NOTES ON AMERICAN HARLOTRY: THE LAST DAYS CHURCH AS CONCUBINE TO ANTICHRIST

SCRIPTURE. “Therefore thus says the Lord God: ‘Because you have forgotten Me [your divine Husband] and cast Me behind your back, therefore bear also [the consequences of] your lewdness and your harlotry.’” – EZEKIEL 23:35, AMPC

QUOTATION. “What is a Wife and what is a Harlot? What is a Church and what is a Theatre? Are they two and not one? Can they exist separate? Are not Religion and Politics the same thing? Brotherhood is Religion. O demonstrations of Reason dividing families in cruelty and pride!” – WILLIAM BLAKE, Jerusalem: The Emanation of The Giant Albion, 1804-1820; edited

NOTE ON BLAKE’S WORK. ‘A committed Christian who was hostile to the Church of England’ (indeed, to almost all forms of organised religion), Blake was influenced by the ideals and ambitions of the French and American Revolutions and maintained an amicable relationship to Thomas Paine. Jerusalem is a Prophetic Book and is the last, longest and greatest in scope of Blake’s works. Etched in handwriting, accompanied by small sketches, marginal figures and huge full-plate illustrations, it has been described as “Visionary Theatre.” The Poet himself believed it was his masterpiece and it has been said that “of all Blake’s illuminated epics, this is by far the most public and accessible.” Nonetheless, only six copies were printed in Blake’s lifetime and the book, like all of Blake’s prophetic works, was all but ignored by his contemporaries.” – from Wikipedia, Nov. 17, Dec. 28, 2023; edited

FIRST THOUGHTS

‘The Undeniable Decline of the American Church’ – has been written about for generations and continues to accelerate at what I studiously consider to be at unprecedented speed in recent years. As we look around at an institution that virtually no ‘Outsider’ respects anymore, we hear THE QUESTION roar into our ears every time we turn around and see another moral collapse or political compromise explode again:

‘What in the world has happened to American Christianity in recent times?’

To get us started in addressing this important question, I turn to Catholic educated British journalist ADAM GABBATT, writing for The Guardian in a piece titled, “Losing Their Religion: Why US Churches Are on the Decline” (Jan. 22, 2023; edited).

He begins: “Churches are closing at rapid numbers in the US, researchers say, as congregations dwindle across the country and a younger generation of Americans abandon Christianity altogether – even as faith continues to dominate American politics.”

There is a very terrible irony in that hits us square in the Christian face, so listen carefully now: ‘Increased Christian participation in American politics has degraded the Nation and ruined the Church! WHY? There is virtually no ‘salt and light’ left in us; all is crass pursuit of power and wealth. Selah.

SOME DETAILS. Here we resort to my infamous Bullet Point summary of his main points with some statistical findings, to sharpen and document the critique.

CHURCH CLOSINGS. “About 4,500 Protestant churches closed in 2019, the last year data is available, with about 3,000 new churches opening, according to Lifeway Research. It was the first time the number of churches in the US hadn’t grown since the evangelical firm started studying the topic. With the pandemic speeding up a broader trend of Americans turning away from Christianity, researchers say the closures will only have accelerated.”

THE NONES. “A study by Pew Research found that the number of Americans who identified as Christian was 64% in 2020, with 30% of the US population being classed as ‘religiously unaffiliated’ … This accelerating trend is reshaping the US religious landscape. In 1972 92% of Americans said they were Christian, Pew reported, but by 2070 that number will drop to below 50% – and the number of ‘religiously unaffiliated’ Americans – or ‘Nones’ will probably outnumber those adhering to Christianity.”

GENERATIONAL SHIFT. Stephen Bullivant, author of Nonverts: The Making of Ex-Christian America and professor of theology and the sociology of religion at St. Mary’s University, said in the Christian world it had been a generational change. While grandparents might have been regular churchgoers, their children would say they believe in God, but not go to church regularly. By the time millennials came round, they had little experience or relationship with churchgoing or religion.”

CHURCH SALES. Brian Dolehide, managing director of AD Advisors, a real estate company that specializes in church sales, said the last 10 years had seen a spike in sales. Frequently churches become housing or care homes, while some of the churches are bought by other churches wanting to expand … That aside, closures are often due to a failure of churches to adapt … If the church ages and doesn’t reach young people, or the demographics change and they don’t figure out how to reach the new demographic, that church ends up closing.

DK. These sweeping trends are breathtaking, beloved, and while Mr. Gabbatt effectively focused on the material and demographic declines, he didn’t go into the CAUSES of what can only be defined as the ongoing ‘Death of the American Church.’

That is where we’ll begin to go next.

II. THE TEACHING

KEY TERM: “HARLOTRY.” ‘Haznuth’ [תַּזְנוּת]: “Idolatry, [spiritual] fornication, whoredom, prostitution.’ This word is found only in Ezekiel 16 and 23 concerning Jerusalem’s rank unfaithfulness; i.e., ‘throwing herself to the gods of foreign nations,’ the very apex of vileness on the eyes of God; the trade or practice of prostitution [wantonly selling oneself for material gain]; habitual or customary lewdness (the unlawful indulgence of lust).”

COMMENTARY. “‘Thou hast forgotten Me’ (Ezekiel 22:12), which is here explained by what follows; it was a wilful forgetting of God, and voluntary despising His Law, ordinances, worship, favour, and presence. So God is cast behind a sinner’s back. ‘Bear thou’ the guilt, I will impute it; the punishment, I will not pardon it; and the shame, ‘for I will pour out contempt upon thee!’ Bear both sorrow and reproach for thy sins!” – MATTHEW POOLE, English Annotations on the Holy Bible, 1685 (posthumously); edited

DK. I simply have no more words of temperance for nor patience with most American Christians and their rebellious, now largely idolatrous, ‘Unfaithful Church.’ She has had the last 120 Years to Repent, and the Last Seven, most intensely, to heed God’s nearly incessant and increasingly loud, most severe Warnings.

‘But she would not. But she would not.’

Therefore, beloved, at what I sincerely believe is the Instruction of the Holy Spirit to His Wayward Church, we go to the Royal Woodshed once again to find what we can find about the ROOT CAUSES of her Historic Betrayal and what, if anything, can be done at this late hour to Rescue as much of her as possible, ‘before Night comes’ (John 9:4).

III. THE HARLOT CHURCH

We now turn to the work of CHIP BROGDEN whose background sounds in some ways similar to my own: “For many years I was a pastor, teacher and worship leader in the Church System. One day, ‘Jesus ruined my life’by revealing Himself to me in a profound way. And I’m so glad that He did! That was the end of my career as a preacher for Organized Religion – but the beginning of an exciting journey into the depths of Christ ‘outside the camp.’” – “The Harlot Church System,” The School of Christ, ret. Jan. 31, 2024; edited

As we venture forward with what promises to be a rough conversation about the American Church, let me reiterate the wondrous phrase from Mr. Brogden’s bio: “Jesus ruined my life” as well, starting in March 2016 when I was fired from Liberty University at the behest of then University President JERRY FALWELL, JR., for refusing to support Donald Trump.

It proved to be the first salvo from the Establishment Church that led, Providentially, to my own personal, ‘Great Awakening.’ For which I am eternally, daily and most profoundly grateful. And for which I fervently pray my listeners and readers will also soon experience.

THE CASE FOR HARLOTRY. Here we move to my Bullet Point Review of Brogden’s main ideas for purposes of both clarity and efficiency.

PREFACE. “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)

BABYLON. “When it says that Babylon has become ‘a dwelling place of demons’ – that alone is spiritual. ‘A prison for every foul spirit’ – that is a spiritual reference. And ‘a cage for every unclean and hated bird’ – well, that’s symbolic as well. Demons, foul spirits, and unclean birds. All of this is figurative and symbolic language of the Spiritual City of Babylon. Also, it says that the City is a Harlot. Remember, it is pictured as a Harlot riding on top of a Beast. We know that the Beast is spiritual, but it represents a Political System.”

CHURCHIANITY. “What we see happening in the ‘Christian’ Religion is not very different from what we saw happening in the ‘Jewish’ Religion of Jesus’ day. The fact is that a religion ‘about’ Jesus has eclipsed, overshadowed, led us away from the relationship with Jesus … The fact is, many people, many of God’s people, are trapped in that System. They can’t imagine any kind of existence outside of Church. Their faith is based on ‘Church.’ Their spiritual growth is based on ‘Church.’ Their spiritual direction and guidance is based on ‘Church.’ I’m saying it’s not based on the ‘Lord.’ I’m saying that it’s very similar to the Jew of the first century who had the Temple, who had the Commandments, had the Scribes and the Pharisees to interpret the Law, and yet failed to recognize Jesus as the Messiah.”

EKKLESIA. “Now, God in His mercy calls us out – and in fact, He calls all of us out. That’s what the word ‘ekklesia’ means, the Greek word translated as ‘Church.’ You understand there was no Church in the first century, in the first three hundred years. ‘There was no Church!’ When Scripture refers to ‘Church’ it is interpreting the word ‘ekklesia.’ Ekklesia means ‘a called-out Assembly.’ Ekklesia always refers to ‘people.’ It doesn’t refer to ‘buildings.’ It doesn’t refer to ‘organizations.’ It doesn’t refer to sanctuaries, or steeples, or clergy. All of these things are inventions of man. When Jesus says,‘I will build My Church’ – My ‘Ekklesia’ is the word He is talking about – ‘and the gates of hell will not prevail against it.’ He’s not talking about building buildings. He’s talking about building people upon the foundation of Himself. He is not talking about a ‘religion;’ He is talking about ‘a relationship!’”

BABYLON. “I would tell you, spiritually speaking and in a literal prophetic application to us today, this represents one of the biggest challenges of God’s people who are trapped in the ‘Religious System.’ Now, it doesn’t make any difference to me what the religious system calls itself. You say, ‘Is it Roman Catholicism?’ The answer is yes. You say, ‘Is it Protestantism?’ I say the answer is yes. ‘What about all of the Charismatic churches?’ The answer is yes. ‘What about the Greek Orthodox churches?’ The answer is yes. All of these things represent distractions and hindrances from a relationship with Jesus. To be sure, there’s some people in all of these churches, – I’m sure you can find them – that love God (or at least they say they love God) with all their heart. They really love Jesus. They really love the Word of God – and they are offended at the idea that they should come out of their religious system.”

CONSEQUENCES. “We learn three things from Revelation 18. First, we learn that God has people in Babylon. Secondly, God does not want them in Babylon. The third thing is: ‘If they are not obedient to God then they are going to be destroyed right along with Babylon.’ So, for all the people who really love God with all their heart, and really love Jesus with all their heart, and love the Word of God, I’ve got a question for you: How long can you love God and refuse to obey the voice of God that says, ‘Come out?’ [HIS COMMAND]: ‘Come out of her, My people!’ And these will be the very ones in the End of Days that are not allowed into the Kingdom of God; and they say, ‘Lord, Lord, we taught and we prophesied in Your Name. We did many marvelous things. We built big churches and cathedrals. We raised lots of money for Christian causes. We had lots of Christian ministries, and television, and radio, and everything else that we have done in Your Name!’ And He says, ‘I don’t know who you are. Why do you call me Lord, Lord but you don’t do the things that I tell you to do?’ I told you to come out of her. You didn’t come out of her! You shared in her sins, and now you’re going to suffer the consequences. You will receive of her plagues.’”

DK. I commend this courageous, ‘Reconstructed’ follower of Christ for his unabashed teaching on the Cost of Rebellion against this Divine Degree to “Come out of Babylon, now! Yet I dare once more to take this one step closer to Ground Zero. Mr. Brogden is writing primarily of SPIRITUAL BABYLON, and this is one major half of the Babylonian Identity, and of vital importance for us to comprehend (cf. Revelation 17).

But there is another half: POLITICAL BABYLON, which he subsumes under Revelation 18 as most expositors do as well. And he leaves it right there, but I cannot. So once more, ‘I shall identify who I believe Political Babylon to be’ since I am convinced beyond any reasonable doubt of its identity.

The United States of America.

Therefore, I take us once again to the desk of Dallas Theological Seminary-educated Bible scholar, DR. STEVEN ANDERSON, who writes the following:

“‘Babylon the Great is a world hegemon,’ a country which dominates world politics, economics, and culture in the end times. Further, the text of Revelation indicates that it is a unique entity in the world, ἡ πόλις ἡ μεγάλη: ‘The Great Polis.’ It uniquely makes all the nations of the world wealthy, reigns over the nations of the world, imposes its culture on all the nations, and leads them in a massive downward spiral of materialistic depravity that culminates in worldwide worship of Satan and the Antichrist during the second half of the Tribulation Period. These are things that can only be done once, and the United States is now doing them. Never before in history has a single country dominated all the other countries of the world and enjoyed such preeminence in comparison to all the others. The United States finds itself in the historically unique position of monopolizing every significant power source in the world—a position it began to occupy since the end of World War II, and which was greatly enhanced by the end of the Cold War.

In summary, ‘the Book of Revelation describes Babylon the Great as the dominant superpower in the world of the End Times’—so dominant, that it actually shapes the culture and economy of the world as it exists at the start of the tribulation period. The nature and scope of Babylon the Great’s dominance is such that only one such entity could ever exist in the history of the world, and there is no doubt that the United States of America is this entity. While some aspects of the prophecy remain to be fulfilled—most notably the prophecies of Babylon the Great’s attempts to put Christians to death worldwide (Rev 17:6; 18:20, 24; 19:2)—enough aspects already match so as to leave no doubt as to the fulfillment of the rest.” – “The Case for Identifying Babylon the Great With the United States of America,” Truth Only Bible, June 29, 2021; edited

I wholehearted agree. But after over 40 years of study of the general question before us, and after seven years of intense study of THE ONE MAN who qualifies as the American Antichrist, I dare to name him one more time to complete our discussion.

IV. LAST THOUGHTS: ANTICHRIST

There are several clearly articulated Theological Criteria by which we may identify the Antichrist, with this ‘Caveat of his Revealing:’ It can only be realized when the Church is in a state of Great Apostasy (cf. 2 Thessalonians 2:1-4).

Welcome to the American Church of 2024.

The following Bullet Point List is adapted from the thorough research of DR. DAVID MURRAY, distinguished professor of Old Testament and Practical Theology at Puritan Reformed Theological Seminary (cited in Kelly, The Sixth Seal II, 2023, pp. 142-145; edited).

HE IS LAWLESS. He is called “the Man of Sin,” literally, “the Man of Lawlessness” who shall disregard God’s Word and Law in every way (2 Thessalonians 2:3). All the while pretending to be ‘The Sent One’ from Almighty God.

HE IS A DESTROYER. In the very same verse, Paul describes him as “the Son of Perdition” which translates literally as “the Son of Destruction” (2 Thessalonians 2:3). He will first physically restrict and then slaughter and destroy all those who oppose him, and by so doing, eternally consign all who are in agreement with him in any way to Hellfire.

HE OPPOSES GOD. He exalts himself against all that belongs to God (2 Thessalonians 2:4). More specifically, his desire and conduct is to ‘replace’ the Godhead with himself and his own earthly rule. As with his father, the Devil, he seeks to overthrow the Kingdom of Light and put in its place, the Kingdom of Darkness.

HE IS A DECEIVER. Here Professor Murray points out that the only other Biblical figure called “the Son of Perdition” was Judas Iscariot (John 17:12) – how very appropriate. This is why in large measure the Holy Spirit continues to nearly shout out loud these days: “Do not be deceived!” The Antichrist is empowered by Satan himself with supernatural ability. ‘Thus, we believers must of necessity be deep down in the Word of God and vigilant every day!’

HE IS ARROGANT. On of the most telling characteristics of Antichrist is his bombastic, insufferable and clearly Pathological Narcissism. He exalts himself at ever opportunity, takes credit for all achievements that raise his profile, and castigates all who are against him relentlessly (2 Thessalonians 2:4). NOTE: Most Christian projections of Antichrist cast him as a smooth, sophisticated, and attractive personality. But by the Text, nothing is further from the Truth! He is, as the Scriptures clearly warn us, “a Beast!” (Revelation 13:11).

HE IS A HERETIC. Heresy is commonly defined as holding beliefs or opinions profoundly at odds with Truth, what most theologians refer to as ‘Orthodoxy.’ The Apostle John’s primary concern with the Antichrist and the spirit of antichrist is their fierce promotion of False Doctrines – the Anathema of the Last Days Church (1 John 4:3; 2 John 7). As the Messiah and Apostles predicted, American Christianity is rife with such doctrines, currently taking the form of ‘Christian Nationalism’ – the very same heresy that ADOLF HITLER built upon a century ago in Nazi Germany.

HE IS A POLITICIAN. As I write in my review of Dr. Murray’s essay: “While Daniel and Revelation confirm and expand upon these six characteristics, their main emphasis is on the ‘Political Nature of the Antichrist’ (Daniel 12:4). This Reality is lost upon most American Christians today, who somehow continue to ‘ignore’ his relentless pursuit of raw political power as a mechanism for carrying out his diabolical plans for the entire world.

CODA. Therefore do I propose to you all once again, TWO IDEAS: First, that the United States of America is fast becoming unrecognizable as the Land of the Free and Home of the Brave. Rather, she is appearing more like a combination of ALDOUS HUXLEY’S Brave New World of 1932, and GEORGE ORWELL’S Nineteen Eighty-Four published in 1949.

To Wit: American Babylon.

Second, that this now rapidly deteriorating Republic shall have produced the perfect political leader for such a Final Earthly Tyranny: that very Man of Lawlessness that shall subvert the nation and overthrow the entire world order for his own destructive, heinous pleasure to dominate the planet, and God Himself.

To wit: Donald John Trump.

If we do not awaken to these Prophetic Truths in just the next few months and years, all of history and all of God’s Canon shouts at us that we shall very soon slip the bonds of human civility and descend headlong into a Hell-on-Earth that left even the Biblical sages nearly speechless. Selah.

NOTE: For the rest of this Epochal Story, consider the purchase of my new book now available for Pre-Order on Amazon and Barnes & Nobel: The Sixth Seal II: A Pre-Wrath Commentary Redux on the Rise of Donald Trump and the Decline of the American Order (Nov. 22, 2023). DK

YOUTUBE: https://youtu.be/kL3E6WIUi_4