Repost:
There was a time long ago when the people who believe Jesus were just as I am. They knew He was a Jew, and they knew He is the Word of God Who created all that is. There was no such thing as a procession, because they were taught to worship God, and to never make images to worship. When they spoke of those who slept, they spoke only of them and never to them, because the loving Father warned them not to do so.
These faithful were comprised first of Jews who believe Jesus, Whom they called by His name given by God, Yeshua. Second came the people of the nations who gladly received the gospel of Yeshua because all the world had wandered from the Living God, of course this was allowed by God until this point in what we now call time.
Bit by bit, a little here and a little there, the other nations, being jealous of the chosen nation, distanced themselves as much as they were able from God's people. By the way, at this point, God's people were comprised of Jews who believe Yeshua and non-Jews who embraced the faith of Abraham and were transformed into the people of God also.
Those others began by changing the name, Yeshua, to Jesus. This is not important as long as the believer knows He was born a Jew, and recognizes their own nation, Israel of God. The capital of the Israel of God, New Jerusalem is not yet here, but it will come down from God on His day.
The jealous of God's people hated them so much that they soon began a steady stream of changing the Word of God as though it proceeded from God Himself. They changed the decalogue of God given to Moses in denying the seventh day as the legitimate Sabbath declared by God, Himself. They began to make images of individuals canonized and sainted by man and not by God. Then they began worshipping these wooden, marble, plastic and all materialed images with a myriad of names for some of them totally confusing the ignorant masses. Those who know better have been noted, and this will not go unrewarded.
Yeshua warned the apostasy would abound by the time He returns, and it does, although it has always existed to some extent, today many feigned faithful are speaking in place of Yahweh. The decent believers are now talking amongst themselves about this, and Yahweh is hearing every detail.
Yahweh has not changed the faith nor Himself, but people with sinful motivation have damned much of humanity in their heathen teachings.
This is what I believe based on studying the Word in prayer and meditation for many years. There are many more who believe the same, and we actually may say in faith, we know this.
Yahweh bless all who love the truth of His Word, always in Yeshua, amen.