Merchants of the Earth

 

 

A Roman Catholic Pope surrounded by his disciples

Reminiscent of the Last Supper with Jesus surrounded by His disciples.

Jesus said: "And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it." ~ Matthew 16:18

Satan, the ever clever one and deceiver of the whole world, said: "Well, shucks! I can't destroy the church built on The Rock of Christ. So what I'll do is trick people into believing that Jesus meant Peter was the rock."

Shortly after the Day of Pentecost when the Holy Spirit descended on the small faithful flock of Christ followers, Satan convened his merry band of demons to lay out his plan to create a counterfeit church. 

 

Since Christ's Church is universal, Satan named his church the Catholic (universal) Church. He instructed his band of demons to spread out and look for a human being that they could manipulate with power and wealth. "Pretend you're an angel of light", he said, quoting scripture. ~ 2 Corinthians 11:14

His plan worked. By the 3rd century the Catholic Church had established itself as the sole authority over all biblical doctrines. They created the office of an all-knowing-all-powerful Pope. They began to wear "priestly robes" and funny looking headgear to "appear religious." They created religious rituals to "appear holy." They built magnificent cathedrals, schools, universities, hospitals, and orphan homes to make it appear that God was blessing them for their "good works." 

A List of Some to Their False Doctrines

1. This counterfeit church,The Mother of Harlots, taught the people that the tithe was now owed to their organization since the Levitical priesthood had been abolished.

2. Salvation was only through their organization

3. Man has an immortal soul and will burn in an ever burning place called hell if he fails to join "the Church"

4. Changed the 7th Day Sabbath that God ordained to the 1st day of the week.

5. Created church "holidays" that turn people away from the Holy Days of God

6. Made the merchants of the earth rich with their counterfeit holidays. There are many more false doctrines, but you get the picture.

Satan's plan worked to perfection and is still working today in all denominational churches, and society at large. The Unholy Trinity of Easter, Halloween, and Christmas are huge money makers for the merchants of the earth. And "fun" to boot. Satan knows "the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil." ~ 1 Timothy 6:10

Merchants of the Earth

• Revelation 18:3
  For all the nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication (spiritual fornication - messing with paganism), the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth have become rich through the abundance of her luxury.
• Revelation 18:11
  And the merchants of the earth will weep and mourn over her, for no one buys their merchandise anymore: (what a wonderful day that will be)
  
• Revelation 18:23
  The light of a lamp shall not shine in you anymore, and the voice of bridegroom and bride shall not be heard in you anymore. For your merchants were the great men of the earth, for by your sorcery all the nations were deceived.

Revelation 18:23 is particularly interesting. The light (Christ) of a lamp (a professed Christian) shall not shine in you (very personal), and the voice of the bridegroom (Christ) and the bride (overcomers*) shall not be heard in you anymore. For your merchants were the great men of the earth, for by your sorcery (taking part in paganism) all the nations were deceived. (by your example)

*There are two types of Christians… overcomers and non-overcomers. Non-overcomers believe that the goal of salvation is to populate heaven with “saved sinners”. Overcomers know the real goal of salvation is to put on the mind of Christ. Do what He did… crucify the works of the flesh, and get what He got… a crown of Life. Read it for yourself in James 1:12 and Revelation 3:21.

Overcomers are professional assassins of their own carnality. An overcomer asks himself three questions every day.
1. Is what I am doing now building Christ-like character?
2. Is what I am doing now producing the fruit of the Spirit? ~ Galatians 5:22
3. Is what I am doing now helping me overcome the carnal mind?

 

“Come out of her, my people, lest you share in her sins, and lest you receive of her plagues." 

~ Revelation 18:4

Read The Mother of Harlots

 

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The purpose of this post is to get people to think about what they believe and why they believe it, not debate who's right or wrong. To learn the revealed truth of God we must know and understand the true meaning of the words God inspired to be written. Use Strong's Concordance to check the original word before it was translated. Do your own research, make up your own mind, rely on the Holy Spirit to guide you.