Rev.18:4-7~# 63-pt.4 COMMERCIAL BABYLON FALLS 7-17-10
Chapters 17: describes the spiritual and chapter 18: describes the commercial states of Babylon. Spiritual Babylon involves the big umbrella of Christendom that is with us today; many assemblies that name the name of Christ are far from Christian, they only have the appearance of being religious, but never exalt or magnify His name, there’s no mention of sinners need to receive Jesus before its too late, they don’t want to offend any one. People can have religion and worship a tree, a cow, or anything else, but if people want to go to heaven they’ll have to come as the scripture says.
Jesus said in
John 7:38 He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. Not as Dr, tinkling symbol say’s.
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I want to take just a minute before we go on with our study to read to you just a small portion of a piece that I read in the Christian magazine “ISRAEL MY GLORY” which is a great and informative magazine, the writer that penned this particular article is Brother Charles E. McCracken, in this writing he is exposing modern day paganism. Its heading is:
‘Re-Imagining’ God”
“Although some attribute the emerging pagan worldview to the Cultural Revolution of the 1960s and early 70s, the professing church actually shifted toward paganism in 1993 with the first and now-infamous feminist “Re-Imagining Conference” in Minnesota.
Promoted by mainline denominations under the auspices of the World Council of Churches’
"Decade of Solidarity with Women,"
As each of the 34 speakers took the podium, more than 2,000 women chanted, "Bless
Sophia, dream the vision, share the wisdom dwelling deep within."
--Throughout the conference they sang, "0 great spirit, earth and wind and sea, you are inside and all around me."
--(A declaration in the 1998 conference program read, "I FOUND GOD IN MYSELF, AND I
LOVED HER. 1 LOVED HER FIERCELY.")
--Among the speakers was Chung Hyun Kyung, associate professor of ecumenical studies
at Union Theological Seminary in New York City. She presented God as an all-encompassing
energy force uniting and permeating all that exists. She encouraged "pranic healing," or tap-
ping into cosmic energy. "This life-giving energy came from god and it is everywhere,
It is in the sun and in the ocean; it is from the ground and it is from the trees."
-- Consistent with a blatant pagan agenda, everyone in the assembly was encouraged to affirm
her "godhood" by placing a red dot on her forehead to signify the divine presence—effectively
alienating all who would not comply.
-- The highlight of the conference featured a Eucharist of bread and milk mixed with honey offered to the goddess Sophia.
--This mockery of orthodox Christianity was topped 10 years later at the conference reunion in 2003. That event climaxed with a celebration of the "Lady’s Supper" in which the women "bit into the sacramental apple,"
-- mimicking Eve’s sampling of the forbidden fruit and calling it an act that brought enlightenment rather than man’s Fall.
Well I read you that to show what much of our society dwells on, this is “RELIGION” minus salvation, they can continue to have their get togethers and continue with their mockery but one day God will say,:” let him alone” as He did to Ephraim, we’ll say some more about Ephraim shortly.
So spiritual Babylon is on every hand today and will be in full bloom just after the rapture of the True church and it ends close to the mid-tribulation as she is burned and destroyed with fire by the 10 kings at the direction of the Political leader the antichrist, but lets not forget that God is the Director and He has laid it on their hearts to destroy her.
Ø According to 17:16-17 And the ten horns which thou sawest upon the beast, these shall hate the whore**, and shall make her desolate and naked, and shall eat her flesh, and burn her with fire. 17For God hath put in their hearts to fulfil his will, and to agree, and give their kingdom unto the beast,** until the words of God shall be fulfilled.
His plan is to get rid of sin, and sinners that have reach the point of a hardened heart towards Him and has refused Him for the last time, when He tells the Holy Spirit to “leave him alone” it’s to late.
Hosea prophesying against Ephraim said
4:17-18 Ephraim is joined to idols: let him alone. 18Their drink is sour: they have committed whoredom continually—and spiritual Babylon continues to commits spiritual fornication with its many religions.
All God must do to make certain a man goes to hell is simply let him alone.
Ø Jesus said in
John 3:17-19 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. 18He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. 19 And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.
Notice; their condemned already, they don’t have to wait until they die, their right now condemned. -- but he that believeth not is condemned already—so all a lost sinner has to do is just sit tight, he or she will find them selves in hell the second they die in their lost condition.
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Commercial Babylon here in chapter 18: will be fully functioning during the latter half of the tribulation. By then, commercial Babylon will be a magnet for all of the world’s riches.
The spirit of commercialism blots out the divine institution of human freedom, marriage, family, country, and the love and adoration and dependence upon God through living in His Word as God’s people.
Ø Listen to what Radical Feminist Sheila Cronan had to say about FAMILY AND CHILDREARING, “Childrearing to the extent to which it is necessary is the responsibility of all. Children are part of society but they should not be possessed by anyone … marriage and the family must be eliminated.”
I saw on FOX NEWS just yesterday that now their debating on teaching little children in the youngest years all about SEX, same sex marriage, that Homosexual behavior is all right and different methods and way to having sex, passing out condoms to the teens in school, tell me, are we not at the very thresh hold of Sodom and Gomorrah?
Ø Jesus said in
Luke 17:28-29 Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot;(sodomie} they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they builded; 29But the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all. 30Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed. Its about there now.
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Commercial Babylon, with its worship of money and power, will promote and push unrestrained luxury, sensuality, and pleasure designed to develop an all-consuming power over the masses through their uncontrolled lust patterns.
Babylon will promote the philosophy that happiness, security, and fulfillment are attained by the abundance of the things people possess, in travel and luxury, in comfort and pleasure, etc-- and it seems that that’s what is happening today, our economy at this present time has been maxed out by a great number of people spending and borrowing beyond our means, and now we have a government in place that seems to be set on destroying what’s left by passing laws that the citizens are against whether they like or not, our country is the biggest debtor nation in the world, all of this is to do with Commercial Babylon.
Just imagine what it cost this nation to continue to partake of the different military conflicts we’re in today, its millions of dollars a day, then we’ll run to some other country and borrow more money so we can continue to stay there. Its no wonder we’re broke and it becomes worse every hour we there. I’m sure some is necessary but not all.
Ø The terrorist will still be in business when the Lord returns.
Genesis 16:12 And he will be a wild man; his hand will be against every man, and every man’s hand against him; and he shall dwell in the presence of all his brethren.
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Think of all the money that’s spent to send people to the moon, or to continue to explore space, to me, and forgive me if I’m wrong, but it seems to me like a big waste of money, its totally unnecessary.
Now the satellites that helps us in so many ways are a good thing, but most of its just wasteful spending, who cares if waters on another planet?
What’s really behind all of that is man trying to prove that there’s no such thing as God. ---
If it continues on, mark it down, there’s going to be people that will not return to earth, things are bound to go wrong sooner or later.
Ø God said in
Genesis 1:26 --and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth-
When man leaves the earth he is out of his DOMAIN, he’s on his own.
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But Commercial Babylon’s on a roll and nothing can stop it except the intervention of God and that’s also on the way.
As I told you last time, there are many Prophecy teachers that believe N.Y. City could very well be The great city Babylon because of the much shipping and trading and buying that comes into its seaport.-- It’s not probable that Rome would be the Great City because she will be destroyed by fire and neither is there a sea port there as she would have to have because of all the shipping that comes into her as we’re about to read in the coming verses of this chapter.
Ø Listen as I read verses 4-7.
4And 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. 5For her sins have reached unto heaven, and God hath remembered her iniquities.
We’re not told who this “another voice from heaven” is in vs.4, but I believe because of the words” my people, that its highly possible that its God Himself, God is deeply concerned about His people in every dispensation. –That is every period of time.
The voice here in vs. 4 is not that of the angel of verse 1. And it is directed to God’s people, not to lost sinners.—there will be people saved in the tribulation according to chapter 7:
Last time we talked and read how God was concerned about His people Noah and his family, and He commanded Noah to build an Ark in order to save his family from the coming flood that God was going to send on the people of the world because they had become so given over to wickedness.
2nd pt.2:5 And spared not the old world, but saved Noah the eighth person, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood upon the world of the ungodly;--
God saved 8 people from the flood; the flood is a type of the great tribulation, Noah, Mrs. Noah, and their 3 sons Ham, Shem and Japheth, and their 3 wives.
EIGHT is the number of new beginning, the entire human race are dissidence of Ham, Shem, and Japheth.—a new beginning.—not a drop of water fell before they were safe in side the Ark.
God brought His people safely through the flood, as they were safe in the Ark, the flood is typical of the great tribulation, and the Ark is a type of the Lord Jesus Christ as we are safe in Him.
And likewise the complete family of God will be safe with Him before any part of the tribulation begins.
We’ll not read all these scriptures again today, but if you care to you can read them in
Gen 6:13-- Genesis 2:5-6-- Genesis 7:16***
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Ø We see that God was concerned about Just Lot:
Lot is a real good picture of a saved person that’s away from God, he’s saved but he might not have a reward when he gets to heaven.—Lot was a JUST man, he had been justified, but he was in a backslidden condition as we might call it.
2 Peter 2:7-8 And delivered just Lot, vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked: 8(For that righteous man dwelling among them, in seeing and hearing, vexed his righteous soul from day to day with their unlawful deeds;)
Lots flesh was not clean or saved, but he had a righteous soul we’re told here.
Gen 19:12–13 And the men **{they are the 2 angels of chapter 18:} said unto Lot, Hast thou here any besides? son in law, and thy sons, and thy daughters, and whatsoever thou hast in the city, bring them out of this place: 13For we will destroy this place, --**
(notice; not might destroy it , but will, that’s their mission, that’s what God had commissioned them to do) -- because the cry of them is waxen great before the face of the LORD; and the LORD hath sent us to destroy it.
If you’ll read all that account you’ll see that the, the 2 angels, the 2 men, had to take Lot, his wife and daughters by the hand and lead them out of the city of Sodom, they had become so worldly they just didn’t want to leave Sodom, but God took His people out of harms way before destroying it.
And that’s what He’ll do before He allows the Tribulation to begin.
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6Reward 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.
7How 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.
The root of Babylon’s degeneration was her pride, self-security, godlessness, and glorification of wealth and luxury, all directed toward self-exaltation. The Lord God in His omnipotence will be her Judge.
Ø Here is what is going to happen to Commercial Babylon the great city, who ever and whereever she may be.
Isa 47:9–11 But these two things shall come to thee in a moment in one day, the loss of children, and widowhood: they shall come upon thee in their perfection for the multitude of thy sorceries,**{magic: witchcraft.} and for the great abundance of thine enchantments.** ( a spell:— + charmer)
10For thou hast trusted in thy wickedness: thou hast said, None seeth me. Thy wisdom and thy knowledge, it hath perverted thee; and thou hast said in thine heart, I am, and none else beside me.
11Therefore shall evil come upon thee; thou shalt not know from whence it riseth: and mischief shall fall upon thee; thou shalt not be able to put it off: and desolation shall come upon thee suddenly, which thou shalt not know.
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