REVELATION LESSON 44

REVELATION

LESSON 44

ARE WE LIVING IN THE END TIMES?

Revelation 18:3   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.

This pertains to the time of the antichrist and to all that Babylon has represented from the very beginning of time. This is a picture of government and business becoming obsessed with, and controlled by a concept. Every nation on earth has bought into the idea of world government and world trade.

The fall of democracy and moral conduct has paved the way for a world economy and a world government. The global web is slowly tightening around us every day. By the time the tribulation period arrives they will be intoxicated with it. This idea will receive their full support and the people in business will become extremely wealthy.

Many people ask what does prophecy say about the United States. Some think the United States will collapse or be destroyed because it is not specifically mentioned. That is impossible to prove. The United States would be wise to support Israel during the tribulation period.

With the church gone, due to the rapture it seems reasonable to conclude that the United States will be closely aligned with Europe and the antichrist.

From his headquarters in Babylon the antichrist will make it possible for many to get rich during the time of the great tribulation. He will endear the nations of the world to himself.

Revelation 18:4   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.

A voice from heaven will urge Gods people to leave Babylon for two reasons. So they will not become involved in Babylon’s sin, and so they will not fall victim to the plagues God will inflict on Babylon.

Those living in Babylon in the end time who are Christians, “yes even though times are evil there will still be people who are saved”, are urged to flee Babylon. Even during this terrible time of Gods wrath being poured out, it is obvious that God still cares about his people.

The church has been raptured out, so these are tribulation saints not the church. It is clear that God will have people living on earth at the time of the tribulation period.

How they survive in Babylon without taking the mark of the beast is a mystery, but they will and some will make it into the millennium.

Revelation 18:5    ⁵ For her sins have reached unto heaven, and God hath remembered her iniquities.

In the old testament, God did not overlook what Nimrod was doing in Babylon when he tried to build a tower to heaven. He will not overlook what is happening in Babylon at this time. To stop the construction on the tower of Babble he confused their language and scattered them around the world.

In the future to stop their sins from piling any higher God will burn Babylon to the ground. Some may argue that though a long time has passed since the early wickedness of Babylon it only seems as if God has forgotten her sins, but the Lord will recall them to mind.

Revelation 18:6   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.

Another voice from heaven exhorted them to punish Babylon in keeping with her illicit sin and luxuries. The judgement does not come in a long drawn out situation but by the immediate judgment of God which will come on a given day.

Life in Babylon will be like never before. Gods law of sowing and reaping will come into effect. Those who show no mercy, will receive no mercy. Its kind of like what goes around comes around. Babylon’s cup will be filled with abominable things.

Revelation 18:7   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.

This godless city will be filled with the proud and haughty. Her residents will declare her beauty, greatness, glory and her reign over all the earth. They will treat her as a queen in that she is married to the kings of the earth. She is not a widow but a wealthy queen who has nothing to mourn about.

They will be self-deceived, not remembering that God brought her down in one day during the reign of Belshazzar. The city of Babylon was captured in BG 541 by Cyrus, who was mentioned by name in prophecy 125 years before he was born.

The conquerors name was Agardites but God surnamed him Cyrus. As predicted in these verses Josephus said that this prophecy was pointed out to Cyrus on his conquest of Babylon an he determined to fulfill what was written, he probably knew about it from his mother Esther.

The voice from heaven will say in the measure that she, Babylon, glorified herself and lived luxuriously in the same measure give her torment and sorrow. This will be one of Gods standards of judgment when he remembers Babylon. The great grief of the godly will be turned into glory and the glory of the godless will be turned into great grief.

Until our next lesson,

Stay in the word.

Brother Andy