2timothy316 wrote:
JehovahsWitness wrote:
showme wrote: Plus the JW have the mark of the beast, which precludes ruling with "Christ" (Revelation 20:4).
What do you mean Jehovah's Witnesses have "the mark of the beast"? I'm one of Jehovah's Witnesses, are you saying I have "the mark of the beast", what do you mean by that?
I think someone doesn't know what 'beasts' represent in the Bible. They don't represent religions. They represent governments.
The beasts (and the seven heads) actually do represent religions. I can see how one might mistake the beasts (and the heads on the beast) as representing governments. Religions and governments tend to go hand in hand. And religion - which people tend to listen to more than their governments - are certainly not going to teach their people that the Beast which comes up out of the sea (or the earth) is... well... themselves. One also cannot teach what one does not know.
Is it not
religion that the Adversary uses to persecute the holy ones, starting with Christ? For instance, Pilate (the government) did not concern himself with Christ, nor did Pilate want Christ killed. Pilate wanted to release Him, not execute Him. Pilate even had written "King of the Jews" over Christ at his crucifixion. On the other hand, the priests (the religion) at that time are the ones who persecuted and judged and handed Christ over to Pilate to be tried and executed. Pilate did what they wanted.
And what did Christ say?
"... the one who handed me over to you is guilty of a greater sin."
(don't get me wrong... the temple and priesthood given to Moses for Israel
had indeed been sanctioned by God. It was meant to lead TO Christ, the TRUE Temple in whom the spirit of God dwells. But He did not institute another religion; He said that the true worshipers whom the Father desires are those who worship
in spirit and in truth.)
**
You will suggest perhaps that Babylon the Great is the world empire of [false] religion. Yet she cannot be the
world empire of [false] religion. Consider:
BTG claims to sit enthroned
as a queen who will never be a widow, and who will never mourn.
In her heart she boasts, 'I sit enthroned as queen. I am not a widow; I will never mourn.' Revelation 18:7
BTG boasts in her heart that she sits enthroned as a queen...
because she believes herself to be the Bride of the King (Christ). She boasts that she will never be a widow, that she will never mourn...
because Christ - whose Bride she believes herself to be - is a King who will never die.
If it were true that she were married to a King who will never die, then she
would never be a widow in mourning. But she is not the Bride of the King (Christ) despite her claims.
Religions such as Hinduism and Buddhism do not claim to be married to the King (Christ). Not that these are true religions (there is no such thing), but they are not BTG.
BTG is the great city, made of people - the same as New Jerusalem is a city made of people, except that New Jerusalem actually IS the Bride. Whereas BTG is unfaithful to the King she promised herself to. She has had union with kings of the earth (religious or political) and produced many daughters (others sects and denominations in Christendom).
Hence, Christ calls,
"Come out of her, my people! So that you will
not share in her sins or receive any of her plagues."
May anyone who thirsts and anyone who wishes, "Come! Take the free gift of the water of life!"
(Which water is holy spirit, poured out from Christ, given to Him without end from His Father.)
Peace again to you,
your servant and a slave of Christ,
tammy