Rev 17:1 Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls came and talked with me, “Come I will show you the judgement of the great harlot who sits on many waters.”
The question arises for the time setting for the whole of chapter 17 in Revelation. Some theologians set the time to the time of writing the book of Revelation during the life of John in the first century. One can do this when writing a narrative or a point of time in history, but not when writing prophetical writings. Theologians who say that Revelation 17 refers to the time of John, do not understand very much of interpreting prophetical writings and I think it is best they stay away from such speculation because they confuse the public.
The time setting is revealed in the first sentence of Rev 17:1. “Then one of the angels who had the seven bowls.” Which angel are we talking about? This verse is referring to a previous text from one of the angels who had one of the seven bowls of plagues. The harlot is in the feminine e.g. she and her. This fits in nicely with the context of Rev 16:17-21 referring to the bowl of the seventh angel. This is the last judgement upon all mankind. When we take a look at Rev 16:19, the feminine pronoun is used for Babylon and the feminine is used for the harlot. Rev 16:19 Now the great city was divided into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell. And great Babylon was remembered before God, to give her the cup of the wine of the fierceness of his wrath.
So when do the seven plagues fall on all mankind? If we take the view that the time of writing of Rev 17: was in the apostle John’s dag, then the seven plagues have already fallen and Christ has already come. How absurd to have such reasoning! When do the plagues fall? Rev 16: explains each of the seven plagues and who they fall on. Rev 15: is a prelude to the seven plagues. Rev 14:14-20 gives an account of Christs Second Coming through the illustration of a grape vineyard owner harvesting his grapes. The harvester is none other than Christ, who comes to harvest the earth, and gather all his believers and take them to heaven.
Fx. Rev 14:14 Then I looked, and behold, a white cloud, and on the cloud sat one like the Son of Man, having on his head a golden crown, and in his hand a sharp sickle. This teaching of the Second Coming of Christ is reiterated in the text Acts 1:9-11 when Christ departed from his disciples and travelled to the heavens. ´Now when he had spoken these things, while they watched, he was taken up, and a cloud received him out of their site. And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold two men stood by them in white apparel who said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner, as you saw him go into heaven.”´
Mat 24:30.31. Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. And he will send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they will gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.
Rev 1:7 Behold, he is coming with clouds, and every eye will see him, even they who pierced him. And all the tribes of the earth will mourn because of him. Even so. Amen.
When it says every eye will see him, this means every believing and non-believing eye will see him, and even those that pierced him at the cross, implying a special resurrection.
OK, we have located the time setting of Revelation chapter 17. It is in the future, between the time of the seventh plague upon the earth and the Second Coming of Christ.
The next question we can ask ourselves is, who is this harlot in Rev 17?
Before a harlot becomes a harlot, she has to be a woman. One is not born a harlot. One is born a baby girl, and grows up to be a woman, and then if she chooses, she can become a harlot. However, it is a gradual process.
In the Bible the word woman is a symbol of the Church of believers in God. This woman who represents believers, is married to Christ both in the Old and New Testament. Fx.
Jerm 3:14 Referring to the Israelites, Jeremiah writes, “Return, O backsliding children, says the Lord; for I am married to you.”
Is 54:5 (God is referring to those living in Jerusalem). “For your maker is your husband, the Lord of Hosts is his name; And your redeemer is the Holy One of Israel; He is called God of the whole earth. Verse 6. For the Lord has called you, like a woman forsaken and grieved in spirit, like a youthful wife when you refused,” says your God.
Ezek 16:7.8. (God is referring to the inhabitants of Jerusalem). “you grew matured, and became very beautiful. Your breasts were formed, your hair grew, but you were naked and bare. When I passed by you again and looked upon you, indeed your time was the time of love; so I spread my wings over you and covered your nakedness, and entered into covenant with you and you became mine,” says the Lord God.
Hos 2:16. (God is referring to his people). “And it shall be in that day, says the Lord that you will call me `my husband´.”
Rev 21:9.10. Come I will show you the bride, the Lambs wife. And he carried me away in the spirit to a great high mountain and showed me the great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God.
Ephes 5:25. Husbands love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave himself for her.
Is 62:5. And as the bridegroom rejoices over the bride, so shall your God rejoice over you.
Rev 18:23. The light of a lamp shall not shine in you anymore, and the voice of the bridegroom and bride shall not be heard in you anymore. (“You,” refers to Babylon- Christ is the bridegroom and the bride is the church.)
Conclusion
In the Bible the word woman is a symbol of the Church of believers in God. This woman who represents believers, is married to Christ both in the Old and New Testament.
Who is the woman in Rev 12?
Rev 12:1. Now a great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a garland of twelve stars.
This chapter is full of symbols, so the woman represents the church of all believers. She is clothed with the sun of Christ´s righteousness. Malachi 4:2. Joh 8:12. The moon under her feet represents the churches enemies like the Devil and political leaders who work for him in Revelation chapter 12. 1 Cor 15:23-25. Rom 16:20. Malachi 4:3. The head garland on the woman is a “stephanos” in the Greek and represents a crown of victory, eternal life and glory. 1 Cor 9:25, 2 Tim 2:5, 1 Pet 5:4, Rev 6:2, Rev 14:14. There are twelve stars on the garland. Stars represent angels in Revelation e.g. Rev 1:20, 12:4. These angels look after the twelve spiritual tribes scattered abroad who are Christian believers. James 1:1. OK! The woman in this chapter represents the church of true believers in Christ from the time of Christ in the first century, to end of the 1260-year prophecy in 1798 A.D. Rev 12:6.14.
Rev 12:4. The dragon stood before the woman who was ready to give birth, to devour her child as soon as it was born. (This is referring to the time when Christ was born and Satan working through King Herod, tried to kill Christ at Bethlehem, however, Joseph and Mary made their escape to Egypt with the child).
Rev 12:6. Then the woman fled into the wilderness, where she has a place prepared by God, that they should feed her there one thousand two hundred and sixty days. (In prophetical writings, one day is equal to one year. Num 14:34, Eze 4:6. Therefore when it says in the text “one thousand two hundred and sixty days” this means in prophecy 1,260 years. This figure is also equal to “a time, times and half a time” in Rev 12:14. When we add this figure up, we have one time plus two times plus half a time which equals 3½ times. One time is equal to 360 years in prophecy. So 3½ times is equal to 1,260 years. Therefore, these two verses in Rev 12: 6.14. reinforce each other in Biblical prophetical time. In addition, the 42 months in Rev 11:2.3. are also equal to 1,260 years in Biblical prophecy. If we times 42 months with 30 prophetical days for each month, this gives us 1,260 days or prophetic years. Hence, there is harmony in these calculations.
When does this woman flee into the wilderness away from the persecutions of Satan the dragon? During the Dark Middle Ages from AD 538 to 1798. This was when Satan worked through the papacy to persecute many millions of Roman Catholic believers in Christ. They tried to conform them to believe in the papacy and their authority to interpret the Bible. However, they would not be deterred; they read the Bible for themselves and became personal believers in Christ as their Savior. They were called Protestants, because they protested against the authority of the papacy to control their beliefs. As a result, over 100 million Roman Catholic Church members, were burnt at the stake for their beliefs and this included their children. This was then a Dark period for the church of believers. The woman being the Protestant church, was persecuted.
OK! Let us come to the last verse in Rev 12:17. And the dragon was enraged with the woman, and he went to make war with the rest of her offspring, who keep the commandments of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ. This is the last time we read of the woman as a symbol of the church. The Dark Middle ages have gone. The persecutions have disappeared. Satan tries a new method of making war against the woman. This is enlarged in the message to the Laodicea church in Rev 3:14-22. This message to the Laodicean church, is the last message to the Christian church as a whole in all Christendom. From Rev 2: to Rev 3: is a description of the Christian church of all believers from the time of Christ to this present day in seven time periods of history. The Laodicean church is a description of the Protestant church worldwide, just before Christs Second Coming. What is the condition of this church? Christ says in Rev 3:15.16.17. I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot, I wish you were cold or hot. So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of my mouth. Because you say, I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing – and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind and naked.
Persecution did not work in the Middle Ages, so Satan changed his tactics and made Christians wealthy and their works became lukewarm, neither hot nor cold. Which means they are not on fire to proclaim the gospel or reject it. They are passive and only Christians by name and not by example. When Christ says that he will vomit them from his mouth, this indicates that the woman, the Protestant church as a whole is not acceptable to Christ. He has rejected the woman and she has changed her form and become a harlot, hence mixing with the world and believing in many false doctrines. The woman has ceased to exist as a church representing Christ on this earth. She no longer keeps the 10 commandments of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ as stated in Rev 12:17.
When did this change take place? After the Dark Middle ages and before the Second Coming of Christ. The time period in history for the Laodicean church experience is now, in the present, and not in the future. The Protestant church as a whole has fallen from grace and Christ says I will vomit you out of my mouth.
What does the word “harlot” mean when referring to believers in the Bible?
Ezek 16:15. (God speaking to Israel). But you trusted in your own beauty, played the harlot because of your fame and poured out your harlotry on everyone who passes by who would have it. Verse 16. Adorned multicolored high places for yourself and played the harlot on them. Verse 17. You have also taken your beautiful jewelry from my gold and my silver, which I had given you, and made for yourself male images and played the harlot with them. Verse 20. Moreover, you took your sons and your daughters whom you bore to me and these you sacrificed to them to be devoured. Where your acts of harlotry a small matter? Verse 21. That you have slain my children and offered them up to them by causing them to pass through fire? (Harlotry in the Hebrew is “zanah” and means to commit fornication, whoring, harlotry).
Josh 6:17 Rahab the harlot shall live. (This was a prostitute living in Jericho, who helped the two Israeli spies to escape from the city).
Jud 16:1 Now Samson went to Gaza and saw a harlot there, and went in to her. (This harlot is a prostitute).
Prov 7:10 And there was a woman who met him with the attire of a harlot (prostitute) and a crafty heart.
Is 1:21 (To Judah and Jerusalem). How the faithful city has become a harlot. It was full of justice; righteousness lodged in it, but now murderers. (The context is in verse 2 and onwards. They rebelled against God. Verse 3. Israel does not know God. Verse 4. God calls Judah and Jerusalem a sinful nation; a brood of evildoers, corrupters, they have forsaken the Lord, they have turned away backward. Verse 5. You will revolt more and more. Verses 11-13. Ritual and sacrifices are an abomination to God. Also feast days).
Jerm 2:20. (Gods case against Israel). You lay down playing the harlot. Verse 23. How can you say, “I have not gone after the Baal’s?” Verse 25. But you said, “For I loved aliens and after them I will go.” Verse 27. (The House of Israel says). Saying to a tree, “You are my father.” And to a stone, “You gave birth to me.” For they have turned their back to me, and not their face. Verse 28. But where are the gods you have made for yourselves?
Jerm 3:1-3. (Gods case against Israel). But you have played the harlot with many lovers. You have polluted the land with your harlotry and your wickedness. You have had a harlot’s forehead, and you refuse to be ashamed. Verse 6. Have you seen what backsliding Israel has done? She has gone up on every high mountain and under every tree, and there played the harlot. Verse 8. I had put her away and given her a certificate of divorce; yet her treacherous sister Judah did not fear, but went and played the harlot also. Verse 9. So it came to pass, through her casual harlotry, that she defiled the land and committed adultery with stones and trees. Verse 13. And have scattered your charms to alien deities under every green tree. And you have not obeyed my voice, says the Lord. Verse 14. “Return, O backsliding children,” says the Lord; “for I am married to you.” Verse 20. “Surely, as a wife treacherously departs from her husband, so have you dealt treacherously with me, O house of Israel,” says the Lord.
Jerm 5:7. (To Jerusalem). How shall I pardon you for this? Your children have forsaken me and sworn by those that are not gods. When I have fed them to the full, then they committed adultery and assembled themselves by troops in the harlot’s houses. Verse 8. They were like well fed lusty stallions; every one neighed after his neighbor´s wife.
Ezek 16:31. (Jerusalem’s adultery). You erected your shrine at the head of every road, and built your high places in every street. Yet you were not like a harlot, because you scorned payment. Verse 32. You are an adulterous wife, who takes strangers instead of her husband. Verse 33. Men make payments to all harlots, but you made your payments to all your lovers, and hired them to come to you from all around for your harlotry. Verse 36. Thus says the Lord God: “Because your filthiness was poured out and your nakedness uncovered in your harlotry with your lovers, and with all your abominable idols, and because of the blood of your children which you gave to them, Verse 37. surely therefore, I will gather all your lovers with whom you took pleasure, all those you loved, and all those you hated; I will gather them from all around against you and will uncover your nakedness.” Verse 39. “I will give you into their hands, they shall throw down your shrines and brake down your high places. They will also strip you of your clothes, take your beautiful jewelry and leave you naked and bare. Verse 40. They shall bring an assembly against you, and they will stone you with stones and thrust you through with their swords. Verse 41. They shall burn your houses with fire, and execute judgments on you in the sight of many women; and I will make you cease playing the harlot – – -.“
Ezek 23:4. (Two harlot sisters: Oholah represents Samaria, and Oholibah represents Jerusalem). Verse 5. Oholah played the harlot even though she was mine. And she lusted for her lovers, the neighboring Assyrians. Verse 7. With all their idols, she defiled herself. Verse 8. For in her youth they had lain with her, passed her virgin bosom and poured out their immorality upon her. Verse 11. Her sister Oholibah saw this, she became more corrupt in her lust than she, and in her harlotry more corrupt than her sister´s harlotry. Verse 14. But she increased her harlotry; she looked at men portrayed on the wall, images of Chaldeans portrayed in vermillion – – -. Verse 16. As soon as her eyes saw them, she lusted for them and sent messengers to them in Chaldea. Verse 17. Then the Babylonians came to her, into the bed of love and they defiled her with their immorality.
Hos 2:2. (God to his people). Bring charges against your mother, bring charges; for she is not my wife, nor am I her husband. Let her put away her harlotries from her sight and her adulteries from between her breasts – – -. Verse 4. I will not have mercy on her children, for they are the children of harlotry. Verse 5. For their mother has played the harlot – – – for she said, “I will go after my lovers who give me bread and water.”
Hos 3:1. Then the Lord said to me, “Go again love a woman who is loved by a lover and is committing adultery, just like the love of the Lord for the children of Israel, who look to other gods and love the raisin cakes of the pagans.” Verse 2. So I bought her for myself – – -. Verse 3. And I said to her, “You shall stay with me many days, you shall not play the harlot, nor shall you have a man – so too, will I be toward you.”
Hos 4:11-18. (The idolatry of Israel). Harlotry, wine and new wine enslave the heart. Verse 12. My people ask counsel from their wooden idols, and their staff informs them, for the spirit of harlotry has caused them to stray. And they have played the harlot against God. Verse 13. They offer sacrifices on the mountaintops, and burn incense on the hills, under oaks, poplars and terebinths. Therefore, your daughters commit harlotry and your brides commit adultery. Verse 14. I will not punish your daughters when they commit harlotry, nor your brides when the commit adultery; for the men themselves go apart with harlots and after sacrifices with a ritual harlot – – -. Verse 15. Though you Israel play the harlot – – -. Verse 17. Ephraim is joined to idols – – -. Verse 18. They commit harlotry continually.
Mic 1:6.7. Therefore, I will make Samaria a heap of ruins in the field – – -. All her carved images shall be beaten to pieces, and all her pay as a harlot shall be burned with fire; all her idols I will lay desolate, for she gathered it from the pay of a harlot and they shall return to the pay of a harlot.
Rev 17:5. (The woman sitting on the red beast). And on her forehead a name was written: Mystery, Babylon the Great, the Mother of Harlots and of the Abominations of the Earth. (The word forehead is significant in the book of Rev 13:16.17. because the forehead is where all our spiritual decisions are made. The forehead is used as a symbol in the Old Testament of all those who believe in Gods commandments. This woman or harlot does not believe in Gods commandments anymore and she has become the mother of all harlots, and this name is written on her forehead).
Conclusion of the word study on Harlot.
This word harlot is related to: when Gods people Israel worship other gods in high places. Male images. Sacrificing sons and daughters. Children passing through fire. Rahab the prostitute. Crafty heart. Murders. Rebellion against God. Sinful nation. Evil doers. Corruptors. Revolt. Ritual, traditions and sacrifices. Feast days. Carved images. Idols. Sacrifices with a ritual harlot. Wooden idols. Staffs inform them. Sacrifices on mountain tops. Burning incense on hills, under oaks, poplars and terebinths. Speak to trees and stones as if they are their mother and father. Wickedness. Backsliding Israel. Charms to every alien deity under every green tree. Images of Chaldeans. Immorality.
In relation to Rev 17:1. the woman was a symbol of the pure church and later became a harlot. This church began in the time of Christ and the disciples. It later became part of the Roman Catholic Church. Millions of Roman Catholic believers read the Bible for themselves and became personal believers in Christ and they became Protestants. Many millions of these Protestants were burnt at the stake, because they would not accept the teachings of the papacy. After the Dark Middle Ages, Satan tried another tactic to destroy the Protestant church. Instead of persecuting the Protestant church, he made them wealthy. They became neither hot nor cold in their religion. They became lukewarm and Christ would vomit them from his mouth. The pure church became a harlot. The Protestant church has become a harlot and has become like any other worldwide church, in a spiritual sense. She has departed from Gods commandments and the faith of Jesus Christ. She worships all other gods but not the creator God. The harlot in Rev 17:1 is none other than, a combination of the Roman Catholic Church, the Protestant Church and all other churches worldwide, which have fallen, according to this word study from the Bible.
Another question arises, where does my church the Seventh-day Adventist Church fit in to this prophecy?
The Adventist church derives its beginnings from the Protestant Reformation during the 1500´s, and when the woman (the Protestant Church) ceased to exist at the end of chapter in Rev 12, then a remnant continued, who kept the 10 commandments of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ Rev 12:17. We are the remnant between the woman and the harlot; between the Protestant reformation and the Protestant churches of today; that is in this day and age.
What does “the remnant of her seed” mean in the New Testament?
In the Greek the word remnant is λοιπών and is a genitive plural. The word can be translated rest of her seed that is a remnant of the woman´s seed. In the Greek the word σπέρμα is translated seed.
Mat 22:2.6. The kingdom of heaven is like a certain king who arranged a marriage for his son. Verse 3. He sent out servants to those invited to the wedding. They were not willing to come. Verses 4.5. Again he sent out other servants. The guests made excuses. Verse 6. The rest/remnant seized his servants, treated them spitefully and killed them. (This parable is referring to how the leaders: priests and kings of the Israelite nation treated the prophets of Israel and killed them). We are referring to a small group here.
Rev 11:13. In the same hour, there was a great earthquake, and a tenth of the city fell. In the earthquake, seven thousand people were killed, and the rest/remnant were afraid and gave glory to the God of heaven. (Explanation: This is the time of the French Revolution 1798 A.D. The earthquake shook the political and religious structure of the nation of France. The rest were afraid and gave glory to God. (The rest/remnant is referring to a small group).
Rev 19:21. And the rest/remnant were killed with the sword which proceeded from the mouth of him who sat on the throne. (Context: This is the war of Armageddon and Christ is riding on a white horse. He is fighting the beast, the false prophet and those who worshipped his image. The beast and the false prophet will be thrown into the lake of fire with brimstone. The rest/remnant who were not part of the beast or the false prophet but were deceived, are a small group compared to the millions who belonged to the beast and the false prophet).
Mat 13:38. The field is the world, the good seeds are the sons of the kingdom, but the tares are the sons of the wicked one. (seeds are in the plural and are in the minority).
Mat 22:24. Teacher, Moses said that if a man dies, having no children, his brother shall marry his wife and raise up offspring/seed for his brother. (Seed is in the plural in Greek).
Luk 1:55. To Abraham and to his seed forever. (Although seed is in the singular σπέρματι, it has a plural connotation: From Isaac to Jacob and then 12 sons of Israel etc.).
Joh 7:42. Has not the scripture said that the Christ comes from the seed of David – – -. (Although seed is written in the singular her σπέρματος, it has a plural connotation because there are many seeds in the lineage from the time of David to the time of Christ).
Joh 8:33. We are Abrahams seed, and have never been in bondage to anyone. (Seed is σπέρμα and is in the plural).
Acts 3:25. You are the sons of the prophets, and of the covenant which God made with our fathers, saying to Abraham, “And in your seed all families of the earth shall be blessed.” (Again although seed σπέρματι is in the singular it is referring to a plural in the future as in families).
Acts 7:5. And God gave him (Abraham) no inheritance in it, not even enough to set his foot on. But when Abraham had no child, he promised to give him for a possession, and to his seed/descendants after him. (Seed in the Greek is σπέρματι and is written in the singular, however it is referring to a plural as in descendants following Abraham, as in verse 6, but God spoke in this way: that his seed σπέρμα, plural, would dwell in a foreign land).
Acts 13:23. (Subject is King David). From this man´s seed, according to the promise, God raised up for Israel a Saviour-Jesus-. (Seed = σπέρματος: genitive singular).
Rom 1:3. Jesus Christ our Lord, who was born of the seed of David according to the flesh. (σπέρματος is genitive singular).
Rom 4:13. For the promise that he would be the heir of the world was not to Abraham or to his seed through the law, but through the righteousness of faith. (σπέρματι: dative singular).
Rom 4:16. Therefore it is of faith that it might be according to grace, so that the promise might be sure to all the seed – – -. (σπέρματι: dative singular).
Rom 4:18 (Abraham) he became the father of many nations, according to what was spoken, “So shall your seed be.” (σπέρμα – plural neuter).
Rom 9:6.7. For they are not all Israel, nor are they all children because they are the seed of Abraham; but; “In Isaac your seed shall be called.” (σπέρμα: plural).
Rom 9:8. The children of the promise are counted as the seed. (σπέρμα: plural neuter).
Rom ):29. And as Isaiah said before: “Unless the Lord of the Sabbath had left us a seed, we would have become like Sodom. (σπέρμα: plural neuter).
Rom 11:1. I say then, has God cast away his people? Certainly not! For I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham of the tribe of Benjamin. (σπέρματος: genitive singular).
1 Cor 15:38. But God gives it a body as he pleases, and to each seeds its own body. (σπερμάτων: genitive plural).
2 Cor 11:22. Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they seed of Abraham? So am I. (σπέρμα: plural neuter).
Gal 3:16. Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He does not say, “And to seeds,” (σπέρμασιν: plural) as of many, but as of one, “And to your Seed,” who is Christ. (σπέρματι: singular).
Gal 3:19. What purpose does the law serve? It was added because of transgressions, till the seed should come to whom the promise was made, and it was appointed through angels by the hand of a mediator. (σπέρμα: plural neuter).
Gal 3:29. And if you are Christ´s, then you are Abraham´s seed, and heir´s according to the promise. (σπέρμα: plural neuter).
2 Tim 2:8. Remember that Jesus Christ, of the seed of David, was raised from the dead according to my gospel. (σπέρματος: genitive singular).
Heb11:11. By faith Sarah herself also received strength to conceive seed, and she bore a child when she was past the age – – -. (σπέρματος: gen singular).
1 Joh 3:9. Whoever has been born of God does not sin, for his seed remains in him; he cannot sin, because he has been born of God. (σπέρμα: plural neuter).
Rev 12:17. And the dragon was enraged with the woman, and went to make war with the rest of her offspring (seed), who keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ. (σπέρματος: gen singular referring to the last generation).
Conclusion
The words seed and remnant are related to the last generation of the true church of believers who keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ. They are related to believers in God. A few in number. Abrahams seed. All families will be blessed in Abraham´s seed. Christ from the seed of David. Israel´s seed would dwell in a foreign land. Through righteousness by faith the seed is promised. Abraham becomes the father of many nations. So your seeds shall be. Children of promise are counted as seed. Seed of the sower. Promise made to Abraham “your seed will be blessed,” referring to Christ´s seed and all believers blessed in Christ. Born of God and does not sin.
The Shaking
The Seventh-day Adventist church keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ. However, not all the members will be saved in the Adventist Church. There will come a time before the Second Coming of Christ when the church as a whole will go through a shaking. This teaching comes from the text in:
2 Thess 2:1-4. Now brethren, concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ – – -. Let no one deceive you by any means, for that day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshipped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God.
The only person who fits the description of the “son of perdition” is the pope of the Roman Catholic Church. The pope exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshipped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God. But what about the “falling away which comes first”?
Ellen G. White a prominent writer in the Adventist Church has written the following:
The following book abbreviations can be found on www.whiteestate.org Write the book abbreviation and page number in “search”.
“When the shaking comes, by introduction of false theories, the surface readers, anchored nowhere, are like shifting sand. They slide into position to suit the turn of their feelings and bitterness – – -.”[1]
“The Lord will not excuse those who know the truth, if they do not in word and deed obey his commands.”[2]
“(The Shaking) is caused by the straight testimony called forth by the counsel of the True Witness to the Laodiceans. (Rev 3:14-22). Some will not bear this straight testimony. They will rise up against it, and this will cause a shaking among God´s people.”[3]
“Those SDA´s who take their stand under Satan´s banner will first give up their faith in the warnings and reproofs in the Testimonies of God.”[4]
“It is Satan´s plan to weaken the faith of God´s people in the Testimonies, next follows skepticism in regard to the vital points of our faith, the pillars of our position, then doubt as to the Holy Scriptures and then the downward march to perdition.”[5]
“Many a star that we have admired for its brilliance will then go out in darkness.”[6]
“Many will stand in our pulpits with the torch of false prophecy in their hands, kindled from the hellish torch of Satan.”[7]
“Ministers and doctors will depart from the faith.”[8]
“The church may appear to fall, but it does not fall. It remains while the sinners in Zion will be sifted out – – -.”[9]
Math 24:24. For false Christs and false prophets will arise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. (False prophets can refer to false Christian churches. The elect are Christians).
Math 13:24-30. 36-43. The parable of the wheat and the tares. Verse 30 The wheat and the tares grow together in the church until the harvest at the Second Coming of Christ.
Luk 18:8. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will he really find faith on the earth?
“As the storm approaches, a large class who have professed faith in the third angels message, but have not been sanctified through obedience to the truth, abandon their position and join the ranks of the opposition. By uniting with the world and partaking of its spirit, they have come to view matters in nearly the same light; and when the test is brought, they are prepared to choose the easy, popular side. Men of talent and pleasing address, who one rejoiced in the truth, employ their powers to deceive and mislead souls. They become the most bitter enemies of their former brethren.”[10]
Now what does Ellen G. White mean here in this text in the book Confrontation page 608 when she is referring to a large class which will leave the Adventist church? A large group or a large class are the same thing. If a group of people consisting of 100 people are divide into two, they are evenly grouped. That is 50 people into each group or class. If one group is under 50 people, they are in the minority and this is called a small group. If the group is over 50 people, they are in the majority, this is called a large group or class. A large group or class means over 50%, or 50% to 75% of the church will leave the Adventist church before the Second Coming of Christ.
We are talking about over 50% to 75% of the leadership in the Adventist church; over 50% to 75% of the teachers and theologians in our universities and schools: over 50% to 75% of our pastors in our churches; over 50% to 75% of medical doctors and nurses in the hospitals.
“And at that time (of terrible crisis) the superficial, conservative class, whose influence has steadily retarded the progress of the work, will renounce the faith and take their stand with its avowed enemies toward whom their sympathies have long been tending.”[11]
Now when the tares or weeds are sifted out from the wheat in the church and many of the members and little ones have been laid to rest,[12] [13] there are not many members left. That is where we stand as a church before the Second Coming of Christ. The majority of the Adventist Church have joined the Harlot and that is the worldwide Ecumenical Church. That is why when Jesus comes back to this earth, he says in Luk 18:8. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will he really find faith on the earth?
However, having stated these quotes from Ellen G. White which are negative as regards to the Seventh Day Adventist church, we can conclude on a positive quotation from her book “Notwithstanding the agencies combined against the truth, a large number take their stand upon the Lord´s side.”[14] Where does this large number come from? From sincere believers in the Roman Catholic Church, the fallen protestant church and all Christian churches worldwide.
I am being realistic when analyzing the text of the Bible from Luk 18:8 and the quotes from Ellen G. White. What constitutes an honest Christian in the book of Revelation? It is he who keeps the commandments of God and has the faith of Jesus Christ. But is that enough?
“As the storm approaches, a large class who have professed faith in the third angels message, but have not been sanctified through obedience to the truth, abandon their position and join the ranks of the opposition.”[15] What does “sanctified through obedience to the truth” mean in this quote? It means faith without works is dead. It is cheap grace. Faith without witnessing for Christ as a lifestyle, is cheap grace and is dead according to the Bible.
What about the two passages in scripture: Ezek 33:7-9 and in James 2:14-17, which many avoid.
Ezek 33:7-9. So you, son of man: I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel; therefore you shall hear a word from My mouth and warn them for me. Verse 8. When I say to the wicked, “O wicked man, you shall die!” and you do not speak to warn the wicked from his way, that wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood I will require at your hand. Verse 9. Nevertheless if you warn the wicked to turn from his way, he shall die in his iniquity; but you have delivered your soul. There are not many sermons preached on this text in the Adventist church, because it involves personal witnessing to the public. If we do not witness to our friends and neighbors, then the responsibility lies with us and this may prevent us coming to heaven because of our selfishness.
James 2:14-17. What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him? Verse 17. Thus, also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. This is the problem with the Laodicean Church in the book of Revelation 3:14-22. They believe in the Bible, but do not practice all what it says in the Bible. Jesus says he will vomit this church out of his mouth. The church spoken about in Rev 2:1-7 to the church at Ephesus. Verse 2.3. I know your works, your labor, your patience – – -. And you have persevered and have patience, and have labored for my name´s sake and have not become weary. Verse 4, that you have left your first love.
What is this first love Christ is talking about in this text? It is where every member of the church is revealing the love for Christ and the works of Christ´s example to others. Helping people in need and preaching the gospel through witnessing.
Helping people and witnessing is not the same as attending church and sitting in the pews every week and going home and doing nothing for Christ. In fact, there is no record of any church building in the New Testament. All the believers met in homes, which are some of the most welcoming, comforting and most friendliest places on earth. They never met in a cold churches, where one cannot communicate with more than 12 members, at a time, each week.
The first church building was built in AD 250. That is 250 years after Christ and this kind of church setup continued into the great age of Basilicas designed by man, to show his great pride in what he can achieve. Furthermore, we have inherited from the Roman Catholic Church a set up where the priest stands up on a platform and preachers a sermon every week, while the members sit on their benches and say amen! This is the high point for all church members each week. But this was not so, during the times of Christ and the apostles. The early church did not have a church building on every street corner in their home town. The early believers met in homes on a weekly basis, and all participated in the church service and witnessing for Christ to the public. This is how the church expanded like dynamite in Israel and the diaspora during the first century.
So the problem with my own church is, the majority are not witnessing for Christ. They are becoming like the harlot, worshipping God on a weekly basis in large churches. “By uniting with the world and partaking of its spirit, they have come to view matters in nearly the same light; and when the test is brought, they are prepared to choose the easy, popular side.”[16] What we need is, to get back to the time of the New Testament and practice on a daily basis witnessing for Christ, helping anyone in need, and inviting them into our homes for a meal and get together. OK! That is enough of sermonizing. Let’s get on with the text.
Rev 17:1 Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls came and talked with me, “Come I will show you the judgement of the great harlot who sits on many waters.”
What do many waters mean in the book of Revelation?
Rev 1:15. His voice as the sound of many waters. (Refers to the voice of Christ in heaven).
Rev 14:2. And I heard a voice from heaven, like the voice of many waters, and like the voice of loud thunder. And I heard the sound of harpists playing their harps. (Refers to the 144,000 voices in heaven singing a new song verse 3).
Rev 17:1. Come I will show the judgment of the great harlot who sits on many waters.
Rev 17:15. The waters which you saw, where the harlot sits, are peoples, multitudes, nations and tongues. (These people are related to one voice of praise and worship to the fallen church worldwide, which is opposite to the voices of the 144,000 who keep the Ten Commandments of God and the faith of Jesus Christ Rev 14:12).
Rev 19:6. And I heard, as it were, the voice of a great multitude, as the sound of many waters and as the sound of mighty thunder, saying, Alleluia! For the Lord God Omnipotent reigns.
Conclusion
Many waters are related to the voice of Christ up in heaven and the 144,000 up in heaven. Many waters are also related to the 144,000 singing a new song and the voice of the great multitude praising God in heaven. They also keep the Ten Commandments of God and the true faith of Jesus Christ. These commandments include the Sabbath day which is on a Saturday.
As regards to the harlot sitting on many waters, this represents the worldwide fallen church singing and praising God through false worship and teachings they have received from the scarlet beast. These teachings represent the wine of her fornication in Rev 17:2.3. These teachings are opposite to the Ten Commandments of God and the true faith in Jesus Christ. i.e. the sabbath day which is on a Sunday.
[1] Ellen G. White, Testimonies to Ministers and Gospel Workers, (Mountain View, California: Pacific Press Pub., Assoc., 1962), 112.
[2] White, Testimonies for the Church Vol. 6. (Mountain View, California: Pacific Press Pub., Assoc., 1948),332.
[3] Ibid., 181.
[4] White, Selected Messages Vol 3. (Washington D. C.: Review & Herald Pub., Assoc., 1980), 84.
[5] White, Testimonies for the Church Vol. 4. (Mountain View, California: Pacific Press Pub., Assoc., 1948), 211.
[6] White, Patriarchs and Prophets (Mountain View, California: Pacific Press Pub., Assoc., 1958),188.
[7] White, Last Day Events (www.whiteestate.org),179.
[8] Ibid., 179.
[9] White, Selected Messages Vol. 2. (Washington D. C.: Review & Herald Pub., Assoc., 1958),380.
[10] White, Confrontation (Grantham, Lincolnshire: The Stanborough Press, 1978), 608.
[11] White, Testimonies for the Church Vol. 5. 463.
[12] White, Counsels on Health (Mountain View, California: Pacific Press Pub., Assoc., 1951), 375.
[13] White, Selected Messages Vol. 2. 259.
[14] White, Confrontation, 612.
[15] Ibid., 608.
[16] Ibid., 608.