The Death of Protestantism:
The "Death Knell" of Freedom of Religion?
By Hope of Israel Ministries Staff
Part 3
In the Middle Ages, millions died -- were martyred -- gave their lives for religious freedom, liberty, and the right to worship YEHOVAH God according to their conscience, and the Word of YEHOVAH God! The Bible, which had long been suppressed in Catholic lands, and kept from the hands of the laity, was translated into the common tongue, and men everywhere began reading it, and it opened their eyes to see the evils of Popery and Catholicism. But before religious freedom could be achieved, bloody wars were fought in Ireland, England, and across the European continent, as the Catholic Church struggled to maintain her dominion over the entire western world.
The Coming Great Holocaust
This great martyrdom of the Middle Ages, however, was merely a forerunner -- a type -- of what Bible prophecy says is going to occur once again during these LAST DAYS! Our generation will not be exempt! We read in the book of Revelation:
"And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were SLAIN FOR THE WORD OF GOD, and for the testimony which they held: And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth? And white robes were given unto every one of them; and it was said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little season,
UNTIL THEIR FELLOWSERVANTS also and their BRETHREN, THAT SHOULD BE KILLED AS THEY WERE, should be fulfilled" (Rev. 6:9-11).
Yeshua the Messiah himself declared, of these last, fateful, days pregnant with labor and strife: "They shall put you out of the synagogues [churches, meeting places]: yea, and the time cometh, that whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service" (John 16:2).
The ecumenical movement will end in disaster. It will end up in the greatest Holocaust, and Persecution, and Inquisition, and Tribulation, that this old world has ever witnessed in all of human history!
The "woman" and her "daughters" -- the Great False Church that John saw in vision -- represents the reunion of apostate Rome with her "Protestant" daughters, all coming together in one final evangelical "Mission" for the Third Millennium to stamp out true religion from the face of this earth!
It will be "The Final CRUSADE"!
Mystery, Babylon the Great
Blood will flow like rivers around the world. John sees this woman, dressed in purple, and scarlet, and decked with precious stones and gold and pearls, with a cup in her hand full of "abominations and filthiness of her fornication." John says:
"And upon her forehead was a name written, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH.
"And I saw the woman DRUNKEN WITH THE BLOOD OF THE SAINTS, and with the BLOOD OF THE MARTYRS OF JESUS" (Rev.17:4-6).
This wicked "Jezebel" Church masquerades as the "bride of Christ" (compare Rev. 19:7-9) which is the true Church of YEHOVAH God, and which will "marry" the Messiah when he returns in power and glory to set up the Kingdom of YEHOVAH God on this earth. But this false church, this abominable WHORE, this spiritual Prostitute which commits lewdness with the nations of THIS world, this abominable Worldwide Church of Satan the Devil, will persecute and cause to be killed those who belong to YEHOVAH's true people -- all dissidents, and "heretics," and those who refuse to come into her fold and under her teaching and control!
This great Church-State, which involves itself with politics, is the fount of all evil. Those who join up with it, are perpetrating the greatest deception of all time. They are committing a FRAUD. For evangelical Christians to join up with the Papacy is the greatest sell-out and surrender of principle of all time.
The entire farce reminds me of the story of the three monkeys who sit together, one with his ears covered ("hear no evil"), one with his eyes covered ("see no evil"), and one with his mouth covered ("speak no evil"). The churches within the framework of the New World Religion will tolerate each other, not seek converts from each other's flocks, and dwell together at least superficially in outward harmony. But how long will the joy ride last? How long before bitter divisions begin to crop up?
Biblical prophecy indicates this union of churches and state, with the Catholic Pontiff in control of the religious aspect of the structure, will last exactly three and one half years, in full and unmitigated force. John records in vision: "And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and BLASPHEMIES; and POWER was given unto him to continue FORTY AND TWO MONTHS . . . . And it wasgiven unto him to MAKE WAR WITH THE SAINTS, and to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations" (Rev. 13:5-7).
Together with this great world ruler to come shortly, who will kill the saints that he is able to apprehend, will be a great Pope, or False Prophet. Both of these individuals are referred to as "beasts" (Rev.13:1-4, 11). The second beast, or Pope, will be one who does what appears to be "miracles." We read, "And he doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men, and deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by means of those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast; saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast. 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" (Rev. 13:13-16).
This new World Empire, patterned after Nimrod's Babylon and Tower of Babel, and after the
Roman Empire of antiquity, will not last very long. The Scriptures tell us it will last for only 3 1/2 years, or 42 months, or 1260 days, before it is destroyed by the Messiah at his real Second Coming!
John records in the book of Revelation: "Come hither; I will shew unto thee the judgment of the GREAT WHORE that sitteth upon many waters: With whom the KINGS of the earth have committed fornication [adultery, spiritually]. So he carried me away in the spirit into the wilderness: and I saw a WOMAN sit upon a scarlet [blood] colored BEAST, full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns. And the woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet colour, and decked with gold and precious stones and pearls, having a golden cup in her hand full of ABOMINATIONS and filthiness of her fornication: And upon her forehead was a name written, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH. And I saw the woman DRUNKEN WITH THE BLOOD OF THE SAINTS, and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus" (Rev. 17:1-6).
Notice that in the time of the end, during the final closing days before the coming of the Messiah, this awesome Church-State regime will once again dominate the earth. This end-time world government will be in cooperation with and will be "ridden" by the Papacy of Rome -- the Vatican!
Do you think it is impossible that in our modern age, the Papacy will once again grow to incredible power, and once again begin persecuting true Christians and YEHOVAH's people? Do you think this is impossible -- preposterous?
Again, in the book of Revelation, YEHOVAH God tells us that soon, now, the devil will once again be cast down from heaven to the earth, with his rebellious angels. YEHOVAH says: "Therefore rejoice, ye heavens, and ye that dwell in them. Woe to the inhabitants of the earth and of the sea! for the devil is come down unto you, having GREAT WRATH, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time. And when the dragon [devil, see verse 9] saw that he was cast down unto the earth, he PERSECUTED THE WOMAN which brought forth the man child [that is, the Church -- the "Israel of God" -- Galatians 6:16]. . . . And the dragon was WROTH with the woman, and went to MAKE WAR WITH THE REMNANT OF HER SEED, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ" (Rev.12:12-17).
The horrors of persecution and religious bigotry and cruelty lie ahead! Make no mistake about it! An indication of what lies ahead is hinted at in a recent newspaper article that appeared in the Washington Post.
"New 'Theology: Thou Shalt Kill"
According to the article, "David C. Trosch, a Roman Catholic priest in Mobile, Alabama, teaches that YEHOVAH God smiles on those who take a life to save the lives of the 'unborn.'" Last year Trosch tried to place advertisements in newspapers saying that "murdering doctors who perform abortions is 'justifiable homicide.'"
"Justifiable homicide"? When and where did Yeshua the Messiah ever give his servants authority to murder or kill, or to commit "justifiable homicide"? There is no such thing! But religious bigots have always insisted on their right to murder and to kill "heretics," and those who disagree with them on religious issues. This priest and Paul Hill, who was arrested for killing a clinic doctor and his escort in Pensacola, Florida, are among 35 people who signed a declaration stating that it is all right to use "lethal force to defend 'the lives of unborn children.'"
Declared the Washington Post, in a telephone interview Trosch said it is necessary to defend every fetus from the moment of conception, "By any means necessary." He insists that his beliefs are consistent with Catholic teaching. In June he delivered a document to the Vatican asking Pope John Paul II to weigh in on the 'justifiable homicide' theory. He has received no response -- either pro or con. But why is the Pope silent? Why doesn't he speak out on this heinous misinterpretation of Scripture? By his deafening silence, by not condeming this horribe attitude of murder, the Pope actually sanctions and condones and lends moral support to such conduct! Even as the Pope refused to condemn or speak out against Hitler and Nazism, during World War II, so the modern Pople, John Paul II, refuses to speak out today and vigorously condemn those fanatics who would butcher those who disagree with them! Is this not an omen -- a harbinger of the future?
Although Trosch was "suspended" by the local archbishop, he "has not been excommunicated and has appeared in television interviews in clerical garb. In June, a week before the Pensacola shooting, Trosch sent a letter to about 1,000 people predicting that in time 'we will see the beginning of MASSIVE KILLING of abortionists and their staffs.'"
Says this violent firebrand, in his defense: "'I'm not involved in any sort of conspiracy or anything.' Trosch said: 'I don't think it's going to require a conspiracy'" (Denver Post, August 7, 1994, from the Washington Post).
With this kind of attitude already beginning to crop up, can we not see how easy it will be for the devil to subvert these people, and use them to do his will -- thinking they do YEHOVAH God service by murdering their neighbors? The stage is already set. The murderous attitudes are already buiding up. The legions of hatred are on the march, and gathering momentum. The dark, growling and sinister storm clouds are gathering, and roiling, and growing darker.
As John foresaw in vision, the coming Worldwide Church will be "drunken with the blood of the saints, and with the book of the martyrs of Jesus" (Rev.17:6).
The Fate of the Catholic Superpower
This end-time Church-State system will even fight against the Messiah when he comes. "And the beast that was, and is not, even he is the eighth, and is of the seven, and goeth into perdition. And the ten horns which thou sawest are TEN KINGS, which have received no kingdom as yet; but receive power as kings one hour with the beast. These have one mind, and shall give their power and strength unto the beast. These shall make WAR with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them, for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings, and they that are with him are called, and chosen, and faithful" (Rev.17:11-14).
The end of the present move toward Church unity, between Protestants, Evangelicals, and Catholics, resulting in a resurgence of ancient Catholic political and religious powerbacked up by the military power of the state -- will be utter disaster. When the Messiah defeats the "TEN HORNS," or nations comprising the military bulwark of the Beast, they will come to see what fools they have been, and will turn on the Roman Catholic Church with a vengeance. YEHOVAH God says:
"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 shall HATE the WHORE, and shall make her desolate and naked, and shall EAT her flesh, and BURN her with fire. For God hath put in their hearts to fulfill his will, and to agree, and to give their kingdom unto the beast, until the words of God shall be fulfilled. And the WOMAN which thou sawest is that great city, which reigneth over the kings of the earth" (Rev.17:16-18).
What is the great city which reigned over the earth during John's day? Why, ancient ROME, of course! What city ruled the world during the Middle Ages, raising up kings, excommunicating kings, commanding the obedience of kings? The Papacy at Rome, the Vatican!
But YEHOVAH God says the nations of the Beast itself will turn on the woman, and destroy her, and devour her assets, and burn her churches and cathedrals with fire. An angel will then descend from heaven, and proclaim:
"Babylon the great IS FALLEN, IS FALLEN, and is become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird. For all nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, and the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her" (Rev.18:2).
Why does the Scripture say Babylon is fallen TWICE? This is present tense -- not past tense. It is not referring to the original Babylon, and its fall 539 B.C., or the Fall of the Roman Empire in 476 A.D., or any of the falls of the "Holy Roman Empire" during the Middle Ages. Rather, this expression is repeated, TWICE, because it describes BOTH BEASTS OF REVELATION 13 -- the physical/military/political Beast of Babylon, and the spiritual/religious/church Beast of spiritual Babylon! Both "houses of Babylon" will fall, and collapse, and be destroyed!
Therefore, what does Almighty God say to HIS people, concerning this future world Empire and
"New World Order"? Is it all right to join the mass movement back into union with the fold of
Babylon? Is it wise to join the mad stampede into the outstretched arms of the Roman Catholic Church? Is it spiritually intelligent to "join up," and join the ranks of all those Protestants and Evangelicals who are re-uniting with the Papacy?
The apostle John says:
"And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, COME OUT OF HER, MY PEOPLE, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues. For her sins have reached unto heaven, and God hath remembered her iniquities. Reward her even as she rewarded you, and double unto her double according to her works: in the cup which she hath filled fill to her double.
"How much she hath glorified herself, and lived deliciously, so much torment and sorrow give her: for she saith in her heart, I sit a QUEEN, AND AM NO WIDOW, and shall see no sorrow.
"Therefore shall her plagues come in ONE DAY, death, and mourning, and famine; and she shall be UTTERLY BURNED WITH FIRE: for strong is the Lord God who judgeth her" (Rev.18:4-8).
YEHOVAH God commands His true people, who worship Him, and have the testimony of Yeshua the Messiah, to have NOTHING WHATSOEVER to do with this apostate Church-State system which is now emerging from the cocoon -- which is now incubating, and beginning to hatch, and come to life. He thunders, in the epistle of Paul to the Corinthians:
"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 hath he that
believeth with an infidel? AND WHAT AGREEMENT HATH THE TEMPLE OF GOD
WITH IDOLS? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them: and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.
"WHEREFORE COME OUT FROM AMONG THEM, AND BE YE SEPARATE, saith
the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, and will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty" (II Cor.6:1418).
Are you going to be caught up in the incredible end-time return to "Babylon"? Are you and your church beating a path back to the traditions and teachings of Protestantism and Catholicism, which themselves are reuniting?
It's time to open our eyes, and watch out -- to watch and pray, and study the Scriptures as never before -- praying to be accounted worthy to ESCAPE all the horrors that Yeshua the Messiah said are coming upon the world. For the Messiah himself said, in final warning:
"And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares. For as a SNARE shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth. WATCH YE THEREFORE, and PRAY ALWAYS, that ye may be accounted worthy to ESCAPE all these things that shall come to pass, and to STAND before the Son of man" (Luke 21:3436).
Amen! May YEHOVAH God help each one of us to take these words seriously, to heart!
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