Monday: The Wine of the Wrath
Read Revelation 17:1-2, Revelation 17:15 and Revelation 18:1-4. How extensive is Babylon’s influence?
The fallen church system has an international reach influencing people around the world with her deceptions. Satan is enraged that the gospel will be proclaimed to every “nation, tribe, tongue, and people” and this “gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world,” so he employs every possible deception to captivate the minds of the “inhabitants of the earth” (Revelation 14:6, Matthew 24:14, Revelation 17:2, NKJV).
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Revelation 17:2 continues its explanation of the mystery of Babylon the great by declaring that she has “committed fornication” with the kings of the earth. What is fornication? It’s an illicit union. In the fallen church system, uniting with the state. In the true church system, the church is united with Jesus Christ. The fallen church looks to the political leaders of the earth for power and authority. It seeks the state to enforce its decrees. Rather than drawing her strength from Jesus as her true head, she looks to the state for support.
Revelation 17:2 continues its dramatic portrayal:
“And the inhabitants of the earth were made drunk with the wine of her fornication” (NKJV). The symbolism of the pure juice of the grape is used throughout the New Testament to represent the untainted, pure blood of Christ poured out for our salvation on the cross (Matthew 26:27-29). In Luke 22:20 Jesus says, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood” (NKJV). When the pure, new wine of the gospel is distorted, and the teachings of the Word of God are replaced with the teachings of human religious leaders, it becomes the “wine of Babylon.” (See Matthew 15:9.)
Notice, too, that God calls His people out of Babylon. In other words, no matter how corrupt and evil the system is, its reach is so wide that it encompasses, at least for a certain time, His faithful ones, or “my people,” (Revelation 18:4) as He calls them. Yet, the time is coming when God will call them out of that corrupt and evil system, which is about to fall because of its corrupt and evil nature, this “dwelling place of demons” and the “cage for every unclean and hated bird” (Revelation 18:2, NKJV).
| What role do those who proclaim the three angels’ messages have in being used by God to call “my people,” His people, out of Babylon? |
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During the dark ages, Christianity wielded immense political power, blurring the line between church and state. It transformed into a tool of control, overshadowing personal religious beliefs and rendering them incompatible with the state religion.
The pages of church history shed light on the persecution faced by those whose personal faith differed from the state religion. Interestingly, the Papacy was not selective in its targets, persecuting Muslims, Jews, and even fellow Christians. Turmoil erupted during the Eastern Orthodox and Roman Church split, as well as the Western Schism, revealing the explosive combination of faith and politics.
While we often highlight the reformers and the theological aspects of the Reformation, we often overlook the backdrop of nationalism and civil unrest. Luther exposed issues within the Papacy, emphasizing the significance of a personal relationship with God, grace, and faith. However, Lutheranism itself became the state religion in several countries, and dissenters faced persecution in the typical blend of politics and religion.
England faced a similar situation, with the monarchy swinging between Catholicism and Protestantism, both sides showing little mercy when in power. The Cromwell era witnessed increased persecution between different sects, and during Elizabeth I's reign, Catholics suffered persecution and death. It was during this time that "Priest Holes" were created to protect and conceal Catholic priests. The list of English martyrs makes for intriguing yet sobering reading, showcasing the indiscriminate nature of persecution.
The crux of the issue lies in the institutionalization of Christianity, which erodes individual freedom to worship according to one's conscience.
In our modern world, most of us enjoy the freedom to practice our faith without state coercion, although some may contest this claim. However, other forces are at play, camouflaged by their lack of unity. Social pressure, media influence, and commercial interests subtly assail our freedom, subjugating our conscience and calling to their own agenda.
It seems to me that the reason the church joins forces with the state is to exercise control - to be able to compel the conscience, and that spirit can infect us as well.
Inge, I think that when the church becomes intolerant of how individual members understand scripture and use the 27 doctrines as a means to kick out members, it’s preparing itself for a natural move into uniting with an even stronger (governmental) force to control the thinking of its members.
Sarah, are you saying you don't believe in discipline. It needs to be done according to the scriptures, but our 28 Fundamental Beliefs are not the problem.
Sarah, since church discipline is a local matter, it's difficult to say whether this might be so without knowing the details in a given situation. And this is not the place to discuss such details.
The thing is that the fundamental beliefs simply describe what we agree on in our faith community. Some beliefs are probably more important than others. Thus, if people disagree with the community on an important issue, why would they want to be members of the community?
There's also the fact that when the early church started tolerating variations in beliefs and practices, it became corrupt. And it didn't take too long before its character was changed, and it operated similarly to the heathen religions whose practices and beliefs it had tolerated.
However, disciplining individuals because they do not subscribe to practices or beliefs that are not fundamental beliefs would be a misuse of power. Unfortunately that kind of thing has happened.
But I'm even more concerned about people insisting that others subscribe to their personal convictions and judging them as spiritually deficient if they don't. The personal convictions may be perfectly correct, particularly for the person holding them. But it is not right to insist that others are similarly convicted. That kind of thing happens a lot, and that kind of thing is something we need to watch for in our own hearts. We need to allow the Holy Spirit the freedom to bring conviction. Otherwise we are likely to hinder the work of the Holy Spirit, and that is serious.
Hi sister, Sarah Perez:
Study these verses carefully. Who wants us to be in the "unity of the faith and the knowledge of the Son of God"?
Where is the true doctrine of God to be found? To unite us in the faith.
I see the 28 Fundamental Doctrines of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, to be the true doctrines in God's Holy Word, the Bible.
Deuteronomy 30:15-20 KJV makes it clear that God does not force salvation on anyone and His church won't either.
Matthew 18:15-18 KJV was Jesus' instruction to His church on when an errant member was to be disfellowshiped.
The 28 Fundamental Doctrines of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, should in no wise be construed as above God's word, or inerrant, as they are man's understanding of God's word, and that would place the creature above the Creator.
The Bible is our sole rule of faith and authority, the standard that confirms what is good and alerts us to what is evil.
We can help teach others about Christ and turn them to righteousness such as mentioned here in Daniel 12:3
"And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever."
John 12:32 "And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me."
We need to teach others about Jesus and that will lead souls to Him.
In short, the Church must be guided strictly by God, not by governments or men full of their ideas.
In the United States of America, we have the pledge of allegiance which says "....one nation under God..."
Our allegiance should be to God, and the standard that He has given us in the Ten Commandments as our guide and compass.
I personally am very careful of my acceptance of "artificial intelligence" as I feel that my Creator has provided me the conscience and intelligence to follow and give my allegiance to Him through the provision of the Holy Spirits guidance.
WHy do we carry on as if there are only "Three Angels" messages in Revelation of 14:7-10 when there is a "Fourth Angel" that goes on to repeat with a "Loud Voice" the second angels' message of Revelation 14:8 in Revelation 18:1-3 with more detail to it? So we need to say that there are "Four Angels' Messages" in the Book of Revelation and not just "Three Angels," there in that Book for the world.
Pete, I hear and read about all four angels' messages in our churches. I also preach and teach all four as well. It's not a problem that the three angels are often taught together because they are all together in Revelation 14 and then the fourth is in Revelation 18. What is important is all the angels' messages are being preached, as well as the entire book of Revelation, and the entire Bible in our churches.
To me, being ‘made drunk with the wine of her fornication’ means that these people have lost the ability to judge rightly, soberly, as they are no longer in their ‘right mind’. The drunken person cannot think straight, they lose the rational connection to knowing that they are not of a 'right mind'; they do not 'know' why they think and behave in that way.
Luke 22:20 in the ‘Aramaic Bible in Plain English’ reads:
And thus also concerning the cup after they had dined, he said, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which shall be shed in your stead.”
Luke 22:20 in the ‘Contemporary English Version’ reads:
'After the meal he took another cup of wine in his hands. Then he said, “This is my blood. It is poured out for you, and with it God makes His new agreement.” '
Luke 22:20 in the 'International Standard Version' reads:
'He did the same with the cup after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant sealed by my blood, which is being poured out for you.”'
To me, ‘Babylon’ represents the decided effort of confusion/error by keeping the believer from developing a personal relationship with His Creator - the true God -, and so keeping him from knowing His Truth. The 'powers of deception' directing this system are vested in keeping man bound to a materialistic, idol-worshiping world view in which man becomes a pawn in the hands of its master.
But we have learned that the new Covenant has provided the believer with a way out of Babylon through faith in the completed work of God’s Son, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. All believers need to pray for the Holy Spirit to help them understand their current state of faith, not just for their own sake, but as a testimony to those still entrapped by this system of spiritual corruption – Babylon – 1 Peter 1:3-23.