Theme Text– “Come out of Her, My people, so that you will not share in her sins.” Revelation 18:4.
1) What has been the story of the mainstream Christian church after the times of the Apostles?
Just like Apostle Paul predicted, savage wolves arose from among Christianity’s own, distorted biblical truths and fooled a majority of the believers. And the mass deception lasted through many centuries, through the 1260 year Anti-Christ reign of the Papacy, continued in many forms even among the Protestant Reformation churches and is still widely prevalent today. That’s why all mainstream denominations today have a variety of doctrines that go against the foundational beliefs of original Christianity.
2) With a variety of mass deceptions popular in the Christian world, what does God ask his followers to do?
These institutionalized deceptions, even as they call themselves Christian are not really so. They’re all daughters of the same Mother (the Great Harlot of Babylon). They’re no different than the pagan religions of the world. That’s why, as the theme text says, God calls those who truly want to follow him –
“Come out of Her, My people, so that you will not share in her sins.” Rev 18:4.
That’s why Jesus tells his followers – “I have chosen you out of the world” John 15:19. And he repeatedly emphasizes only a few are chosen (Matt 7:14, 22:14).
Side note: So if some religion/denomination has millions of followers, can it really be from God?
3) Why does God command us to come out of these false religious institutions?
Paul answers – Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness? What harmony is there between Christ and Belial?
Or what does a believer have in common with an unbeliever? What agreement is there between the temple of God and idols? For we are the temple of the living God. As God has said: “Come out from them and be separate, says the Lord. Touch no unclean thing, and I will receive you.” And, “I will be a Father to you, and you will be my sons and daughters, says the LORD Almighty.” 2Cor 6:14-18.
Very clear, isn’t it? That’s why even during the New Testament times, the disciples who had been part of a well-knit Jewish society had to come out of it, let go of their societal safety nets, identify themselves as followers of Christ, and get persecuted for it.
Yes, if we want to become sons and daughters of God Almighty, we’ll have to let go of the false religious institutions where Satan is the dominant force.
God may choose to give the true gospel to an unbeliever, or to a person who belongs to a pagan religion, or to someone who’s part of a so-called ‘Christian’ denomination. But his command is the same – ‘Come out of the false belief system or religious institution!’
4) So what does God want us to do once we understand the true gospel?
He wants us to undergo a baptism (not the one taught in churches) and then prove our faith in Christ by running a race he has marked out for us. He has special things in store for His chosen people. He has got major plans for us in His upcoming glorious Kingdom.
But that requires some changes. And it all starts with a baptism!
Questions For Further Study
What is baptism according to the Bible? How can we prove our faith? What is this race marked out for us?
