Page 507 - Way of Life Encyclopedia of the Bible Christianity. Based on the King James Bible

PROPHECY

comes on the scene (the harlot is pictured as riding representing some 500 million people in 100 nations.
upon the beast, the antichrist government), the This large body of apostate Christendom has already
conditions of apostasy have been growing throughout become one in spirit with the Roman Catholic and
the centuries and can be seen on every hand today. Greek Orthodox Churches, and has recognized
Preparations are being made throughout Christendom “spirituality” in non-Christian religions. There is already
for the formation of this end-time harlot church. a harlot “church” sitting upon many waters.
This explains the movement among even those who 3. United with secular government (Re. 17:2). “With
profess to be evangelical, Bible-believing Christians to whom the kings of the earth have committed
abandon fidelity to the Word of God and to move closer fornication...” This failure to maintain N.T. separation
to those who are already apostate. This explains the between the churches and the secular government has
movement of Protestant churches back toward union always been a hallmark of the Roman Catholic Church,
with Catholicism. Herein lies the mystery of why the the state churches of Europe, and now the World
doctrine of separation is so despised and slandered in Council of Churches and other ecumenical bodies.
our day. Fidelity to the Scriptures and separation from Apostasy does not hesitate to unite with godless men in
apostasy are stumbling blocks to the formation of the government to accomplish its purposes. The Apostles
harlot church. and early Christians did not unite in any way with the
How Revelation 17 Pictures the Roman Catholic Roman government, but remained entirely separate and
Church faithfully carried out the commission Christ had given
The Roman Catholic Church fits perfectly the them. Apostate Christians care nothing for Christ’s Great
description of the harlot church of Re. 17, but the Commission, but have humanistic, socialistic, worldly
Catholic Church alone as it presently exists does not goals; therefore, they have no reason not to unite with
fulfill this prophecy. Catholicism foreviews the prophecy, secular government in these goals.
but does not yet fulfill it. Romanism does, though, give 4. Causing men to be drunken with her fornications
a perfect picture to us of this future harlot church. (Re. 17:2). “... and the inhabitants of the earth have
Romanism has ridden through church history upon the been made drunk with the wine of her fornication.”
back of kings, is clothed in gorgeous robes and decked Apostate religion allows men to continue in their sinful
in expensive attire, is full of abominations, is drunken pleasures while having a form of religion to soothe their
with the blood of the martyrs it has slaughtered guilty consciences. The attraction of apostate
throughout its bloody history, and sits upon the seven Christianity to the people of the world, in spite of the
mountains of Rome. The inhabitants of the world are fact that apostate Christendom has constantly
indeed drunk with the wine of her fornication. discredited itself, is amazing to behold. This is
Countless multitudes of deceived people from illustrated by the world’s love of the pope of Rome. The
practically every nation of the world blindly follow the pope has a definite supernatural attraction to
Catholic errors and glory in the apostate Roman rituals. unregenerate men. Even the secular, humanistic press
1. Spiritual harlotry (Re. 17:1). This harlot church, gives the Roman pope great acclaim, something not
though claiming to be the bride of Christ, is unfaithful accorded any other religious leader. Of the pope’s
to Christ and His Word, having prostituted itself with journey to South America in 1980, Time magazine said:
the world and the demonic powers behind the world “The Polish-born pontiff proved a spell- binding
system. “No one who will take the trouble to read Eze. presence, drawing crowds of a million or more on at
16 and 23 can fail to understand God’s plain language. least six occasions.” Following the first visit ever made
In these two chapters of Ezekiel alone, whoredom is by a pope to America, Time magazine gushed: “A gentle
mentioned over twenty times, as describing the sin shepherd with a will of steel, John Paul II thrilled the
before God of those who turn His worship into U.S. with a glorious pilgrimage that won hearts—and
shameless fellowship with demons and commerce with challenged the nation. ... After only a year in office, the
the world” (William R. Newell, The Book of the Pontiff is emerging as the kind of incandescent leader
Revelation). that the world so hungers for—one who can make
2. Worldwide power (Re. 17:1). The “many waters” people feel that they have been lifted above the
drabness of their lives and show them that they are
are the harlot’s global reach (Re. 17:15). The terms capable of better emotions, and better deeds than they
“Catholic” and “Ecumenical” mean universal, may have thought.” Several people have been trampled
worldwide, and the present movement of Christian to death in the great crowds which flock to see the pope
unity, represented by groups such as the Roman Catholic during his world travels. In 1980, nine people were
Church and the World Council of Churches is the trampled to death and dozens were hospitalized in
foreview of this worldwide apostate “church.” The WCC Africa, while three were trampled to death and 30
is composed of more than 300 denominations

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