Nearly two thousand years ago, John the apostle was instructed to pass on to us the specifics of how things would transpire in the last of days. He wrote of the rapture, followed by the Seal, Trumpet, and Bowl Judgments, during which the entire planet is reshaped for the coming millennial reign. Graciously, God chose to inform those who follow Him just how things will soon unfold.
Revelation chapter thirteen clearly indicates that an overarching one-world system will manifest, a system comprised of a one-world government, religion, and finance. Scripture also makes clear the entity at the heart of this one world system, “Babylon – The Great Harlot – Rises,” as both an ecclesiastical and commercial power, the likes of which men have never seen. Here, we examine who she is and the fact that she is already rising.
Previous articles cover a great deal of information regarding the mindset that has incubated the idea of this one-world system, and how the narrative shifts back to the “Middle East.” Therefore, a good starting point for this article is to visit or revisit those articles.
The first article, “The Great Awakening – The Grand Deception”1 deals with the errant call for revival, which intends to manifest the kingdom of God here and now. The second article, “Back to Babylon,” puts forth a very plausible scenario that describes how and why the narrative of the last days is Middle East centric.2 With the groundwork established, let us turn to the identification of this Great Harlot.
Here, we should note that much work has already been done by our predecessors on the “what” of the entity at hand. In fact, John Walvoord informed us that she was both an ecclesiastical and a political entity.3 He also agrees that she, as her name implies, commits spiritual adultery with the false religions of the world, and this is one of the reasons for her demise. Much can be gleaned from the writings of Walvoord, who dedicated much of his lifetime studying and expounding on the last days. One final thought from him leads us into our next point… He identifies the Great Harlot (the ecclesiastical super religion that rules after the rapture) as Rome, or perhaps better said, Roman Catholicism and her associates. This is where we pick up.
History has proven beyond a shadow of a doubt that Catholicism is domineering by nature. You must do things their way, or else. If you doubt this statement, read Foxes Book of Martyrs and your eyes will undoubtedly be opened.4 Two other groups are very much like this in terms of dominionism, the New Apostolic Reformation (NAR), and Islam. Here we identify these three entities as the chief components of what Scripture describes as MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH (Rev 17:5). At first, it may seem like these are strange bedfellows. However, they are very much alike in terms of their primary goal, as each group desires to build the kingdom of God here and now, instead of waiting for Jesus to bring it with Him.
You might ask, why would these three groups unite? Why would they ever give up supremacy? The answer to both questions is quite simple… they need each other.
Rome needs two primary things in her quest to rule again like she did in the Dark Ages. First, she needs a protestant group like the NAR to bring the rest of her wayward children home. Next, she must have a militant arm to carry out the future mandate to kill all who refuse to worship the beast. Yes, you read that correctly; Rome will champion the Antichrist and be the unwavering religious arm of his system. However, as the text reveals, she will have to prostitute herself with the other religions of the world to reign supreme during the Tribulation. One has only to look at the news clippings of the last few years to see that a great bond is forming between the three primary groups here listed.
Take note: these three principals will be joined by many others who miss the rapture and decide that man-made religion is the best way forward. Unfortunately, all who fall for their message, the greatest false gospel ever preached, will seal their fate when they take the Mark of the Beast and forever forfeit any hope for redemption. But how will these groups work so well together when they have for so long been at odds? The answer is simple; they will unite under the banner of Ecumenism, which is a call for unity among groups with different beliefs.
Not long ago, a conference of Catholic and Evangelical leaders proclaimed, “the protest is over.”5 This is but one of many meetings of the Roman Catholic church and other religious groups in which the call for unity is heralded. Indeed, just this month, this quote was issued in the news: “Pope Leo XIV met Lebanon’s Christian and Muslim religious leaders on Monday, calling for peace in the region and praising the country’s interfaith coexistence.”6 Now, let us examine the basics of our three primary groups.
First, the Catholic church has been in the public eye for many centuries. Unfortunately, much of their beliefs are based on the councils of men and not on Scripture. This is how they came up with so many erroneous ideas that morphed into religious practices that do little more than endear men to the church. Ultimately, this false church is here today because they misapplied what Jesus said about the rock and the church (Matt 16:13-20).
Briefly, Jesus told Peter that He would build His church upon the rock (πέτρα – petra – large stone), which, properly understood by reading the context of the passage, referred to the foundational statement made by Peter that He, Jesus, was the Son of God. The Catholics, in their desire to be the greatest of all religions, latched onto the terms in the passage and twisted them to say that Jesus was referring to the church being built upon Peter (Πέτρος – petros – a piece of rock or pebble). Instead, Jesus clearly said He would build a church against which the gates of hell would not prevail (Matt 16:18), a church built upon the fact that He was the Son of God. Can you imagine God telling man that He would build a church that would never fail on fallible man? Ludicrous!
The error did not stop there; the power-hungry that built this most onerous false religion also misappropriated the statement about who would build the church in the passage. And, after fabricating papal authority by feigning descent from the first Pope (Peter), they set out to act in the place of Christ and build the church on a mere man instead of the Son of God, Jesus Christ.
The fallacies of Catholicism are far too many to cover here, but suffice it to say, the Catholic church is all about manmade religious rites and the church. One needs only to attend one of their services to see that the supremacy of Christ has been supplanted by ritual and liturgy. Sadly, Jesus is merely the name they use to garner support.
The second group of this trio is the NAR. As noted earlier, this acronym stands for the New Apostolic Reformation. Essentially, this group believes they have been blessed by the rebirth of the Apostles and Prophets, and through their leadership they are the reforming movement that ushers in Christ once they have successfully built His kingdom for Him. Their prime directive, known as the Seven Mountain Mandate, calls for adherents to seek to rise to the top of their respective spheres of influence, or mountains, of which there are seven: Religion, Family, Education, Government, Media, Arts/Entertainment, and Business. Incredibly, these seven spheres of influence may very well be the seven heads, or mountains, of the beast that this false religious entity rides (Rev 17:9).
This mindset, of developing the kingdom of God through manmade programs, is clearly displayed in today’s media as the religious right, operating from these platforms, clamors for greater influence upon the world, all while using the name of Christ profusely. However, it is clear these use Christ’s Name to further their agenda, not His. Thus, they use His name in vain.
Finally, the third group, the Islamists, follow a different god altogether, Allah. Scripture clearly indicates these serve a false god because they deny the Father and the Son, Jesus (1 John 2:18-23). Simply put, they deny the divinity of Jesus. Sadly, this fallacy causes them to miss the rapture, for without Christ and His sinless blood, no one can come to the Father (John 14:6). Therefore, after those who believe in Christ are raptured, this group will merge with the others who reject Christ as their only hope.
This is probably a good place to mention that Muslims also await the arrival of a savior. However, he is not Jesus. Instead, they are looking for one known as the Mahdi.7 Incredibly, he arrives on a white horse and quickly takes dominion over the affairs of the earth, just like the antichrist who arrives at the opening of the first seal.8
At this point, you are probably beginning to say to yourself that the Catholics and NARites would never follow this leader. However, these will follow him because they believe he is the Messiah, come at last to rule over the kingdom they have so faithfully built. Thus, these three diametrically opposed groups unite and form the foundational structure of the religious system used by the antichrist to conquer.
Sadly, this newly merged group will begin to slay all who oppose their new leader, as seen in Revelation chapters thirteen and twenty. Ironically, they will do so while thinking they are doing God a favor (John 16:2). Consider for a moment the preferred method of slaying infidels that we have witnessed in our lifetimes, beheading. Scripture declares this larger group will adopt this method of execution to eliminate all who refuse to worship their master:
Revelation 13:15
“And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed.” (Author’s emphasis)
Revelation 20:4
“And I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was committed to them. Then I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their witness to Jesus and for the word of God, who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received his mark on their foreheads or on their hands. And they lived and reigned with Christ for a thousand years.” (Author’s emphasis)
Each of these religious entities sprang forth from erroneous beliefs that should have been refuted by those who initially witnessed their development. Though each developed from different circumstances – the Catholics from the religious sect that burgeoned under Constantine, the Dominionists of the NAR from the idea that new revelation had come to them through new apostles and prophets, and the Islamists from visions shared by an angel in a cave – each has the same beginning. Their progenitors all fell for the lies of the devil and believed a different gospel. The Apostle Paul warned against this:
Galatians 1:6-9
“I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel, which is not another; but there are some who trouble you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ. But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed. As we have said before, so now I say again, if anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you have received, let him be accursed.”
Sadly, for many years, the church, instead of refuting the false gospels at hand, has collectively put their heads in the sand and simply ignored the fact that these groups, along with many more, are growing in influence and number. Knowing this, what are we to do? How should we deal with this growing threat?
I humbly submit that we must decide to break from our former path and begin to expose these fallacious groups for what they are… false religions that propagate doctrines of demons designed to deceive those who reject Christ.
I do not say this hoping to stop these groups from their mission, as I clearly see them uniting and becoming the Great Harlot of the coming Tribulation. No, I issue this warning in hopes that we, the faithful, would see this as a call to redouble our efforts to evangelize the world for Jesus Christ. We must also hope and pray that those who are beguiled by these false gospels can hear the truth and be set free. It is, after all, not too late for anyone who is in error to repent and join us as the last days church whose mission is to magnify Christ for all the world to see. Remember, the Great Commission is in effect until the end of the age:
Matthew 28:18-20
“And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world [end of the age]. Amen.” (Author’s comment)
Conclusion
“Babylon – The Great Harlot – Rises” is an undertaking designed to ignite further conversation about the false ecumenical religious juggernaut we see growing in our midst. Clearly, this brief article is not intended to answer all the questions one has about this broad topic. Instead, this endeavor was set forth as an effort to identify the major players in the end-times false religious system, aka “The Great Harlot,” that ascends to the very pinnacle of control only to be slaughtered by the ten kings who grew to hate her (Rev 17:12-13, 16-17).
While considering this fascinating topic, let us ask ourselves these questions: Will we be a church that attempts to build a kingdom that God never instructed us to build? Or will we be a New Testament church that simply studies God’s Word so that we can effectively follow His will until He calls us home? Lastly, do we have the boldness to speak the truth in love to save those that we care about from the flames wrought from following deception?
Special Note:
The following is a testimony of what deception ultimately leads to…
Revelation 20:7-15
Satan Cast into the Lake of Fire
“And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison, And shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle: the number of whom is as the sand of the sea. And they went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city: and fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them. And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.”
The Final Judgment
And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.”9 (Author’s emphasis)
Website: In His Commission
[1] For Greater understanding, see the article, “The Great Awakening – The Grand Deception.”
[2] For greater understanding, see the article, “Back to Babylon.”
[3] For more information, see the article on Revelation Chapter 17, and many others, at the Walvoord Website, “https://walvoord.com/article/275.”
[4] Free to read online, Foxes Book of Martyrs, “https://www.ccel.org/f/foxe/martyrs/home.html”
[5] For greater understanding, see the article, “Pope Francis, Tony Palmer, an iPhone & the Holy Spirit”
[6] For greater understanding, see the article, “Pope Leo XIV urges unity and peace at interfaith gathering in Lebanon.”
[7] For greater understanding, see “Answering Islam – The Mahdi: Islam’s Awaited Messiah.”
[8] For greater understanding, see “Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse” a webpage dedicated to explaining the rides of the Four Horsemen that accompany the opening of the first four seals of the Seal Judgments of Revelation, chapters 6-8.
[9] Direct quote from Bible Hub, “Revelation 20:7-15”