Hello, I ask you read my whole post before responding to this please.
I keep hearing this preaching, and decided to single this out. I do not pretend to know everything, but it is getting under my skin of this wave of teaching condemning all Church congregations in buildings referring it to as the mother of harlots. Taken from Revelations Ch 17
Rev 17:1 And there came one of the seven angels which had the seven vials, and talked with me, saying unto me, Come hither; I will shew unto thee the judgment of the great whore that sitteth upon many waters:
Rev 17:2 With whom the kings of the earth have committed fornication, and the inhabitants of the earth have been made drunk with the wine of her fornication.
Rev 17:3 So he carried me away in the spirit into the wilderness: and I saw a woman sit upon a scarlet coloured beast, full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns.
Rev 17:4 And the woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet colour, and decked with gold and precious stones and pearls, having a golden cup in her hand full of abominations and filthiness of her fornication:
Rev 17:5 And upon her forehead was a name written, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH.
Rev 17:6 And I saw the woman drunken with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus: and when I saw her, I wondered with great admiration.
Rev 17:7 And the angel said unto me, Wherefore didst thou marvel? I will tell thee the mystery of the woman, and of the beast that carrieth her, which hath the seven heads and ten horns.
Rev 17:8 The beast that thou sawest was, and is not; and shall ascend out of the bottomless pit, and go into perdition: and they that dwell on the earth shall wonder, whose names were not written in the book of life from the foundation of the world, when they behold the beast that was, and is not, and yet is.
Rev 17:9 And here is the mind which hath wisdom. The seven heads are seven mountains, on which the woman sitteth.
Rev 17:10 And there are seven kings: five are fallen, and one is, and the other is not yet come; and when he cometh, he must continue a short space.
Rev 17:11 And the beast that was, and is not, even he is the eighth, and is of the seven, and goeth into perdition.
Rev 17:12 And the ten horns which thou sawest are ten kings, which have received no kingdom as yet; but receive power as kings one hour with the beast.
Rev 17:13 These have one mind, and shall give their power and strength unto the beast.
Rev 17:14 These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with him are called, and chosen, and faithful.
Rev 17:15 And he saith unto me, The waters which thou sawest, where the whore sitteth, are peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues.
Rev 17:16 And the ten horns which thou sawest upon the beast, these shall hate the whore, and shall make her desolate and naked, and shall eat her flesh, and burn her with fire.
Rev 17:17 For God hath put in their hearts to fulfil his will, and to agree, and give their kingdom unto the beast, until the words of God shall be fulfilled.
Rev 17:18 And the woman which thou sawest is that great city, which reigneth over the kings of the earth.
Let me just point out the last verse of 17 says speaking of the woman who is this harlot, "great city"
Also Here:
Rev 18:16 And saying, Alas, alas, that great city, that was clothed in fine linen, and purple, and scarlet, and decked with gold, and precious stones, and pearls!
Once again great city.
I believe this speaks of a great nation such as (Babylon) being destroyed because that is what these scriptures actually say.
I can’t even understand any reasons for interpretation saying denominational churches, or churches that meet in buildings. Is the Great Harlot.
I will not post on this anymore allowing anyone else to have their chance to speak on this. But I want to voice my heart in this issue.
He is my personal prayerful thoughts on the matter.
Calling Churches where indeed true believers meet the Mother Of Harlots? Is this truly a proper interpretation of scripture? I would be more prone to believe that an immoral nation such as the one I live fits more deserving of this title.
Why does this subject mean so very much to me?
Because of the immorality that has over-run many of the churches. Many say it’s the Mother Of Harlots and to come up out of her. But on whose authority? Is it God's or just ones poor interpretation of what they think God is telling them through scripture? Is it a divine message? In the book of Jeremiah, it speaks of prophets that prophecy good things while Jeremiah, sent by God's divine authority brought the real word that destruction was truly coming.
I believe all the children of God will be judged first before his judgment come on the earth. Not just judgment on people who meet in church buildings. But all who are his.
1Pe 4:17 For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?
1Co 4:5 Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts: and then shall every man have praise of God.
Heb 10:30 For we know him that hath said, Vengeance belongeth unto me, I will recompense, saith the Lord. And again, The Lord shall judge his people.
Blessed be his Judgment that will purify the whole of the Church that begins in his house. Not just those who meet in church buildings, but all his house.
(my thoughts)
To call any church The Mother Of Harlots I feel is on the road of accusing everyone inside of the Church to be this harlot. I truly believe it is also on a road of straying from the word, bashing and abandoning those in church congregations which our God loves. They are God's Children. The Lord Loves His Church. Many in them are His people. Our God knows the hearts of man, we do not.
The wheat will be separated from the chaff. But this is our God's duty not ours.
It is our duty to Love and serve anyone, everyone, everywhere and the church.
Your thoughts please.