Revelation 17:1-6 And there came one of the seven angels which had the seven vials, and talked with me, saying to me, Come here… The description here given of this harlot suggests and illustrates three great evils ever conspicuous in corrupt Christianity. I. POLITICAL SUBSERVIENCY. "With whom the kings of the earth have committed fornication." Essentially Christianity is the absolute queen of life. Although her kingdom is "not of this world," her demand is that the world should bow to her. In yielding to worldly influence she lost her pristine purity and primitive power, she got corrupted, and became more and more the servant of rulers and the instrument of states. II. WORLDLY PROCLIVITY. "And the woman was arrayed in purple anal scarlet colour, and decked with gold," etc. Genuine Christianity is essentially unworldly. III. RELIGIOUS INTOLERANCE. "And I saw the woman drunken with the blood of the saints," etc. (David Thomas, D. D.) Parallel Verses KJV: And there came one of the seven angels which had the seven vials, and talked with me, saying unto me, Come hither; I will shew unto thee the judgment of the great whore that sitteth upon many waters: |
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