No offense, but, actually, you don't.
PlainWord said:
We read the Word and listen to what it says and apply it to reality.
Whoa...is that what you meant by "discerning with insight"?!?
"Applying the Word to reality"?
Which "reality"?
The "reality" that you derive from newspaper headlines and the such or the "reality" of what God has actually foretold of in His Holy Word via His Holy Spirit, the Spirit of truth? Granted, the two will eventually line up (the Word and headlines), but you mustn't put the proverbial cart before the horse by grabbing a hold of headlines and forcing them to fit prophecy. How many people looked to Saddam Hussein as the antichrist via newspaper "reality"? What about Gorbachev? Shall I go on? Ironically, there's plenty of news, some current, some past, which supports my position. IOW, there have been many moves made BY THE VATICAN ("the beast") to gain footholds in Jerusalem ("the woman") to bring about the things which God has actually foretold of, but I don't lead with the same.
PlainWord said:
I read your various points. They fail.
So you insist, but you've yet to document one such alleged "failure". That goes for others here, too. There's a reason for that...you're in error.
PlainWord said:
The Harlot is a false religion.
Even if that were true, then the Christ denying Judaism of JERUSALEM would fit. Besides, this "woman" isn't just a "harlot", but "THE MOTHER of harlots". Again, she gave birth, figuratively speaking, to ALL HARLOTS. How is that Mecca? You're not going to try to dupe us, as Kenneth did, by telling us that "Mecca means mother" WHEN, IN FACT, IT DOESN'T, are you? I trust not. We both know how "THE MOTHER of harlots" could easily be applied to JERUSALEM which was the focal point of Divine service and worship and which should have been the place where all the world learned how to worship and serve the One True God, don't we? Sure, we do. Having failed miserably (for the most part) in teaching the same DUE TO HER OWN HARLOTRIES, she, JERUSALEM, in effect, taught the world how to be HARLOTS and she is therefore rightly deemed to be "THE MOTHER of harlots" (Revelation 17:5).
PlainWord said:
This "Woman" is in contrast to the Woman of Revelation 12.
Says you.
"And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ." (Revelation 12:17)
Revelation chapter 12 speaks of BOTH "the woman" AND "the remnant of her seed which keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ". IOW, THE VAST MAJORITY OF THIS "WOMAN" DOES NOT "KEEP THE COMMANDMENTS OF GOD" AND DOES NOT "HAVE THE TESTIMONY OF JESUS CHRIST". It's right there...like it or not.
I agree, BUT, again, that "woman" is broken down into two totally different categories:
1. Those who DON'T keep the commandments of God and who DON'T have the testimony of Jesus Christ.
2. Those who DO keep the commandments of God and who DO have the testimony of Jesus Christ.
IOW, Revelation chapter 12 describes BOTH natural Israel or those who are in disobedience AND what the Bible calls "the Israel of God" (Galatians 6:16) or THE REMNANT of Israelites who are in obedience.
PlainWord said:
That woman gave birth to Christ.
She sure enough did.
PlainWord said:
Then in Rev 17 John was taken to see another woman (not the same woman).
You're in error.
Again, Revelation chapter 12 speaks of BOTH natural Israel or those who are in disobedience AND what the Bible calls "the Israel of God" (Galatians 6:16) or THE REMNANT of Israelites who are in obedience. In Revelation chapter 17, John focuses in on natural Israel or on the whorish "woman".
PlainWord said:
He marveled at this scarlet woman.
No, he did not nor could he have because Revelation chapter 17 says NOTHING of a "scarlet woman". Rather, it speaks of a "woman" who is seated upon "a scarlet colored beast":
Revelation chapter 17
[3] So he carried me away in the spirit into the wilderness: and I saw a woman sit upon a scarlet coloured beast, full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns.
[4] And the woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet colour, and decked with gold and precious stones and pearls, having a golden cup in her hand full of abominations and filthiness of her fornication:
[5] And upon her forehead was a name written, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH.
[6] And I saw the woman drunken with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus: and when I saw her, I wondered with great admiration.
[7] And the angel said unto me, Wherefore didst thou marvel? I will tell thee the mystery of the woman, and of the beast that carrieth her, which hath the seven heads and ten horns.
Again, there are TWO DISTINCT ENTITIES here and we must not conflate them:
1. A woman.
2. A scarlet colored beast upon which she sits or which carries her.
This same "scarlet colored beast" is detailed and defined for us in Revelation chapter 13 and it is NOT the "woman".
PlainWord said:
Why? Because it was a filthy harlot religion riding a 10 nation BEAST alliance.
"Was"?
How about "will be"?
IOW, this hasn't been fulfilled yet.
PlainWord said:
Nothing about this description fits Israel or Jerusalem
Again, how can you even suggest the same when this "10 nation BEAST alliance", to use your terminology, IS YET FUTURE?
PlainWord said:
There are no kings getting rich on Jerusalem or Israel.
YET!
What is it about THE FUTURE that you don't understand?
Again, this has not yet been fulfilled.
PlainWord said:
The BEAST from the Sea is clearly identified as coming from the north area of Turkey, Syria, Iraq and Iran. These countries (and others) form the BEAST and ISLAM is riding this BEAST. But these nations will hate ISLAM, devour her flesh and leave her naked. This is not far from happening. These nations hate the Saudis who are the KINGS of the EARTH who have been fornicating with the Harlot ISLAM.
Back up your assertion. IOW, prove where "the BEAST from the Sea is" ALLEGEDLY "clearly identified as coming from the north area of Turkey, Syria, Iraq and Iran". Now, when I speak of backing up your assertion or proving it, I'm NOT talking about grabbing some newspaper headlines and cramming them into the Bible somewhere arbitrarily. Rather, I'm talking about you proving, FROM SCRIPTURE, what you allege is "clearly identified". Go ahead...I'd personally like to see it.
PlainWord said:
Israel has negligible trade. Saudi trades 13-16% of the world's oil. There is an enormous difference.
Excuse me, but didn't you mean to say "there is an enormous IRRELEVANT difference"?
Show me "the world's oil" anywhere in the following list:
Revelation chapter 18
[11] And the merchants of the earth shall weep and mourn over her; for no man buyeth their merchandise any more:
[12] The merchandise of gold, and silver, and precious stones, and of pearls, and fine linen, and purple, and silk, and scarlet, and all thyine wood, and all manner vessels of ivory, and all manner vessels of most precious wood, and of brass, and iron, and marble,
[13] And cinnamon, and odours, and ointments, and frankincense, and wine, and oil, and fine flour, and wheat, and beasts, and sheep, and horses, and chariots, and slaves, and souls of men.
[14] And the fruits that thy soul lusted after are departed from thee, and all things which were dainty and goodly are departed from thee, and thou shalt find them no more at all.
[15] The merchants of these things, which were made rich by her, shall stand afar off for the fear of her torment, weeping and wailing,
[16] And saying, Alas, alas, that great city, that was clothed in fine linen, and purple, and scarlet, and decked with gold, and precious stones, and pearls!
[17] For in one hour so great riches is come to nought. And every shipmaster, and all the company in ships, and sailors, and as many as trade by sea, stood afar off,
[18] And cried when they saw the smoke of her burning, saying, What city is like unto this great city!
[19] And they cast dust on their heads, and cried, weeping and wailing, saying, Alas, alas, that great city, wherein were made rich all that had ships in the sea by reason of her costliness! for in one hour is she made desolate.
Surely you don't believe that the "oil" spoken of in verse 13 is the same type of "oil" which you referred to, right? In case you do:
Greek Lexicon :: G1637 (KJV)
Spare me the straw man arguments...I'm not susceptible to the same.
PlainWord said:
Israel is not found on a major trade route. Saudi is surrounded by the busiest trade routes in the world located on the Red Sea, the Persian Gulf and Indian Ocean. I was an officer in the US Merchant Marines in my younger years and have sailed on these waters. They are indeed very busy, the busiest I've seen next to the Straights of Malacca in Indonesia.
Sigh...
Another straw man.
Go back and reread what I just posted from Revelation chapter 18 and show me/us where "a major trade route" is mentioned. Again, even Solomon had things in relation to the temple of his day imported to him VIA SHIP (see I Kings chapter 10 and II Chronicles chapter 9).
PlainWord said:
Watch the video posted by Kenneth. I watched it some time ago. It caused me to alter my views. I was leaning towards Rome before watching it.
I've seen the videos before.
I don't derive my doctrine from videos, but rather from the Word of God.