Posted by Michael Bunker
editor@lazarusunbound.com
“The
Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to shew unto his servants
things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his
angel unto his servant John: Who bare record of the word of God, and of the
testimony of Jesus Christ, and of all things that he saw. Blessed is he that
readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things
which are written therein: for the time is at hand” (Revelation 1:1-3).
September
13, 2004 – The single most prominent prophetic truth about the last days as
pictured throughout scripture is its general apostasy. Biblical prophecy paints us a picture of an
end time world swarmed over with nominal “christianity”, apostate from head to
toe, incomparably rich and comfortable, dull of hearing, wicked of heart, and
ignorant of history and of scripture.
The apostasy is so general and pervasive in the end times that Jesus
Christ, in His Revelation to the remnant Church, states that those who actually
read AND understand the prophecy, and who “keep those things” written
in the book, are to be considered blessed. This promised blessing is so limited in its
application by the context of the prophecies that it can be absolutely accepted
that the vast majority of professing “christians” are locked out from a proper understanding of the book, and
therefore are not designed to be the beneficiaries of the blessings
therein. The overall theme of general
apostasy in the last days identifies most who profess “christianity” as mere
apostates, deceived by the devil and by their own lusts, comfortably condemned
in corporate churches and awaiting judgment.
This
book is not “The Revelation of John”, but is the Revelation of Jesus Christ, wherein our Savior Himself reveals to
us the information that is critical for us to know about or lives and our
times. Jesus “signified” the
Revelation, meaning that He used signs and symbols to hide the meaning from
those (both secular and religious persons) who are not meant to understand it,
and to make it clear and understandable to those who are willing to truly
“read” and “hear” the words of the prophecy.
By way of Revelation, Jesus Christ gives unmistakable orders and
commands to His true (and few) remnant Church, and expects them to “keep those things which are written
therein”. It is exactly because of
the specific blessing provided for those who read, understand and keep the
words of this book, that the Jesuitical agents of the Popish Antichrist have
seen fit to wage war against this important canonical book.
JESUIT
INTERPRETATIONS
Most
attempts on disarming and pacifying the Church Militant on earth have been focused
on eradicating, changing, or re-interpreting this book. Matthew Poole, in his Commentary on
Revelation, said:
“There have been
found some in the tents of protestants, that have taken much pains to free the
papacy from the imputation of antichrist.
This I conceive was Grotius’s design, in the interpretation of this
book, as if it had been a history rather than a prophecy, and if a prophecy,
fulfilled in less than two hundred and fifty years after it was published. As to the papacy being antichrist, I think
that great person spake well, who would not be peremptory in the case, but
said, it had so many of his marks, that upon a hue and cry for antichrist,
he should apprehend him. I shall add, that if he were so apprehended
and tried, he could never aquit himself either at the bar of Scripture or
reason.”
(Matthew Poole Commentary on Revelation).
Two
Roman Catholic Jesuit interpretations of prophecy, both attempts to defend the
Papacy from the imputation of Antichrist, have overwhelmed modernist, apostate
Christianity – and it is these two views that now entertain and enthrall
millions of those who profess to be believers.
The
Jesuitical Futurist
interpretive scheme casts all of the most important prophecies of this book,
especially those concerning what the Church is to do, into the future, making
this book more of a fascinating storybook or a science fiction novel than a
critical blueprint for the actions and behavior of the true Church. Futurism teaches that the Antichrist cannot
be the Papacy, since almost all of the prophecies of the Book of Revelation
will be fulfilled in a still future 3 ½ or 7 year period of great
tribulation. Futurism was not taught in
the Church until the mid 1500’s, when it was created by Francisco Ribera
(1537-1591) a Spanish Jesuit doctor of theology who wrote a commentary on the
Apocalypse (which he had published the year before he died) entitled In
Sacrum Beati Ioannis Apostoli, & Evangelistiae Apocalypsin Commentarij. Ribera defended the Papacy from the charge
of being Antichrist by proposing that most of the prophecies of the Apoclypse
(including the unveiling of Antichrist) would be fulfilled in a future period
of 3 1/2 literal years, immediately prior to the second coming. Other Jesuit agents and short-robes have
expanded and extended the teachings of Ribera to the point where we have the
modernist version of Ribera’s mythology embodied in the current teaching of a 7
year period of Tribulation, with a single man called “The Antichrist” being
unveiled in physical Jerusalem in the midst of that 7 year period.
The
Jesuitical Preterist
interpretive scheme casts all (or most) of the important prophecies of this
book into the distant past, thereby portraying this book as an unimportant
relic of historic literature. Preterism
was proposed by another Spanish Jesuit priest named Luis De Alcazar
(1554-1613) who wrote a commentary called Investigation of the Hidden Sense
of the Apocalypse. Alcazar’s preterism proposes that all
of Revelation applied to pre Catholic pagan Rome and the first six centuries of
Christianity.
The
Preterist can say, “This book does not apply to me because it was all finished
and fulfilled in the past”. The
Futurist can say, “This book does not really apply to me since I will be
raptured before most of it takes place”.
Only the Historicist can rightfully say, “Every word of this book is
important to me, and I am commanded to READ, HEAR, and UNDERSTAND this book,
for my own spiritual and temporal well being.”
The
prophecy of general apostasy in our time is shown to be fulfilled when we
examine the absolute hatred and abhorrence that the early protestants and
Puritans had for the Jesuitical interpretations. Listen to the brilliant Puritan Thomas Brightman:
“But mine anger and
indignation burst out against the Jesuits. For when I had by chance light upon
Ribera, who made a commentary on this same holy Revelation, Is it even so? said
I Do the Papists take heart again; so as that book, which of a long time before
they would scarce suffer any man to touch, they dare now take in hand, to
intreat fully upon? What! was it but a vain image or bug, at the sight whereof
they were wont to tremble a few years since, even in the dim light, that now
they dare be bold to look wishly upon this glasse in the clear sunshine; and
dare to proclaime to the world that any other thing rather is poynted at in it
than their Pope of Rome?” (Thomas Brightman, circa 1600)
GENERAL APOSTASY
The
Book of Revelation has a grand scope, entailing the prophetic history (history
here encapsulating the historic scenario – past, present, and future) of the
True Church. In telling such a massive
drama, the book necessarily follows the intertwining history of both the
secular world and the religious world.
The great commentator E.B. Elliot describes these two concurrent dramas:
“--- the former, or
secular, comprehending the grand political changes and revolutions of the Roman
world, with the agencies instrumental in causing them, whether from without or
from within: the latter, or ecclesiastical, the outward fortunes, adverse or
prosperous, of the Church; its purity or corruptions of doctrine and worship, its
general apostasy in the course of time, the coalescing of the apostatizing
church with the world, and the separation, sufferings, faith, protection, and
ultimate triumph of the saints, that is of the true people, the spiritual
church of God.” (E.B. Elliot, Horae Apocalypticae, Vol. 1, Chapter 4, page 100-101)
The
history written for us prophetically in the Revelation of Jesus Christ, is a
history of a professing people (who call themselves “Christians”) but who
follow in the footsteps of apostate Israel; we see a church, once grand and
magnificent in her purity and poverty, now apostate and heretical in her wealth
and decadence. However deep the desire
of the apostate church system to strike the words “remnant” and “elect” from
their lexicons and their Bibles, the prophetic utterances of inspired scripture
will forever convince us of one critical fact:
The so-called “church” of the last days is in a state of general
apostasy… and only a small remnant, existing and protected OUTSIDE of the
institutional “church” system, is the true and victorious, elect Church of
Jesus Christ.
The
grand drama of Revelation is the story of divisions and contrasts:
1.
The
division and contrast between the huge, prosperous and apostate last days
“Christian” system, and the small and faithful true Church, the remnant of
God’s people.
2.
The
division and contrast between the true remnant Church and their system of
culture and commerce, and the global, Roman, worldly system of culture and
commerce.
3.
The
division and contrast between those who have humbly submitted their wills and
lives to the Sovereign God of the universe, and those who have knowingly or
ignorantly submitted themselves to the God of their own mind and free will, and
by default then – have become the servants of the Popish Antichrist and of the
Devil (as the scriptures says, “No man
can serve two masters” (Matt. 6:24).
Revelation
is also the story of one true Church, divided temporarily by the stubborn
illusion of time. We find the Church Victorious in heaven, surrounding
the throne (and some under the altar) crying out for Christ to finish His
magnificent work and to have vengeance on their enemies; and we see the Church Militant on earth, engaged in the
great battle against Antichrist, joining their brothers in heaven with the cry “Even So, Come, Lord Jesus”.
A
proper view and understanding of Revelation not only identifies us as the true
remnant Church of Jesus Christ, but also unifies us with the martyrs and saints
who now attend the Church Victorious in heaven, and who have given their
temporal lives in the battle against Antichrist on earth.
It
is very painful for some to learn that they are not really part of the true
Church at all, but are joined by doctrine and prophetic understanding with that
Great Harlot and usurper, the Church of Rome.
I want to make it very clear that the true Church (once called
Protestant) has long identified the Popish Church as Antichrist, and maintains
that prophecy is being fulfilled currently and continuously, and all those who
hold to Popish prophetic mythologies are either willing or ignorant tools and
warriors for Antichrist on this earth.
The importance of this statement will become clearer as we progress
through our study on Revelation.
The
prophetic history painted for us in Revelation is of a WORLD that is separate
and distinct from God’s elect Saints.
While the WORLD in view would eventually abandon paganism and embrace
nominal Christianity (fulfilling the type of the Gentile court, attached to the
temple of apostate Israel); that same “CHRISTIAN” WORLD would, in time, move
into complete apostasy.
Let
us take a look at a clue left for us in this marvelous book:
“I know thy works,
and where thou dwellest, even where Satan's seat is: and thou holdest fast my
name, and hast not denied my faith, even in those days wherein Antipas was my faithful martyr,
who was slain among you, where Satan dwelleth." (Rev. 2:13)
The
word “Antipas” is a Greek word found in Strong’s Concordance and is numbered
there as a compound of two other Greek words, G493 and G3962. G473 is the Greek word “Anti”, which means
against, in place of, or opposite of.
G3962 is the Greek word “Pater” which is the word for FATHER. The faithful martyr, who Jesus celebrates,
who was slain in Pergamos was the one who was Anti-Papa, or Anti-Papal –
against the one who called himself “Holy Father” or POPE. I am going to quote extensively here from my
article entitled “The Doctrine of the Papal Antichrist” so that we can refresh
our memories concerning Pergamos and Antichrist:
(1.)
Pergamos is related to “Satan’s Seat”, and was where Satan then dwelt.
We know from history that the religion of BABYLON, the Gnostic Mystery
Religion, had passed to Pergamos from Babylon when that city was conquered by
Cyrus in 539 B.C. The last King of Babylon was Belshazzar. Daniel teaches us
(Daniel Chapter 5) that it was Belshazzar’s father Nebuchadnezzar who had taken
the Holy vessels from the Jerusalem Temple. Belshazzar commanded that the Holy
vessels be brought forth and that he would drink from them. Keep this in mind,
because DRINKING FROM A GOLDEN CUP is a sign of Antichrist that we need to
heed:
“Belshazzar,
whiles he tasted the wine, commanded to bring the golden and silver vessels
which his father Nebuchadnezzar had taken out of the temple which was in Jerusalem; that the king, and
his princes, his wives, and his concubines, might drink therein.” (Dan 5:2)
In that very night, Belshazzar was killed,
and Darius the Mede took the kingdom. So Belshazzar was the last Babylonian
King who was High Priest of the Cult of the Magi - the Babylonian Mystery
Religion. When Cyrus the Persian attacked and conquered Babylon in 539 B.C.,
the Priests of the Babylonian religion fled to Pergamos, where they set up the
SEAT and SYSTEM of this pagan and idolatrous religion.
(2.) John says that there exists in
Pergamos, in addition to those who hold to the ecclesiastical tyranny of the
Nicolaitanes, those that hold to the Doctrine of Balaam. This is another clue
for us. We learn in the book of Numbers, Chapter 22, that Balaam was NOT a
secular or pagan prophet, but he was recognized as a Prophet of God, WITHIN THE
REALMS of the professing church. A leader of the people who professed to be
obedient to God. Specifically, the doctrine of Balaam encouraged the people to
“commit fornication”. This “fornication” was not speaking of sexual impurity,
but signified the harlotry that Revelation would expose as the MYSTERY BABYLON,
the WHORE CHURCH that would ensnare both Roman Catholics, and Arminian
Protestants the world over.
Now let us follow the Pergamos clues
forward through history:
(1.) The Supreme High Priest of the
Babylonian Religion was called PONTIFEX MAXIMUS, or Supreme Pontiff. This title
existed in Pergamos as the title of the Babylonian High Priest after the
religion moved its headquarters to that city.
(2.) Pergamos became the seat of the
Attalid Kingdom during the 3rd Century before Christ. Attalus III,
the last king of this dynasty died in 133 B.C., and upon his death, he left his
entire kingdom and all his peoples as an inheritance to be given over to Rome.
Rome accepted this inheritance at the death of Attalus the Third. Along with
the inheritance, went the title PONTIFEX MAXIMUS, as the rule of Pergamos was
given over in marriage to the Caesars of Rome.
(3.) The Title PONTIFEX MAXIMUS
remained the property of the Roman rulers until the Emperor Gratian refused the
blasphemous title in 376 A.D. Two years later, the Bishop of Rome named Damasus
I was elected PONTIFEX MAXIMUS, thereby becoming the Supreme High Priest of the
Babylonian Mystery Religion. Catholics admit as much as I will show by this
quote from Catholic apologist Mark Bonocore:
“Indeed,
it was not until the Empire split in two, with the Western Empire going to the
pious, youthful Emperor Gratian (c. 360 AD) that the Pope was given the title
Pontifex Maximus. Indeed, feeling that it was not right for he himself to carry
that title (since he was, after all, not a Christian priest) the pious young
Emperor bestowed it upon Pope Damasus I, who became the first Pope in history
to hold the title ‘Pontifex Maximus.’” (Mark Bonocore, Title "Pontifex Maximus" or "Supreme Pontiff")
(4.) Tertullian confirms that the
Papacy is the evil SEAT OF SATAN spoken of by John. John specifically tied the
forgiveness of Spiritual fornication with Antichrist:
“For
now I hear a thing so horrible, that I could never be silent in the face of it…
our good pontifex maximus, as the bishop of the bishops solemnly declares: “We
do forgive even the cords of adultery and fornication." (Tertullian, De
Pudicitia)
The
golden cup from which Belshazzar desired to drink was removed to Pergamos, and
thence to Rome where the Papacy has grown drunk on the blood of Antipas – all of God’s faithful
martyrs. Jesus prophesies in His
Revelation, that the professing “christian” world would join with Rome and
become one with her in the last days. An angel flies down from heaven declaring what is her future, and
why all God’s children should not only FLEE from her, but MAKE WAR against her:
“And after these
things I saw another angel come down from heaven, having great power; and the
earth was lightened with his glory. And he cried mightily with a strong voice,
saying, Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and is become the habitation of
devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and
hateful bird. For all nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her
fornication, and the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her,
and the merchants of the earth are waxed rich through the abundance of her
delicacies. And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her,
my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her
plagues. For her sins have reached unto heaven, and God hath remembered her
iniquities. Reward her even as she rewarded you, and double unto her double
according to her works: in the cup which she hath filled fill to her double.
How much she hath glorified herself, and lived deliciously, so much torment and
sorrow give her: for she saith in her heart, I sit a queen, and am no widow,
and shall see no sorrow” (Revelation 18:1-7)
It
is critically important that we identify the enemy of this Book and the proper
interpretation thereof BEFORE we begin our journey in coming to a full
understanding of it. Jesus Christ
identified Antichrist so that we would not be deceived into these last days’
pet prophecy mythologies. Most
apostates who call themselves “Christian” today are looking outside of mainline
“Christianity” for a proper suspect as “the Antichrist”. Is this not a sign of the general apostasy
prophesied in the same book? Satan does
not appear as a red suited devil with a pitchfork, but as “an angel of light”
(2 Cor. 11:14). Satan’s minions do not
appear as wolves, but as “wolves in sheep’s clothing” (Matt. 7:15). The Antichrist is not some secular political
figure, waiting to be unveiled, but is named THE VICAR of CHRIST (or
Vice-Christ) who sits in the place of Christ, calling himself God.
Most
Commentators identify the attacks against this book (and against the proper
Historicist interpretation of it) as stemming from Romanism and
Gnosticism. Early critics of the Book
of Revelation (such as Cerdon, Marcyon and the Gnostics) attacked its divine
authority and its place in the canon of Scripture. Most of these attacks centered on the narrow distribution of the
book and its early centralization in very few hands. These objections were easily and uniformly rejected because the
narrow distribution of the book was easily explained by the fact that it
exposed the wicked affairs and ultimate destruction of Pagan Rome, the temporal
power during the time of the early Church.
These attacks were widely repudiated and rejected by the church in later
ages, and the book’s harmony with the whole of Scripture, its obvious
authorship by the Apostle John, its uniformity of Doctrine with the Old and New
Testaments saw it widely embraced by the whole of Christianity until the Papacy
began to fear it and attack leading up to and during the Protestant
Reformation.
Jesus
Christ gave this Revelation, and commanded that it be distributed to the
Church, and that they hear it, understand it, and heed it. It is the last earthly Will and Testament of
Jesus Christ to His people and it is designed to give them instruction and
comfort during their continuous battle against the rising Antichrist. It is the duty of Christians to study and
apprehend the book, to be edified by it, and most importantly, to heed the
urgent call to flee from the Harlot and all that stands under her control. The subject matter of the book is so
profitable, that God promises many great and lasting blessings to those who
will endeavor to rightly divide the Word presented. Just as in any journey, then, we should first examine the map of
our travel through the book, avoiding pits and traps laid there by our enemy to
ensnare us into complacency, or convince us into apathy. The modern religious world is at enmity with
God, and their pet interpretations should be marked off before our journey as
hazardous and deadly areas to avoid at all cost. We should recognize immediately the purpose and plan of Biblical
prophecy, harmonize our minds with its goals and plans, reject the carnally
attractive lures of the devil that would desire to ensnare us, and instead put
our minds properly to the work commanded of us in these Scriptures.
I am your servant in Christ Jesus,
Michael Bunker