"And there came one of the seven angels which had the seven vials, and talked with me, saying unto me, come hither; I will show unto thee the judgment of the great whore that sitteth upon many waters."  Rev. 17:1 Notice the word is "whore" ( singular) or one "great" church "that sitteth (or reigns) upon many waters." "The waters which thou sawest where the whore sitteth, are peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues." Revelation 17:15.

    There should be no ambiguity in identifying this mother church with her million of members.  In verse 2 it tells of the kings of the earth and their involvement with this worldwide church, both politically and religiously.  The "wine of her fornication," is false doctrine that all of her daughters (Protestant churches, especially Mormonism) are "made drunk" with.

    If I was to list only a few of the false doctrines held today by this "great whore" (church) who is "The mother of harlots" (verse 5) this chapter would become a book.  However, false doctrine should be exposed, with only a few exceptions. The entire Protestant world teaches with vigor "the immortality of the soul," just like their mother taught them.  They are "made drunk with the wine of her fornication," boasting of their knowledge of the Holy Scriptures. We have all seen them holding their Bibles in the air saying, give me the Bible and the Bible alone, when in reality they are following their mother church.  And the mother church just sets back and smiles with her approval.

    What is another deception this mother church, and these daughter churches teach with vigor?  That the Sabbath for all Christians is the first day of the week, is another such falsehood, and then, them showing contempt to any one observing the true Bible Sabbath, the seventh day of the week.  "...When kings and presidents drink this wine of the wrath of her fornication, they are stirred with anger against those who will not come into harmony with the false and satanic heresies which exalt the false Sabbath..." Testimonies to Ministers 62.

    Another deception is the false doctrine of the wicked suffering everlasting punishment.  This deception has caused many to hate God once it brought to their attention.  God is not like that at all.  Tell me, how could anyone be comfortable living in heaven and knowing that God is still punishing some one after millions of years when some have only lived 75 years in rebellion on this earth?  The truth is, God will burn the wicked up, "that he shall leave them neither root nor branch." Mal. 4:1.  I can love a God who tells me that, "... death and hell were cast into the lake of fire.  This is the second death." Rev. 19:14.

    Just mention the word purgatory and punishment, then watch the money begin to flow into the coffers of the mother church. You will never hear the daughter churches complain either, of the money that comes to them when they preach "fire and brimstone." They will take money from whoever and whatever, in any amount.

    Deception number 3, the selling of indulgences has probably brought in more money than any other single deception of this "great whore" (church). To my knowledge her daughter churches have not as yet supported her in this deception.  I'm sure that somewhere a fallen church teaches the selling of indulgences to raise revenue.  Once a church starts on the downward path of selling indulgences, it's only down, down, down after that.  Are you listening Seventh Day Adventists?  Your downward plunge is no longer comparable to a snow ball, it is more like an avalanche.  Some of us realize that "Nothing would be allowed to stand in the way of the new (avalanche size) movement." Series B #2 Page 53.  However, it so just so happens that our marching orders come from God's Holy Word, not from inferior leaders who "teach that virtue is better than vice, but God being removed, they would place their dependence on human power, which without God, is worthless."  Series B #2 Page 55.

    You may think, does the above words apply to this 17th chapter?  Yes in this, "In the seventeenth of Revelation is foretold the destruction of all the churches who corrupt themselves by idolatrous deviations to the service of the papacy." Letter 232 1899.

    Protestantism will give her full support and influence back to her mother church, pretending to be lamb-like, when in reality Protestantism will speak like a dragon to come against anyone true to God's Holy Sabbath.  There are five main actors in this chapter.  We have just mentioned the "great whore," let us talk about a few more.  "The Lamb" (verse 14).  The lamb of course is Jesus, "Lord of Lords and King of Kings" (verse 14).  Now who are those identified as "They that are with him" (verse 14)?  This group who are "with" Jesus are His witnesses, the 144,000, they are the ones who "are called, and chosen, and faithful." (verse 14).  This verse says they are "faithful" meaning they have stood the test, all tests.  That has been the 144,000 heart's desire for a long , long time to be "with" Jesus.  Many songs of praise have ascended to heaven from their lips, such songs of praise as "Take the world, but give me Jesus; Let me view His constant smile; then through-out my pilgrim journey, light will cheer me all the while."  The 144,000 are the ones who will be "with Him", the ones who are "purified, and made white, and tried." Dan. 12:10.

    Each one of these Bible chapters adds a little more detail, taking us to the end, then bringing us back in another chapter covering some of the same ground in a new and different setting, adding needed detail with every verse.

    "... and the inhabitants of the earth have been made drunk with the wine of her fornication." Rev. 17:2  It is amazing to me how Seventh Day Adventist leadership can read the above Scripture, and apply it to every other church in the land, except themselves.   In the area of education, and the conferring of degrees, they are in a infatuated "drunkenness" with the papal system of education.  Street talk would be stone "drunk".

    "Our people are now being tested as to whether they will obtain their wisdom from the greatest Teacher the world ever knew, or seek to the god of Ekron. Let us determine that we will not be tied by so much as a thread to the educational policies of those who do not discern the voice of God and who will not hearken to His commandments." Counsels to Parents, Teachers, and Students,  255.

    "They are content to share in the honor of repeating the twaddle, true or false, which passes for truth, in the school or sect which has made them what they are."   Life of William Miller, 16.

    When the pilgrims came to America, one of the very first declarations from their lips, was "That all men are created equal; that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights; that among these are life, liberty , and the pursuit of happiness."

    We as Christians today should remind the world of the above words by voice and by example.  Tell me, does this mother of harlots church, embrace such truths as these, that every American should cherish?  No, just the opposite, here in this land of freedom an American Catholic cardinal says to freedom loving Americans everywhere.  "I want to hear some American stand up and shout; 'Give us justice, give us decency, and to hell with the constitution'." The Catholic News 7/25/1963.

    The papacy has always opposed our constitution, and has found that bogus education is the most effective method to destroy ones independence, ones freedom and originality of thought.  It is by the long courses and degrees, that she has taken our church captive.  True Christian education should recognize each individual need, not the long drawn out "grind", (pushing the pencil) which destroys individuality.  Macaulay thus describes this system:  "The ancient philosophy was a treadmill not a path.  It was made up of revolving questions of controversies which were always beginning again.  It was a contrivance for having much exertion and no progress. . . The human mind, accordingly, instead of marching, merely marked time.  It took as much trouble as would have sufficed to carry it forward, and yet remained on the same spot.  There was no accumulation of truth. . .  There had been plenty of plowing, harrowing, reaping, threshing.  But the garners contained only smut and stubble.'" Macaul'ay's Beacon, 380.

    "Made drunk with the wine of her fornication". Rev. 17:2  Can SDA leadership ever sober up (being in this deep) in this false satanic educational system?  Yes, heaven has a solution, even for this snare.  Isaiah records the solution for us in Isaiah 58:6, ". . .and that ye (you) break every yoke."

    If you are the one instructed to break every yoke that binds you.  Then that means you shouldn't wait until the church decides, if and when it is "NOW OK" to wear the wedding ring, and other such rabbit trail safaris, etc.

    But will leadership sober up? This the question to be answered in the next chapter.