The Best of Times
TimeWatch Editorial
April 06, 2016
During the past few sessions, we have been able to demonstrate how clearly and loudly the rocks have been crying out. The identification of the Papacy as the whore described in the book of Revelation is announced without fear by men who are not afraid to call sin by its right name. Whether or not these men have received a complete understanding of all of the truth, they have been willing to deliver that which they have seen and truly believe. One such individual was Dave Hunt. The Free Encyclopedia describes him this way.
“David Charles Madden Hunt was born on September 30, 1926, in Riverside, California, to Lillie and Albert Hunt. He was raised in a Christian family, with two other siblings. In his early teens, he put his trust in Jesus, whilst enjoying the advantages of a godly upbringing. As a young man, he also spent time in the military, at the end of World War II. He was an alumnus of UCLA. On June 24, 1950, Hunt married his college sweetheart, Ruth Klaussen, who together raised four children: David Jr., Danna, Karen and Jon.” The Free Encyclopedia
When one looks at Dave’s belief system, it would be easy to identify points of disagreement. He was a dispensationalist. Dispensationalism is an evangelical futurist interpretive system for the Bible. It considers Biblical history as divided deliberately by God into defined periods or ages to each of which God has allotted distinctive administrative principles. This is why it is so amazing that in spite of the conflicting elements of his theological orientation, Dave manages to clearly identify two important pieces of Revelation.
In his book “A Woman Rides the Beast,” published in 1994, on page 9 of the first chapter, Dave Hunt describes the woman who is the theme of his book.
“The leaders of the Reformation were certain that she represented the Roman Catholic Church in general and the pope in particular. That belief, however, has been rejected lately by most Protestants as provocative and demeaning to a body of fellow Christians with whom evangelicals desire to work together in the task of winning most of the world for Christ before the year 2000. In fact, the subject of the woman is generally avoided today as too divisive to discuss.” Dave Hunt, “A Woman Rides the Beast,” page 9
So Dave is able to identify the woman who rides the beast, is also able to recognize the fact that Protestants originally were agreed upon this identifier and now are hesitant to maintain their former convictions because they desire to re-unite with Rome. As Mr. Hunt continues his descriptions he becomes even stronger in his identification of the Papacy, as the harlot.
“The more deeply one probes into the history of the Roman Catholic Church and its current practices, the more impressed one becomes with the amazing accuracy of the vision John received centuries before it would all be lamentable reality. John's attention is drawn to the inscription boldly emblazoned upon the woman's forehead: "MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH" (Revelation 17:5). Sadly enough, the Roman Catholic Church fits the description "mother of harlots and abominations" as precisely as she fits the others.” Dave Hunt, “A Woman Rides the Beast,” page 50
Dave Hunt’s conclusion is summed up beautifully in page 248 of the book:
“There is a growing trend among today's evangelicals to embrace and promote a benign view of Romanism that contradicts the convictions held by Protestants for more than 400 years. The Reformation, if remembered at all, is being portrayed as an unnecessary separation from a Church which was biblical and evangelical. Statements by various evangelicals today impugn the faith and convictions of the millions of martyrs who died rather than accept transubstantiation, purgatory, indulgences, worship of saints, and the remainder of Rome's false and destructive gospel of ritual and works. If Catholicism stands solidly for "the great fundamental doctrines of Christianity," then what was the Reformation all about?
If the view held by many of today's evangelicals is right, then those millions put to death by Rome throughout the centuries died not for their faith but for a semantic misunderstanding. How tragic! If evangelical and Catholic doctrines are "essentially the same," then the Reformation was based upon an incredible mistake which is only now being recognized after more than four centuries. But if that is not the case, and there were indeed clear and vital differences between Catholic and Protestant views on essential doctrines at the time of the Reformation, why not today? Has Catholicism changed?” Dave Hunt, “A Woman Rides the Beast,” page 50
No it certainly has not. We as the called out ones aught not revise our position either. The protest must continue.
Cameron A. Bowen
