TWO Churches--- One false, One True
One, the great and powerful and universal church, a part of the world, actually ruling in its politics over many nations, and united with the "Holy Roman Empire," brought to a concrete focus in Rev 17.
The Church is pictured with great pomp, ritual and display, decked in purple, scarlet and gold--- proud, worldly, boastful. She is pictured as a universal DECEIVER--- the whole western world spiritually DRUNK perception so blurred by her paganized teachings and practices they are unable to clearly distinguish TRUTH! she boast she is the true Church, yet she is drunken with the blood of the saints she has caused to be martyred!
But how could she have deceived the whole world, as foretold in God's Word? Surely, the Protestant world isn't deceived!
Oh, But It Is! Notice, verse 5, she is a MOTHER church! Her daughters are the churches who have come out of her, even in protest, calling themselves Protestant--- but they are fundamentally of her family in pagan doctrines and practices! They, too, make up themselves a part of the world, taking active part in its politics--- the very act which made a "whore" out of their MOTHER!
The entire apostate family--- Mother, and more than 500 daughter denominations, all divided against each other and in CONFUSION of doctrines, yet all united in the chief pagan doctrines and festivals--- has a family NAME ! They call themselves "Christian," but God calls them something else! ---"MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT!"
TRUE Church Small -- Scattered
NO! The gates of hell have never prevailed against the true Church of God, and never will! The true Church has never fallen! It has never ceased!
But the true Church of God, is pictured in prophecy as the "Little Flock!" The New Testament describes this Church as continually persecuted, despised by the large popular churches because it is not OF this world or its politics, but has kept itself unspotted from the world! It has always kept the Commandments of God and the Faith of Jesus. It has kept the festivals of God, not the pagan holidays. It has been empowered with the Spirit of God!
That Church never degenerated into the great popular church at Rome, as the protestant world supposes! That Church always has existed, and it exist today!
Then where did it go? Where was it during the middle ages?
First, remember this Church was never large, never politically powerful, or a world known ORGANIZATION OF MEN. It is a SPIRITUAL ORGANISM, not a political organization. It is composed of all whose hearts and lives have been CHANGED by the Spirit of God, whether visibly together, or individually scattered.
Under the lash of continual persecution and opposition of the organized forces of this world, it is difficult for such a people to remain UNITED and ORGANIZED together.
Daniel prophesied the true people of God would be scattered (Dan 12:7). Ezekiel foretold it (34:5-12). Jeremiah, too, (23:1-2). Jesus foretold it (Mat 26:31). The apostolic church was soon scattered by persecution (Acts 8:1). James addresses his letters to Christians scattered abroad (Jam 1:1).
Ignored by Most Histories
You don't read much of this true Body of Christ in the secular histories of this world! No, the world little notes, not long remembers, the activities of this "LITTLE FLOCK," hated and despised by the world, driven to the wilderness by persecution, always opposed, usually scattered! But there are enough references to it in authentic histories to show that it has continued thru every century to now!
The prophecies bring this Church into concrete focus in the 12th chapter of Revelation. There she is shown spiritually, in the glory and splendor of the Spirit of God, but visibly in the world as a persecuted, Commandment keeping Church driven into the wilderness, for 1260 years, thru the middle ages!
Even in Paul's day, many among those attending at Antioch, at Jerusalem, at Ephesus, at Corinth, and other places, began to apologize and turn away from the truth. Divisions sprang up. Those individuals, unconverted or turned from God's Truth and Way Of Life, were no part of God's true church, though visibly assembling with those who were. The "mystery of iniquity" was already working, INSIDE these visible churches. This apostasy increased! By the year 125 A.D. the majority in most churches, especially those Gentile-born, were continuing in many of their old pagan beliefs and practices, though professing to be Christians! Gradually, a smaller and smaller portion of the VISIBLE churches going by the name "Christian" remained truly yielded to God and His Truth, and led of His Spirit. After Constantine took virtual control of the visible, professing Church in the early fourth century, this visible organization became almost wholly pagan, and began excommunicating and persecuting all who held to the WORD OF GOD! Finally, it became necessary for real Christians who, even as a scattered people, alone composed the TRUE Christian Church, to worship God! Thus, the visible, organized Church which rose to power was the FALSE Church--- the "Great Whore" of Revelation 17.
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