Page 509 - Way of Life Encyclopedia of the Bible Christianity. Based on the King James Bible

PROPHECY

wicked, demonically-controlled world system. [See proclamation of the king, dated ten days later,
Cup.] confirmed this decree of the inquisition, and ordered it
10. The final manifestation of the ancient apostasy— to be carried into instant execution, without regard to
Mystery Babylon (Re. 17:5). This connects the final age, sex, condition. This is probably the most concise
apostate harlot church with the false religion death-warrant that was ever framed. Three millions of
established at Babel in the early history of man (Ge. people—men, woman, and children, were sentenced to
10:8-10; 11:1-9). In other words, it is the final product the scaffold in three lines. Under this universal
of Satan’s corruption of true religion through the ages. condemnation the reader will see the real spirit of
11. Persecution of true believers (Re. 17:6). “And I saw popery, and what all had to expect who did not yield an
the woman drunken with the blood of the saints, and absolute, though blind submission, to all her idolatries,
with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus...” Both the RCC and superstitions (Miller’s Church History, pp.
and certain of the Protestant denominations have been 1002-1008).
guilty of murdering and persecuting true N.T. Christians. Similar atrocities were being committed against Bible
The RCC has murdered millions. No one has ever been believers across much of Europe. The persecution of N.T.
able to count the total number. In the Netherlands alone Christians has been the legacy not only of Rome, but of
following the Reformation, multitudes were tormented certain Protestant denominations as well. The Protestant
and destroyed. Consider these excerpts from a record of Church of England has imprisoned and martyred
those persecutions dating from the 1520s: hundreds of faithful saints of God during its illustrious
The history of the Low Countries from this time is so history. John Bunyan wrote Pilgrim’s Progress during
full of martyrdoms, that it is like a gradual the 12 years he languished in Bedford prison because of
extermination of the population. ... The fires were now his refusal to accept a license from the state church.
kindled all over the country, and edict following edict, Bunyan committed the “awful” crime of preaching the
with increasing severity, kept them burning. It was Gospel without the permission of ecclesiastical
death to read a page of the Scriptures; death to discuss authorities. Did he not have authority from that One
any article of the faith; death to have in one’s possession who has all power in heaven and in earth (Mt.
any of the writings of Luther, Zwingle, or 28:18-20; Mk. 16:15)? Indeed he did, but the old Harlot
OEcolampadius; death to express a doubt respecting the has usurped Christ’s authority unto itself. It is recorded
efficacy of the sacraments, or the authority of the pope. that there were never less than 60 other “dissenters”
In the year 1536, that good and faithful servant of the with Bunyan in that one jail, and there were many other
Lord, William Tyndale, was strangled and burnt at jails in England in those sad days. These are only tiny
Vilvordi, near Brussels, for translating the New examples of the persecution which has raged against
Testament into English, and printing it in 1535. ... About N.T. Christians by those who have imbibed the spirit of
four hundred churches were thus plundered and the Harlot. Unprecedented persecution will be
defaced in a few days. ... The troops were ordered to be unleashed against those who hold to the Word of God
distributed over the distracted country, that the after the final form of the harlot church appears,
persecuting edicts might be enforced. The Protestants supported by the satanic power of Antichrist’s
were reduced to great straits; many were put to death, government. [See Antichrist, Prophecy, Roman Catholic
and many fled the country ... In the year 1567 the cruel Church.]
duke of Alva was sent into the Netherlands with an We have seen, then, where the church is headed. The
army of fifteen thousand Spaniards and Italians; and the prophecies of the N.T. are divided into revelations
Inquisition was to put forth all its energies. . The pertaining to the future of the true churches, and
wooden churches were pulled down, and, in some revelations pertaining to the apostate churches. A
places the beams were formed into a great gallows on glorious future awaits the true saints of God, and we
which to hang the minister and his flock. [These who are born again through repentance and faith in the
atrocities against Bible believers were] to be witnessed blood of Jesus Christ should be busy serving Christ,
almost daily in the country for nearly forty years. ... In while constantly expecting the coming of Christ to take
the year 1567 ‘the council of blood,’ as it was called, us unto Himself. We will forever be with Him in His
held its first sitting. ... Blood now flowed in torrents. ... eternal kingdom.
A new edict was issued, affixing a heavy penalty upon The future of the false churches is a different matter
all waggoners, carriers, and ship-masters, who should altogether. The apostasy which began even during the
aid in the emigration of ‘heretics.’ They had resolved days of the Apostles will increase until the formation of
that none should escape. ... Upon the 19th of February the great world harlot religion of Re. 17. This false
1568 a sentence of the Holy Office condemned all the church will rule with the Antichrist and his government
inhabitants of the Netherlands to death as heretics. ... A for a short season and then will be judged, and all false,

Way of Life Encyclopedia of the Bible & Christianity 509