In adding to this post....I found it interesting that Rev. 17 was mentioned. God's people are going to HAVE to be able to identity her. Or they can not do or understand what follows in Rev. 18, where He says "Come out of her my people." They can not "Come out" of what they can not see they are in....blinded by the spirit of religion. We were warned to "Beware the leaven of the Pharisee."
IT IS IMPERATIVE to search and understand WHO or WHAT Rev. 17 IS!!
The time is on us to repent and to get the leaven of false religion OUT of us. The Body of Christ is falling for far to many pagan practices and LOVING it. Rev. 18 goes on to tell you what will happen to those who won't or refuse to "Come out".
Dear Precious BriarBey,
I admire and love your zeal in a list of ways. However, zeal in and of itself is not necessarily righteous. The Pharisees had a type of zeal, too.
I don't agree with your perspective on the 'called out from' 100% I believe the spirit/attitude/demonic forces involved in institutional RELIGION are all pervasive in virtually every denomination and in far too high a percentage of congregations. That's a larger problem than even 1 billion people in your deplored denomination.
I think it's the spirit/attitude/demonic led group of people for whom RELIGION OF ANY STRIPE has become their excuse, rationalization, god etc. distancing them from God vs bringing them bloser--I BELIEVE THAT is what God is calling true believers out from.
I also believe that in virtually any group which even remotely pretends to be Biblical--that there are earnest people WHO TRULY SEEK TO KNOW AND LIVE CLOSE TO GOD. I believe God will honor those believer's hearts and that they have walked earnestly in the light that they have had. And, He will lead them out in His ways and times unto Himself.
Jesus was invited to wholesale castigate or condem whole classes or groups of people repeatedly. He virtually never did--he cut across all the categories and descriptions to get at the heart attitudes of the individuals involved. I believe that is also what will be the nature of the being called out. I think the focus will be much more on heart attitudes. Heart attitudes get represented and fossilized and enshrined in RELIGIOSITY vs spirituality. But that's secondary. The first key issue is the heart attitude of the individuals.
You know that I can be stern and perhaps seen even more sternly than I am. And there is a time for sternness. But we must be careful that it really is Holy Spirit's sternness in fitting ways and fitting times and fitting contexts.
I'm learning that bashing earnest believers of any stripe is just not where God's heart is and that His discipline of them is typically between Him and them. Relatively rarely does He require me to butt in with unasked for stern exhortations and discipline of another believer--especially--'on the street' so to speak. Maybe that will change. But I've erred far too much at being too quick to slap others down for not agreeing 100% with me.
LUB