The Vatican, Versace and Vogue are joining forces to show off the Catholic influences in fashion.
"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."Revelation 17:4,5 (KJV)
Yahoo News reports that the Vatican's culture minister joined Donatella Versace and Vogue's Anna Wintour on Monday to offer sneak peek of 'gorgeous Vatican liturgical vestments, jeweled miters and historic papal tiaras' that will star in a spring exhibit at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York.
"And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues." Revelation 18:4 (KJV)
When we read the Bible's very graphic depiction of the Whore of Babylon in Revelation 17 and 18, there can be no doubt to whom John is referring to. Before becoming born again 27 years ago, I had spent nearly 3 decades in the Catholic Church. I knew all too well of the pomp, pageantry and unbelievable wealth of the Vatican system. Every classroom had a photo of the pope, in his glittering finery and shiny fish hat, and we were taught that he was to be to us as God.
When this exhibition of Vatican wealth opens on May 10, the world will get a rare chance to really see how much the Catholic Church lines up with Revelation 17 and 18. You will see diamond and jewel-encrusted tiaras, like a beauty queen would wear, only these are made for popes. They are solid gold and covered with diamonds, rubies and all manner of precious gems.
Can you picture the apostle Paul wearing this gaudy, glitzy beehive of a monstrosity on hishead? I think Paul would smash it with a hammer and then spend the next 4 hours preaching against it.
Jesus of Nazareth was a humble carpenter as well as the Son of God, and He chose to live His life without earthly wealth as an ensample to those who would follow Him. None of the apostles accumulated wealth unto themselves, again, as an ensample to all those who would be a part of the Church and the Body of Christ. The early Christian Church lived to share the gospel, and did it under the persecution of the Roman government.
For nearly 3 centuries, Rome did its very best to wipe out Christianity, but was unsuccessful. Even feeding Christians to the lions as sport for the Roman government failed to slow the growth of the Church Jesus shed His blood for.
WHY THERE WILL NEVER BE RECONCILIATION BETWEEN THE ROMAN CATHOLIC SYSTEM AND THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH
But that all changed in 325 AD when Constantine, after seeing a vision of an Egyptian cross in the sky, decided that he has been appointed to take over the Christian Church, and declared Christianity to the official 'state religion' of Rome. In the corporate world, this is known as a hostile takeover. Christians went from hiding in caves to stay alive, to being given power and wealth from the Roman harlot. The real
This is where the Catholic Church and the Vatican began.
So when you see the Vatican fashion show, bragging for all the world to see how wealthy they are, and are showing you the very same garments and finery mentioned in Revelation 17, let there be no doubt in your mind who exactly they are and what exactly they stand for.
This is how the Bible says the Vatican and the Catholic Church will wind up at the Second Coming:
"And after these things I saw another angel come down from heaven, having great power; and the earth was lightened with his glory. And he cried mightily with a strong voice, saying, Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and is become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird. And saying, Alas, alas, that great city, that was clothed in fine linen, and purple, and scarlet, and decked with gold, and precious stones, and pearls! For in one hour so great riches is come to nought. And every shipmaster, and all the company in ships, and sailors, and as many as trade by sea, stood afar off, And cried when they saw the smoke of her burning, saying, What city is like unto this great city!" Revelation 18:1,2, 16-18 (KJV)