The Lady of the Kings
Dear Beloved Brethren,
"But it shall be one day which shall be known to the Lord, not day,
nor night: but it shall come to pass, THAT AT EVENING TIME IT
SHALL BE LIGHT. " Zechariah 14:7
We do want to welcome you to this 'HIS VOICE THROUGH THE WEB'. It
is once again 'LIGHT IN THE EVENING TIME.' Be blessed with it and
remember, PASS IT ON TO OTHERS that it might be made plain upon the
tables (of their hearts) so that as they read, they too might run
with it. Other writings have been posted on the Kingdomlife
Website, and the Dimensions of Truth website
so we encourage you to visit these fine websites www.kingdomlife.com and www.dimensionsoftruth.org and be blessed. Pray for Brothers Bill Gorton and Robert Burgess also as the Spirit of God uses them to direct the affairs of these websites.
We will be taking a further meditation on the 'two kinds of women'
under the topic: "THE LADY OF THE KINGS". 'The Lady of the Kings'
is a phrase coined from a prophetic passage of scriptures found in
Isaiah 47:5-9. It says,
"Sit thou silent, and get thee into darkness, O daughter of the
Chaldeans: for thou shalt no more be called, THE LADY OF THE
KINGDOMS.
I was wroth with my people, I have polluted my inheritance, and
given them into thine hand: thou didst show them no mercy; upon the
ancient hast thou very heavily laid the yoke.
And thou saidst, I shall be a lady forever: so that thou didst not
lay these things to thy heart, neither didst remember the latter
end of it.
Therefore hear now this, thou that art given to pleasures, thou
dwellest carelessly, thou sayest in thine heart, I am, and none
else besides me; I shall not sit as a widow, neither shall I know the
loss of children:
But these two things shall come to thee in a moment in one day,
the loss of children, and widowhood they shall come upon thee in their
perfection for the multitude of thy sorceress, and for the great
abundance of thine enchantments."
Our main text is taken from Revelation 17, a passage of scripture
that is somewhat parallel to that Isaiah 47. It is to be
remembered that every subject matter in scripture is examined by at least two
or three writers. At the mouth of two or three witnesses, let every
word be confirmed, Moses was inspired to say in Deuteronomy 17:6.
Remember, we are talking about two kinds of women, the one who is
faithful found in Revelation 12, and the other, the unfaithful,
harlot woman discussed in Revelation 17. We shall be concentrating
however on the second. Under the topic 'The Lady of the Kings', we
shall look into this mysterious woman. The change in phrasing from
'The Lady of the Kingdoms' to 'The Lady of the Kings' is informed
by the New Testament treatment of the subject, as we shall see later.
Revelation 17:1-5 read sa follows:
"And ther came one of the seven angels which had the seven vials,
and talked with me, saying unto me, come hither; I will shew unto
thee the judgement of the great whore that sitteth upon many
waters:
With whom the kings of the earth have committed fornication, and
the inhabitants of the earth have been made drunk with the wine of her
fornication.
So he carried me away in the spirit into a wilderness: and I saw a
woman sit upon a scarlet coloured beast, full of names of
blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns.
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:
And upon her forehead was a name written, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE
GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH.
.And here is the mind that has wisdom. The seven heads are seven
mountains, on which the woman sits. (Revelation 17:1-5)
Now, sometimes in scriptures, the same word in the original
language is translated by several words in the English language, depending
on the context. The word translated "Kingdom" in Isaiah 47:5, is in
the Greek language "Basilea". And, 'Basilea' may be translated
"Kingdom" or "Kingdoms". It could also be rendered as "King" or "Kings", and
the reference could also be to the subject of the kingdom. So, the
geographical area in which the reign of a king is felt can be
referred to as kingdom. Then, the subjects of the king together
with the king can also be referred to as kingdom, and finally, the king
can also be referred to as kingdom. So, from the word 'Basilea',
we have three levels of interpretation. In titling this message: The
Lady of the Kings, we want to emphasise one element in the harlotry
of this woman, that stands above all others, particularly in our
times. So, she is known as the lady of the kingdoms, the lady of
the kings.
Recall that in the last chapter we examined "a wife going aside".
The church of Jesus Christ is often set forth in scriptures as
being the bride of Christ. In Ephesians 5, the church is seen as the
wife of Christ. Maintaining the metaphor of the home, the
unfaithfulness of the church to Christ is spiritual adultery. In the context of
Numbers 5, we see the woman still in the home of her husband,
having certain suspicious traits. The spirit of jealousy comes upon the
husband and he begins the process of determining whether or not
what is suspected is indeed infidelity. That was a middle-of-the-road
position. From such an estate, that woman may be recovered.
But, the situation we met in Revelation 17, is terminal, fully
developed unfaithfulness that is incurable. This woman (in
Revelation 17) has been thrown out of the house of her husband.
The court had been sitting, and, the final judgement had been
delivered. Recall to mind what is found in Revelation 17:1,
".And there came one of the seven angels which had the seven
vials, and talked with me, saying unto me, come hither I will shew unto
thee the judgement of the great whore that sitteth upon many waters."
So, the woman is here shown to have a judgemental sentence placed
on her. The charges are not just being read, rather the charges have
been established to be true, and, the judgements have been
pronounced upon her. Actually, this passage goes through to the last verse,
and, the subject matter is continued in Revelation chapter 18.
Now, what are the things that this woman has been charged with, and
how do we understand them in the light of Christendom, the church
systems of our day?
First, we are told in verse 2 that this woman that sits upon many
waters is one with whom the kings of the earth have committed
fornication. You will recall that fornication in spiritual
symbolism simply means unholy ties. Why has this woman suddenly come into so much ties with the kings of the earth? Who are the kings of the
earth with whom this woman has committed fornication? And, we
answer straightforwardly that the term 'the kings of the earth' is not
primarily a reference to monarchical kings, (that is monarchies,
political or traditional rulers of the present world). The term
may include these (as there is so much of unholy romance between the
church and the state). However, the primary reference is to
financial kings.
This lady in her great lust for money courts the favour of anyone
that has money. We know that the church systems today have built
up much of its operations upon greed and avarice. As may be expected,
the doctrines of these harlot church systems place great premium on
money. That brings us to what is said in Revelation 17:9.
We are told in the ninth verse that the woman is sitting upon seven
mountains. If we read verse 9 in the light of Micah 4 and Isaiah
2, mountains stand for ecclesiastical kingdoms. By transference of
figure, the main doctrines on which these kingdoms are founded and
built may be symbolically called mountains. Thus we are to
understand that seven principal doctrines found and feed this
kingdom of the harlot woman.
Let us take it more deliberately so as to have a clear
understanding of the issues before us. Now, in verse 5, it is noted that this
woman is the mother of harlots. That is, it is not just one church
system that has this mark of harlotry but several. And each of
these church harlot systems has at least one doctrine in which her
erroneous practices are founded. Quite often the said doctrine or
doctrines are a perversion of the doctrine of Christ. On the
whole, there are seven erroneous doctrines or mountains on which the
harlot systems are built.
The first of these perverted doctrines is the doctrine of tithe and
offerings. Now, the word of God provides for the Lord's people to
contribute willingly and abundantly to the proclamation of the
gospel. And, Christ's teaching is quite clear on the principles of
giving. In Matthew 6, for example, He talks about giving, praying
and fasting, three practical issues that all believers must be
involved in. But, we know that the doctrine of giving has been so
perverted that the whole visible church systems, possibly with
exception of a few, are hooked up to false emphasis that makes
legitimate an unbridled lust for money.
Hosea is a book written to show God's love for a people who are
regarded as His wife. Israel was Jehovah's wife. Isaiah 54:5
shows that clearly when it says of Israel, ".For thy maker is thy
husband.". In Hosea, we are told that the prophet was to marry a
woman given to harlotry in order to illustrate by his own life the
experience that Jehovah was having with Israel. In the second
chapter of Hosea, there, we find Israel under the figure of a
woman, saying that, ".I will go after my lovers.". Note that the word
'lovers' is in the plural form, ".I will go after my lovers.".
According to this passage, this odd decision was iÿÿÿnformed by her
unbridled lust for money that was to be satisfied by these several
husbands.
We know that the churches today have done so much havoc to the
testimony of Christ by how she carries on in this matter of money.
And so, anyone, any prominent name (a financial king) in the city
of Benin and in other cities of our country, will certainly have
received from time to time invitation for a special launching, or
annual thanksgiving, or harvest etc. Should a financial king be
successfully lured to stay back as a member after one such special
occasion, he would undoubtedly be ordained a deacon or an elder
within just three weeks. The title is used to entice him/her in
order that they might continue to receive abundantly of his/her
supplies. What a shame!
So, in the matter of money and in the perverted teachings on
giving, we find a telling characteristic of this woman. The lust for money
and the erroneous doctrinal backing is a mountain on which the
harlot church system builds its kingdom. We may complete this evil
picture by reminding the reader that she boasts herself of being possessed
of so great a power with God to bless all whom she desires to bless.
She even has the power (as it is claimed) to admit any to the
favours of God. And she is willing to give all of these blessings
to those who identify with her by contributing generously to her many
schemes. She is a lady of the kings, she is a freelancing bride,
and
all both small and great covet her favours. They allow themselves
to
be drained of some resources in order that the woman who professes
to be God's ambassador on the earth may bless them. May the Lord help
us to be delivered from this terrible wickedness, in the name of
the Lord Jesus Christ.
I believe that all church systems, all and none excepted, should
think deeply about this situation and begin to turn in great
repentance, if per chance, the judgement that the Lord have already
pronounced may be stayed back. (Joel 2:13, 14.)
We go to a second situation, and that has to do with names, making
a name, abominable titles, deifying the ministry. Now if you follow
the reading carefully, you will notice something in verse 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."
Now, constraint of time and space may not allow us to go verse by
verse in an expository teaching of this passage (Revelation 17).
This is adequately covered in our booklet, "HEED THE CALL".
However, a few more things need be said before drawing the curtain on this
meditation.
Genesis 11 tells us the beginning of Babylon. By an unwritten law,
it is usual in scriptures for root principles to be found in a
passage containing a subject matter in its first mention. And
since Revelation 17 is all about Babylon, we may garner from Genesis 11
something of value relative to what we are examining. Recall that
the 5th verse of Revelation 17 says one of the names on the
forehead of this strange woman is Babylon the Great. We are told that the
compelling desire of the people in building the tower of Babylon
(Babel) was that they might make a name for themselves. And, there
has never been an era, a dispensation, in which people are mad
about names and titles as we have it in this age. And the church is
foremost in creating all kinds of names and titles in order to
elevate some men (funnily called the clergy) above others
(sarcastically referred to as the laity). This is all done to
exploit the masses. The New Testament teaches that the priesthood
under Christ as Head is of all believers. Class distinction is
alien to New Testament teaching and practice.
Now, it is like washing dirty linen in the public. But, the
situation has become so bad and quite a number of God's servants
who were hitherto credible have become enmeshed in the mess. Nothing
is left, no other means can be secured than to speak so openly and so
decisively against this great treachery.
The most famous title today is Reverend Doctor [Revd. (Dr.) ..].
And there is a mad rush for this meaningless title. The usual approach
for some is this: Read 'Medicine' in the University if blessed with
academic ability and on graduation establishes a church. Then
next, take on the title of a Reverend. What we now have is a Reverend
Doctor gentleman (or woman)! Rightly seen, even the name
'Reverend' in the scriptural context should be properly reserved for the Lord
Jesus Christ. Only God and His Christ are to be reverenced (held
in awe, full adoration) according to the word of God (Psalms 111:9).
And, of course we are not reducing the seriousness of this issue to
just merely carrying a title. Our main emphasis is that there is
usually a sick heart condition behind this rush for big names and
titles.
There are all kinds of character traits that in essence sponsor the
overthrow of God or the usurpation of His right in creation.
Remember what we read earlier in II Thessalonians 2, how that some
man will sit in the temple of God showing himself to be God. And,
we showed clearly that this has no reference to a physical temple.
Today, men make themselves gods in order to be feared and held in
awe. And, the Nicolaitane spirit, the laity-clergy distinction of
this hour, which dates back to the thirteen century, is not
God-created. It does not have God's approval. For, the first
three hundred years of the church history, this evil plague was not
known. God graciously made available to His church in that age highly
anointed ministries. These ministries serve the body of Christ in
all humility and persevering love. So we are talking here about
what the Bible refers to as 'names of blasphemy'.
One day, some man will arise from within the church systems, and
call himself God. Of course, there have been persons with spurious
beginnings who have arisen and called themselves by such various
names. But the main concern is for our constituency. We are
understandably concerned about those who have known Jesus Christ in
salvation and baptised in the Holy Spirit, but derailed along the
line. The way all of this wickedness has crept into Pentecostalism
gives every concerned heart reason to cry out unto God.
So, that is the second thing. First, an unbridled lust for money,
second, an unbridled lust for title by means of which men impose
themselves over their fellow brethren as lords over them. May the
Lord help and deliver us from this domineering attitude. Check for
this character trait in the home; how do you carry on? There is
one Lord over all of God's creation; He is the Lord Jesus Christ.
Every other man must have a healthy respect for the Lord's glory and of
His sovereignty. We must keep a humble view of ourselves.
The third thing is shown in her doctrines. If you will come with
meto the fourth verse, which I will read first as it is presented,
and secondly in a slightly expanded form to bring out some salient
points,
".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 abomination and filthiness of her fornication."
(Revelation 17:4)
I read again in a slightly expanded form,
".And the woman was arrayed in purple (that is, royal powers,
showing herself to be an ecclesiastical kingdom which the people
must submit to), and was also clothed in scarlet colour (she has
assigned to her a priestly role).
The word of God has said the believer is being made a priest and a
king. And, of course, Paul tells us in I Corinthians 4 that the
time of the reign of the church over the nations is in the millennium.
But these have said they would rule now. So the scarlet colour is
a reference to her priestly responsibility. It says further, ".and
decked with gold and precious stones (remember this woman says I am
now rich, I am full of all that I desire and have need of nothing.
But from the divine viewpoint, she is wretched, poor, miserable,
blind and naked. Here, she is decked with the riches of the wealth
she had obtained in an illicit manner).
I pray that the Lord will deliver all who read this lines from
being supporters of systems that are no longer in the interest of God.
This woman has been thrown out; she is no longer in her husband's
house. She is now altogether free to practice her wickedness. She
is no longer 'a wife going aside', she has been thrown out, and she
is prospering in her new environment, sitting upon a beast, (how
different from that woman in Revelation 12, clothed with the sun,
standing on the moon, and, the crown of twelve stars on her head).
She is in league with bestial powers, and functioning under the
cover of the beast that in turn revels in her goodwill.
May the Lord deliver us; we cannot be passive watchers of events.
We must speak against this wickedness, and the time to do so is now,
for Babylon must fall, all pretentious in the church must fall, all
treacheries against the Lord Jesus Christ must fall. All servants
of God duly commissioned of God must seek the face of God and turn
from wickedness. May the Lord deliver us, in the name of the Lord Jesus
Christ.
But the third element, which we are examining, is idolatry. To say
that she is holding a cup (Revelation 17:4) means that she is
ministering something. Remember in verse 2, we are told that the
inhabitants of the earth are made drunk with the wine of her
fornication. Her teachings, doctrines are here symbolised to us as
wine. The wine of her fornication means that the teachings that go
on in these systems only make it easy for the people to be drawn
into worldliness and mix worship. The common people are made to believe
in the rights of the clergy to exploit them. No wonder, the first
verse says that this woman is sitting upon many waters, and in
verse 15, we are told that ".the waters which thou sawest are peoples,
and multitudes, and nations, and tongues.". It can be shown that this
influence of treachery in the name of religion is pervasive, having
a universal hold on the minds and hearts of men. Men's minds have
already been sensitised to worshipping fellow men and women. Many
have lost their faculties of critical reasoning. People have
become so dull under the influence by the age-long perverted
teachings/doctrines of this harlot woman. The wine of he
fornication
is a reference to these erroneous doctrines in their capacity of
causing men to lose the power of sound judgement. To say that the
woman is sitting upon many waters, shows that multitudes have been
engulfed in this wicked treachery. May the Lord deliver His
people.
We know that of the seven principal errors, only three has been
considered. This will be sufficient for our present purpose. We
would want to assure you that the hour is come that all true
believers must break free from things that no longer vitally and
adequately represent the interest of God in the church. False
religion, truly, is the opium of the people. May the Lord keep
you, and bless you. May the Lord keep you agitated until sorting
yourself out before God, you break free from all things that are contrary to
His will, in Jesus name, AMEN.
Beloved Brethren, the Lord in His mercies has brought us to the end
of another meeting through the web. We earnestly covet your prayers
as always. When He brings us your way again, we shall be meditating
on another topic titled "THE LANGUAGE OF PROPHECY". Please do stay
blessed in Him.
JESUS IS LORD!
Your Brother - 'Segun Ogunfile.
The Writings of Segun Ogunfile 