Many readers have provided feedback, suggesting that our description of the length and peculiarities of a typical Golden Dawn Tabernacle (GDT) church service might be somewhat exaggerated. It can be challenging for someone who has never attended such a service to grasp its structure and repetitiveness. Even former members who have recently left the church may be surprised at the extent to which practices have changed. In this post, we aim to provide an overview of a typical GDT church service and highlight some of the rules that the congregation must follow. This will illustrate how the GDT church differs from other religious institutions and contributes to the BITE model.
Frequency of Services
Church services are held three times a week: twice on Sundays and once on Wednesday evenings. As we have mentioned in previous posts, there are absolutely no exceptions for missing a service. Consequently, those who attend the church must have jobs that accommodate this schedule. Vacations, which are generally discouraged, can only last a maximum of three days, as congregants must return for the following service. Recently, the church has been gradually adjusting the starting times of services. Below are the "official times" and the new "unofficial times":
- Sunday morning: Originally 10:00 AM, now starting at 9:35 AM
- Sunday evening: Originally 6:00 PM, now starting at 5:35 PM
- Wednesday evening: Originally 7:00 PM, now starting at 6:35 PM
It's worth mentioning that there is pressure from GDT leadership for congregants to arrive at least 30 minutes before the service begins. As the starting times have changed, so have the arrival times of the attendees. If you are late, you risk being locked out by the large rolling gates, which are promptly closed at the start of the service.
Praying and Waiting
The church doors open quite early, usually three hours before a service, and are unlocked by an elder or deacon. Some members arrive early and wait, but as the service time approaches, more people start to gather. Upon entering, congregants pass through the foyer, where deacons are stationed to shake hands, enforce the dress code, and distribute literature or translation headphones.
Members then proceed to the sanctuary, which has additional deacons positioned at every entrance, monitoring the incoming attendees and the brightly lit space. Congregants go to their assigned seats, leave their Bibles and belongings, and approach the altar at the front of the church to pray. The altar is generally divided into sections segregated by gender. Church-produced music plays softly in the background.
After praying, members return to their seats and read their Bibles or church-produced literature. Speaking is not allowed, and a solemn, "reverent" attitude is encouraged.
Eye in the Sky
It is important to note that the Golden Dawn Tabernacle is equipped with surveillance cameras that are used to monitor the congregation during services. Members familiar with the system have reported that Pastor Isaac Noriega operates the cameras from his office, watching the congregants. There is also the possibility that he records footage for later viewing, as evidenced by his knowledge of events he did not witness firsthand. Considering that he reads throughout the service and does not make eye contact, it would be impossible for him to observe the congregants the entire time. Nevertheless, he claims that God "shows him" these events.
Service Begins
Above the platform baptistry, there is a retractable screen that rolls down, signaling the congregation that the service is about to begin, along with the arrival of the two church musicians from side doors. The congregants usually shuffle to put away their Bibles and books. The musicians (organist and pianist) start playing, and the song leader emerges. One or two songs are typically sung before a preapproved elder or deacon is called upon to pray. The congregation stands up for the prayer. The person praying is usually given a list of prayer requests or thanksgivings (it's worth noting that almost every thanksgiving, or praise report, includes the phrase "we want to thank God and Brother Isaac").
Once the prayer concludes, the congregants sit down, and the offering is called. Isaac asserts that the offering is an integral part of worship and must be conducted. Trustees pass collection bags through each row and then collect them. If there are any song specials, performers (members in good standing with Isaac) are asked to come up and perform following the offering. A recent rule requires all song specials to be approved by Matthew and mandates that the piano be played by the official pianist, Deacon Nathaniel Zuniga. All practices must be conducted at the church under supervision. It is also worth noting that Isaac Noriega banned all applause after any song specials or performances.
After the song specials, the congregation stands up as Isaac is summoned to his "sacred desk" pulpit.
Pastor Issac Noriega Emerges & Sermon Begins
It's challenging to convey, but the moment Isaac emerges from a door on the platform during the singing, the atmosphere in the room shifts. Hands are raised in worship, and eyes suddenly close. This response is likely driven by a combination of fear, a desire to appear devout, and an eagerness to avoid eye contact. A good indicator of Isaac's mood for the day depends on how he interacts with the song leader. Ignoring the song leader suggests he is in a foul mood; if he shakes their hand, it indicates a better disposition.
Due to Isaac's hearing issues (he has mentioned suffering from Meniere's disease), his off tune singing often disrupts the musicians and the congregation, causing the song to be sung too fast or too slow, and ending with a whimper. He then immediately instructs the congregation to open their Bibles to Genesis 1 and begins reading. During this time, the entire congregation remains standing and holds their Bibles. Isaac's readings usually lasts anywhere from 30-60 minutes, with the congregation jumping between chapters and message book quotes.
Standing for this extended period is challenging not only for the elderly and parents holding children but also for everyone else, as the sanctuary floor is bowl-shaped and slopes at a poorly designed angle. It is also important to note Isaac's reactions to noises. Wearing hearing aids, he often overreacts to simple sneezes or coughs from the congregation snapping his head up and pausing his reading to glare at the offender. He especially reacts to children crying or making noise, claiming that demons are agitating the babies. Consequently, mothers frequently rush to the cry rooms to prevent any noise during the service.
Finally, after 30-60 minutes of Bible reading, Isaac instructs everyone to pray and then grants them permission to sit down. There have been instances where Isaac forgot to say "you may be seated," resulting in the congregation standing for an additional amount of time before he noticed and allowed them to sit. This is because he generally does not look at the audience, and is mostly looking down at his notes during the sermon. He once stated to the congregation that looking at them made him angry. So he avoids eye contact with them unless he is angrily reacting to noise in the congregation or he is specifically targeting someone in the audience with a specific sermon berating.
After the congregation is seated, the sermon continues with continued reading of scriptures, quotes from William Branham, and commentary. Approximately one hour and 30 minutes into the sermon, he will sometimes ask the congregation to stand to "stretch" and then sit again for another 30 minutes or so.
It is interesting to point out that it is nearly impossible to follow what Isaac is preaching, as one tends to shut down after so much repetitive reading. Halfway through the service, even the translators switch because the reading is too tedious.
Recently, a new element has been introduced to the service: altar calls. While these may not be uncommon in traditional churches, the GDT altar calls are distinctly different, as they are driven entirely by fear and guilt rather than appeals for salvation or grace. Isaac concludes his sermons with a dark and somber ending, in some cases prompting a rush to the altar by the affected individuals. After singing a couple of dreary songs, he leaves the platform.
However, the congregation is not dismissed immediately. A new rule requires a minimum wait of approximately five minutes after the organist and pianist stop playing before anyone can leave. This can still take a while, as Matthew Noriega might add more lyrics or additional songs to the screen projectors, prolonging the wait. It is only when the music stops and the five minutes pass that the first few people exit, followed by everyone else. Conversations are not allowed outside the church, and everyone walks to their cars and departs. As an example, below is a recent church service at GDT that took place on a Sunday evening. Note that recording has poor audio quality as it was secretly being recorded with a covert recording device. Below is a timestamped narration of the service to give our readers an idea of the service structure (and how long the church services are!).
GDT Church Service Timestamp Narration:
00:00-13:30 Background music
13:30 Projector lowers and service starts led by song leader Jason Noriega who usually leads Sunday evening worship services (and also happens to be Isaac Noriega's nephew)
20:44: Song leader leads prayer requests (note the deference to Isaac Noriega)
24:40: Worship service continues
29:53-37:00: Song specials (note that there is no applause after the song specials because Isaac Noriega banned it several years ago)
37:01: Worship service continues
40:45: Audience stands as Pastor Isaac Noriega emerges and begins sermon with bible reading
1:10:48 Post bible reading prayer
1:11:20: Isaac Noriega finishes prayer and begins reading more scriptures but forgets to tell everyone to be seated and dismiss the musicians
1:12:23: Realizes he forgot to tell everyone to be seated and asks the congregation to be seated and continues
1:12:24-3:21:53: Immediately begins to read William Branham quotes and more bible verses and intersperses with rambling commentary
3:21:54: Asks congregation to stand
3:22:09: Isaac Noriega beings singing acapello off key until musicians come up and start playing in correct key
3:30: Service ends and background music begins playing
3:36: Congregants begin to depart
Conclusion
We hope this analysis of a GDT service highlights the monotonous and tedious nature of these gatherings. Picture an individual's entire life centered around this, attending these mandatory services three times a week, totaling 156 times a year in a seemingly endless and hopeless cycle. The congregation members experience the same routine, with their days leading up to the service spent selecting the latest attire, cleaning their vehicles, or attempting to catch up on sleep in order to remain alert during these meetings. One significant aspect of the BITE model is the intentional exhaustion and mental depletion of its targets, which we believe is a tactic employed by the Golden Dawn Tabernacle leadership on the congregation. This article merely scratches the surface, and in future posts, we will delve deeper into additional aspects of a GDT service.
Do you have any information you'd like to share about Golden Dawn Tabernacle / Tabernaculo Emanuel? Please feel free to comment below, or you can contact us directly at this link: Contact Us.
Archived Comments#
14 comment(s) imported from the original site:
Anonymous — April 29, 2023#
I think this post whitewashes the services. There is so much more. From the certain type of music they allow, Sunday school the bands and the kids getting hit. I hope you guys go into that too
GDT Research — April 29, 2023#
We are absolutely planning on covering all of those topics in upcoming articles. We couldn’t cover everything in one article because there is so much to discuss. Below are a few upcoming topics. Let us know if you have any other topics you’d like for us to write about.
Sickness in GDT- God punishing others for your Sins
The untouchables- Isaac’s Nepotism
Communion- a monthly showdown
Using the Rod to break Spirits- GDTs infant abuse and Sunday School
GDT music - “anointed” songs written by the brothers and band rules
Anonymous — April 29, 2023#
This is so true, such an accurate description! Another thing is that Isaac wouldn’t let people go to the bathroom while he was reading the Bible. If they did, they couldn’t go back to the sanctuary until he was done reading (an hour later) and would even have deacons standing at the doors so that no one could go in. He claimed that it would “disrupt the Holy spirit “. A recent statement he made is that he said he never told the deacons to stand there and that everyone could come and go as they pleased 🙄 but then when two girls came back in while he was reading the Bible , he glared at them and said “why do you parents allow your children to go to the bathroom without you”
Saved By Grace — April 30, 2023#
The way he is able to hold them captive He preaches doomsday He’s the only ticket out Here’s the small price you pay to be the elite group to make it out. (you guys nailed it on this post) The grind Isaac demands wears down any individuality or personal freedom You may Isaac wants Sunday and Wednesday but in reality in the final years of your lives you’ll realize your was all a waste for Isaac empire church church church.. Remember this site was created for the ones who are looking for a way out We Love You “For if we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord. So then, whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord’s.”
Andrea — April 30, 2023#
After hearing the preaching of the church pastor; a person hearing that, leaves the building void of nutritious food! No sustenance to sustain them in their daily walk-in this earth! How many little lambs are being starved, believing they are being fed?? I pray for God’s intervention, on behalf of those children of God subjected to man’s control and power!
Anonymous Titus — April 30, 2023#
Let’s not forget that the weeks before his famous “April meetings” Isaac would scold, blast, humiliate, tame and train the congregation into behaving so proper that by the time all the visitors and ministers arrived they would see such reverence in the congregation’s behavior, it would astonish them into “ believing “ that we were the perfect church. A William Branham utopia. Even Isaac’s attitude would change: He even looks up at the congregation ( something he rarely does) He would smile and act like He was so anointed and yell and scream and even jump. (The first picture in this article just proves how he is looking up at the congregation. It’s just an act tho. Don’t believe it. He already mentally abused all his congregants the weeks prior) most visitors were in awe of GD. But in reality it’s just his rules, dictatorship, power hunger and his distorted world view combined with his mental illness and his narcissism. Always remember that the congregation is in constant mental abuse. They get no break from it.
Saved By Grace — May 1, 2023#
Isaac is like all other high control doomsday cults that control the entire family from parents to children…in that they operate because no speaks up.. “just leave us alone”… “those that leave are miserable and hate us” Let’s be clear we will not be silent and we speak for the youth and women that have never been given a chance at living their best lives!..and we are not miserable nor do we hate the people that’s why we’ve come back for them! Come live your best life in peace with serving Isaac and his families empire….as for you deacons and elders you’ll never be nothing more than puppets for Isaac ..and Rey aka fall guy Jesus only spoke against the legalist of his day and Isaac is nothing more than a fraud out for control, power and money
Examining GDT Elderly Abuse - GDT Research — September 9, 2023#
[…] Understanding a GDT Church Service: A Breakdown […]
David Alcantar — June 30, 2024#
After hearing part of this sermon…I am positive sure that Isaac took speech classes…his vocabulary is way better then when he was younger…his manner of speech…is way different..he used to take pride or use as an excuse that he had a speech impediment.. Is quite remarkable how his vocabulary has grown..and the ability to express himself more fluently…He took speech classes for sure..
Anonymous — October 25, 2024#
Lately Isaac Noriega has been acting like Saul ready to throw his javelin at David (Nate Zuniga) when he is playing the piano. He turns around and glares at him, when he is not even doing anything wrong. Rumor has it that he wants Nate Zuniga off the piano! Because of the life that his brother and mom are living. Why do others have to get mistreated for what others do? Also, they say that he doesn’t want him playing the piano too Crazy…. Why Not? So……….. He put this girl BRENDA SANTOYO, on the piano Sunday mornings. She is the worst piano player the GDT has. Isaac Noriega is so in love with her. He wants to be at her house every week for dinner. He wants her writing him love letters every week. And now he wants her on the platform all the time. He should just marry her. A woman should not even be on the platform (If you go by what they believe). Why is Isaac Noriega allowed to eat with single women/widows? He doesn’t have a wife to go with him. And then he has all the other single women/widows locked up. They can never go out or see anyone (he goes out every day). When they call for permission to go out, they get yelled at. Some of the women are only allowed to go out once a month for their groceries. I have a lot more I can say, but I am really getting tired of the way people are treated there. I wish someone could stop them!
Anonymous — October 30, 2024#
What kind of life is Pedro and his mom living…?
Anonymous — October 30, 2024#
Just because they both have smartphones and use the internet. Nothing sinful. But Isaac Noriega acts like it’s the biggest sin ever.
Anonymous — October 30, 2024#
Is anybody going to do anything about him being around single women so much?
Anonymous — November 1, 2024#
If Isaac Noriega is going to take Pedro Zuniga off from interpreting, He needs to also take Joseph Torres off from being “Deacon”, “Song Leader”, “Musician”. He uses the internet and has a smartphone.
99% of the GDT members use the internet and have smartphones, Including Deacons, Elders, Trustees.
So, if he is going to get hard on Pedro Zuniga he needs to start with the “Deacons” first.
Isaac Jacques uses the Internet. Rene Aguirre uses the Internet. Joshua Telles uses the internet. Joshua Rodriguez uses the Internet. AND MANY MORE …. But these ones have been seen.
Why do they get away with using it?