Seeds of Doubt
Human doctrines and traditions have been placed above Scripture, and most Protestant churches today have become the “hold of every foul spirit.”
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 (Revelation 18:1-5).
Babylon is called the “mother of harlots.” Her daughters are the churches that cling to her doctrines and traditions, and follow her example of sacrificing the truth and the approval of God, in order to form an unlawful alliance with the world. The message of Revelation 14, announcing the fall of Babylon, applies to religious bodies that were once pure and have become corrupt.
Since this message follows the warning of the judgment, it is given in the last days. Therefore, it cannot refer to the Roman Church alone, for that church has been in a fallen condition for many centuries. Furthermore, in Revelation 18 the people of God are called upon to come out of Babylon. For God’s people to be able to come out of Babylon, they must still be in Babylon. And most of the followers of Christ are found where? In the churches professing the Protestant faith.
At the time of their rise, these churches took a noble stand for God and the truth, and His blessing was with them. Even the unbelieving world was constrained to acknowledge the results that followed an acceptance of the principles of the Gospel. But they did not continue in the truth. The prophets said this:
And thy renown went forth among the heathen for thy beauty: for it was perfect through My comeliness, which I had put upon thee, saith the Lord GOD. Thou didst trust in thine own beauty, and playedst the harlot because of thy renown (Ezekiel 16:14-15).
But they fell by the same desire which was the curse and ruin of Israel—the desire of imitating the practices and courting the friendship of the ungodly (GC 382.3).
And after these things I saw another angel come down from heaven, having great power; and the earth was lightened with his glory (Revelation 18:1).
Higher criticism took its toll, lies were told about the Scriptures and the seed of doubt grew into a mighty weed that encompassed the world. The damage is mostly found in the enlightened world, for this is where the war rages for our minds. The battle rages in the places where the Bible is widespread, for the Word is under attack. Nations that live in poverty and misery, devoid of hope and light, are in some ways are better off than those who have been destroyed by the cancer of doubt.
Doubt turns into scoffing and scoffers tread upon the sacred ground with no regard for the fragile seedlings that spring forth:
Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation. For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water : Whereby the world that the was, being overflowed with water perished: But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men (2 Peter 3:3-5).
Thousands have gone to their ruin through the influence of skeptics and philosophers who taint people’s hearts and minds with the poison of doubt. Satan works through such means to carry out his purposes of ruining souls. Theology professors, and people in high positions who doubt the truths coined in God’s Word, have all cast their toxic influences throughout the religious world.
But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea (Matthew 18:6).
An example of such erroneous teachings is found in the book Die Belofte van Sy Wederkoms by theology professor Dr. Lemmer:
The Old Covenant was annulled with the betrayal of Judas…Those who still try to keep the law are not spiritually of age and have not yet received the Holy Spirit. If the law is still read these days, it must be for people that are not of age, that is for unbelievers. This is the only sense in which the law is still applicable today. Believers live through the Spirit and are not under the law.
Believers that try to keep the law are in slavery, but believers that live in the fullness of the New Covenant are free. Therefore it is dangerous for believers in the church period to be associated with the law. Churches that read the ten commandments on Sunday in the assembly brings their members under the impression that they are still under the law and that they must try to keep the law…Christians who today try to keep the ten commandments hinder the work of the Holy Spirit and undermine the pure essence of the New Covenant.i
Those who truly search the Scriptures and understand God’s Word will not be led astray by such blatant falsehood, for the Bible is the only rule of faith. Unfortunately, most people today look to the physical realm for their belief system.
We know that in His Word, God has clearly outlined His law, and that law will judge us. There is not an ounce of Biblical support to condone the law being done away with. This is yet another toxic poison emanating from Satan, the father of lies.
Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus (Revelation 14:12).
And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many. And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold. But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come (Matthew 24:11-14)
He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him (1 John 2:4).
Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God. And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight (1 John 3:21-22).
Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled (Matthew 5:17-18).
Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city (Revelation 22:14).
In a world where truth is being attacked and undermined on every side, let us remain firmly rooted and grounded on Bible truth.
i Dr. Lemmer, Die Belofte van Sy Wederkoms (2003): 158, 162.
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