How did most of the church fall into such depravity that it would be called “the Great Harlot” and “Mystery Babylon” in the Revelation given to John? The institutional church through the Middle Ages descended into a deep darkness that is incomprehensible today. Its nature and practices could hardly have been more contrary to the teachings and instructions of Jesus or His true followers. This terrible fall and corruption of the church was predicted in the vision John was given, and it happened just as it was portrayed.

      Why was this shown to John to give to the church? Because this “Great Harlot,” also called, “Mystery Babylon,” is what the church would become if it abandoned the place of the Holy Spirit and became dominated by carnal, fallen men. The “man of sin” that would take its place in the church was a personification of “the sin of man.” This was the ultimate manifestation of the corruption and depravity of man by the fall, man’s determination to go his own way without God.

      The “man of sin” is who we all would be if we had not been shown mercy, born again, and given a new nature to grow up into—Jesus Christ, who is the Righteousness of God. The “man of sin” was prophesied to take his seat in “the temple of God,” the church, displaying himself as God. This was a personification of the sin of man ruling the church, which it did for a time.

      Though what happened in the Middle Ages is far in the past, it is crucial for us to understand it to be free of the grip it still has on the church, which is contrary to Christ, as we will see. This perhaps validates the statement, “Those who do not know history are doomed to repeat it.” This may not be Scripture, but it is true.

      Men are still trying to be the head of His church, regardless of how vehemently they protest and claim that Christ is the Head of their churches. They may sincerely think this, but they are in fact the ones sitting in this seat. A main reason the Revelation was given to John to give to His bondservants was to reveal Christ. This was so we could discern the imposters who would try to take His place and see how these substitutes would do this. This is still happening today.

      The only way we will not be deceived by the imposters is by His grace, which He gives to the humble. Those who have true humility will continually be devoted to worshiping Him as the only one worthy to lead the church. This “revelation of Jesus Christ” could be summed up as this: He alone is worthy to have dominion.

      That is His basic message of the seven churches in Revelation—how we can know His place and our place. We need to learn from past church leaders’ mistakes and know we will continue in their deceptions if we do not walk in His mercy and grace. We can only do that if we walk in the humility that seeks to only exalt Him, not ourselves. If these things could happen in the church in history, it can happen to any of us. This is especially true if we are prideful enough to think we are better and wiser than others—especially our spiritual ancestors, our mothers and fathers.

      So, we want to know the mysteries of the book of Revelation to love God more and to love His people more, even His people who made terrible mistakes. Otherwise, we who judge others will end up doing the same things. We want to see those who fell to the lowest depravity with His eyes; He loves them. We must keep the judgment that “except for the grace of God there goes I,” so that we esteem God’s grace as the greatest treasure.

      It is the grace of God to show us these things now so we can avoid the same traps that the church of God has fallen to in every generation. We must never forget that our grace is grace. We never want to learn history to criticize and condemn those who made mistakes but to learn from them. We can honor our spiritual parents by learning from their mistakes. If we honor our parents as the commandment demands, we can walk in the promise that is given with it—that it would go well with us, and we can dwell long in the place the Lord has given us (see Exodus 20:12).

      As we proceed to study the darkness and depravity that the church descended into during the times aptly referred to as “the Dark Ages,” let us keep in mind that an even more glorious conclusion for the church is coming. The Lord will lead His church into His triumph before the end of this age so that the rest of creation will also learn the path to triumph.