Only one safe church exists in God’s kingdom. It is a church without walls and a church with no leader except Jesus Christ himself. But many churches populate the streets and corners of this world which are not safe. These churches follow the pattern of Israel and Judah who forsook the LORD. In order to understand them we must understand God’s grand prophecy to the churches, the Book of Revelation.

For example, Who is the harlot who rides the beast in Revelation 17 and 18? She is a mystery indeed for although the churches of Christ throughout the world should recognize her, almost none does. The beast she rides represents the governments of men and the harlot represents all the religions of the world who have “gone to bed” with the beast, who have depended upon the beast for many favors and promises of worldly power. Simply consider the history of western civilization. A nation’s established church, whether Catholic, the Church of England, or the many other protestant churches have always remained so loyal to their governments that they have not spoken the truth when their leaders have passed evil laws and waged evil wars. Even in America today we find that those who consider themselves true patriots and who defend the American constitution with their guns and their lives are mainly Christians.  “Guns and God” has even become a new slogan. How sick. Do you think that Jesus would ever carry a gun? Little do most Christians realize that they ride the beast of satanic government as harlots to their faith.

Since God wrote the Bible to and for believers we should see the harlot as therefore representing defiled Christian religion instead of the other world religions, for all must come to God through Christ if at all. Therefore when the angel cries,

“Come out of her, my people,’[b]
    so that you will not share in her sins,
    so that you will not receive any of her plagues;
5 for her sins are piled up to heaven,
    and God has remembered her crimes.” (Revelation 18:4-5)

the angel is warning Christians to come out of their apostate churches which have defiled themselves by conforming to men’s ways instead of to God’s. Now, take the time to read Revelation 2 and 3. You will see that only one of the seven churches (seven types of church) remains wholly undefiled before God, the Church of Philadelphia. From the start of our marriage in 1978 until 2001 my wife and I belonged to the Church of Thyatira. The Church of Thyatira represents the “charismatic” church that supposedly walks in the gifts and miracles of God, but in fact she depends upon Satanic power to produce her so-called signs. She follows the Jezebel spirit, not the Spirit of Christ. Two or three years ago a wrote a short series on the Church of Thyatira that you can find on this site. In 2001 we consciously left this church. We came out of her so that we would not share in her sins or her plagues. We almost joined a Baptist church after that, but the Spirit prevented us. (Baptists belong to another of the seven churches, not Thyatira) Since 2001 we have not attended any established church with the design or desire to join it.

Now you will notice if you read Revelation 2 and 3 that overcomers of God may exist in each of the seven types of God’s churches. Jesus makes it very clear that only few of the members in most of the churches ever overcome. This tells me that a person could be led of the spirit to remain in a particular perverted church for some spiritual assignment which God gives him or her. But, if you remain in a defiled church you must be very sure that God wants you to stay there. We know that God has commanded us to leave harlot Christianity; you must therefore KNOW FOR CERTAIN if God desires you to remain in a harlot church.

Now consider Christ’s words to the one safe church, the Church of Philadelphia.

7 And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write; These things saith he that is holy, he that is true, he that hath the key of David, he that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth;

8 I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name.

9 Behold, I will make them of the synagogue of Satan, which say they are Jews, and are not, but do lie; behold, I will make them to come and worship before thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee.

10 Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.

11 Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown.

12 Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name.

13 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches. (Revelation 3:7-13 KJV)

In a future post I hope to expound somewhat on this very interesting passage of Scripture. For now, meditate and pray about it, for it speaks of these days we live in at the end of this age, just before the very great tribulation prophesied in the entire Bible.