Dewitt Tabernacle Teaching Series

 

 

 

 

“The Harlot Mother and Her Daughters”

Revelation 17: 5

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 By C.W. Wood                                                                                            January 2012

 

      To the unsuspecting soul, a World Church in which the peoples of the world come together in unity in spite of their doctrinal differences may seem to be a very good thing.  But the cry for unity in this hour is overriding the sound and scriptural teaching that asks the question, “Can two walk together except they be agreed?” (Amos 3:3)  The implied answer is a definite, “NO.” God, speaking through His Prophet, Amos, is rebuking His people for their disobedience in joining themselves to the worshippers of idols.

   The great leaders of religion and government are crying out for peace (As the scriptures say they will do in the very end-time), and supposing that such peace can be found in unity compromises the truths.  God has never, and will never compromise His truths in order to bring a mixed up and confused group of people together, in what some are calling unity!  God’s plan is just exactly the opposite.  Rather than sending His blessings on a group who is willing to compromise many of their known revelations, He says to us that in order to have His kind of unity, we must be “Joined together in the same Mind.” 1 Cor. 1:9-10, “God is faithful, by whom ye were CALLED UNTO THE FELLOWSHIP OF His Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord.  Now I beseech you, brethren (speaking to the True Church) by the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ, THAT YE ALL SPEAK THE SAME THING, AND THAT THERE BE NO DIVISIONS AMONG YOU, BUT THAT YE MAY BE PERFECTLY JOINED TOGETHER IN THE SAME MIND, AND IN THE SAME JUDGMENT.”  Many other scriptures could be given to show forth God’s form of unity, but how could He say it any clearer than what we just read?  God’s church must be agreed on God’s revealed doctrine!

   On March 29th, 1994, an amazing meeting took place.  In light of what we just read, this meeting and its results are incredible indeed.  On this day, leading American Protestants signed an agreement called “Evangelicals and Catholics Together, the Christian Mission in the Third Millennium.”  The agreement was that Catholics and Protestants would work together to bring the 400 million Protestants together with the almost one billion Catholics and thereby produce a WORLD CHURCH.

   On March 30th, 1994, the New York Times Newspaper printed a report of this meeting which was carried by other newspapers in the U.S.  We quote a portion of the New York Times Article, “They toiled together in the movements against abortion and pornography, and now leading Catholics and Evangelicals are asking their flocks for a remarkable leap of faith; to finally accept each other as Christians in what is being called a historic declaration.  Evangelicals, including Pat Robinson and Charles Colson, one of the chief originators, joined with conservative Roman Catholic leaders today in upholding the ties of faith that bind the nation’s largest and most politically active religious groups.  They urged Catholics and Evangelicals…..to stop aggressive proselytizing of each other’s flocks (stop trying to win each other’s members).”  (End quote)

   John White, President of Geneva College and former President of The National Association of Evangelicals, said the statement represents a “Ttriumphalistic Moment” in American religious life, after centuries of distrust.  Other Protestant, Evangelical endorsers (signers) include the heads of The Home Missions Board and Christian Life of the Southern Baptist Convention, the nation’s largest Protestant denomination, and Bill Bright, founder of Campus Crusade for Christ, Mark Knoll of Wheaton University, Jessie Miranda of the Assemblies of God, Richard Mouw, president of Fuller Theological Seminary, J.I. Packer and Hebert Schlossberg.  (These names were also listed in the New York Times Newspaper article.)

   Friends, if God will open our spiritual eyes, we will see that “compromise” is the main goal of the above agreement.  It is an unthinkable admission by Protestants that the Great Reformation produced in Europe by our Fifth Church Age Messenger, Martin Luther, was a mistake.  It is to say that the thousands times thousands of martyrs killed by the Roman Church before and after the Great Reformation, was all in vain.  The doctrinal differences between Protestants and Catholics were once thought to be so great that millions of Protestants died rather than agree with Catholicism!

   May I say that these differences are still in existence today, and that the Catholic Church and its move for unity does not include the changing of their doctrine.

The unity they seek is the forsaking of their beliefs by the Protestants.  According to their teaching, the world must become Catholic, or pay the price for their unbelief.  It is this spirit from the enemy that motivates the Catholic Church to destroy all who are in disagreement with their doctrine.  They have done so in the past and will do so again as they enforce The Mark of the Beast.

   I emphasize that it is the “SYSTEM” or the “SPIRIT” that is behind the Catholic Church that God is against, and not some precious Catholic people.  It is our considered opinion that if the Catholic people would only take the time to study history concerning their Church, they could not continue in such a system!  Such books as “Foxes Book of Martyrs”, “A Woman Rides the Beast”, and “Fifty years in the Church of Rome” give accurate, historical events which prove the system to be against God’s Word.

   How could an honest person, who knows anything about the Holy Bible, study history concerning the life of Martin Luther, and still remain a Catholic!  Brother Luther was the man who stood almost single-handed against the powerful Pope of Rome in his day.  He preached from the pulpit against their doctrine, and then in October of 1517, he wrote his famous “Ninety Five Theses” and nailed it to the door of Castle Church.  In a short time all of Germany was lighted with Luther’s true scriptural teaching, and the Great Reformation of Europe was on.

   Our readers in what we term “The End-Time Message” know these things, but this sermon is an effort to reach the many families of God’s Bride, both Protestant and Catholic, who may still not understand what is happening in the world of religion today.  Let it be said that our motive is not to condemn any person either in or out of a church, but rather to point out Bible Prophesies that are now taking place before our eyes.  It is written, “My people die for lack of knowledge.”  The knowledge spoken of is not scientific knowledge, the world is full of that, but it is the lack of spiritual knowledge that is producing death.

   The Bible prophesies a great World Church, that is anti-Christ in nature, and that will be embraced by the nations of the world in the end-time.  The scriptures also say that the God of Heaven and Earth will smite these nations with the sword of His Mouth.  He will feed their dead bodies to the fowls that fly in the midst of Heaven.  (Rev. 19:15-18) Current events of recent years show this church to be already formed and adding to itself more and more members as the final days arrive.

   We speak of the church mentioned in Rev. 17:1-9 called “Mystery Babylon the Great, the Mother of Harlots” (Verse 5), the Roman Catholic Church.  What other church is drunk with the Blood of the Saints, shed throughout the past centuries?  (Verse 6)  What other church is built on seven mountains (hills)?  (Verse 9)  What other church is now taking back into herself harlot daughters, the Protestant denominational churches, who once protested Rome’s doctrine, but who now are compromising truths to be joined to her again.  What other church has as its universal colors purple and scarlet, and who has the gold of the world in its banks?  (Verse 4)  What other world church leader has held out his hand of fellowship to any and all religious beliefs of the world today, more so than the recent Pope John Paul II?  The May and June issue of “Catholic World Magazine” was devoted to Buddhism!

   QUOTE: “A WOMAN RIDES THE BEAST”, BY   DAVE HUNT, “One article was entitled ‘The Buddha Revered as a Christian Saint’  John Paul takes a broad-minded view of Buddhism, and all other religions.  He considers the Tibetan Buddhist Deity “Yoga” of his good friend the Dalai Lama, along with the prayers of witch doctors, spiritualists, and every other religion, to be generating ‘Profound Spiritual Energies.’ (End quote)

   According to a Los Angeles Times News report, “John Paul II slipped off his shoes to sit quietly and solemnly with the supreme Patriarch of Thailand’s Buddhist Monastery in Bangkok…..The Roman Catholic Pontiff later praised the ‘Ancient and venerable wisdom’ of the Asian religion.”  Brother Dave Hunt said, “Try to imagine the Apostle Peter attending a Buddhist Temple ritual and praising Buddhism.  Or Paul telling, audiences of Hindus, as John Paul did during his visit to India, that He had not come there to teach them anything, but to ‘Learn from their rich spiritual heritage, and that the world needs to heed India’s ‘Spiritual Vision of Man.” (End quote)

   The death of John Paul II will cause no change at all in our Lord’s prophecy concerning the World Church and its final end.  The new Pope, who has been John Paul’s right-hand man for many years, has no doubt been primed to continue the open-minded reception of any and all religions, in the name of Christianity.

   The one powerful, and unrelenting aim of the Catholic Church through the centuries, has been to bring all religions under her spiritual wing.  The God of Heaven, who saw the “End from the beginning” told us in His Book that this would come to pass in the end-time.  We have lived to see the greats of the world, and most of their followers, fall at the feet of the Pope and his exalted office.  Pope John Paul II, since taking office in 1978, has moved the world forward toward a World Church as none before him were able to do.  The foundation of the World Church is now being built upon.

   One of his accomplishments was the amazing feat of bringing together in 1986, 130 leaders of the worlds 12 major religions to pray for peace.  In the group were snake worshippers, fire worshippers, spiritualists, North American witch doctors, Buddhists, Muslims, Hindus, and Christians and Catholics.  The Pope declared that all were praying to the same God.  It was at this meeting that the Pope allowed the Dalai Lama to replace the Cross with Buddha on the Altar of Saint Peter Church in Assisi, so that he and his Monks could perform their Buddhist worship.

   But the thing that is so disturbing to those who believe the precious old King James Version of the Bible, is the effect this Pope’s teaching has had on the leaders of our own Christian nation!  Apparently inspired by the Pope’s actions at Assisi and other places we have seen “Inter-Faith Councils” spring up across the United States.  In these meetings, Christians meet with the followers of all kinds of beliefs and religions.  In one such meeting, it was said that a Hindu chanted a prayer to God, as they stood before an altar holding the pictures of Jesus Christ and Buddha.

   At the 1993 National Prayer Breakfast in Washington D.C., Senator Kerry read John 3:1-21 and suggested that the Lord Jesus was teaching that all Faiths should be in “Spiritual Renewal” and that Hindu’s, Buddhist Muslim, Jews, and Christians were meeting there for that purpose.  Vice President Al Gore said, “Faith in God, and reliance on a higher power, BY WHATEVER NAME, is in my view, essential.”  Please notice the phrase “By whatever Name.”  May I respectfully remind us all that God said in Col. 3:17, “”And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, DO ALL IN THE NAME OF THE LORD JESUS, giving thanks to God and the Father by Him.”

   The New Testament is filled with scriptures that teach Salvation through One Name and One Name only, the Precious and powerful and Glorified Name of the Lord Jesus Christ.  It is only through His Name that we receive forgiveness of sins.  (Acts 10:43) His Name (Jesus Christ) has been placed far above every name that is named, not only in this world, but in the world to come. (Ephs. 1:19-21)  Is it not amazing how far some of those who profess Christianity will go in acknowledging the names of other so-called gods?

   On March 2-4 of 1990, Robert Schuller, at his Crystal Cathedral held the Sixth West Coast Charismatic Catholic meeting.

   Many of the speakers were Catholic, and most of the congregation was Catholic.  In one of his times at the podium, Mr. Schuller said, “I didn’t want to build this church without the blessing of the Holy Father, so I made a trip to Rome and met with the Pope.  I took a picture of the Cathedral and told him I was building this and that I wanted to receive his prayers and blessing.  A photograph was taken of us, and I have it hanging on my 12th floor.  Then on the 30th anniversary here I received the most beautiful full colored photograph of the Holy Father bestowing his apostolic blessings upon my holy ministry, with a wonderful, personal handwritten message…..” (End quote)  Bible prophecy has been fulfilled before our eyes, and though we have known it was coming, we are still shocked.  Jesus warned us that the nearness of His return would bring deception in the churches such as the world had never known. (Matt. 24:4-5, 11, 24)  We were warned that had God allowed it, even the Elect would be deceived by these false ones.  They would be working signs and wonders, but would not at all be Christians.

   The Apostle Paul foretold the terrible apostasy that would follow the establishment of the Roman Catholic Church power on Earth.  II Thess. 2:3-4, “Let no man deceive you by any means; for that day shall not come except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition. Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; So that he as God sitteth in the Temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.”  Then in Verse 7 Paul warned, “The mystery of iniquity doth already work.”  Two thousand years ago Paul saw the spirit of anti-Christ that was beginning to creep in the Church.

   What we are witnessing today did not start in recent years, but now we have seen the power of Rome take over the minds of men.  Little by little it has increased in strength as it moved forward with its deceiving work.  In the earlier years of our nation, men of God including our 16th President, Abraham Lincoln, warned against this tide of evil.  In a statement made to a personal friend, Charles Chinique, He said, “It is now evident to me that, with very few exceptions, every priest, and every true Roman Catholic is a determined enemy of liberty….., It is very certain if the American people could learn what I know of the fierce hatred of the priest of Rome against our institutions, our schools, our most sacred rights, and our so dearly bought liberties, they would drive them away tomorrow from among us…” (End quote)

   Those of us who believe that God sent an End-Time Prophet now know that many Americans did not, in Lincolns day, nor have they in our day, discovered what Lincoln knew!

   What then is Roman Catholicism?  May we sum it up in a short statement?  It is so-called “Christianity” that has reached out for fellowship and partnership with all kinds of people, with all kinds of ungodly beliefs.  It is a mixture of the knowledge of “The Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil” as was seen in the Garden of Eden. (Gen. 2:9)  It is a religion whose leaders have forsaken God’s Word that commands His People to “Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers; for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness.  And what communion hath light with darkness?  And what concord hath Christ with Belial?  Or what part he that believeth with an infidel? And what agreement hath the Temple of God with idols?.....Wherefore come out from among them, AND BE YE SEPARATE, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing, and I will receive you.” (II Cor. 6:14-18)

   Compare what God said above with this statement by Pope Paul VI where he gives the status of “Christians” to all religions.  QUOTE:   “The Church (Catholic Church) has this exhortation (This advice) for her Sons and Daughters; Prudently and lovingly, through dialogue and collaboration with the followers of other religions, and in witness of Christian Faith and Life, acknowledge, preserve and PROMOTE the spiritual and moral good found among these people.” (End quote)

   This then is Catholicism; a religion that embraces all other beliefs, even those who deny Jesus Christ as Lord and King of all.  And this is the system that is producing a World Church that is so far removed from the Word of God that He will be forced to destroy it.  As the strength and power of this Church has increased, so has the darkness that is shadowing the world increased.  Now we have seen our nation’s great leaders kneel before the dead body of a Pope of Rome, and have heard our greatest religious persons giving him praise!

   Where can we find scripture for the worship of Mary?  Where is the scripture for praying the dead out of a place called Purgatory?  What Word of God tells us that in our partaking of The Lord’s Supper we have changed the simple bread and wine into the flesh and blood of Christ? (This is Catholic Mass)  Where does God require His ministers to remain unmarried?  Where does the Bible say that any man or any church has the right to change His written Word?  Where do we have any thought from God that says a Pope can claim to be infallible (without error)?

Where is the scriptural authority for a church to put to death those who are in disagreement with it?  How can an intelligent person, who has a Bible, and who claims to believe it, belong to a church that denies so many of its foundational truths?

   The present blindness of our renowned world leaders, as to the evils of the Catholic Church is a most astounding thing.  If these anti-Word teachings had been in held in secret, as in centuries past when the people had no Bibles, it would be more understandable.  But, now we not only have Bibles in every home, but the Catholic teachings have been broadcasted around the world by their leader.  Besides all this, God has provided this nation and the world with a Mighty Sanctuary of Truth in the form of a Word Prophet.  But according to the words of this Prophet, America turned down her last chance (As a nation) in 1957.  That was the last year that God held the door open to a doomed America.  But, thank God, individuals may still come out of the religious systems and be saved.  Scattered around the world in this hour, in obscure places of retreat, hidden away from the world, God’s Bride watches with intent interest the moves of this Harlot Church and her denominational daughters.  Her interest is twofold, she watches to see if one more can be pulled from the burning before it’s eternally too late, and she watches so as to know the day and the hour in which we are living.  They also know they are to watch Israel.  They know there is to be an agreement between the anti-Christ World Church and the Jews.

   One of the things we can watch for now is to see Rome courting the Nation of Israel, which according to prophecy, will come into the World Church.

   On March 20th of 2000, John Paul’s private plane landed in Amman, Jordan.  In his speech there, he recalled his “Great Desire” to make a pilgrimage to the Holy Land.  We do not deny his desire, but we do question his motive.  The historic records show that from the days of Pope Urban II in 1096, the Catholic Church has been the declared enemy of Israel.  This Pope called the Jews “An accursed race, utterly alienated from God.”  (How backwards from the scripture can one get?)  In 1205, Pope Innocent III said, ‘The Jews, by their own guilt, are consigned to perpetual servitude.”  In 1311, the Council of Vienna forbade all relations between Christians and Jews.  In 1434, the Council of Basel confined the Jews to ghettos.  In 1555, Pope Paul IV reduced the Jews to slaves, and marriage between a Catholic and a Jew was a death sentence.  In 1919, Cardinal Pietro Gaspari, Vatican Secretary of State wrote, “The danger that frightens us most is the creation of a Jewish State in Palestine.”

   Therefore, we believe that the agreement to be made between Rome and Israel will be for a wrong motive; to bring Israel under her control, then break the agreement and enslave its people again.  In April of 1933, Adolph Hitler reminded the Vatican’s two representatives, Berning and Steiman, that for 1500 years the Roman Church had regarded the Jews as parasites, to be killed, and that he intended “A final solution to the Jewish problem.”  Rome was mysteriously quite while Hitler murdered over six million Jews.  But, while we question Rome’s motive in courting Israel, it is written that the agreement will be made.  The Bride is watching and praying!  Amen!