What Is the Result of the Work of the Harlot?

“For true and righteous are His judgments, because He has judged the great harlot who corrupted the earth with her fornication; and He has avenged on her the blood of His servants shed by her.” Rev. 19:2.

“For by your sorcery all the nations were deceived.” Rev. 18:23.

The earth was corrupted and the nations were deceived—what a terrible result! What a catastrophe! When something becomes commonplace, people accept it as lawful and right; but we must say with Luther in this matter: “It is nevertheless the very nature of things that no Christian should have a part or confidence in it, but must condemn it as the worst sort of blasphemy and idolatry; and therefore avoid carefully all contact with it like the plague, regardless of how thickly they spread it on and boast that it is ancient tradition and has the approval of the masses. One can just as easily go astray when one’s following is great as when it is not. He who drifts with the current will eventually be lost in the sea.”3

It is quite common to hear people say, “Do you believe that our theologians have made a mistake? Is it only a few who are right?” These questions clearly reveal that their faith is based on human wisdom, on the opinion of the masses—contrary to God’s Word that testifies from cover to cover that “the many” are false prophets and “the many” corrupt the gospel. 2 Cor. 2:17. The prophet Micah stood alone against 400 false prophets. The fact that they were many did not make them right. 1 Kings 22:6. It is only the few who find the way and go through the narrow gate.

“For by your sorcery all the nations were deceived.” Jesus told us to make disciples of all nations. That is the right way, but the harlot has deceived them. Where are they now? Instead of coming to Jesus they have come to the beast—the Antichrist.

“And all the world marveled and followed the beast. So they worshiped the dragon who gave authority to the beast; and they worshiped the beast saying, ‘Who is like the beast? Who is able to make war with him?’” Rev. 13:3-4.

This is the result of the work of the harlot. “So he carried me away in the Spirit into the wilderness. And I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast which was full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns.” Rev. 17:3.

Here we can see where the harlot is sitting. She has become a friend of the beast, which carries and supports her. People do not like the beast. They were created in the image of God, and they look up to what they have fallen from. They yearn for something better, and they labor to get a better life and to become better people. In this labor they have looked to Christianity to receive help, and the harlot has taken this work in hand. People want to achieve this as easily as possible, and so the harlot has been able to satisfy them with her sorcery, hereby gaining power over them. Thus by her harlotry she has managed to combine the first and the second man—the beast and Jesus. Of course this is not possible, but this is how the beast has become religious. The beast has been tamed, whereas it should have been put to death. The people have been spared from its claws and fangs and instead have received a wolf in sheep’s clothing. The harlot has become a protection for the beast, because the beast supports religion. Thus no one needs to fear it any longer. Once in a while you can hear some voices saying that things are not as they should be, but the usual response is: “Isn’t it better that there is something rather than nothing? Jesus’ words ‘I could wish you were cold or hot,’ cannot be taken too seriously. We should be glad for the warmth we get, even if it is only lukewarm. We should be glad for the support we receive even if they are not Christians. At least they are interested in religion, aren’t they?”

And so they speak in direct contradiction to the Word of God that says: “The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord.” Prov. 15:8. We need to ask the priests concerning the law, as they did in Haggai’s days: “Thus says the Lord of hosts: ‘Now, ask the priests concerning the law, saying, “If one carries holy meat in the fold of his garment, and with the edge he touches bread or stew, wine or oil, or any food, will it become holy?”’ Then the priests answered and said, ‘No.’ And Haggai said, ‘If one who is unclean because of a dead body touches any of these, will it be unclean?’ So the priests answered and said, ‘It shall be unclean.’ Then Haggai answered and said, ‘So is this people, and so is this nation before Me,’ says the Lord, ‘and so is every work of their hands; and what they offer there is unclean.’” Haggai 2:11-14.

We learn from this that the unclean is not made clean by the holy, but that the clean is made unclean by the unholy. Those who live according to their lusts are dead while they live, even if they are religious. 1 Tim. 5:6. The world is the dead body, and if I become a part of the world, I become unclean in spite of all that I do and sacrifice. Therefore we have this exhortation: “Come out from among them and be separate, says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean, and I will receive you.” 2 Cor. 6:17.

However, whenever the beast (in his sheep’s clothing) is in danger of being discovered behind the harlot as his protection, he simply provides funds for a new church building or for restoring an old one, and so people are taken up with that for a long time. When the work is finished, there will be a great ceremony. Because it is the work of the harlot and of the beast, they are of course represented by their respective spokespersons in an impressive display of unity. Woe to him who questions their work. Then the shout will go up as in former times: “Great is Diana’s temple”—the church, the old country church, the cathedral, the valuable stained-glass windows, the beautiful altar piece, and the antique pulpit. To them this is Christianity! Acts 19:34.

“‘Stand in the gate of the Lord’s house, and proclaim there this word, and say, “Hear the word of the Lord, all you of Judah who enter in at these gates to worship the Lord!”’ . . . ‘Do not trust in these lying words, saying, “The temple of the Lord, the temple of the Lord, the temple of the Lord are these.” For if you thoroughly amend your ways and your doings, if you thoroughly execute judgment between a man and his neighbor, if you do not oppress the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow, and do not shed innocent blood in this place, or walk after other gods to your hurt, then I will cause you to dwell in this place.’” Jer. 7:2-7. “‘Behold, you trust in lying words that cannot profit. Will you steal, murder, commit adultery, swear falsely, burn incense to Baal, and walk after other gods whom you do not know, and then come and stand before Me in this house which is called by My name, and say, “We are delivered to do all these abominations”? Has this house, which is called by My name, become a den of thieves in your eyes?’” Verse 8-11.

Here we see that people have always been the same; but Jesus made Himself a whip of cords. “Jesus answered and said to them, ‘Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.’ Then the Jews said, ‘It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and will You raise it up in three days?’ But He was speaking of the temple of His body.” John 2:19-21. Here we can see God’s mind revealed. He does not dwell in houses built with hands, but “with him who has a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones.” Is. 57:15.

“Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you.” 1 Cor. 6:19. This is the temple Jesus wanted to build, and this is what the bride is working on. This work does not need the help of the beast with all its subsidies. On the other hand, the harlot, who wants to be great in this world, must have something to show—some shining fruits of her work. She needs big, fancy churches and expensive decorations. Her life is not hidden with Christ in God.

This is what happens in a revival when a little flock has been saved. One of the first things they do is form a building committee even if the entire assembly consists of only eight to ten people. Of course they need a place where they can have their meetings, but when the building project becomes the focal point, the whole thing ends up in harlotry. Soon the collection of money becomes the main point of the meeting, and if that is successful, the work is succeeding and is being blessed. Building a meeting hall stirs greater interest than building up the body, the temple for the Holy Spirit. When the meeting hall is finished, it stands there like the tower of Babel—evidence of the church’s power and fruit, even its glory; a gathering place for the flock.

The beast is able to live because it uses the harlot as a protective shield. It also works independently of the harlot and puts out its claws as far as it dares. It looks forward to the day when it will be able to cast the harlot off its back and be rid of her yoke. Whenever the beast has inadvertently put out its claws too far, the harlot cries out in fear of losing her grants and her support. We hear such cries whenever there is a national election; freedom of religion is a good election slogan. Then those who never go to a meeting or read the Bible—even those who hardly ever attend church—are afraid of losing their religion. But when the beast notices any danger signals (that the time has not yet come to remove the shield), it quickly draws its claws back again and promises freedom of religion with many good words. Then the harlot keeps on riding, even though she feels a little less secure in the saddle and her grants and subsidies have been reduced.

“And the ten horns which you saw on the beast, these will hate the harlot, make her desolate and naked, eat her flesh and burn her with fire. For God has put it into their hearts to fulfill His purpose, to be of one mind, and to give their kingdom to the beast, until the words of God are fulfilled.” Rev. 17:16-17.

This is the result of the work of the harlot. This is what Jesus prophesied when He said, “You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men.” Matt. 5:13. This is a terrible result. We have already seen this fulfilled in some countries where the beast has cast off the harlot and the people have trampled the salt under their feet.

Paul also prophesied about this and said: “But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: for men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money . . . having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away!” 2 Tim. 3:1-5. They lack power, therefore the works that result from a life in the fear of God are lacking; all they have is an appearance of godliness. The entire Western world is regarded as “Christian,” even though they love themselves, love money, are proud, etc. This is how the harlot has ordered things by her sorcery with infant baptism and the wine of her fornication. Christianity has become like “clouds without water, carried about by the winds.” Jude 12. They carry on missionary work, while the heathen know full well that hatred, murder, and war rage in the so-called “Christian” countries. The gospel (the cloud) came. They expected rain—a God-fearing life—but no rain fell. All they saw was a form without power. The day will come—that terrible day, when the harlot will reap what she has sown. The gospel, which is the salt that has lost its power, will be trampled underfoot by the people. They did not receive what they had expected: help to become better and to regain the image of God they had lost. They were led astray, and now they are awakening. They hate the harlot and will expose her and leave her desolate. They will eat her flesh and burn her with fire.

This is what Jesus wanted to save the people from when He said, after He had spoken the Sermon on the Mount, “But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall.” Matt. 7:26-27. In the following passage we see the fulfillment of this prophecy: “And another angel followed, saying, ‘Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she has made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication.’” Rev. 14:8.

“Babylon the great!” Oh, how the harlot has built everything to make it great to gain many followers—this has been her glory. Oh, how intensely she has worked with Jesus’ words, with her Christian education, and Bible schools; but she has never come to doing Jesus’ words, to practicing the Sermon on the Mount. “No,” she says, “Jesus only spoke these words so that we could see how we fall short and how much we need His grace. The Sermon on the Mount is not the gospel; it is the law.” The only portion of the Sermon on the Mount the harlot has use for is: “Forgive us our trespasses.” Her Christian education at her Bible schools amounts to the teaching that you can become blessed by faith alone, without works. But she has completely deceived herself, as James writes: “But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.” James 1:22.

Truly, the house of the harlot has become great, and many have become rich and famous by it. But soon the day is coming when the storm will break loose and the rains will beat upon that house. Then it will collapse, and the cry will go up, “Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great!”

“And I heard another voice from heaven saying, ‘Come out of her, my people, lest you share in her sins, and lest you receive of her plagues.’” Rev. 18:4.

In that day, you will not be able to hide in any of the rooms (denominations, religious groups) in the house. The entire house will fall, and great will be its fall. If you hear Jesus’ words and do not act accordingly, you are helping to build “Babylon the great” regardless of what your church affiliation is or what doctrinal creed you confess.

Yet there are many who say, “Leaving a denomination is the easy way out. It is like running away. We must remain where we are and be salt. If we stand firm, we can reach the people, but if we leave we will achieve nothing, because we will be alone.”

This sounds very reasonable, of course, but if you are going to be honest with yourself, you will have to admit that you are afraid of the reproach. You like to stand before the people, and perhaps you even receive a little honor for speaking the truth. But you speak the truth in the spirit of the harlot. That is why they tolerate you. Listen to this if you want to be salt in Babylon and correct everything that is wrong there:

“We would have healed Babylon, but she is not healed. Forsake her, and let us go everyone to his own country; for her judgment reaches to heaven and is lifted up to the skies.” Jer. 51:9.

“Yes, but doesn’t it say that we shall not forsake our own assembly?” you say. Very well, if Babylon is your assembly, then stay there; but if you are of “My people,” then listen to the voice from heaven; “Come out of her.”

“To him who believes belongs the glory.” (Norw.) 1 Pet. 2:7. If you follow your reasoning and want to have the honor of being a healer in Babylon among the multitudes, your glory will become your shame. The disease of Babylon will contaminate you and make you partakers of her plagues. You cannot even heal yourself. But if you have faith to go outside the camp to the few who are God-fearing, God will honor you.

The result of the harlot’s work is a building reduced to rubble and a world trampled under the feet of the beast.