| 4 Esdras 15:6 6 For wickedness has exceedingly polluted the whole earth, and their hurtful works are fulfilled." | 1 John 5:19 19 And we know that we are of God, and the whole world lies in wickedness. [From the word of the Lord within: "The whole world lies in wickedness; the wickedness knows no shame. Darkness mocks the earth; darkness covers the earth. Woe be to the inhabitants of the earth, who stand not in the counsels of the Lord, but as they wish. People of the world are taught vanity. There is no fear of God or common sense in the world. Everyone walks after the imagination of their heart. No one walks by me. All men are profane. All men are evil. Pride is eminent. Corruption is over all, corruption is under all, corruption is everywhere. The world knows no restraint; their passions are their downfall."] | Revelation 13:3-4 3 And I saw one of his heads as if it were wounded to death; but his deadly wound was healed; and all the world followed the beast in wonder and admiration. 4 And they worshipped the dragon who gave power to the beast; and they worshipped the beast, saying, "Who is like the beast? Who is able to make war with him?"1 [All the world worships the dragon, who is Satan, the god of this world who excuses sin for some religious act: a special prayer, special food, washings, meditation, a contribution, service to the poor, etc. — giving man the license to live however he chooses in his lusts and pride. The world thinks they are worshipping the one true God, but they have been deceived and so are worshipping Satan instead.] | Revelation 17:1-2 1 Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls came and talked with me, saying to me, "Come here; I will show to you the judgment of the great whore who sits upon many waters;1 2 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."2[The wine of her fornication is the false promise of living in lusts and pride with no consequence of the fury of God. As Paul also predicted: "For the time will come when men will not endure sound doctrine, but they will heap [accumulate in piles] to themselves teachers after their own lusts, who will say what their itching ears want to hear; and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and will be turned to fables." 2 Tim 4:3-4. The whole world has been turned to the false-church whore's fables that teach men to live however they please, with no fear of God, and to ignore all laws, the requirements of holiness, and the necessities of repentance — being drunk on the sweet wine of the whore's assurances that they are greatly favored by God and on their way to heaven, despite their indulgences in sin.] | ||||||