Chapter 1158 of 1163

Revelation 17

Each person must identify with either the harlot or the bride (21:9); there can be no compromise. The woman represents the ultimate in godless world religion. She is joined with government (carried by the Beast) and corrupts everything she touches. The bride is the true church of Jesus Christ, cleansed by His blood and destined for glory.

Participating in false religion is like committing adultery: you are unfaithful to the one to whom you pledged your love (Isa. 57:3; Jer. 3:8–9; Hos. 2:4). The harlot was popular for a time, but then her “lovers” turned on her and destroyed her. The Antichrist will use a world church to get himself into power and then establish his own religion (13:11–15).

Though Christians must be good citizens and seek to influence government for the Lord, the church must not marry political systems. The systems will only use the church to promote their own plans and then abandon it. Christ’s kingdom is not of this world (John 18:33–38), and the enemy is spiritual (Eph. 6:10ff.). We must use spiritual weapons (2 Cor. 10:3–6) to fight spiritual enemies.

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