• Sodom & Egypt (Rev. 11)
GLOBAL
WEDDING PREPARATIONS
. . . and the cities of the nations fell:
and great Babylon came in remembrance before God, to give unto her the cup of the wine of the fierceness of his wrath.
Revelation 16:19 ‡
"The sirens were screaming, as I awoke, and looked at my watch. Past midnight! Even during the cold war, civil defense drills were unusual. As the rucus outside continued, and car sirens also erupted on the street below, it seemed best to tune in, and find out just what was causing all the confusion in our little bedroom community, on Long Island. Why the sirens? Why the sudden commotion?
Was there a sudden evacuation in progress?
I could see people running through the street, hopping into cars, and speeding off. Perhaps, there was a chemical spill on the Cross Island, two blocks away, or (maybe, heaven forbid!) some kind of a radioactive incident, in the next town.
"There was no tanker overturned on the expressway.
"There was, however, a nuclear incident over the horizon.
"Then it was, that I remembered Babylon, and her evil trinity, as it had been explained to me. We might have escaped, earlier, but thought it only a theory. I saw some kneeling on the pavement, and trying to pray right there on the sidewalk, but by then, we couldn't concentrate. It didn't really matter, anyway. The abomination, had already made them desolate. For us, there was only time to die:
"Only time,
for judgment."
There exists a trinity of evil, fortress of darkness, and a cloak of perversion, which defies dismantling, to this very hour. Because it is so like a, "trinity," she reminds us of God, Himself. But, because she's so committed to evil, she not only cannot marry God -but must be judged by Him, in our near future. Of course, being both religious at heart, and the nursing mother to whole tribes of pretenders, she seduces many a careless soul.
Yet, religion is only one of her wiles, for Babylon has a very secular and historic component as well. Thus, when God has judged this popular lady, it will (in a sense) mean that He has destroyed the taproot of evil government in one big, rotten, nutshell. This is the significance of mystery Babylon (Rev. 17:5). She is the drunken rider of "the beast" which an angel told John, "was, and is not, and yet is."(Rev. 17:8).
But the angel said to me, "Why did you marvel? I will tell you the mystery of the woman and of the beast that carries her, . . . ."
vs. 7
First, Babylon "was" –as a literal nation.
It was into this land of the Chaldeas (now modern Iraq) that God's people were carried away captive, in Old Testament times. Wicked, and glamorous, her hanging gardens were one of the seven wonders of the ancient world. Her walls were so thick that fully armed chariots could prance attop her very walls: walls, which no invading army could pentrate . . . and yet, when challenging the God of Heaven, would find herself being humbled again, and again. Until finally, as she reached into the holy place, and dared to profane the vessels of the living God—God, Himself, was moved to answer .
In the same hour came forth fingers of a man's hand, and wrote over against the candlestick upon the plaster of the wall of the king's palace: and the king saw the part of the hand that wrote.
Daniel 5:5
This is a key attribute of "Babylon," remember it: at the height of her power, she touches God's vessels, to defile/destroy them.
The Chaldeans had been warned (in Daniel four) but had ignored the ancient warnings. It wasn't that she didn't know better -she did (Dan. 5:22) but she thought, perhaps, that God had forgotten. After all, such were warnings of yester-year, and of a day gone by. This was a new, and enlightened, era. . . . Enlightened? Oh, yes it was.It was, also, a day for judgment.
That very night, there was a breach made in her walls. An opposing army for which she had only disdain (the Medes'), had found a way inside, through her water works. Thus,
In that night was Belshazzar the king of the Chaldeans slain.
And Darius the Median took the kingdom, being about threescore and two years old.
Daniel 5:30,31
Darius had found a way under the wall.
Yet, although rebuked, Babylon's infamy was then frozen in time. Ultimate judgement, as described by the prophets, would have to wait. Ultimate judgement? As stated by Isaiah, it will be total annihilation.
And Babylon, the glory of kingdoms, the beauty of the Chaldees' excellency, shall be as when God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah.
It shall never be inhabited, neither shall it be dwelt in from generation to generation:...
But wild beasts of the desert shall lie there; and their houses shall be full of doleful creatures; and owls shall dwell there, and satyrs shall dance there.Isaiah 13:19-21
In the end, Babylon (which Mr. Hussein seems determined to rebuild) will be dealt with as was Sodom —by fire. As John observed:
And the ten horns which thou sawest upon the beast, these shall hate the whore, . . . and burn her with fire.
Revelation 17:16 AV
Whew! That was an easy one. Saddam Hussein is the bad guy Americans love to hate. "Burn, baby, burn. . .," I can hear in the wings. Yet, let us not forget the whole prophecy:
. . . they that dwell on the earth shall wonder, whose names were not written in the book of life from the foundation of the world, when they behold the beast that was and is not, and yet is.
Revelation 17:8
Babylon (in modern Iraq) was: as physical Babylon. Spiritual Babylon (which "is not, and yet is"). . . is closer to home and the heart of man, though not difficult to label and identify. She, like physical Babylon, has already taking captive many of God's people. For, though warned by many, in centuries past, of doctrinal abuses -even Protestants no longer "protest" her advances.
With roots extending further into history than even the Christian Church, itself, we may make use of God's Book (the Bible) to positively identify her. Yes, it is true -even the Jews, of old, worshipped at her feet.
"Do you not see what they do in the cities of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem?
"The children gather wood, the fathers kindle the fire, and the women knead dough, to make cakes for the queen of heaven; and they pour out drink offerings to other gods, that they may provoke Me to anger."
Jeremiah 7:17,18 [emphasis added]
Who is this, "Queen of Heaven," pray tell?? what are her roots? -They're the same as physical Babylon, at the tower of Babel, where Nimron and Simaramis first established the mother-child cult. Way back in the Garden of Eden, when God first gave the promise of a Messiah—the forces of darkness were also listening in, for "damaging information."
And they found it.
What was good news for humankind, was bad news, for Hell.
The Redemption of individuals, God had said, would someday come through the "seed" (descendant) of a woman.
And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.
Genesis 3:15AV [emphasis added]
Satan, ever a student of prophecy (for the wrong reasons) got the picture: a Deliverer would one day come through the birth canal of a woman. He would obviously be greater than the mother who bore Him -for He would crush Satan's kingdom (his head)! But . . . why let anyone else know of this, and. . . perhaps, by craft, he could foil God's plan by getting an early start, and preprogramming men and women to think more highly of the mother . . . than of her Deliverer, Son. Then, if he could just get people to ignorantly worship her instead....
The plot worked. Today, multiplied millions of those who call themselves Christian, actually pray... to Mary. Worst, by a "slight" twist in interpretation, regarding the remembrance of Christ's crucifiction and death, ceremonial churches (including Roman Catholic, and Aglican. . .) hold that the "host" (the wafer, used in communion) as actually the body of Christ, itself: a doctrine called, "transubstantiation." Thus, when the wafer is broken, during the Mass, they would re-sacrifice (recrucify) Christ all over again.
For this reason, "high church" officials are not merely called, "ministers," but "priests" who would offer up, not simply their own lives (Romans 12:1) but the body of Christ for sacrifice, over, and over, and over again. (This is a cardinal doctrine. No Priest will deny it.) Our next quote is a long one, but shows clearly, that from a Biblical perspective, this is an abomination.
For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us:
Nor yet that he should offer himself often, as the high priest entereth into the holy place every year with blood of others;
For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.Hebrews 9:26 AV [emphasis added]
Sound serious? It is!!
It was for this reason that real Protestants were burnt at the stake, in centuries past. This is the underlying reason, as well, for our nation's erecting a wall of separation, between Church and State -so that the high church's "temporal power" (via physical force) could not be brought to bear upon those excercizing freedom of conscience, in obedience to the Bible.
"Wait!" you may protest, "surely we'll not stop here!?"
"We've only seen two, out of three, aspects. You told us that John saw three: of the beast that was, is, and will be. —What of his final reign, when the beast will be given special power, so that . . . "temporal power" may be brought to bear upon those exercizing a freedom of conscience," . . . for 'one hour'?" (Rev. 17:12-14, Dan. 7:25,26)
Are you certain you want the final third, identified? Would it make you feel better to realize that all three, in this unholy trinity are judged at once, just before Christ's Return? Will it be comforting, to realize, that soon afterwards, ". . . the Lord shall descend from Heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:" and then, all the saints who yet walk this old planet will be caught up rise to meet them, as well (I Thes. 4:16-18)!
Okay, we will open the last leg: you're sitting on it. That's right. You're sitting in the, "third Babylon."
BABYLON'S EAGLE
This is where a systematic study of prophecy yields disturbing revelations concerning future events. It is one reason why, as well, only "prophets" dealt with prophecy. Prophets must love the truth, more than their very lives. You see, Biblical prophecy is not very difficult to understand. Popular interpretations, notwithstanding, when dealing with critical themes, the Lord has installed Biblical commentaries right within the pages of holy writ (as with the question of desolating the most important temple, in the world (I Cor. 3:16,17), for example. We must come back to this . . .)
As in the case of when Christ came to earth, the first time -all that was needed, as prophecy was unfolding, was a simple (and prayerfully daring) comparison of current events to the Bible. Then, as in this last generation, "...the wayfaring men, though fools, shall not err therein." (Isaiah 35:8AV)
A "systematic" interpretation of prophecy relies on God's unveiling of the interlocking pieces within the prophetic puzzle, as we enter the final stages. In this way, earlier fulfilments, may be used as building blocks, to understand future events. "Oh Lord, please help us with this, today!"
Do you recall our "eagle's wings" interpretation of Daniel seven (from last chapter)? That was one place, where the "eagle" helped us to easily identify the U.S. If it held true, in one instance, for this generation, could it not also be true, elsewhere in scripture? We must come back to this (soon). For now, however, let us start considering something more precious: especially to God. There is much talk of antichrist's violating the rebuilt temple (II Thes 2:4). Of what stuff is this temple made???
For a moment, let us consider then, the underlying beauty of the imagery the Lord used, to describe Babylon: Babylon, the harlot. What is a harlot? A harlot (prostitute) is a woman, most likely, who was once a very lovely person, but has now gone astray. She may have been someone's wife. God made her that way: to be beautiful, and yet . . . she "prostituted" her beauty (cashed it in) for immediate payment and gratification.
How the faithful city has become a harlot! It was full of justice; Righteousness lodged in it, But now murderers.
Isaiah 1:21
So spake the Lord of His own bride (Israel -Jer. 3:12-14) as she prostituted herself with the heathen about her--as some would, even today, within the Church, "Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God." (James 4:4) —A beauty, corrupted—and an awesome temple, defiled. Do you realize the vastness of the human soul??? It is so vast, as to be a universe unto itself (really!).
Consider how Solomon warned Israel, about the futility of trying to build Him a house to dwell in (a temple). "Don't you know," he reminds us, "that even the very heavens cannot contain God?" (II Chron. 2:6, paraphrasing). —And yet, the New Testament tells us that the believer contains God, in his soul: we (believers) are truly temples, for the living God!
Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?
If anyone defiles the temple of God, God will destroy him. For the temple of God is holy, which temple you are.
I Cor. 3:16,17 [emphasis added]
You, fellow believer, and we (in the Church) are the temple of the living God. There is none more precious than this (Eph. 2:19-22, I Pet. 2:5 -particularly significant, in the rebuilding (and defiling) of the temple (II Thes. 2:3,4) Acts 15:15-18<= please note the context). Yes, yes, for those of you who are truly following what we have been studying—One day soon, Babylon and her lovers, will once more defile that temple . . . . (Rev. 18:9-13) and Babylon, will God destroy (in the context of I Cor. 3:16,17).
Thus, the church at large, will continue to sleep on, while God continues to "do His thing." -And "His thing" includes remembering and judging, modern day "Babylon," . . . which "just happens" to have the same national symbol as (you guessed it)physical Babylon.
Son of man, put forth a riddle...
Thus saith the Lord GOD; A great eagle with great wings, longwinged, full of feathers which had divers colours, came unto Lebanon, and took the highest branch of the cedar: . . . There was also another great eagle with great wings and many feathers: and, behold, this vine did bend her roots toward him, and shot forth her branches toward him, . . . .
Ezekiel 17:2,3,7 AV [emphasis added]
Scripture very carefully identifies the first eagle as ancient Babylon (vss. 12,13) and then seems to beg the question, by identifying the other eagle . . . as Egypt (vs 15) -which could be easily applied to ourselves in a secular mold (as per I Corinthians 10). Any way you look at it, therefore, the "eagle" now points to us: either before , or after, America lost her fear of God, "...and a man's heart was given to it." Of course, there are other evidences, as well, from John's Revelation (and current events!).
For example, John also notes that after Babylon's destruction, the merchants from all over the world will start to cry bitter tears, after realizing that they've lost their main, commercial, consumer,
"And the merchants of the earth will weep and mourn over her, for no one buys their merchandise anymore:
"merchandise of gold and silver, precious stones and pearls, fine linen and purple, silk and scarlet, every kind of citron wood, every kind of object of ivory, every kind of object of most precious wood, bronze, iron, and marble;
Revelation 18:11,12
Mind if I ask a question? If the Vatican were annihilated, tomorrow morning, would the merchants of the world weep and cry?? Would (or rather are) they doing it for Iraq? You begin to see what I mean. The longer we study this in detail, the more it comes up with our DNA prints, on it. . . .
In terms of eternity, however, this judgement will be good news. Why? Because God is no respecter of persons. He cannot show favor to any nation, for it violates His holiness (Romans 3:3,4). Settling this last injustice, therefore, will clear the way for the marriage feast.
Then I saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried with a loud voice, saying to all the birds that fly in the midst of heaven, "Come and gather together for the supper of the great God,
"that you may eat the flesh of kings, the flesh of captains, the flesh of mighty men, the flesh of horses and of those who sit on them, and the flesh of all people, free and slave, both small and great."
Revelation 19:17,18
Of course, there are two sides to this feast. There is, also, the Bride, who now makes herself ready to. . . .
"And at midnight a cry was heard: 'Behold, the bridegroom is coming; go out to meet him!'
"Then all those virgins arose and trimmed their lamps.
"And the foolish said to the wise, 'Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.'
"But the wise answered, saying, 'No, lest there should not be enough for us and you; . . . "
Matthew 25:6-9
The sad part, about this, is that half of these sleepy-heads, miss out, when the Bridegroom returns (Matt. 25:10-12). That's a 50% loss! Believe it or not, however, there is actually a third group of believers, who follow the apostle Paul's advice, concerning this very difficult situation and, DO NOT SLEEP!
Therefore let us not sleep, as others do, but let us watch and be sober.
For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk are drunk at night.
I Thes. 5:6,7
If you check the context, for the above advice, given by the apostle, you will find that its context is exactly the same as that of Matthew 24 & 25--right down to similarity in discourse, on the Lord's return (in both cases, a description of the Lord's return occurs in the first chapter, while one on sleeping, is found in the second . . .).
So, which is it, do we sleep, or don't we??? The answer is to be found by giving the parable a more careful reading. Notice, that in it, He states that "the kingdom of heaven will then be like . . ." The kingdom? A kingdom is where the King reigns! It is made up of of God's covenant people! But . . . wait, what is this, about there being (only) ten virgins? "Ten" is not a covenant number for God's people. Twelve is; always. (There were actually thirteen tribes, counting Joseph's two sons. Yet, you will always find reference to the twelve tribes of Israel (Gen. 49:28, Ex. 24:4, 28:21, 39:14, Num 31:4,5 . . .) the same is true, of the apostles, in the New Testament, where there were actually thirteen apostles, if you also count Judas (Acts 1:24-26) and if we include the apostle Paul??? -yet, there are only twenty-four elders in Heaven, with twelve for the Old Testament, and twelve for the New.)
So, if the Lord is addressing His Kingdom, with ten virgins: where are the other two?? They are, I believe, in the eleventh chapter of Revelation, which is a summary of the church age.
As must be shown at another time, these two witnesses are active at the very close of the (church) age. Their actual identity, we will have to deal with in the next chapter. For now, let us start our serious consideration of these two, who symbolize an incredible remnant revival, at the end of the church age. Our next quote is another long one, but necessary:
"And I will give power to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy one thousand two hundred and sixty days, clothed in sackcloth."
These are the two olive trees and the two lampstands standing before the God of the earth.
And if anyone wants to harm them, fire proceeds from their mouth and devours their enemies. And if anyone wants to harm them, he must be killed in this manner.
These have power to shut heaven, so that no rain falls in the days of their prophecy; and they have power over waters to turn them to blood, and to strike the earth with all plagues, as often as they desire.
When they finish their testimony, the beast that ascends out of the bottomless pit will make war against them, overcome them, and kill them.
And their dead bodies will lie in the street of the great city which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified.
Revelation 11:3-8
Notice, if you will, several things which seem almost contradictory (and ignore for the moment, the similarity of their ministries to those of Moses and Elijah, which we will soon look at):
—at first, they manifest "New Testament like" fire and power
—they wield unbelieveable influence, for a time
—suddenly, they are cut down
—they are caught up to the Lord, after death (Raptured)
Tell me, my friend, if the Lord were to invite you to ask for the most fantastic Church revival you could imagine, in this hour–what would you really ask Him for? Would you not like to see a return to the power and authority of the New Testament Church, just after Pentecost? Is such impossible? (Who are we speaking about, accomplishing this, ourselves . . . or God?!)
Have you understood all these things? Perhaps it would be useful to review, by giving a few definitions.
•SODOM, EGYPT & THE GLORY•
Let's consider the glory of the "witnesses," along with "Egypt," and "Sodom" (of Rev. 11).
- We've already outlined who the witnesses are: fiery believers.
- Egypt, likewise, is not difficult to identify –for I Corinthians 10 states clearly, of Israel, that they: ...were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea; . . . for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ. (I Cor. 10:2-4) "Egypt," therefore, represents the "secular world," generally speaking.
- "Sodom," is a little more difficult to pin down (or, rather, to accept). Yet, if we understand that Old Testament Israel may represent the church, then we may begin to understand that the "Sodom" --which symbolically played a part in Christ's crucifixion (Rev. 11:8) represents . . . the apostate believers.
As the prophet Isaiah mournfully lamented:
Hear the word of the LORD, ye rulers of Sodom; give ear unto the law of our God, ye people of Gomorrah. . .
How is the faithful city become an harlot! it was full of judgment; righteousness lodged in it; but now murderers.Isaiah 1:10,21
Why is this possible? Because sometimes, Sodom and Egypt, can look so... "pretty".
SODOM vs. EDEN : Prosperity, before Judgment
Egypt was/is fed by one of world's most fertile river deltas: the Nile. —Straight through the Sahara, this river carves a corridor of life and affluence. When Abraham went through Canaan with his nephew, Lot, and surveyed the plain of which Sodom was a part, the writer compared Sodom's foliage and beauty to that of Egypt's river delta. . . and the very Garden of the Lord.
And Lot lifted up his eyes, and beheld all the plain of Jordan, that it was well watered every where, before the LORD destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah, even as the garden of the LORD, like the land of Egypt, as thou comest unto Zoar.
Genesis 13:10 AV [emphasis added]
Here, we have both of our "mystery cities" (of Sodom and Egypt) compared to the Garden of the Lord (i.e. the Garden of Eden)! This is no mistake, of course, with similar themes appearing elsewhere, in Scripture, as well. All three major prophets point back to Sodom.
But it is Ezekiel's description, which brings back the old reminder of the prosperity of that place, before it was destroyed. "Behold," Ezekiel says, "this was the iniquity of thy sister Sodom,. . . pride, fulness of bread, and abundance of idleness was in her and in her daughters, neither did she strengthen the hand of the poor and needy.
Ezekiel 16:49
(Notice, the statement doesn't say that the poor weren't fed, but that they weren't strengthened. In other words, the emphasis here is on failing to deliver the poor from his poor ways, which can only be done. . . . by love.)
Sodom and Egypt were both proud, haughty, and shaking their fists in God's face, until the day God humbled them, forcibly. Sodom, in particular, is most disturbing, because she was actually once delivered by God (through Abraham –Genesis 14).To this duo, we must add proud Babylon, which thought herself impregnable and beyond the reach of danger –even while her enemies pranced about, outside her walls. On the very eve of judgment, we beheld her king holding a feast(!), while belittling the holy things of the Lord—and even daring to drink from the sacred vessels, taken from God's temple, to"...praise the gods of gold, and of silver, . . ." —when God moved.
They all had the same fate: sudden judgment, at a moment of affluence and power (and pride) as they imagined themselves above God's influence or rebuke. "Sodom and Egypt," where the saints die, is a "suburb" of spiritual "Babylon" therefore. In them, as well, "was found the blood of prophets, and of saints, and of all that were slain upon the earth." (Rev. 18:24).
There is just one more statement which must be made –concerning Satan, himself. For him, there is no prosperity! Thrown to the ground, and knowing that his hour is short, his fury is maddening:
Therefore rejoice, ye heavens, and ye that dwell in them. Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea! for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time.Revelation 12:12
There is terror for earth's compromisers, as they scramble, madly, to find out what the latest "politically correct" attitude, is, for appeasement. There is frustration, also –as careless Christians, used to affluence and acceptance within Babylon (the country which houses the "cities" of Sodom and Egypt...) –try desperately to please both the Lord . . . and the devil as well.
Like the adulterous wife of a husband gone on a long journey, the apostate church starts "living it up" at the midnight hour, just prior to the Bridegroom's return. Prosperous, and drunken with power and prestige, she starts to actually believe that, after all, the Lord must actually favor Sodom. After all, hasn't He delivered her, in the past (and ourselves, during Operation Desert Storm . . . .)?What happens next is devastating. At midnight, while still alive enough to awaken —the Mark is issued (Rev. 13:16-18). Suddenly, she sees the issue so clearly! Is she strong enough to respond? Has she scattered her energies too far afield? It is time to arise and find out. The writing is once more on the wall, and the time to act, righteously, has all but passed.
And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him.
Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps.And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out.
But the wise answered, saying, Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves.
And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut.Matthew 25:6-10
The time to get the extra oil, is now. And yet, even while anticipating judgment, and bracing for the worst . . . there is a bright and shining light on the horizon. Yes, it is that super revival of the remanant, spoken of, earlier: An incredible move of God's Spirit, involving Israel, about to take place, with a remnant of natural Jews, all involved in the Second Return, and in the first peace.
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