Believers, Bible-readers, is the church doomed?

Question

I just saw someone quoting Revelation 18 to say that the church (all churches) is so corrupted that it is no longer of any use to attend church, because time for Great Tribulation is coming.
(Link to the referred question is this:
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=Ahwn_NLabDQOKbwJkDEiRA3d7BR.?qid=20070515093603AATQJei)
Is that true? I am a recent convert to Christianity so this is a serious question (I know it can sound like naive or blasphemous but it is not)
God bless you for your help.

Here is the link, the other one doesn't seem to be working. See response of latter rain
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=Ago3txlWLrJzQZ2VeV7E2_zd7BR.?qid=20070515093603AATQJei

Answer 1

There are extensive exegetical problems with "Latter Rain's" answer. (That's scholar-speak for "she doesn't know what she's talking about.")

In part, "Latter Rain" wrote:

"At this present time, God is finished using the local churches and congregations. We are presently in the time period known as the Great Tribulation (Matthew 24). The Great Tribulation began in 1988 and precedes the second advent of Jesus Christ when the world shall be destroyed and every person that has not had their sins paid for will be cast into the lake of fire."

First of all, it's IMPOSSIBLE for the Great Tribulation to have begun in 1988, since the Tribulation only lasts 7 years. (See Daniel 9:27, for example.) The Tribulation begins on the date the Antichrist brokers a peace agreement between Israel and its neighboring nations. 7 years to the day later, Jesus will return (called "the Second Coming").

Second, God will NEVER be "finished" with local churches. Although it's true that the Holy Spirit will work differently during the Tribulation, people will continue to be saved during it. Proof of this may be found at Revelation 7:9-17; the "great crowd" are people of all nationalities who are saved during the Tribulation. How can God be "finished" if He is also still saving people? It just doesn't make sense.

Third, the world will NEVER be destroyed. What WILL be destroyed is Satan's evil system that governs and defiles the world. When Jesus returns, He will establish the "Messianic Kingdom," also known as the "Millenial Reign." During this time, He will purify the earth, moving it back toward the Father's original intent when He first created it. (However, it won't be perfect until AFTER Jesus hands the earth over to the Father, who will then dwell on earth -- see Rev. 21:1-8).

If you truly wish to understand how God sees many churches nowadays, read Revelation 3:14-22. (First, understand that each church mentioned within these 7 letters was an actual church; but they are ALSO symbolic representations of the church throughout the "Church Age"). The end times church is represented by the Laodicean church, which was "lukewarm" for Jesus; notice He tells us He's outside this church, knocking and begging to be let in. Anyone who "overcomes" (i.e. spiritually removes him or herself from this lukewarm state and, in essence, transfers to another of the churches) will be saved.

While it's true that Rev. 18 references religion, it has nothing to do with TRUE Christianity; this is a "one world" religion laden with paganism, which God views as spiritual adultery; that's why the woman (who is the pagan church of the Tribulation) is viewed as a harlot. To get a better sense of spiritual adultery, read Jeremiah 3 and Hosea 2, both of which relate to Israel's spiritual adultery. Notice God views Israel as His Wife, just as Jesus views the Church as His Bride.

I'm sorry my reply was so wordy. As always, if you need further information, please let me know.

Answer 2

Darlin - the whole point of the Bible is that God's church will be victorious and that we who love the Lord will live eternally with Him... otherwise the Bible would be just any old book. ...You know in your spirit that it isn't.

Besides - that poster has decided that the "great Babylon" is the church of God... I do not ascribe to that belief.

The great unholy "abomination of desolation" speaks of an outside ruler who will cause the temple to be destroyed and all sacrifices to cease. (It refers all the way back to Daniel 9:27) It is a fore warning of the coming troubles of Israel under seige.

Daniel 9:27: "That ruler will have a firm agreement with many people for seven years, and when half this time is past, he will put an end to sacrifices and offerings. The Abomination of Desolation will be placed on the highest point of the Temple and will remain there until the one who put it there meets the end which God has prepared for him."

As predicted in those texts, the temple in Jerusalem WAS destroyed in 70 A.D. The sacrifices for the payment of sins was stopped.

Luke 19:43 speaks of this time as when Israel will be barricaded on all sides... look where they are today. Revelations 18:4 tells the faithful to come out of the great Babylon... for all we know - that could be a powerful decadant country like our dear USA. I do not believe it is the Christian Church, dear one.

I believe the poster that caught your concern had misread the texts.

Peace hon.

Answer 3

Jesus said this about His church: "I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it." (Matthew 16:18)

The church will be around until Christ returns. You can take that to the bank.

UPDATE: Ah, that explains it. Latter_rain is a follower of Harold Camping. Harold Camping is a heretic. He prophesied that Jesus was returning on September 6, 1994. When that didn't happen, he attributed it to a misunderstanding of the revelation. He now claims that the church age has ended, and that true believers will leave the church. This flies in the face of Scripture.

Deuteronomy has something to say about supposed prophets whose prophecies don't come true. "If what a prophet proclaims in the name of the Lord does not take place or come true, that is a message the Lord has not spoken. That prophet has spoken presumptuously. Do not be afraid of him." (Deuteronomy 18:22)

Answer 4

Suzanne is correct.

The church changed after the Nicean Creed into a false religion ladin with pagan philosophies, false pagan trinity god, pagan customs, celebrations and worshipers of idols. This false religion or Harlot Church is mention in Revelation.

An angel of God warns us about being in this false Church:

Rev 18:4 Come out of her, my people, so that you will not share in her sins, so that you will not receive any of her plagues.

Answer 5

Revelations
Matt 24-25
Daniel
Joel
Malachi
(last days prophesies plus others)
In the last days (I'm sure we are in) a christian will need to study their bible.
Some things to watch for:
rebuild the temple in Israel
anti-christ
mark of the beast
wars,famines,earthquakes,etc. having more and bigger (sound familiar?)
1 & 2 Thes
Christians need to watch for Jesus' return.
Christians need be about sharing Jesus.