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REVELATION 17
by ralph jackson Truth is never pleasant to hear and sometimes it can cause much distress to those who have believed something as fact most, if not all of their lives. I also had to come to terms with my own beliefs when confronted with God's Holy Word, especially the book of Revelation, which has many difficult passages to the casual reader, but an in-depth study and a knowledge of the history of the Jewish and Christian religions has opened up the prophesies of the Bible to me. I would like to share the following with you and hope that you will gain a better understanding of God's plan for His fallen planet and the people He loves and died for. First let me give you a few interpretations to help you through this study. Mother of Harlots - A woman in prophecy symbolizes a church. Mother of Harlots = Corrupt Church Harlots - Churches that have broken away from the mother but still hold much of her teachings. Rev 17 Verse 5 - the church is called a mystery, the mother of harlots and an abomination on the earth. (Her doctrines are mysterious and do not accord with scripture) Rev 17 Verse 6 she is arrayed in colours of purple and scarlet and adorned with gold and precious jewels. (Her priests wear purple and scarlet and she is a rich church). Rev 17 Verse 6 continued: the church is drunk with the blood of the saints. (She is a persecuting church who kills the saints of God, burning them at the stake or by the sword using the secular powers to do her will). Rev 17 Verse 9 She sits on 7 mountains. Rev 17 Verse 18 she is a great city that reigns over the kings of the earth. Summary Which church in history is this chapter referring to? 1. She is a mother church 2. A church that was fragmented when Protestantism emerged. 3. A church that has doctrines that are not supported by the Bible. Tradition is considered equal with the Holy book. 4. A church that has priests that wear purple and scarlet dress. 5. A church that is rich in worldly wealth 6. A church that has killed those who promote the Bible over her church doctrines. (Dark Ages 1260 years of persecution) 7. A church that sits geographically on 7 hills. 8. A church that is a city. In Revelation 14:8 and 17:2 this church forces nations to drink her wine. Wine = doctrines and teachings. MARTYN LUTHER After a terrible struggle within himself, Martyn Luther decided to separate himself from the Church he had grown up and become a priest in: He wrote: "I feel more and more every day how difficult it is to lay aside the scruples which one has imbibed in childhood. Oh, how much pain it has caused me, though I had the Scriptures on my side, to justify it to myself that I should dare to make a stand alone against the pope, and hold him forth as ANTICHRIST." Martyn, page 373. Definition of Anti-Christ. The understanding of the term Anti-Christ today has a different meaning to the understanding by Martyn Luther. Anti-Christ does not just mean someone who is against Christ. It's true meaning is that of usurping Christ's position. Setting oneself up as Christ and being worshipped in His place. The Roman Catholic Church believes she is the voice of God on earth and is in fact infallible in matters of religion. She also believes she has the power to dispense with any part of the Scripture she wishes. Dr H J Holsman in his book CANON AND TRADITION, page 263 says: "And finally at the last opening of the Council of Trent on 18th January 1563, the bishops last scruples were laid aside. The Arch Bishop of Reggion made a speech in which he openly declared that TRADITION IS ABOVE SCRIPTURE. The authority of the Church, he said, could no longer be based on the authority of the scriptures, WHY? Because the church has changed the Sabbath of God to Sunday, not by the command of Christ, but by its own authority." The Arch Bishop goes on to say: "We were able to change one of God's Commandments, this proves that WE, The Roman Catholic Church, are able to bind the consciences of men by TRADITION. This is our SEAL or MARK of authority. (Dan 7:25 He will speak against the Most High and oppress the saints and try to change the set times and laws) "Christendom is indebted to the Catholic Church for the institution of Sunday as the Sabbath Day."Our Sunday Visitor, Jan 4, 1931 "In keeping Sunday, non-Catholics are simply following the practice of the Catholic Church for 1800 years, a tradition and not a Bible ordinance." The Question Box p99 "The Pope may modify divine law" Promta Bibliotheca, Papa' art 2. "The Pope has power to change times, to abrogate laws and to dispense with all things even the precepts of Christ. Decretal de Translat, Epicop. Cap Question: Which is the Sabbath Day? Answer: Saturday is the Sabbath Question: Then why do Roman Catholics and Protestant Churches observe Sunday as the Sabbath? Answer "..because the Roman Catholic church transferred the solemnity from Saturday to Sunday." The Converts Catachism of Catholic Doctrine Definition of Blasphemy: When the Jews accused Jesus of Blasphemy (John 10:33 (read also 2 Thes 2:4 and Luke 5:21, it was because he claimed that he was equal to God. What does the Pope claim? "The Pope is of so great dignity and so exhalted that he is not a mere man, but as it were God, and the vicar of God." Ferraris Ecclesiastical Dictionary. Pope Leo 13 stated: "We hold upon this earth the place of almighty God "All names which the Scriptures are applied to Christ, by virtue of which it is established that He is over the Church, all the same names are applied to the Pope. "On the Authority of the Councils, Book 2, Chap 17" "God Himself is OBLIGED to ABIDE by the JUDGEMENT of His priests and either not to pardon or to pardon according as they refuse or give absolution. The sentence of the priest PRECEDES and God SUBSCRIBES to it." Dignities and Duties of the Priest, vol 12, p27 "The Roman Catholic Church has the right to require that the Catholic religion shall be the religion of the State, to the expulsion of others. Cursed be those who assert liberty of conscience and of worship and such that maintain that the Roman Catholic Church may not employ force" The Syllabus of Pope Pius IX, Dec 1964 "The Roman Catholic church must demand freedom for itself alone" La Civilta Catholica, p82-86 (Official Jesuit Pulication) The Church was Wounded In 1798 Pious 6 was carried by the General of Napoleon into exile in Valence ending the 1260 years of papal power - causing a deadly wound to the papal system. Revelation 13: 3. In 1929 Mussolini and Gasparri signed a historic Roman Pact returning the Pope to prominence. The San Fransisco Chronicle on the 11 Feb 1929 wrote: "In affixing the autographs to the memorable document, healing the wound of many years..quoting the very words of Revelation 13:12. Worship belongs only to God. If your worship is given to a man who claims he has authority to change the Bible at his will, then alarm bells should ring. Worship Him who made the heavens, the earth, the sea and the springs of water. .This calls for patient endurance on the part of the saints who OBEY Gods' COMMANDMENTS and remain faithful to Jesus, Revelation 14:7 & 12. Many Bibles today are being printed with missing or changed paragraphs or words to hide the truth from the masses. Without a personal study of God's Word, men and women are in danger of relying on their leaders in the church to interpret what is written. Whilst we must respect their position, we should never give our freedom of conscience over to them. We must always go back to the Book to see if what they are preaching is biblical. If it is not, then we should change our church to a one that 'Keeps the Commandments of God and has the Testimony of Jesus Christ' Your eternal life depends upon who your master is. Ralph Jackson Article Source: http://www.faithwriters.com |