AskGod365. Discover answers to life's difficult questions.

Reiner Kremer

Discover answers to life’s difficult questions through the Ultimate Source of Truth, the Holy Bible, the Word of God. The Divine Magna Carta is the Word of God. ASK GOD 365 seeks to empower you to have an intelligent, personal understanding of the greatest of all Truth, through Holy Spirit guided study of the Word of God. This weekly podcast, hosted by Reiner Kremer and guests, will discuss tough and challenging questions:    1.       Is God Love? 2.       Why is there suffering? 3.       If God is good, why did He not destroy evil? 4.       What are the two things God cannot do?5.       Why are there wars, earthquakes and human tragedy6.       What does the Bible say about the future?7.        Is God still in control of planet earth? And much, much more.   Listen. Learn. Think. Grow. Together. Join us on this podcast journey to the Infinite God through His Word. Taste the goodness, greatness, and matchless love of God. AskGod365. Answers to life’s difficult questions. 

  1. 1d ago

    Episode 152: The Harlot, Scarlet Beast, Seven Heads and Ten Kings in Revelation 17

    A verse-by-verse prophetic study comparing Scripture, Alberto R. Treiyer, and Ellen G. White Introduction: The final confrontation between Babylon and the Lamb Revelation 17 is one of the most important and challenging prophetic chapters in Scripture. It describes the final development of apostate religion, its relationship with the political powers of the earth, its apparent worldwide influence, and its eventual destruction by the very powers that once supported it. From a traditional Seventh-day Adventist historicist perspective, Revelation 17 must be studied alongside Daniel 2, 7, and 8; Revelation 12, 13, 14, 16, and 18; and the writings of Ellen G. White. The chapter revolves around six principal prophetic symbols: The great harlot: An apostate religious system that has departed from faithfulness to Christ.The scarlet beast: The political power or powers supporting and carrying apostate religion.The seven heads: Seven mountains and seven kings, representing a succession of powers or phases of rule, depending on the interpretation.The ten horns: Ten kings who ultimately unite their political authority with the beast.Babylon and her daughters: Religious systems sharing Babylon's characteristic errors and compromises.The Lamb: Jesus Christ, who ultimately overcomes the alliance of earthly powers.The chapter's remarkable feature is that Babylon is not finally destroyed by a victorious human religious institution. Instead, the political powers that supported her eventually turn against her, while Christ remains the ultimate victor. An important distinction between our three sources The Bible supplies the inspired prophetic text. Ellen White provides an Adventist prophetic interpretation of the church–state conflict, particularly the rise of the image of the beast and Babylon's eventual downfall. Alberto R. Treiyer offers historical and exegetical arguments for identifying the symbols. These sources do not provide identical levels of detail. In particular, Ellen White does not supply an explicit verse-by-verse identification of all seven heads in Revelation 17. Adventist interpreters have proposed different sequences, and these should not be presented as settled doctrine. The following study will distinguish biblical statements, historical identifications, and prophetic inferences. Part I. Revelation 17:1–7 — The identity and character of Babylon Verse 1 — The great harlot sitting upon many waters Biblical text: One of the seven angels announces that John will see the judgment of the great harlot who sits upon many waters. The opening connects Revelation 17 directly with the seven last plagues of Revelation 16. This is not merely a description of ancient religious apostasy; the vision reveals Babylon's judgment. The waters are interpreted explicitly in verse 15 as peoples, multitudes, nations, and tongues. Treiyer's historical emphasis: The woman represents an apostate religious authority whose influence extends over political territories and populations. The symbol of sitting suggests an established position of influence or dominance. Ellen White: In The Great Controversy, chapter 21, she identifies Babylon's central historical manifestation with Rome and describes the extension of Babylon's influence into Protestant religious bodies. Prophetic significance: Babylon's authority is international rather than merely local. Her influence reaches beyond any single nation. Verse 2 — The kings commit fornication with Babylon The kings of the earth participate in the woman's fornication, while the inhabitants of the earth become intoxicated with its wine. The passage distinguishes two groups: political rulers who cooperate with Babylon and populations influenced by her teachings. Jeremiah 3 and Ezekiel 16 provide the Old Testament background. Spiritual adultery involves abandoning covenant faithfulness and forming improper alliances. Treiyer's emphasis: Religious apostasy becomes especially dangerous when ecclesiastical authority gains political support. Ellen White: She describes the historical church's departure from dependence upon Christ and its subsequent reliance upon secular power. Her account of the formation of the image of the beast in The Great Controversy, chapter 25, applies this principle to the final crisis. Application: The prophetic issue is not ordinary political participation but the use of civil authority to sustain or impose religious objectives. Verse 3 — The woman riding the scarlet beast       uasvbible.org John sees a woman sitting upon a scarlet-colored beast, covered with blasphemous names, having seven heads and ten horns. Four elements deserve attention. The woman represents apostate religious authority. The beast represents political power. The scarlet color contributes to the imagery of corruption, splendor, and bloodshed. The seven heads and ten horns introduce the historical and final political structures explained later in the chapter. The woman is not identical to the beast. She rides it. That distinction is essential. The imagery portrays religious authority supported by political power. Treiyer's approach: The relationship is illuminated by the historical alliance of Roman ecclesiastical authority with civil rulers. The woman and beast cooperate but remain distinguishable. Ellen White: Her description of the image of the beast likewise distinguishes religious organizations from the civil power they seek to employ. A further point is significant: the woman appears to control the beast, but by verse 16 the beast's political allies turn against her. The alliance is therefore unstable. Verse 4 — Purple, scarlet, gold, and the golden cup The woman is magnificently dressed and holds a golden cup containing abominations and the impurities of her fornication. Purple and scarlet suggest royal status, splendor, and authority. Gold, precious stones, and pearls emphasize wealth and outward magnificence. The golden cup is particularly important because its outward beauty conceals corrupting contents. Compare Jeremiah 51:7, where Babylon is described as a golden cup that intoxicates the nations. Ellen White: In The Great Controversy, chapter 21, she applies the colors, jewels, and magnificence to the historical pomp of Rome.     The contrast is between external religious beauty and internal spiritual corruption. A church may possess impressive buildings, ceremonies, resources, and worldwide recognition while failing to remain faithful to the teachings of Christ. However, the passage does not establish that religious art, beautiful architecture, or ceremonial worship is inherently apostate. The problem is the corruption represented by the cup. Verse 5 — Babylon the Great, mother of harlots The name written upon the woman's forehead is Babylon the Great, the mother of harlots and of the earth's abominations. This is among the strongest arguments for understanding Babylon as more than one religious organization. The word mother implies offspring who reproduce her characteristics. In traditional Adventist interpretation: The mother is associated historically with papal Rome.The daughters are religious bodies that perpetuate the mother's doctrinal errors or coercive church–state principles.The family resemblance is spiritual and institutional rather than biological or ethnic.Ellen White writes in The Great Controversy, chapter 21, that the designation Babylon applies to religious bodies that have departed from biblical truth and perpetuated Rome's errors.     A crucial distinction is that Babylon is a symbol of systems and their practices, not a declaration that every member of those churches is personally corrupt. Revelation 18:4 acknowledges God's people within Babylon. Verse 6 — Drunk with the blood of the saints John sees the woman intoxicated with the blood of the saints and martyrs of Jesus. The prophecy now moves from doctrinal error to religious persecution. Daniel 7:21 and 25 describe a persecuting power that makes war against the saints and attempts to change times and law. Treiyer's historical framework: The persecution of religious dissenters under medieval ecclesiastical and civil arrangements provides an important historical parallel. Ellen White: In The Great Controversy, chapters 3 and 15, she describes persecution associated with medieval Christendom, including the suffering of dissenting Christians and Protestant reformers. This imagery warns that religious institutions become profoundly dangerous when they claim authority to punish people for matters of conscience. Verse 7 — The angel promises an explanation The angel asks John why he marvels and promises to explain the mystery of the woman and the beast carrying her. This verse is the transition from symbolic vision to interpretation. The following verses pro Send us your questions to be featured on the next podcast! Thank you for being part of the AskGod365 podcast community. We value you and appreciate greatly the time you are spending with us today. Please share your comments and questions at  AskGod365.com Listen. Learn. Think. Grow. Together. AskGod365.   Answers to life’s difficult questions.

  2. 1d ago

    Episode 151: Spiritual Prostitution of the Churches with Political Powers in Revelation 17

    A biblical and historicist Seventh-day Adventist study drawing on Alberto R. Treiyer and Ellen G. White 1. What does spiritual prostitution mean in Revelation 17? Revelation 17 describes one of the most significant prophetic developments preceding the second coming of Jesus Christ: a religious system that abandons its spiritual fidelity to Christ and enters into an unlawful alliance with the political powers of the world. The central issue is not sexual immorality in the literal sense. It is spiritual adultery—the exchange of faithfulness to God for political influence, governmental protection, earthly power, and the authority to impose religious objectives through civil law. Revelation 17:1–2 (NKJV) declares: "Come, I will show you the judgment of the great harlot who sits on many waters, with whom the kings of the earth committed fornication, and the inhabitants of the earth were made drunk with the wine of her fornication."Three prophetic symbols are especially important: The harlot: A religious body that professes allegiance to God but becomes unfaithful to Him.The kings of the earth: Civil rulers and political authorities who enter into an alliance with religious institutions.The fornication: The improper union of religious authority and state power, particularly when civil government is used to advance or enforce religious demands.In the historicist Adventist interpretation, the woman represents an apostate religious system, initially associated with papal Rome and subsequently with religious bodies that adopt comparable principles of coercive church–state union. The prophecy does not teach that every Catholic or Protestant Christian is spiritually unfaithful. Revelation 18:4 explicitly recognizes that God has people within Babylon whom He calls to come out. 2. The Bible establishes the meaning of spiritual adultery The imagery in Revelation 17 comes from the Old Testament. Biblical passageSpiritual meaning Jeremiah 3:6–9 | God's covenant people commit spiritual adultery through idolatry and unfaithfulness. Ezekiel 16:15–32 | Jerusalem trusts in other lovers rather than remaining faithful to God. Ezekiel 23 | Religious unfaithfulness is intertwined with reliance on foreign political powers. James 4:4 | Friendship with the world can constitute spiritual adultery against God. Revelation 17:2 | Religious Babylon enters into forbidden relationships with earthly rulers. Revelation 18:3 | The kings of the earth and commercial powers participate in Babylon's corrupting influence. An especially important passage is Ezekiel 16:26–29. Jerusalem's relationships with Egypt, Assyria, and Chaldea are portrayed as spiritual prostitution. God's covenant people had sought security, prosperity, and influence through earthly powers rather than relying upon Him. The parallel with Revelation 17 is striking. The fundamental sin is the substitution of political power for divine authority and the surrender of spiritual fidelity in exchange for worldly advantage. This is more specific than simply saying Christians should never engage in politics. Scripture records faithful believers serving in government, including Joseph and Daniel. The prophetic problem arises when religious institutions compromise divine truth or use coercive governmental authority to secure religious conformity. 3. Alberto R. Treiyer's interpretation: The harlot riding the beast Adventist theologian Alberto R. Treiyer emphasizes the relationship between religious apostasy and political power in his interpretation of Revelation 17. In his study Identifying Babylon, Treiyer connects the scarlet beast with imperial political authority and the woman riding it with an apostate religious institution. His argument includes three essential points. First, the woman and the beast are distinct. The woman represents ecclesiastical authority; the beast represents the political power that supports her. Second, the historical model is the medieval church–state system. Treiyer points to the relationship between the papacy and European rulers, including the political and religious arrangements associated with Clovis, Justinian, and the Holy Roman Empire. Third, the prophetic danger is the enforcement of religious doctrine by the state. When civil government adopts religious demands and imposes them on the population, the political beast effectively carries the woman. Treiyer's historical interpretation can be summarized this way: the religious institution supplies spiritual legitimacy, while the political institution supplies coercive authority. This does not mean that every interaction between a church and government constitutes prostitution. The decisive question is whether religious allegiance is being exchanged for governmental power, especially power over conscience. 4. Ellen White: How the churches become spiritually unfaithful Ellen White offers one of her clearest explanations in The Great Controversy, pages 443–445. She traces a progression from doctrinal corruption to the pursuit of secular support and ultimately to the suppression of religious dissent. Her central prophetic warning is that the image of the beast develops when Protestant churches seek civil authority to enforce their religious teachings.   Notice the sequence: 1. Spiritual compromise The church departs from biblical truth and dependence on Christ.   2. Desire for worldly influence Religious leaders seek political protection, recognition, or authority.   3. Church–state alliance Political rulers and religious institutions cooperate to establish religious objectives.   4. Civil enforcement Religious observance or conformity becomes subject to governmental penalties.   5. The image of the beast In Adventist prophetic interpretation, the coercive pattern of medieval church–state power is reproduced. Ellen White also describes a predicted threefold union involving Protestantism, Roman Catholicism, and spiritualism (Testimonies for the Church, volume 5, page 451). This is a prophetic expectation within her writings, not proof that every modern interchurch dialogue fulfills it.     5. How could spiritual prostitution be taking place among churches and political powers today? The following are six contemporary patterns that can be evaluated against Revelation 17. They are applications of the biblical principles, not declarations that particular present-day churches or governments have fulfilled every element of the prophecy. A. Churches seeking political power to advance religious agendas The prophetic concern arises when churches move beyond persuasion and civic participation to seek governmental enforcement of religious obligations. For example, a religious organization may advocate that the state require observance of a sacred day, restrict competing forms of worship, or penalize people who reject an official religious standard. The critical distinction is between advocating public policy as citizens and using state power to compel religious allegiance. B. Political leaders using religion to legitimize their authority The relationship in Revelation 17 is reciprocal. Political rulers may seek endorsements from religious leaders, present their authority as divinely sanctioned, or use religious identity to strengthen political loyalty. Religious institutions, in turn, may receive privileged access, political protection, or influence. From the standpoint of Revelation 17, the danger is particularly serious when loyalty to a political leader becomes confused with loyalty to Jesus Christ. C. Religious nationalism and the merging of Christian and national identity Some forms of Christian nationalism argue that national government should explicitly privilege Christianity in public life. Other forms emphasize the historical or cultural influence of Christianity without seeking religious coercion. These positions should not be treated as identical. An Adventist analysis becomes particularly concerned when national identity is defined through religious conformity or when minority religious communities lose equal protection. The Michigan Conference of Seventh-day Adventists has discussed Christian nationalism in relation to Revelation 13 and the prophetic concern about coercive religious authority.     D. Ecumenical unity purchased through doctrinal compromise Christian cooperation in charitable service, disaster relief, peacemaking, and protection of religious liberty does not, by itself, constitute Babylon. The concern in this interpretation is a unity that requires churches to subordinate biblical convictions to institutional authority, particularly if the resulting religious consensus is subsequently enforced through government. Revelation 17 warns against a unity built upon compromised worship and coercive power rather than truth and freedom of conscience. E. Financial dependence and political patronage Revelation 18 adds a commercial dimension to Babylo Send us your questions to be featured on the next podcast! Thank you for being part of the AskGod365 podcast community. We value you and appreciate greatly the time you are spending with us today. Please share your comments and questions at  AskGod365.com Listen. Learn. Think. Grow. Together. AskGod365.   Answers to life’s difficult questions.

  3. 1d ago

    Episode 150: Ten Biblical Identifying Marks of a True Prophet

    A study from Scripture and the writings of Ellen G. White — Seventh-day Adventist perspective The Bible teaches that God communicates His will through prophets, but it also warns that false prophets will arise, particularly in the last days. Consequently, Scripture provides specific tests by which God's people can distinguish a true prophet from a false one. From a Seventh-day Adventist perspective, the supreme test of a prophet is faithfulness to the written Word of God, with Jesus Christ as the center of the prophetic message. Ellen G. White consistently taught that Scripture is the final authority by which every prophetic claim, including her own writings, must be evaluated. 1. A true prophet agrees with the Bible and upholds God's law Isaiah 8:20 (NKJV) "To the law and to the testimony! If they do not speak according to this word, it is because there is no light in them."This is perhaps the most fundamental test of a true prophet. A genuine prophet will not contradict God's previously revealed truth. The message must harmonize with the teachings of Scripture, including God's moral law, His character, and His plan of salvation. Deuteronomy 13:1–4 adds that even if a prophet performs a miraculous sign, that individual must be rejected if the message leads people away from the true God. Ellen G. White wrote: "The Spirit was not given—nor can it ever be bestowed—to supersede the Bible; for the Scriptures explicitly state that the word of God is the standard by which all teaching and experience must be tested."— The Great Controversy, Introduction, p. vii. Identifying mark: A true prophet directs people toward Scripture, never away from it. 2. A true prophet acknowledges Jesus Christ and exalts Him 1 John 4:1–3 (NKJV) "Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world."John then explains that a spirit from God confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh. A true prophet recognizes the genuine identity, incarnation, humanity, and divine mission of Jesus Christ. Other important texts include John 5:39, Revelation 19:10, and 1 Corinthians 12:3. Revelation 19:10 declares: "For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy."Ellen White described the purpose of her ministry in these words: "To leave them without excuse, God gives plain and pointed testimonies, bringing them back to the word that they have neglected to follow."— Testimonies for the Church, vol. 5, p. 663. Identifying mark: A true prophet magnifies Jesus Christ, His saving grace, His righteousness, and His authority rather than drawing ultimate attention to the prophet. 3. A true prophet's predictions prove accurate Deuteronomy 18:21–22 (NKJV) "When a prophet speaks in the name of the LORD, if the thing does not happen or come to pass, that is the thing which the LORD has not spoken."When a prophet claims to predict an event by direct revelation from God, the fulfillment of that prediction is an important test of authenticity. However, Scripture also recognizes conditional prophecy. For example, Jonah announced the destruction of Nineveh within forty days (Jonah 3:4). When Nineveh repented, God withheld the threatened judgment. Jeremiah 18:7–10 establishes the principle that certain prophecies concerning judgment or blessing depend upon human response. Ellen White wrote: "The promises and the threatenings of God are alike conditional."— Selected Messages, book 1, p. 67. Identifying mark: A true prophet does not make false unconditional predictions in God's name. Conditional prophecies must be evaluated according to their stated or biblically established conditions. 4. A true prophet produces good spiritual fruit Matthew 7:15–20 (NKJV) Jesus warned: "Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves."He then declared: "Therefore by their fruits you will know them."A prophet's life and ministry must be evaluated by their moral and spiritual fruit. This includes honesty, humility, integrity, obedience to God, love for others, and the influence of their teachings. Galatians 5:22–23 identifies the fruit of the Spirit as love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Ellen White emphasized that the strongest evidence of genuine Christianity is the character produced by God's transforming grace. Identifying mark: The life and ministry of a true prophet should demonstrate the transforming influence of the Holy Spirit. This does not require personal sinlessness, as biblical prophets themselves sometimes failed. 5. A true prophet receives revelations through the Holy Spirit Numbers 12:6 (NKJV) "If there is a prophet among you, I, the LORD, make Myself known to him in a vision; I speak to him in a dream."Scripture identifies dreams and visions as recognized methods of divine communication. Examples include Daniel (Daniel 7:1), Ezekiel (Ezekiel 1:1), Peter (Acts 10:9–16), and John (Revelation 1:10). Ellen White reported receiving many visions and dreams during her ministry. However, visions and dreams alone do not establish that someone is a true prophet. Jeremiah 23:25–32 warns of false prophets who claim divine dreams. 6. A true prophet exposes sin and calls people to repentance Jeremiah 23:22 (NKJV) "If they had stood in My counsel, and had caused My people to hear My words, then they would have turned them from their evil way and from the evil of their doings."True prophets are not merely predictors of future events. They serve as God's messengers to awaken the conscience, call people to repentance, and restore faithfulness to His covenant. Ellen White wrote: "The true will boldly reprove sin and warn of coming wrath."— Early Writings, p. 139.   Identifying mark: A genuine prophetic ministry addresses sin without compromising truth, while calling sinners to repentance, forgiveness, and restoration through Christ. 7. A true prophet strengthens and builds up God's people 1 Corinthians 14:3 teaches that prophecy serves the purposes of edification, exhortation, and comfort. Ephesians 4:11–13 explains that spiritual gifts are given for the equipping of believers, the building up of Christ's body, and growth toward spiritual maturity. The purpose of prophecy is therefore redemptive, not merely informational. A genuine prophet should help God's people understand His Word, grow in holiness, resist deception, and prepare for Christ's return. 8. A true prophet does not use miracles as the ultimate proof of divine authority Matthew 24:24 (NKJV) "For false christs and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect."This warning is especially significant in Adventist eschatology. Revelation 13:13–14 and 16:13–14 describe supernatural signs associated with end-time deception. Consequently, miracles, healings, supernatural manifestations, and extraordinary predictions cannot independently establish prophetic authenticity. The message must first be tested against Scripture. 9. A true prophet points people toward obedience motivated by love Deuteronomy 13:4 commands God's people to walk after the Lord, keep His commandments, obey His voice, and remain faithful to Him. Revelation 12:17 describes the remnant as those who keep God's commandments and have the testimony of Jesus Christ. Revelation 14:12 describes the saints as those who keep God's commandments and the faith of Jesus. From the Seventh-day Adventist perspective, these passages connect the end-time prophetic gift with a people who honor God's commandments and place their faith in Jesus Christ. Yet obedience is the fruit of salvation, not its means. Ephesians 2:8–10 makes clear that salvation is by grace through faith, producing good works. 10. A true prophet remains subject to examination by Scripture 1 Thessalonians 5:19–21 (NKJV) "Do not quench the Spirit. Do not despise prophecies. Test all things; hold fast what is good."Paul gives two complementary instructions: Do not reject the genuine prophetic gift, but do not accept prophetic claims without testing them. Ellen White likewise taught that the Bible must remain the standard for evaluating all spiritual claims. This is especially important when considering the writings of Ellen White herself. Adventists understand her ministry as an exercise of the prophetic gift, but do not regard her writings as an addition to the biblical canon. Ellen G. White Estate Summary: Ten identifying marks Identifying markBiblical foundation 1. Agreement with Scripture | Isaiah 8:20 2. Send us your questions to be featured on the next podcast! Thank you for being part of the AskGod365 podcast community. We value you and appreciate greatly the time you are spending with us today. Please share your comments and questions at  AskGod365.com Listen. Learn. Think. Grow. Together. AskGod365.   Answers to life’s difficult questions.

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Discover answers to life’s difficult questions through the Ultimate Source of Truth, the Holy Bible, the Word of God. The Divine Magna Carta is the Word of God. ASK GOD 365 seeks to empower you to have an intelligent, personal understanding of the greatest of all Truth, through Holy Spirit guided study of the Word of God. This weekly podcast, hosted by Reiner Kremer and guests, will discuss tough and challenging questions:    1.       Is God Love? 2.       Why is there suffering? 3.       If God is good, why did He not destroy evil? 4.       What are the two things God cannot do?5.       Why are there wars, earthquakes and human tragedy6.       What does the Bible say about the future?7.        Is God still in control of planet earth? And much, much more.   Listen. Learn. Think. Grow. Together. Join us on this podcast journey to the Infinite God through His Word. Taste the goodness, greatness, and matchless love of God. AskGod365. Answers to life’s difficult questions.