The Local Church of Jesus Christ vs. Universal / Roman Catholic Whore of Babylon: Ekklesia study 8/8

Brother Ross wraps the 8-part ἐκκλησία (ekklēsia) word study at Grace and Truth Baptist Church of San Francisco, CA with Revelation 17–18 & the Biblical command: “Come out of her, my people!”

“Mystery, Babylon the Great, the mother of harlots…” (Rev 17:5)

🔥 Series Recap: What is the Church?

Roman Catholic view: Universal, Visible church (Pope ↓ laity) ❌
State-Church Protestant view: Universal & Invisible church ❌
Baptist / Bible view: Church is Local + Visible (assembled believers) ✅

🛡️ Ἐκκλησία = ASSEMBLY

Greek city-states: Local assemblies (never invisible).
NT: 115 uses → Specific (church in Ephesus) or Generic (true for any church).
ONLY future universal: Heb 12:23 → all believers assembled in New Jerusalem (post-trib, post-millennium).

🏛️ 3 Local/Visible Metaphors

Body (1 Cor 12) → Unity, every part works together (no floating limbs!).
Temple (Eph 2:21) → God dwells in this building (not scattered stones).
Bride (Eph 5) → Special closeness; local & visible (Heather walked the aisle!).

⏰ Timestamps:

00:00 – Rev 17:1–6 (responsive reading)
01:43 – Rev 18:1–6 (judgment on Babylon)
02:58 – 3 views of church reviewed
05:19 – Ἐκκλησία = assembly (Acts 19: Diana mob; Acts 7: Israel in wilderness)
09:36 – Future assembly (Heb 12:23)
10:23 – Metaphors prove local/visible
14:31 – Origin of “Catholic Church”: Ignatius? (dubious) → Augustine (4th cent.) vs. Anabaptists
21:50 – Rev 17 = ONLY “universal church” in NT → HARLOT
24:05 – Ties to Daniel’s 4 empires → Rome = Babylon (1 Pet 5:13)
27:00 – Roman Catholicism = current manifestation
27:56 – Waldensians, Tyndale: Pope = Antichrist system
28:53 – 7 mountains = Rome (geography + Daniel)
30:04 – Spiritual fornication with pagan states
33:52 – Blasphemies: “Holy Father,” “Vicar of Christ” (= Antichrist in Greek), Mary worship, mass
35:44 – Purple/scarlet, gold cup = papal colors & chalice
37:10 – Drunken with saints’ blood (Inquisition, crusades vs. Waldensians/Albigenses)
38:26 – Mother of harlots → daughter denominations
39:16 – Rev 18:4 → “COME OUT OF HER!”
43:17 – Not PC, but BIBLICAL – separate from false religion & world
43:58 – Closing prayer

💡 Key Exposé: Rev 17 Woman = Roman Catholicism (Partial Fulfillment)

Symbol / Meaning / Roman Catholic Match:

Sits on 7 mountains / Rome (geography) ✅ Vatican Hill + 6 others

Many waters / Global influence ✅ 1.4B adherents
Kings fornicate / State-church union ✅ Constantine → Holy Roman Empire
Golden cup / Idolatrous mass ✅ Gold/plated chalice
Drunk with saints’ blood / Persecution ✅ Inquisition, Waldensian massacres
Mother of harlots / Daughter Protestant denominations ✅ Protestant state churches

⚠️ “Come Out of Her!” (Rev 18:4)

Catholicism: Obvious.
Daughters: Protestant state churches.
Worldliness: Any compromise with Babylon’s system.

📖 Saved IN Catholicism? Possible (like Bro Ross pre-conversion), but STAYING = disobedience.

“Be ye separate … touch not the unclean thing.” (2 Cor 6:17)

🔔 8/8 FINALE – Practical implications of local church truth!

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