The founder of Household of God Church, Rev. Chris Okotie, has said that his church will remain closed as he rejected the guidelines issued by the Lagos State government for the reopening of worship centres.
The state government had yesterday approved Friday and Sunday worship services for Muslims and Christians in the state beginning from June and 21 respectively.
“All religious centres (churches and mosques) must be 40 per cent of the venue’s capacity.
“No hugging, handshakes, serving of food example the Holy Communion in any religious centre.
“Muslim services to resume on 19th June while Christian worship begins on the 21st of June, 2020. Children below age 15 not allowed.
“Religious gatherings are restricted to Fridays and Sundays only,” said the state governor Mr. Babajide Sanwo-OluLago in a statement by his spokesman Mr. Gboyega Akosile.
Some guidelines were also announced by the state government to facilitate the reopening of worship centres and to curb the spread of COVID-19.
They include the compulsory use of face masks; restriction of people below the age of 15 and above 65 years from services, while gatherings should not exceed one hour.
Lagos remains the epicentre of the coronavirus pandemic in Nigeria accounting for 5, 542 of the 11, 516 confirmed cases in the country.
However, Okotie, in a statement rejected the guidelines, saying the “fulfillment of the Bible prophecy” against the church is already being played out and that rearranging the church’s mode of worship is “to deny God the divine prerogative of congregational adoration”
Citing how Dagon, the god of the Philistines, was destroyed in the Bible, he said the coronavirus will be annihilated in like manner.
He, however, said while his church awaits the defeat of the virus, its doors will remain closed until “these profanation and secularization have been pulverized by the Emperor of heaven.”
“Beloved, yesterday, the abomination of desolation took a giant step towards standing in the holy place.
“Fulfillment of bible prophecy is being accelerated by the forces of Janes and Jambres.
“To reorder temple worship is to deny God the divine prerogative of congregational adoration and the holy genuflects of the saints in light. Let no man’s heart be troubled by the vengeance of satanic antagonism.
“Dagon the god of the philistines fell in obeisance before the Ark of God. Coronavirus, the god of Secular Humanism will be decapitated in like manner.
“Our doors will remain closed until these profanation and secularization have been pulverized by the Emperor of heaven. Unto him shall the gathering of the people be. To thy tents, O Israel,” he said.
With TheCable report
