December 2: MAKE KNOWN THE DIFFERENCE!

…with whom the kings of the earth committed fornication, and the inhabitants of the earth were made drunk with the wine of her fornication. Revelation 17:2

The angel’s invitation to John which began in v.1 establishes a connection between the great harlot and the world’s secular leadership whose combined influence spread over the whole earth. Just after the Roman Empire imploded in 476AD, Rome’s throne was occupied by the Catholic bishop. This was the beginning of papal Rome’s ascent. Thirty-two years later, in 508, King Clovis of the barbarian tribe known as the Franks converted to Catholicism and formed an alliance with the church of Rome. Now the papacy had armed forces under its command and began to enforce its will through the use of military power. By 538, the third of three opposing nations had been obliterated (see Daniel 7:8; 8:12). It is important to note the dominant role of the church. It was the church—not the state—exercising control. The state simply performed the church’s bidding. This was the first of papal Rome’s many alliances with kings, enabling her to ascend to the position of authoritarian powerhouse of the Dark Ages.

This well-documented and thoroughly prophesied situation of the past is re-emerging directly into the last days of earth in its woefully fallen state. But remember that only one of [the beast’s] heads appeared to be mortally wounded (13:3). This deadly wound [has] healed. We are being shown ahead of time that the just and fair judgment of the Almighty God of love awaits as more and more heads are lifted, enlightened to the reality of today’s combined powers—both religious and secular—to force-feed the world with the wine of [the unfaithful church’s] fornication. Simply put, prominent political, military, and secular powers are joining hands with the papacy “to make the world a better place.” On the surface, it looks very attractive and positive. No doubt, many who sincerely want to see improvements in the state of the world will be deceived by the presentation. But, empowered by the dragon (v.2), underneath the surface is every manner of sin and corruption.

The juice of the grape has become a symbol for doctrine. Fresh from the hand of God, new wine is uplifting. It is the joy and delight of His hearers who seek to follow Him. But Satan has worked through people—whether unwittingly or not—to corrupt the good things of God meant to be set apart as holy for the salvation of mankind. It is in this sense that the harlot has created a deadly mix of the holy with the unholy. The resulting confusion is equated with drunkenness.

Her priests have violated My law and profaned My holy things; they have not distinguished between the holy and the unholy, nor have they made known the difference between the unclean and the clean; and they have hidden their eyes from My Sabbaths, so that I am profaned among them. Her princes in her midst are like wolves tearing the prey, to shed blood, to destroy people, and to get dishonest gain. Ezekiel 22:26-27

Look further: Psalm 3:3; Ezekiel 22:28, Matthew 7:15; 10:16; Luke 10:3; Acts 20:29