“Mystery Babylon” in the book of Revelation is an illuminating title for the false church—man’s church that man tried to build—and it became an antithesis and persecutor of God’s church. This title reveals the roots and nature of this false church, which are in man. Mankind has not ceased to try to build what was begun in Genesis 11:1-4: 

       “Now all the earth used the same language and the same words. And it came about, as they journeyed east, that they found a plain in the land of Shinar and settled there. Then...

       The apostle Paul wrote this to the Corinthians—and to us—in 2 Corinthians 11:2-3: “For I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy; for I betrothed you to one husband, to present you as a pure virgin to Christ. But I am afraid that, as the serpent deceived Eve by his trickery, your minds will be led astray from sincere and pure devotion to Christ.”

       Perhaps the most devastating thing institutional religion has done to the Christian faith is complicate it, causing Christians to be more devoted to rituals and principles than to simply...

      In Matthew 24:4-5, Jesus warns about the troubles to come upon the world at the end of the age: “See to it that no one misleads you. For many will come in My name, saying, 'I am the Christ,' and they will mislead many people.” After the warning not to be misled, He addresses what is likely to be the most serious deception—that many would come saying that He, Jesus, was indeed the Christ yet would still be deceivers. This has certainly been true, as many today are preaching that Jesus is the Christ, but they are...

      The true Christian life is the most difficult life we can live on this earth, but it is also the most fulfilling life we can live. As John wrote in 1 John 5:19, “The whole world lies in the power of the evil one.” We can be sure the evil one is making this life as difficult as he can for the true followers of Christ, and the Lord allows it for our sake. Those who walk with Christ at the end of the age will walk in a power and glory that no other generation...

      In 2 Timothy 3:1, Paul warns, “Realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come.” This statement should bring us encouragement, as Acts 14:22 declares, “It is through many tribulations that we must enter the kingdom of God.” Trials and tribulations are doorways to His kingdom. The greatest trials and tribulations come upon the world at the end of the age because they are a door through which the world will enter the kingdom of God.

      As we covered previously, when the Lord was asked by His disciples about the signs of...