"The Earth Belongs to HaShem and the Fullness Thereof."

By Ben Ruach ha Kodesh (John of AllFaith) © 3.15.08

Babylon the Great, Mother of Harlots
(image from the works of Dr. Charles Larkin)

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 show unto thee the judgment of the great whore that sitteth upon many waters:
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.
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.
4 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:
5 And upon her forehead was a name written, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH.
6 And I saw the woman drunken with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus: and when I saw her, I wondered with great admiration.

Who is this mystery woman who wields such awesome power over the human race? The prophets are clear.

For the sake of clarity I will identity the woman at the outset rather than gradually build my case and identify her later: Babylon the Great will be the future of that religious body established by Emperor Constantine and the hierarchy his imperial orders spawned. In simple term this means the Roman Catholic Church, however things are seldom so simple.

The Roman Catholic Church that exists today is the result of 1600 years of ecumenical and political development. There is also an ongoing debate between Roman Catholicism and Eastern Orthodoxy about who holds the older position. Also, within both the Roman and Orthodox Christian communions are a great many sincere Christians who would never accept the things proposed by Babylon the Great. For this reason, as well as for basic accuracy, I want to make it very clear that while the structures that will become Babylon the Great have existed since the third century CE, Babylon the Great herself does not yet exist. It is inaccurate to refer to the papacy as the Great Harlot for instance. While many of the popes have been evil men (and women in drag), there have also been several devout and holy Popes. Babylon the Great does not today exist. I'll discuss this more below.

Having tentatively identified the whorish mother, the daughters would obviously be all those denominations and movements she spawned over the years. However, as above, as Babylon the Great, in this prophetic sense does not yet exist, neither do her daughters.

As we continue our study on this topic it will be clear that we are looking at a very long and gradual development. It can be argued, and many do, that Babylon the Great, in the form of the Roman Papacy, has existed since the end of the First Church Age (church of Ephesus), its really a matter of semantics I think. The prophecy of Great Babylon occurs at a key time in the prophecy of John and I'm mainly focusing on John's presentation here.

Biblical prophecies are often written in a parenthetical style. This means that the story line is not always chronically exacting. To understand these prophecies it is therefore very helpful to have an overview of the prophetic landscape in mind. Of course one must begin somewhere. This chapter references 'seven angels which had the seven vials,' these are period markers to earlier events that don't directly bear on this section of John's prophecies.

The great whore (or porne) references the woman's spiritual fornications. In a biblical context such fornication occurs when one 'goes after other gods':

Exodus 34:14 For thou shalt worship no other god: for the LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God:
15 Lest thou make a covenant with the inhabitants of the land, and they go a whoring after their gods, and do sacrifice unto their gods, and one call thee, and thou eat of his sacrifice;

A whore sells her/his favors for money, power or fame. This woman has had illicit relations with the kings of the earth in order to curry their favors. She has taken the reformed Jewish teachings of Master Y'shua and blended them into something quite different. Several of the doctrines developed and codified by Catholic (Universal) Church are fundamentally different and at times at time in direct violation of the Torah, Tanach and teachings of Master Y'shua. I discuss many of these elsewhere on this site. For now I will simply say that in order to gain acceptance from the widest possible audience for Constantine's new religion deals were cut with many of the Pagan religions of Rome and the resulting new doctrines were codified at Nicea and elsewhere and made mandatory. Failure to embrace these new doctrines led to the death of millions of sincere people, both Jews, Pagans, and the followers of Master Y'shua who held firm to the faith. The Papacy 'played the harlot' with the Pagan world and developed not only Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox dogma, but the essential beliefs of the Anglicans, Protestants and much of Christian heterodoxy.

No other institution in history has so successfully and effectively managed to create and maintain a global organization based on the establishment of piece-meal doctrine as has the Roman Papacy.

We can learn a lot about Babylon the Great from this description!

MYSTERY: She speaks of great mysteries and bases her claims to authority on her possession of these mysteries.

According to Catholicism, the Bible alone is insufficient to discover the truth. Church teaching and Papal authority are required to properly understand the Bible and God's will. In those areas where Church doctrine contradicts the Bible, Church tradition always takes precedence. The essential doctrines of the Church are often directly referred to as mysteries and come from Pagan sources. These include:

The Trinity: a very unbiblical and un-Jewish doctrine that compromises the absolute oneness of HaShem as repeatedly declared in scripture but one that is common throughout the Pagan religious world.
The Immaculate Conception (of Mary AND her mother): This teaching has absolutely no biblical basis but is a required dogmas.
The virgin birth of Jesus: I discuss this popular dogma elsewhere. Augustine developed his doctrine of original sin, which was applied to give the Church absolute authority over the people of the planet but it posed a serious difficulty. If everyone is conceived in sin, how did Jesus escape? The answer, sin passes through the father and Jesus had no father. This led to another difficult question, as his mother Mary would have been born into sin and hence at least potentially contaminating her child. The answer: The Immaculate Conception of Mary as well! But just to be safe, Mary's mother was also immaculately conceived!
The transubstantiation of the bread and wine into the flesh and blood of Jesus literally: According to the New Testament Master Y'shua frequently spoke in parables. Their is no biblical reason to take this one literally, however... Pagan groups often ritually consume their gods and goddesses, especially around the time of Eostar (about the same time as the Jewish Passover) and including this rite appealed to many Pagans.
The celebration of the Pagan holidays like:
Yule: The Christ Mass or Christmas. It is noteworthy here the ritual decorating of trees like the Tannenbaum (the sacred fir tree) is specifically condemned in the Torah:
Jeremiah 10:1-5 "Hear ye the word which the LORD speaketh unto you, O house of Israel:
Thus saith the LORD, Learn not the way of the heathen, and be not dismayed at the signs of heaven; for the heathen are dismayed at them.
For the customs of the people are vain: for one cutteth a tree out of the forest, the work of the hands of the workman, with the axe.
They deck it with silver and with gold; they fasten it with nails and with hammers, that it move not.
They are upright as the palm tree, but speak not: they must needs be borne, because they cannot go. Be not afraid of them; for they cannot do evil, neither also is it in them to do good.
Eostar: Easter with its Pagan bunnies and eggs
Luperaclia: Valentine’s Day, a day for honoring Faunus, god of fertility.
Carnival (Marde Gras: "Fat Tuesday") and Ash Wednesday: The Christianized Saturnalia festival.
Beltane: May Day: The feast of St. Joseph the Worker.
Samhain: All Saints Day or All Hallos Eve or Hallowe'en.
Etc.

The clothing worn by Catholic priests are of Pagan origin as well, the exposed white collar signifies that the words they speak come from Sol Invictus, the Sun God, whom Constantine worshiped until the day he died (for more on this see my study on the IHS symbol.
Terminology: Master Y'shua specifically forbade calling any man "father" and yet the Church references its priests this way (Matt 23:9).
Shabbat: Perhaps nowhere is the Roman Pagan usurpation of the religion of Master Y'shua more evident than in the desecration of the Sabbath. The Ten Commandments command the observance of the Sabbath, its proper observance is shown throughout the Bible, and yet the Roman Papacy forbade its observance and demanded that Christians worship on the day of Sol Invictus, Constantine's Sun God. A few Christian sects have returned to Sabbath observance (at least to the degree of holding their main weekly services on the Sabbath), this includes the Seventh Day Adventist and Seventh Day Baptists, but the vast majority of Christians continue to view the biblical Sabbath as a day for yard works, ball games and relaxation and the day of the Sun God as the day (or hour) of worship.

There are many good books and websites that fully illustrate the Pagan roots of much of Christianity and Christian doctrine so this small overview should suffice. Such Pagan elements are what is being referenced here when Babylon the Great is called the Mother of harlots. She has prostituted the God of Israel in exchange for political power and religious authority. Today the religion that claims to represent the teachings of the "Jewish Messiah" bears precious little similarity to Judaism, the religion of Master Y'shua's people. More on this below, but I want to repeat, this is NOT meant as a condemnation of all Christians (including Catholics) nor their beliefs, but merely to amplify what the prophet is referencing with this key terminology. When we turn our attention to the Seven Church ages this historic development of the "woman" will become more clear.

Babylon the Great: She is not old Babylon, the city in Iraq (as some teach) nor is she the ancient world (first of the global governments discussed by Daniel), the seat of King Nebuchadnezzar (as others maintain), nor yet the United States, American Christianity, nor false religion in general. This "woman" is the fullness of the Seven Churches referenced in Revelation 2 and 3 that arose in Rome.

The word "great" here is megas, a feminine word predicated on rank and the possession of authority, power and influence, derived from, by and for persons of eminent abilities, virtues and authority (harmonious with her own terms). Megas references the powerful things that are esteemed highly for their importance, stemming from some great moment, something of great weight, the importance of a thing highly esteemed for its excellence and glory: it is something deemed to be most excellent, splendid, glorious, something prepared on a grand scale, stately, above the rest. The word references the external form of the sensible appearance of things (or of persons) and thus implies moral and legislative authority to define appropriate limitations and to guide those not so qualified.

This is precisely the role the Church has usurped for itself since the days of Constantine and the Nicean Counsel. Babylon the Great will therefore be the end result of this egotistic Christian world view as described thusly by Master Y'shua for Prophet John and delineated with the Seven Church Ages (discussed later in this study):

Rev 3:15 I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot.
16 So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.
17 Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:
18 I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.
19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.

But as an institution she will not.

The Mother of Harlots: She gives birth to many daughters who follow in her whorish footsteps. Through the split between the Roman and Eastern Church, the leaving of the English (Anglican) communion, the Protestant Reformation and so on, Constantine's whorish Church has produced countless "daughters."

The Anglican and Protestant reformers sought to return the Church to its historic roots but by the time these priests rebelled against the Papacy the Pagan teachings and influences, the edited Catholic Bible, as well as Antisemitism and fears of "judaising", had become so thoroughly entrenched within Christian dogma and society that that they failed to accomplish their goal. This failure resulted in constant Protestant Church splits and the gradual development of competing sects and heterodoxies that largely emerged from Protestant sources. This confusion became so severe that people rightly scratch their head and wonder if there is any truth to be realized in Christianity at all!

There is.

And lastly,

Abominations of the Earth: The Mother harlot perverted that which was pure (the reformed Judaism of Master Y'shua and the reformed Noahide Nazarene movement of Apostle Paul and others) by mixing it with the impurities of the world. "Earth" here can reference both the physical planet and the human customs and societies that occur upon it. Arguably the darkest and most horrific period in human history thus far was the time during which the Christian Church ruled supreme. We call this period the Dark Ages. What is coming soon will much worse (Matt 24:21).

So, who is this woman? Only the Catholic Church, founded in Rome by the Roman Papacy and her denominational daughters fits this description.

The prophecy continues:

Rev. 17:7 And the angel said unto me, Wherefore didst thou marvel? I will tell thee the mystery of the woman, and of the beast that carrieth her, which hath the seven heads and ten horns.

Normally when studying the biblical prophecies the interpretation is available in the text itself or in related texts. One might reason that perhaps Babylon the Great could be this or that, but the understanding is contained within the text itself so we don't need to be too creative.

8 The beast that thou sawest was, and is not; and shall ascend out of the bottomless pit, and go into perdition: and they that dwell on the earth shall wonder, whose names were not written in the book of life from the foundation of the world, when they behold the beast that was, and is not, and yet is.

The Beast then is the Rex Mundi, Antichrist. Little Horn or Dijal. He was in that he lived as man of this earth, then he was not in that he will be assassinated, then we will be again when he rises from the dead, and the true Moshiach confines him to perdition upon his defeat where he will await the final battle, 1000 years hence. The Beast "shall ascend out of the bottomless pit" in that when he rises from the dead he will rise as the incarnation of Lucifer himself. This whore of Babylon will "ride" on the back of the Rex Mundi, the coming world ruler.

9 And here is the mind which hath wisdom. The seven heads are seven mountains, on which the woman sitteth.

Rome of course is world renowned as the City of Seven Hills (as the Wikipedia confirms). Rome of course is also the site of Vatican City, the world's oldest country and headquarters of the Roman Catholic Church which, like the Islamic Ummah, is both a religion and a recognized political body.

10 And there are seven kings: five are fallen, and one is, and the other is not yet come; and when he cometh, he must continue a short space.

This reference would require a bit more explanation that I want to give here, but briefly, as the EU consolidates its power it will do so through ten sub-unions or agreements among the countries of Europa. Shortly before or after the Rex Mundi is granted dictatorial powers over the EU three of these countries (not sub-unions) will rebel. The prophets do not tell us which of these countries will rebel. Their rebellion will be crushed however and "the other [ie the Rex Mundi] is not yet come; and when he cometh, he must continue a short space [ie for seven years]." This verse and others show us that the Rex Mundi will come to power from within the EU.

11 And the beast that was, and is not, even he is the eighth, and is of the seven, and goeth into perdition.
12 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.

The Rex Mundi will be a global emperor and will appoint ten kings.

This paragraph is conjecture based on my studies, but I believe it will prove to be accurate once these events come to pass: These appointed and Luciferian anointed kings will be Lebensborn and come from ten of the thirteen primary houses of the Elites. The thirteenth house is the Bavarian Illuminati. They will supply the False Prophet (who will lead the organization known in the prophecies as Babylon the great) and the other kings. The Illuminati's Lebensborn breeding experiments have readied the Merovingian bloodline to produce the Rex Mundi (and his generals/kings), who is almost certainly alive today and who may have been born in 1998 (in a bid to fulfill the prophecy of Isa 11:6 that a little child will them). Although this paragraph is based on my conjecture, it is carefully based on what I know to be true.

13 These have one mind, and shall give their power and strength unto the beast.

These kings will do the bidding of the Rex Mundi in all things. Opposition to the wishes of the coming emperor may be why three of the kings will fall.

14 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.

The word lamb here is arnion and means just that, a little lamb. Who is this lamb? Christians of course will see a clear reference to Jesus, "the lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world" and his Second Coming and I wont debate the matter here, other than to say that in context this lamb is the pinnacle of Jewish service to HaShem and does references the coming King of the Jews. Master Y'shua did not fulfill the Messianic prophecies because he did not establish the Kingdom of HaShem on earth. I discuss the possibility that the coming Jewish Moshiach could be Master Y'shua's "Second Coming" or the coming of another anointed man of HaShem . The identity of the Moshiach is not as important as the work he will accomplish whoever HaShem chooses for this role (compare my study on the Sheep and the Goats). In any case, this is a reference to Yisheyah (Isaiah) 53 where the Jewish people are referenced as the Servants of HaShem and as sacrificial lambs. I discuss this section of Isaiah in some detail Here. This lamb reference is to the coming of Moshiach (Messiah).

15 And he saith unto me, The waters which thou sawest, where the whore sitteth, are peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues.

Babylon the Great, the future Roman Catholic Papacy, is a global power overseeing many peoples.

16 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.

In an effort to restore some of the previous political and spiritual power of the Roman Church, the Church will "make a deal with the Devil" and proclaim the Rex Mundi to be the Second Coming of Jesus. Of this service we read:

Rev. 19:20 And the beast [Rex Mundi] was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image....

As long as this relationship benefits the Rex Mundi he will accept it, even allowing the Papacy to appear to "ride" on the back of the "Beast." As I describe elsewhere, the Rex Mundi will first appear to be a great humanitarian and world savior, but as the verses above indicate, the ruler will be assassinated and then rise from the dead. He will die an evil and hypocritical human being but he rise as the physical embodiment of Lucifer himself. Then will begin the Great Tribulation, the last three and a half years of human rule. When this publicly witnessed resurrection happens, the Rex Mundi, Lucifer, the true Bilderberg Master, will turn on the False Prophet and his Church and destroy it utterly.

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.

As we will see below the Christendom has passed though seven distinct phases. Of the seventh and present phase we are told that God will vomit the Church from His mouth in disgust for what it has become. This is how HaShem will accomplish this.

18 And the woman which thou sawest is that great city, which reigneth over the kings of the earth.
19 And I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against him that sat on the horse, and against his army.

This brings us to the arrival of the true Moshiach. Of the Moshiach Jesus tells us:

Rev 19:10 And I [John] fell at his feet to worship him. And he said unto me, See thou do it not: I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren that have the testimony of Jesus [the giver of the prophecy of Revelation to John]: worship God: for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.

Receive Master Y'shua's teachings, but worship only HaShem.

11 And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war.
12 His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself.

I don't know the name of the Moshiach but when he comes he will defeat the New World Order and establish God's Kingdom of Justice and Righteousness. That day is coming sooner than most people suspect, but first must come the Seven Year Tribulation, the False Prophet, the Whore of Babylon, the Rex Mundi and the various experiences foretold by the Prophets.

So here we see the future of the Church. Now we will consider how the Church came to be viewed as harlot deserving of this rough treatments.

The Seven Periods of the Church

In the book of Master Y'shua's prophecy to John he explains that the Church would pass through seven distinct periods of time before finally embracing the role of Babylon the Great and being rejected by God and man. These "churches" existed in the cities referenced, but the meaning is deeper, signifying the future of the Church. We are currently living in the seventh and final of these periods. What follows is a list of the Seven Churches of Revelation and their approximate dates. These dates are given only as markers because the distinguishing traits of each period bleed over into the others in the continuous flow of time. This list should not therefore be taken as giving exact dates for the periods they reference. In these letter the Master addresses those who hold true to his Way.

The Church of Ephesus:

70 CE - 170 CE: As the Jews, including the followers of Master Y'shua, were expelled from Zion (as the Master predicted in Matthew 24) the Nazarenes (the followers of Y'shua of Nazareth) began to lose faith in the Way. Certain of the followers of the Way began embracing various non-Abrahamic doctrines. Having lost their homes and being dispersed throughout the world they began compromise their beliefs and accept doctrines never taught by the Master or the Jewish Scriptures.

Revelation 2:
1 Unto the angel of the church of Ephesus write; These things saith he that holdeth the seven stars in his right hand, who walketh in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks;
2 I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil: and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars:
3 And hast borne, and hast patience, and for my name's sake hast laboured, and hast not fainted.
4 Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love.
5 Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent.
6 But this thou hast, that thou hatest the deeds of the Nicolaitanes, which I also hate.
7 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God.

There were devout (Written) Torah Observant Nazarenes still and they were struggling to maintain the true faith of the Master and his reformed Jewish beliefs. Others however were claiming to be apostles of the Master when in truth they were introducing false doctrines and leading the Nazarenes astray. Among these heretics were the Nicolaitanes (Nicolaitans or Nicolaites). While neither the texts we have today in the Bible nor external information positively identifies this sect, we do have clear identification of this sect. This sect (in verse 14) held to the error of Balaam as we will see below. The error of Balaam was the merging of Judaism with other religions and rites, thus leading them astray from the God of Israel. God is the God of the whole world and Master Y'shua taught that there were other, non-Jewish (and non-Nazarene) sheep, however he had come solely for the House of Israel (Matt 15:24). The Nicolaitanes were leading the mainly Jewish (at this point) followers of the Master away from Judaism into a religious synthesis that was the hallmark of Roman religion. As is well known, whenever Rome conquered a people their gods were merged into Roman pantheon. The Nicolaitanes were seeking to merge the God of Israel into their Universal Church. This Church period precedes the creation of the Roman Papacy but in the Nicolaitanes we see the trend the Church would follow.

The Church of Smyrna:

170 CE - 312 CE: As the followers of Master Y'shua and other Jews held firm to their devotion in the God of Israel they experienced severe persecution. During this period there was little time to debate doctrine, the follower of the Way were struggling to survive. It was during this period that the Maranatha fish was developed as a secret identifier by which the followers could come toward.

Revelation 2:
8 And unto the angel of the church in Smyrna write; These things saith the first and the last, which was dead, and is alive;
9 I know thy works, and tribulation, and poverty, (but thou art rich) and I know the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews, and are not, but are the synagogue of Satan.
10 Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.
11 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death.

Here see the Nicolaitanes clearly identified. These people were claiming, "to be Jews," but they were not. Master Y'shua is Jewish. ALL of his disciples were Jewish. As Gentiles embraced his Way they considered themselves converts to Judaism. the difficulty was of course that the Jewish hierarchy did not accept the ministry of Prophet Y'shua and hence rejected the conversions of his Gentile followers. This situation is described in painful detail in the Book of the Acts of the Apostles. The final decision of the Apostles was that those who wished to enter into the Nazarene Congregation would not be required to formally convert into Judaism (via circumcision, the acceptance of the Jewish authorities etc. This controversy is what spawned the new religion of Master Y'shua as a distinct one from Judaism. At this point, 170-312 CE the true followers of the Master, Jews and Noahides (Gentiles) alike, still considered themselves to be Jews as this verse makes clear. The Nicolaitanes however were clearly leaving the precepts of Judaism and seeking to establish something entirely different: Modern Christianity. This abandonment of Judaism by the followers the Way was a development, "which I also hate" (vs.6). As we approach the 300's this Nicolaite heresy is gaining popularity. This was partly because those who surrendered to Roman rule faced less persecution and partly due to the growing, even rampant, antisemitism. Unlike many of the followers of the Way, the Jews who had not embraced Master Y'shua were adamant in their rejection of Rome and its Universal religion. Jews still sought ways to return to their God-give Holy Land and now they had to contend not only with overt Pagans by new Pagans who claimed to be the true Jews! Who claimed the God of Israel had rejected His people in favor of heathens! As the Nazarenes gradually embraced Roman Universalism and established their own power based upon the diverse Pagan See at Rome, persecution against them subsided. For the Jews however it was business as usual and their struggle for survive showed no sign of easing.

The Church of Pergamos: From Constantine to Pope Boniface III

312 CE - 600 CE: The "Doctrine of Balaam" wins the day and the Nicolaites establish their authoity when Emperor Constantine feigns conversion and declares the creation of a new religion known as Roman Universalism (ie Roman Catholicism). Based on the presence of the Nicolaites since 70 CE the new Roman Papacy declared itself the inheritor of the authority given to Peter as first Pope.

But is this what the Master did? Here's the biblically cited source of this essential Roman Catholic dogma:

"And I [Master Y'shua] say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

But... what was the Master really saying to Peter? Was he saying that Peter was the rock (foundation) upon which the Master would build his Church or something else?

First we need to understand that Master Y'shua did not come to build a Church! He was very clear in this:

"But he [Master Y'shua] answered and said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel.
So what was he talking about?
Matthew 16:13 When Jesus came into the coasts of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, Whom do men say that I the Son of man am?
14 And they said, Some say that thou art John the Baptist: some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets.
15 He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am?
16 And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.
17 And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.
18 And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
19 And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.
20 Then charged he his disciples that they should tell no man that he was Jesus the Christ.

The English translation is intentionally misleading here. Verse 16 actually says, "And Simon Peter answered and said, You are anointed, a man devoted to the living God."

In other words, the Master asked, "Who am I?"

Peter's reply was that there existed debate on this question. Some believe the Master is John the Baptist in a dual reincarnation (for a bit on dual births see my reply here and here), others believed he was the reincarnation of Prophet Isaiah, Jeremiah or some other major Tanach prophet.

"But who do you say I am Peter?" he asked. Peter replies, I know you to be a man anointed by God and I intend to follow you as such. To this the Master replies, upon the rock or foundation of this truth, ie my devotion to and anointing by the God of Israel those who accept this truth will gather in fellowship and assist in my work of reforming Judaism. I discuss this topic in detail elsewhere. Master Y'shua never left Judaism, never sought to convert Gentiles, not did he ever encourage others to do so. This verse therefore was not intended to established "the Throne of Peter nor the establishment of a Gentile Church."

Revelation 2:
12 And to the angel of the church in Pergamos write; These things saith he which hath the sharp sword with two edges; 13 I know thy works and where thou dwellest, even where Satan's seat is: and thou holdest fast my name, and hast not denied my faith, even in those days wherein Antipas was my faithful martyr, who was slain among you, where Satan dwelleth.
14 But I have a few things against thee, because thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balac to cast a stumblingblock before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication.
15 So hast thou also them that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitanes, which thing I hate.
16 Repent; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth.
17 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it.

By this point the Christian religion was based in Rome, "where Satan's seat is," ie the seat of the Roman Empire.

The "Word" is the Written Torah (and Tanach), ie the Hebrew Scriptures. These were the Scriptures used use Master Y'shua and his followers. The Nicolaitanes were teaching heresies that the Torah condemns and the Master warns those who remain committed to his teachings not to embrace these false doctrines. He praises those who are standing firm as Nazarene Jews (or Noahide Nazarenes). It is notable that the Master also praises them for remaining true to his name. "Name" is Onoma and literally means his name, ie not his teachings etc. It was during this period that the Roman Papacy stole the name of our master, Y'shua (or Yeshua) and replaced it with the name "Jesus." I discuss the origin of the name "Jesus" Here. At this point Roman Catholics were beginning to use the new name for the Master but his loyal followers refused to embrace it.

Despite the continuing loyalty of the Noahide Nazarenes, Master Y'shua warns that it is their job as Sheep to stand against the rising Papacy and maintain the true form of Judaism he had taught through his apostles and others. Stand! he orders, or God may reveal the heresies of this new religion by removing His blessings from you!

The Church of Thyatira: Boniface III - Gregory VII (Hilderbrand) to the Reformation

600 CE - 1520 CE: the Roman Papacy now rules much of the world and the religion of the Nicolaitanes reigns supreme. As a direct result of this the Spirit of HaShem, the God of Israel, is partly removed and Europa is plunged into the Dark Ages.

Without the Spirit of HaShem the Church becomes increasingly legalistic and harsh. The "Holy Inquisitors" are commissioned to destroy all traces of Judaism, the Noahide, the Noahide Nazarene Way and those Pagans who, like the followers of Master Y'shua, boldly refused to bow the knee to the Papacy. All of these were crushed in various ways. During this period it is estimated that over that six million European Pagan were slaughtered in what came to be known as the Burning Times. The followers of Master Y'shua were condemned as "Judaizers," Arians (not Aryans, Arians are those who, like me, reject the Trinity Doctrine). Bloodshed, ignorance and darkness of all sorts descended across all lands controlled by the New Church.

It was also during this period that certain occult bodies were coming into their own and establishing Occult Brotherhoods that continue until our time and will, within our generation, bring forth the World Ruler known as Rex Mundi, Antichrist, Dijal and Little Horn.

Still however HaShem did not turn away from the Church completely, in part because within it there always existed sincere Believers and in part because HaShem was/is working our His grand Plan of Restoration.

Among these were the Reformers but there were also those who remained within the Church as "loyal opposition," who have worked hard to stir the Catholic Church godward. Alas both the Reformers and the members of the Loyal Opposition failed to restore the Church to its Jewish roots.

Revelation 2:
18 And unto the angel of the church in Thyatira write; These things saith the Son of God, who hath his eyes like unto a flame of fire, and his feet are like fine brass;
19 I know thy works, and charity, and service, and faith, and thy patience, and thy works; and the last to be more than the first.
20 Notwithstanding I have a few things against thee, because thou sufferest that woman Jezebel, which calleth herself a prophetess, to teach and to seduce my servants to commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed unto idols.
21 And I gave her space to repent of her fornication; and she repented not.
22 Behold, I will cast her into a bed, and them that commit adultery with her into great tribulation, except they repent of their deeds.
23 And I will kill her children with death; and all the churches shall know that I am he which searcheth the reins and hearts: and I will give unto every one of you according to your works.
24 But unto you I say, and unto the rest in Thyatira, as many as have not this doctrine, and which have not known the depths of Satan, as they speak; I will put upon you none other burden.
25 But that which ye have already hold fast till I come.
26 And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations:
27 And he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers: even as I received of my Father.
28 And I will give him the morning star.
29 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.

Here we see the birth of Whore of Babylon, "that woman Jezebel."

The Church of Sardis: The Reformation to the Peace of Westphalia and beyond.

1520 CE - 1750 CE: The Church was divided on several fronts. The Eastern and Roman Church had long since split, the Anglicans (Church of England) and the Protestants had left the Church, but nothing essential changed. The Pagan additions to the church had become so entrenched that the Reformers didn't know what Master Y'shua had even taught. Christians were woefully ignorant of the Bible, in part because the Church had declared reading it illegal! Now the Church was fragmented and the chaos of infighting was everywhere present. This period of the Church as described as being all but dead. The main issues the Protestants had with the Church are contained in Martin Luther's Ninety Five Thesis of Reformation (Click Here and scroll down for this list). What is woefully absent from this list is the need to return to the Jewish roots of the Master's teachings. Despite this, there were still sincere and devoted people within the Roman, Eastern Orthodox, Anglican and Protestant Churches and HaShem was limitedly active within them all.

Revelation 3:
1 And unto the angel of the church in Sardis write; These things saith he that hath the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars; I know thy works, that thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead.
2 Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die: for I have not found thy works perfect before God.
3 Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee.
4 Thou hast a few names even in Sardis which have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with me in white: for they are worthy.
5 He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.
6 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.

Here the Master clearly tells us that much has now been lost but that some remains.

The Church of Philadelphia: The Church in revival

1750 CE - 1914 CE: There occurred that period of time know as the Great Awakening. This spiritual awakening produced several ministers and ministries seeking to restore spirituality to the Christian faith. These people ministered in all segments of the Church.

Early on this period, in fledgling America the First Great Awakening occurred. This Awakening began in the Dutch Reformed Churches of New Jersey circa 1726. It soon spread to the Presbyterian and Congregationalist churches. This Great Awakening finally reached its zenith in New England in the 1740's. It produced thinkers such as Jonathan Edwards (1703-1758), John Locke (1632-1704), John Wesley (1703-1791) and George Whitfield (1714-1770), people who opposed the high level of emotionalism that was typical of the Enlightenment. Itinerant preachers such as the Reverends Gilbert Tennent, Samuel Davies, Eleazar Wheelock, Samuel Finley etc. traveled throughout the thirteen colonies expounding emotionally charged "American Protestantism," a new bread of religion that was born of American experiences from within the First Great Awakening. The Awakening fires spread to Virginia and elsewhere in the 1750's, but soon ended, being replaced by humanist certainty and the growing embracing of Science and Darwinism. The impact of this Awakening was essential for the colonies as it created a bond between them (e pluribus unum) and established a sense of identity and national destiny as a distinct people. Protestant Americans began to hail the United States as the New Zion, a virtual Protestant Promised Land. Jonathan Edwards considered the Awakening to be a "surprising work of God." He boldly proclaimed that Jesus had "flung the door of mercy open so that all could enter." During this period, the fatherhood aspect of the Christian God was emphasized, and the Colonists regarded themselves as His special children. These children of God fully expected that God would lead them and punish them for sins they allowed. As a result, "submission of the stubborn human will" became an important concept and the religious life of the day reflected this. Holiness in all things came to typify this Puritan revival.

According to E.S. Gaustad, "the founding of the Separates and the Separate Baptists was the most conspicuous institutional effect of the [first] Great Awakening in New England." It was by no means the only one however. By 1755, there were over 125 Separate (or Strict Congregationalist) churches in New England. By 1776 over 70 Separate Baptist Churches existed. Later came the Universalists, the Unitarians, Free Will Baptists, Shakers and Quakers, the New Light Theologies (later organized as Edwardsianism, Hopkinsianism, and Consistent Calvinism), etc. The general-consensus of these movements was fundamentally Calvinistic, but this view was gradually changing.

John Calvin was one of the primary 16th Century Reformers and a gifted debater and theologian. His teachings had a profound influence on the Reformed Christian Movement. The distinctive teaching of Calvinism is the doctrine of predestination. This belief holds that before the foundations of the heavens were set in place, God had already chosen those people who would be saved. The teaching is not that God, in His foreknowledge knew which people would choose to accept Him, but rather that God chose who He would saved. Those He did not choose were damned to suffer eternal torment in Hell no matter what they might do or desire to the contrary, even before entering their mother's womb! This doctrine is not as popular as it once was, but many Christians still believe it. Most Christians do not really understand the Christian doctrine of predestination or its dark implications.

The First Great Awakening sparked the notion that God was willing to save anyone who truly repented. This was a harsh blow to then popular Calvinism! To do otherwise, it was argued, would be unAmerican. The ministers of the Awakening viewed America as a potential tool for the establishment of the millennial reign of Christ and themselves as his veritable ministers.

This period transformed into the Second Great Awakening that abruptly ended with the onset of World War One in 1914, as Master Y'shua had foretold (Matt 24:6).

Calvinism was waning and new religious forms and doctrines were developing by diverse Protestant and heterodox thinkers. Among the new Christian groups that arose during this shift away from Cavinism were the Missouri Synod, the Norwegian Evangelical Synod, the Church of the United Brethren, the Disciples of Christ, the Millerites, and Mormonism (the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints). Also appearing was Swedenborgianism, Taylorism (or Beecherism), Mesmerism, Owenism, Fourierism, the Oneida Society, the Mennonites, the Moravians, the Seventh Day Baptists, the Six Principle Baptists and Dunker Baptists, the Free Will Baptists, the YMCA, etc. This enlivening Americana feeling of divinely inspired individual responsibility and worth began again among the New England Congregationalists and soon spread throughout the United States, being found in all major denominations to some degree. By the mid 19th century however this movement likewise was absorbed into religious structure and stagnation of traditional dogma. It should be remembered that these flowerings of intellectual and spiritual awakenings did not and do not occur in a vacuum. Each appearance or spiritual renewal is directly tied to the experiences of its predecessors. Such was again the case between the years 1875 and 1914 when the Third Great Awakening occurred.

Some authorities do not see a break between the second and third Awakening as I list them here. Its semantics really.

I discuss these awakening and share a lot of information about the Third Great Awaking in particular Here. During this Awakening the modern religious landscape was established. The came the first major signs that the End of the Church was dawning.

Revelation 3:
7 And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write; These things saith he that is holy, he that is true, he that hath the key of David, he that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth;
8 I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name.
9 Behold, I will make them of the synagogue of Satan, which say they are Jews, and are not, but do lie; behold, I will make them to come and worship before thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee.
10 Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.
11 Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown.
12 Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name.
13 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.

The Church of the Laodiceans:

1914 CE - Present: Following the onset of World War One everything changed. Faith in God and observance of religious principles as matters devotion began to wane. The world gradually embraced Secular Humanism and openly debated even the existence of God. While most people still claim to believe in God it is clear that 'the faith of the many has grown cold'. As we move ever closer to the end of the Church Age Master Y'shua's warning to the Church of the Last Days becomes both more relevant and more ignored.

Revelation 3:
14 And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God;
15 I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot.
16 So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.
17 Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:
18 I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.
19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.
20 Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.
21 To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.
22 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.

The Prophet Paul shares this same dire information in this way:

Romans 11
1 I say then, Hath God cast away his people? God forbid. For I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin.
2 God hath not cast away his people which he foreknew. Wot ye not what the scripture saith of Elias? how he maketh intercession to God against Israel, saying,
3 Lord, they have killed thy prophets, and digged down thine altars; and I am left alone, and they seek my life.
4 But what saith the answer of God unto him? I have reserved to myself seven thousand men, who have not bowed the knee to the image of Baal.

Did you catch this? There are still those who not bent the knee to Baal, which is to say, to Balaam. The Jews are now, as they have been since the days of Abraham, the Chosen People of HaShem.

16 For if the firstfruit be holy, the lump is also holy: and if the root be holy, so are the branches.

In the following verses Paul will be referencing the coming Kingdom of HaShem using the analogy of Israel as the Tree of God. This analogy has a long and honored biblical basis.

17 And if some of the branches be broken off, and thou, being a wild olive tree, wert grafted in among them, and with them partakest of the root and fatness of the olive tree;
18 Boast not against the branches. But if thou boast, thou bearest not the root, but the root thee.
19 Thou wilt say then, The branches were broken off, that I might be grafted in.
20 Well; because of unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest by faith. Be not highminded, but fear:
21 For if God spared not the natural branches, take heed lest he also spare not thee.
22 Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off.
23 And they also, if they abide not still in unbelief, shall be grafted in: for God is able to graft them in again.
24 For if thou wert cut out of the olive tree which is wild by nature, and wert grafted contrary to nature into a good olive tree: how much more shall these, which be the natural branches, be grafted into their own olive tree?
25 For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in.
26 And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob:
27 For this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins.
28 As concerning the gospel, they are enemies for your sakes: but as touching the election, they are beloved for the fathers' sakes.
29 For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance.
30 For as ye in times past have not believed God, yet have now obtained mercy through their unbelief:
31 Even so have these also now not believed, that through your mercy they also may obtain mercy.
32 For God hath concluded them all in unbelief, that he might have mercy upon all.
33 O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!
34 For who hath known the mind of the Lord? or who hath been his counsellor?
35 Or who hath first given to him, and it shall be recompensed unto him again?
36 For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen.

"...Until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in."

This is that referenced by Master Y'shua:

24 And they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led away captive into all nations: and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled.

This period of time ends as the Laodicean Church Ages is vomited out and the Jews embrace their destiny and, with the Moshiach, establish the Kingdom of HaShem. As the Church is vomited out or as these branches are cast into the fire, the Papacy and her denominational daughters will become Babylon the Great.

There is a key understanding here we don't to want to miss. Since its inception the Roman Papacy and most Christian denominations have pointed to Israel's short comings, citing these as the reason God turned to the Gentiles. In the Seven Churches we behold the absolutely hypocrisy and fallacy of this claim.

According to Master Y'shua and his disciples it is true that the Jewish people wavered in their service to HaShem. This is part of what Romans 11 discussing above. However Paul also explains there this failure was foreknown and was used by HaShem to show His mercy on all people. The Christian Church Ages have confirmed the words of Paul:

Romans 3

1 What advantage then hath the Jew? or what profit is there of circumcision?
2 Much every way: chiefly, because that unto them were committed the oracles of God.
3 For what if some did not believe? shall their unbelief make the faith of God without effect?
4 God forbid: yea, let God be true, but every man a liar; as it is written, That thou mightest be justified in thy sayings, and mightest overcome when thou art judged.
5 But if our unrighteousness commend the righteousness of God, what shall we say? Is God unrighteous who taketh vengeance? (I speak as a man)
6 God forbid: for then how shall God judge the world?
7 For if the truth of God hath more abounded through my lie unto his glory; why yet am I also judged as a sinner?
8 And not rather, (as we be slanderously reported, and as some affirm that we say,) Let us do evil, that good may come? whose damnation is just.
9 What then? are we better than they? No, in no wise: for we have before proved both Jews and Gentiles, that they are all under sin;
10 As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:
11 There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God.
12 They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.
13 Their throat is an open sepulchre; with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips:
14 Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness:
15 Their feet are swift to shed blood:
16 Destruction and misery are in their ways:
17 And the way of peace have they not known:
18 There is no fear of God before their eyes.

27 Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay: but by the law of faith.
28 Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.
29 Is he the God of the Jews only? is he not also of the Gentiles? Yes, of the Gentiles also:
30 Seeing it is one God, which shall justify the circumcision by faith, and uncircumcision through faith.
31 Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the law.

Through the entire span of prophecy we return where we began.

Material life exists to provide us the ground on which to learn and grow in our relationship with the One God. It is only by the Grace of the One that we are free and fulfilled.

And so as the Church embraces the Antichrist, as the flames of Armageddon are sparked and fanned,

"Behold, I stand at the door and knock:
If anyone hears my voice and opens the door,
I will come in and we will have fellowship"

This has been a rather long study but I hope that through it you have been blessed and come to better understand the times in which we live.

Having Done All You Can To Stand

STAND




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