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Readings in the Book of
The Revelation
We now come to the last great message to be given to the world before human probation closes. It will be given with a loud cry to attract the attention of those who need it most, the people of God who are still in delusion and must come out of it. Yet it will be rejected by most of the world for it is written, “. . . for this cause God shall send them [allow them their choice of a] strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: that they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness”. 2 Thessalonians 2:8-12.
1 And after these things [when the visions of chapters 14-17 were understood clearly] I saw another angel come down from heaven, having great power; and the earth was lightened with his glory. 2 And he cried mightily with a strong voice, saying, “Babylon the GREAT is fallen, is fallen, and is become
[1] the habitation of devils, and
[2] the hold of every foul spirit, and
[3] a cage of every unclean and hateful bird.
3 “For ALL nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication,
and the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her,
and the merchants of the earth are waxed rich through the abundance of her delicacies”.
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As we have seen in the 1st and 14th chapters of The Revelation, the word “angel” can mean a group of humans (led by an angel messenger) who are speaking God’s word on earth. The particular group of individuals mentioned in this chapter will have great power of conviction in the last days, as they explain that Babylon the GREAT has three parts to it. (Revelation 16:19.) The first section is based on spiritualism which claims that the dead are still in communication with us, and almost all the world believes that in some form or another. The second maintains not only has she the title of “wife” to God, but is God’s ONLY kingdom on earth as well, even though she covets the position of political influence, and loves to impose Sunday-keeping on non-members. The third division is seen by God as vultures feeding on human emotions!
At the time being spoken of, these will have deluded ALL the people of the world through various spiritual ways, described as “drunkenness, sex and money”, which are worldwide currencies.
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Revelation 18:
4 And I heard another Voice from heaven, saying, “Come out of her, My people, that you be not partakers of her sins, and that you receive not of her plagues.
5 “For her sins have reached to heaven, and God has remembered her iniquities. 6 Reward her even as she rewarded you, and double to her double according to her works: in the cup which she has filled fill to her double.
7 How much she has glorified herself, and lived deliciously, so much torment and sorrow give her: for she says in her heart, ‘I sit a queen, and am no widow, and shall see no sorrow’.”
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The Son of God pleads with His people to wake up and “flee from Babylon” before she receives the result of her rebellion, for in her wilfulness she will get more than she has given. By remaining within her influence God’s people are in danger that her sinful ways will rub off on them, and they could become like Lot’s wife, who looked back in envy at what she was leaving and was covered by the fallout. (Genesis 19:26.)
Jesus has warned us:
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Luke 17:
26 And as it was in the days of Noah, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man . . . 28 Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they built; 29 but the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all. 30 Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed [sudden and unexpected by most].
31 In that day [the decision day], he which shall be upon the housetop, and his stuff in the house, let him not come down to take it away: and he that is in the field, let him likewise not return back. 32 Remember Lot's wife.
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Here is the Old Testament picture of that period:
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Jeremiah 51:
1 Thus says the LORD; Behold, I will raise up against Babylon, and against them that dwell in the midst of them that rise up against Me, a destroying wind [His Spirit]; 2 and will send to Babylon [wheat] fanners, that shall fan her, and shall empty her land [separate the wheat from the chaff]: for in the day of trouble they shall be against her round about.
[When the truth of the gospel of God convinces but does not convert,
the rejection of it makes men mad and full of anger and a fighting spirit.]
3 Against him that bends [a bow] let the archer bend his bow, and against him that lifts himself up in his brigandine [a light coat of armour]: and spare you not her young men; destroy you utterly all her host. 4 Thus the slain shall fall in the land of the Chaldeans, and they that are thrust through in her streets.
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The LORD has said that the use of force will beget the use of force in retaliation, and this is what did, and is to happen, to Babylon.
Before this occurs He pleads with His people:
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Jeremiah 51:
5 For Israel has not been forsaken, nor Judah of his God, of the LORD of hosts; though their land was filled with sin against the Holy One of Israel.
6 Flee out of the midst of Babylon, and deliver every man his soul [by repentance]: be not cut off in her iniquity; for this is the time of the LORD'S vengeance; He will render to her a recompense.
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God NEVER rejects anyone, at any time, for any reason. (Matthew 12:31.) Although the Bible is full of the records of His representative people turning from Him, every time they repented and returned they were forgiven. (e.g. See Ezekiel 33:11.)
And so it is in the last days. Salvation has never depended on good works, but always on the offer of mercy being accepted. But, as noted above, if that offer is persistently rejected then eventually sanity (the Holy Spirit) leaves and madness takes over. (Ephesians 4:30.)
After that, there is nothing God can do but watch the self-destruction to its end.
Thus it is written:
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Jeremiah 51:
7 Babylon has been a golden cup in the LORD'S hand [but not by His choice], that made all the earth drunken: the nations have drunken of her wine; therefore the nations are mad. 8 Babylon is suddenly fallen and destroyed: howl for her; take balm [the gospel as a medicine] for her pain, if so be she may be healed [before she is destroyed].
9 “We would have healed Babylon, but she is not healed [and now it’s too late]: forsake her, and let us go every one into his own country: for her judgment reaches to heaven, and is lifted up even to the skies”.
10 “The LORD has brought forth our righteousness: come, and let us declare in Zion the work of the LORD our God”.
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Although Satan has used an opposition “city” to attack and destroy “Jerusalem”, the Son of God has always used his attempts at destruction to good advantage and taught lessons of righteousness through them. The whole purpose of the history of the world has been to show the contrast between the two systems. In this final call to come out of Babylon, the LORD is saying that He can do no more; that He must, in righteousness, leave these folk to their choice. As in the days of Sodom, the present-day Lots and their families must leave. (Genesis 19:12-13.)
It will all happen suddenly, as we read in chapter 16, but it will not bring any joy to those Christians who observe it. As Jesus cried for those who were crucifying Him, so the followers of the God of love will lament that their efforts to help were in vain. (Ezekiel 9:4.) Now the time has come for them to obey God and leave Babylon to her fate.
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Revelation 18:
8 Therefore shall her plagues [the last three of the seven] come in one day, death, and mourning, and famine; and she shall be utterly burned with fire: for strong is the LORD God who judges her.
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That twenty-four hour period will change the world forever. The sun goes out temporarily, the hail falls, and the people turn against their former spiritual advisers. Babylon will not be without sympathisers, but they will lament the loss of profit rather than the loss of their customer!
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Revelation 18:
9 And the kings of the earth [the political leaders], who have committed fornication and lived deliciously with her, shall bewail her, and lament for her, when they shall see the smoke of her burning, 10 standing afar off for the fear of her torment, saying, “Alas, alas that great city Babylon, that mighty city! For in one hour is your judgment come”.
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They will be joined by the “sellers of shrines etc.” as in Acts 19:23-41, only this time there will not be a town clerk to appease the people.
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Revelation 18:
11 And the merchants of the earth shall weep and mourn over her; for no man buys their merchandise any more: 12 the merchandise of gold, and silver, and precious stones, and of pearls, and fine linen, and purple, and silk, and scarlet, and all thyine wood [a special fragrant wood used for burning sacrifices], and all manner [of] vessels of ivory, and all manner [of] vessels of most precious wood, and of brass, and iron, and marble, 13 and cinnamon, and odours [perfumes], and ointments, and frankincense, and wine, and oil, and fine flour, and wheat, and beasts, and sheep, and horses, and chariots, and slaves, and souls of men.
14 And the fruits that your soul lusted after are departed from you, and all things which were dainty and goodly are departed from you, and you shall find them no more at all.
15 The merchants of these things, which were made rich by her, shall stand afar off for the fear of her torment, weeping and wailing, 16 and saying, “Alas, alas, that great city, that was clothed in fine linen, and purple, and scarlet, and decked with gold, and precious stones, and pearls! 17 For in one hour so great riches is come to nought”.
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Revelation 18:
And every shipmaster, and all the company in ships, and sailors, and as many as trade by sea, stood afar off, 18 and cried when they saw the smoke of her burning, saying, “What city is like to this great city!”
19 And they cast dust on their heads, and cried, weeping and wailing, saying, “Alas, alas, that great city, wherein were made rich all that had ships in the sea by reason of her costliness! For in one hour is she made desolate”.
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Finally, the carriers of all these goods will join in the general dismay that they have lost their way of life. This is the equivalent of Esau’s sadness some time after he gave up his birthright for a quick meal. We are told, “Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the LORD: looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God [through any action of ours]; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled [no man is an island]; lest there be any fornicator, or profane [worldly] person, as Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright. For you know how that afterward, when he would have inherited [wanted] the blessing, he was rejected: for he found no place of repentance [no way to change his mind because he would not listen to the Holy Spirit], though he sought it carefully with tears” [we might call them “crocodile” tears]. Hebrews 12:14-17.
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Revelation 18:
20 “Rejoice over her, you heaven, and you holy apostles and prophets; for God has avenged you on her”.
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This verse is often taken to mean that the people of God, unfallen as well as saved, are happy that sinners are getting their just deserts. But it really means that all will heave a great sigh of relief that the agony that our Father and His Son have been going through is now somewhat relieved. I say “somewhat” because as noted in another place, the “old lives” which the Son of God has taken from us at our conversion in exchange for His spotless life, remain within Him forever – His sacrifice is an everlasting one. What He has been bearing since that time is the guilt and shame and death of sins which we, as Christians, have committed after that experience. It is the result of THOSE sins (the deaths due to Christians) which are transferred to the scapegoat on the Day of Atonement. (See Leviticus 16:21.)
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Revelation 18:
21 And a mighty angel took up a stone like a great millstone, and cast it into the sea, saying, “Thus with violence shall that great city Babylon be thrown down, and shall be found no more at all.
22 “And the voice of harpers, and musicians, and of pipers, and trumpeters, shall be heard no more at all in you; and no craftsman, of whatsoever craft he be, shall be found any more in you; and the sound of a millstone shall be heard no more at all in you; 23 and the light of a candle shall shine no more at all in you; and the voice of the bridegroom and of the bride shall be heard no more at all in you: for your merchants were the great men of the earth; for by your sorceries were all nations deceived”.
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In these verses God says that after the second advent there will be no more “normal” things on earth. The composing of music, the manufacture of the comforts of life, the preparation of food, generating electricity etc., and even the things of society such as marriage, are all finished with. Not just because the last generation of rejecters of mercy will have destroyed themselves rather than face the Lamb of God, but because they will not be entered into again even after the thousand year period is over.
Physical conditions from then on will be similar to the description the Spirit gives of the period after the thousand years. “And it shall come to pass in that day, that the light shall not be clear, nor dark: but it shall be one day which shall be known to the LORD, not day, nor night: but it shall come to pass, that at evening time it shall be light” for God is LORD in deed. Zechariah 14:6-7. The period of time from the third advent and the second resurrection to the Lake of Fire, will be spent in preparation for an attack on God’s city, and in the experience of the great judgment, so it will be a supernatural time and the common things of present-day earth will no longer be required.
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Revelation 18:
24 And in her was found the blood of prophets, and of saints, and of all that were slain upon the earth.
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God now tells us that Satan’s religious systems have been responsible (as the rider of the beast) for ALL the violent deaths which have occurred on the earth! This is a big statement with many ramifications which we won’t go into very deeply here. Suffice to say that one of the things that it means is that “Babylon” as Satan’s agent has been around from the foundation of the earth, when Cain killed his brother. We are told that after that deed Cain went off in the direction of the sunrise, and built a city. “And Cain went out from the presence of the LORD, and dwelt in the land of Nod, on the east of Eden. And Cain knew his wife; and she conceived, and bare Enoch: and he built a city, and called the name of the city, after the name of his son, Enoch”. Genesis 4:16-17.
Guess what it represented? And why it was built in the area of the sun’s rise.
You don’t build a city for one family, or even for a few families. There must have been quite a group of rebels who agreed with Cain’s action in silencing he who was trying to show him the way of salvation. And there must have been a sizeable assembly of those who disagreed with the murder, because Cain complained to the Son of God about them and was given the assurance that they would not take revenge.
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Genesis 4:
13 And Cain said to the LORD, “My punishment is greater than I can bear.
14 Behold, You have driven me out this day from the face of the earth [the truth was that he could not face the LORD with the guilt of his action upon him, so he left]; and from Your face [Your personal protection] shall I be hid; and I shall be a fugitive and a vagabond in the earth; and it shall come to pass, that every one that finds me shall slay [execute] me”.
15 And the LORD said to him, “Therefore whosoever slays Cain, vengeance shall be taken on him sevenfold [because he would of necessity have been a Christian committing an open sin]”. And the LORD set a mark [of protection] upon Cain, lest any finding him should kill him.
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That’s how much He loves us, even as sinners! (Romans 5:8.)
Bye for now,
RonP
Some of the comments in these readings are adapted from books in my library. No recognition is given because they are not intended as authorities, but are used because they express my understanding clearly. All the ideas expressed in these readings, right or wrong, are my own. Some of these readings are available at
http://www.oocities.org/weprotest.geo/BibleReadings/books_index.html
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