Originally Posted by
francisdesales 
Sorry, Rev 17 has nothing to do with "apostate Christians". This is just more fomenting discord within the Body. Verse 6 makes it clear that the group discussed in 1-5 are opposed to the saints and martyrs of Jesus, the Church, such men as Ignatius, the Bishop of the Catholic community of Antioch, a man who sat with John and heard him preach!!! Rev 17:1-5 speaks of "kings of the earth" who "NOW" follow the harlot. They COMMITTED fornication, past tense... HOW could this refer to the Church, when NO KING followed the ragged band of Christians in 100 AD???? Get serious...
During the days of John, it was the Roman Empire, an empire well known for killing Christians, an empire that fostered the ways of the world, following Satan. It was with the EMPIRE that "kings of the earth" followed. This is simple history, here, folks... The Catholic Church had absolutely no political power in 100 AD. Only the Roman Empire fits the bill.
I already explained Rev 18:4 and has absolutely nothing to do with 'coming out of the Church'. Why would John, writing to Christians, tell them to "come out of the Church"? That is lunacy.
God is calling His People to stop sinning. The "letters" to the seven churches makes this clear, their issues and their problems, the temptations that they faced. It is a call for Christians to stiffen their resolve, hold out to the end and resist the Tempter, who prowls like a lion in search of prey, even among the sheepfold.
We are ALL born into sin. Born into the ways of the world. We are told to "come out of her". Be born from above and follow the ways of God, rather than of the "empires of the time", the Rome of 100 AD. Secularism, hedonism, individualism, materialism. These things keep us from following God. Following these 'isms' means we are 'mating' with the harlot. Even Christians who do these things. One cannot worship the harlot and God. Christians of every age are faced with these temptations. No doubt you have heard of the "health and wealth" Gospel. Christians of every age must resist the "harlot" of the age, things that pull us from God. This includes materialism and relativism that tempts Christians of the 21st century to think they can please God and man at the same time.
John's message is simple. It is not the sinister message you propose, where one part of the Body fights with another.
2 Clearly, causing divisiveness and discord - destroying the Body, has drastic consequences. Paul says they will be destroyed. Be careful of your interpretations, as many have been destroyed by them. (2 Peter)
Regards
Couple of things real quick: (by storm)
Revelation wasn't written in 96AD. It was written between 65 and 68AD, probably closer to 68AD.
The scarlet beast upon which the woman sits is Rome. The woman herself is Jerusalem and the apostate priesthood which boldly pronounced to Pilate at Christ's trial, "We have no king but Caesar!"
Look at the language used to describe the harlot: it can all be found in the OT. But there is no more compelling evidence for her than this:
{24} "And in her was found the blood of prophets and of saints and of all who have been slain on the earth." Revelation 18:24 (NASB)
This is a direct reference to Matthew 23:
{34} "Therefore, behold, I am sending you prophets and wise men and scribes; some of them you will kill and crucify, and some of them you will scourge in your synagogues, and persecute from city to city,
{35} so that upon you may fall
the guilt of all the righteous blood shed on earth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah, the son of Berechiah, whom you murdered between the temple and the altar.
{36} "Truly I say to you, all these things will come upon this generation.
{37} "Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, the way a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were unwilling.
{38} "Behold, your house is being left to you desolate!
Matthew 23:34-38 (NASB)
There is no other city in the Bible as notorious for killing those God sent to her than Jerusalem. None.
Hope this helps.
Just more of romes jesuite stuff! Are you in membership?;)
--Elijah
totopic
