January 7: DO NOT WAVER IN BABYLON
And in her was found the blood of prophets and saints, and of all who were slain on the earth. Revelation 18:24
The seed for her (this world’s apostate religious system) was initially planted in the Garden of Eden. With twisted wording, the serpent posed a question that deliberately misrepresented God. Not only did Eve listen to the question, she engaged in conversation and within mere seconds she accepted his lie regarding death, even though it was the very opposite of what God had said. This false belief emboldened her to disobey God and exert influence on her husband to do the same (see Genesis 3:1-6).
Satan’s first recorded lie is the nefarious foundation of the widespread belief in the inherent immortality of the soul. This belief is the earliest pillar of the worldwide apostate religious system. A myriad of other errors spring from this one. The mystical Eastern religions as well as the pagan beliefs of the ancient Egyptians, Babylonians, Persians, Greeks, and Romans all rest upon this common foundation.
Those who are loyal to God and desire to live and believe according to His word are perceived by the deceived as trouble-makers. Then it happened, when Ahab saw Elijah, that Ahab said to him, “Is that you, O troubler of Israel?” And he answered, “I have not troubled Israel, but you and your father’s house have, in that you have forsaken the commandments of the LORD and have followed the Baals. (1 Kings 18:17-18)
Today’s opening verse brings chapter 18 of Revelation to its close. Along with chapter 17, the vivid descriptions and indictments of MYSTERY BABYLON THE GREAT (17:5) make clear the identity of a worldly system firmly established in apostasy. The announcement of her downfall is a powerful wake-up call to God’s true people everywhere to break ties with a religious system that is out of alignment with the gospel. She identifies herself as the “Mother Church”, but John the Revelator identifies her as THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND OF THE ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH. In recent years, Protestant churches, one after another, have been signing treaties and documents vowing alliances with the Catholic church. It should be noted that non-Christian faiths are also joining the movement known as Ecumenism; all headed by the pope. It is being presented to the world as a great revival. This counterfeit revival will make major headlines!
Mark 6:17-29 is an account of Herodias and her daughter Salome, who danced before her stepfather Herod on his birthday. Like Salome, the daughters of Babylon will ‘do a dance’ before a ‘stepfather’, largely unaware of their mother’s wish: So [Salome] went out and said to her mother, “What shall I ask?” And [her mother] said, “The head of John the Baptist.” (v.24) This story foreshadows the mother/daughter relationship of the Roman church/state and her Protestant “daughters” who no longer protest her abuse of power. The 1260 years of religious tyranny that were halted in 1798 will resume.* The remnant of commandment-honoring Christians will be viewed by THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS as trouble-makers (see Revelation 12:17; 13:10; 14:12; 22:14). Many sincere people are still wavering in Babylon. Time to wake up!
They profess to know God, but in works they deny Him… Titus 1:16a *Revelation 6:9-11; 13:15; 14:13