Mystery Babylon~deadly wound healed

[Amo]

Old testament prophecies reaching across history to the end often posses a dual nature concerning literal Israel of the old covenant, and spiritual Israel, or the church of Christ during this new covenant era. Or as you have been examining, other literal nations of old covenant times, in relation to the other prophetically spiritual city or nation of Babylon. The nature of these prophecies take on the more universal character of these cities or nation during this new covenant era, as apposed to the literal cities or nations of the old covenant pre-Christ era.

This being of necessity in relation to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ who broke down all barriers and walls concerning literal nations, peoples, tongues, and races, in Himself. Opening up all of the blessings upon the literal old covenant Israel, to all of every nation, people, tongue, and race who accept the gospel of Jesus Christ. Creating the new covenant spiritual Israel of God, which is the Church of Christ. These same principles are now being applied by the evil one’s counterfeit of the same, BABYLON THE GREAT. In her efforts to bring about the evil one’s counterfeit unification of all nations, peoples, tongues, and races as well. Who will and do exist in direct opposition to that which our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ has established. Thus the battle between Christ and Satan which began in heaven continues here among us, and will end here among us. The matter is settled already in heaven, but still must be settled by all here.

Rev 12:7 And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels, 8 And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven. 9 And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him. 10 And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night. 11 And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death. 12 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. 13 And when the dragon saw that he was cast unto the earth, he persecuted the woman which brought forth the man child. 14 And to the woman were given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness, into her place, where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a time, from the face of the serpent. 15 And the serpent cast out of his mouth water as a flood after the woman, that he might cause her to be carried away of the flood. 16 And the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed up the flood which the dragon cast out of his mouth. 17 And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.

All of the prophecies we are examining are in relation to this war between God and Satan which spread to this planet when the evil one was kicked out of heaven. They are all in relation to God’s own in Christ Jesus our Lord who keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ, and the rest of the world who will not either keep those commandments or give that testimony. This battle has raged in this world since the fall of humanity in the Garden. After the fall, God established true religion and salvation in Christ Jesus our Lord through the type and symbol of the sacrificial lamb of God, until the real LAMB OF GOD fulfilled the real sacrifice for fallen humanity.

Heb 10:1 For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect. 2 For then would they not have ceased to be offered? because that the worshippers once purged should have had no more conscience of sins. 3 But in those sacrifices there is a remembrance again made of sins every year. 4 For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins. 5 Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared me: 6 In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin thou hast had no pleasure. 7 Then said I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me,) to do thy will, O God. 8 Above when he said, Sacrifice and offering and burnt offerings and offering for sin thou wouldest not, neither hadst pleasure therein; which are offered by the law; 9 Then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second. 10 By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.[u/]

God established the true religion of salvation after the fall, but Cain being motivated by the evil one, rejected God’s teaching and therefore commands concerning it. After which he killed his brother who was righteous in believing and obeying God’s instructions and command being saved thereby (Heb 11:4). This division between those who choose to walk away from God’s provisions in salvation, and those who do not, has been going on ever since. Which can be witnessed in the evil one’s unending stream of counterfeits created by those rejecting God’s plan. Thus the unending battle ever since then between the children of God, and the children of the evil one.

God’s salvation was provided for all, but many will not have it. All false counterfeit religion is of the evil one, and of the spirit of BABYLON THE GREAT. The only true religion and salvation are found in Christ Jesus our Lord. Who Himself established both the literal nation of Israel during the old covenant, and the universal spiritual nation of God during this new covenant age. The old being the type of the new. While the evil one established various literal nations and religions during the old covenant, being themselves types of his evil plans during this new covenant era. This in their eventual counterfeit unification unto universal rebellion of this world against God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

This is where you make your mistake concerning BABYLON THE GREAT, in trying to separate Babylon the world, from Babylon the woman or religion. They are not and cannot be separated, just as Israel cannot be separated from God in Christ Jesus our Lord, but by becoming part of Babylon through the acceptance and promulgation of false doctrine. Which is itself rebellion against and rejection of God. You said the following in one of your posts - 

…..In Revelation 17 and 18, we see the BEAST and HIS kingdom giving POWER to both a whore and to great Babylon, of which the woman was very much part. (Amo, please take note) The whore and the kings of the earth sitteth upon MANY WATERS or in the MIST OF THE SEA.

This whore is NOT limited to RCC. The seas/many waters are: peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues. Revelations 17:15.

You are mistaken, and wrongly dividing the word of God. There is no BABYLON THE GREAT which is the world, and the woman or harlot of the book of Revelation which is another, but part of the same. They are one and the same, and presented in scripture as such. There is no Roman Catholic Church, without the state or civil power subordinate to it, or at the very least deeply entwined with her. This is what her existence is composed of, church and state.

Rev 14:8  And there followed another angel, saying, Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication.

Babylon is a woman, a city, who commits fornication with all the nations of earth.

Rev 16:19  And the great city was divided into three parts, 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.

Again, Babylon is a woman, not just the cities or nations of this world. A woman is  a prophetic symbol of a church or religion, not this world. As can easily be established by scripture, concerning both Christ’s church, and apostate religion. Please do reveal the scriptural case for this world being prophetically depicted as a women.

Rev 17:1 And there came one of the seven angels which had the seven vials, and talked with me, saying unto me, Come hither; I will shew unto thee the judgment of the great whore that sitteth upon many waters: 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. 3 So he carried me away in the spirit into the wilderness: and I saw a woman sit upon a scarlet coloured beast, full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns. 4 And the woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet colour, and decked with gold and precious stones and pearls, having a golden cup in her hand full of abominations and filthiness of her fornication: 5 And upon her forehead was a name written, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH.[/u[] 6 And I saw the woman drunken with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus: and when I saw her, I wondered with great admiration. 7 And the angel said unto me, Wherefore didst thou marvel? I will tell thee the mystery of the woman, and of the beast that carrieth her, which hath the seven heads and ten horns.[/color]

Babylon is specifically not just a women of biblical prophecy, but the mother of many. She is not the world, but rather that apostate religion which will encompass all the worlds nations and false religions unto rebellion against God in the unification of all of the same. She is Satan’s new covenant counterfeit of Christ’s church unto deception and death. As all the members of Christ’s church are members of His body, the Church of Christ, so Satan intends to make all the world in rebellion against God members of his chosen body in submission to his church. The church of Rome. Which is exactly why she is calling for the unification of all peoples, governments, and religions, under her leadership and therefore banner. While do everything possible to make this so. Ignoring this, is ignoring truth.

In my next post, I will address all of the prophetic details which make this truth so very clear. Babylon is responsible for all of the blood of the saints, because she is that same spirit of the evil one who motivated Cain to kill Abel, and every other murder like it since that time. Cain and Abel both worshipped God, They both brought their sacrifices. The difference and cause of jealousy between them on Cain’s side, was due to his own refusal to obey God’s instructions concerning salvation and the only sacrifice acceptable unto the same. Obedience to God is true sacrifice, as Christ Himself demonstrated when here in the body prepared for Him, which was our body. The sinner can be saved, but none who outright reject the authenticity and or therefore also the authority of God’s commands can be. This is the purpose of all false religion, and their mother of course, to bring about rejection of God’s rightful and proved authority over all of creation, and the death such causes.

1Sa 15:22  And Samuel said, Hath the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams.

[RB]

Before you make another post, I want to come in the morning and address your post above. You moving forward and not addressing my points truly does nothing to add to your position~it actually weakens your SDA doctrine. I will address your point without any problem. Look for a post to you tomorrow, the Lord willing. RB

[Amo]

Before you make another post, I want to come in the morning and address your post above. You moving forward and not addressing my points truly does nothing to add to your position~it actually weakens your SDA doctrine. I will address your point without any problem. Look for a post to you tomorrow, the Lord willing. RB

You've already made three very lengthy posts, now you want me to hold off until you can address this one of mine. I have read two of your posts, and addressed the biggest problem I noticed. I don't disagree with everything you are saying, though we do view the whole subject from very different perspectives. I am not however, going to hold off responses until you finish who knows how much more material that I will have to read all of in order to respond. Time is of course always an issue with all of us I imagine.

It is not the world that rides new covenant beasts of biblical prophecy, the woman who is BABYLON THE GREAT does. All the world will decide either to be a part of her kingdom, which proceeds from this world and its prince, or part of God's kingdom which proceeds from above through the Prince of God's own.

Act 5:29 Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men. 30 The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom ye slew and hanged on a tree. 31 Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins. 32 And we are his witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey him.

[RB]

Old testament prophecies reaching across history to the end often posses a dual nature concerning literal Israel of the old covenant, and spiritual Israel, or the church of Christ during this new covenant era. Or as you have been examining, other literal nations of old covenant times, in relation to the other prophetically spiritual city or nation of Babylon. The nature of these prophecies take on the more universal character of these cities or nation during this new covenant era, as apposed to the literal cities or nations of the old covenant pre-Christ era.

Amo, I have never been a proponent of that theory~I believe God simply hid truths under literal nations, names, etc. Yet, He never intended a dual fulfillment of that which was prophesied by the prophets of old.

This being of necessity in relation to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ who broke down all barriers and walls concerning literal nations, peoples, tongues, and races, in Himself. Opening up all of the blessings upon the literal old covenant Israel, to all of every nation, people, tongue, and race who accept the gospel of Jesus Christ. Creating the new covenant spiritual Israel of God, which is the Church of Christ.

Briefly on this point~I agree That God's New Covenant consists of men from every nation under heaven~Abraham truly is the father of many nations.

I disagree with

to all of every nation, people, tongue, and race who accept the gospel of Jesus Christ

It is not to who would accept but to those who were ordained to eternal life according to the will of God which he purpose in Christ Jesus before the world begun.

Acts 13:48~"And when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad, and glorified the word of the Lord: and as many as were ordained to eternal life believed."

Luke 19:5-9~"And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up, and saw him, and said unto him, Zacchaeus, make haste, and come down; for to day I must abide at thy house. And he made haste, and came down, and received him joyfully. And when they saw it, they all murmured, saying, That he was gone to be guest with a man that is a sinner. And Zacchaeus stood, and said unto the Lord; Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor; and if I have taken any thing from any man by false accusation, I restore him fourfold. And Jesus said unto him, This day is salvation come to this house, forsomuch as he also is a son of Abraham.

Zacchaeus was indeed a spiritual son of Abraham, and Jesus MUST bring him into the fold of God. That's enough on this subject.

These same principles are now being applied by the evil one’s counterfeit of the same, BABYLON THE GREAT. In her efforts to bring about the evil one’s counterfeit unification of all nations, peoples, tongues, and races as well. Who will and do exist in direct opposition to that which our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ has established. Thus the battle between Christ and Satan which began in heaven continues here among us, and will end here among us. The matter is settled already in heaven, but still must be settled by all here. All of the prophecies we are examining are in relation to this war between God and Satan which spread to this planet when the evil one was kicked out of heaven. They are all in relation to God’s own in Christ Jesus our Lord who keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ, and the rest of the world who will not either keep those commandments or give that testimony. This battle has raged in this world since the fall of humanity in the Garden. After the fall, God established true religion and salvation in Christ Jesus our Lord through the type and symbol of the sacrificial lamb of God, until the real LAMB OF GOD fulfilled the real sacrifice for fallen humanity

Agreed~with one exception~Jesus' sacrifice was for HIS people alone not for every single person that ever lived. He came to SAVE HIS PEOPLE~ those given to him from His Father per John 17 and many other scriptures.

Matthew 1:21~"And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.

Jesus' mission was 100% successful, not one was lost that he came to save by his life, death, and resurrection.

God established the true religion of salvation after the fall, but Cain being motivated by the evil one, rejected God’s teaching and therefore commands concerning it. After which he killed his brother who was righteous in believing and obeying God’s instructions and command being saved thereby (Heb 11:4). This division between those who choose to walk away from God’s provisions in salvation, and those who do not, has been going on ever since. Which can be witnessed in the evil one’s unending stream of counterfeits created by those rejecting God’s plan. Thus the unending battle ever since then between the children of God, and the children of the evil one.

Overall, true.

God’s salvation was provided for all, but many will not have it.

So far from the truth, but this subject would take us away from the thread's subject.  I will only say this: if salvation from sin and condemnation was provided for all, then ALL would be saved for it is impossible for Christ's purpose of coming into the world to fail~ and this war between the righteous and the wicked would NOT exist. There are TWO generations of people living in this world at any given time~the elect and non-elect~one a chosen generation~1st Peter 2:13; one a generation of serpents, or, non-elect~Matthew 23:33, etc.

All false counterfeit religion is of the evil one, and of the spirit of BABYLON THE GREAT.

That's a true statement without any qualifications.

The only true religion and salvation are found in Christ Jesus our Lord. Who Himself established both the literal nation of Israel during the old covenant, and the universal spiritual nation of God during this new covenant age. The old being the type of the new. While the evil one established various literal nations and religions during the old covenant, being themselves types of his evil plans during this new covenant era. This in their eventual counterfeit unification unto universal rebellion of this world against God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

True.

I'm coming back to finish your post in order to keep my post short and readable. I'll finish shortly before the day is over. RB

[4WD]

RB,
Once again you present God as the source and cause, by His direct action, of all evil. That simply cannot be. It goes against everything that God is and such thinking is completely irrational.

[RB]

RB,
Once again you present God as the source and cause, by His direct action, of all evil. That simply cannot be. It goes against everything that God is and such thinking is completely irrational.

I saw where you started another thread on this, which I do thank you for doing so. I'll come back later and discuss this with you. RB

[RB]

This is where you make your mistake concerning BABYLON THE GREAT, in trying to separate Babylon the world, from Babylon the woman or religion. They are not and cannot be separated, just as Israel cannot be separated from God in Christ Jesus our Lord, but by becoming part of Babylon through the acceptance and promulgation of false doctrine. Which is itself rebellion against and rejection of God. You said the following in one of your posts - "…..In Revelation 17 and 18, we see the BEAST and HIS kingdom giving POWER to both a whore and to great Babylon, of which the woman was very much part. (Amo, please take note) The whore and the kings of the earth sitteth upon MANY WATERS or in the MIST OF THE SEA."

This whore is NOT limited to RCC. The seas/many waters are: peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues. Revelations 17:15.

Amo, not trying to do so, but I'm following the scriptures in doing so.

You and others with you "LIMIT" mystery Babylon to Roman Catholic Church and other false sects as her daughters. Mystery Babylon is this world per Isaiah 13 and other proofs given by us in the prophets~within this world it has its false religion with many false cults ( daughters if you will receive it ) with RCC being the largest whore among them.

In mystery Babylon it also has it commerce, entertainments and other lustful things that its king (the devil himself) has created to deceive the people of Babylon. Revelation 17 addresses the religious part of mystery Babylon, while John in the latter part of 17 and into 18 addresses the main components of mystery Babylon. Which we will address when we come to those two chapters~not until then.

They are not and cannot be separated

Now that is strange to say that~Religlion and this world's system outside of religion "are" separated! They are two different systems altogether.

You are mistaken, and wrongly dividing the word of God. There is no BABYLON THE GREAT which is the world, and the woman or harlot of the book of Revelation which is another, but part of the same.

You saying that and proving the same are worlds apart. Go back and begin at Isaiah 13 and go from there just as I did.  When I get to Revelation it will be so plain that they MUST be separated. We shall soon see who is rightly dividing the word of truth. I'm certainly not diving it according to the SDA teaching and that's your true beef.

Rev 14:8  And there followed another angel, saying, Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication.

Babylon is a woman, a city, who commits fornication with all the nations of earth.

Rev 16:19  And the great city was divided into three parts, 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.

Again, Babylon is a woman, not just the cities or nations of this world. A woman is  a prophetic symbol of a church or religion, not this world. As can easily be established by scripture, concerning both Christ’s church, and apostate religion. Please do reveal the scriptural case for this world being prophetically depicted as a women.

Rev 17:1 And there came one of the seven angels which had the seven vials, and talked with me, saying unto me, Come hither; I will shew unto thee the judgment of the great whore that sitteth upon many waters: 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. 3 So he carried me away in the spirit into the wilderness: and I saw a woman sit upon a scarlet coloured beast, full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns. 4 And the woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet colour, and decked with gold and precious stones and pearls, having a golden cup in her hand full of abominations and filthiness of her fornication: 5 And upon her forehead was a name written, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH.[/u[] 6 And I saw the woman drunken with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus: and when I saw her, I wondered with great admiration. 7 And the angel said unto me, Wherefore didst thou marvel? I will tell thee the mystery of the woman, and of the beast that carrieth her, which hath the seven heads and ten horns.[/color]

I'll soon cover every single verse in their proper context.

In my next post, I will address all of the prophetic details which make this truth so very clear.

I think you should take my post and address them in order before running to the two chapters of Revelation without truth in your hands! When I get there I will have God's truth supporting me as I take those two chapters and prove the mystery of Babylon.

One thought for you~I'll will jump ahead for one thought for you to consider.

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."

If you think for one moment this is speaking of RCC or any other false cult, then you have been badly deceived by the devil himself. This exhortation given by John is the very same exhortation given by him earlier:

1st John 2:15-17~"Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, (Revelation 18:17-21! RB) and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever."

Selah

[Amo]

As does happen on very rare occasions, I'm going to have to side with 4WD regarding his point. The logical conclusion of pure predestination, is that God is responsible for all evil and death. Not!

Rom 5:12 Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned: 13 (For until the law sin was in the world: but sin is not imputed when there is no law. 14 Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam's transgression, who is the figure of him that was to come. 15 But not as the offence, so also is the free gift. For if through the offence of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many. 16 And not as it was by one that sinned, so is the gift: for the judgment was by one to condemnation, but the free gift is of many offences unto justification. 17 For if by one man's offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.) 18 Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life. 19 For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.

Apart from addressing one of your points in your last post, I am not going to debate point by point with you, I'm already doing that elsewhere to no seeming end. You have been presenting why you believe Babylon is the world according to scripture, and I will present why Babylon is the RC encompassing all the world as her own, according to  scripture.

There is no contradiction at all with the verses you supplied from 1John, in believing that the RC is BABYLON THE GREAT. The RC is the prominent religion of this world, leading the way to the final deception of the unification of humanity in rebellion against God. Calling someone out of the world, is calling people out of the RC and every other false religion, all of which are of this world. Calling someone out of the RC and any other false religion is also calling someone out of this world, in that these are institutions of this world. No contradiction.

BABYLON THE GREAT is positively identified as a women, a whore who commits fornication with the kings and nations of the earth. Biblical prophecy does positively address and define what the spiritual application of such signifies, and it is not the world. Which scriptural evidence and teaching I will address in my next post.

[RB]

                                                                                                                           DANIEL CHAPTER ELEVEN

 It's going to be a little long but I want to complete the OT with this post. Sorry.

The angel is ready to show Daniel the truth of his vision. "And now will I shew the truth." Daniel 11:2 ...The angel was going to shew Daniel NO MORE than what was ALREADY hidden in the scripture of truth. Daniel 10:21

When one considers Daniel chapter eleven and a few summary verses in chapter twelve that give a little light on eleven, then it makes you appreciate the New Testament, where more light is givien to us.

When we are finished with chapter eleven of Daniel's prophesy, our doctrine MUST be the SAME as what the angel said he was going to shew Daniel.

Daniel 10:14 "Now I am come to make thee understand what shall befall thy people in the LATTER DAYS: for the vision is for MANY DAYS."

The angel interprets the latter days and many days, to means AT THE TIME OF THE END. Daniel 12:9 We have Already revealed above who are Daniel's people! We will not repeat ourselves at this point.
 
We are not going to interpret every little word. The Old Testament books written by the prophets are not written like New Testament gospels/letters/books. In the writings of the prophets, every word is not essential to interpret in order to understand what the prophet is saying or teaching overall. I am not saying that every word is not essential, but only not essential to interpret in order to have an understanding of what the prophet is teaching. I think all would agree with that.
 
I am going to give you what we believe is the truth in Daniel eleven and then bring out some of the important verses in this chapter to prove our understanding of this chapter.

There are TWO KINGS in this chapter that MUST BE INDENTIFIED by using the scriptures; our interpretation MUST flow with Daniel 12 and agree with it. It MUST agree with New Testament scriptures. By giving our readers our understanding from the start should help them to follow us as we labor to prove our position.
 
We believe that this chapter is teaching the SAME TRUTH we saw in Isaiah, Jeremiah and Ezekiel. The SAME TRUTH we will see much CLEARLY in Revelation 17 and 18. Here the angel who was speaking to Daniel used King of the North and the King of the South, instead of using the word Babylon and dividing them as the angel in Revelation did with the apostle John.

Even though the head of Satan was brusied at the cross; and the power of his kingdom broken throughout the earth; the mystery of iniquity was still at work; many antichrist still in the world; the man of sin still very much active. MAN OF SIN is a MAN who lives under the power of sin. The mystery of iniquity works through a man who serves sin. This man of sin is a ANTICHRIST; at the end of time, a time appointed by God Himself, he will fill the earth and the outward churches of Christ. These are the two kings we see in Daniel chapter eleven.

The King of the north represents the men of this world whose God is the God of forces; he honors a god his fathers knew not, gold, silver, precious stones, and PLEASANTS THINGS, and that many!

Daniel 11:39~ "Thus shall he do in the most strong holds with a strange god, whom HE SHALL ACKNOWLEDGE and INCREASED with glory: (a god that he himself builds and worships! It is: THIS WORLD and the things within it that he LOVES and LIVES for, that he himself has built, to SERVE HIM and HIS LUST!~RB) and he shall cause them (strange god) to rule over many, and shall divide the land for gain."

These strange gods do rule the men of this world and they all have a piece of the pie, to serve their ungodly lust.

He magnify himself above all. He has NO DESIRE FOR Women, (which could only mean, that he has no desire for RELIGION!) He puts himself above all and does not believe anyone is as wise man. The devil has given this king his throne and power, He has the mark of the devil in his forehead and in his right-hand! he will destroy the king of the south at the END OF TIME. But a GREATER KING and LORD shall destroy him and his army and none shall help him; not even the devil who deceived him in believing that he was above every god, even the Most High. This king hates the righteous and shall make war with them and overcome them. But Michael the great prince that standeth for them, shall deliver them.

King of the south is the religious part of Babylon. "The king's daughter of the south"...We will see more of this in Revelation 17. The Holy Spirit did give us a hint about these two kings when he referred to the king's daughter that went to the king of the north to make an agreement. But in verse 10 we read of "his sons" referring the king of the north assembling a multitude of great forces. The men of THIS WORLD have MEN as their leaders for the most part; thereby, we read: "his sons;" the church in the scriptures is always referred to as a WOMAN. more than one, daughters and sister.

These two are a MAJOR part of this world system called BABYLON, which has been here since Abel and Cain and will come to fruition at the end of time. both are God's enemies, thereby, the saints enemies. Both are part of the generation of the wicked, whose father is the devil. They are a generation of vipers from that old serpent. Psalm 12; Matthew 3:7; 23:33-36

These two kings have been at war at times, and at other times, they have enjoyed FALSE PEACE between them. They BOTH are OUT for themselves. They BOTH are OUT to do away with true worship. BOTH use FLATTERIES freely to deceive their followers and each other.

Daniel 11:5~"And the king of the south shall be strong, and one of his princes; and he shall be strong above him, and have dominion, and his dominion shall be a great dominion."

This could mean the "POPE" but I do not know this, but it seems to be a perfect fit. Catholicism is a MAJOR part of FALSE RELIGION in BABYLON! She is the greatest whore in Babylon. She has gotten rich by spreading her legs for her lovers. The Pope is a prince among them. But we know him as A MAN OF SIN. The ONLY time I have ever seen him excited was when that foul sodomite, Michael Jackson danced before him! Of course, this should not surprise anyone knowing their history.

We will look at some of these verses to help us to understand this chapter.

Daniel 11:2..is only mentioned to bring us to verse three and on our way to the TWO KINGS that shall occupy the whole chapter. The kings mentioned in verse two, have NO PART of understanding the chapter. Knowing who they are or not knowing them is of no profit of understanding the message behind this chapter. They are ONLY mentioned to get us to where we need to be, in order for us to get the truth of what the angel is going to reveal to us.

Daniel 11:3..."And MIGHTY KING shall stand up, that shall rule with GREAT DOMINION, and do according to his will." This verse DOES NOT tell us that this king came out of Grecia, which most believe. If we read carefully, we will see this mighty king is the king of the north. Reading verse 3, one can see that this mighty king was ALREADY HERE, for the scriptures do not reveal to us that he came out of any particular kingdom, but that he SHALL STAND UP... The angel is careful to tell us..THAT SHALL RULE with great dominion, and do according to his will. The scripture does not say: AND SHALL BEGIN to rule. NO, that shall rule...To me there is a big difference. This king has always been here, but now will stand up to use his mighty power. (NOT ALMIGHTY)

But his power was BROKEN and divided toward the FOUR WINDS.

Verse 4...But as you read through this chapter there are ONLY TWO KINGS mentioned therein, not four! And for good scriptural reasons that we shall see.

Daniel 11:6~"And in the end of years THEY shall join THEMSELVES TOGETHER; FOR the king's daughter of the south shall come to the king of the north (first time north is actually mentioned by that name; so we KNOW the mighty king in verse three is the king of the north) to make an agreement."

So, in Daniel eleven, we have for the most part of the chapter, TWO KINGS.

Why did the angel use the phrase, king of the north to describe the men of this world who are in truth, NON-RELIGIOUS and whose portion is IN THIS WORLD ONLY? And, WHY did he use king of the south to describe the RELIGIOUS (not saints) people of this world, who destroyed the truth and fought against the saints from WITHIN The NON-RELIGIOUS men of this world RULE this world and all things therein, including religion. SO, as the NORTH is ABOVE the SOUTH as far as the four winds of this earth goes, so is the king of the north over the king of the south in the affairs of this world. The analogy is a perfect fit.

One can reads verses 3-30 and know that this cold war has been going on for years. We see it in the scriptures and in our own days, and our church fathers have told us of the same.

As one read through this chapter there are a few things that help us to see the truth behind these words recorded for us in this chapter.

The kings shall POLLUTE the temple where God is worshiped.  "...THEY shall pollute the SANCTUARY OF STRENGTH.." One king does it by being part of it, the other by only acknowledging the wicked within and not the righteous. They shall take away the daily sacrifice..that can be done, when the RIGHTEOUS are NO LONGER accepted within the sanctuary, by those within. ONLY the righteous offer up the ONLY sacrifice that is accepted by God, and they do it DAILY. But once they are gone, it can longer said to be done. They set up the ABOMINATION that maketh DESOLATE. More on this in the NT.

BOTH KINGS will be brought to DESOLATION, because of the ABOMINATIONS within their kingdom. Their ABOMINATIONS are recorded for us in verses 16-24 and 32-39 of Daniel eleven.

The king of the south is DESTROYED by the king of the north.

Daniel 11:40-41~"And at the TIME OF THE END shall the king of the south push at him: and the king of the north shall come against him like a whirlwind, with chariots, and with horseman, and with many ships; and shall enter into the countries, and shall overflow and pass over. He shall enter also in the glorious land, and many countries shall be overthrown:.."

This is the same thing recorded in Revelation 17:16-18 Notice in Daniel 11:41 the last part of verse 41.."BUT these shall escape out of his hand, even EDOM, and MOAB, and the chief of the children of AMMON."  What should we understand by this saying? The NON-ELECT shall escape! The NON-ELECT are the king of the north and his people! "BUT tidings (he hath BUT A SHORT TIME) out of the east and out of the NORTH (God's dwelling place) shall trouble him: therefore he shall go forth WITH GREAT FURY to destroy, and utterly to make away many." Daniel 11:44 ....Revelation 12:12; 20:8-9

After he has destroyed the king of the south, he set his face AGAINST the GLORIOUS HOLY MOUNTAIN-verse 45..The HOLY people of God, that makes up GOD'S kingdom! YET he (the king of the north) shall come to his END, and none shall help him. Revelation 18!

God's people will suffer much during the "TIME OF TROUBLE" of Daniel 11:30-45 and mentioned in Daniel 12: 1..during the time when the two kings of this world final days are coming to an end. It is the little season of Revelation and it is a time, times, and an half of Daniel 12:7; when the devil through his two kings shall scatter the power of the HOLY PEOPLE. Those two kings, who are the devil's servants, will not leave this world without showing their hatred for the holy people of God. We will see it clearly in Revelation, the Lord willing.

This is my understanding of this difficult chapter, by this, I DO NOT claim to be perfect in my understanding, but do claim to have the "overall" truth, based on what is NOTED IN THE SCRIPTURE OF TRUTH. It flows with chapter 12 and with the rest of the scriptures. We will be helped much by our Lord Jesus Christ’s own use of the book of Daniel and with The apostle Paul and John writings with this interpretation, and it will FIT with that which is noted there. I am not saying that we presented this chapter to where it is easy to understand. Many times one can labor to make it as simple as he can possibly make it, and still folk will have trouble following his teaching, or you could have done better making it easy to follow.

I try to be as honest as I can be in presenting God’s truth to you. God is our witness, we have NOT used any help or any man's opinion, but ONLY an open Bible before us as we wrote this paper; that being said; what we have put before our readers is NOT a doctrine defending any denomination or a doctrine taught to us by man's views, such as:

The historicist: a view that appeals to man's intellect; a view that man believes he can "reason out" and make history FIT with the scriptures, instead of trusting the scriptures ALONE for truth and for its OWN interpretation.

The preterits: a view very close to the historicist, only these blind guides (there are different degrees of preterit’s view) are much bolder to pervert God's word. These men have taken most of the word of God OUT OF your hands and leave a child of God with no warnings to heed; no scriptures to read FOR YOU; there is very little for a child of God now living in the year of 2009, according to most of them.

The futurist (of the pre-mill camp) is a literalist in the purest meaning of that word! These men and there are many, read their bibles like a man would read a newspaper. I started out in this group many years ago. I am thankful that God delivered us from this false teaching. Their teaching on the book of Revelation would a make a great movie for the science fiction lovers! Their books make good reading for the lovers of mystery (Tim Lehaye and Hal Lindsey). Their motto is: if the literal make sense, seek no other sense. They are void of the needed LIGHT to seek with. They do not know how to read the bible they hold in their hands as they make their way to hear another good science fiction story by Captain "Dr." Kirk from the book of Revelation.

Let us now move on into the New Testament to see if we can make the connection that is needed to reveal this MYSTERY.

We will consider Revelation chapters 17&18. There are many different angles we could continue in searching the scriptures to unfold this mystery of Babylon the great. There are so many different subjects that can be brought forth to go with this subject. There are so many different messages that can be introduced and expounded upon that would go with this. To name just a few:

The abomination of desolation, Daniel and Matthew 24; The man of sin, 2Thessalonians 2; The beast of Revelation 13; His mark, name, and image; This generation, of Matthew 24; The perilous times in the last day, 2Timothy 3:-4:5; The little season of Revelation 20:1-3,7-9; The great tribulation period of the last days at the end of time, Daniel 12; Matthew 24; Mark 13; and Luke 21; to name just a few.

For now, we only want to reveal the mystery, Babylon the great, with this paper; even though, these other subjects are connected with them in many ways.
 
Have you ever heard a minister preach on a certain subject and then another one and then another; after a while, you say to yourself~ he is actually preaching on the SAME thing, but using different sermon titles and different verses but the message is the same. You can do that with this subject.

[Rella]

RB... not to be a little thorn in your and other sides....

Do you ever wonder why it is that you read and understand things so differently then other people?  Or at least different enough to make you not in agreement?

Why do you suppose that is?

[RB]

RB... not to be a little thorn in your and other sides....

Do you ever wonder why it is that you read and understand things so differently then other people?  Or at least different enough to make you not in agreement?

Why do you suppose that is?

Why do you think so? Is the truth in the majority or minority? 1st King 22 may be a good place to start if you truly care to know.

[4WD]

RB, she may or may not agree with you on this, but she didn't say anything about that.  She asked you a question. It's a reasonable question.

[4WD]

I try to be as honest as I can be in presenting God’s truth to you. God is our witness, we have NOT used any help or any man's opinion, but ONLY an open Bible before us as we wrote this paper

RB, you know the honor and respect I hold for your faith in God's word and your dedication to the teaching of it.  I have no doubt what you said in the above quote is true; and I have only a few disagreements with what you have presented in this topic.  But your insistence on not using any outside source and your apparent suggestions that the rest of us should follow that guide means of course that we should simply disregard everything that you have written there. Because for the rest of us, all that you have written, except for the occasional direct quote from the Bible, becomes just another of those outside helps and man's opinions that you pride yourself on not using.  All of which makes me wonder why you would bother to post it, since it obviously is a rebuttal against your guide of not appealing to outside sources.

[RB]

RB, you know the honor and respect I hold for your faith in God's word and your dedication to the teaching of it.  I have no doubt what you said in the above quote is true; and I have only a few disagreements with what you have presented in this topic.  But your insistence on not using any outside source and your apparent suggestions that the rest of us should follow that guide means of course that we should simply disregard everything that you have written there. Because for the rest of us, all that you have written, except for the occasional direct quote from the Bible, becomes just another of those outside helps and man's opinions that you pride yourself on not using.  All of which makes me wonder why you would bother to post it, since it obviously is a rebuttal against your guide of not appealing to outside sources.

I have the same respect for you.

When I speak against the "outside" source, I mainly have references to those folks who believe you cannot explain scriptures here and there without help from mainly HISTORY and Josephus in particularly. I mean no more than that.

RB, she may or may not agree with you on this, but she didn't say anything about that.  She asked you a question. It's a reasonable question.

Sorry, I was not trying to be disrespectful and even avoiding her question~Of course we all who teach wish more could see what we see as truth, but I expect few to see the truth, for truth is very difficult to see even those seemly simple scriptures like John 3:16, etc. Truth is difficult to grasp a hold of, even those of old age like you and myself, we never stop learning for we have never even touched the tip of the iceberg so to speak.  Very, very few followed Jesus' teaching and even those that did, it was given of them of the Father to know the truth, and very little is given at a time because of the pride of our hearts not to mention the darkness of the old man still with us.

Have I considered this? Very little..... KNOWING what the scriptures have already said to us concerning those who rejected Christ and if they rejected him who are we? Nothing, because some things we say SHOULD be rejected because of out old man still with us and which could easily lead us astray.

[4WD]

When I speak against the "outside" source, I mainly have references to those folks who believe you cannot explain scriptures here and there without help from mainly HISTORY and Josephus in particularly. I mean no more than that.

If those outside sources, including history, and that includes Josephus, is true, then I do not see a problem with it.  Of course, the key there is "if true".  But then that applies to everything.

[RB]

                                                                                                                       REVELATION CHAPTER 17

We will consider Revelation chapters 17&18. First chapter 17. Bear with me on the length~Imay divide this chapter into two parts.

There are many different angles we could continue in searching the scriptures to unfold this mystery of Babylon the great. There are so many different subjects that can be brought forth to go with this subject. There are so many different messages that can be introduced and expounded upon that would go with this. To name just a few:

The abomination of desolation, Daniel and Matthew 24; The man of sin, 2nd Thessalonians 2; The beast of Revelation 13; His mark, name, and image; This generation, of Matthew 24; The perilous times in the last day, 2nd Timothy 3:-4:5; The little season of Revelation 20:1-3,7-9; The great tribulation period of the last days at the end of time, Daniel 12; Matthew 24; Mark 13; and Luke 21; to name just a few.~but the main ones for sure.

For now, we only want to reveal the mystery, Babylon the great, with this labor; even though, these other subjects are connected with them in many ways.
 
Have you ever heard a minister preach on a certain subject and then another one and then another; and after a while you say to yourself: he is actually preaching on the SAME thing, but using different sermon titles and different verses but the message is the same. You can do that with this subject.

                                                      REVELATION CHAPTER 17-MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH.
 
The main reason we started with the Old Testament and worked our way to Revelation 17 is this: Stephen and Paul in the NT did the same; Acts 7; 13:16-39.

We thought it would be easier to understand Revelation 17&18 after explaining the OT scriptures that are connected with these two chapters in Revelation. Let us now consider these two chapters.
   
Revelation 17:1....Tells us plainly that what is recorded in this chapter is dealing with the JUDGMENT OF THE GREAT WHORE...Who is PART OF Mystery, Babylon the great.

The angel said that this whore SITTETH upon MANY WATERS. Verse 15, tells us: "And he saith unto me, The waters which thou sawest, where the whore sitteth, are peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues."

This whore had committed fornication with people FROM EVERY NATION under heaven. She had not committed fornication with every person from every nation, but with people FROM every nation. Many were virgins in these nations under heaven.

Revelation 14:4~"These are they which were not defiled with women; (the world and the whore~RB) for they ARE VIRGINS.(spiritual virgins) These follow the Lamb withersoever he goeth, THESE WERE REDEEMED FROM AMONG MEN, (so these are ALL of the redeemed~RB) being the firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb."

Verse 2..."With whom the kings of the earth have committed fornication.." The kings of the earth rolls the red carpet... (NOT because they love her, but it is just good politics to do so, and for no other reason)  ...out for this whore and take counsel from her and embrace her as their own. They believe her lies and she believes their lies. Remember Daniel 11:27?

She does not have the same spirit as John the Baptist: "But Herod the tetrarch being reproved by him for Herodias his brother Philip's wife, and for all the evils which Herod had done." Luke 3:19

We all know John the Baptist would not be invited to a prayer breakfast in Washington D.C., or to be a special guest on any TV talk show; those spotlights are reserved for the false prophets of Babylon, and there are many of them from the many different sects of Babylon.

They have their "astrologers, stargazers, and monthly prognosticators, along with the multitudes of false prophets;" (Isaiah 13:10-13) That cannot save them from the things that shall come upon them!

"....the inhabitants of the earth have been made drunk with the wine of her fornication." Not only has she committed fornication with the kings of the earth, through her love of power and the attention it brings with it, by fornicating with the powers that be; she has made the world (all whose names were not written in the Lamb's book of life from the beginning of the world) drunk with her promise of peace and life and liberty, while SHE and THEY are still living in their sins! Read 1st Kings 22:1-40; 2nd Peter 2 and the book of Jude.
   
Verse 3..."So he carried me away in the spirit into the wilderness: and I saw a woman sit upon a scarlet coloured beast, full of the names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns."

Verses 4-5.."And the woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet colour, and decked with gold and precious stones and pearls, having a golden cup in her hand full of abominations and filthiness of her fornication: And upon her forehead was a name written, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH." Please consider a few points:

1. The woman in Revelation 17:4, sits upon the beast, or was carried by the beast, verse 7. (which we will talk about shortly) The woman of Revelation 12:13 was persecuted by the devil/dragon. Both lived in Babylon, one "OF" Babylon, one persecuted "BY" Babylon's king and his people. This woman of Revelation 17 was drunken with the blood of saints (Revelation 17:6) and the martyrs of Jesus that lived there but refused to be Verse 4-5..part of them. These godly saints tormented them that lived in Babylon, by their godly life and by the words that proceedeth out of their mouth. See Revelation 11:5,10

Revelation 12:17~ "And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to MAKE WAR with the remnant of her seed, which KEEP the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ."

ONE of the tools that the devil uses to make war with the saints is his great whore, called Mystery, Babylon the great. This whore has other families members that are NOT religious, that we will see later! They all are generation of little vipers.

2. This woman that is called Mystery, Babylon the great is only PART of Babylon that GREAT CITY that the devil has built. It is only a small part of the whole. Just like the White House is not Washington, D.C., but part of that which makes up Washington, D.C. The major part of Babylon is found in Revelation 18.

3. This great whore is the RELIGIOUS part of this great city called Babylon. The devil has many of his children IN RELIGION to better war against the saints and the God of heaven. He has a great multitude outside of religion, and that number WILL increase at the very end, as we will see.

4. The devil's whore is very seductive with her wealth and social standing in Babylon.
 
The woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet colour, and decked with gold and precious stones and pearls and she has a golden cup in her hand. Revelation 17:4
 
I am not convinced that these things should be taken literal; why should we, when we KNOW that the beast, the woman, and the waters are NOT literal? By literal I mean: monetary wealth; Some may be, many may not be.

This great whore deceived her followers (2nd Cor. 11:12-14) by the art of her seductions and sorceries and lies to allure her VICTIMS, and VICTIMS they ARE!

What she had and what she offered to her followers in comparison to the those who kept the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus, was like: gold, precious stones, and pearls to wood, hay and stubble, to those who saw her and heard her. But those who keep the commandments of God ARE KEPT FROM this whore;

Proverbs 7:5~"That they (God's commandments) may keep thee from the strange woman, from the stranger which flattereth with her words."

She has beautiful temples; with multitudes of followers, but, with no commitments; Christianity only a part of their life, instead of ALL of their life; I might need to add this: RELIGION might be part of their whole life for many of them; BUT, they have set the commandments of God aside for their OWN traditions; and they have corrupted the HOLY SCRIPTURES by refusing to preach what the Bible actually says, and have put their opinions/commandments in the place of THUS SAITH THE LORD.(See 2nd Thessalonians 2:4)

They refuse to EARNESTLY CONTEND with the wicked; and speak out against those saints that do contend for the truth. They allow the wicked to set the standard for what is acceptable and what is not. There is no difference between them and the world; if there is any difference, it is very little. On and on we could go. You can add to the list just as easily as I could.

All natural men are impressed with a religion like this. Most men are willing to accept a religion that requires NOTHING from them, but their presence occasionally and their deep pockets often, and the more the better. What natural man would not LOVE a religion like this whore offers; knowing that he can have eternal life AND live according to his own fleshly desire, without committing his life totally to the word of God.

They ALLURE through the LUST of the FLESH with such things. 2Peter 2 and Jude.

5. She has a GOLDEN CUP in her hand. WHO would not LOVE to drink from this cup! THIS CUP is one of her enticements that she uses on her followers. Men of this world think they are special if someone offers them a drink from such a cup.

What is within this cup reveals that she is a WHORE with every intention to destroy those who drink thereof! "......having a golden cup in her hand FULL of ABOMINATIONS and FILTHINESS of her fornication." Revelation 17:4

This great whore does not only have a few abominations, but she is FULL of them, along with the filthiness of her fornication. These abominations that she is full of, will be the cause of her being made DESOLATE, by the kings of the earth; as they are being used by God, as His servants. (verse 16)

BUT, VERY SHORTY afterward, these kings and the REST OF their people shall be destroyed by the Lord Jesus and his army. Revelation 19:11-21; 20:7-9. AMEN!

Let us consider at this point in our teaching on this subject, what are some of the MANY ABOMINATIONS that are in this whore's golden cup that she has gotten the people of this world to drink of. They were MADE DRUNK with the wine of her fornication and by the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus.

Was she ashamed? NO! She BODLY displayed her wickedness, by having on her FOREHEAD a name written: MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH. There is nothing humble about this whore. The BEAST (the devil himself) that carried this whore HATH DECEIVED HER, yet she does not know she is deceived. That is the very nature of deception, you DO NOT KNOW THAT YOU ARE DECEIVED! The LOVE OF praise and being accepted by this world BLINDS us and takes away our power to know the truth and destroys a honest heart before God. There is NOTHING more sacred to an honest heart than truth; but that honest heart can be destroyed by our great enemy so quickly!
 
"...having a golden cup in her hand FULL of ABOMINATIONS," I am sure you can add to the list that we will give. Before giving a list of some you will find in our day, we must make the proper connection from the Old Testament to the New concerning the word ABOMINATION. We will not give a long definition of the word as defined by the Spirit in the scriptures.
 
When the word ABOMINATION is used by the prophets, apostles, and Jesus Christ in the scriptures, by its definition, means: that which is ABHORRENT to God that WILL bring total ruin or devastation. ANYTHING in thought, word, or deed that is against the HOLY, INFINITE PURE nature of the MOST HIGH. It can be summed up in the ten commandments given to Moses his servant; but, those commandments when understood properly, are exceedingly deep and broad in their scope and they are holy and just, good and spiritual.

In Daniel the prophet, we find the word used a few times: Daniel 9:27; 11:31; 12:11; and in Daniel 8:13, we read: "......the transgression of desolation" instead of abomination of desolation in other places. So by that, we understand that abomination is a transgression AGAINST God's express will to us concerning what he accepts or HATES. If God hates anything, then he WILL bring it to total ruin and desolation. Our Lord Jesus Christ PERFECTLY understood Daniel's prophesy when he used the words ABOMINATION of desolation. Matthew 24:15..

"When ye therefore shall see the ABOMINATION OF DESOLATION, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the HOLY PLACE, (whoso readeth, let him understand:)"

The Spirit said: whoso readeth, let him understand;  the Spirit is speaking of WHOM ever reads Daniel’s words on the abomination of desolation let him understand as he IS HEARING OR READING WHAT IS IN MATTHEW 24! Christ is NOT SAYING by understanding Daniel you will understand Matthew 24. NO! Matthew 24 is a COMMENTARY on the book of Daniel! Furthermore, we have two words that are very important for us in Mark 13:14..

"But when ye shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing where it OUGHT NOT, (let him that readeth understand,)"

again, as you read THIS, then you need to UNDERSTAND what this means! Matthew 24 said that he is in the HOLY PLACE and Mark 13 said it OUGHT NOT to be there!

Please consider: Our Lord would never refer to the temple in Jerusalem HOLY forty years after his death! That's unthinkable and abominable to even consider that he would; he KNEW that the temple in Jerusalem had served its purpose and was not needed anymore and neither was Jerusalem needed to be the city to worship in, See John 4:21-22.

The ONLY two places that was HOLY to God and to saints after the death of Christ are the churches of Christ and the body of believers. You should know the scriptures to follow this simple teaching.

The abomination that is in the holy place in our day that we SHOULD SEE abominations abounding, is recorded for us in 2nd Thessalonians 2:1-12. Here he is called the MAN OF SIN. What is recorded in verse 4.... "Who OPPOSETH and EXALTETH himself (man of sin is used as a collective pronoun, which means MANY; to prove this, see verses 10,11,12, the word THEM and THEY! the apostle changes the pronouns he and him to they and them, WITHOUT CHANGING THE SUBJECT, and not only that, we know that it includes ALL of the wicked because of verses 10 and 11, which we will not quote but you should earnestly consider.) above ALL that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he AS GOD sitteth in the temple of God, (HOLY PLACE, where he OUGHT NOT) shewing himself that he IS GOD." …..Is also recorded in Daniel 7:25 and in Daniel 11:36.

"And he shall speak great words AGAINST the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High, and THINK TO CHANGE times and laws: (God word) and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and dividing of time.
 
And the king shall do according to his will; and he shall MAGNIFY HIMSELF (man of sin) ABOVE every god, and shall speak marvelous things against the God of god, and shall prosper till indignation be accomplished: (the abomination of desolation) for that is determined shall be done.”

Much of what is determined is found in Matthew 24 and Revelation.

To sum up what is in Daniel and Matthew 24; Mark13; Luke 21; 2Thessalonians 2; Revelation 11; 13; 17; and 18;  that, at the time of the end of the world, the latter days of this world, know as the "little season” of Revelation; the MAN OF SIN shall rule in the HOLY PLACE; and we will add this: the world will be even MORE wicked than ever before; the reason why, will be that the Spirit of God will withdraw his power from hindering the mystery of iniquity from abounding.

At the end of the thousand years (a time of totality that is determined by God and only known by him) are expired Satan shall be loosed out of his prison and a great multitude of evil spirits loosed with him upon the world of proud reprobates that are in churches and out of them. Revelation 20:7-9; Revelation 9:1-11 (the locusts are evil spirits loose upon the world for five months or a little season) The world shall abound with false prophets and false cults, called the great whore of Revelation 17.

This allows us to continue on in Revelation 17 to better understand as we work our way through this chapter. 

             

[RB]

                                                                                                       THE MANY ABOMINATIONS OF THE LAST DAYS~Revelations 17 part two            
                               
As evil spirits are legions, so are abominations in the churches and out of them.

1.

Genesis 13:13~"But the men of Sodom were wicked and sinners before the LORD exceedingly."

Sodomy is abounding in this world, but not in the world only, but in churches! This is one of the abominations that is in the whore's golden cup. The Catholic church is FULL of sodomites. Forbidding men and women to marry, encourage this sin, even though it is in their heart to begin with, which is seen by the profession they have chosen. Only a very, very few have that calling to forebear marriage. It is against nature to do so. Sodomy is by no means limited to the Catholic church, it is in other churches. I wonder what is going through their wicked minds as they read Jude 7:

  "Even as Sodom and Gomorrah, and the cites about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire."

2.

Luke 16,15~   "And he said unto them, Ye are they which justify yourselves before men; but God knoweth your hearts: for that which is HIGHLY ESTEEMED among men is abomination in the sight of God."

The churches are FULL of men would who rather seek to be accepted before men, than to seek praise that comes ONLY from heaven. IF the world loves you and accepts your opinions and teaching, then you are an abomination in God sight, and these are not my words, but God's.

I could name thousands of false prophets that are highly esteemed by MUTITUDES of simple minded (I am using the word just the way king Solomon did in his proverbs) followers and the world likewise accepts them as bright successful religious “SUPERSTARS;” and if they need spiritual advice, they would seek them out. The men of the world DO NOT know where wisdom is found. It is NOT in the “smiles of Joel Osteen!" Nor is it at Harvard, Yale or any school that may be considered the elites of higher learning. The wisdom we are speaking of is far above those fools who reject their Creator and exalt their wisdom above Him.

3.

  MATTHEW 15:7-9 ~"Ye hypocrites, well did Esaias prophesy of you, saying, This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me, In vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men."

MARK 7:8~"For LAYING ASIDE THE COMMANDMENT OF GOD, ye hold to the tradition of men, as washing of pots and cups: and MANY other such things ye do." MARK 7:9~"And he said unto them, FULL WELL ye REJECT the commandment of God, that ye may keep your OWN tradition." MARK 7:13~"Making the word of God of NONE EFFECT through your tradition, which ye have delivered: and MANY such things do ye."

The Catholic church is by far the most guilty of these scriptures we just read; But, many other churches are just as guilty. They have their "touch not; taste not; handle not; go not; be not; have not; see not;" and on and on we can go. God's saints live by the word of God, we must not add to it or take from it, in order to please self and serve self. If the scripture condemns anything, so do we, if the scriptures are silent on a given thing, so are we. If we cannot find it in the Bible, then we do not hold to it as a commandment of God, and we refuse to accept it as such. NO ONE has the right to teach for doctrine, what they cannot support from the scriptures. That would be standing in the holy place and exalting your wisdom above God's word. WHY would one do that? He is a MAN OF SIN that does so. A MAN OF SIN is any man who lives under the POWER OF SIN, through the spirit of disobedience that lives in him.

Revelation 2:7, 15~"But this thou hast, that thou HATEST the DEEDS of the Nicolaitans, which I ALSO HATE." "So hast thou also them that hold THE DOCTRINE of the Nicolaitans, which thing I HATE."

What was FIRST just DEEDS of the Nicolaitans quickly turned to be THE DOCTRINE of the Nicolaitans!

A few things to consider: If God hates anything, then it is an abomination in his sight! It is said twice within chapter two of Revelation, that God HATED the DEEDS and later the DOCTRINE of the Nicolaitans. This should get any Christian attention who cares what pleases his God and not what pleases self or others.

If we read your Bibles the only way we should, then we must ask ourselves: why did the Spirit say deeds in verse 6 and doctrine in verse 15? There is a big difference between deed and doctrine. Deeds can be defined as, WHATEVER is DONE, good or bad, great or small.......

Genesis 46:15   "....And Joseph said unto them, What DEED is this that ye have DONE?

Doctrine can be defined in a general sense, whatever is taught; whatever is taught AS TRUTH by an instructor, master, or TEACHER. Instruction and confirmation in the truths of the gospel. 2nd Timothy 3:16; Mark 4:2; Isaiah 28:9

By definition, we understand what the word Nicolaitans means: To CONQUER the lay people. NICO-to conquer; LAITAN-laity. We have a man in the scriptures that we all know well, and his name is : NICOdemus, John 3:1-21. His name fit his title: MASTER of Israel, verse 10.

So, the Nicolaitans were men who by their evil deeds sought to have "preeminence over the saints," and it was rejected by the church at Ephesus shortly after the apostles! The apostles, early saints, Christ and God Himself hated this evil deed by some.

The apostle John said,

2nd John 9-10 "I wrote unto THE CHURCH: BUT Diotrephes, who LOVETH to have PREEMINENCE among them, receiveth us not. Wherefore, if I come, I will remember HIS DEEDS which he doeth, prating against us with malicious words: and not content therewith, neither doth he himself receive the brethren, and FORBIDDETH (as though he had that right) them that would, and casteth them OUT OF the church."

This man was doing some evil deeds by placing himself ABOVE other members within the CHURCH. He most likely was a elder/bishop of that church, but wanted to have ALL CONTROL OVER the BODY.

The apostle even in this short epistle never mentioned a person by name that would be OVER THEM. His epistle was directed to the CHURCH, NOT to a single man. NO CHURCH EPISTLE in the New Testament was written to a SINGLE bishop/elder/pastor.

The word PASTOR in our day is used freely by most as describing a single man over a body of saints. The word is NEVER used in the scripture in that way. Pastor is NOT an office of the New Testament church. NO ONE can prove that. The word "describes" the duties of a elder/bishop which ARE a office in the New Testament church. We will also add, that NEVER one time is there a instance where we have a church where there is a SINGLE man over it in the scripture. I must move on. There are some honest, sincere, God fearing children, who hold and practice this, but it is still against the scriptures.

In our day most churches are guilty of the DEEDS/DOCTRINE of the Nicolaitans. The Catholic church as in most cases lead the way, with their "TIER of authority" within their church. Their practices are a great abomination in God's sight.

But, we must not stop with that whore, for there are more; Most churches have their "priest/laity" two class system, where they exalt ONE above the rest and give him total rule in everything.
 
But, we must not stop there with those whores, there are more; There are MANY individual men who have their OWN MINISTRY outside of the church, who have MULTITUDES following them and supporting them, and looking up to them as a great spiritual leader. MOST OF these men are in the "tongue/healing" movement. I have often wondered why men like Kenneth Copeland, Benny Hinn, and a host of others do not come to our local hospital to help the doctors out instead of renting the BIG arena in town. I KNOW WHY and so do you.
 
These men know nothing about the true churches of Christ. They are out only to fleece the simple-minded people, who do not understand the scriptures or the power of deception. Proverbs 14:18

To sum this part up, we will only add this: any doctrine that is NOT found in the scriptures, that is taught by any man or any church, is an abomination to the Most High.

Anyone who is in a church that has only been here in the last two hundred plus years, should know that his whole system MUST be an abomination in God's sight. The Jehovah Witness, Mormons, SDA, and Charismatic are religious sects that our forefathers DID NOT contend with; these are locusts from the bottomless pit turned loose upon the earth to deceive them whose names were not written in the book of life from the foundation of the earth. Though some have been here longer, such as: the moon worshipper children of the Islamic faith, who exalt their prophet Mohammed over Jesus Christ; and are so radical in their behavior; that most of the world knows that they are insane. Besides, WHO is ALLAH? Where does he live? How many wives does he have? Can he see, hear or talk? Can you buy him at Wal Mart?  Nowhere is that name mentioned in the WORD OF GOD! The Koran does NOT count, no more than the writings of Joseph Smith, founder of the Mormon faith. These are children of the devil.

Revelation 16:14~"For they ARE the SPIRITS of DEVILS, working miracles, which go forth unto the kings of the earth to gather them to battle of that GREAT DAY OF GOD ALMIGHTY." 

We will say this before leaving: We are NOT saying that your doctrine must be ABSOLUTELY PURE, but it MUST be correct on the DOCTRINE OF CHRIST: And NONE that I just mentioned are.  That he IS the SON of God; he PAID for the SINS OF HIS PEOPLE; the PLEASURE of the LORD DID PROSPER in his hand; He shall see the travail of his soul, and SHALL BE SATISFIED; EVERYONE that he DIED FOR, SHALL be JUSTIFTED; because he BEAR THEIR SINS. HE COMPETELY FINISHED the work God gave him to do. God was and IS well satisfied with his Son. God's eternal purposes are RIGHT on course, where He ordained it to be! AMEN! The devil knows this, why do you not understand this? 

Revelation 12:12~ ".....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 17:5~"And upon her forehead was a name written, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS and ABOMIANTIONS OF THE EARTH."

I know that many interpret the Babylon in Revelation 17 to be the Roman Catholic Church; by using the words: "THE MOTHER OF” and say that ALL that come OUT OF her are her daughters.  Though we would agree heartily that she is A GREAT WHORE, and many abominations are therein, more than any other, but I understand it in this way:  This whore, I take to means ALL religion that goes against the Holy Scriptures and the teachings therein. This whore is PART OF MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT. Mystery Babylon is a GREAT CITY.  Every great city in this world has: RELIGION, SCIENCE, ENTERTAINMENTS and ART and COMMERCE within it; Mystery Babylon of the Bible is NO different. In Revelation 18 we will see more of this great city.

MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT IS THE MOTHER of EVERYTHING that is against the knowledge of the Most HIGH!!! In Revelation 18, Babylon, the great is the MOTHER OF MANY dainty and goodly and delicious things, that she has used to bewitch her followers!

In Revelation 17:5 Mystery, Babylon the great is the MOTHER OF HARLOTS. It is through the WOMB of Mystery, Babylon the great that harlots comes out of; and IN THE NAME OF RELIGION they war with the saints of Jesus Christ (John 8:13-59). The harlots PRETEND to be a worshipper of God and of the seed of Abraham, but she IS A WHORE and a liar. This religious whore has been here from the beginning. It changes name and form and practices. It may be a Pharisees, Sadducees, Baal worshipper, Catholic, Mormon, Jehovah Witness, or whatever; if they speak not according to God's word, IT IS BECAUSE THERE IS NO LIGHT IN THEM. Isaiah 8:20 This whore preaches a religion that CAN BE adopted by the people of the world; she quickly learns how to proselyte a man of the world; she spares no pains in doing so. As generations changes, so does she; whatever it takes to corrupt TRUTH and war against the Most High, she does so.

Matthew 23:15~."Woe unto you scribes and Pharisees, HYPOCRITES! for ye COMPASS sea and LAND to make ONE proselyte, and when he is made, ye make him TWOFOLD more the CHILD OF HELL than yourselves."

These are the words of the meek and lowly Jesus! Read all of Matthew 23. I said that the whore of Revelation 17, thus viewed is past, present, and future. Its form changes, its name changes; its ESSENCE ever remains the same; the reason why; it is ever carried by the SAME BEAST.

Let us consider the scarlet colored BEAST; verses 3; 7-15. Part three of chapter 17

   

[Rella]

Why do you think so? Is the truth in the majority or minority? 1st King 22 may be a good place to start if you truly care to know.

Look. I do not want to enter another discussion into this thread, but please allow me to reply briefly.

You ask if the truth is in the majority or the minority and I would have to reply either or neither.

Just because a majority believes something does not make it true.... but get enough people to believe and you will have, yet again, another denomination none of which is 100% accurate simply because they all start with what someone is certain is the truth. From the Joseph Smiths and Ellen Whites to those who are dogmatic in their preterist ideas.

The truth is in personal perception but I am not sure you will understand what I mean when I say that. But if you do then that simple statement answers what I asked.

You said to 4WD

Quote from: RB on Yesterday at 04:26:56

I try to be as honest as I can be in presenting God’s truth to you. God is our witness, we have NOT used any help or any man's opinion, but ONLY an open Bible before us as we wrote this paper

No one doubts your sincerity in your presenting your understanding of "God's truth" .

Has it truly not occurred to you that others, with differing views and understanding also use an open bible to form their beliefs, and not always with any outside helps, opinions, or commentaries.

But using your bible choice just consider this

Genesis 1 : opening statement.

1  In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.

Do you really know what this simple sentence is saying? I can tell you that it does not say when the beginning was, and the rest of the "creation" story doe not either.

Since you do not read any commentaries or other thoughts.... How do you know you are reading a correct translation.

If you were following the Clinton impeachment and heard Billy say  "It Depends on what the meaning of the word is is", you would laugh and know he was a master of double talk.... because you know what the meaning of is, is in the current usage of today.

But would you know if the translators were correct when they translated "ei"? (Don't worry. I wont explain that here. It would be from an outside source of a translator)

But again I digress and it is time to be

[Choir Loft]

I'm bringing my post here to start another thread with the purpose of keeping from highjacking the one Amo is working on~and I'm trusting we can post together and let the readers judge for themself the truth on Mystery Babylon and its deadly wound that was healed.

Occasionally, I'll bring one of his posts here to comment on, and he can do likeness with mine.

BOGUS ALERT:   Discussions here do NOT adequately interpret predictions of the events of years following the addition of the book of Revelation into Biblical canon.  They are based upon Roman Catholic eisegesis (reading into scripture) NOT a proper exegesis (gleaning truth out of scripture).  Scripture doesn't lie, but liars can quote scripture as satan did to Jesus on a number of occasions.

There are two cases I may bring out here to illustrate the error.  First is the nature of the Beast of Revelation 13 and second is its head wound and subsequent healing.  I invite the reader to examine scripture references again and to research the secular history that it refers to.  Study to show yourself approved. (2 Tim 2:15)

The Beast is NOT a man.  According to Revelation 13:1 the Beast rises out of the sea and is described as having multiple horns.  The Bible interprets itself.
The book of Daniel sets the template for interpreting human-animal hybrid prophetic images.  They represent a system, a religion or a nation.  Horns proceeding out of the head of the human-animal hybrid refer to leadership or a succession of leaders.   The Beast arising out of the sea is an international religious system.  Revelation 17:15 tells us it is a system arising out of "The waters you saw, where the prostitute sits, are peoples, multitudes, nations and languages.ons and languages."

PROTESTANT reformation fathers broke with the Vatican on several points. Chief among these are the RCC interpretations of End Times dogma published in the late 16th century by Francisco Ribera called FUTURISM.  Since that time, protestant opposition to RCC doctrines of demons has eroded.  When John Nelson Darby published his work on Dispensationalism in the mid-19th century the bitter pill was swallowed whole and protestants gave up resistance to RCC dogma entirely.  Today it is accepted among almost all churches - even though it's entirely false.   The primary example is that anyone who actually does an exegesis of Revelation will clearly see the references to the Church of Rome.  The Bible interprets itself.

HEAD WOUND of the Beast is another example.   Revelation 13:3 describes a mortal head wound that's healed.  No man can survive a mortal head wound, but a religious organization CAN.  In December 1797 a riot took place in Rome and a Brigadier General that had been sent to Rome by Napoleon as part of the diplomatic mission, was killed. Napoleon then sent forces to Rome, defeated the papal forces around Pope Pius VI, and had him transported to Valence where he died shortly after his arrival.  This is the mortal head wound suffered by the religious Beast of Revelation 13. (Google it) Our story doesn't end with a dead pope in a French prison.

HEALED HEAD WOUND of the Beast is a further example.  (Google it)  The Lateran Pacts signed by Mussolini on 11 February 1929, had three parts: a political treaty (giving the Vatican its own micro-state), a financial convention (giving the Vatican reparations) and a concordat (giving privileges within Italy, for instance by letting the Church influence public education).  The Roman Pope was thus reestablished on his religious throne in Rome.  Between 1797 and 1929 there was NO pope in Rome. The world rejoiced when the Pope returned to Rome and the Italian dictator was elevated to the status of religious hero for a brief time.  The Italian government also granted a substantial sum of money to rebuild and refurbish Vatican City.

Look it up.   Look up Revelation 13 and read it with clear vision.  Read chapter 17 that tells us the Beast is a global religious system with multiple leaders - it's not a man.  The RCC would have Protestants believe otherwise - to believe what the Bible does NOT imply.

"The Pope and God are the same, so he has all power in heaven and earth." - Barclay Cap. XXVII, p. 218. Cities Petrus Bertrandus, Pius V.

When Daniel predicts the son of lies and murder will utter blaspheme against God (7:25) it doesn't take a rocket scientist in the 21st century to understand he was speaking of the pope - the leader of the Sea Beast RCC.  Indeed, the RCC itself admits to its treachery as we witness its own words quoted above.

The matter of the end of Revelation 13 and the subject of the true nature of the Mark of the Beast can be discussed elsewhere.  For the time being it should be understood that the Biblical interpretation of the passage may be gleaned by examining Jewish mitzvot pertaining to phylacteries NOT RCC dogma.  That's for another time, however.

Hope this helps.

that's me, hollering from the choir loft...

[RB]

Since you do not read any commentaries or other thoughts

I have never said I do not use commentaries because I do. But on this subject, it is very difficult to read behind the Reformers and men after them because all they dealt with were the RCC from whence they came out.  Since around 1825 and moving forward to our day there are so many more cults in the religious landscape, so many more just as Daniel, Jesus, Paul, and John prophesied would come, saying Jesus is the Christ, but it is indeed another jesus, another spirit, and another gospel they are bringing with them. 

[RB]

The Beast is NOT a man.  According to Revelation 13:1 the Beast rises out of the sea and is described as having multiple horns.  The Bible interprets itself.

Let us look at Revelation 13 later as time permits, maybe by the next two days or so, or even sooner.

I for one believe with all my heart that scriptures do indeed interpret themselves.

[Choir Loft]

I have never said I do not use commentaries because I do. But on this subject, it is very difficult to read behind the Reformers and men after them because all they dealt with were the RCC from whence they came out.  Since around 1825 and moving forward to our day there are so many more cults in the religious landscape, so many more just as Daniel, Jesus, Paul, and John prophesied would come, saying Jesus is the Christ, but it is indeed another jesus, another spirit, and another gospel they are bringing with them.

Agreed.

When consulting a particular subject I often refer to scholarly volumes of interpretation.  These I have divided into two groups; liberal & conservative.   

For purposes of clarity the interpretations I define as liberal are those which mostly lean upon Roman Catholic interpretations of the Latin Vulgate (licensed translations of the Vatican such as KJV).  Interpretations I define as conservative are those which mostly demonstrate the opinions of the Protestant Reformation and the American Protestant church prior to the mid-19th century.

I NEVER use chain reference Bibles such as the Scofield Reference Bible, which is LIBERALLY sprinkled with RCC dogma.  These chain references are purposefully designed to lead a reader into justifying Catholic dogma - specifically those reiterated by John Nelson Darby.

However, I've also learned it isn't wise to reject one in favor of the other.  Light may be found in both.   

In addition, I've also begun to consult Jewish references.   These serve to explain and assist in understanding the culture and intellect of Jesus' culture as well as the four thousand years that preceded it.  Many Christians reject all things Jewish either because of an innate anti-semitic attitude or because they aren't properly educated or because they love their SIN and don't want to know God's true attitude about it (John 3:19).

One cannot rely upon a single translation of the Bible or a single reference book to glean truth from God's Word.  Neither can one justify ignorance by saying that the Holy Spirit will teach him the truth (some day).  The Holy Spirit leads us out of bondage and into truth.  Our duty is to WALK IN IT'S LEADING.   Walking implies a bit of work which some people, who are too lazy to open their Bibles, refuse to do.

that's me, hollering from the choir loft...

[Choir Loft]

Let us look at Revelation 13 later as time permits, maybe by the next two days or so, or even sooner.

I for one believe with all my heart that scriptures do indeed interpret themselves.

I'm informed by a former member of the Belarusian KGB that the invasion of Ukraine will begin on Thursday or Friday. I imagine a lot of interest in those events will be reflected on these pages.  Few will worry about the RCC or what the Bible says about it until much later.

that's me, hollering from the choir loft...

[Rella]

PROTESTANT reformation fathers broke with the Vatican on several points. Chief among these are the RCC interpretations of End Times dogma published in the late 16th century by Francisco Ribera called FUTURISM. 

Francisco Ribera was a Spanish Jesuit theologian,

Since that time, protestant opposition to RCC doctrines of demons has eroded.  When John Nelson Darby published his work on Dispensationalism in the mid-19th century the bitter pill was swallowed whole and protestants gave up resistance to RCC dogma entirely.

Futurism also teaches that Jesus failed to establish His earthly kingdom at His first coming and had to postpone it until his return. When Jesus was accused before Pilate the charge was: calling himself a king in opposition to Caesar.

Jesus denied such a charge when he said:

"My kingdom is not of this world" (John 18:36).

Pilate believed him and declared him innocent of that charge. Futurists however say that Jesus was using equivocation e.g. not telling the WHOLE TRUTH and he meant to say that his kingdom was not of this world then but would be in 2,000 years. This is tantamount to calling Jesus a liar. This is why futurism is so pernicious.

John Nelson Darby was the English apostle of this Jesuit interpretation, and during his long career he spread it throughout the English speaking world. Nelson's interpretation is believed by the majority of "Protestants" today. He did a tremendous job . . . for Rome!!

HEAD WOUND of the Beast is another example.   Revelation 13:3 describes a mortal head wound that's healed.  No man can survive a mortal head wound, but a religious organization CAN.  In December 1797 a riot took place in Rome and a Brigadier General that had been sent to Rome by Napoleon as part of the diplomatic mission, was killed. Napoleon then sent forces to Rome, defeated the papal forces around Pope Pius VI, and had him transported to Valence where he died shortly after his arrival.  This is the mortal head wound suffered by the religious Beast of Revelation 13. (Google it) Our story doesn't end with a dead pope in a French prison.

Pope Pius VI was of a noble but impoverished family, and was educated at the Jesuit College of Cesena and studied law at Ferrara.

Hope this helps.

that's me, hollering from the choir loft...

Understood and mostly agreed.

I felt compelled to link the Jesuit connection in your commentary above.

[RB]

I'm informed by a former member of the Belarusian KGB that the invasion of Ukraine will begin on Thursday or Friday. I imagine a lot of interest in those events will be reflected on these pages.  Few will worry about the RCC or what the Bible says about it until much later.

Well, now, you do not know me~Wars and rumors of wars in Matthew 24; Mark 13; and Luke 21 are all SPIRITUAL IN NATURE, not natural wars which have been since the world began. RCC/EOC is no more dangerous (maybe even less) than the modern-day "Faith" movement and Pentecostalism overall and a few more cults that have arisen since the mid-1800s.

The latter-day wars will be spiritual in nature against the saints of God from all sources.

that's me, hollering from the choir loft...

One word for you:

1st Timothy 1:6~From which some having swerved have turned aside unto vain jangling;

Maybe you should be at the altar praying, instead of hollering into the air.

[RB]

Let us consider the scarlet colored BEAST; verses 3; 7-15........................................................

Revelation 17:7-14~ "And the angel said unto me, Wherefore didst thou marvel? I will tell thee the mystery of the woman, (which we have covered- verse 15) and of the beast that carrieth her, which hath the seven heads and ten horns. The beast that thou sawest WAS, and IS NOT; and shall ascend out of the bottomless pit, and go into perdition: and 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. And here is the mind which hath wisdom. The seven heads are seven mountains, on which the woman sitteth. And there are seven kings: five are fallen, one is, and the other is not yet come; and when he cometh, he must continue a SHORT SPACE.     "And the beast that was, and is not, even he is the eighth, and is of the seven, and goeth into perdition. And the ten horns which thou sawest are ten kings, which have received no kingdom as yet; but receive power as kings one hour with the beast. ("Short space....little season...short time"...all used in the book of Revelation to describe the great tribulation period coming upon the saints of God when Satan is loosed without being restrained to the degree he was after the death of Jesus Christ ~RB) These have one mind, and shall give their power and strength unto the beast. These shall make war with the Lamb. and the Lamb shall overcome them: for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with him are called, and chosen, and faithful."

   
1. Verse nine said: "And here is the mind which hath wisdom." Anyone who has been given wisdom by the ALL WISE GOD, should be able to follow John's vision that the angel shewed him. The angel said: "The seven heads ARE seven mountains, ON WHICH the woman SITTETH." verse 9 The reason why I KNOW that the woman is NOT the Roman Catholic church, is because of what this verse PLAINLY says: The seven heads ARE MOUNTAINS, on which the woman (whore) SITTETH. Verse 15 said PLAINLY: "And he saith unto me, the WATERS (waters here, mountains in verse 9) which thou saweth, (verse 1) where the whore sitteth ARE peoples, and multitudes, and nations and tongues."

Peoples, multitudes, nations, and tongues are KINGDOMS of this world; the words mountains and kingdom are used interchangeably in the scriptures.

Daniel 2:35~"Then was the iron, the clay, the brass, the silver, and the gold, broken to pieces together, and became like the chaff of the summer threshingfloors; and the wind carried them away, that no place was found for them: and the stone that smote the image became a GREAT MOUNTAIN, (KINGDOM) and filled the earth."

Filled the earth with peoples, multitudes, and nations; which makes up a GREAT MOUNTAIN.

But there is more; verse 10 tells us that the seven mountains ARE SEVEN KINGS! "And there are seven kings:" Though Rome may be on seven hills and some try to make this whore be only the Roman Catholic church, by that fact; they are NOT showing wisdom by NOT staying with the flow of the verses.

Verse ten said: "And there are seven kings: five are fallen.... Start from the book of Genesis to Revelation and see if you can find "SEVEN KINGS/KINGDOMS that ruled this world for a certain period of time; We can;

In Genesis it was Egypt; in the books of the kings of Israel, it was the Assyrian empire and next, the Babylonian empire; next in Daniel we have Medes/Persian then Greece and into the Gospels we have the empire of Rome.

So five are fallen, which were the first five mentioned in order. "And one IS" would be the Roman empire that was in power at the time these words were spoken to the apostle John. "And the other not yet come;" would be the time the devil is loose from the bottomless pit (another way of saying, when he can use his power without God restraining him as he (God) has during the time the church is being built) and he will RULE the world with full wrath and hatred and build him a paradise on earth, with men giving their devotion and strength unto the beast. The beast IS Babylon and Babylon is the beast; and the devil is king of the beast and Babylon.

"when he cometh, he must continue a SHORT SPACE." or a little season. And then he was cast in the lake of fire. Or go into perdition verses 8 and 11.
 
"And the beast that was (had great power in the Old Testament) and is not (lost much of his power at the cross-Revelation 12) even he is the eight (his last pitch to overthrow God, and Jesus Christ and his people during the little season) and is of the seven (he was the god of those evil kingdoms that will be turned into the chaff of the summer threshingfloors) and goeth into perdition.” (he shall become as one of them!)

"All they shall speak and say unto thee, Art thou also became weak as we? art thou become like unto us?" Isaiah 14:11 YES HE WILL!

"And the ten horns which thou sawest are ten kings, which have received no kingdom as yet; but receive power as kings one hour with the beast" verse 12

These ten kings (ten a number for totality) are the nations on the earth when the little season starts at the time of the end. They will have power for a short time! One hour, a little season. They will give their mind and strength to the devil during this time and to the building up of BABYLON, THE GREAT. Even in the last two hundred years, THIS WORLD has made a MAJOR change; the world in many parts of it, looks like a resort that our forefathers could only imagine in their wildest imaginations. There are places of entertainment everywhere, and every sort of fleshly pleasure you can think of is here in MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT CITY for all WHO WILL FALL DOWN AND WORSHIP THE BEAST! And we will add, most people of the nations of Babylon are MAD on these idols found therein. The truth is: they want more; and we will add, that they are sacrificing their children to these dumb idols is plain to all who has the mind of true wisdom.

These kings will DESTROY the religious PART OF BABYLON just before this world comes to an end! There will be a very short space of time when this world will be free of Religion as we know it. God's saints will be protected, Revelation 12:16-17 But it will be a time of TROUBLE, the which the world has never seen, nor will see. Read Revelation 17:13-15. She shall be destroyed JUST AS JERUSALEM was by Nebuchadnezzar of old. There is NO WAY to explain those three verses than the way we did and keep the scriptural sense that the Holy Ghost intended.

REVELATION 18 ...............

[RB]

                                                                                                                      REVELATION 18 ...............

We now come to read and see another part of Babylon, which is actually the GLORY of the GREAT city called MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH.

The people of this part of Babylon are NOT drunk with the blood of saints as the great whore was; but she does have blood within her, as we shall see later. She is drunk as well, but not with blood. She is totally absorbed with, luxuries, worldly fame, power, lust of the flesh and the lust of pleasure. This Babylon has more than they can take in.

Let us look at a few things that should help us see what Revelation 18 is teaching us.

The FALL of Babylon in this chapter is certain. This is seen in the perfect tense of the words in verse two. "Babylon the great IS fallen, IS fallen" the words from the angel will reveal the desolation that comes upon Babylon as we read on.

Revelation 18:2~"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"

JUST AS they both did with the great whore of Babylon, so have they done with THIS BABYLON as well, but in a totally different way. But as we read on, we will see clearly that there are many things in this PART OF BABYLON that could NOT be applied to what was said of the great whore of Mystery, Babylon the great.

Revelation 18:3b~"....And the MERCHANTS of the EARTH are waxed RICH through the ABUNDANCE of her DELICACIES." t

Here is a golden cup that has DELICACIES in it, that in our flesh we are strongly temepted to drink of, and the temptations are powerful to our fallen flesh, the old man!

MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THAT GREAT CITY, has a golden cup for you to drink of; many have drunk from both the whore's cup and the world's golden cup. A child of God must avoid both! The devil is the father of both! Whoever drinks of either, and continues to do so and does not repent, will be partakers of their evil sins; Or, the commands given in Revelation 18:4, are useless! It would be like a mother telling her child, if you do not stop what you are doing, then I am going to punish you, when she has no intentions of doing so. When God gives a warning, we had better heed that warning or He WILL do as he said He would.  God’s elect hears and follows. Not perfectly, but their overall life is known to be faithful in all things.

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."

  CHILD OF GOD, THIS CALL IS FOR YOU! AND IT IS "NOT" A CALL TO COME OUT OF FALSE RELIGION! IT IS MUCH MORE SERIOUS AND HARDER TO DO!

1. I know that the call to "come out of her" has nothing to do with false religion because of the contents of Revelation 18. False Religion was in Revelation 17; The WORLD SYSTEM and the THINGS THEREIN that the devil is god of, is in Revelation 18. As one reads through this chapter, it should become easy to see; specially to the mind which hath the wisdom of God given to him.

2. The call to come out of her my people is the very SAME warning and call we hear throughout the holy scriptures. as I mentioned above already.

1st John 2:15-17~ "Love NOT THE WORLD, neither the things that are in the world. IF any man love the world, the love of the father IS NOT in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, (Mystery Babylon has many things in her golden cup) and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, IS NOT of the father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, (you will see in it Revelation 18) and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever."

Again:

2nd Corinthians 6:17-18~"Wherefore COME OUT from AMONG THEM, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty."

3. We, as Christian’s cannot literally separate ourselves from Babylon, no more than could Daniel and his friends. BUT, we can and must not follow their gods nor bow down to them, nor delight in their dainties, nor seek our happiness therein. We MUST be as Daniel was In Babylon of old.

Daniel 6:5,10~ Then said these men, We shall not find any occasion against this Daniel, except we find it against him concerning the LAW OF HIS GOD."
 
    "Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went into his house; and his windows being open in his chamber TOWARD JERUSALEM, (we KNOW where his heart was) he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, AS HE DID AFORETIME."

4. False religion is NOT the MAIN temptation for God’s children, (yes, we can fall into some of their false teachings and hinder our peace and leave us weak before our enemies and unfruitful) but this world system is a greater source of temptation in many more ways than most would ever believe. The main message about the whore and God's saints in Revelation 17 is that she killed them, because they were ENEMIES! SO the devil has another part of Babylon that he labors to corrupt the Israel OF God with. It is the SAME way that Balaam taught Balak to make use of the cunning art of deception in order to ensnare and destroy Israel of old. Numbers 31:16; Jude 11; Revelation 2:14; Revelation 18:5-10....

"For her sins have reached unto heaven, and God hath remembered her iniquities." She thinks that there is NO god in the heaven, and she surely does not believe that he knows; BUT he will THRUST IN HIS SICKLE AND REAP. Revelation 14:14-20!

"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." See 2nd Peter 3:7-10

We believe by verses 9 and 10 that God will FIRST destroy the world as we know it and then cast the wicked into the lake of fire. The wicked will SEE with their eyes the GREAT BABYLON that caused them to say "I sit a QUEEN, and am no widow, ( she had a great company of followers ) and shall see NO sorrow OH, was she deceived by the old serpent, that deceived our mother Eve. She shall receive SO MUCH torment and SO MUCH SORROW, because she glorified herself and lived deliciously, while she lived; whatsoever her flesh wanted, that she did; for Mystery, Babylon the great city built by the devil himself to deceive his followers to follow him, HAD IT ALL and at all times; he would steal EVERY SECOND you had. He would give you so much that you COULD NOT think about your soul and eternity; and those who are the elect, the devil has used his Babylon to hinder us in our journey to our city which hath foundations, who builder and maker is God.

We, as Abraham, can LIFT up our EYES and BEHOLD ALL that we can SEE and AS far as we can see, IS OURS!

  Daniel 7:27~ "And the kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of the kingdom UNDER THE WHOLE HEAVEN, SHALL BE GIVEN TO THE PEOPLE OF THE SAINTS OF THE MOST HIGH, whose kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey him."

This earth shall be taken AWAY from those who are wicked and who have destroyed it and it shall be given to God's elect. Yes, this world as we know it will be burned up, and a new earth and heaven shall be created for them. It will be as the Ggarden of Eden before the fall. It will be full mansions per John 14, for all of its inhabitants are ALL KINGS and PRIESTS. John 14:1-3; Revelation 1:6; 5:10! These words are more true than gravity.

YES, BABYLON'S WALL ARE COMING DOWN! SING that song and SHOUT as you sing it with understanding. BABYLON IS FALLEN, IS FALLEN, TO RISE NO MORE! Remember those words: NO MORE, AT ALL, for you will read them a few times from verse 11 to 23.

"And the merchants OF THE EARTH shall weep and mourn over her." The children of Babylon shall weep and mourn! WHY? Their playground, where they serve their uncontrollable lust is now DESTROYED! While they had this world and all things therein; they sang, rejoiced, and laugh; BUT NOW, they are weeping and mourning!

  Luke 6:25~"WOE unto you that are FULL! for he SHALL hunger. (this is NOT speaking of food; but of the PLEASURES OF THIS LIFE) WOE unto you that LAUGH NOW! for you SHALL MOURN and WEEP."

Matthew 24:30~"And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven, and then shall ALL the tribes of the EARTH MOURN, and they SHALL SEE the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory."

Here in Revelation 18, their mourning and weeping is JUST beginning! Read Revelation 14:9-11

"For no man buyeth their merchandise ANY MORE." This world will not last forever, it will soon be destroyed forever.........The merchandise that is mentioned in verse 12, are things that are used in this world to make the things that the people of the earth lust after. The things mentioned in verse 13 are the things used by the people of Babylon to serve them and their untempered appetite. They are the FRUITS that their soul lusted after; ALL things which were DAINTY AND GOODLY.

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."

Luke 17:28~"Likewise also as it were in the days of Lot; they did EAT, they DRANK, they BROUGHT, they SOLD, they PLANTED, they BUILDED;"

 

Revelation 18:15-16~"The merchants of these things, which were made rich by her, shall stand afar off for the fear of her torment, WEEPING and WAILING, 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!"

This beautiful, glorious, playground for the children of Babylon, SHALL FALL TO RISE NO MORE.

The children of Babylon COULD NOT BELIEVE that their GREAT CITY is being destroyed by FIRE. verse 18

She is made desolate because of ALL of the ABOMINATIONS therein! Revelation 17:5 cp. 18:19

The people of Babylon lived HIGH: "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!....." Revelation 18:19

We WILL REJOICE over her in that day, when we see her FALL. verse 20
 
"And a mightily 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."

verse 21~"And the voice of harpers, and musicians, and pipers, and trumpeters, shall be heard no more at all in thee; (the world and their music will be forever gone. ALLELUIA!) 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."
 
Verse 22~They WILL not be needed, for THEIR WORLD IS GONE FOREVER!

And the light of a candle shall shine no more at all in thee; (Babylon will fall, never to rise again, so there will never be a need for lights again) and the voice of the bridegroom and of the bride shall be heard NO MORE AT ALL (HOW MANY TIMES have we read those words? We should KNOW by now; THIS WORLD WILL PASS AWAY  FOREVER VERY SOON) for thy merchants were the GREAT MEN of the EARTH; (or BABYLON) for by thy sorceries were ALL NATIONS DECEIVED."

verse 23~EVERYTHING (verses 12-14) in THIS WORLD is USED by the devil and his children, to deceive ALL the simple ones, who REFUSED the wisdom found ONLY in the HOLY SCRIPTURES. The devil uses SORCERIES through the THINGS IN BABYLON TO SEDUCE PEOPLE INTO FOLOWING HIM.

In Revelation 17 we saw the she was drunken with the blood of SAINTS. In Revelation 18:24, we find here that there were blood of saints as well; but they were not drunken with the blood of saints, as the whore was; But we find something in this Babylon that was not in the whore:

 "And in her was found the blood of prophets, and saints, and of ALL that were slain UPON THE EARTH." Many have died through wars; because of sex crime; hatred, accidents, and many others ways, other than religion. ALL of the slain are found in MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT CITY THAT IS AT ENMITY against the God who created all things therein!

                                                                                    SUMMARY OF MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT CITY OF THE BEAST

This beast WAS from the beginning; BUT he was wounded to death, by the Son of man, Jesus Christ, who was also, the Son of the living God; But it WAS the SON of MAN that defeated the devil; the god of BABYLON. This beast will be healed from his deadly wound at the time of the end of this world, and ALL of the world (BABYLON) shall wonder after the beast. The people of Babylon shall be ONE mind, and SHALL give their power and strength unto the beast to make BABYLON the means of their deception. They DO NOT know that their god is using them to deceive themselves and others!! THIS BEAST will make a city that HAS EVERYTHING for his deceived followers. He will deceive them into believing that THEY ARE GREAT, POWERFUL and there is NO ONE like GREAT BABYLON. WHO is BABYLON? This world and the people therein.

We started in the OT and worked our way to Revelation to help you to see and understand, WHO and WHAT is MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT. I do not claim perfection, but I KNOW this is the TRUTH concerning this subject before us.

                                                                                                What shall we do as Christians who live in BABYLON?

JEREMIAH 29:5-7 "Build ye houses, and dwell in them; and plant gardens, eat the fruit of them; Take ye wives, (NOT of Babylon) and beget sons and daughters; and take wives for your sons, and give your daughters to husbands; that ye may be increased there, and not diminished. And seek the peace of the CITY whither I have caused you to be carried away captives, and pray unto the Lord for it: for in the peace thereof shall ye have peace."

“Who is wise, and he shall understand THESE THINGS? Prudent, and he SHALL KNOW THEM?….” Hosea 14:9

Reader, your prayer request to God should be as Daniel’s prayer request to his three friends concerning Nebuchadnezzzar’s dream: “That they would desire MERCIES of the God of heaven concerning this SECRET;”  Daniel 2:18

We will close with this prayer: "Oh, LORD, help us to cleave unto thee while we are strangers in our Babylon. We bless and praise thee, that you have not left us in darkness concerning our life in this world. We will wait upon we thee to come for us to receive us unto thyself, that where thou art, there we shall be forever. Even so, come, Lord Jesus." AMEN!  Peace be upon all those saints who love the Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity; who exercise themselves to have a conscience void of offence toward God, and toward man.

[Amo]

THE BRIDE AND BABYLON

Chapter 1

Rev 12:1 And there appeared a great wonder in heaven; a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and upon her head a crown of twelve stars: 2  And she being with child cried, travailing in birth, and pained to be delivered. 3 And there appeared another wonder in heaven; and behold a great red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns, and seven crowns upon his heads. 4 And his tail drew the third part of the stars of heaven, and did cast them to the earth: and the dragon stood before the woman which was ready to be delivered, for to devour her child as soon as it was born. 5 And she brought forth a man child, who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron: and her child was caught up unto God, and to his throne. 6  And the woman fled into the wilderness, where she hath a place prepared of God, that they should feed her there a thousand two hundred and threescore days.

Rev 17:1 And there came one of the seven angels which had the seven vials, and talked with me, saying unto me, Come hither; I will shew unto thee the judgment of the great whore that sitteth upon many waters: 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. 3 So he carried me away in the spirit into the wilderness: and I saw a woman sit upon a scarlet coloured beast, full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns. 4 And the woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet colour, and decked with gold and precious stones and pearls, having a golden cup in her hand full of abominations and filthiness of her fornication: 5 And upon her forehead was a name written, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH. 6 And I saw the woman drunken with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus: and when I saw her, I wondered with great admiration.

In these two women of the book of Revelation, are revealed the two powers which have been at war upon this planet since the fall of humanity in the Garden of Eden. The powers that be of the Prince of heaven, and the powers that be of the prince of this fallen world below. This power struggle or war, was predicted in the Garden of Eden itself, immediately after the fall, in the curses God pronounced upon humanity and this world as a consequence of humanities disobedience.

Gen 3:14  And the LORD God said unto the serpent, Because thou hast done this, thou art cursed above all cattle, and above every beast of the field; upon thy belly shalt thou go, and dust shalt thou eat all the days of thy life: 15 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.

The above curse and prediction, are the first mention and prophecy concerning the continuous struggle there would be on this planet between the woman and the serpent, and between her seed and the serpents seed. The woman we will easily prove from scripture represents God’s chosen people as depicted throughout the Old Covenant as the nation of Israel, and the New Covenant as the Church of Christ Jesus our Lord. It is this woman and her seed, which the evil one and his seed have always been at war with, as depicted in the book of Revelation 12. Therefore does the chapter end with the following proclamation.

Rev 12:17  And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.

In Cain and Abel we are introduced to the beginnings of the separation in this world between God’s people of the woman and her seed, and the serpent and his seed. The ones who worship God according to faith in Him as He has provided and commands being her seed, and the ones who will not being the seed of the evil one of course (Gen 4:1-12). It is to be understood, that all of the serpents seed are involved in or part of counterfeit or scam if you will, religions, peoples, nations, tongues, tribes, and so on. These which Satan’s counterfeit  woman, BABYLON THE GREAT sits upon, and controls and manipulates through the kings and leaders of this world in opposition to God as Revelation chapter 17 addresses. Which verses 1 and 15 specifically address.

God’s creation of this world and His established kingdom here through humanity are the original of course, whose creation and kingdom satan wishes to take as his own. Therefore has he and does he continually create his counterfeits as far as possible or allowed by God Himself. Satan may want to be God, to take His throne, creations, and established kingdoms, but he cannot. Nor can he actually create anything, but only counterfeit or mimic that which God Himself has created, with those very things which God Himself has created. And this, only through the usurping power of lies, manipulation, and evil illegitimate control through deception and or force. All attributes which are the exact opposite of God’s, as proved and demonstrated in and though our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. 

God’s word established the prophetic symbolism of the only one and true religion in this world, in the woman and her seed as types of the real seed Christ Jesus our Lord, and His chosen followers. Who have always consisted of those having faith in and of Jesus Christ, who therefore keep the commandments of God, as Revelation 12:17 quoted above declares. Israel of old looked forward to our Lord Jesus Christ by prophetic faith, and spiritual Israel today looks back upon that established faith in Christ Jesus our Lord, and forward to His second coming unto salvation for His Saints which have the faith of Jesus Christ and keep the commandments of God.

Rev 14:12  Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.

Such are the original, established by God and His foreknowledge throughout the endless ages of eternity, in Christ Jesus our Lord. These are the seed of the woman prophetically predicted in Genesis after the fall. Who stand in juxtaposition and opposition to the evil one’s counterfeit woman, seed, and people of BABYLON THE GREAT, in this fallen world.

Eph 3:9 And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ: 10 To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God, 11 According to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord:

1Pe 1:18 Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; 19 But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: 20 Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you,

Rev 13:1 And I stood upon the sand of the sea, and saw a beast rise up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and upon his horns ten crowns, and upon his heads the name of blasphemy. 2 And the beast which I saw was like unto a leopard, and his feet were as the feet of a bear, and his mouth as the mouth of a lion: and the dragon gave him his power, and his seat, and great authority. 3 And I saw one of his heads as it were wounded to death; and his deadly wound was healed: and all the world wondered after the beast. 4 And they worshipped the dragon which gave power unto the beast: and they worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him? 5 And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given unto him to continue forty and two months. 6 And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven. 7 And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations. 8 And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.

Jesus Christ is the LAMB OF GOD, slain from the foundation of the world, according to His eternal purpose. This is the true religion of God established immediately after the fall, in the sacrificial system first demonstrated in scripture through Cain and Abel. In these two we see the separation that took place in this world between those who would accept that sacrifice by faith and obedience to God’s will concerning the same. As apposed to those who would walk away and form countless counterfeit religions, nations, peoples, and tongues living in defiance of the God of heaven under the guiding influence of the evil one, “that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world”. These are his seed, which according to God’s prophetic word as well, are also referred to as a woman or women. Though as is obvious, of a very different character and behavior than the woman or bride of Christ, His body, His church. From this point forward, we will be examining the evidence and revelations of holy scripture concerning these two prophetic women representing and or encompassing all the peoples of this entire world.

[RB]

There are two cases I may bring out here to illustrate the error.  First is the nature of the Beast of Revelation 13 and second is its head wound and subsequent healing.  I invite the reader to examine scripture references again and to research the secular history that it refers to.  Study to show yourself approved. (2 Tim 2:15)

The Beast is NOT a man.  According to Revelation 13:1 the Beast rises out of the sea and is described as having multiple horns.  The Bible interprets itself.
The book of Daniel sets the template for interpreting human-animal hybrid prophetic images.  They represent a system, a religion or a nation.  Horns proceeding out of the head of the human-animal hybrid refer to leadership or a succession of leaders.   The Beast arising out of the sea is an international religious system.  Revelation 17:15 tells us it is a system arising out of "The waters you saw, where the prostitute sits, are peoples, multitudes, nations and languages.ons and languages."

I'll give a quick brief overview of "my" understanding of this chapter. As students of the scriptures should know, evil beasts are images in Scripture that often signify the carnal (fleshly), beastly, dangerous nature of man. It is sometimes used to signify evil Kingdoms or wicked carnal individuals.

Psalms 73:22~"So foolish was I, and ignorant: I was as a beast before thee."

It is my position that beasts are often used in Scripture to signify the animalistic flesh-driven nature of man. Without Christ, man is as a creature or beast without conscience or wisdom, and like a beast his driving force is to get whatever it desires, to tear, to devour, without consideration for law. It is often used to represent kingdoms or individuals as a token of those who live by the flesh (carnal nature) rather than the Spirit of God's law. I also believe that Revelation chapter 13 uses this imagery to paint a portrait of the carnal kingdom of Satan, as well as the false prophets whom he empowers to devour. The carnal, rebellious, disobedient man ruled by Satan is the likness (image) of the beast.

Revelation 13:1-2~"And I stood upon the sand of the sea, and saw a beast rise up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and upon his horns ten crowns, and upon his heads the name of blasphemy. And the beast which I saw was like unto a leopard, and his feet were as the feet of a bear, and his mouth as the mouth of a lion: and the dragon gave him his power, and his seat, and great authority."

Without going into too much detail, the sea is often used in Scripture as a synonym for the deep, bottomless pit or abyss, the spiritual place where this evil spirit resides ready to be loosed upon man at any moment. The first beast is the body of the antichrist (his kingdom) that was wounded at Christ's death and resurrection. The heads in Scripture often signify authority, and the number 7 is the perfect number of completeness. Thus I believe that the 7 heads represent Satan's authority to rule as the prince of this world throughout time (7 mountains = 7 kingdoms). Horns in Scripture often signify the power of whatever is in view, as the horn that was broken in Daniel (meaning his power was broken). The number 10 signifies the fullness of whatever is in view. In this instance the 10 horns signify Satan's "Power" over men to rule for the fullness of this short period of time near the time of the end of the world. The fullness and rule of this period is also spoken of in Scripture as one hour~short time~little season, etc. . Thus these 10 horns rule (as kings) with the beast kingdom one hour. And their crowns again illustrate they reign with him. i.e., crowns are for kings.

Revelation 17:12~"And the ten horns which thou sawest are ten kings, which have received no kingdom as yet; but receive power as kings one hour with the beast."

This also shows clearly that the first beast (with these 10 horns) spans the completeness (7) of time, and near the end of this time (the 1 hour of God's judgment) when the church becomes spiritually Babylon, these 10 kings will reign with him for this short period (little season) after Satan is loosed from the bottomless pit. The wound that was healed was the power of Satan to deceive the nations, which was before taken away (when Satan was bound) by Christ. At this time when Satan is loosed (the wound healed), he again goes out to gather together and deceive the nations to bring them up against the camp of the saints.

Revelation 13:3~"And I saw one of his heads as it were wounded to death; and his deadly wound was healed: and all the world wondered after the beast."

Christ, of course, wounded him by the cross, and also looses the beast, or heals that wound, during the great tribulation just before this world comes to its end. Satan is loosed so that He might bring judgment upon the unfaithful (spiritual harlot) church made up of ALL FALSE CULTS.

Revelation 13:4-5~"And they worshipped the dragon which gave power unto the beast: and they worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him?

And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given unto him to continue forty and two months."

Under the authority of Satan, these kings rule and go to make war against the camp of the saints (the church),  being judged of God for its abominations, after which is the return of Christ on the clouds of glory. Christ wounds and Christ heals that wound, to the glory of God.

Psalms 68:20-22~
"He that is our God is the God of salvation; and unto GOD the Lord belong the issues from death. But God shall wound the head of his enemies, and the hairy scalp of such an one as goeth on still in his trespasses. The Lord said, I will bring again from Bashan, I will bring my people again from the depths of the sea:"

Compare Revelation 17:8,11 of, "the beast that was, and is not, and shall ascend out of the bottomless pit."  In other words, this is the Beast, this is the power of Satan as he brought Israel into apostasy, as Christ defeated him, and as he again ascends out of the bottomless pit to attack the church. Just as a ravenous beast would attack the sheep in a fold, so Satan comes as an adversary of the house of God. He was because He ruled before Christ bound him. He is not because Christ bound Him. And He ascends out of the Pit because Christ looses him.

And the ability to bring God's external church down was bound or restrained by Christ's binding Satan over 2000 years ago, but his loosing after the millennial reign allows this judgment, even as Israel was judged. Thus the Gentile congregation is no better than the Jewish one. Apostasy knows no bounds. The blasphemies that he speaks is his false teachings and contradictions forsaking the Word of God. These are the great things he speaks that deceive and which Revelation 13 talks about.

Revelation 13:6-7"And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven. And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations."

Same as Revelation 20 when Satan is loosed from the Pit to make war with the saints.

Revelation 13:8-9~"And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world. If any man have an ear, let him hear."

All of those who aren't sealed of God in Israel worship the carnal, Pseudo or Antichrist instead of God. He has deceived them so that they serve him, thinking they do God service.

Revelation 13:10-11~"He that leadeth into captivity shall go into captivity: he that killeth with the sword must be killed with the sword. Here is the patience and the faith of the saints. 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."

John sees another vision of a beast coming up from the earth. The earth signifies they come up from the world, and this beast has two horns like a lamb, but speaks as a dragon. This beast represents the false prophets. They come looking like they have the power of the messenger of light (horns signify power, the number two signifies the truthful witness of the church), but what gives them away is that they speak as the Dragon, which is Satan. In other words, they appear as a messenger of light, but their gospel is false and of the devil.

The first beast, who the false prophets cause men to worship, represents the antichrist, or more to the point Satan's substitute kingdom headed up by the man of sin. It is the body of false worshipers from ALL false cults in Babylon. Revelation is written this way because just as the true church is represented by the body of Christ, and the Old Testament congregation by the body of Moses, the false congregation is seen as the body of the anti (substitute) or false Christ. The false prophets are those who cause the unfaithful to depart from Scripture and worship Him. All Israel who are not sealed unto the day of redemption.

Revelation 13:12-14~"And he exerciseth all the power of the first beast before him, and causeth the earth and them which dwell therein to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed. And he doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men, And deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast; saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast, which had the wound by a sword, and did live."

The deadly wound was given the beast who is to be worshiped at the cross. Christ dealt the adversary a death wound so that he could not deceive the nations (and the church could be built), but at this time Satan is loosed from his prison. This is spoken of as the deadly wound being healed, and the reason is so that the unfaithful people of the world might again serve him (as judgment). The false prophets, the second beast, deceive the unfaithful people and seduce them into serving this antichrist kingdom by means of false miracles, signs, and wonders. Remember, Christ was bound for the specific purpose of the nations not being deceived. Now that He is loosed, his false prophets again deceive the nations, in order to usher in the Lord's second coming.

Revelation 13:15-16~"And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed. And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads:"

The false prophets give life to the likeness of the Antichrist by propagating their false teachings, which leads to them overcoming the church and causing all the faithful therein (the two witnesses) to be killed~or put to silence.  Those remaining as a judgment of God are said to be marked on their hand (not literally as some suppose, but spiritually) signifying their will belongs to them, and in their forehead, signifying their mind is sold out to Satan. Just as a cow is branded or marked to signify ownership, so this signifies these unsealed are slaves to the antichrist.

Revelation 13:17-18~"And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of man; and his number is Six hundred threescore and six."

The buying and selling signify the work of the church~being able to worship therein, etc, and no one can work there except those who have been spiritually marked slaves of Satan. The mark God tells us is 666, the number of a man~void of the Spirit of God. Read and understand:

Zachariah 13:7-9~"Awake, O sword, against my shepherd, and against the man that is my fellow, saith the LORD of hosts: smite the shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered: and I will turn mine hand upon the little ones. And it shall come to pass, that in all the land, saith the LORD, two parts therein shall be cut off and die; but the third shall be left therein. And I will bring the third part through the fire, and will refine them as silver is refined, and will try them as gold is tried: they shall call on my name, and I will hear them: I will say, It is my people: and they shall say, The LORD is my God.

Two third of whatever is under consideration is 666% of the whole. Mark in the forehead show they are in AGREEMENT with the beast and the mark on the RIGHT-hand shows they're in FELLOWSHIP with the beast the antichristian kingdoms (both religious and non-religious) of this world~it is a spiritual mark, not to be understood literally. See Galatians 2:9.

[Amo]

CHAPTER 2

IDENTIFYING THE WOMAN, VIRGIN, OR BRIDE

Rev 12:1 And there appeared a great wonder in heaven; a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and upon her head a crown of twelve stars: 2 And she being with child cried, travailing in birth, and pained to be delivered. 3 And there appeared another wonder in heaven; and behold a great red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns, and seven crowns upon his heads. 4 And his tail drew the third part of the stars of heaven, and did cast them to the earth: and the dragon stood before the woman which was ready to be delivered, for to devour her child as soon as it was born. 5 And she brought forth a man child, who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron: and her child was caught up unto God, and to his throne. 6 And the woman fled into the wilderness, where she hath a place prepared of God, that they should feed her there a thousand two hundred and threescore days…………………………………….
17 And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.

Uriah Smith says the following about the woman of Rev. 12.

A woman,” the true church. A corrupt woman is used to represent an apostate or corrupt church. Eze. 23:2-4; Revelation 17:3-6,15,18. By parity of reasoning, a pure woman, as in this instance, would represent the true church.  “The sun,” the light and glory of the gospel dispensation. “The moon,” the Mosaic dispensation. As the moon shines with a borrowed light derived from the sun, so the former dispensation shone with a light borrowed from the present. There they had the type and shadow; here we have the antitype and substance. “A crown of twelve stars,” the twelve apostles.

No symbols more fitting and impressive could be found than are here employed. The Mosaic dispensation shone with a light borrowed from the Christian dispensation, just as the moon shines with light borrowed from the sun. How appropriate, therefore, to represent the former by the moon, and the latter by the sun. The woman, the church, had the moon under her feet; that is, the mosaic dispensation had just ended, and the woman was clothed with the light of the gospel sun, which had just risen. By anticipation the church is represented as fully organized, with its twelve apostles, before the man-child, Christ, appeared upon the scene. This is easily accounted for by the fact that it was to be thus constituted immediately after Christ should commence his ministry; and he is more especially connected with this church than with that of the former dispensation. ( Daniel and the Revelation by Uriah Smith, Chap.12 pages 440 &441)

The above sound observations, offer a plausible spiritual application of the symbolism employed in the quoted verses under examination. They certainly represent concepts based and built upon biblical testimony and or established historical realities in relation to old covenant Israel, and new covenant spiritual Israel, Christ’s church if you will. We will examine more scriptural testimony and evidence backing up the symbolism of a woman representing both Israel of the old covenant and Christ’s church in this chapter. First though, we will examine other scriptures the writer believes the quoted verses of Rev 12 are a direct reference to. The terminology used, should certainly direct the minds of those familiar with the holy scriptures, to other instances making use of the same.

Gen 37:1 And Jacob dwelt in the land wherein his father was a stranger, in the land of Canaan. 2 These are the generations of Jacob. Joseph, being seventeen years old, was feeding the flock with his brethren; and the lad was with the sons of Bilhah, and with the sons of Zilpah, his father's wives: and Joseph brought unto his father their evil report. 3 Now Israel loved Joseph more than all his children, because he was the son of his old age: and he made him a coat of many colours. 4 And when his brethren saw that their father loved him more than all his brethren, they hated him, and could not speak peaceably unto him. 5 And Joseph dreamed a dream, and he told it his brethren: and they hated him yet the more. 6 And he said unto them, Hear, I pray you, this dream which I have dreamed: 7 For, behold, we were binding sheaves in the field, and, lo, my sheaf arose, and also stood upright; and, behold, your sheaves stood round about, and made obeisance to my sheaf. 8 And his brethren said to him, Shalt thou indeed reign over us? or shalt thou indeed have dominion over us? And they hated him yet the more for his dreams, and for his words. 9 And he dreamed yet another dream, and told it his brethren, and said, Behold, I have dreamed a dream more; and, behold, the sun and the moon and the eleven stars made obeisance to me. 10 And he told it to his father, and to his brethren: and his father rebuked him, and said unto him, What is this dream that thou hast dreamed? Shall I and thy mother and thy brethren indeed come to bow down ourselves to thee to the earth? 11 And his brethren envied him; but his father observed the saying.

While books can and have been written concerning Joseph being a type of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, we will only be examining the certain aspects of such, which relate to the topic at hand. As the two are certainly connected by prophetic utterance, terminology and or symbolism, and fulfillment.

As can be observed in the above quoted and highlighted verses from Genesis chapter 37, the sun, moon, and stars are prophetic symbolism shared in the above quoted verses and Rev 12:1. This connection I believe, is in relation to the  miraculous nature in which God established both Israel of old, and spiritual Israel of the new covenant in Christ’s church. Both institutions, churches, nations, or kingdoms if you will, being directly established by God’s miraculous power in and yet apart from this world. Being themselves also established by God, for the exact purpose of being in and yet apart from this world.

While Genesis 37:9 only mentions eleven stars referring to eleven of Jacob’s, or Israel’s sons, Joseph himself being one of them would make the number twelve. These are the twelve sons of Israel , through whom the twelve tribes of what would become the nation of Israel, were miraculously sustained and developed by God as apart and distinct from the other peoples and nations of this world. The following scriptures confirming such, and identifying that which above all else separated them from the other nations of this world.

Psa 135:4 For the LORD hath chosen Jacob unto himself, and Israel for his peculiar treasure.

Exo 19:5 Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine:

Deu 14:2 For thou art an holy people unto the LORD thy God, and the LORD hath chosen thee to be a peculiar people unto himself, above all the nations that are upon the earth.

Deu 26:16 This day the LORD thy God hath commanded thee to do these statutes and judgments: thou shalt therefore keep and do them with all thine heart, and with all thy soul. 17 Thou hast avouched the LORD this day to be thy God, and to walk in his ways, and to keep his statutes, and his commandments, and his judgments, and to hearken unto his voice: 18 And the LORD hath avouched thee this day to be his peculiar people, as he hath promised thee, and that thou shouldest keep all his commandments; 19 And to make thee high above all nations which he hath made, in praise, and in name, and in honour; and that thou mayest be an holy people unto the LORD thy God, as he hath spoken.

Tit 2:11 For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,
12 Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; 13 Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; 14 Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.

1Pe 2:6 Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded. 7 Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner, 8 And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed. 9 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light: 10 Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy. 11 Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul; 12 Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation.

That the Israel of God was brought forth and established by His miraculous power alone in both the old and new covenants, is beyond question. The scriptures themselves being a written testimony and record of the same. Joseph was himself used by God as a type of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, in the miraculous salvation or preservation if one prefers, of His own people and much of the world during the intense and widespread famine that was approaching (Gen 41). Both Joseph, and our Lord when here among us as one of us, were despised, betrayed, sold, and forsaken by their own brethren. The end result of each being the salvation of many of the very ones who did so, and a very great number of others. This, all according as God Himself had purposed.

One of the traits of those who would be God’s peculiar people in this world, was referred to several times in the above quoted verses. They believed and obeyed His voice. They kept His commandments. Which commands included a sacrificial system which typified the sacrifice of our Lord and savior Jesus Christ. They were therefore, those who kept the commandments of God, and had the testimony of Jesus Christ. These are the main identifying marks of the woman of the book of Revelation as well, chapter twelve verse seventeen quoted at the opening of this chapter. These have been the identifying marks of God’s people in this world, in contrast to it, since the beginning. We see the division which took place before the flood in Cain and Abel regarding the commanded sacrifice typifying Christ, which we have already discussed. There is also the testimony and record regarding Abraham who is considered the father of Israel because of this same faith. Who does not know of God’s call for him to sacrifice his only son, as a type of the sacrifice of Jesus Christ our Lord, the Son of God. Of whom also the following testimonies of scripture were written.

Gen 18:17 And the LORD said, Shall I hide from Abraham that thing which I do; 18 Seeing that Abraham shall surely become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth shall be blessed in him? 19 For I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the LORD, to do justice and judgment; that the LORD may bring upon Abraham that which he hath spoken of him.

Gen 26:1 And there was a famine in the land, beside the first famine that was in the days of Abraham. And Isaac went unto Abimelech king of the Philistines unto Gerar. 2 And the LORD appeared unto him, and said, Go not down into Egypt; dwell in the land which I shall tell thee of: 3 Sojourn in this land, and I will be with thee, and will bless thee; for unto thee, and unto thy seed, I will give all these countries, and I will perform the oath which I sware unto Abraham thy father; 4 And I will make thy seed to multiply as the stars of heaven, and will give unto thy seed all these countries; and in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; 5 Because that Abraham obeyed my voice, and kept my charge, my commandments, my statutes, and my laws.

Gen 22:15 And the angel of the LORD called unto Abraham out of heaven the second time, 16 And said, By myself have I sworn, saith the LORD, for because thou hast done this thing, and hast not withheld thy son, thine only son: 17 That in blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which is upon the sea shore; and thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies; 18 And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed my voice.

Heb 11:17  By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son, 18 Of whom it was said, That in Isaac shall thy seed be called: 19 Accounting that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead; from whence also he received him in a figure.

Jas 2:19  Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble. 20 But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead? 21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar? 22 Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect? 23 And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God.

Joseph’s father was Jacob, whose name had been changed to Israel by God Himself at Jacob’s conversion (Gen 32:22-30). Jacob’s father was Isaac, the miracle child of Abraham, who also typified our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ in his miraculous birth and in being the child of promise (Gen 17:15-21, Rom 9:4-13). These are of the line through which God established His old and new covenant peoples, nation, religion, or church. 

Josephs father and mother were chosen vessels of God concerning His people, represented as the sun and moon in his vision. He and his brothers were the twelve stars of his vision, and the twelve foundations of the twelve tribes the Israel of God was built upon. This peculiar nation established by God in this world, during the old covenant, as separate and distinct from the rest of the world, who did not acknowledge God. The Israel of God stands in contrast from the rest of the world, in that they do acknowledge, believe in, and obey God. They were and are those who keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.

Therefore also is the woman depicted in Revelation chapter twelve, composed of those who keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ. Therefore also are the Father and mother of the miraculous seed, which is and has always been Christ Jesus our Lord, represented as the sun and moon. Miracle of miracles, Jesus Christ the promised Messiah, son of man, and Son of God. Whose Father is God, and mother is of the very line of those establishing the old covenant nation of God in this world. Just as they and their nation were established by the miracles of God, so also is God’s new covenant Israel and church in Christ Jesus our Lord, and His chosen twelve apostles whom the twelve stars represent. These are they of the new covenant who keep the commandments of God, and the testimony of Jesus Christ. These are of the women who represents God’s people, nation, kingdom, and or church in this world.

The following quoted verse are simply by way of establishing the prophetic symbolism of a women, virgin, or bride representing God’s people or chosen of this world.

Isa 62:4 Thou shalt no more be termed Forsaken; neither shall thy land any more be termed Desolate: but thou shalt be called Hephzibah, and thy land Beulah: for the LORD delighteth in thee, and thy land shall be married. 5 For as a young man marrieth a virgin, so shall thy sons marry thee: and as the bridegroom rejoiceth over the bride, so shall thy God rejoice over thee.

Jer 3:13 Only acknowledge thine iniquity, that thou hast transgressed against the LORD thy God, and hast scattered thy ways to the strangers under every green tree, and ye have not obeyed my voice, saith the LORD. 14 Turn, O backsliding children, saith the LORD; for I am married unto you: and I will take you one of a city, and two of a family, and I will bring you to Zion:

Jer 31:2 Thus saith the LORD, The people which were left of the sword found grace in the wilderness; even Israel, when I went to cause him to rest. 3 The LORD hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee. 4 Again I will build thee, and thou shalt be built, O virgin of Israel: thou shalt again be adorned with thy tabrets, and shalt go forth in the dances of them that make merry.

Jer 31:21 Set thee up waymarks, make thee high heaps: set thine heart toward the highway, even the way which thou wentest: turn again, O virgin of Israel, turn again to these thy cities.

Amos 5:1 Hear ye this word which I take up against you, even a lamentation, O house of Israel. 2 The virgin of Israel is fallen; she shall no more rise: she is forsaken upon her land; there is none to raise her up.

John 3:28 Ye yourselves bear me witness, that I said, I am not the Christ, but that I am sent before him. 29 He that hath the bride is the bridegroom: but the friend of the bridegroom, which standeth and heareth him, rejoiceth greatly because of the bridegroom's voice: this my joy therefore is fulfilled. 30 He must increase, but I must decrease.

Rom 7:4 Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ; that ye should be married to another, even to him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God.

2 Cor 11:1 Would to God ye could bear with me a little in my folly: and indeed bear with me. 2 For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.

Eph 5:24 Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing.[/b] 25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; 26 That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, 27 That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish. 28 So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself. 29 For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church:[/b] 30 For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones. 31 For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh. 32 This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church.

Rev 19:6 And I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude, and as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of mighty thunderings, saying, Alleluia: for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth. 7 Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready. 8 And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints. 9 And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, These are the true sayings of God.

The above is of course not an exhaustive list of scriptures or study of the subject. Easily enough though, to establish the Biblical truth of the prophetic symbolism of a women, virgin, or bride representing God’s people, nation, kingdom on earth, or church in Christ Jesus our Lord. The people who keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ, are prophetically represented as a women throughout scripture. From the fall and establishment of true religion in the Garden of Eden, to the final triumph and reconciliation of God’s own to Himself in and through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. The Bridegroom of His church and people as depicted in the closing pages of the bible in the book of Revelation.

We will examine the origin, character, and place of the other woman of Biblical prophecy in the next chapter.

[Amo]

CHAPTER 3

IDENTIFYING THE HARLOT, WHORE, OR BABYLON THE GREAT

Rev 17:1 And there came one of the seven angels which had the seven vials, and talked with me, saying unto me, Come hither; I will shew unto thee the judgment of the great whore that sitteth upon many waters: 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. 3 So he carried me away in the spirit into the wilderness: and I saw a woman sit upon a scarlet coloured beast, full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns. 4 And the woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet colour, and decked with gold and precious stones and pearls, having a golden cup in her hand full of abominations and filthiness of her fornication: 5 And upon her forehead was a name written, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH. 6 And I saw the woman drunken with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus: and when I saw her, I wondered with great admiration. 7 And the angel said unto me, Wherefore didst thou marvel? I will tell thee the mystery of the woman, and of the beast that carrieth her, which hath the seven heads and ten horns. 8 The beast that thou sawest was, and is not; and shall ascend out of the bottomless pit, and go into perdition: and 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. 9 And here is the mind which hath wisdom. The seven heads are seven mountains, on which the woman sitteth. 10 And there are seven kings: five are fallen, and one is, and the other is not yet come; and when he cometh, he must continue a short space. 11 And the beast that was, and is not, even he is the eighth, and is of the seven, and goeth into perdition. 12 And the ten horns which thou sawest are ten kings, which have received no kingdom as yet; but receive power as kings one hour with the beast. 13 These have one mind, and shall give their power and strength unto the beast. 14 These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with him are called, and chosen, and faithful. 15 And he saith unto me, The waters which thou sawest, where the whore sitteth, are peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues. 16 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. 17 For 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. 18 And the woman which thou sawest is that great city, which reigneth over the kings of the earth.

As Revelation chapter twelve was in fact a revelation concerning the first woman of biblical prophecy, so chapter seventeen is a revelation concerning the second woman of biblical prophecy, which is presented in apparent contradiction to the first. As stated in the previous chapter, the first woman of biblical prophecy was presented or established, in the first prophecy given by God immediately after the fall. She is directly connected to the establishment of the one and only true religion of intercession between humanity and God since the fall. Which was established by God Himself, by faith in Christ Jesus our Lord, symbolized throughout scripture as the LAMB OF GOD sacrificed for the sins of the world at its foundation(Rev 13:8). This is the woman whom the serpent would attack, creating enmity between her seed and the serpents seed(Gen 3:13-15). The history of which enmity, is expounded upon in Revelation chapter 12, describing this enmity between the woman and the great dragon, “that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan”(Rev 12:9). Chapter seventeen which we are now examining is a revelation of the second woman of biblical prophecy, expounding upon her history and characteristics.

Her history also goes all the way back to the fall of humanity in the garden, as referred to in Revelation chapter twelve in the statement regarding “that old serpent”, who is the devil. Who is himself the father of all lies, which he began to tell to humanity in the garden, in contradiction to God’s word.

Joh 8:44  Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.

He was a murderer and a liar from the beginning. This second woman of biblical prophecy is his counterfeit of God’s truth, God’s one and only true religion, and God’s intentions for humanity. He contradicted God’s word regarding the tree of life which lead all of humanity unto death. Then he contradicted God’s original established pure religion of salvation in Christ alone, represented in the old testament by the sacrifice and offering of a lamb, with the presentation of an offering of the works of one’s own hands. As already discussed previously, Cains offering was not according to God’s direction and plan. It embodies the separation which took place between the seed of the first woman of biblical prophecy, and the counterfeit second woman of deception in rebellion against God’s word and direction. The serpents first disciple and religious seed rejected God’s plan, and murdered his brother for trying to correct and therefore save him from this death producing deception. That is, in believing that the works of our own hands can have anything to do with our salvation, in contradiction to and rebellion against God’s testimony and direction.

This second woman of biblical prophecy represents the evil one, and all of his false religions, philosophies, sciences, and what have you, of this world existing in contradiction to God’s truth. Therefore can it be said of her -

Rev 18:24 And in her was found the blood of prophets, and of saints, and of all that were slain upon the earth.

Cain killed Abel according to the spirit of the evil one who works in all the lies of this world in contradiction to God’s word, which is truth. All murder is motivated by this same spirit of the evil one. First manifested in Cain, the first chosen disciple of false religion and lies. Therefore also, have those who believe and intend to obey the truths of God’s word, been the special target for persecution and death, of the evil one and his minions in this world. An enmity which will not end, until this world itself does. Let’s look at some more of the details provided in Rev 17 concerning this second woman of biblical prophecy.

Rev 17:1  And there came one of the seven angels which had the seven vials, and talked with me, saying unto me, Come hither; I will shew unto thee the judgment of the great whore that sitteth upon many waters:

This second women of biblical prophecy is referred to as the great whore, who sits upon many waters. Before we address the reference to her as the great whore in the next chapter, we will examine the meaning of the many waters she sits upon. Verse fifteen of this same chapter defines this symbolism for us.

Rev 17:15  And he saith unto me, The waters which thou sawest, where the whore sitteth, are peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues.

This women sits upon many different peoples, multitudes, nations, and tongues. Where do these many different peoples, multitudes, nations, and tongues come from? We have the following testimony regarding the pre-flood world.

Gen 6:1 And it came to pass, when men began to multiply on the face of the earth, and daughters were born unto them, 2 That the sons of God saw the daughters of men that they were fair; and they took them wives of all which they chose. 3 And the LORD said, My spirit shall not always strive with man, for that he also is flesh: yet his days shall be an hundred and twenty years. 4 There were giants in the earth in those days; and also after that, when the sons of God came in unto the daughters of men, and they bare children to them, the same became mighty men which were of old, men of renown. 5 And GOD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. 6 And it repented the LORD that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart. 7 And the LORD said, I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth; both man, and beast, and the creeping thing, and the fowls of the air; for it repenteth me that I have made them. 8 But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD.

We do not have as detailed a history of the world from scripture concerning the pre-flood world, as of that in relation to God’s people since the time of the flood and forward. The history of the pre-flood world has been condensed into just a few chapters in the scriptures, unto revealing the most crucial parts apparently, for our proper understanding. There is no mention of various peoples, multitudes, nations, or tongues in scripture concerning the Antediluvians.

Their long life spans ensured that many generations existed contemporaneously. It is likely that the Antediluvians had a universal language and knowledge, being handed down easily as several generations existed and mingled together at the same time. The only real separation referred to in the scriptures, is concerning the sons of God, and the daughters of men. Many believe these verses are a reference to the amalgamation of angelic and human beings through sexual intercourse. Apart from these verses though, the scriptures never suggest any such thing. The writer contends that these scriptures are simply referring to the separation which took place first at least, through Cain, who rejected God’s plan and directions for salvation and murdered his brother of the true faith. Being thereafter separated from God’s own who accepted and submitted to His plan who were still considered the sons of God by keeping His commands and the testimony of Jesus Christ, as explained earlier (Gen 4:9-16). No doubt there were others who followed Cain’s example in rejecting the truth.

These sons of God who remained in the faith of God, began to intermingle with the daughters of men, who were not of the faith. This problem was addressed again later in scripture concerning the nation of Israel (Jdg 3:1-6, Ezr 10, Neh 13:23-31).The results were devastating, as the rest of the scriptures short account of the pre-flood world testifies. Rapidly leading to a world filled with a humanity whose thoughts were evil always and only. Such a transition would no doubt take place more rapidly in a world with a universal language, and shared historical and experiential knowledge. The account continues and ends of course, with the global flood destroying the pre-flood world, and almost all of humanity along with it. Save Noah and his family because of their belief in and obedience to God’s commands, while maintaining the testimony of Jesus Christ. Which brings us back to the main point we are addressing, as in where all the peoples, multitudes, nations, and tongues which the whore sits upon came from.

After the flood, as humanity began to repopulate the earth as God had instructed (Gen 8:17, 9:1&7), we have the following account from scripture as well.

Gen 11:1 And the whole earth was of one language, and of one speech. 2 And it came to pass, as they journeyed from the east, that they found a plain in the land of Shinar; and they dwelt there. 3 And they said one to another, Go to, let us make brick, and burn them throughly. And they had brick for stone, and slime had they for morter. 4 And they said, Go to, let us build us a city and a tower, whose top may reach unto heaven; and let us make us a name, lest we be scattered abroad upon the face of the whole earth. 5 And the LORD came down to see the city and the tower, which the children of men builded. 6 And the LORD said, Behold, the people is one, and they have all one language; and this they begin to do: and now nothing will be restrained from them, which they have imagined to do. 7 Go to, let us go down, and there confound their language, that they may not understand one another's speech. 8 So the LORD scattered them abroad from thence upon the face of all the earth: and they left off to build the city. 9 Therefore is the name of it called Babel; because the LORD did there confound the language of all the earth: and from thence did the LORD scatter them abroad upon the face of all the earth.

It was God Himself, who divided humanity at the tower of Babel by confusing the language of the people. They were apparently in danger of unifying unto rebellion against God again, too rapidly for God’s purposes to be fulfilled in the salvation of as many of humanity as possible. God had already revealed that there is a limit to His forbearance with universal apostasy or rebellion in the destruction of the first world by the flood. It seems that He took measures to prevent such from happening again ahead of His own timing, concerning His plan of salvation through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Fallen humanity was and is prone to universal rebellion while enjoying the benefits of a universal language conducive to shared knowledge and experience. So God Himself created the condition of many different peoples, multitudes, nations, and tongues as a preventative measure against this annihilating tendency.

Shortly thereafter, as scripture testifies, choosing a line of humanity to make His own chosen people among the many of this world. Who were themselves to be a witness and testimony of Him to all the other peoples, multitudes, nations, and tongues. Which God Himself also brought to fruition as the scriptures reveal and testify. It was and has been the evil one’s purpose of course, to make as many of these peoples, multitudes, nations, and tongues, his very own. Then to use them against God’s own in this world. Nevertheless, God ordained that it should be so, not the evil one.

Such was apparently necessary - 
1. to prevent universal apostasy unto destruction again before God’s own appointed time,
2. to create clear boundaries and distinctions between God’s own and the rest of this world,
3. to create an atmosphere and condition of choice to be made by humanity between the two diametrically opposed systems of belief and practice being demonstrated.

Never again are God’s people in this world to become part of a universal apostasy, ending in the destruction of the entire planet.  The unity of all humanity is an object and goal of the evil one, as he knows it can only be accomplished in a state of apostasy from God. It can only be accomplished in this world through compromises which are unacceptable before God. Therefore has God called His own to be a peculiar and separate people.

Exo 19:5 Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, hen ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine:

Deu 14:2 For thou art an holy people unto the LORD thy God, and the LORD hath chosen thee to be a peculiar people unto himself, above all the nations that are upon the earth.

Deu 26:18  And the LORD hath avouched thee this day to be his peculiar people, as he hath promised thee, and that thou shouldest keep all his commandments;

Tit 2:14 Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.

1Pe 2:9 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:

The Lord divided humanity at the tower of Babel because they were unified in seeking a name for themselves. Self exaltation was their purpose, as is and has been the purpose of the evil one (Isa 14:12-20). All such is in defiance of God, who alone actually is exalted above all else. Not as a matter of determination or purpose, but as a simple matter of fact. God is.  Apart from Him is naught. All who exalt themselves apart from Him are and will be naught.

The evil one of course seeks to control and manipulate all according to his purposes of self exaltation. He does so through all the false religions, sciences, philosophies, politics, and so on of this world which are apart from God. His chosen people and most highly exalted institution sits upon the many peoples, multitudes, nations, and tongues of this earth unto rebellion against God. She establishes illicit relations with all the kings or leaders of the earth, and their peoples unto unified apostasy against God in self exaltation. God destroyed the evils one’s united humanity in rebellion against Him with a global flood. The evil one seeks to destroy God’s people now, with a flood of waters who are the peoples, multitudes, nations, and tongues which his chosen institution and woman of biblical prophecy sits upon. His unification of humanity is in rebellion against God and toward the destruction of His people in this world.

Rev 12:13 And when the dragon saw that he was cast unto the earth, he persecuted the woman which brought forth the man child. 14 And to the woman were given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness, into her place, where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a time, from the face of the serpent. 15 And the serpent cast out of his mouth water as a flood after the woman, that he might cause her to be carried away of the flood. 16 And the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed up the flood which the dragon cast out of his mouth. 17 And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.

The devil is a counterfeiter. He has not the power to flood the world with water as God did, to destroy his chosen enemies while delivering his own. He therefore intends to use the many peoples, multitudes, nations, and tongues living in defiance of God, to do this dirty work for him. As time continues, advances in technology are increasing fallen humanities abilities of real time communication, determination, and consequential action. The unification of humanity unto universal apostasy and rebellion against God once again, is becomong an unavoidable destination. Not ahead however, of God’s plans or appointed time. These same technologies and advancements in global communications, also provide opportunity for shared universal comprehension of the diametrically opposed systems of belief and practice between this world and God’s own. This will eventually produce the desired effect of bringing all to point of decision regarding them, at which time the harvests of this earth will be ripe and ready for harvesting. As the following scriptures depict.

Rev 14:6 And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people, 7 Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters. 8 And there followed another angel, saying, Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication. 9 And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand, 10 The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb: 11 And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name. 12 Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus. 13 And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them. 14 And I looked, and behold a white cloud, and upon the cloud one sat like unto the Son of man, having on his head a golden crown, and in his hand a sharp sickle. 15 And another angel came out of the temple, crying with a loud voice to him that sat on the cloud, Thrust in thy sickle, and reap: for the time is come for thee to reap; for the harvest of the earth is ripe. 16 And he that sat on the cloud thrust in his sickle on the earth; and the earth was reaped. 17 And another angel came out of the temple which is in heaven, he also having a sharp sickle. 18 And another angel came out from the altar, which had power over fire; and cried with a loud cry to him that had the sharp sickle, saying, Thrust in thy sharp sickle, and gather the clusters of the vine of the earth; for her grapes are fully ripe. 19 And the angel thrust in his sickle into the earth, and gathered the vine of the earth, and cast it into the great winepress of the wrath of God. 20 And the winepress was trodden without the city, and blood came out of the winepress, even unto the horse bridles, by the space of a thousand and six hundred furlongs.

Our world is rapidly approaching once again, a time of universal communication, though not language. A time of universally shared historical and experiential knowledge, though both are increasingly based upon false narratives, unto shared and universal rebellion against God once again. The result will be the same this time around as it was the first. Annihilation of this present world and everyone and thing in it, save God’s own according to His own will and timing.

The false narratives, gospels, sciences, philosophies, and fear mongering politics of this world are being unified under the supposed “moral” guidance of the devils second counterfeit woman of biblical prophecy. She stands in juxtaposition to the unified body of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, in His true church, the first woman depicted in biblical prophecy. All must and will make their choice concerning which unified body they will belong to.

Global persecution of God’s own by the woman who rides the beast, is just around the corner for all. As the earth opened its mouth to receive the blood of Abel at the hands of Cain as a testimony against his rebellious and evil act, so it will open its mouth again to protect God’s own from the flood of waters the evil one intends to carry them away with.

Gen 4:8 And Cain talked with Abel his brother: and it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother, and slew him. 9 And the LORD said unto Cain, Where is Abel thy brother? And he said, I know not: Am I my brother's keeper? 10 And he said, What hast thou done? the voice of thy brother's blood crieth unto me from the ground. 11 And now art thou cursed from the earth, which hath opened her mouth to receive thy brother's blood from thy hand;

Rev 12:13  And when the dragon saw that he was cast unto the earth, he persecuted the woman which brought forth the man child. 14 And to the woman were given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness, into her place, where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a time, from the face of the serpent. 15 And the serpent cast out of his mouth water as a flood after the woman, that he might cause her to be carried away of the flood. 16 And the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed up the flood which the dragon cast out of his mouth. 17 And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.

The true extent and effect of the above prophecy concerning the earth swallowing up the serpents flood, I do believe remains to be seen. Possibly in the seven last plagues of God’s judgments upon humanity for their universal rebellion against His rightful and proved authority once again. Far from being the saviors of this earth, the false narratives and fear mongering politics being preached by many religious and political leaders of this earth, are the exact cause of these final plagues from God and this worlds final end. Unlike God, they push their false narratives and lies to the extreme. Employing coercion, censorship of opposing views, and eventually brutal and deadly force against freedom of conscience and liberty of mind. Therefore will God punish their deeds, and destroy the earth they pretend to be the saviors of, in order to have usurped and evil dominion over and above it. We will continue on the next chapter addressing who and what the great whore is. 

[Choir Loft]

Well, now, you do not know me~Wars and rumors of wars in Matthew 24; Mark 13; and Luke 21 are all SPIRITUAL IN NATURE, not natural wars which have been since the world began. RCC/EOC is no more dangerous (maybe even less) than the modern-day "Faith" movement and Pentecostalism overall and a few more cults that have arisen since the mid-1800s.

The latter-day wars will be spiritual in nature against the saints of God from all sources.One word for you: Maybe you should be at the altar praying, instead of hollering into the air.

Wars and rumors of wars are SPIRITUAL IN NATURE - or so you wrote.

Apparently you do not have access to news sources regarding the war in Ukraine. 
There's a great deal of PHYSICAL suffering and death involved in it.

HISTORIC FACT declares the Roman Catholic church has been responsible for the DEATH and PERSECUTION of more saints of God, including Jews, than ALL OTHER RELIGIONS COMBINED including Islam. (see Revelation 16:6) The United States of America was founded by people who wanted to escape the type of religious persecution sponsored by the RCC and its droid religions.  Denying this historic fact doesn't erase it or sweep it under the carpet where no one can see.  It brings into stark relief the horror of WAR.  Spiritual or political it's all the same. The war in Ukraine is a present reminder of this truth.   It cannot be denied.

Go out and buy a newspaper.  If you aren't used to reading you can look at the pictures.

Physical as well as spiritual causes contribute to the outbreak of war and hostility.  Someone else has what someone wants. 
Ignorance and foolishness contribute to argument between individuals.  Someone offers historic and scriptural truth even as someone else depends upon buzz words, religious slogans and doctrines of demons for their inspiration.

So what's wrong with hollering from the choir loft?    Instead of insulting another person's choice of signature why don't you invest a modicum of imagination to invent your own?   When you do you'll quickly discover some fool doesn't like it - for no real reason at all (which is the modus operandi of fools).

that's me, hollering from the choir loft...

[Amo]

CHAPTER 4 THE GREAT WHORE

Rev 17:1 And there came one of the seven angels which had the seven vials, and talked with me, saying unto me, Come hither; I will shew unto thee the judgment of the great whore that sitteth upon many waters:

Having established that the first woman of biblical prophecy depicted as a virgin or bride also, represents those of this world which keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ, we will now turn our attention toward understanding who the great whore represents. What do the scriptures have to say about whoredom, and its effects.

Lev 19:29  Do not prostitute thy daughter, to cause her to be a whore; lest the land fall to whoredom, and the land become full of wickedness.

This command from God to Israel, was for their own welfare and preservation. Whoredom leads a land to wickedness. What is whoredom but a cheap counterfeit of love, which money can buy. The mere outward physical act, without authentic care, feeling, or attachment. God is love. He does care. He is attached to His creations, and authentically concerned for our well being. He has proved all of this in and through His Son Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior. Righteous individuals and nations are built upon the out workings and principles of this true love. Whoredom and fornication are about cheap counterfeit unfeeling and uninvolved “love”. Which is really nothing but love of self, and simply the fulfillment of personal gratification concerning the lusts of the flesh. Those that be of this world so transfixed upon self as a result of sin and therefore separation from God. This whore then, represents a cheap and or counterfeit love, in the place of God’s true and authentic love. Love proved by the infinite cost of the sacrifice of the Son of God, for His people, His creation.

This truth about literal whoredom leading to wickedness, is just as true regarding spiritual whoredom.

Isa 57:1 The righteous perisheth, and no man layeth it to heart: and merciful men are taken away, none considering that the righteous is taken away from the evil to come. 2 He shall enter into peace: they shall rest in their beds, each one walking in his uprightness. 3 But draw near hither, ye sons of the sorceress, the seed of the adulterer and the whore. 4 Against whom do ye sport yourselves? against whom make ye a wide mouth, and draw out the tongue? are ye not children of transgression, a seed of falsehood, 5 Enflaming yourselves with idols under every green tree, slaying the children in the valleys under the clifts of the rocks? 6 Among the smooth stones of the stream is thy portion; they, they are thy lot: even to them hast thou poured a drink offering, thou hast offered a meat offering. Should I receive comfort in these? 7 Upon a lofty and high mountain hast thou set thy bed: even thither wentest thou up to offer sacrifice. 8 Behind the doors also and the posts hast thou set up thy remembrance: for thou hast discovered thyself to another than me, and art gone up; thou hast enlarged thy bed, and made thee a covenant with them; thou lovedst their bed where thou sawest it. 9 And thou wentest to the king with ointment, and didst increase thy perfumes, and didst send thy messengers far off, and didst debase thyself even unto hell.

Who among the Israelites were considered the seed of adultery and whoredom, but the children of transgression. Those who disobeyed God and made sacrifices to them that are no god’s. Are these not the children of Cain, abandoning the commanded sacrifices of God which typified our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, for sacrifices of the creation of humanities own hands? Abandoning the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord who sacrificed life itself for us, for deaf and dumb idols, who can neither hear nor answer any prayer. Cheap love and worship of cheap and imitation false gods, who have and can sacrifice nothing for humanity. Which god’s, who are the evil one’s counterfeits, did demand and accept the sacrifice of these fools own children. Whom they foolishly worshipped rather than the true God whose own Son would be sacrificed for them, and not the other way around. Who stopped the hand of Abraham from sacrificing his own son, whose sacrifice could save no one. Who commanded such by way of teaching and symbolism concerning the true LAMB OF GOD, who alone was sacrificed for the sins of the world, and who alone can save.

These are they of whoredom, who turn from the authentic love of the living God, and the only authentic Sacrifice unto salvation. Who transgress God’s commands based upon authentic love and care for His creation, unto cheap imitating and  demoralizing counterfeits, for the temporary pleasure of selfish gain and or the lusts of the flesh. To be accepted of this world, and they that be of it, rather than accepted of God, and a follower of His Son.

1Jn 2:1 My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: 2 And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world. 3 And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments. 4 He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. 5 But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him. 6 He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.

It is those who keep His word, His commandments, that love Him. For what has the Lord always laid as the foundation of keeping His commands.

Deu 7:7 The LORD did not set his love upon you, nor choose you, because ye were more in number than any people; for ye were the fewest of all people: 8 But because the LORD loved you, and because he would keep the oath which he had sworn unto your fathers, hath the LORD brought you out with a mighty hand, and redeemed you out of the house of bondmen, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt. 9 Know therefore that the LORD thy God, he is God, the faithful God, which keepeth covenant and mercy with them that love him and keep his commandments to a thousand generations;

Deu 10:12 And now, Israel, what doth the LORD thy God require of thee, but to fear the LORD thy God, to walk in all his ways, and to love him, and to serve the LORD thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul, 13 To keep the commandments of the LORD, and his statutes, which I command thee this day for thy good?

Deu 11:1 Therefore thou shalt love the LORD thy God, and keep his charge, and his statutes, and his judgments, and his commandments, alway.

Deu 30:16 In that I command thee this day o love the LORD thy God, to walk in his ways, and to keep his commandments and his statutes and his judgments, that thou mayest live and multiply: and the LORD thy God shall bless thee in the land whither thou goest to possess it.

Deu 30:20 That thou mayest love the LORD thy God, and that thou mayest obey his voice, and that thou mayest cleave unto him: for he is thy life, and the length of thy days: that thou mayest dwell in the land which the LORD sware unto thy fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give them.

Mar 12:29  And Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord: 30 And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment. 31 And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these.

Love of God is the foundation and only proper motivation for keeping the commandments of God. Which represents love for purity, righteousness, holiness, self sacrifice for others, and more than we can presently comprehend, or possibly ever will. Turning from such love manifested toward us from God, represents love of self more than all else, as God is all in all. Which very thing our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ came to restore, that love, peace, harmony, and the proper order might be restored. To put an end to the suffering and sin which leads only to death. As all separation from God who alone created, sustains, and can save life.

1Co 8:6 But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, y whom are all things, and we by him.

1Co 15:24 Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power. 25 For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet. 26 The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death. 27 For he hath put all things under his feet. But when he saith all things are put under him, it is manifest that he is excepted, which did put all things under him. 28 And when all things shall be subdued unto him, then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him that put all things under him, that God may be all in all.

What is spiritual whoredom therefore, but a departure from the love and worship of the only true God and Creator, unto the love and worship of the creature or self above Him. Which manifests itself in transgression against His law, which law represents and embodies love to God and our neighbor as ourselves. Following these commands then, is putting these principles of love into action. While transgressing them then, is abandoning the same, and therefore God by extension. Taking on the attributes of the evil one, who himself abandoned God by wanting to be God. A state of existence which can only be apart from God of course, and therefore contrary to Him as well. In that He is in fact all in all. Apart from whom there is no life. And thus therefore the evil one and his followers have entered into a pact with death.

Isa 28:14 Wherefore hear the word of the LORD, ye scornful men, that rule this people which is in Jerusalem. 15 Because ye have said, We have made a covenant with death, and with hell are we at agreement; when the overflowing scourge shall pass through, it shall not come unto us: or we have made lies our refuge, and under falsehood have we hid ourselves: 16 Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation: he that believeth shall not make haste. 17 Judgment also will I lay to the line, and righteousness to the plummet: and the hail shall sweep away the refuge of lies, and the waters shall overflow the hiding place. 18 And your covenant with death shall be disannulled, and your agreement with hell shall not stand; when the overflowing scourge shall pass through, then ye shall be trodden down by it.

Act 4:8 Then Peter, filled with the Holy Ghost, said unto them, Ye rulers of the people, and elders of Israel, 9 If we this day be examined of the good deed done to the impotent man, by what means he is made whole; 10 Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole. 11 This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner. 12 Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.

1Pe 2:6 Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded.7 Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: ut unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner, 8 And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient:whereunto also they were appointed.

1Jn 5:10 He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son. 11 And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. 12 He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.

To whom does the stone and bulwark of our salvation become a stumbling stone, and rock of offense, but those who are disobedient to His word. Who while professing to be God’s own, neither accept and or properly apply the sacrifice which the Son of God has made for us, or make the sacrifice of obeying His commands over and above their own wishes and desires of our flesh according to Authentic obedience. Accepting and internalizing the sacrifice our Lord has made for us, then following His example by picking up our crosses and sacrificing our own selfish wills and desires of the flesh, by obedience to His commands and a life of service in promoting the salvation of our neighbors. Which is simply to say, loving God with all of our hearts, and our neighbor as ourselves.

Those who have entered into a covenant with death, will in finality represent all of the world which has chosen to be outside of Christ. A more specific group though, is identified in the institutions which teach and preach the messages which support and nurture doing so. Especially if those institutions were once attached to and or preached and taught the truths of God’s word. As already referenced previously, this includes in particular the nation of Israel, in both its literal and spiritual forms. The great whore of the book of Revelation addresses the latter new covenant Israel. We will examine the how and why concerning both in the next chapters.

[Amo]

CHAPTER 5 OLD COVENANT ISRAEL’S WHOREDOMS

Isa 57:1 The righteous perisheth, and no man layeth it to heart: and merciful men are taken away, none considering that the righteous is taken away from the evil to come. 2 He shall enter into peace: they shall rest in their beds, each one walking in his uprightness. 3 But draw near hither, ye sons of the sorceress, the seed of the adulterer and the whore. 4 Against whom do ye sport yourselves? against whom make ye a wide mouth, and draw out the tongue? are ye not children of transgression, a seed of falsehood, 5 Enflaming yourselves with idols under every green tree, slaying the children in the valleys under the clifts of the rocks? 6 Among the smooth stones of the stream is thy portion; they, they are thy lot: even to them hast thou poured a drink offering, thou hast offered a meat offering. Should I receive comfort in these? 7 Upon a lofty and high mountain hast thou set thy bed: even thither wentest thou up to offer sacrifice. 8 Behind the doors also and the posts hast thou set up thy remembrance: for thou hast discovered thyself to another than me, and art gone up; thou hast enlarged thy bed, and made thee a covenant with them; thou lovedst their bed where thou sawest it. 9 And thou wentest to the king with ointment, and didst increase thy perfumes, and didst send thy messengers far off, and didst debase thyself even unto hell. 10 Thou art wearied in the greatness of thy way; yet saidst thou not, There is no hope: thou hast found the life of thine hand; therefore thou wast not grieved.

Having already determined in the previous chapter, that the above verses are in reference to the disobedient of the nation of Israel during the old covenant, we need not address this again. We will now turn our attention for the moment, toward just exactly what commands they were disobeying. Which have such transforming effect, and dire results. To change a people from the favored, born and borne of God, strengthened and protected by Him, into a people destitute, desolate, and void of the same. Thereby facing the judgments of God rather than His favor. My comments here will be short and to the point, as the scriptures themselves are very specific in nature.

We will take it for granted, that the Ten Commandments of God are not only among them, but of paramount significance regarding the same. Providing the basic principles which would have prevented such a change themselves, if followed. Nevertheless, there is more specific instruction from God, which they disobeyed unto abandonment and judgment as well.

Exo 23:20 Behold, I send an Angel before thee, to keep thee in the way, and to bring thee into the place which I have prepared. 21 Beware of him, and obey his voice, provoke him not; for he will not pardon your transgressions: for my name is in him. 22 But if thou shalt indeed obey his voice, and do all that I speak; then I will be an enemy unto thine enemies, and an adversary unto thine adversaries. 23 For mine Angel shall go before thee, and bring thee in unto the Amorites, and the Hittites, and the Perizzites, and the Canaanites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites: and I will cut them off. 24 Thou shalt not bow down to their gods, nor serve them, nor do after their works: but thou shalt utterly overthrow them, and quite break down their images. 25 And ye shall serve the LORD your God, and he shall bless thy bread, and thy water; and I will take sickness away from the midst of thee.

The Israelites were not to bow down to the idols or god’s of the nations around them, whom they were going to conquer. They were to remain pure and faithful to the religious instructions God had given them alone. They were to “utterly overthrow and break down their images as well.

Lev 18:1 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, 2 Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, I am the LORD your God. 3 After the doings of the land of Egypt, wherein ye dwelt, shall ye not do: and after the doings of the land of Canaan, whither I bring you, shall ye not do: neither shall ye walk in their ordinances. 4 Ye shall do my judgments, and keep mine ordinances, to walk therein: I am the LORD your God. 5 Ye shall therefore keep my statutes, and my judgments: which if a man do, he shall live in them: I am the LORD. 6 None of you shall approach to any that is near of kin to him, to uncover their nakedness: I am the LORD. 7 The nakedness of thy father, or the nakedness of thy mother, shalt thou not uncover: she is thy mother; thou shalt not uncover her nakedness. 8 The nakedness of thy father's wife shalt thou not uncover: it is thy father's nakedness. 9 The nakedness of thy sister, the daughter of thy father, or daughter of thy mother, whether she be born at home, or born abroad, even their nakedness thou shalt not uncover. 10 The nakedness of thy son's daughter, or of thy daughter's daughter, even their nakedness thou shalt not uncover: for theirs is thine own nakedness. 11 The nakedness of thy father's wife's daughter, begotten of thy father, she is thy sister, thou shalt not uncover her nakedness. 12 Thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of thy father's sister: she is thy father's near kinswoman. 13 Thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of thy mother's sister: for she is thy mother's near kinswoman. 14 Thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of thy father's brother, thou shalt not approach to his wife: she is thine aunt. 15 Thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of thy daughter in law: she is thy son's wife; thou shalt not uncover her nakedness. 16 Thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of thy brother's wife: it is thy brother's nakedness. 17 Thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of a woman and her daughter, neither shalt thou take her son's daughter, or her daughter's daughter, to uncover her nakedness; for they are her near kinswomen: it is wickedness. 18 Neither shalt thou take a wife to her sister, to vex her, to uncover her nakedness, beside the other in her life time. 19 Also thou shalt not approach unto a woman to uncover her nakedness, as long as she is put apart for her uncleanness. 20 Moreover thou shalt not lie carnally with thy neighbour's wife, to defile thyself with her. 21 And thou shalt not let any of thy seed pass through the fire to Molech, neither shalt thou profane the name of thy God: I am the LORD. 22 Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind: it is abomination. 23 Neither shalt thou lie with any beast to defile thyself therewith: neither shall any woman stand before a beast to lie down thereto: it is confusion. 24 Defile not ye yourselves in any of these things: for in all these the nations are defiled which I cast out before you:25 And the land is defiled: therefore I do visit the iniquity thereof upon it, and the land itself vomiteth out her inhabitants. 26 Ye shall therefore keep my statutes and my judgments, and shall not commit any of these abominations; neither any of your own nation, nor any stranger that sojourneth among you: 27 (For all these abominations have the men of the land done, which were before you, and the land is defiled;) 28 hat the land spue not you out also, when ye defile it, as it spued out the nations that were before you. 29 For whosoever shall commit any of these abominations, even the souls that commit them shall be cut off from among their people. 30 Therefore shall ye keep mine ordinance, that ye commit not any one of these abominable customs, which were committed before you, and that ye defile not yourselves therein: I am the LORD your God.

Israel was specifically instructed by God, not to worship the god’s of those they conquered, or take part in or practice the abominations which they did. This included a lot of sexual immorality, which God referred to as abominations. Many of which were directly tied to the false god’s they worshipped, and or practices associated with the same (1Ki 14:24, 1Ki 15:12, 1Ki 22:46, 2Ki23:7). No doubt eventually just spilling over into society over the course of time. The following is from the JEWISH VIRTUAL LIBRARY -

https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/baal-worship-jewish-virtual-library

BAAL WORSHIP

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YHWH Versus Baal

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Biblical narrative incorporates tales of Baal worship into the traditions of the wilderness wandering, thus tracing Baal worship to the earliest period of Israel's existence. At Shittim they attached themselves to Baal-Peor, ate sacrifices for the dead, and indulged in sacred sexual orgies (Num. 25:1–11; Ps. 106:28). Life in a land dependent on rainfall enhanced the appeal of the Baal cult and its pervasive influence persisted through the centuries, as the unrelenting protests of the prophets and the sporadic efforts at reform attest. Horrendous and repulsive aspects of the worship – sexual excesses and perversions (Isa. 57:3–10), perhaps including copulation with animals (Hos. 13:2) such as Baal himself performed in the Ugaritic myth – are depicted in the prophetic tirades. Virtually all reference to Baal's consort, the violent "Virgin Anath" – with whom Baal copulates by the thousand in one of the Ugaritic mythological fragments – has been excluded from the Bible, but the goddesses Ashtart (Judg. 2:13) and *Asherah (Judg. 6:30; II Kings 16:32–33) are associated with him.

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The above testimony is only in relation to Baal of course, not the many other god’s of Israel’s either conquered nations, or surrounding nations which her disobedient committed spiritual fornication, adultery, and whoredoms with. Leading also to the various sexual immoralities we see so commonly today. Today we also have the newer religious faiths of atheism and or secular humanism which contribute towards the same ends.

Jer 3:1 They say, If a man put away his wife, and she go from him, and become another man's, shall he return unto her again? shall not that land be greatly polluted? but thou hast played the harlot with many lovers; yet return again to me, saith the LORD. 2 Lift up thine eyes unto the high places, and see where thou hast not been lien with. In the ways hast thou sat for them, as the Arabian in the wilderness; and thou hast polluted the land with thy whoredoms and with thy wickedness. 3 Therefore the showers have been withholden, and there hath been no latter rain; and thou hadst a whore's forehead, thou refusedst to be ashamed. 4 Wilt thou not from this time cry unto me, My father, thou art the guide of my youth? 5 Will he reserve his anger for ever? will he keep it to the end? Behold, thou hast spoken and done evil things as thou couldest. 6 The LORD said also unto me in the days of Josiah the king, Hast thou seen that which backsliding Israel hath done? she is gone up upon every high mountain and under every green tree, and there hath played the harlot. 7 And I said after she had done all these things, Turn thou unto me. But she returned not. And her treacherous sister Judah saw it. 8 And I saw, when for all the causes whereby backsliding Israel committed adultery I had put her away, and given her a bill of divorce; yet her treacherous sister Judah feared not, but went and played the harlot also. 9 And it came to pass through the lightness of her whoredom, that she defiled the land, and committed adultery with stones and with stocks. 10 And yet for all this her treacherous sister Judah hath not turned unto me with her whole heart, but feignedly, saith the LORD. 11 And the LORD said unto me, The backsliding Israel hath justified herself more than treacherous Judah. 12 Go and proclaim these words toward the north, and say, Return, thou backsliding Israel, saith the LORD; and I will not cause mine anger to fall upon you: for I am merciful, saith the LORD, and I will not keep anger for ever. 13 Only acknowledge thine iniquity, that thou hast transgressed against the LORD thy God, and hast scattered thy ways to the strangers under every green tree, and ye have not obeyed my voice, saith the LORD. 14 Turn, O backsliding children, saith the LORD; for I am married unto you: and I will take you one of a city, and two of a family, and I will bring you to Zion:

The Lord compares Israel’s covenant with Him to marriage vows, and their breaking of the covenant to the unfaithfulness of adultery and even whoredom. In that they sought love and acceptance from peoples and their god’s, who cared not for them as God does, nor could save or protect them as God had many times. None of those gods would or could become one of and with them, unto their salvation, as Christ Jesus our Lord has for us. Which truth the entire nation, religion, and economy of Israel centered around and pointed to, while they remained faithful in obedience to Him. These things we may discuss in greater detail in the next chapters dealing with New covenant Israel’s Whoredoms as well, in unfaithfulness to God in the rejection of the teachings of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

We will close this chapter, with an examination Ezekiel chapter 16. Which only further establishes the points already made, and ends with the promise of the establishment of God’s everlasting covenant with the true Israel of God.

The Lord's Faithless Bride

Eze 16:1 Again the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, 2 Son of man, cause Jerusalem to know her abominations, 3 And say, Thus saith the Lord GOD unto Jerusalem; Thy birth and thy nativity is of the land of Canaan; thy father was an Amorite, and thy mother an Hittite. 4 And as for thy nativity, in the day thou wast born thy navel was not cut, neither wast thou washed in water to supple thee; thou wast not salted at all, nor swaddled at all. 5 None eye pitied thee, to do any of these unto thee, to have compassion upon thee; but thou wast cast out in the open field, to the lothing of thy person, in the day that thou wast born. 6 And when I passed by thee, and saw thee polluted in thine own blood, I said unto thee when thou wast in thy blood, Live; yea, I said unto thee when thou wast in thy blood, Live. 7 I have caused thee to multiply as the bud of the field, and thou hast increased and waxen great, and thou art come to excellent ornaments: thy breasts are fashioned, and thine hair is grown, whereas thou wast naked and bare. 8 Now when I passed by thee, and looked upon thee, behold, thy time was the time of love; and I spread my skirt over thee, and covered thy nakedness: yea, I sware unto thee, and entered into a covenant with thee, saith the Lord GOD, and thou becamest mine.

It was God Himself that raised up the nation of Israel and made them great among the nations of the world. Establishing His covenant with them as his peculiar people.

9 Then washed I thee with water; yea, I throughly washed away thy blood from thee, and I anointed thee with oil. 10 I clothed thee also with broidered work, and shod thee with badgers' skin, and I girded thee about with fine linen, and I covered thee with silk. 11 I decked thee also with ornaments, and I put bracelets upon thy hands, and a chain on thy neck. 12 And I put a jewel on thy forehead, and earrings in thine ears, and a beautiful crown upon thine head. 13 Thus wast thou decked with gold and silver; and thy raiment was of fine linen, and silk, and broidered work; thou didst eat fine flour, and honey, and oil: and thou wast exceeding beautiful, and thou didst prosper into a kingdom. 14 And thy renown went forth among the heathen for thy beauty: for it was perfect through my comeliness, which I had put upon thee, saith the Lord GOD. 15 But thou didst trust in thine own beauty, and playedst the harlot because of thy renown, and pouredst out thy fornications on every one that passed by; his it was. 16 And of thy garments thou didst take, and deckedst thy high places with divers colours, and playedst the harlot thereupon: the like things shall not come, neither shall it be so. 17 Thou hast also taken thy fair jewels of my gold and of my silver, which I had given thee, and madest to thyself images of men, and didst commit whoredom with them, 18 And tookest thy broidered garments, and coveredst them: and thou hast set mine oil and mine incense before them. 19 My meat also which I gave thee, fine flour, and oil, and honey, wherewith I fed thee, thou hast even set it before them for a sweet savour: and thus it was, saith the Lord GOD. 20 Moreover thou hast taken thy sons and thy daughters, whom thou hast borne unto me, and these hast thou sacrificed unto them to be devoured. Is this of thy whoredoms a small matter, 21 That thou hast slain my children, and delivered them to cause them to pass through the fire for them? 22 And in all thine abominations and thy whoredoms thou hast not remembered the days of thy youth, when thou wast naked and bare, and wast polluted in thy blood.

They took the wealth which God had given them unto the glory of His name, and appropriated it toward the heathens and their gods. Even taking the jewels, gold, and silver dedicated to and or actually of the temple and it’s services which pointed to Christ our Lord, and appropriated them toward the heathen and their gods. They took the bounty of their meat, fine flour, oil, honey, and incense as well, and offered them up as a sweet savour before the heathen gods, which are no gods at all. All of which had been offered in God’s commanded and ordained temple as a sweet savour before Him, typifying the sacrifice of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, and the unfathomable bounties and blessings bestowed upon humanity by His sacrifice. Spiritual unfaithfulness in the highest degree.

23 And it came to pass after all thy wickedness, (woe, woe unto thee! saith the Lord GOD;) 24 That thou hast also built unto thee an eminent place, and hast made thee an high place in every street. 25 Thou hast built thy high place at every head of the way, and hast made thy beauty to be abhorred, and hast opened thy feet to every one that passed by, and multiplied thy whoredoms. 26 Thou hast also committed fornication with the Egyptians thy neighbours, great of flesh; and hast increased thy whoredoms, to provoke me to anger. 27 Behold, therefore I have stretched out my hand over thee, and have diminished thine ordinary food, and delivered thee unto the will of them that hate thee, the daughters of the Philistines, which are ashamed of thy lewd way. 28 hou hast played the whore also with the Assyrians, because thou wast unsatiable; yea, thou hast played the harlot with them, and yet couldest not be satisfied. 29 Thou hast moreover multiplied thy fornication in the land of Canaan unto Chaldea; and yet thou wast not satisfied herewith. 30 How weak is thine heart, saith the Lord GOD, seeing thou doest all these things, the work of an imperious whorish woman; 31 In that thou buildest thine eminent place in the head of every way, and makest thine high place in every street; and hast not been as an harlot, in that thou scornest hire; 32 But as a wife that committeth adultery, which taketh strangers instead of her husband! 33 They give gifts to all whores: but thou givest thy gifts to all thy lovers, and hirest them, that they may come unto thee on every side for thy whoredom. 34 And the contrary is in thee from other women in thy whoredoms, whereas none followeth thee to commit whoredoms: and in that thou givest a reward, and no reward is given unto thee, therefore thou art contrary. 35 Wherefore, O harlot, hear the word of the LORD: 36 Thus saith the Lord GOD; Because thy filthiness was poured out, and thy nakedness discovered through thy whoredoms with thy lovers, and with all the idols of thy abominations, and by the blood of thy children, which thou didst give unto them; 37 Behold, therefore I will gather all thy lovers, with whom thou hast taken pleasure, and all them that thou hast loved, with all them that thou hast hated; I will even gather them round about against thee, and will discover thy nakedness unto them, that they may see all thy nakedness. 38 And I will judge thee, as women that break wedlock and shed blood are judged; and I will give thee blood in fury and jealousy. 39 And I will also give thee into their hand, and they shall throw down thine eminent place, and shall break down thy high places: they shall strip thee also of thy clothes, and shall take thy fair jewels, and leave thee naked and bare. 40 They shall also bring up a company against thee, and they shall stone thee with stones, and thrust thee through with their swords. 41 And they shall burn thine houses with fire, and execute judgments upon thee in the sight of many women: and I will cause thee to cease from playing the harlot, and thou also shalt give no hire any more. 42 So will I make my fury toward thee to rest, and my jealousy shall depart from thee, and I will be quiet, and will be no more angry. 43 Because thou hast not remembered the days of thy youth, but hast fretted me in all these things; behold, therefore I also will recompense thy way upon thine head, saith the Lord GOD: and thou shalt not commit this lewdness above all thine abominations. 44 Behold, every one that useth proverbs shall use this proverb against thee, saying, As is the mother, so is her daughter. 45 Thou art thy mother's daughter, that lotheth her husband and her children; and thou art the sister of thy sisters, which lothed their husbands and their children: your mother was an Hittite, and your father an Amorite. 46 And thine elder sister is Samaria, she and her daughters that dwell at thy left hand: and thy younger sister, that dwelleth at thy right hand, is Sodom and her daughters. 47 Yet hast thou not walked after their ways, nor done after their abominations: but, as if that were a very little thing, thou wast corrupted more than they in all thy ways. 48 As I live, saith the Lord GOD, Sodom thy sister hath not done, she nor her daughters, as thou hast done, thou and thy daughters. 49 Behold, 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. 50 And they were haughty, and committed abomination before me: therefore I took them away as I saw good. 51 Neither hath Samaria committed half of thy sins; but thou hast multiplied thine abominations more than they, and hast justified thy sisters in all thine abominations which thou hast done. 52 Thou also, which hast judged thy sisters, bear thine own shame for thy sins that thou hast committed more abominable than they: they are more righteous than thou: yea, be thou confounded also, and bear thy shame, in that thou hast justified thy sisters. 53  When I shall bring again their captivity, the captivity of Sodom and her daughters, and the captivity of Samaria and her daughters, then will I bring again the captivity of thy captives in the midst of them: 54 That thou mayest bear thine own shame, and mayest be confounded in all that thou hast done, in that thou art a comfort unto them. 55 When thy sisters, Sodom and her daughters, shall return to their former estate, and Samaria and her daughters shall return to their former estate, then thou and thy daughters shall return to your former estate. 56 For thy sister Sodom was not mentioned by thy mouth in the day of thy pride, 57 Before thy wickedness was discovered, as at the time of thy reproach of the daughters of Syria, and all that are round about her, the daughters of the Philistines, which despise thee round about. 58 Thou hast borne thy lewdness and thine abominations, saith the LORD.

She committed her whoredoms, and abominations with all the nations and their god’s which she could. In judgment therefore, God turned all of them against her, to destroy her. So shall it be with the great whore of this new covenant as well, as we shall examine in later chapters.

The Lord's Everlasting Covenant

Eze 16:59 For thus saith the Lord GOD; I will even deal with thee as thou hast done, which hast despised the oath in breaking the covenant. 60 Nevertheless I will remember my covenant with thee in the days of thy youth, and I will establish unto thee an everlasting covenant. 61 Then thou shalt remember thy ways, and be ashamed, when thou shalt receive thy sisters, thine elder and thy younger: and I will give them unto thee for daughters, but not by thy covenant. 62 And I will establish my covenant with thee; and thou shalt know that I am the LORD: 63 That thou mayest remember, and be confounded, and never open thy mouth any more because of thy shame, when I am pacified toward thee for all that thou hast done, saith the Lord GOD.

Nevertheless, even after all such, will God establish His everlasting covenant to all whom will repent through the new covenant which God would and now has established. Therefore must the people of the new covenant come out of her who is, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH.

[Amo]

CHAPTER 6
THE GREAT WHORE, OR BABYLON OF THE NEW COVENANT, PURPLE AND SCARLET

Rev 17:1  And there came one of the seven angels which had the seven vials, and talked with me, saying unto me, Come hither; I will shew unto thee the judgment of the great whore that sitteth upon many waters: 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. 3 So he carried me away in the spirit into the wilderness: and I saw a woman sit upon a scarlet coloured beast, full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns. 4 And the woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet colour, and decked with gold and precious stones and pearls, having a golden cup in her hand full of abominations and filthiness of her fornication: 17 And upon her forehead was a name written, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH.

Click on the following link, to observe the literal visual evidence concerning BABYLON THE GREAT, being arrayed in purple and scarlet color.

https://duckduckgo.com/?q=the+papacy%2C+purple%2C+and+scarlet&t=osx&iax=images&ia=images&iar=images

Click on the following link, to observe the literal visual evidence concerning BABYLON THE GREAT, and the golden cup in her hand full of abominations.

https://duckduckgo.com/?q=golden+cups+for+mass&t=osx&iar=images&iax=images&ia=images

Apart from the above literal fulfillment concerning attire, jewelry, and the golden cup, there are spiritual implications as well of course. All of these colors and precious materials were connected with the sanctuary and priesthood of the old covenant. One of the main purposes of BABYLON THE GREAT, is to replace the true church, priestly ministry, and intercession of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, with the evil ones’s counterfeit. To take our Saviors place and authority unto themselves. Therefore have they established apostolic succession, the mass and transubstantiation, confession and absolution to and from the priest, intercession of the saints, and what have you. All officiated by the counterfeit priesthood they would make all of humanity dependent upon one way or another. Either by conversion and acceptance of their faith built upon such, or political submission of all to global governance under the thumb of said priesthood.

Themselves and the government they help form, promote, empower, and sustain. These two in bed together, washing each others hands, and passing themselves off as this worlds saviors in the place of Christ. Those whom this world cannot do without, if it is to survive. Addressing and or creating one crisis after another if necessary, that they might control and manipulate the masses through fear mongering politics. Presenting themselves and their oft predetermined solutions to their prefabricated crisis, as the answer and saviors of these very crisis. Thus does BABYLON THE GERAT, spiritually and politically seek to replace the authority, ministry, intercession, and salvation of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To replace His officiation of all of the above from the heavenly sanctuary, with her own officiation and false priesthood here on earth. The prophecies of the book of Daniel make reference of these efforts.

Dan 8:9 And out of one of them came forth a little horn, which waxed exceeding great, toward the south, and toward the east, and toward the pleasant land. 10 And it waxed great, even to the host of heaven; and it cast down some of the host and of the stars to the ground, and stamped upon them. 11 Yea, he magnified himself even to the prince of the host, and by him the daily sacrifice was taken away, and the place of his sanctuary was cast down. 12 And an host was given him against the daily sacrifice by reason of transgression, and it cast down the truth to the ground; and it practised, and prospered. 13 Then I heard one saint speaking, and another saint said unto that certain saint which spake, How long shall be the vision concerning the daily sacrifice, and the transgression of desolation, to give both the sanctuary and the host to be trodden under foot? 14 And he said unto me, Unto two thousand and three hundred days; then shall the sanctuary be cleansed.

Dan 11:27 And both these kings' hearts shall be to do mischief, and they shall speak lies at one table; but it shall not prosper: for yet the end shall be at the time appointed. 28 Then shall he return into his land with great riches; and his heart shall be against the holy covenant; and he shall do exploits, and return to his own land. 29 At the time appointed he shall return, and come toward the south; but it shall not be as the former, or as the latter. 30 For the ships of Chittim shall come against him: therefore he shall be grieved, and return, and have indignation against the holy covenant: so shall he do; he shall even return, and have intelligence with them that forsake the holy covenant. 31 And arms shall stand on his part, and they shall pollute the sanctuary of strength, and shall take away the daily sacrifice, and they shall place the abomination that maketh desolate. 32 And such as do wickedly against the covenant shall he corrupt by flatteries: but the people that do know their God shall be strong, and do exploits.

It was and is through the Church of Rome, that the place of God’s sanctuary was cast down during this new covenant era. It was cast down to this earth from heaven when the man of sin, (the pope of Rome) set himself up in the temple of God shewing himself that he was and is God. Here on earth, in the place of the ministry and intercession of Christ our Lord from the heavenly sanctuary (2 Th 2:3-12).

It was cast down and replaced by the false doctrine of apostolic succession. Which maintains the false doctrine of a pope over the entire church of Christ through false succession, rather than leadership of each member of Christ ’s body in direct communication with Him through prayer. Whose prayers go right to the throne of God through Christ Jesus our Lord, who is always officiating for us  in the heavenly sanctuary (Heb 4:14-16). Where God’s throne is (Psa 11:4). Said doctrine degrading leadership of God’s church to successions controlled by one institution, itself open to the corruptions of this world as all institutions within it are. Rather than Holy Spirit filled and selected humble servants of the Most High (Joh 16:13-15).

It was cast down and replaced by this man of sin, with his own priesthood in officiating the spiritual application of the daily sacrifice. Which is the forgiveness of our sins through confession and repentance unto our Lord. By His blood and intercession from the heavenly sanctuary, not confession to and absolution from imposture priests here on earth (Heb 2:16-18, 1Jn 1:9).

It was cast down and replaced by the man of sin’s Mass and transubstantiation. Officiated by his priests pretending to bring the flesh and blood of Jesus Christ down here to earth repeatedly at their command, unto salvation upon which they declare humanity is dependent. This instead of pointing the faithful to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, the High Priest of our confession, officiating right now for us in the heavenly sanctuary. Whose sacrifice once and for all time saves those clinging to it by the blood of the true LAMB OF GOD, who ever liveth to make intercession for us (Heb 7:22-28, 8, 9:12-28).

It was cast down by the false doctrine of the man of sin regarding the intercession of the “Saints”, or the dead if you will, in prayer to the same. The deceived seeking intercession, and salvation in prayer to the dead, instead of prayer to God our Father in and though Jesus Christ our Lord. Who again is officiating in the heavenly sanctuary right now for everyone of us concerning such things. He ever liveth to make intercession for us. The dead no nothing, let alone intercede for the living. Jesus died for our sins intending exactly that such would give us each direct access to the very throne of God through prayer in His name. Amen.(1Jn 1:9, Ecc 9:5-10)

By these false doctrines and others, did and does the the man of sin and BABYLON THE GREAT, cast the sanctuary and truth to the ground. I could go on, but the point is made. The man of sin, and his supporting institution described in biblical prophecy as a woman with multiple descriptives, compose BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH. Whom, pretending to be the head and body of Christ, have and do counterfeit the same. Seeking to replace His entire ministry, church, and authority exercised from the heavenly sanctuary where Christ now resides, with their own on a global scale. We will examine far more prophetic details and fulfillment concerning BABYLON THE GEAT, in following chapters. 

For more details concerning the casting down, pollution, and setting up of the abomination of desolation within God’s sanctuary, see -

http://www.gracecentered.com/christian_forums/seventh-day-adventist-forum-(sda)/sabbath-sunday-and-the-abomination-of-desolation/

Posts 26-28, 32&33.