Title: The Tribulation Continued (Part 6)
Text: Rev 17
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Introduction:
- Review using power point from the last 5 sermons
- Who is the Great Harlot in Rev 17?
- It is an apostate Church professing Christ yet not possessing Christ.
- Revelation labels the apostate church of the last days as the great harlot who sits on many waters (Rev 17:1)
- Now what is a harlot?
- A harlot is an individual who has been unfaithful in her wedding vows.
- John shows us an apostate church that professes to be loyal and true to Jesus Christ but in fact cleaves to idol worship which will form the false religious system.
- This is essence is spiritual adultery.
- The influence of this church is world wide.
- John shows us by using the term many waters, which is interpreted as people, tongues, tribes, and nations.
- We see in Rev 17:4 that she has influence and is very wealthy.
- To the outward appearance she looks great, but on the inside is full of the devil.
- When we look at Rev 17:5 we see the name and it says, “Mystery, Babylon the Great, the Mother of Harlots and Of the Abominations of the Earth.”
- The word mystery in the New Testament does not refer to something mysterious, but rather it refers to truths not revealed to man from God.
- God is trying to show us that in the last days there will be a world wide apostate church that will reject Christ and dishonor God.
- We are seeing that know across our globe when we hear about ministers changing the Bible to accommodate there sinful pleasures.
- We are seeing the apostate church form, when we see ministers marrying homosexual people and blessing them on behalf of God.
- We are seeing the apostate church form, when many churches from different denominations forming a group that calls for the destruction of Israel.
- We are seeing the apostate church form, when people in the pew are not putting up with sound doctrine, saying they will leave the church if they don’t hear what they want to hear.
- I have a saying that goes with that statement; don’t let the door hit you on the way out.
- I as a minister get my messages from this book, (The Bible) and if that offends you, that’s between you and God, cause I am not changing.
- That is the stand ministers need to take in there churches and let God be God.
- But God is trying to tell us that in the last days, an apostate church will form that looks good on the outside, but on the inside is full of the devil.
- People will not be able to tell this is a false religious system because it will look that good.
- The only way people will be able to tell this is false religious system is by discernment from Almighty God and from knowing and living the Word of God.
- Now to identify Babylon we need to go all the way back to Nimrod in Gen 10:8 and 11.
- This individual was the chief apostate and influenced many people to build the tower of Babel for the purpose of casting God and His influence out of the earth.
- We are seeing that in our Government and society now.
- They were building a tower that would reach into heaven so that they could have the benefits of God without submitting to God.
- We know God’s reaction, He went down and confused there language so that they would not understand each other and stop building.
- Now here’s the point, here at Babel was introduced idolatrous, religious world system.
- This is why John calls Babylon the Mother of Harlots.
- Babylon was the birthplace of spiritual adultery.
- So the spiritual adultery of the end times is called by the name Babylon.
- Now I find it interesting that God disbanded the project of the tower of Babel Himself, but in Rev 17:16-17 God uses the Anti Christ and the European Common Market to destroy the Harlot.
Rev 17:16-17 says, “And the ten horns which you saw on the beast (the European Common Market which shall produce the Anti Christ), these will hate the harlot, make her desolate and naked, eat her flesh and burn her with fire. For God has put it into their hearts to fulfill His purpose, to be of one mind, and to give their kingdom to the beast, until the words of God are fulfilled.”
- This shows me that no matter what we go through no matter how big the issue is, God is ultimately in control of every situation.
- We need to give our lives over to Him and let Him heal our minds, bodies and Spirits.
Transition:
- How do we know that we are not in an Apostate Church?
- We need to understand that this church building is not an Apostate church, but rather you and me are the church.
- Are we wondering or straying away? How do I know that I am an Apostate Christian?
- I want to share with you 3 things that will help you discern, but also help you stay close to Jesus in these last days.
- Apostate Christians say…..
Point 1: Reject Christ As The Only Way To Heaven.
- The church today is confused as to how to get to Heaven.
- Not all church mind you but many.
- People today are convinced that as long as they are a good person, don’t do harm to anyone, give when they can and attend church, that God will allow them into Heaven.
- That is so deceptive and false, the only way to get to Heaven is by accepting Jesus into your heart and live and asking Him to forgive you of your sins.
- Then we must live for Him by obeying the Bible and governing our lives around its principals.
- To say that God will let me into Heaven because I am good and haven’t harmed anyone is like setting a murder free because he/she has been a good person and crime now can be overlooked.
- Our God is a Just God, and He cannot overlook sin, but instead will punish sin because it is fair and righteous.
- People can sing about Heaven, give for Heavenly causes, hear preaching about Heaven, but it does not mean they are going there.
- Baptism does not save us; a person can be under the water, but not under the blood. - Only the blood of Jesus Christ can save people.
- We can chant, perform our rituals, and give all we have to the church, but that will not save us, only the Blood will save the soul from hell.
- There is only one way to Heaven, not 3, 6, 10 or 2, but only one way, one way, one way, and that is through Jesus Christ.
- If there is something within you that detests what I am saying, understand that it’s not from God
Point 2: Reject The Word
II Tim 3:1-5 says, “You should know this, Timothy that in the last days there will be very difficult times. For people will love only themselves and their money. They will be boastful and proud, scoffing at God, disobedient to their parents, and ungrateful. They will consider nothing sacred. They will be unloving and unforgiving; they will slander others and have no self-control. They will be cruel and hate what is good. They will betray their friends, be reckless, be puffed up with pride, and love pleasure rather than God. They will act religious, but they will reject the power that could make them godly. Stay away from people like that!”
Cable television mogul Ted Turner criticized fundamentalist Christianity and said Jesus probably would “be sick at his stomach” over the way his ideas have been “twisted,” the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported. Turner made his remarks Friday evening at a banquet in Orlando, Fla., where he was given an award by the American Humanist Association for his work on behalf of the environment and world peace. Turner said he had a strict Christian upbringing and at one time considered becoming a missionary. “I was saved seven or eight times,” the newspaper quoted him as saying. But he said he became disenchanted with Christianity after his sister died, despite his prayers. Turner said the more he strayed from his faith, “the better I felt.”
- As with this story many people are leaving the faith and are not allowing the Bible to have final place in there lives.
- We all have tragedy in our lives and hard times, and when the Bible is applies it will change us in the situation and then change the situation.
- I like what verse 5 says of II Tim 3 that says, rejecting the power that could make them godly.
- Jesus is in the business of making you more like Him.
- God will help become all that He wants you to become, but you need to reject man’s way of coming to God and embrace the teachings found in the Bible.
- The Bible has something to say about every aspect of life.
- We can apply it to our marriage, raising children, stewardship with time, money and talents, our ministry, our character and life.
- The Bible teaches us how to pray, get saved, how to love and be loved.
- The Bible also teaches us in areas as I like to call hot stove item. God teaches us not to engage in certain practices in order not to get burned.
- The world looks at it as God ruining our fun, but God looks at it as hurting ourselves, and is therefore protecting us.
- If there is something in you that does not want to submit to God’s Word concerning what ever area you are struggling in, understand that is not from God.
- I could sum up II Tim 3:1-5 in one sentence, “I don’t want to live by God’s standard anymore.”
- God’s standards are all found in God’s Word, the moment the church starts changing them and interpreting them different is the moment they move from solid ground to Apostate ground.
Finally….
Point 3: Apostate People Reject Righteousness And Embrace Worldliness
- The harlot in Rev 17 will want the world’s approval over God’s approval.
- We need to be a church that pleases God and not man.
- That’s hard to do and takes effort on Christian’s part.
- Lets be honest, the world has a lot to offer in the sense of materialism, prestige, power, desires fulfilled.
- The Cross is about denying yourself, times of loneness, persecution, and being labelled.
- But serving the Lord and living for Him is the greatest blessing ever, but there is a cost to serving Him, and many people don’t want it to cost them anything.
- That’s what the Harlot is all about, she will say you can serve God and it won’t cost you anything.
- You can live your life of sin, and still be good and acceptable in the eyes of God.
- That is false and Paul said to Timothy that in the last days, this is what it will be like in the church and society before the Lord returns.
Mark Twain married a Christian lady. She at first didn’t want to marry, but later did. He at first went through the motions of religion with her, but later said he couldn’t keep up the hypocrisy. In time, she came to the place where she no longer believed in a personal God. During a time of deep grief, Twain said to his wife, “If your Christian faith will comfort you, go back to it.” She replied, “I have none.”
- How can people, go from serving and loving God to that of abandonment of God.
- Embracing the world, the world convinced Mark Twains wife that I have something better to offer you then what you have, and she took it.
- Lets learn a lesson from the Bible this evening, understand the world has nothing good to offer you, only God can sustain you.
- Prayer might seem delayed, but wait for His timing and trust Him.
Hebrews 4:14-16 says, “So then, since we have a great High Priest who has entered heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to what we believe. This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for He faced all of the same testing we do, yet did not sin. So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive His mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most.”
- According to the Bible, we come to God and we are assured that He will help us.
- According to the world, all it has to offer is the bottle, sin and selfishness that leads to more misery.
- One more scripture and with this we will close
Hebrews 7:19 says, “For the law never made anything perfect. But now we have confidence in a better hope, through which we draw near to God.”
Hebrews 7:23-25 says, “There were many priests under the old system, for death prevented them from remaining in office. But because Jesus lives forever, His priesthood lasts forever. Therefore His is able, once and forever, to save those who come to God through Him. He lives forever to intercede with God on their behalf.
- The world has nothing to offer, Jesus has everything to offer, but it will cost us everything.
- I heard this statement that is so true when we think about it: “Jesus wants a relationship with, so He can kill you.”
- We need to die to self everyday and live for God under the umbrella of truth found in His Word.
- Maybe you are here this evening and need to come to the throne of Grace for God’s forgiveness, mercy and help. There is no other place that you can receive peace of mind and comfort, for He lives to intercede for you before God
Lets Pray!!!
