MOTHER OF HARLOTS

 Temple Baptist Church - 9-26-2021

Revelation 17:5

 

Introduction:  We will deal with the political system in chapter 18, but the Bible places the religious system first in chapter 17.  This is the reverse of chapter 13 where the beast of the sea, the political system, is mentioned first and the beast of the earth, the religious system is mentioned last.  The Scripture has a reason for the reversal.  It is the religious system that will cause the people of earth to worship the political system (the beast of the sea), by making an image to the beast and causing the image to speak.  Those who will not worship the image of the beast will by martyred.  It should be obvious to even the casual reader that chapter 17 refers to the end-time political system as the Roman Catholic Church. 

 

A.  As we begin tonight, I want to point out that the word “Babel” is a transliteration of the Hebrew word “Babylon”.    These two are the same.  The first World Power, Babel, was a humanistic (the "god of self"), idolatrous (the "gods of imagery and idols), anti-God nation (the "god" of human government) under the dictatorship of Nimrod.  The building of the Tower of Babel was similar in intent with the desire of Lucifer in the Book of Isaiah to overthrow God. 

 

Isaiah 14:13-14  For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north:  (14)  I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High.

 

B.  When God confounded the language, the people of Babel were scattered abroad over all the earth.  Though their language was confounded, those who were scattered over all the earth had the same political and religious systems which they brought with them out of Babel and set up in all parts of the world where they migrated to.  Today's globalism is already set up as it was in the beginning.

 

Genesis 11:3-4  And they said one to another, Go to, let us make brick, and burn them throughly. And they had brick for stone, and slime had they for morter.  (4)  And they said, Go to, let us build us a city and a tower, whose top may reach unto heaven; and let us make us a name, lest we be scattered abroad upon the face of the whole earth.  (The desire of man is to be unified in rebellion against God while God's desire for men is that they be separated or scattered.)

 

Acts 17:26-27  And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation;  (27)  That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he be not far from every one of us:  (God will allow globalism when it is the appointed time.)

 

C.  Every pagan religion and government in the world sprang from the same religious root, Babel!  They all have the same humanistic, idolatrous, anti-God mentality.  They just mentally rebuilt the same "tower" that sought to do away with the one true God only to be replaced by their inferior little "gods."

 

Genesis 11:8  So the LORD scattered them abroad from thence upon the face of all the earth: and they left off to build the city.  (In our day, globalism is once again bringing these different nations together along with their political and religious systems.)

 

D.  Both the political structure and the religious beliefs were passed down from one world power to the other: from Babel to Assyria (who were idol worshippers), from Assyria to Egypt (who were idol worshippers), from Egypt to Babylon (who were idol worshippers), to Medo-Persia (who were idol worshippers), from Medo-Persia to Greece (who were idol worshippers), and from Greece to Rome (who were idol worshippers), where the Roman Church began as the Roman Catholic Church (which were and continue to be idol worshippers).  All seven world powers are known for their worship of images and idols along with polytheism.  The Roman Catholic Church is polytheistic:  the worship both Mary (Mariolatry) and Jesus Christ!  Every island, every jungle, every nation has its images and idols while their gods are not the God of the Bible.

 

E.  In the end-time, the world will once again be reunited through Globalism into one government and one religion.  The government will be socialism under Antichrist and the religion will be "MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH" under the False Prophet.

 

F.  The official beginning of the Roman Catholic Church is found in the Council of Nicaea in 325 AD.  The Roman Catholic Church was born in the blasphemy and idolatry of Rome and operates contrary to the Word of God.  I do not want to do a history lesson tonight, so I will bring this down to the "Harlot" churches it ultimately produced.  Harlotry produces harlotry!

 

G.  On October 31, 1517, Martin Luther, a Roman Catholic priest, posted his Ninety-five Theses, propositions for debate concerned with the question of indulgences, written (in Latin) on the door of the Castle Church, Wittenberg, Germany. This event came to be known as the beginning of the Protestant Reformation.  Martin Luther tried to reform the Roman Catholic Church from within, but was excommunicated in 1521 by Pope Leo X.

 

H.  Martin Luther, Ulrich Zwingli and John Calvin were the most noted of the reformers who wanted reform the Catholic Church while remaining within it.  This is contrary to the Scriptures.  It is never right to do wrong in order to get a chance to do right.  The Word of God teaches separation, not reformation.

 

2 Corinthians 6:14-18  Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?  (15)  And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?  (16)  And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.  (17)  Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,  (18)  And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.

 

J.  Though the newly formed Protestant Churches disagreed in many ways with the Roman Catholic Church, they also agreed with some of its false teachings and brought these heretical teachings into these reformed churches: some sacraments, rituals, dress, sprinkling or pouring instead of emersion, pedobaptism, holy communion, etc.

 

K.  Through the years, many of the preachers of Protestant churches preached a clear gospel while maintaining their liturgical services.  As the years passed, they began to revolve back into the false teachings of Roman Catholicism.  Personal merit and baptism were taught as essential to salvation.  Today's Protestant churches bear little resemblance to those of the past centuries and their congregations reflect these changes.

 

L.  One of the most prevalent signs of the end-times has been the change in Baptist churches, especially in the past 100 years.  I do not believe in Baptist Succession!  From the days of Christ, there has been a succession of people who followed the Scriptures and were named Anabaptists by the Roman Catholic Church.  Today's Baptist churches, for the most part, are both liberal and compromised.

 

M.  This next statement will probably get me into trouble with many but one of the men who helped bring about these Harlot churches was the "Reverend Doctor" Billy Graham.  Billy Graham was not a friend of the Bible though he is heralded as such.  As early the 1960's, Roman Catholic priests sat on the stages with Billy Graham while he preached.  Other Catholic priests help deal with the people who came forth during invitations.  If a Catholic came forward during an invitation, he or she was directed to a Catholic priest for help, so they remained both Catholic and lost! 

N.  Research on Billy Graham's actions and statement concerning his affiliation with Roman Catholicism are readily available from numerous sources for those who care to check my preaching.  Billy Graham was given an honorary doctor's degree by the Belmont Abbey in 1967 by Roman Catholic priests.  Billy Graham was also closely associated with the Catholic Pope in Rome along with many other Catholic priests.  He made it alright to be a Christian and Catholic, a state that does not and cannot exist as the two are contrary to one another. 

 

O.  I do not want to spend a lot of time on Billy Graham, but I will say that he was not a friend of the Bible and, therefore, not a friend of the Gospel!  The following statement was made by Billy Graham while being interviewed on Robert Schuller's "Hour of Power" in 1997:

 

“I think that everybody that loves Christ or knows Christ—whether they’re conscious of it or not, they’re members of the Body of Christ,” Billy Graham said. “And that’s what God is doing today. He’s calling people out of the world for His name.”

 

“Whether they come from the Muslim world, or the Buddhist world, or the Christian world, or the non-believing world, they are members of the Body of Christ because they’ve been called by God,” Graham continued. “They may not even know the name of Jesus, but they know in their heart that they need something that they don’t have, and they turn to the only light that they have.”

 

P.  Now, down to our day.  Both Protestant and Baptist churches work together with the Catholic Church.  Most notable would be during the time around Easter.  I personally do not like to use the word "Easter" but had rather used the phrase "Resurrection Sunday."  Forty-one days before "Easter," Shrove Tuesday is celebrated as it is the day before Ash Wednesday or the beginning of Lent.  Shrove Tuesday or "Fat Tuesday" or "Mardi Gras."  Lent, forty days before Easter and the purple draped crosses are seen in front of most churches in our areas as the announcement to passing people that Lent is being observed.

 

Q.  During Lent, Roman Catholic, Protestant, Baptist, and other churches have ecumenical services, prayer breakfasts, etc. together.  This makes being Catholic alright with so-called Christianity and so-called Christianity alright with the Catholics.  Thus, we see the harlotry spoken of in Revelation 17:5 coming to fruition in these last days as both Protestant and many Baptist churches accept Roman Catholicism as another Christian denomination.

 

Revelation 2:20, 24  thou sufferest that woman Jezebel, which calleth herself a prophetess, to teach and to seduce my servants to commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed unto idols ...   the depths of Satan …

 

R.  Here we sit today and have been here for several decades!

The Great Whore - Part 2

 Temple Baptist Church - 9-5-2021

Revelation 17:1-5

As we begin tonight, I want to make it clear that what I am preaching is what God says about “the great whore,” not my own personal opinion of feelings.  The Word of God is clear in its wording as to help us to understand the wickedness of the end-time religion and its true colors.

 

A.  Verse 1.  As we continue to look at “The Great Whore,” the beast that rose from the earth in chapter 13, I want to show a contrast between this end-time religious system and the true Church.  Whereas the end-time religious system is called a great whore, the true church is referred to as a “chaste virgin.”

 

2 Corinthians 11:2  For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.

 

Ephesians 5:25-27  Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;  (26)  That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,  (27)  That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.

 

B.  The Source of Her Power.  Both the political and religious systems of the end-time are controlled by Satan.  The true Church is controlled by God.

 

1.  The Political System - Revelation 13:4  And they worshipped the dragon which gave power unto the beast: and they worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him?

 

Ephesians 6:12-13  For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.  (13)  Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

 

2.  The Religious System - Revelation 13:11  And I beheld another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb, and he spake as a dragon.

 

Revelation 2:13  I know thy works, and where thou dwellest, even where Satan's seat is: and thou holdest fast my name, and hast not denied my faith, even in those days wherein Antipas was my faithful martyr, who was slain among you, where Satan dwelleth.

 

Revelation 2:24  But unto you I say, and unto the rest in Thyatira, as many as have not this doctrine, and which have not known the depths of Satan, as they speak; I will put upon you none other burden.

 

C.  Verse 2.  The Realm of Her Influence.  The kings of the earth are “in bed” (Revelation 2:22) with the great whore.  The United States has an ambassador in the Vatican City in Rome.  Around the world, Europe, Asia Minor, South America, Central America, North America along with other places, the great whore has tremendous influence over governments. 

                                        

Callista Gingrich, wife of Newt Gingrich, picked as U.S. ambassador to the Vatican by Donald Trump in 2016.

 

D.  The Inhabitants of the world. In 2018, there was an estimated 1,253,926.000 Roman Catholics.  That figure is 20% of the world’s population at that time.  In the United States, 25% of the people claim to be Catholic. With each passing day, the influence of the Roman Catholic Church grows.

 

E.  Verses 2-4.  The Wickedness of Her Deeds.  Notice the words that are associated with this end-time religious system.

 

1.  Fornication.  Used either literally (sex) or figuratively (spiritual idolatry).  In the case of the religious system, it must be figuratively.  This end-time system will be known by its use of idols.

 

2.  Wine of its fornication.  Wine in the Bible can be either literal or figurative.  (Fornication does not produce wine) Banqueting or intoxication.  To be under the influence of something.  When someone is under the influence of either alcohol or drugs, their mind is befuddled, and their thought process is impaired and decision-making ability is decreased.

 

3.  Names of Blasphemy.  Names are to make us aware of or to understand.  When I am referred to as pastor, it identifies not only who I am but what I am.  Blasphemy means to speak evil of or vilification.  The name of this end-time system identifies it: Roman Catholic.  Rome has always been identified as an enemy of God’s people from its inception as Rome has and continues to be an idolatrous place, full of statues and idols.  Catholic means universal.  God’s Church has never been universal!  It is both inclusive (accepting all who are born again) and exclusive (not accepting those who are not born again).

 

4.  Cup … abominations and filthiness.  Abomination-detestable, vile, abhorrent, despicable, to stink.  Filthiness – lewdness, a state of impurity, demonic.  Their “cup” is the “chalice” from which the Catholic priest drinks during their liturgical services.  This is copied from the online Catholic Store for priests: “The chalice is a central part of the Eucharistic celebration, and many priests have special, more ornamented chalices for important feast days and liturgical celebrations.”  The Catholic Mass is a continual re-crucifixion of our Lord Jesus Christ.

 

Hebrews 6:6  If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame.

 

Jeremiah 51:6-7  Flee out of the midst of Babylon, and deliver every man his soul: be not cut off in her iniquity; for this is the time of the LORD'S vengeance; he will render unto her a recompence.  (7)  Babylon hath been a golden cup in the LORD'S hand, that made all the earth drunken: the nations have drunken of her wine; therefore the nations are mad.

 

F.  Verse 3.  The Place of Her Sitting.  “I saw a woman sit upon a scarlet coloured beast”  The great whore is riding on the back of the end-time political system.  They are inseparably tied together with Satan and the antichrist.

 

Revelation 13:14  And deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast; saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast, which had the wound by a sword, and did live.

 

Revelation 14:9  And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand,

 

G.  Verse 4.  The Array of Her Garments and The Riches of Her Coffers.  “And the woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet colour, and decked with gold and precious stones and pearls”  A perfect description of Roman Catholicism!  The dress of their priesthood, the gold that covers their churches, and the riches that they own.  The Riches of Her Coffers.  The richest religious system on earth is the Roman Catholic Church!  I have been in these churches in Mexico and the gold is spectacular to see.  The people are in poverty while worshipping under domes of gold!

The Religious Beast From The Earth - The Great Whore

 Temple Baptist Church - 8-29-2021

Revelation 17:1-5

 

A.  Chapter 17 is tied back with chapter 13.  In chapter 13, we saw two "beasts" that rose out of the sea and earth.  The first beast was the political system of government in the end-time built by the spirit of antichrist.  The second beast was the religious system of the end-time that would look like a lamb but would destroy all who followed it.  These beasts defile, devour, destroy.

 

1 Corinthians 15:32a  If after the manner of men I have fought with beasts at Ephesus …

 

B.  Chapter 17-18 reverse their order as the "religious beast" in found in chapter 17 and the "political beast" is found in chapter 18.  This is done for a good reason.  In chapter 13, the political beast that reigns will be first as Antichrist takes control in chapter 6 and never relinquishes it.    In chapter 18, the political system will destroy the religious system.

 

C.  In chapter 17, it is important that the religious beast or system come first because it preceded the end-time political system.  We will find this truth in chapter 17.  Now, we will ignore the political beast for a while as chapter 18 will deal with it in detain.

 

D.  We will spend a little time in this chapter as we need to understand when this religious system started, what this religious system is, and what this system does.

 

E.  Notice with me that the first part of verse 1 speaks of judgment.  God will judge this ungodly system of religion that is and has always been antigod from the beginning.  It has changed its face to reflect religion at its finest in our day but under the outward veneer that it shows, it is still just what God calls it, the great whore!

 

F.  God will judge the great whore and all those who follow it.  It is anti-bible, anti-god, and anti-mankind.  The Bible references this system in its letter to the church at Thyatira.

 

Revelation 2:20-24  Notwithstanding I have a few things against thee, because thou sufferest that woman Jezebel, which calleth herself a prophetess, to teach and to seduce my servants to commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed unto idols.  (21)  And I gave her space to repent of her fornication; and she repented not.  (22)  Behold, I will cast her into a bed, and them that commit adultery with her into great tribulation, except they repent of their deeds.  (23)  And I will kill her children with death; and all the churches shall know that I am he which searcheth the reins and hearts: and I will give unto every one of you according to your works.  (24)  But unto you I say, and unto the rest in Thyatira, as many as have not this doctrine, and which have not known the depths of Satan, as they speak; I will put upon you none other burden.

 

1.  Its leader is a woman.  "Jezebel … prophetess"

 

2.  Its teaching is spiritual fornication and idolatry.  "seduce … commit fornication … idols" 

 

3.  God gave it space to repent, but it continued in its spiritual wickedness.  "she repented not"

 

4.  Its followers will be cast into "great tribulation" except they repent of their deeds.

 

5.  Her children that she has birthed and reared will die a spiritual death in the Lake of Fire.

 

6.  The Bible calls this system "the depths of Satan."

G.  God calls this system "the great whore."  Though I do not normally use this word, it is the only appropriate word that describes the actions of this religion.  I want to break these three words down tonight because I want each of us to know EXACTLY WHAT GOD SAYS ABOUT THE RELIGIOUS BEAST!

 

1.  "the" – pay strict attention to the definite article that is applied to the religious beast.  You have two types of articles, definite and indefinite. 

 

The two indefinite articles are "a" and "an."  God could have said, "A great whore," but He did not.  "A great whore" would be the designation of one of many.  God said, "The great whore!"

 

2.  "the" is a definite article.  This is not a great whore; it is the great whore.  A definite article is place before a noun to indicate that the identity of the noun is known to the reader. 

 

The great whore is one that is both identified by the writer, God, and known by the reader, you and me.  There are many false religions that could be identified as whores but this one is specific.

 

3.  "great" – very great or greatest – the root word is a superlative (good is good, better is better, best is best). 

 

One, it is great in its membership.  The great whore has taken over America along with most so-called "Christian Nations." 

 

Two, it is great in its influence as it has not only power over individuals but also power over nations. 

 

Three, it is great in its wickedness.  It is wicked internally and externally as it denies the singularity of the Lord Jesus Christ as deity, Saviour, Mediator.  It is great in its final result: the damnation of hell and the Lake of Fire eternally. 

 

Salvation is the Gospel (death, burial, and resurrection) of Jesus as the ONLY way of salvation.  By faith, through grace and not mixed with human merit!  To add or take away from the finished work of Christ is to pervert the Gospel into "another gospel."

 

Galatians 1:6-9  I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel:  (7)  Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ.  (8)  But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.  (9)  As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.

 

4.  "whore"  The First Mention of the word whore is found in Leviticus.

 

Leviticus 19:29  Do not prostitute thy daughter, to cause her to be a whore; lest the land fall to whoredom, and the land become full of wickedness.

 

This verse ties two words together: prostitute and whore.   A whore is a woman of immorality while a prostitute is a whore who sells her wares for gain or profit.

 

Prostitute – profane or to wound.  "a person, in particular a woman, who engages in sexual activity for payment."  This definition ties prostitute with payment.

 

Whore – to commit fornication for a price.  Often, in the Bible, it is tied with idolatry.

 

2.  The result of prostitute and whore is whoredom and wickedness.

 

Whoredom – prostitution in general; to lead into sexual impurity or spiritual idolatry.

 

Wickedness – the result is a turning the nation into ungodliness.

 

h.  Now, as we begin this chapter, we understand how God looks at this "great church."  God calls it "the great whore."  I took the time to give you an understanding of this because religious people think that I am personally responsible for defaming it.  It does not matter what I think, it does not matter what you think, it only matters what God thinks and I believe that His message begins in complete clarity!