What is Going On?
"… and the
inhabitants of the earth were made drunk with the wine
of her fornication.”" (Revelation 17:2)
The whole world
seems to have lost it’s mind! After living more than
half my life, I still cannot believe what I have
witnessed this past week. Yes, the Pope died. But in the
same day 480 (That’s right, four hundred and eighty)
Christians were killed for the faith!
That means 20 believers die every hour, somewhere in the
world, because they will not deny their Lord.
Did you see or
hear anything about these martyrs on the news or in the
papers? Probably not. I flicked from channel to channel
in the hope to find out what else was going on in the
world, but wherever you looked there was only one item
that was being broadcast: The pope is dying, the pope
has died, the pope is lying in state, the pope was a
wonderful, great heroic leader. In fact, the images I
saw on the screen and in the newspaper said even more.
They said he was a god to many. I watched as some
mourned as though the world was about to end.
“Evangelicals” and world leaders bowed and kneeled
before his corpse as they had probably never kneeled
before the Risen Christ – willfully forgetting the
command “ you shall not bow down to them” (Exodus
20:5) Others laud him, extol his name and his
achievements as though he were the very Christ. As I
watched (protestant) world leaders bow and kneel before
the corpse, I wondered if this was not a fulfillment of
Revelation 17:2 "with whom the kings of the earth
committed fornication, and the inhabitants of the earth
were made drunk with the wine of her fornication.”
Jesus’ death
never got the attention this man’s did. Four million
pilgrims from across the world did never joined the two
secret disciples as they identified with the shame of
that broken body on a cross. He did not have 100 world
leaders attend His funeral and the simplicity of a
borrowed grave and insufficient embalmment cannot be
compared to the pomp and circumstance of the world event
of past Friday. The blood, gore and disgrace of the
Cross does not compare with the "purple and scarlet,
and adorned with gold and precious stones and pearls…"
of the one who lay in state as thousands lined up to
genuflect before the dead.
Something has got
to be wrong here! And what about the 60 additional
Christians that died horrible, painful deaths at the
hand of unbelievers in the time it took the world to lay
this man to rest on Friday? Did the world leaders who
set aside hefty matters of state, a royal wedding and
their political differences, in order to be united in
prayers for the dead, say one word about the injustice
of the over 200 million Christians who will be
persecuted, arrested, tortured, beaten or jailed for
their faith this year?
Jesus stood to
welcome the first martyr home and the thousands that are
killed for the faith every year still have a special
place in heaven where they continue to cry: "with a
loud voice, saying, “How long, O Lord, holy and true,
until You judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell
on the earth?” (Revelation 6:9,10). But here, in
this world, they are ignored while those who live in
ease and comfort are mourned. Remember the rich man and
Lazarus.
During all the
commentary on the “news” I watched in horror as a local
bishop drew a parallel between Jesus’ work of
reconciliation and the reconciliation which the Church
of Rome began to pursue with “our Islamic brethren”
under the leadership of the deceased. The church of Rome
has always been more than suspect, in my eyes, and for
one of their spokesmen to refer to Muslims as brothers
seems to confirm the label “great harlot” (Rev 17).
Finally, I understand why Romish priests and Muslim
Imams wear the same clothes and their followers recite
prayers using the same beads to mark the repetitions.
As I write, it is
hard for me to find a positive note in all this and I
struggle to find the correct response except to say that
we are not to be taken by surprise. This was prophesied
from old and confirms the nearness of the coming of our
great and glorious King before whose feet every knee
shall bow and every tongue confess that He is Lord. In
the mean time I am reminded of the words of John: "We
know that we are of God, and the whole world lies under
the sway of the wicked one. And we know that the Son of
God has come and has given us an understanding, that we
may know Him who is true; and we are in Him who is true,
in His Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God and
eternal life. Little children, keep yourselves from
idols. Amen." (1 John 5:19-21)
In the context
of false religion, the Spirit says through John: “Come
out of her, my people, lest you share in her sins, and
lest you receive of her plagues.” (Revelation 18:4).
Yes, He is coming for a spotless and undefiled bride and
we need to keep ourselves pure. This we do as we love
Him and Him alone. Bowing down before, and reserving
reverence in our hearts, for anything other than Jesus
Christ is fornication and unfaithfulness.
Yes, the pope
has died but: " In the year that King Uzziah died, I
saw the Lord sitting on a throne, high and lifted up,
and the train of His robe filled the temple."
(Isaiah 6:1). Have you seen Him in His high and
glorified position? Have you recently seen Him
thus, and has this vision changed your life and mission
as it did Isaiah’s?
Anton
Bosch
antonbosch@sbcglobal.net
www.abcd.co.za/offi
www.abcd.co.za/plumbline
Tel 818 846 5520
Fax 818 846 4357
3310 West
Magnolia Blvd
Burbank, California
91505-2907
USA