed. It does not matter how many false teachers come and go in Pentecostal circles _ the point is that they just keep on coming. Even if the leaders bothered to deal with them, which they don't, more and more will come because the movements are rotten to the core.Verse 44 _ the priest shall come and examine: if the infection has spread in the house, it is a malignant fungus in the house: it (i.e. the house) is impure.There is no other conclusion _ we can try as much as we like to clean up the house, but the Lord is making is very clear that there is no future for it. I really feel for those poor Pentecostal ministers who labour under the illusion that their beloved denomination can be reformed and saved from its impending judgment _ it will not happen. It is time to face up to the facts _ the house is completely corrupt and has only one destiny...

How to React _ 8: Tear it down!

Verse 45 _ The house shall be demolished _ its stones and timber and all of the mortar of the house _ and taken to an impure place outside the city.

The verbs in this verse are plural actives, so a better translation would be and they shall demolish ... and take. The implication is that many outsiders are to destroy the house, from the outside lest they are also contaminated. Even those not associated with the house are to help, as it helps to stop the spread of the plague throughout the city.
The corrupt Pentecostal denominations have had long enough to show that they are free from contamination _ yet the corruption remains and surfaces again and again. We believe that it is time for these filthy houses to be torn down...For those associated with these corrupt houses, the lesson is simple...

How to React _ 9: Sort your lives out!

Verses 46-47 _ Whoever enters the house during the whole time it is quarantined shall be impure until evening. Whoever lies down in the house must launder his clothes, and whoever eats in the house must launder his clothes.

This verse affects two types of people.
Firstly, those who participate in the quarantine process are to submit themselves to the relevant purification procedures. Even the priest who examined the house is subject to this _ such is the filthy and corrupting nature of the plague. This is interesting as it shows us the careful measures we must use when dealing with corruption _ we must be very careful and carefully watch ourselves also.
Secondly, those who were part of the house, who lay down and ate in it, are to go through the proper purification process, including the act of washing their clothes. This is something that those who are slow in leaving AOG and Elim will have to do in order to remove the stench of compromise and sin from upon their spiritual garments. By continuing to associate with these corrupt houses, they render themselves unfit to inhabit the city without such measures, and must take stringent action to remove the filth they bear.

What if the plague ceases?

There will be times when the Lord brings to light problems, and after the proper course of action has been taken, no more problems surface. This takes us back to section 7 above:
Verse 48 _ If, however, the priest comes and sees that the infection has not spread in the house after the house was replastered, the priest shall pronounce the house pure, for the infection has healed.

In this situation, we can praise God that He brought the plague into the open and allowed it to be dealt with once and for all! The symptoms have not resurfaced after a short period, and so it can be concluded that the corruption has indeed been rooted out. But there is still a price to be paid...
Verse 49 _ To decontaminate the house, he shall take two birds, cedar wood...

Deception is like that... you can't be rid of it and then go skipping merrily into the sunset. Repentance and constant vigilance are necessary, and there is a cost.

Conclusion

Churches will always have problems with deceivers and apostates. In some circumstances, it is enough for the fellowship to sort out the problem, and be thankful to the Lord for bringing it to light. But in the case of AOG and Elim, the constant repetition of the same deceptions over and over again demonstrate that the house itself is corrupt and must be torn down.
But they have failed even in the first requirement _ they have not been open and have refused to confess the problem publicly. Thus the corruption has spread and contaminated many and remains to this day.
For the sake of the Elect, it is surely time to tear down the house...

[Please note that this is purely allegorical and in no way intended to inspire physical acts of violence and/or vandalism against Pentecostal ministers or buildings _ we deplore any such acts.]