Wittenburg Wednesday: John Hagee and the Whore of Babylon

Here is a topic we can batter around for a little while:  Is it appropriate to label the Catholic Church as the “Whore of Babylon?”  In case you are wondering, there is a reason why I ask.

Just this morning I read on the Fox News website that TV Evangelist John Hagee has apologized for remarks he has made concerning the Catholic Church.  This is in light of Hagee’s endorsement of Senator John McCain.  McCain has been attacked for allowing such a “hate-monger” to be endorsing him, especially in the wake of Rev. Jeremiah’s Wright’s nonsense that has hurt the Obama campaign. 

There are a few things of which I am sure.  (1) This apology was more politically motivated than spiritually motivated.  (2)  The Catholic Church teaches a false gospel that deceives millions.  (3)  The Book of Revelation does make constant use of metaphor and should be interpreted carefully. 

I have always felt many preachers are “too figurative” when it comes to Revelation.   How many times have I heard of scorpions being compared to modern day Apache helicopters?  I had a professor in college who could open any page of the day’s newspaper and identify which end-times prophesy each article was a fulfilment of.  How dogmatic ought we to be about our end times views?  How much leverage ought we to give others who give such interpretations as gospel truth from the pulpit?