The Baptist Pillar © Brandon Bible Baptist Church 1992-Present www.baptistpillar.com
"...The church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth."
I Timothy 3:15
The Coming World Church
Art Sadlier
From Sound the Trumpet!, January 2014
During the first three and a half years of the tribulation period there will be two great powers controlling the world and its people. There will be a political power and a religious power.
The Political Power will be the Revived Roman Empire, we read about it in Revelation 13, Revelation 17:12-16 and Daniel 2:41-43; 7:24. This Revived Roman Empire will come together suddenly and take the world by surprise. It will not appear until after the rapture and until the after peace treaty is signed. It will terminate when it is swallowed up in the World Wide Kingdom of Antichrist at the mid-tribulation point. We read about this event in Revelation 17:17, "For God hath put in their hearts to fulfil his will, and to agree, and give their kingdom unto the beast, until the words of God shall be fulfilled."
The Religious Power will be a world-wide church. That is our topic in this newsletter.
Religion will be the foundation of the New World order. This New World Religion will identify with Christ but it will be a denial of the real Christ. During the first 3½ years this monstrosity of a church will work in cooperation with the Revived Roman Empire and the Antichrist.
We read in Revelation 17:1, "And there came one of the seven angels which had the seven vials, and talked with me, saying unto me, Come hither; I will shew unto thee the judgment of the great whore that sitteth upon many waters."
Before this counterfeit church gets underway God wants us to know that it under His judgment. As we see in our world today the infrastructure of this coming world church forming before our very eyes, we need to know that it is under God's judgment and is doomed.
The message of God concerning this counterfeit church comes echoing down to us, "...Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues." (Revelation 18:4)
God hates apostate, counterfeit Christianity, if you are a part of it you need to run from it. Remember that this counterfeit is so like the real thing that at times, it is not easy to discern the difference.
Notice this church is called the "great whore” in verse one and “the harlot" in verse five. A harlot is wife who is unfaithful to her husband. A harlot church is one who is unfaithful to Christ, naming the name of Christ and yet uniting with the world. "And he saith unto me, the waters which thou sawest, where the whore sitteth, are peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues." (Revelation 17:15)
Notice where the whore sitteth, "upon many waters," the waters represents the people of the whole earth. This harlot, who professes to be the Church of Christ, will unite with the whole world. This church will be the greatly enlarged Church of Rome.
We are not left to wonder about the identity of this church, it is given to us in verse 9, "And here is the mind which hath wisdom. The seven heads are seven mountains, on which the woman sitteth." The Roman Catholic Church clearly describes itself as, "sitting on the seven-hills of Rome." Rome is the only city in the world that is situated on seven hills and which is the center of a great religion.
Someday, perhaps soon, there will come about a union of all of Christianity, after the body of Christ is caught up out of the world. There will be a union that will virtually draw the people of the whole world into it.
Preparation for this is now underway. We read in verse 2, "With whom the kings of the earth have committed fornication, and the inhabitants of the earth have been made drunk with the wine of her fornication."
There are two groups involved in this union. First we have "the kings of the earth" or governments and nations. "With whom the kings of the earth have committed fornication." The nations have nothing in common with Christianity, it is an unnatural relationship, and it is spiritual adultery.
The Roman Catholic Church has been involved for centuries in such a relationship with the kings and nations of the earth and it is spiritual adultery.
Today the world's leaders go to the Vatican and bow before the pope and kiss his ring which is symbol of his authority. Religious leaders do the same. Many evangelical leaders have been caught on video doing that very thing. For centuries the pope was entitled, “The sovereign Pontiff, Ruler of Papal States, Regent of all Princes and powers on earth.”
In 1870 the European powers dissolved the pope's temporal powers, except in the Vatican. Ever since the church has sought to regain power over governments and nations. We see that power regained in the first half of the tribulation, as recorded here in Revelation 17.
Secondly we see another group involved in this coming union. They are referred to in verse two, "and the inhabitants of the earth." This seems to clearly indicate that the people of the whole earth are involved in this counterfeit church.
We have a reference as to how the peoples of the earth are drawn into this harlot church. "...and the inhabitants of the earth have been made drunk (intoxicated) with the wine of her fornication." There are going to be some things involved in this church that will mesmerize, stupefy and intoxicate the peoples of the whole world. The leader of this harlot church, who could possibly be the present pope, as the false prophet, will come up with a new program, a new agenda that will deceive the peoples of the whole earth.
There will be enthusiasm, euphoria and excitement as the peoples of the world will be intoxicated with this new agenda and the things involved in it. These things are referred to as "fornication". These things, this new agenda, will seem good to men but are an abomination in God's sight, "Drunk with the wine of her fornication." (v. 2)
We will consider this coming agenda in a few moments. But first let us give scriptural backing to some of things we have stated. Consider verse 3, "So he carried me away in the spirit into the wilderness: and I saw a woman sit upon a scarlet coloured beast, full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns."
As we stated, we see here the two entities involved, a woman and a beast. The beast has ten horns which clearly represents the Revived Roman Empire. The woman is identified with seven heads. Verse 9, clearly identifies the woman as the Roman Catholic Church. "...The seven heads are seven mountains, on which the woman sitteth." We have already established that seven hills represent Rome.
Here is a key as to what takes place in the establishment of the New World Order and what takes place in the first half of the tribulation period. That key is the found in the phrase in verse three, "...I saw a woman sit upon a scarlet coloured beast." Remember the rider is in control of the horse or the beast, so as the New World order comes into being the woman is in control bringing it about.
Understand that today the bankers, the multinational corporations, the multi-billionaires and a small elite group are actually controlling the world now.
They control:
A. The world's money and assets. An immensely powerful international organization that most people have never even heard of secretly controls the money supply of the entire globe. It is called the Bank for International Settlements, and it is the central bank of central banks. It is located in Basel, Switzerland, but it also has branches in Hong Kong and Mexico City. It is essentially an unelected, unaccountable central bank of the world that has complete immunity from taxation and from national laws.
The Bank for International Settlements was used to launder money for the Nazis during World War II, but these days the main purpose of the BIS is to guide and direct the centrally-planned global financial system. Today, 58 global central banks belong to the BIS, and it has far more power over how the U.S. economy (or any other economy for that matter) will perform over the course of the next year than any politician does.
Every two months, the central bankers of the world gather in Basel for another “Global Economy Meeting”. During those meetings, decisions are made which affect every man, woman and child on the planet, and yet none of us have any say in what goes on. The Bank for International Settlements is an organization that was founded by the global elite and it operates for the benefit of the global elite, and it is intended to be one of the key cornerstones of the emerging one world economic system.
B. The media. Six men actually control 90% of the world's media. Public opinion and the agenda of governments is slowly but effectively manipulated. Some issues are promoted while others are ignored and hidden from view.
C. The political leaders. They are actually pawns in the hands of the controllers who select them and groom them and fund them with huge contributions. Their re-election is dependent on the huge donations from the controllers. The men for the major offices are carefully selected and prepared and promoted.
D. The ideological agenda. The whole world is being brainwashed. We have watched in amazement and despair as our whole culture has been literally destroyed. Through the vehicles of entertainment, education, the arts and music and social activism our culture has been turned upside down. All of the values of our culture have been totally reversed in the last 70 years. The constant theme of the controllers is to tear down in preparation for replacement by the New World order.
E. The use of military force. The controllers call in the favours done for the politicians who need funding for re-election. War is an effective way of bringing about the change that the controllers desire.
These controllers are positioned to take over and establish World Government. However there is a missing link. That missing link is the minds and hearts and souls of the people of the earth. These would be world rulers know very well that the world's seven billion people can rise up and overthrow governments that seek to oppress them.
The power of the people must be harnessed before there can be a world government. The people must buy into it. Someone has to capture the minds and hearts and souls of the people of the earth. That is where the world church comes into the picture.
We see that accomplished in verse 1, we read, "...The great whore that sitteth upon many waters." That speaks of the church controlling the world. Remember, "The great whore" is the Harlot church and "The many waters" are the people of the earth.
It is the church that gathers the people of the world into her fold to control and lead them. During the first 3½ years of the tribulation period it is the church that controls both the world's people and the world government.
At the midpoint of the tribulation we see the political powers destroying the church and taking control. "And he saith unto me, the waters which thou sawest, where the whore sitteth, are peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues. And the ten horns which thou sawest upon the beast, these shall hate the whore, and shall make her desolate and naked, and shall eat her flesh, and burn her with fire." (verses 15-16)
As we have indicated, it will be the harlot church that will capture the minds and souls of the masses and bring them into the church and cause them to buy into the New World order.
Today the world is largely turned off on Christianity. The mainline church is dying for lack of interest. The Roman Catholic Church has been, until very recently, losing attendance at the mass. The Evangelical Church has also lost influence in the world.
In 1958 Pope John XXIII was elected and he proceeded to introduce liberalism into the church for the first time. This started vibrations that succeeding popes have been unable to suppress. Among the laity, bishops, priests and nuns there has been a growing dissatisfaction that is calling for change. Pope Francis is being acclaimed as a “pope for the times". He is proving to be a man with a heart and a mindset to bring about great change in the church. He has already begun to move in that direction.
We know that somehow the world and the church will come together. I believe that there are five factors which have the potential to bring the world and the church together. I believe these five things could be, "The wine of her fornication," the thing that intoxicates the world.
1. THE HOMOSEXUAL AGENDA
It is unbelievable how the world has united around this issue. It has swept like a tidal wave over society all around the world. I suggest that the world has never seen anything like it. If the pattern holds true the holdouts will be caught up as well. It is an unprecedented powerful unifying force in the world. Those who oppose this agenda are quickly marginalized creating a sense of fear and intimidation.
The pope has already begun to move in this direction. He has stated, “Who am I to condemn homosexuals.”
Rick Warren has stated, “He is not sure that it is a sin.”
It is not hard to see the world being swept into a church that accepts homosexuality. This has become a potential unifying force in the world. Why would it not fit into Satan's agenda?
2. SOCIALISM
The world has been moving for some time in this direction. Sharing the wealth around the world would be pretty popular in the third world. Social justice is the code word. Socialism and communism has always had the power to deceive men and women and draw them in.
The pope has been pushing a new socialist world order. Recently the pope released a 30,000 word paper on economics. Rush Limbaugh said that it is pure communism. The world is being led to believe that all their needs will be met by a new socialist world government.
We read in Revelation 13:16-17, "And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads. And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name." We see all commerce under government control. It reveals a world that is based on socialism. I believe the world will unite around such a program and I believe it is the church that leads in its establishment.
History indicates that not only does socialism deceive but it enslaves and crushes those under it. That is the scenario that we read about concerning the coming kingdom of Antichrist.
We are watching helplessly as global terrorism is being used to facilitate the quickening of moves to create a global dictatorship, which is an integral part of socialism. In the last decade, almost without notice, our freedoms have been swept away.
3. WOMEN’S RIGHTS
For some years now the world has been obsessed with a woman's right to abortion. We have seen this crusade result in the murder of over one billion babies worldwide, murdered in their mother's wombs. The theme is women's rights regardless of the situation and regardless of the cost to others.
There is a crusade, within the church, to exalt women to roles of leadership which the Bible does not allow. Women's rights have become a crusade which has the potential to unite the world and the church. Allowing women priests and bishops would be a catalyst to this end. This is another phenomenon sweeping the world and it is unique to our day.
4. THE NEW SPIRITUALITY
The New Spirituality is actually the old Eastern Mysticism and the New Age agenda all rolled into one and promoted as the long lost essence of genuine Christianity. It is amazing how it is captivating the world and the church. The Evangelical Church and the Catholic Church are literally being swept into this new agenda. The pope is devoted to this Mystical Meditation. Secular society is also being captivated by this New Age Spirituality through Yoga and the god within - delusion.
The basic element of this supposedly old authentic Christianity is to silence or blank the mind and allow God to speak to the soul. The frightening thing is that Contemplative Meditation (or whatever name it is given) is an invitation to associate with demons. God speaks to us though His Word and in response to our obedience to it. To blank the mind is to open it up to demons who deceive and seek to control.
It is not hard to envision the spirit world communicating a unifying message to all mankind through the medium of mystical meditation. This could translate into a new unheard of unity for the human race. The spirit world could give the same message to all men everywhere. This is another area where the world and the church are coalescing.
5. CONTEMPORARY MUSIC
The entire world today is obsessed with rock music. It is in their ears all day long. It moves people to crowd into auditoriums, concert halls, churches and stadiums. It has a mesmerizing effect on young and old alike. It attracts people and holds them spellbound. It is one of the most powerful influences in society today.
In one Ontario City there are eight Evangelical churches using contemporary music; they are averaging around 1,000 people in their services. In the same city there are four Fundamental churches that do not use contemporary music; they are averaging 50 people in their services.
The world has never seen such a phenomenon. The world is already uniting around contemporary music and it could be a uniting force in the explosive growth of the coming harlot church.
These five factors are a powerful force in our world today. They have a profound influence on all of Christendom and society at large. They have the potential to bring the whole world together. They also appear to be the "Wine of her fornication" mentioned in verse 2. They appear to be that which will intoxicate and deceive the world's peoples to buy into the harlot church.
Scripture reveals that when the Bride of Christ is raptured all of Christendom remaining in the world will come together. The doors of the harlot church will be opened wide and the whole world will walk in. Pope Francis has recently said, “Within the unity we need there is room for each group to hold on to their distinctives.” That is the beginning of the opening of the doors of the church.
Our world is coming together as never since the tower of Babel. The internet, TV, Global News, business, Multi-national Corporations, trade and commerce, music, entertainment, and sports all contribute to a coming one world order. We are the first truly global generation. We see expanding international co-operation, trade and a UN that is gaining more and more control over nations and people.
There is another situation preventing the world's coming together, a situation preventing the New World Order and preventing the harlot church from appearing on the scene. We read about that situation in II Thessalonians 2:6, "And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time." Something is holding back the appearance of Antichrist and his agenda.
We are told what that withholding or restraining power is in verse 7, "For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way." It is the Holy Spirit that is presently restraining sin and iniquity and restraining the appearance of Antichrist and the unprecedented flood of evil that will come with him. When the church is raptured this restraining ministry will be withdrawn and the Antichrist will then appear, the New World order can unfold and the harlot church will capture the world.
The stage continues to be set for the final drama of the present age. And the hour when the whole world will walk into the harlot church. The hour is late for the men and women of this world, the Day of the Lord judgment is at hand. If you are not saved you stand in danger of plunging into the eternal fires of hell! Come to Christ right now in repentance and faith and enter into all of the blessing of God to be poured out on His people.
"He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him." (John 3: 36)