The Development of the Harlot

All things, the harlot included, need time to develop and mature. The harlot is the result of Satan’s work among the people of God. Now we will see how she develops.

Imagine a little flock of people who have been converted. They believe that they have been cleansed in Jesus’ blood and that their sins are forgiven. All of them are happy, and there is no discernible difference between them; but then comes the walk—the life. Just because someone has been wholeheartedly converted does not mean that he has victory over all conscious sin, and he is far from having light over everything that is carnal. That is why we read, “He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ.” Phil. 1:6.

It quickly becomes apparent that the new converts have much to fight against when it concerns habits and temptations, and they suffer many defeats—they still do things that belong to their old life. This is equally true for all of them, but not all of them are equally grieved over their defeats. Some react more superficially than others. We have to assume that all of them have determined to say farewell to the world and to sin and have been wholeheartedly converted. But this does not mean that there is equally “good ground” in all of them. In other words, not all of them have the same good attitude of mind.

Sooner or later the question will confront each one of them: “Isn’t it the intention that we should stop sinning?” If it were only the Spirit of God who spoke to them, there would be just one clear answer: “How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it?” Rom. 6:1-2. But as we have already seen, Satan and his servants are also in the picture. Obviously he is not going to say outright that we can live in sin. Not at all! Of course we are called to have victory! But then follow a lot of “ifs,” “buts,” and explanations: “We must not take this so seriously. It’s written that where sin abounds, grace abounds much more. We are not under the law but under grace. Jesus has finished the work of salvation. Are we going to help God with our salvation? God sees us through Jesus as if we had never sinned. We must not go back under the law, because we are saved by grace and not by works. We must rest in the finished work,” etc.

All this sounds so plausible, just like what Satan said to Jesus. However, there is a false spirit in it. It has the effect of causing people to take sin lightly. They rest in the finished work of Christ while still doing the will of the first man. Eph. 2:3. The result is a divided heart. This is the harlot. There are many people who take this road because it is so easy. 2 Cor. 2:17.

However, not everyone can be satisfied with such a double life. There are some who have an intense longing for purity and godliness. However, it is difficult for them—even as Jesus and the apostles have so plainly told us that it would be—when they are among so many who are in this harlot spirit. Nevertheless, these few seek until they find; they knock until it is opened to them. They pray until they receive the true answer from the Spirit and until the power of the Holy Spirit comes upon them, so they can bear fruit for God.

Nevertheless, from the beginning the majority prevails, and they gain control of the leadership. Thus Satan manages to reduce the revival to a flock of satisfied people who have the hope of eternal life but whose hearts are in the world. Obvious vices that ruin lives and are offensive even to soulish people are regarded as sin, and they all repent from these. In one sense they can say that God has done great things for them. They can even come as far as the Pharisees (the harlot of those days) who outwardly appeared righteous to men. Matt. 23:28. But if one begins to talk about anger, jealousy, anxiety, arrogance, love of money, respect of persons, etc., the cry goes up like the sound of many waters: “No one can be sinless! We don’t want any sinless perfection doctrine here!!!” For such people only the outward appearance means anything, and quite often they debate whether this or that is sin: whether it is sin to smoke or go to the movies if you only watch “good, wholesome films,” whether it is sin to wear jewelry, a feather in your hat, or nail polish. From such discussions it is easy to hear that their heart is in the world and its vanity. The usual conclusion of such discussions is that “God is not narrow-minded, that He does not pay attention to such trivialities, and that it doesn’t really matter, as long as these things are not in our heart; we must not judge one another for such things.”

Yet there are a few seeking souls in this flock who sorrow, suffer, and are dissatisfied. Something just doesn’t seem right to them. They feel there must be something more to Christianity, and every once in a while they create a little bit of unrest within this self-satisfied assembly with their sorrow and questioning. However, they are only a few, so they don’t count for much; and besides they are only those sentimental, melancholic, ascetic souls (or so they are called) that are not worth bothering about. So things continue in a negative way.

In a flock where there is no victory over the sins already mentioned, there are obviously many difficulties, conflicts, and much confusion; and Satan knows how to deal with that! They read in the Bible about the pattern of the New Testament Church, and so they start organizing the assembly according to the “biblical” pattern. A pastor together with elders, a treasurer, deacons, and other church officials are elected to carry out various duties as needed. This is where Satan plays his trump card so he can have everything the way he wants it. They are all chosen by majority vote, and it is precisely by using the majority that Satan gains his victory. The number of the beast is 666 (see Rev. 13:18), which is two-thirds, and by this majority the beast has instituted his laws and achieved his own will in every organization and group. One thing is certain: the majority has never been God-fearing; it is the few that fear Him. By the number of the beast (or we can say, by the majority) the few who are God-fearing are shut out. “But they voted in the elders in the early church,” you may say. No, not at all. If you read carefully, you will see that it was Paul and Barnabas who appointed elders for them (Acts 14:23), and it was Titus and Timothy who were to appoint elders (Tit. 1:5 and 1 Tim. 3).

Once Satan, in God’s name, has organized the assembly according to the “biblical” pattern and by means of a carnal majority has placed the “right” people in positions of authority, he can really begin to “Christianize” people. He places the most active, talented, and appealing people in positions of authority, while all the others sit passively in their pews. This is real democracy. Everyone has a say, because those who sit in the pews have elected the leaders who sit on the platform. And those who sit on the platform hold all the reins, but they must please those who sit in the pews or risk being voted out in the next election.

The assembly must have a name, of course, and a nice biblical name is chosen. A church register is set up, with the members duly enrolled. Now it is important to expand—gather more members—because the more they gather, the more power and honor they receive. In the beginning a certain reproach rests over this little group; but, as they are all law-abiding citizens, they soon gain acceptance. Since the first man—the flesh—is still living, and they love both God and the world (which, according to the apostle John, is just not possible, 1 John 2:15), they know very well how to incorporate into their worship services those qualities that are highly esteemed in the eyes of man. As a result, it is possible for virtually anyone to feel comfortable among them. Above all, the rich and talented must not be upset. Now we can begin to see what direction the harlot’s development is taking.

No matter how well organized a group may be, we know that people are quite different, and it is difficult for them to get along with each other. The old man cannot deny himself, and so envy and strife begin to flare up. There are several who would like to be in positions of leadership. Soon someone comes along who has received a “new light” in the Bible, which he feels has to be proclaimed. Perhaps he feels that there is too much worldliness among the members, and so he speaks out against it. The leaders try to pacify him in the old traditions, but he does not give in. There are many who side with him, and so he and his followers break away and form a new assembly. They know how to do that by following the example of the assembly they have just left, only they think they can do it much better. Satan has nothing against divisions and strife. Indeed, he has come to cause divisions—as long as he can organize them; and through the majority he gains control in this new group as well.

To begin with, there is much ill will between these two factions, with each side warning against the other, and those who have broken away are branded as false teachers. But the new group, just like the first one, knows how to please people and soon gains acceptance. The public warnings die down, and they begin to respect each other’s right to exist. The new viewpoint, having become commonplace, no longer arouses attention. Furthermore, since it did not include the preaching of death to the old man, Satan has nothing against its propagation. Now these two groups begin to meet together occasionally, which they say is a great step toward the fulfillment of Jesus’ high priestly prayer, “That they all may be one.” When the alliance meeting is over, they all go back to their own groups.

Soon another group is formed, and the same process repeats itself. What the prophet says is significant: “A mountain of many peaks is the mountain of Bashan.” Ps. 68:15-16. All these factions are one spirit—one mountain—with many peaks, the one higher than the other. This is why the Word speaks of “the harlot and her daughters.” Rev. 17:5. This is the result of the work of Satan among God’s people.

Nevertheless, I am fully convinced that on the mountain of Bashan there are many sincere and devout souls whose eyes are drawn to Mount Zion. They wonder if there isn’t more to be attained than what these various factions can offer them, but they are fooled by all this so-called “biblical order.” May the voice from heaven that says, “Come out of her, my people,” reach them. Rev. 18:4.