The American Wisdom
Series
http://www.americanwisdomseries.com
Presents the Tell
it like it is! series
of studies:
REVELATION
OF SAINT JOHN THE DIVINE BY JESUS CHRIST
Chapter 18 begins after the line of red stars ************* below.
"You're going to be gone anyway at that time".
They also say;
"It's not
to be understood yet".
This is odd because the
very word
"Revelation"
means to
"to reveal"
or "unveil" something.
When you unveil anything,
you make it known.
The book of Revelation is a sister book to the book of Daniel in the Old Testament.
Both of these books were written to the people who live in the final generation, of the "latter days".
Daniel was told to, "shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end:" [Daniel 12:4].
He was told by God; "Many shall be purified, and made white, and tried; but the wicked shall do wickedly: and none of the wicked shall understand: but the wise shall understand." [Daniel 12:10]
The wise are those who study God's word, line upon line, chapter upon chapter, and all these words are wisdom from God.
This is why the wise should understand.
As we study Revelation, let us take a fresh look at the book, and allow God's Word to speak through us. Let's permit the Holy Spirit to allow His words to speak to our hearts which is our minds with understanding.
This chapter covers a time period that most people living on the face of the earth today will live through, and the wise Christian should understand these teachings.
So, be very cautious of any group that would tell you not to study, or to throw away part of God's word. Those are words Satan would use.
Caution to students of God;s Word - Please remember two things when using our American Wisdom Series studies:Revelation 2:17 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it.
John 15:26
But when the
Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth,
which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me:
John
16:13-14
[13] Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he
will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of
himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will
shew you things to come. [14] He shall glorify me: for
he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you.
This
Bible Study was originally written by Roger Christopherson,
published
at http://www.theseason.org/
Without the leading by the Holy Spirit, there is no understanding of the truths, for all the truth of the Scriptures are revealed to us by God's Spirit.
***********************************************************************************
Now here is our revised study of: Christopherson's Revelation chapter 18.
REVELATION
Chapter 18
"Judgment of Babylon"Chapter eighteen is literal in telling us the course of events that will take place during the destruction of that one world religious system called Mystery Babylon. This destruction will be just the opposite of what we read of in chapter seventeen, where everything is stated in symbols. In this chapter, it is literal, in the sense that you can use it as an analogy; that is for the inference that if two or more things agree in some respects, then they will probably agree in others.
In this way we will see that the "city of confusion", or "Babylon" will become a reality. Today we can literally see this city formed and in existence, and amongst our Christian people.
Revelation 18:1 "And after these things I saw another angel come down from heaven, having great power [authority]; and the earth was lightened with his glory."
This angel came from heaven, from God, and also has the power and the authority to bring these things to pass. The glory of God is shown from Him.
Revelation 18:2 "And he cried mightily with a strong voice, saying, Bab'-y-lon the great is fallen, is fallen, and is become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird."
The voice of this angel wasn't wimpish in tone, but a strong voice of authority. When he spoke, he said that this great city [or state] of confusion is falling both morally, and physically.
Why is it falling?
It is inhabited by demons, and devils, and every foul thing; filthy, immoral, hateful, and deceitful. We are well under way to turn our entire nation into this city of confusion.
We saw in Revelation 9, that when the locust army [Satan's fallen angels] arrives on earth, they will cause the earth to be totally saturated with godless immorality.
They will leave the earth a wilderness for it's lack of truth, and respect for God's Word. Satan's kids, the Kenites, are now twisting God's people into such confusion, most Christians simply don't know right from wrong or truth from a lie.
Demon habitation is now on earth, and they are housed in the Kenites, and those who allow and invite demonics into them. This is done through channeling, astrology, and many other forms. Many times Christians flirt with demonic forms as a game, or in question, and become hooked. This is not the time to allow your mind to play around with these demons.
Christians should be getting themselves ready for the real spiritual battle that they will be facing very shortly, The loss in that battle is your very soul. Demons, as well as these Kenites, use mind set, and mind control.
The only control of the Christian mind should be by the Holy Spirit.
Revelation 18:3 "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 waxed rich through the abundance of her delicacies [by the power of her wantonness]."
These demon infested people, along with the Kenites, dress themselves up today in their righteous robes, and make themselves smell as the fragrance of the spring flowers.
They will also be transformed [disguised] as angels of light.
They will be concerned for the little ones, the children, as they move to form Satan's final church.
God's own children will be drawn in to them, because of the confusion taught in most all churches of today.
Most pastors today simply do not know God's Word, or His plan for this age.
Satan will come in peacefully and prosperously [Daniel 8:23-25], and he will preach the finest sermon most Christians have ever heard, so they will think [but it will be lies].
Satan is good at putting out the sweet talk, and though it sounds good, it will be a damnable twisted perverted lie.
Revelation 18:4 "And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues."
This is a warning direct from God through
this mighty angel."You come out of her, My
people, that ye be not partakers of her sins."
The plagues will follow after this warning, and if you are with her, you will receive the plagues also, for God is warning you; and they will come.
Revelation 18:5 "For her sins have reached unto heaven, and God hath remembered her iniquities."
The tower of the sins in this end generation, will be worse that the tower of Babel of Genesis 11, and God is about to destroy her, not scatter it. The tower of Babel was built also to draw the entire world together in one mind. Through that ancient tower, man tried to reach God, and be as God was, they thought. Today the tower now forming called the city of Babel will also be of one mind, and the singleness of this one mind is bringing about confusion. The sins of the people, and their hardness of heart are reaching into heaven, and God will remember every last one of them.
Revelation 18:6 "Reward [Render unto] her even as she rewarded [rendered] you, and double unto her double according to her works: in the cup which she hath filled fill to her double."
When you take Satan's number, 6-6-6 [that of the Kenites], and double it you have 1,332.
This is when Satan and his followers get their reward. However, Daniel talks about the 1,335 days when those who wait upon the Lord get their rewards.
This is three days more of waiting upon the Lord.
Remember the two witnesses, and the three and one half days in wait, laying dead in the street in Jerusalem?
It's just a thought, but don't be caught celebrating too quickly; for it might be for the wrong cause.
Don't receive your blessing one day short, because it will be the blessing Satan is passing out upon those that claim him to be God [the Abomination of desolation].
Daniel 12:12 "Blessed is he that waiteth, and cometh to the thousand three hundred and five and thirty days."
Revelation 18:7 "How much she hath glorified herself, and lived deliciously [waxed wanton], so much torment and sorrow give her: for she saith in her heart, I sit a queen, and am no widow, and shall see no sorrow."
God's bride is the queen, and Israel is also a queen. We are a widow for Christ, our husband died; and we will not be a Queen again until the True Christ returns. That is what is meant by this verse. If you sit a queen, and your husband [the false Christ] sits there with you, then you are married to the wrong husband. Then upon Jesus Christ's return to earth at the sounding of the seventh trumpet, you will then not be regarded as a queen, but a whore, if you now declare yourself to be a Christian
At that time you will be "with [Satan's] child", and not the virgin bride that our Lord expects to find upon His return. You better not be one of these claiming to be a queen.
Revelation 18:8 "Therefore shall her plagues come in one day, death, and mourning, and famine, and she shall utterly burn with fire: for strong is the Lord God who judgeth her."
In "one day", the "day of the Lord" is at the last trumpet and all those in Satan's camp will wake up to see they are married to the wrong man, spiritually speaking.
The "fire" that consumes them is a spiritual fire, filled with shame and disgrace. It is a "spiritual fire", for on that day they will all be changed into their spiritual bodies. They gave the garment of their works over to their husband, Satan the false christ, and now they stand naked as a Jay-bird before Christ, on that day. They were untrue to the Son of the Living God. This change from flesh to the spiritual body is discussed by the Apostle Paul in I Corinthians 15:50-54.
Revelation 18:9 "And the kings of the earth, who have committed fornication and lived deliciously [wantonly] with her, shall bewail her, and lament for her, when they shall see the smoke of her burning,"
As this "city of confusion" goes up in smoke, the reality of what they have done will set into their minds.
Then all people will see clearly what damage has been done; that they have been lied to and deceived by Satan and his religious system.
It will be a sad day for the deceived professing Christians.
When you think of those elderly people who sat in their churches all their lives, just wanting to serve and see Jesus; what a heart break it will be for them to wake up and find that they have been deceived all along.
They were taught that you don't have to know the whole Bible, just believe.
They listened and believed when the pastor told them, Revelation doesn't apply to you, for you will fly out of here.
Most of the pastors will lead their flocks right into Satan's camp in ignorance, thinking he is the Messiah, and not knowing any difference between the true Christ and the fake Christ.
When they do, they will have lost it all.
There will be no grace extended to them from this flesh age for those who worship the false-christ.
Revelation 18:10 "Standing afar off for the fear of her torment, saying, Alas, that great city Babylon, that mighty city! for in one hour is thy judgment come."
The final battles of this earth age will be quick and more than likely, take less than an hour. The battles will take place in two locations; The battle of Armageddon to be at Meddigo [the gathering place of the crowd in Jerusalem], and the battle of Hammon-Gog [see Ezekiel 38 and 39], which I believe will be in the Christian nations.
It is only the wicked that God will consume in these battles. Many use II Peter 3 to show how "all the world will burn"; however, in the proper translation we read, it is "all the evil rudiments [elements]" that shall burn. Remember this is a spiritual struggle.
God's
children who do not bow to Satan, or take his name, or number are not
part of the evil rudiments of this earth, and will not burn.
They are the pure bride of
Christ.
Revelation 18:11 "And the merchants of the earth shall weep and mourn over her; for no man buyeth their merchandise any more:"
These merchant's products were the sweet, religious trinkets, and robes of Satan's world wide religious system. No man will ever buy or need any of Satan's religious order again, for Jesus Christ will be on the earth, and His kingdom will be without end.
Revelation 18:12 "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, and all manner vessels of ivory, and all manner vessels of most precious wood, and of brass, and iron, and marble,"
Notice that all these items go to make up the royalty of Satan's world wide religious order. They make up the fineries for the leaders, and priests, and for the offerings, and the many structures necessary to worship Satan, as he wishes to be worshipped. Satan's church, and entire religious system will be impressive to the ordinary man, but to God's elect it will be a cheap imitation of the real thing.
Revelation 18:13 "And cinnamon, and odours, 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."
Satan's sole mission is capturing the souls of men and women, boys and girls. Satan will offer you anything your heart desires to tie you to his system. If you are not sealed in your mind [forehead] that the first christ is Satan, you will sell your soul cheap to him in ignorance, for you will think he is Jesus Christ. Satan will own the world, for God will have given it to him, to use it to deceive all the peoples of the world. Satan will and can offer you anything, and he will deliver it just to buy your soul. In fact the only price he requires as payment in full, is your soul.
Revelation 18:14 "And the fruits that thy soul lusted after are departed from thee, and all things which were dainty and goodly are departed from thee, and thou shalt find them no more at all."
Your fruits are what you reap from what you have planted, and the fruit then comes from the stems of your plantings. In the time of Satan's one world religious system, there will be no fruit yielded, and all ripe fruit will be harvested with a cycle [not picked], and piled to burn. Remember in the parable of the fig tree, that tree that Jesus cursed had no fruit, but only leaves. Ripe fruit must be harvested in season. Why?
All those who will make a stand against Satan and his religious system are already sealed. Those without the seal, which is the understanding of God's Word [the Bible] will have taken Satan's [the false-christ's] "Mark of the Beast", his name and his number. Like we were told by Joel the prophet, the world will be like a wilderness, barren for the truth of God's word. There will not be a harvest, because the "seed lay in the barns [churches], and had not been planted". The pastures will become a wilderness, because there is no one in them feeding.
The only word that will be taught, or even spoken aloud in the days of the the spurious messiah's religious order, will be the words of the false-christ's, Satan's, religion. It will be accepted as the truth, because it will sound like the truth, and backed up by Satan's many miracles, wonders, and deceptions. The Christians who do not know God's Word, simply will not believe the true man of God in that day, and if that is you, they will think you to be insane. When the religious system of the false-christ is in place, we can not plant seeds anymore, thus we are told by Jesus to think not ahead of time what we will say, but to allow the Holy Spirit to speak through us [Mark 13:9-11].
Mark 13:9 "But take heed to yourselves: for they shall deliver you up to councils; and in the synagogues ye shall be beaten: and ye shall be brought before rulers and kings for My sake, for a testimony against them."
Mark 13:10 "And the gospel must first be published among all nations."
Mark 13:11 "But when they shall lead
you, and deliver you up, take no thought beforehand what ye shall
speak, neither
do ye premeditate: but whatsoever shall be given you in that hour, that
speak ye: for it is not ye that speak, but the Holy Spirit."
Because Babylon [the false-christ's world wide religious system] is fallen, all things that were part of it will never be again. Ever! In this one hour the entire system is shown for the filth it is, and destroyed.
Revelation 18:15 "The merchants of these things, which were made rich by her, shall stand afar off for the fear of her torment, weeping and wailing,"
The things of this earth age of the flesh is all gone. The entire religious system, and all that belonged to it [it's evil rudiments] are destroyed in one hour. They risked their entire lives and business on a five months period [Revelation 9:5, 10], and lost it all in one hour.
In II Peter 3:10, "But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements [evil rudiments in the Greek text] shall melt with fervent heat, the earth [age] also and the works [evil works] that are therein shall be burned up."
My fellow Christian, God is the consuming fire that will do this, as we read in Hebrews 12:29.
Revelation 18:16 "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!"
Revelation 18:17 "For in one hour so great riches is come to naught. And every shipmaster, and all the company in ships, and sailors, and as many as trade by sea, stood a far off,"
Remember, the "sea" are the "peoples of the world", and these sailors and their ships are those who dealt in the merchandising in goods and souls in the spurious messiah's religious system. The Kenites are the main suppliers, they will fill the wants of the religious system then, as they are doing today.
Revelation 18:18 "And cried when they saw the smoke of their burning, saying, What city is like unto this great city!"
They mourned as the clouds of deception arose and cleared away, and the truth was revealed, and the reality of the end of their godless system came into sight. Their time of cheating, and being the thieving bunch of bandits that they have been since the ancient days are over.
Revelation 18:19 "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 she is made desolate."
Upon the day of the Lord, at the seventh trumpet, in that one hour all confusion, lies, and exactly who is behind them, will be revealed. The truth will not only be revealed, but all the evil rudiments that went to make it up will also be destroyed. And immediately, "in the wink of an eye," all souls will be changed from these flesh bodies into their spiritual bodies, and the Kingdom of Jesus Christ will begin. We will be in the new Millennium age.
It will be a time of great rejoicing for the saints of God, and those of the bride of Christ. However, to all those who were taken in and deceived by false-christ, and took his name, and number [the Mark of the beast]; it will be a time of great shame; of weeping and much sorrow. The tears are for the lost Satanic system that they sold themselves into.
Revelation 18:20 "Rejoice over her, thou heaven, and ye holy apostles [saints] and prophets; for God hath avenged you on her."
On that day, the "day of the Lord", God will avenge all the wrong that was done in this earth age. Even to the death of the prophets of old, that were killed by the Jewish "Kenite" religious leaders. He will also avenge all those who wronged you. This is why Jesus asks you to wait until this day to settle all accounts. All wrongs will be made right.
In Romans 12:19 Jesus tells us through the apostle Paul, "Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written [in Deuteronomy 32:35], Vengence is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord."
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 Bab'-y-lon be thrown down, and shall be found no more at all."
It is at this time that Jerusalem will be totally destroyed, and all parts of that religious system gone forever. This will start a New city of Jerusalem; with a new temple, and Jesus Christ will rule His kingdom from there. Not one stone will be left standing of the old temple, upon each other, but all will be thrown down and swept clean. This will be the "New Jerusalem" of the Millennium age of Ezekiel 40-48, where we will serve Jesus Christ out of.
Do you see why you will not see Jesus Christ while you are still living in your flesh body? At the sounding of the seventh and last trump, every thing in and of this earth age will be done away with, and you will be in another dimension. Your body will be changed instantly into its eternal body, and this earth age of the flesh will be finished forever. Any person coming to you claiming to be Christ while you are in your flesh body, while grandma is in the nursing home, and the hospital is down there on the corner, is a fraud, a cheat and a liar. When Jesus Christ returns that "great city of Babylon" and all that is part of it is gone forever.
Revelation 18:22 "And the voice of harpers, and musicians, and of pipers, and trumpeters, shall be heard no more at all in thee; and no craftsman, of whatsoever craft he be, shall be found any more in thee; and the sound of a millstone shall be heard no more at all in thee;"
There will be no musicians, no craftsman, or builders of any kind: no doctors or shop keepers in that Millennium kingdom for the things that are needed to fill the needs and desires of this flesh body are over. There will be no flesh bodies anywhere, anymore. We will see the wonderful conditions that shall exist in the twenty first and twenty second chapter.
Revelation 18:23 "And the light of a candle shall shine no more at all in thee; and the voice of the bridegroom and of the bride shall be heard no more at all in thee: for thy merchants were the great men of the earth; for by thy sorceries were all nations deceived."
No part of that system will exist any more. This millstone is used to work over God's people, and it and those taking part in it will be gone; removed.
Revelation 18:24 "And in her was found the blood of prophets, and of saints, and of all that were slain upon the earth."
This satanic system started with Satan and Eve in the Garden of Eden. From that "beguiling" [being wholly seduced, sexually; from the Greek text], came the race of satanic hybrids, called "the Kenites". These children have hid themselves, by mixing with other races, and in the case of God's children, blending themselves in with the Israelites. When they tried to hide themselves, the Prophets and Apostles would identify them through their blood line [ancestry]. This is the main reason for their killing of the prophets, apostles, and even Jesus Christ. And they force the blame of their murdering acts on our brother Judah.
Live Link to- The Parable of the Fig Tree
This is even possible in most churches today, because very few Christians have taken the time to learn that lesson Jesus told us to learn in Mathew 24, Mark 13, and Luke 21. That lesson being "the parable of the Fig tree". It is from this parable that we discover the good figs, brother Judah [Jews], from the bad figs, the Kenites ["that do lie, and call themselves Jews"]. If you do not know this parable there is no way you can be "sealed in your mind" against the false-christ. For it is the Kenites that have, and will pervert all doctrine, and that false doctrine will cause you to take the spurious messiah's "Mark of the Beast".
That mark is taken in your "forehead [your mind], and in your "right hand". The mark is your thinking as the Kenites want you to think, and doing the work. A "right hand" man is to do what the one over you wants you to do. These Kenites are the children of "Cain", from which their name comes. See Strong's Hebrew Dictionary # 7014, ""Qayin, kah'-yin; Kajin, the name of the first child, also of a place in Palestine, and of an oriental tribe: -Cain, Kenite(s)."
These Kenites took over the scribe duties, of translating God's holy word, which is recorded in I Chronicles 2:55. Ezra 2:43-65 records how the Levites were not around when the temple and the altar of God was rebuilt. It was the Kenites [Nethinims] that had taken over the duties of the scribes and priests. This is what is hid from the Church of today, most cannot tell brother Judah [Jew] from the fake, and this is why the Churches of Smyrna and Philadelphia were acceptable to God; they knew who these Kenites were/are. Revelation 2:9 "I know thy works; and tribulation, and poverty, but thou art rich and I know the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews, and are not, but are the synagogue of Satan."
It is the offspring of these Kenites, the same ones who killed the prophets, and Jesus Christ, that are doing the same as they always have, and they are committed to Satan their father as he is. They are changing and twisting God's Word to make the whole world to believe a lie. God's elect, and the 144,000 of Israel [all of the tribes] will be the only ones that can see through the deception. God will turn the rest of the people over to Satan at this time.
Revelation may have been a mystery to you in the past, but it's high time to get into it with the proper tools, and see what God is saying to His church, [His elect]. If you wait until the spurious messiah has arrived, it will be too late, because it is God that will blind your eyes from the truth then. God has fully prepared and written His plan in His Word, and you are going to be responsible for your actions of either following Satan as the first christ to come; or waiting for the true Christ. The rewards are great for them that wait on the LordAmerican Wisdom Series Editor's Note: We are going to stop here in this "Revelation of Jesus Christ" study to review some commentary from chapter 18 in an earlier study we published on the "Revelation of Jesus Christ." I don't believe you will find much difference in the general opinion of these 2 authors, but to read another person's perspective of events that did and will take place may prove helpful in our understanding of Jesus' revelation. Also, our introduction #9300 was taken from this earlier study so keep your eyes open for study tips and rules to help simplify your grasp of Jesus' end time revelation
In chapter 17 we learned that the great whore who "sitteth upon many waters (peoples of the world)", is not a woman at all, but is in fact that Great City, which will reign over the kings of the earth, the city where the beast, Satan, sits atop the one world political and religious systems, the city in which the son of perdition sits in the temple and claims he is Jesus Christ. The woman is that great city, Jerusalem, where also our Lord was crucified.
Let's review the last verse of chapter 17 so that no one gets any brainy idea to identify the woman as something other than that great city.
We also learned in chapter 17 that this great city, likened to a sleazy whore who has been in bed with just about everyone, has a special name on her forehead. That special name is MUSTERION, the Greek word translated MYSTERY, which means "false religion" disguised as "true religion", i.e. it is hidden from being seen for what it really is. It is really BABYLON which we documented means CONFUSION.Rev. 17:18
And the woman which thou sawest is that great city, which reigneth over the kings of the earth.
And so we see and understand why people are confused! They believe their religion, their church, is right and holy and pure and good! They cannot see that they have already been led astray from the TRUTH by the traditions of men, perpetuated by Biblically illiterate pastors and ministers, though many are well meaning, who follow the doctrines of their church. But they lead our people astray from the God's Word and let them wander the hills of confusion!
Is something new? Not a chance! It's been going on since ancient Babylon who "hath been a golden cup in the LORD'S hand, that made all the earth drunken: the nations have drunken of her wine; therefore the nations are mad (Jeremiah 51:7)."
In order for us to more fully understand this chapter 18 of Revelation we all need to go back and read the 50th and 51st chapters of the Book of Jeremiah. It concerns Babylon and it will read much like that which we shall read in Revelation 18 and it is relative to TODAY!
The apostle Paul taught us a principle that we must always remember as we study God's Word. And that is that the history of the events that happened to our people occurred and are recorded as examples for us, in these end times, TODAY, to LEARN from and SEE in detail the types set forth.
The reason this needs brought to our attention is that in this 18th chapter of Revelation we are going to see the judgment of the great city which is "Jerusalem", but is named "Secret Babylon" because it is Satan's worldwide headquarters of the pagan, false religious system that deceives the whole world. In other words, the world will not call Jerusalem "Babylon". The great city is not going to be renamed! You must have the seal of God in your forehead, i.e. have an understanding of God's Word, to know that it will not be "Jesus in Jerusalem" when the spurious messiah arrives. It will be "Satan in Babylon". Do you have "eyes" to see that this is what we've been studying for 17 chapters? Let me repeat that one more time!1 Cor. 10:11
Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.
It will not be "Jesus in Jerusalem" when the false-christ arrives. It will be "Satan in Babylon"! Even though geography it will be Jerusalem!
The false messiah comes first but he will "Look Like the Lamb Slain", "With Two Horns", i.e. wielding both the power of King of kings and Lord of lords, both the powers of the one world political system and the worldwide religious system with him as Jesus who performs miracles in the sight of men. Do you remember chapter 13? Rev. 13:11 "And I beheld another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb, and he spake as a dragon." The "beast", the "dragon"! Come on, you know who that is! We've seen it revealed many times? In the last chapter, Rev. 17:8, we were even told that the beast is the son of perdition. What does it take for a person to "see"?
Satan is coming as Jesus Christ and the whole world will believe him! It is that simple, but the world doesn't see it. The waters are confused because they have sipped from the filthy, muddy, golden cup of Babylon. And if they don't wake up they will get to share the whore's name, which is the same as the beast's mark! Why? Because you'll be a little HARLOT! You'll be worshipping Satan!
You remember the "Scarlet Letter" by Nathaniel Hawthorne? Well, you'll get to wear (not literally, of course) the "Scarlet Number" by Satan the Beast, which is "666" !
So our people are confused and led astray. Whose fault is that, other than their own for not studying His Word? Have you read Jeremiah 50 and 51 yet? Live Links to- Jeremiah 50 and 51
How are the shepherds who lead your church doing? I'm sure they are nice people.Jeremiah 50:6
My people hath been lost sheep: their shepherds have caused them to go astray, they have turned them away on the mountains: they have gone from mountain to hill, they have forgotten their restingplace.
Now, with all that as background, and if you understand chapter 17, then you can read and understand chapter 18 all on your own! It is simply the judgment and fall of that great city. Sure, there are a few English words that don't quite bring forth the full meaning of the Greek, which we will look up, but even as it is written in the KJV you can read and understand this chapter.
Let's begin.
The Truth from our Father is light. This angel has great glory and great authority, which means lots of "thumping power".Rev. 18:1
And after these things I saw another angel come down from heaven, having great power; and the earth was lightened with his glory.
"The show is over for you wicked whores and sluts in Babylon. Yes, that means you, Satan, and all your filthy, trashy, evil kings and birdbrains that you have caged in this city."[2] And he cried mightily with a strong voice, saying, Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and is become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird.
The whole world is drunk and screwed up! And the Rulers and CEOs have become "Fat Cats" through your "miracle performances" and "straining". Here are the two words "abundance" and "delicacies" from Strong's.[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.
abundance
dunamis, doo'-nam-is, Greek 1411; from Greek 1410 (dunamai); force (literal or figurative); specially miraculous power (usually by implication a miracle itself) :- ability, abundance, meaning, might (-ily, -y, -y deed), (worker of) miracle (-s), power, strength, violence, might (wonderful) work.delicacies
strenos, stray'-nos, Greek 4764; akin to Greek 4731 (stereos); a "straining", "strenuousness" or "strength", i.e. (figurative) luxury (voluptuousness) :- delicacy.
Have you read Jeremiah 50 and 51 yet? What are you waiting for? The type has been set forth. Babylon is going to be the recipient of the LORD's vengeance when He returns. The warning is clear... Come out of her! Live Links to- Jeremiah 50 and 51[4] And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.
Come out of confusion! Do you remember from chapter 16 who it is that the vials are poured out upon, i.e. receives the 7 plagues? It is those who are confused, deceived. It is those who do not have the Seal of God in their foreheads! We just read Rev. 18:4 which documents that people can come out this religious confusion and escape the plagues. How is it done? By absorbing the truth of God's Word into their minds, which is in their foreheads, thereby "sealing" themselves.Jeremiah 51:6
Flee out of the midst of Babylon, and deliver every man his soul: be not cut off in her iniquity; for this is the time of the LORD'S vengeance; he will render unto her a recompence.[7] Babylon hath been a golden cup in the LORD'S hand, that made all the earth drunken: the nations have drunken of her wine; therefore the nations are mad.
Her sins "stink to high heaven" and our Father knows and remembers what she's done to His children.[5] For her sins have reached unto heaven, and God hath remembered her iniquities.
Boy is she going to get it![6] Reward her even as she rewarded you, and double unto her double according to her works: in the cup which she hath filled fill to her double.
She glorifies herself in purple and scarlet robes, and decks herself with gold and precious stones, and houses herself with magnificent structures with stained glassed windows and cathedral ceilings. She's quite a religion! Looks great![7] How much she hath glorified herself, and lived deliciously, so much torment and sorrow give her: for she saith in her heart, I sit a queen, and am no widow, and shall see no sorrow.
And she claims she's a Queen! She says she is not a widow, which means she has a HUSBAND. Did she wait until the great wedding feast of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, to wed Him? No, she's a WHORE!
Is she married to the real "Jesus in Jerusalem"? No, she's married to "Satan in Babylon".
That one day is the Day of the Lord, the 7th Trump. For her it will be the 7th Thump![8] Therefore shall her plagues come in one day, death, and mourning, and famine; and she shall be utterly burned with fire: for strong is the Lord God who judgeth her.
Gone up in smoke, the whole damnable thing! They've been stripped of everything and now stand naked.[9] And the kings of the earth, 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,
Destroyed with the blast from the 7th Trump![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 thy judgment come.
It shall be a sad day for those whose god is filthy lucre![11] And the merchants of the earth shall weep and mourn over her; for no man buyeth their merchandise any more:
Did you catch those last two items? Satan wants your soul and he's willing to buy it! Is that something new, like a new revelation or something? Hardly![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, and all manner vessels of ivory, and all manner vessels of most precious wood, and of brass, and iron, and marble,[13] And cinnamon, and odours, 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.
Do you recall from chapter 12 that the dragon (you know who) drew a third of the sons of God away from God in the 1st earth age? Do you know how he did that? Have you ever read Ezekiel 28 concerning the prince and king of Tyrus, Satan?
This is in the "world that then was", the 1st earth age. This should remind us of what Satan will do when he is cast out of heaven (Rev. 12:7-9) and comes to earth. Here's the apostle Paul in 2 Thes. 2:4 "Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God." He hasn't changed a bit!Ezekiel 28:2
Son of man, say unto the prince of Tyrus, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Because thine heart is lifted up, and thou hast said, I am a God, I sit in the seat of God, in the midst of the seas; yet thou art a man, and not God, though thou set thine heart as the heart of God:
Remember his power structure in Rev. 12:3 was basically the same as he will have when he comes here (Rev. 13:1)? This guy buys friends and influences people with the gods of money and power and ego. Daniel records that he will do the exact same thing when he arrives. Like we said, he hasn't a bit![3] Behold, thou art wiser than Daniel; there is no secret that they can hide from thee: [4] With thy wisdom and with thine understanding thou hast gotten thee riches, and hast gotten gold and silver into thy treasures:
He was really something in the world that was. People just loved his trafficking and riches. And it all went to his head! But the point is that he will operate the same way when he gets here! So the question is... "How much will you take for your soul?" The "Anti-Jesus in Jerusalem" will prepare a mansion for you, and give it to you! If you'll follow him! Most of the world will! Will you?"[5] By thy great wisdom and by thy traffick hast thou increased thy riches, and thine heart is lifted up because of thy riches:
Written by the hands of Jeremiah and John, are the words from the Lord our God, "Flee out of the midst of Babylon", "Come out of her my people!"Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen. The end of all religious confusion has come, for Jesus Christ has returned.
And so it is that we are reading in chapter 18 of Revelation the advanced news report about the fall of Babylon the great. We continue now in verse 14 with the lament of her lovers over her demise.
The "ripe fruit" (even the hope of salvation), i.e. all of your heart's desires, are gone along with all its luxuries and splendor! You've been harvested out of season!Rev. 18:14
And the fruits that thy soul lusted after are departed from thee, and all things which were dainty and goodly are departed from thee, and thou shalt find them no more at all.
The merchants are those great men or lords (see vs. 23 & Strong's) who became "Fat Cats" by peddling her "musterion", her false religion. They ought to stand in fear because they are gettin' it next![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,
So beautiful she was! She looked so pretty! Yes, there's no doubt about it, Packaging Sells! In other words, you can dress up a religion (even call it a Christian one) to look so good and holy with fancy buildings and priests in flowing robes, that people will just flock to it to partake of her golden cup![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!
You should check out the word "hour" used here. It is translated "season" in 2 Cor. 2:7, "short time" in 1 Thes. 2:17, as well as "hour", both literally and figuratively which can be determined by the context wherein it is used. In this case it means "instantly" or as we say "in an instant" or "just like that".[17] For in one hour so great riches is come to nought. And every shipmaster, and all the company in ships, and sailors, and as many as trade by sea, stood afar off,
hora, ho'-rah, Greek 5610; apparently a primary word; an "hour" (literal or figurative) :- day, hour, instant, season, × short, [even-] tide, (high) time.Those shipmasters, the captains who steer the whore's "love boats", and all those who have been participating in the orgy, now try to distance themselves from Babylon! Too late though, the party is over!
Holy smoke, look at her burn![18] And cried when they saw the smoke of her burning, saying, What city is like unto this great city!
To "cast dust on one's head" is an expression meaning to "mourn". And what a "pity party" we see going on here, weeping and wailing. Lament, lament, lament! That great city of whores, run by none other than "Puff the Magic Dragon" himself, is "gone up in smoke". Poof! She's gone![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.
The battle is finally over. The good guys win! Praise God![20] Rejoice over her, thou heaven, and ye holy apostles and prophets; for God hath avenged you on her.
Babylon will disappear forever, just like taking a big stone and casting it into the middle of the ocean. Got the PICTURE?[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.
"Then a mighty angel picked up a boulder shaped like a millstone and threw it into the ocean and shouted, 'Babylon, that great city, shall be thrown away as I have thrown away this stone, and she shall disappear forever.' (Living Bible)
If you have studied the book of Daniel then you should remember that Nebuchadnezzar, the king of Babylon, a type of the king of Babylon to come, had "set up" a golden image to be worshipped by all the people of the world. Here's the decree:[22] And the voice of harpers, and musicians, and of pipers, and trumpeters, shall be heard no more at all in thee; and no craftsman, of whatsoever craft he be, shall be found any more in thee; and the sound of a millstone shall be heard no more at all in thee;
Of course, those lads Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego who had the Seal of God in their foreheads, would not bow a knee to the image. So the king threw them into the fiery furnace which was heated "7 times" hotter, but the fire of that great tribulation that they endured did not singe one hair on their heads! Sound like Revelation chapter 9 to you? It should.Daniel 3:7
Therefore at that time, when all the people heard the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and all kinds of musick, all the people, the nations, and the languages, fell down and worshipped the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up.
We have studied in this Book of Revelation that the beast, Satan, "sets up" his image, i.e. that he is Jesus, and the people who go to church will hear the sound of the music and sing praises to the one sitting in the temple claiming to be God. (They know not that he is the son of perdition). Yes, they will kneel to and worship Satan, who will appear in the image of Christ.
Well guess what? It's going to end with the fall of Babylon! His music shall be heard no more!
There will be no more flickering light trying to imitate the real light of truth. It's over.[23] And the light of a candle shall shine no more at all in thee; and the voice of the bridegroom and of the bride shall be heard no more at all in thee: for thy merchants were the great men of the earth; for by thy sorceries were all nations deceived.
Now, do you remember in the last chapter what we read concerning the great whore? Rev. 17:2 "With whom the kings of the earth have committed fornication, and the inhabitants of the earth have been made drunk with the wine of her fornication."
The analogy is also made here that they have been drugged by her poison, i.e. deceived by her sorceries. Here's Strong's definition of "sorceries".
pharmakeia, far-mak-i'-ah, Greek 5331; from Greek 5332 (pharmakeus); medication ("pharmacy"), i.e. (by extension) magic (literal or figurative) :- sorcery, witchcraft.Satan has a great many people in the world and in our nation strung out on booze and drugs. He's already got their souls in bondage with literal poison. The rest are in worse shape, for they are poisoned from the doctrines of men swirling in the golden cup of the beautiful looking whore which when they "sip from it", they "hallucinate" into imagining that they are seeing and worshipping Jesus, when in fact it's just the disguise of the beast, a mere image!pharmakeus, far-mak-yoos', Greek 5332; from pharmakon (a drug, i.e. spell-giving potion); a druggist ("pharmacist") or poisoner, i.e. (by extension) a magician :- sorcerer
Oh the awesome power and deception of religion! It is ever so intoxicating. Our people are spiritually drunk already but they know it not, for they are in denial! They think they are OK! That is what deception is. Their church is so big and beautiful and the people are so nice and friendly. Let us go sip from the cup!
Oh the awesome power and deception of religion! It is ever so deadly.[24] And in her was found the blood of prophets, and of saints, and of all that were slain upon the earth.
We now conclude this study of chapter 18 with the words of Jesus Christ direct from His explanation of the first of the 7 Seals in Mark 13 and Mat. 24. Here is the #1 WARNING:
Many, not just a few ministers and preachers, but MANY, who claim to represent Christ and go around proclaiming "Jesus is Lord" and "Praise the Lord" will then hand you the golden cup!Matthew 24:4
And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you.[5] For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.
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