Mathman, Thanks so much for your letter regarding the seven churches of Revelation. I have been a follower of Five Doves for over ten years. There are very few days that I don't read the letters even though I post infrequently. Your post today struck a deep vein in my life and I hope you don't mind if I share.
 
In 1997 I married my husband who is from Mexico and a Catholic. I was so naive at the time. Although it had been several years since I had given my heart to the Lord, I firmly believed that his being a Catholic wasn't an obstacle to our relationship. I related it more to denominational differences even though I had seen first hand the animosity between Catholics and Protestants during mission trips to Mexico. You know what they say about love being blind. It was not until I started attending masses with him that I realized the profound differences in our faith. I must interject here that my faith is in Jesus Christ and His sacrifice for our sin. My husband has his altar set up in our living room with images of the virgin of Guadalupe, St. Jude, some other "virgin", angels, holy water etc. and claims that whomever he is praying to at the moment, it is all the same as praying to the one God. He rarely mentions Jesus, although he claims he believes Jesus is God, just like the other "imagenes" he stands in reverent prayer before. I have taken him to scriptures including those of the seven churches, and others where God warns of worshipping idols and having other gods before Him. I gave him two Bibles, one in Spanish and one English/Spanish side by side neither of which he reads other than sporadically.
 
I have lost count over the years how many times I have tried to show him the Truth, to no avail. It usually just ends in an argument, his mind and more importantly his spirit are so closed. As a result of this uneven yoking which was my own foolish error in not listening to my Lord's instruction in the first place; I have gradually fallen out of love with my husband. I have remained with him for various reasons. He's not a bad guy, doesn't drink, smoke or curse (much). He's a good provider, not at all lazy. I'm 55 and disabled for almost five years. The two of us together are barely making it in this economy, to name a few. I found out today, to make the situation worse, that he has been having an affair with a co-worker. He isn't aware I know about it. However, when I took my marriage vows it was till death do us part, for better for worse.
 
I continue to pray for him, and I wish he would read your article if it were translated to Spanish. I know that it would not penetrate his soul though. He has repeatedly told me that he will NEVER give up his Catholic religion, for anything or anybody, not even God, because he so blindly believes that the Catholic "religion" was the first church and the only church ordained and approved by God. So then God surely would not ask him to change his religion! I have told him that it is not about religion, it is about relationship with God Through Jesus, that ALL religion is from man not God, and that the Catholic church is not mentioned even one time in the Bible. * with the execption of Revelation 3, although not by name*. I have come to feel that beating my head against a concrete wall would be less painful and more effective where he is concerned. Instead I just shake my head in disbelief.
 
My daily prayer for almost twenty-five years has been "Come Lord Jesus" Even my license plate since 1994 reads 22-20:REV (I had to reverse chapter/verse and book to comply with state regulations). I know that I am a poor, miserable sinner that were it not for Jesus would be hopelessly lost. I pray that my Blessed Hope, my Heavenly Bridegroom come every day. It is my hearts cry. I have all but given up hope that my earthly husband wakes up in time or that he finds the Truth in the Great Tribulation. However he has been so blinded thus far, it is only by the Holy Spirit that he will ever be persuaded.
 
John thank you for your untiring efforts in keeping this forum alive and thriving! Thanks again for all your posts Mathman, Ron Reese, Jean S., Gerry Almond and everyone. You all are my daily spiritual "cup of tea".You feel like family and I look forward to a grand happy reunion very soon. And thanks to all Doves for allowing a sister to share her pain. I know that I am not the only Dove dealing with an unbelieving spouse. I also think that dealing with a flat-out unbeliever is sometimes easier than one who has been deceived from birth by the Lie that mimics the Truth and who will not break from family/cultural traditions.
 
Your humble sister in Christ,
Cathy M.
 
Come quickly Lord Jesus!