The Book of Revelation, Part 32 - Rick Joyner

      How did most of the church fall into such depravity that it would be called “the Great Harlot” and “Mystery Babylon” in the Revelation given to John? The institutional church through the Middle Ages descended into a deep darkness that is incomprehensible today. Its nature and practices could hardly have been more contrary to the teachings and instructions of Jesus or His true followers. This terrible fall and corruption of the church was predicted in the vision John was given, and it happened just as it was portrayed.

      Why was this shown to John to give to the church? Because this “Great Harlot,” also called, “Mystery Babylon,” is what the church would become if it abandoned the place of the Holy Spirit and became dominated by carnal, fallen men. The “man of sin” that would take its place in the church was a personification of “the sin of man.” This was the ultimate manifestation of the corruption and depravity of man by the fall, man’s determination to go his own way without God.

      The “man of sin” is who we all would be if we had not been shown mercy, born again, and given a new nature to grow up into—Jesus Christ, who is the Righteousness of God. The “man of sin” was prophesied to take his seat in “the temple of God,” the church, displaying himself as God. This was a personification of the sin of man ruling the church, which it did for a time.

      Though what happened in the Middle Ages is far in the past, it is crucial for us to understand it to be free of the grip it still has on the church, which is contrary to Christ, as we will see. This perhaps validates the statement, “Those who do not know history are doomed to repeat it.” This may not be Scripture, but it is true.   READ MORE