There are some who can be very gung-ho about going after “false” Christians, the Great Whore of Mystery Babylon, going on Spirit of Jezebel witch hunts, and the like. In one sense, those who are faithful to the word of God and the teachings of the gospel of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ as given by Jesus and the apostles have a duty to speak about falsehoods. We are to encourage our brethren to take up the Christian faith seriously, but we do not do so in hypocrisy, or else we are no better than the Scribes and Pharisees.
There is a time for all things according to the will of our Father in Heaven. Some things might not seem to be Christianly, such as the ministry of the faithful church brought about by the two witnesses as seen in Revelation 11. I have theorized that they would have power to do harm but would refuse as a show of restraint in a blood-thirsty world. As Jesus did. He had power to call down legions of angels, but he refused and went to the cross.
On the other hand, the false prophet will “call down fire from heaven on the earth in the sight of man.” Is this the same event as the dragon casting a third part of the stars of heaven to the earth? Is the fire angels or is it fire? I don’t know.
In any case, I know that restraint is called for if we are to be sons of God, and as someone who wrestles with the murderous nature of our flesh and hates it, I like the idea of having great power yet laying my life down instead. However, what I like to think might not be what God’s will is. It is more important to be willing to do the will of God, even if it does not make sense to me: as Abraham did when he offered up his son, Isaac. If we are part of that ministry in that time, we can trust in God to show us what we are to do.
As for now, I strongly stand by an idea that Jesus spoke of. He said that when he returns and finds people “drunken” and “smiting their fellow servants” it will not go well for them.
The Great Whore is said to be “drunken with the blood of prophets and saints and of all that are slain upon the earth.” In the Song of Moses, it also says “I will make my arrows drunk with blood and my sword shall devour much flesh.”
Vengeance is God’s.
I think back to what David said when he fought Goliath.
He said, “you come to me with a sword and a spear, but I come to you in the name of the Lord of Hosts: The God of the armies of Israel who you have defied. This day will the Lord give you into my hands, and I will smite you and take off your head and give the carcasses of your armies to the wild birds and the beasts of the field, that the whole world may know that there is a God in Israel. And all this assembly shall know that the Lord saves not with sword and spear, for the battle is the Lords and He will give you into our hands.”
When Jesus returns as we see in Revelation 19, He comes with His army to fight against the beast and false prophet, and blood is shed “up to the horses bridle.” It is also said that there are eagles feasting on the carcasses of kings, captains, horses, mighty men, and so on. This is the Battle of Armageddon and the Supper of the Great God—a battle that both Jesus and the false prophet will call their armies together to wage. We need to hear Jesus, don’t we?
I also think about things Jesus said about the “patience of the saints.”
“Those who lead into captivity must go into captivity. Those who kill with the sword must be killed with the sword.”
It is so easy for people to feel justified in harming others, and many will do so and they will think that they are doing the will of God.
“Many will kill you thinking they do God’s service. And this they will do because they have not known the Father nor me.”
We need to be exceedingly cautious in where our minds and hearts travel in these matters. As Jesus teaches, if we hate our brother in our heart, we are committing murder. Murder is not just a physical act, but a spiritual act.
Of a truth, there are many murderers among Christianity, and we do not want to be among them. Yet, we do not want to resist the will of God for us. We need to be very careful in how we use the sword of God—which is the Word of God given by the Spirit of God—because as God’s words do, these words kill and make alive. Wound and heal. His word is our weapon. His word is the fire that comes out of our mouths and devours our enemies. Sometimes this death and devouring is metaphorical as we fight lie with truth, turn enemies into friends, and so on. Other times it is more literal, as with Ananias and Saphira.
There are times for all things, but if we are not in the will of God and doing the will of God but are instead children of disobedience and children of Satan, we will not be on the right side of things.
Jesus will come and judge. He will judge the Great Whore.
We are good to consider ways in which we have been of her. We are good to consider ways in which we have been as the unfaithful churches. We are good to be on-guard against hypocrisy, so that we can stand with Jesus in the Kingdom of Heaven in heart now, fight of a truth according to His pleasing will, and know that we will also stand with Him when He returns to wage war on this earth.
If not, we might find ourselves aligning with the false christ as we wage war on the children of God—all the while thinking that we do God’s service.
Do we suppose we are immune? We are not. Not apart from the grace of God who makes us wise virgins who can see the difference. We can come to know if we will seek and find out. Yet, let us not deceive ourselves into thinking that we of our own virtue can know the difference, because we are carnally minded unless the Spirit of God is working in us.
To that end, and to all those who are gung-ho about fighting the Great Whore, Jezebel figures, false prophets, and the like—without considering that you might be one of them too—consider John 8. We want to be children of the Father in Heaven by the adoption of Jesus Christ. Not children of Satan. However, if we continue to refuse the words and work of Jesus, who are we of?
As many as walk after the Spirit of God are the sons of God. As many as walk after the spirits of this world are of the prince of this world. We are all of this world naturally. We need a savior, and there is only one name under heaven by which man can be saved: Jesus Christ.
John 8
8 Jesus went unto the mount of Olives.
2 And early in the morning he came again into the temple, and all the people came unto him; and he sat down, and taught them.
3 And the scribes and Pharisees brought unto him a woman taken in adultery; and when they had set her in the midst,
4 They say unto him, Master, this woman was taken in adultery, in the very act.
5 Now Moses in the law commanded us, that such should be stoned: but what sayest thou?
6 This they said, tempting him, that they might have to accuse him. But Jesus stooped down, and with his finger wrote on the ground, as though he heard them not.
7 So when they continued asking him, he lifted up himself, and said unto them, He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her.
8 And again he stooped down, and wrote on the ground.
9 And they which heard it, being convicted by their own conscience, went out one by one, beginning at the eldest, even unto the last: and Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst.
10 When Jesus had lifted up himself, and saw none but the woman, he said unto her, Woman, where are those thine accusers? hath no man condemned thee?
11 She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more.
12 Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.
13 The Pharisees therefore said unto him, Thou bearest record of thyself; thy record is not true.
14 Jesus answered and said unto them, Though I bear record of myself, yet my record is true: for I know whence I came, and whither I go; but ye cannot tell whence I come, and whither I go.
15 Ye judge after the flesh; I judge no man.
16 And yet if I judge, my judgment is true: for I am not alone, but I and the Father that sent me.
17 It is also written in your law, that the testimony of two men is true.
18 I am one that bear witness of myself, and the Father that sent me beareth witness of me.
19 Then said they unto him, Where is thy Father? Jesus answered, Ye neither know me, nor my Father: if ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also.
20 These words spake Jesus in the treasury, as he taught in the temple: and no man laid hands on him; for his hour was not yet come.
21 Then said Jesus again unto them, I go my way, and ye shall seek me, and shall die in your sins: whither I go, ye cannot come.
22 Then said the Jews, Will he kill himself? because he saith, Whither I go, ye cannot come.
23 And he said unto them, Ye are from beneath; I am from above: ye are of this world; I am not of this world.
24 I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins.
25 Then said they unto him, Who art thou? And Jesus saith unto them, Even the same that I said unto you from the beginning.
26 I have many things to say and to judge of you: but he that sent me is true; and I speak to the world those things which I have heard of him.
27 They understood not that he spake to them of the Father.
28 Then said Jesus unto them, When ye have lifted up the Son of man, then shall ye know that I am he, and that I do nothing of myself; but as my Father hath taught me, I speak these things.
29 And he that sent me is with me: the Father hath not left me alone; for I do always those things that please him.
30 As he spake these words, many believed on him.
31 Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed;
32 And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.
33 They answered him, We be Abraham’s seed, and were never in bondage to any man: how sayest thou, Ye shall be made free?
34 Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin.
35 And the servant abideth not in the house for ever: but the Son abideth ever.
36 If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.
37 I know that ye are Abraham’s seed; but ye seek to kill me, because my word hath no place in you.
38 I speak that which I have seen with my Father: and ye do that which ye have seen with your father.
39 They answered and said unto him, Abraham is our father. Jesus saith unto them, If ye were Abraham’s children, ye would do the works of Abraham.
40 But now ye seek to kill me, a man that hath told you the truth, which I have heard of God: this did not Abraham.
41 Ye do the deeds of your father. Then said they to him, We be not born of fornication; we have one Father, even God.
42 Jesus said unto them, If God were your Father, ye would love me: for I proceeded forth and came from God; neither came I of myself, but he sent me.
43 Why do ye not understand my speech? even because ye cannot hear my word.
44 Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.
45 And because I tell you the truth, ye believe me not.
46 Which of you convinceth me of sin? And if I say the truth, why do ye not believe me?
47 He that is of God heareth God’s words: ye therefore hear them not, because ye are not of God.
48 Then answered the Jews, and said unto him, Say we not well that thou art a Samaritan, and hast a devil?
49 Jesus answered, I have not a devil; but I honour my Father, and ye do dishonour me.
50 And I seek not mine own glory: there is one that seeketh and judgeth.
51 Verily, verily, I say unto you, If a man keep my saying, he shall never see death.
52 Then said the Jews unto him, Now we know that thou hast a devil. Abraham is dead, and the prophets; and thou sayest, If a man keep my saying, he shall never taste of death.
53 Art thou greater than our father Abraham, which is dead? and the prophets are dead: whom makest thou thyself?
54 Jesus answered, If I honour myself, my honour is nothing: it is my Father that honoureth me; of whom ye say, that he is your God:
55 Yet ye have not known him; but I know him: and if I should say, I know him not, I shall be a liar like unto you: but I know him, and keep his saying.
56 Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw it, and was glad.
57 Then said the Jews unto him, Thou art not yet fifty years old, and hast thou seen Abraham?
58 Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am.
59 Then took they up stones to cast at him: but Jesus hid himself, and went out of the temple, going through the midst of them, and so passed by.
Jesus Alone 