Spiritual Seduction And Spiritual Whores

by Van Robison

In the Old Testament, God told Israel that she was a "harlot" (Jeremiah 3:6). The reason she was a "whore" is because she betrayed God and went whoring after other gods. Anyone will find by checking in the Strong's Exhaustive Concordance, the words "harlot", "whore", "adultery", "whoredoms", "whoring" and "abominations" in various verses throughout the prophets, as applied to Israel, Judah and Jerusalem. Ezekiel chapter 16 and many other parts of the Old Testament prophets, are an incredible indictment against ancient Israel, Judah and Jerusalem. Originally, Israel was committed to obey God Almighty the Creator as the one and only God and was to have no other gods (Exodus 20:1-3). God even says of ancient Israel, that He gave her a "bill of divorce" at Jeremiah 3:8 because she was a backslider and committed adultery.

Ironically, in Jeremiah 16:1 it states this: "Again the word of the Lord came unto me, saying, (2) Son of man, cause Jerusalem to know her abominations." And throughout this long chapter of Jeremiah 16, God says Jerusalem played THE HARLOT, committed adultery and whoredoms. He also says that THE SISTER of Jerusalem is "SODOM" (verse 46). And astonishingly so, God even says that the sins of Sodom were not as significant as those of her sister Jerusalem--Jeremiah 16:48 "As I live, saith the Lord God, SODOM YOUR SISTER has not done, she nor her daughters, as YOU (Jerusalem) have done, you and your daughters. (49) Behold, THIS WAS THE INIQUITY OF YOUR SISTER SODOM--PRIDE, FULLNESS OF BREAD, and ABUNDANCE OF IDLENESS was in her and in her daughters, neither did she strengthen the hand of the POOR and NEEDY. (50) And they were haughty and committed abomination before me..." Here, God is saying that SODOM is the "spiritual" sister of Jerusalem. Taking this a step further, you will find in Revelation 16:19 "And THE GREAT CITY was divided into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell: and GREAT BABYLON..." And in Revelation 17:5 "And upon her forehead was a name written, Mystery Babylon THE GREAT, the Mother of HARLOTS and ABOMINATIONS of the earth. So while countless false teachers and prophets have speculated about who "Mystery Babylon the Great" of the Book of Revelation is, the Bible itself reveals who it is, and the final seal of who this "Mystery Babylon" is, is found at Revelation 11:8 "And their dead bodies shall be in the street of THE GREAT CITY, which spiritually is called SODOM and Egypt, WHERE ALSO OUR LORD WAS CRUCIFIED", and Jesus Christ was crucified in JERUSALEM. Jerusalem of the physical realm, was spiritually called "Sodom." And the HARLOT and ABOMINATIONS of the Old Testament, primarily apply to physical Jerusalem (physical Israel, whom God divorced) of old. The NEW JERUSALEM is no longer a physical nation, but rather A SPIRITUAL CITY, which comes from heaven (Revelation 21:2).

What about the world we live in today and this thing we call "church?" Why do believers in God think that "spiritual" leaders know or have truth? It is very obvious, from a study of the Old Testament that the "spiritual" guides and leaders, led the people off the deep end and into an abyss of spiritual idolatry. Check this out at Isaiah 56:10 "His WATCHMEN ARE BLIND: they are ALL IGNORANT, they are ALL DUMB DOGS, they cannot bark; sleeping, lying down, loving to slumber. (11) Yes, THEY ARE GREEDY DOGS which can NEVER HAVE ENOUGH, and THEY ARE SHEPHERDS that CANNOT UNDERSTAND: THEY ALL LOOK TO THEIR OWN WAY, every one for HIS GAIN..." Does this sound a lot like prosperity preachers on television? Amen and Amen!!!

What about some of the other Old Testament writings about the pastors, prophets, priests and scribes? Check this out at Ezekiel 22:25 "There is a conspiracy of her PROPHETS in the midst thereof, like a roaring lion ravening the prey; THEY HAVE DEVOURED souls; THEY HAVE TAKEN THE TREASURE and precious things; they have made her many widows in the midst thereof. (26) Her PRIESTS have violated my law, and have profaned mine holy things..."

What about these preachers who think nothing of devouring the poor in the land today? Isaiah 3:14 "The Lord will enter into judgment with the ancients of his people, and the princes thereof: for YOU HAVE EATEN UP THE VINEYARD; THE SPOIL OF THE POOR IS IN YOUR HOUSES. (15) What mean you that YOU BEAT MY PEOPLE TO PIECES, AND GRIND THE FACES OF THE POOR? saith the Lord God of hosts." Many preachers today are no different than the pastors, priests, prophets, and scribes of the Old Testament, who thought nothing of robbing the poor, the needy and the widows, for their own greedy gain.

What about many modern day pastors, preachers, and entire church organizations? Are some of these preachers "harlots", "whores" and "seducers?" Many of them say, "The Lord says" you will prosper if you sow your seed money into our ministry, so that we can reach the nations with the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Using the name of Jesus Christ for ulterior motives is nothing short of BLASPHEMY. And the church world is overrun with spiritual whores today, who use the name of Jesus Christ for personal gain, all the while proclaiming that they are reaching the world for Christ. Have not many preachers today replaced the real God Almighty/Jesus Christ with the false god of money and material riches, and all in the name of Christ?

Spiritual whores and spiritual seducers come as "angels of light." They use the name of Jesus Christ. They may be "pastors" of megachurches, or "pastors" of the church you attend. How can you be sure, that you are not seduced by spiritual whores? The answer is a simple one. Prove all things. Don't take for granted that preachers know or understand truth, but read and study the Bible for yourself. And especially, read and reread and reread the teachings of Jesus Christ. It is not the "Bible", nor the apostle Paul, nor your local pastor, nor you local church who are the Way, the Truth, and the Life--it is Jesus Christ and no one else and nothing else.

The real key to not being deceived by spiritual whores and seducers is to STOP following men and the organizations of men, and always beware of those who ask for your money, your loyalty, and your dedication to them. Real loyalty, dedication and worship (John 4:23-24) is directed toward our heavenly Father/Jesus Christ and not toward men. If you want to give, why not give to the poor? This is what Jesus said to do (Matthew 25:34-40, Luke 3:10-11, Luke 10:29-37, Luke 14:12-14). Nowhere in any of the teachings of Jesus Christ, did He ever teach His followers to join church organizations, or to take up your cross and follow men. If you believe that you are serving Jesus Christ by giving your money, your time, and your life to spiritual whores, then it would behoove you to do an in depth study of the teachings of Jesus Christ, and listen to Him.

Clearly in the Old Testament, God looked upon betrayal and disloyalty to God, as spiritual harlotry and whoredom. Is it really any different today, when pastors, preachers, prophets, evangelists and "Christian" book writers forsake Jesus Christ and His teachings? Many money hungry preachers use the name of Jesus Christ, but their real god is money and materialism, falsely gained by deceit and false teachings. Many sheep make the mistake of following these spiritual whores, instead of committing their lives to Jesus Christ. Jesus warned over and over to "BEWARE of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, BUT INWARDLY THEY ARE RAVENING (FEROCIOUS) WOLVES (Matthew 7:15)." Even the apostle (meaning "one sent") Paul had this to say: Acts 20:29 (Amplified Bible) "I KNOW that after I am gone, FEROCIOUS WOLVES will get in among you, not sparing the flock; (30) Even from among your own selves MEN WILL COME TO THE FRONT (note: does that not sound like modern day pastors and television preachers?) who, by saying perverse (distorted and corrupt) things, will endeavor to DRAW AWAY THE DISCIPLES AFTER THEM [to their own party]--(note: don't they always say "partner with us?"). (31) Therefore be always alert and on your guard..."