Sins of the chosen people
As we work through the book of revelation, remember we are using the Bible to decipher and understand the Bible, for no other source is truly trustworthy. We live in a world where history is written by the victors and changed many times over to fit whatever new narrative the enemy’s followers have devised. Therefor we cannot trust the lessons we have learned elsewhere. Nor can we put or faith in angels that prophesy a new or different word from God. Keep in mind that the devil is also an angel with powers to present himself as a good and trustworthy being. Every cult I have studied over the years has begun with a new revelation or prediction, a word or testimony of someone claiming to be visited by an angel.
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So, If we cannot trust these other sources for the truth, we must go to God, and lean not unto our own understanding. We need to read and study the Bible and use it to understand the rest of the Bible. What other source can be trusted? Now, I do like to read commentaries and use bits of history meaning the facts of how things were in those times. It’s also good to check the translation of the words from the original greek or Hebrew to get a full understanding of how they were said in that language. But we should never, I mean Never, lean on our own interpretation or trust the words of a spirit or angel that brings new meaning to the scripture.
That said, lets dive into chapter 17 of Revelation…
“Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls came and talked with me, saying to me, “Come, I will show you the judgment of the great harlot who sits on many waters, with whom the kings of the earth committed fornication, and the inhabitants of the earth were made drunk with the wine of her fornication.””
The relationship we have with God as believers has been described many times like a marriage. We are the bride and the Lord is our Groom. In any marriage, adultery is a betrayal of trust and leaves a scar that many times cannot be healed. In our relationship with God, serving another master, no matter who or what, is a form of adultery. We as humans are always seeking out idols in many forms and even sometimes unintentionally we enslave ourselves to them and make them our gods.
Something as simple as a habit I don’t want to give up, or a person I refuse to let go of, can become an idol in my life. Years ago, when my husband became ill and he was fighting for his life, I had to come to the realization that I could pray for him, stand beside him and trust God to take care of him no matter the outcome. But, if I chose to turn away from God if He in fact did not heal my husband, than I was putting a man on an alter above my God and that means he was an idol in my life. This is why marriage only works if we put God first and then each other. Therefor, our relationship with God is the most important relationship in our lives.
“So he carried me away in the Spirit into the wilderness. And I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast which was full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns. The woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet, and adorned with gold and precious stones and pearls, having in her hand a golden cup full of abominations and the filthiness of her fornication. And on her forehead a name was written: MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND OF THE ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH.”
This “Babylon the great” if believed to be a new religion. One that goes against the true God and many will follow it. The Israelites wandered many times from God and allowed false gods and idol worship into their lives. Modern living has allowed us so many different forms of shiny distractions from our walk and talk with God that it is so easy to fall into the trap of a false teacher or movement. These precious gems of the earth will pail in comparison to the riches that are in heaven.
Beware little sparrows of chasing a feeling or experience as well. Faith is not an emotional or physical experience. Neither is it a mindset or practice. Faith is studying the word of God, believing the Word is truth, following His commandments, trusting His plan even when you can’t see the outcome, and starting over each time we fall. Continual belief without the tangible “proof” that our human minds desire. The proof is all around and the more we focus on God, the easier it is to see.
“I saw the woman, drunk with the blood of the saints and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus. And when I saw her, I marveled with great amazement.”
This global revival of a new and seeming christian revival will be tempting and maybe even convincing if we don’t know the Word. Remember we must study to show ourselves approved. Be read for an answer when someone asked you, “What is your faith?” This new religion will not look at true Christ followers in a kind way. Little sparrows I urge you to read the scripture and strengthen your knowledge of the Word of God so that you may not be deceived by the false teachers and practices around you.
-ScriptureSparrow