Dee Finney's blog
start date July 20, 2011
today's date December 21, 2013
page 612
TOPIC: REVELATION: THE HARLOT
THIS PAGE CAME ABOUT BECAUSE OF THE TEACHING OF JIM BAKKER ON HIS TELEVISION SHOW, HOWEVER, I'M NOT QUITE CERTAIN OF HIS INTERPRETATION OF IT. I NEED MORE RESEARCH ON IT - THERE IS MORE THAN ONE THING GOING ON AT THE SAME TIME. ANY WAY YOU LOOK AT IT, IT WILL NOT BE GOOD AND WE NEED TO PREPARE FOR IT AS WE SEE FIT. WE CANNOT JUST SIT IDLY BY UNTIL IT HAPPENS BECAUSE THEN IT WILL BE TOO LATE TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. I AM PRESENTING MORE THAN ONE INTERPRETATION. SEE BELOW:
REVELATION 17 AND 18
Revelation 1721st Century King James Version (KJ21) 17 And there came one of the seven angels, who had the seven vials, and talked with me, saying unto me, “Come hither; I will show unto thee the judgment upon the great whore who 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 sitting upon a scarlet-colored beast, full of names of blasphemy, and having seven heads and ten horns. 4 And the woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet color, and bedecked 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, Mother of Harlots and Abominations of the Earth. 6 And I saw that the woman was drunk with the blood of the saints and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus. And when I saw her, I wondered with great amazement. 7 And the angel said unto me, “Why dost 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, whose names were not written in the Book of Life from the foundation of the world, shall wonder 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 has 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, yet is one of the seven and goeth into perdition. 12 And the ten horns which thou sawest are ten kings, who have received no kingdom as yet, but will receive power as kings for 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 into their hearts to fulfill His will and to agree, and to give their kingdom unto the beast, until the words of God shall be fulfilled. 18 And the woman whom thou sawest is that great city which reigneth over the kings of the earth.”
Revelation 1821st Century King James Version (KJ21) 18 And after these things, I saw another angel come down from Heaven, having great power; and the earth was lightened by his glory. 2 And he cried mightily with a strong voice, saying, “Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and is become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird. 3 For all nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication; and the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth have waxed rich through the abundance of her indulgences pleasures.” 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; 5 for her sins have reached unto Heaven, and God hath remembered her iniquities. 6 Reward her even as she has rewarded you, and unto her double according to her works; in the cup which she hath filled, fill to her double. 7 How much she hath glorified herself and lived voluptuously! That much torment and sorrow give back to her; for she saith in her heart, 'I sit a queen and am no widow, and shall see no sorrow.’ 8 Therefore shall her plagues come in one day” death and mourning and famine, and she shall be utterly burned with fire; for strong is the Lord God who judgeth her. 9 “And the kings of the earth, who have committed fornication and lived wantonly with her, shall bewail her and lament for her when they shall see the smoke of her burning, 10 standing afar off for the fear of her torment, saying, ‘Alas! Alas, that great city Babylon, that mighty city! For in one hour has thy judgment come.’ 11 “And the merchants of the earth shall weep and mourn over her, for no man buyeth their merchandise any more: 12 the merchandise of gold, and silver, and precious stones, and of pearls; and fine linen, and purple, and silk, and scarlet; all scented wood, all manner of vessels of ivory and most precious wood, and of brass, and iron, and marble; 13 and cinnamon, and perfumes, and ointments, and frankincense, and wine, and oil, and fine flour, and wheat; and cattle, and sheep, and horses, and chariots; and slaves, and the souls of men. 14 “And the fruits that thy soul lusted after have departed from thee, and all things which were dainty and goodly have departed from thee, and thou shalt find them no more at all. 15 The merchants of these things, who were made rich by her, shall stand afar off for the fear of her torment, weeping and wailing 16 and saying, ‘Alas! Alas, that great city, that was clothed in fine linen and purple and scarlet, and bedecked with gold and precious stones and pearls! 17 For in one hour such great riches have come to nought!’ “And every shipmaster and all the company in ships, and sailors, and as many as trade by sea, stood afar off; 18 and they cried when they saw the smoke of her burning, saying, ‘What city is like unto this great city!’ 19 And they cast dust on their heads and cried, weeping and wailing, saying, ‘Alas! Alas, that great city, wherein all that had ships in the sea were made rich by reason of her extravagances! For in one hour is she made desolate!’ 20 Rejoice over her, thou heaven and ye holy apostles and prophets, for God hath avenged you on her.” 21 Then a mighty angel took up a stone like a great millstone, and cast it into the sea, saying, “Thus with violence shall that great city Babylon be thrown down, and shall be found no more at all. 22 And the voice of harpers and musicians, and of pipers and trumpeters shall be heard no more at all in thee; and no craftsman, of whatsoever craft he be, shall be found any more in thee; and the sound of a millstone shall be heard no more at all in thee; 23 and the light of a candle shall shine no more at all in thee; and the voice of the bridegroom and of the bride shall be heard no more at all in thee. For thy merchants were the great men of the earth, for by thy sorceries were all nations deceived. 24 And in her was found the blood of prophets and of saints, and of all that were slain upon the earth.”
HERE ARE THE NOTES FROM THE JIM BAKKER SHOW: JIM IS BASING HIS BIBLE KNOWLEDGE OF THIS TOPIC ON THE BOOK OF REVELATIONS 18 JIM STATED THAT THE WORLD IS NOW UNDER THE SPIRIT OF THE ANTICHRIST. NOTE THAT THE ANTICHRIST HAS NOT YET APPEARED ANYWHERE, NOR ANNOUNCED HIMSELF YET AND WE WON'T KNOW WHO HE IS UNTIL HE TELLS THE WORLD THAT HE IS IN CHARGE AFTER THE THIRD TEMPLE IS BUILT IN JERSALEM AND HE STOPS THE ANIMAL SACRIFICES THERE. RICK JOYNER SAID THAT MANY PEOPLE WILL ACTUALLY LOVE THE ANTICHRIST FOR DOING THAT. JIM STATED THAT HE BELIEVES THAT NEW YORK CITY IS MYSTERY BABYLON. HE STUDIES BY ANALYZING THE 'ROOT' OF WORDS IN THE GREEK AND HEBREW.
ROMANS 8:22:
For we know that the whole creation
groans and travaleth in pain together until now.
SARDINIA HIT BY DEADLY FLOOD FROM CYCLONE CLEOPATRA. AT
LEAST 18 PEOPLE THERE HAVE BEEN KILLED IN FLOODING ON THE INDIAN
ISLAND OF SARDINIA AFTER A CYCLONE AND HEAVY RAIN. A VOLCANO ERUPTED AND SHOT OF FIERY LAVA UP 3280 FT INTO THE SKY. A STREAM OF LAVA ROSE UP TOA KILOMETRE ABOVE THE SUMMIT OF KLYUCHEVSKY ON THE KAMCHAKKA PENINSULA IN THE EAST OF THE COUNTRY.
But all these things are merely the
beginning of birth pangs. ROMANS 9:28 because a short work all the Lord make upon the earth. JIM STATED THAT, "THE EARTH IS GOING THROUGH SO MANY CHANGES RIGHT NOW THAT THE OLD PEOPLE CAN'T TOLERATE IT. (HE THINKS HE IS ONE OF THE OLD PEOPLE) WE USED TO BE A CHRISTIAN NATION. WE USED TO BE ABLE TO PUT A MANGER SCENE IN THE TOWN SQUARE AND NOW ITS AGAINST THE LAW TO PUT A CHRISTIAN SCENE IN THE TOWN SQUARE BECAUSE IT OFFENDS PEOPLE. THE INCREASING OF THE ERA OF THE ANTICHRIST IS HAPPENING SO QUICKLY THAT HIM SAYS THAT CHAPTER 18 OF REVELATION IS GOING TO HAPPEN SOONER THAN PEOPLE THINK. QUESTION: WHO IS THE HARLOT? - WHAT CITY IS IT? WE ARE IN THE BEGINNING OF SORROWS. THE STAGE IS SET. HOW COULD WE HAVE BECOME THE AMERICA WE ARE THIS MINUTE? THE ANTICHRIST OF AMERICA WHERE JESUS CHRIST IS OUTLAWED. YOU CAN'T PRAY 'IN JESUS NAME'. EVERYONE IS AFRIAD TO SAY, 'IN JESUS NAME! AMEN!'. THAT IS BASICALLY AGAINST THE LAW IN SCHOOLS, IN PUBLIC PLACES, IN GOVERNMENT AREAS. SO WHAT IS THE GREAT DESTRUCTION? WHAT IS IT? WHO CAUSED IT? THIS IS WHAT GOD SHOWED ME IN THE NIGHT! REVELATION 17:12 "The ten horns you saw are the kings who have not yet begun to rule, but they will receive power to begin with the beast for one hour." THAT MEANS A VERY SHORT TIME. REVELATION 17:13 All ten of them have the same purpose and they will give their power and authority to the beast. THIS COULD SAVE YOUR LIFE AND GIVE YOU UNDERSTANDING YOU'VE NEVER HAD BEFORE. YOU HAVE TO SEE IT ALL AT ONCE. REVELATION 17:14 They will make war against Jesus but Jesus will defeat them because he is Lord of Lords and King of Kings. He will defeat them with his called and chosen and faithful followers. REVELATION 17:15 THE GREAT BABYLON MOTHER OF PROSTITUTES AND OF THE EVIL THING OF THE EARTH. REVELATION 17:16 Then I saw that the woman was drunk with the blood of God's holy people and with the blood of those who were killed because of their faith in Jesus. Then I saw the woman and I was very amazed. EVEN IN EUROPE THEY ARE AGAINST JESUS. THE DON'T WANT ANYTHING TO DO WITH JESUS. EVEN ALL THE CHRISTMAS SHOWS ON T.V. JESUS ISN'T IN THEM. THE SPIRIT OF CHRISTMAS HAS BECOME THE SPIRIT OF SANTA CLAUS. NOT THE SPIRIT OF CHRIST, NOT THE SPIRIT OF THE CHRIST CHILD. THE 10 KINGS OF THE 10 NATIONS, 10 SECTIONS OF THE EARTH WHO WILL COME TOGETHER AND THE ANTICHRIST WILL BECOME ON OF THOSE 10. HIS FAITHFUL FOLLOWERS WILL WIN OVER THEM. THAT IS THE ONE THING HE WANTS IS FAITHFULNESS. THERE WILL BE MILLIONS WHO WILL HAVE TO TAKE THE MARK OF THE BEAST OR WILL BE BEHEADED OR STARVED TO DEATH. SO IF YOU PREPARE NOW AND HAVE AT LEAST SOME FOOD. EVEN GOVERNMENT WEBSITE ARE SAYING YOU SHOULD LIVE SO FAR OUT OF TOWN AND HAVE FOOD FOR A CERTAIN PERIOD OF TIME. YOU HAVE TO GET OUT OF THE CITIES, SO ITS NOT STUPID TO HAVE A FARM. I SENSE THE EARTH. FARMERS CAN SENSE THE EARTH - THEY CAN TALK TO THE EARTH AND THEY CAN LISTEN TO THE EARTH. THEY UNDERSTAND THE EARTH. JEREMIAH 22:29 O earth, earth, earth, hear the word of the Lord. IT IS GROANING NOW! REVELATION 17:15 - Then the angel said to me, "The waters that you saw where the prostitute sits are peoples, races, nations, and languages. IF YOU WANT TO INTERPRET DREAMS, THE BIBLE HAS THE FORMULA FOR INTERPRETING DREAMS. REV. 17:15 IS JUST ONE EXAMPLE: SEE: The dreamers bible book review - Dreams of the Great Earthchanges ...www.greatdreams.com/bible.htm DREAMERS BIBLE BOOK REVIEW. The Bible is full of references to dreams and visions, including those in which God or angels appear to give people ... SO THIS HARLOT, PROSTITUTE, WHORE - DIFFERENT NAMES FOR IT, DEPENDING ON WHICH BIBLE YOU USE. MYSTERY BABYLON: WHERE DOES SHE SIT? SHE SITS ON THE PEOPLE OF THE WORLD - THE WATERS - THE PEOPLES, THE RACES, THE NATIONS AND THE LANGUAGES. THEY ARE GOING TO BE AGAINST US, BUT EACH OTHER AS WELL. A MUTUAL ENEMY WILL MAKE STRANGE BEDFELLOWS. DID YOU EVER SEE TWO PEOPLE WHO HATED EACH OTHER, BUT THEY BOTH HATED YOU MORE, SO THEY WORKED TOGETHER AGAIN YOU. (THAT IS WHAT HAPPENED TO JIM AND SENT HIM TO PRISON) REVELATION 17:16 The ten horns and the beast you saw will hate the prostitute. They will take everything she has and leave her naked. They will eat her body and burn her with fire. WHO IS THE HARLOT? SHE IS ILLIGITIMATE. I JUST NAMED HER: "LOVE OF MONEY". SHE IS THE FINANCIAL SYSTEM OF THE WORLD. 1 TIMOTHY 6:10 For the love of money is the root of all evil. THE CHURCH HAS EMBRACED THE LOVE OF MONEY. THE NUMBER ONE THING THAT REALLY GETS TO GOD IS A HARLOT WHO TAKES HIS PLACE. EXODUS 20:3 Thou shalt have no other Gods above me! ANYTHING THAT COMES BETWEEN US AND GOD IS SIN. REVELATION 17:17 God made the ten horns want to carry out his purpose by agreeing to give the beast their power to rule until what God has said comes about. REVELATION 17:18 The woman you saw is the great city that rules over the kings of the earth. THESE KINGS CONNECT WITH HER FOR A LITTLE BIT, BUT THEY WANT HER MONEY - THEY WANT HER POWER. JIM STATES: I BELIEVE THE HEAD OF MONEY IS NEW YORK CITY. I BELIEVE THE BASE OF THE MONEY SYSTEM OF THE WORLD IS THE STOCK MARKET. EVERYONE SAYS THAT THE FINANCIAL CAPITAL OF THE WORLD IS NEW YORK CITY. THE STOCK MARKET IS THERE. WHAT BUILDING IS THERE THAT HOUSES THE UNITED NATIONS. IT'S IN NEW YORK. IT WAS CREATED IN 1945 AND THE BUILDIING THAT HOUSES THE UNITED NATIONS WAS STARTED TO BE BUILT IN 1948 - COINCIDENTALLY THE SAME YEAR THAT ISRAEL BECAME ITS OWN STATE. THE TWIN TOWERS THAT WERE DESTROYED WAS THE WORLD TRADE CENTER. IT WAS IN NEW YORK CITY. GOD GIVES PREVIEWS OF COMING ATTRACTIONS. THEY ARE CALLED HARBINGERS. IT ONLY TOOK ONE HOUR TO DESTROY THE ENTIRE WORLD TRADE BUILDINGS. REVELATION 18:10 great city, powerful city of Babylon, because your punishment has come in one hour.
SEE: Dee Finney's blog September 14, 2013 page 558 ISAIAH 9:10 THE HARBINGER...www.greatdreams.com/blog-2013-3/dee-blog558.html Sep 14, 2013 ... Dee Finney's blog. today's date September 14, 2013. page 558. TOPIC: ISAIAH 9:10 THE HARBINGER ...
WE ALMOST REPENTED -FOR A COUPLE HOURS. BUT AMERICA THEN BECAME WICKEDER - MORE WICKED REVELATION 17:18 The woman you saw in the great city that rules over the kings of the earth. ITS THE CITY THE RUNS THE WORLD. MYSTERY BABYLON IS DESTROYED. REVELATION 18:1 This angel had great power and his glory made the earth bright. REVELATION 18:2 He shouted in a powerful voice. "Ruined! Ruined! is the great city of Babylon. She has become a home for demons and a prison for every evil spirit and a place for every unclean bird and unclean beast. THIS IS NOT THE BABYLON OF THE MIDDLE EAST. THAT HAS ARLEADY GONE INTO RUIN. THERE ISN'T EVEN A CITY THERE. THIS ONE CHAPTER DESCRIBES WHAT IS COMING AND WHAT IS GOING TO BE DESTROYED. I BELIEVE IT IS THE FINANCIAL SYSTEM OF THE WORLD AND IT IS HEADQUARTERED IN NEW YORK CITY WHERE THE STOCK EXCHANGE IS. REVELATION 18:3 She has been ruined because all the people of the earth have drunk the wine of the desire of her sexual sin. She has been ruined also because the king of the earth have sinned sexually with her. THIS ISN'T JUST A WOMAN. THIS IS A CITY. THERE IS A SPIRIT AND SHE IS EVIL. 1 TIMOTHY: 6:10 For the love of money is the root of all evil. 1 TIMOTHY: 6:5 5 Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself. RUN FROM THE CITY PEOPLE HAVE HAD SOCIAL INTERCOUSE WITH HER, ALL THE PRODUCTS, AND GOODS - THE PRIDE. THIS IS A SPIRITUAL FORNICATION IT HAS CAPTIVATED ALL OF MANKIND. THAT DOLLAR HAS LITERALLY TAKEN OVER THE WORLD. THE DOLLAR ITSELF HAS BECOME AN IDOL. THAT'S WHY MYSTERY BABYLON IS NEW YORK CITY. THAT IS THE WHORE, THE PROSTITUTE REFERRED TO IN REVELATION 18. IT IS THIS PROSTITUTE WE ARE COMMITTING SPIRITUAL FORNICATION WITH. IN OTHER WORDS WE ARE HAVING SEX WITH DEMONS. IT IS NOT THE CITY ITSELF - IT IS THE MONETARY SYSTEM, THE POWER OF ALL SALES, OF THE WHOLESALE, THE WHOLE FINANCIAL SYSTEM OF THE ANTICHRIST. IT IS THE SYSTEM THAT HAS TURNED AGAINS GOD. THE BIGGEST MONEY MAKING IS THE BIRTHDAY OF JESUS CHRIST, BUT JESUS CHRIST IS NOT EVEN ALLOWED AT HIS OWN BIRTHDAY PARTY. REVELATION 18:3 and the merchants of the earth have grown rich from the great wealth of her luxury. WHERE DOES THE WEALTH COME FROM? THE STOCK MARKET. WHAT IS THE STOCK MARKET? IT'S WHERE YOU INVEST, WHERE YOU BUY COMMODITIES, BUY CATTLE IN THE STOCK MARKET, GOLD, SILVER, CARS - YOU INVEST IN GENERAL MOTORS - IN ANYTHING. REVELATION 18:4 Then I heard another voice from heaven saying, "Come out of that city my people, so that you will not share in her sin, so that you will not receive the disaster that will come to her. NOTE: THIS IS COMING WITHIN THREE MONTHS ACCORDING TO LINDSEY WILLIAMS WHO CLAIMS TO BE THE SPOKES PERSON FOR DYING ILLUMINATI MEMBERS.
HE IS NOT SAYING COME OUT OF NEW YORK, BUT I SURE WOULDN'T WANT TO LIVE THERE IF MARTIAL LAW WERE DECLARED.
SEE: Dee Finney's blog July 30 2012 page 261 - MARTIAL LAWwww.greatdreams.com/blog-2012-2/dee-blog261.html Jul 30, 2012 ... MARTIAL LAW. Dee Finney's blog. start date July 20, 2011. today's date 8-1- 2012. updated 9-1-2012. page 261. TOPIC: MARTIAL LAW. 7-3-12 ...
JIM SAYS: I WOULDN'T WANT TO BE WHERE I COULDN'T GET GROCERIES. IF THE ELECTRIITY WENT OUT, I WOULDN'T WAT TO WALK DON 200 FLIGHTS OF STAIRS TO BUY A LOAF OF BREAD. I'D PROBABLY BE TOO TIRED TO EAT IT. I'D PROBABLY EAT THE WHOLE THING ON THE WAY BACK UP THE STAIRS. BUT HE SAID, "Come out of that city, my people, my people." THAT IS SAYING EVEN THE CHURCH IS INVOLVED IN THE SYSTEM. THE CHURCH RIGHT NOW HAS EMBRACED THE 'LOVE OF MONEY'. HOW COULD WE BE SO DECEIVED? EVEN IN THE LAST DAYS, THE FULL GOSPEL PEOPLE WOULD FALL IN LINE WITH THE 'LOVE OF MONEY.' IT IS ANOTHER GOSPEL! HOW COULD WE MAKE MONEY OUT OF OUR OWN RELIGION" SEE: PROSPERITY! http://www.greatdreams.com/blog-2013-3/dee-blog614.html IF THE STOCK MARKET CRASHES LIKE RICK JOYNER SAYS IT WILL, MONEY WILL BE WORTH NOTHING! EVERYTHING THAT PEOPLE INVESTED IN WILL BE WORTH NOTHING. DO YOU KNOW WHO DONATED THE LAND FOR THE UNITED NATIONS? JOHN D. ROCKEFELLER, JR. ONE OF THE RICHEST MEN IN THE WORLD GAVE THE LAND TO BUILD THE UNITED NATIONS. HAS NOT THE WHLE WORLD BEEN TRICKED FOR MONEY? AMERICA OWES MORE MONEY IN DEBT THAN IS AVAILABLE ON EARTH TO PAY. WE ARE PRINTING $80 TO $100 BILLION DOLLARS PER MONTH IN AMERICA. YOU EITHER HAVE TO PAY FOR IT OR SOMETHING IS GOING TO HAPPEN. AND WE, LIKE SHEEP, JUST KEEP ON FOLLOWING. WE'RE STUCK AND ALL THE NATIONS WERE TRICKED BY YOUR MAJIC. REVELATION 18:24 You are guilty of the death of the prophets and God's holy people and all who have been killed on earth. THE LOVE OF MONEY. MONEY CORRUPTS AND MONEY = POWER. THE ECONOMY CRASHES AND GOD GETS EVEN WITH THE HARLOT. YOU AND ME TOO. WE'VE ALMOST BEEN A SLAVE TO MONEY. WE HAVE TO. THE SYSTEM DEMANDS IT. AND WE ALL FALL FOR IT. IF YOU DON'T MAKE THE CAR PAYMENT, THEY TAKE THE CAR BACK. OR THE HOUSE OR WHATEVER. WE SOLD OUR SOULS TO THE HARLOT. THIS IS THE COMPLETE FINANCIAL COLLAPSE. IT'LL NEVER COME BACK AFTER THIS ONE. REVELATION 19:1 After this vision and announcement, I heard what sounded like a great many people in Heaven, saying, "Hallelujah! Salvation, glory and honor belong to our God!" AMERICA IS STOCKING UP AND AMMUNITION AND GUNS. 1.6 BILLION ROUNDNS OF AMMO FOR HOMELAND SECURITY? IT'S TIME FOR A NATIONAL CONVERSATION! SOME OF THIS PURCHASE ORDER IS FOR HOLLOW POINT ROUNDS, FORBIDDEN BY INTERNATIONAL LAW FOR USE IN WAR, ALONG WITH A FRIGHTENING AMOUNT OF SPECIALIZED FOR SNIPERS. RICK JOYNER SPOKE ABUT MARTIAL LAW. DAVID WILKERSON HAD A VISION OF THOUSANDS OF BUILDINGS ON FIRE IN NEW YORK CITY.
NOTE FROM DEE: THIS FIRST INTERPRETATION IS BY MY FAVORITE PREACHER AT THE MOMENT - RICK JOYNER. THE COMMENTOR IS EVIDENTLY FROM A DIFFERENT RELIGION OR BELIEF SYSTEM, SO I HAVE INSERTED COMMENTS ON THE COMMENTOR'S COMMENTS A FEW TIMES TO EXPLAIN MY OWN VIEWPOINT ON THE COMMENTOR'S STATEMENTS. PLEASE USE YOUR OWN DISCERNMENT AS YOU GO. NOT EVERYONE BELIEVES THE SAME THINGS: RICK JOYNER How I Received The Vision Joyner says “One of the most common questions that I receive about this vision concerns how I received it. He explains what he mean by visions and “prophetic experiences.” p.8 Prophetic “experiences” as I call them are numerous and diverse. They include all of the primary ways in which the Lord has spoken to His people in the Scriptures. Because the Lord is the same today as He was yesterday, He has never ceased to relate to His people in the same ways, and these experiences continue to be found throughout church history. As the apostle Peter explained in his sermon recorded in Acts Chapter Two, dreams, visions and prophecy are primary signs of the last days, and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. As we are obviously getting closer to the end of this age, these are becoming increasingly common in our time. comment: I believe he is correct in that dreams, visions and prophecy are increasing in our time. The Bible warns of an increase in the end of prophets and miracles that are not from God but instead from the enemy.
Mt.7:15, 24:5,11,24; He explains they are more common now to accomplish “our purposes in these times”. “ It is also true that Satan, who unfortunately knows the Scriptures better than many Christians, also understands the importance of prophetic revelation in God's relationship to His people, and he is therefore pouring out his own counterfeit gifts in great measure to those who serve him. However, there would be no counterfeit if there was not a genuine reality, just as there are no counterfeit three dollar bills because there are no real ones.” comment: the facts that there is a devil and he knows the scriptures as Joyner puts it “better than many Christians” is concerning. The Bible teaches that one cannot understand Gods word without the Holy Spirit 2 Cor. 2:10-14. Certainly no demon much less the head of them can understand the plans of God better than a Christian. Would Satan would be concerned about is the prophetic revelation in the Scripture that would fulfill his demise? Of course, he has an invested interest in all this. Not all has to be a counterfeit outpouring. Satan is an inventor as well and can give something totally new as he does in other religions and spiritual systems.. Joyner seems to think it is not possible to be deceived. But due to our own human susceptibility to being deceived that even a self proclaimed end time prophet like Joyner could be hearing from a counterfeit, a cleverly disguised demonic source of revelation. So there is a danger to all. How will we know? By testing the final Quest to see if Joyner is hearing from the authentic spiritual source or a false one. p.9 “Soon after I became a Christian in 1972, 1 read this passage in Acts Two and understood that if these were the end times it was important to understand these ways that the Lord would be speaking to us. I do not remember praying to have the experiences myself at first, but I did begin to have them, which gave me even more impetus for understanding them.” comment: Here Joyner admits his propensity and seeking after what he misunderstood for the last days, this has shaped his theology. As he later states that he had prayed for 25 years to be caught up to the third heaven just like the apostle Paul (pp. 44-45). He writes the lord began to give him a dream in 1995 that was first published in condensed form in The Morning Star Journal Vol.5 No.2-4 1995, 1996” “the hordes of hell are marching parts III & III)Yet, if this had been Joyner's prayer for 25 years, his conversion would have had to have been pushed back to 1970 or before which certainly brings to question his memory not only of his experiences but the time of his conversion. From what I have read there would be no testing of his experiences but a reckless trust that it was all from the Lord of the Scriptures. “There are many levels of prophetic revelation. The beginning levels include prophetic “impressions.” These are genuine revelations. They can be extraordinarily specific and accurate when interpreted by those who are experienced and sensitive to them. However, it is on this level that our “revelations” can be affected by our own feelings, prejudices, and doctrines. I have therefore resolved not to use such expressions as “thus saith the Lord” with any revelations that come on this level comment: A Danger -of prophetic impressions. Where does he get this idea of the different levels of prophetic revelation? Joyner states most of the visions came on what he deems the 4th level (trance) but doesn't know how this knowledge came to him. How can these impressions “... be extraordinarily specific and accurate when interpreted by those who are experienced and sensitive to them at any time? If in the same paragraph Joyner admits they can be affected by our own feelings, prejudices, and doctrines”. (Which can be applied to Joyner as well.) These two statements seem to cancel out each other as far as establishing any kind of trustworthiness to the revelations received “on this level”. Can you see the apostles saying such a thing in their visions or prophecies? How do we know which parts of the Final Quest were impressions and which are not since he does not tell us. From this perspective we are left to subjectively accept or reject whatever we feel we should. How then can we arrive at the truth in any of the stories? There is a reason for this position by refraining from “thus saith the Lord” to some of the revelations in the book. Joyner covers his own tail and is now able to excuse any false statement or heresy that one would find as his fault in interpretation or memory. If it is up to us he can say that is what it is too you, but it may not be to another. Although he claims to receive this information from God, he appears reluctant to trust that he is receiving it correctly. In short Joyner himself is not confident in the complete accuracy of the content in the final Quest nor can vouch for which parts are accurate. So why should we? Why should we be asked to believe the trustworthiness of these revelations as from a true Godly source if Joyner admittingly says there is chaff: (p.14) amidst wheat. What if three people read the book and what one considers as wheat another may consider as chaff, and what of the third person who may disagree with both? We are left to our own subjective interpretations of his prophetic insight. I ask you can we do this for the Bible as well? The Scripture says no prophecy is of a private interpretation, therefore if his writing is genuinely prophetic it cannot be left to various opinions on its meaning. “Visions can come on the impression level, also. They are gentle and must be seen with “the eyes of our heart.” These, too, can be very specific and accurate, especially when received and/or interpreted by those who are experienced. The more the “eyes of our hearts” are opened, as Paul prayed in Ephesians 1:18, the more powerful and useful these can be. Comment: Must be seen with “the eyes of our heart.” The Bible says the opposite Eph.1:18 is about the love of God not what Joyner's is writing about in his visions. His is x-tra biblical doctrines, they add to what the Bible does not include. Eyes of the heart is a recurrent phrase throughout his book. Can we find a biblical precedent for this idea of being interpreted by the experienced? How experienced were the OT prophets who received visions from God? Was not the role of interpreting heavenly visions God himself? Daniel interpreted the visions without any experience. How? he states Dan 2:28 “But there is a God in heaven who reveals secrets, and He has made known to King Nebuchadnezzar what will be in the latter days. None of the prophets had experience, as we will see there is an underlying meaning to what he is conveying. “The next level of revelation is a conscious sense of the presence of the Lord, or the anointing of the Holy Spirit, which gives special illumination to our minds. This often comes when I am writing, or speaking, and it gives me much greater confidence in the importance or accuracy of what I am saying. I believe that this was probably experienced by the apostles as they wrote the New Testament epistles. This will give us great confidence, but it is still a level where we can still be influenced by our prejudices, doctrines, etc. Comment: Next level- the apostles did not have greater confidence, but absolute confidence (assurance that what they wrote is accurate. They had nothing to say about different levels. Joyner's position implies the 60, 70, 90% accuracy from practice not only is it to be accurate but biblically orthodox as well. Since many prophets who are in the new age have accuracy but will redefine or twist the Scripture. One of the indications of where Mr. Joyner is spiritually is his past accuracy. What past statements in journals or sermons were said that would indicate a good track record of being scripturally accurate. In this we find his theology from a certain bent of which he does admit. Here is how Joyner defines it “Bob [Jones] was told that the general level of prophetic revelation in the church was about 65% accurate at this time. Some are only about 10% accurate, a very few of the most mature prophets are approaching 85 to 95% accuracy. Prophecy is increasing in purity, but there is still a long way to go for those who walk in this ministry. (Rick Joyner” (1990,” Morning Star Prophetic Newsletter (Charlotte, NC; Morning Star Publications, Vol. II, No. 5, Oct.-Nov., 1989), p. 4. If their prophetic gifts work on the 80% level of accuracy they want diplomatic spiritual immunity. Rick Joyner says, “it seems inevitable that the self-appointed 'heresy hunters' will always do more damage to the church than the actual heresies. (The MORNING STAR, Vol. III, No. 5, Sept/Oct. 1990) Imagine not only saying this but believing it. Now we know where he is coming from and why he can be confident to say the things he sees are from the Lord despite it falling short. What does Scripture have to say Bible: 2 Pet 1:21” for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.” This means 100% accuracy despite any shortcomings of the vessel. Prophetic failure of fulfillment is excused today because prophets are growing during the process of learning to become more proficient, and so errors are accepted. Imagine Isaiah or Jeremiah saying, “I could be wrong, but I'm improving with time”! “The visions contained in this book all began with a dream. Some of it came under a very intense sense of the presence of the Lord, but the overwhelming majority was received in some level of a trance. Most of it came on the level where I was still conscious of my surroundings, and could even interact with them, such as answering the phone. When they were interrupted, or when things got so intense that I would have to get up and walk around, when I sat back down I would immediately be right back where I had left off. Once the experience became so intense that I actually got up and left the mountain cabin where I go to seek the Lord, and drove home. Over a week later I returned and almost immediately I was right back where I left off. p.11 Comment: This he states went on for months as it is turned on and off like a TV series. I cannot recall any prophet that had this kind of communication. God would finish what was being presented and then give further insight. p.12 “I must state emphatically that I do not believe that any kind of prophetic revelation is for the purpose of establishing doctrine.” We have the Scriptures for that.” “We, also, see such revelations being given for illuminating doctrine that is taught in the Scripture, but is not clearly seen. The example of Peter's trance is one that illuminated both the will of the Lord, and sound biblical teaching that the Scriptures were very clear about (the Gentiles being able to receive the gospel), but which had not yet been understood by the church. Comment: This is interesting in that his whole vision is either changing doctrine from his own taught perspective or adding to it. What about Peter whose trance was certainly teaching him doctrine, it wasn't just illuminating it. What was once forbidden under the law he was now able to eat, besides his understanding that now gentiles become part of the body Eph.2:, isn't this doctrine? “The visions in this book do contain some strategic revelations, and they also illuminated some biblical doctrines that I had honestly not seen before, but now see quite clearly. However, most of the doctrine that was illuminated to me in these experiences I have known and taught for years, even though I cannot say that I have lived them all very well. Many times I thought about the warning that Paul gave to Timothy to pay attention to his own teachings. Many of the words spoken to me in these experiences I have, myself, taught many times. Remember Joyner already admits on p.9 they can be affected by our own feelings, prejudices, and doctrines.” Now he admits most of the “doctrine that was illuminated to me in these experiences I have known and taught for years,” So now he falls into the category of his own previous doctrinal view to cloud his understanding. This means nothing can be trusted even if some of it were accurate. But the real concern is that he now interprets the Bible by his vision. It was this kind of experience that started the Mormon Church by a man named Joseph Smith who came to the conclusion that what Christianity was teaching was unacceptable. Joyner does the same in a more subtle manner by chastising the Church that holds to the old biblical traditions and will not move along with him and his fellows into the new. p.14 “I was encouraged by some to write this as an allegory, in third person like The Pilgrim's Progress, but I decided against it for several reasons. First, I feel that some would have taken this to be the result of my own creativity, and that would have been wrong. I would like to be this creative, but I am not. Another reason was that I felt that I could be much more accurate if I related it just like I received it, and I did my best to convey these experiences just the way that they were received. However, I consider my memory of details to be one of my greatest weaknesses. At times I have questioned my own memory for certain details in this vision, and I think that you should therefore have the liberty to do the same.”Bible: John 14:26 “But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.” If the Holy Spirit is involved in giving revelation he will not miss in being accurate.John 16:13 “However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come.” Whatever the Spirit speaks will come from Jesus or the father. so there is no failure in communicating or recording this, at least not with the apostles or prophets. And since Joyner considers himself at least a prophet it should be no different. Comment: Having a bad memory is not a sin, it may be an unfortunate quality some of us possess. Joyner freely confesses that he has this problem as it being his greatest weakness and that we should question the details. So how can we trust anything said since he does not know which parts are lacking? My contention is with the fact that, IF this collection of prophetic revelations are truly from the infallible Holy Spirit who is God and intended for our edification and relaying of prophetic truth to Gods people, THEN Mr. Joyner’s faulty memory should not play a factor in the accuracy of this book. Could not the Holy Spirit override such a flaw as bad memory if he truly intended to reveal truth of this alleged import? Certainly the apostles did not have perfect memories yet they were able to perfectly communicate the revelation in Scripture. This sounds more like an excuse for any false content that may be presented in the book (of which there is much) He implies the Holy Spirit gave him this vision but admits it is not trustworthy. The story is not biblical in some places and it is extra biblical in much of its writing. what is one to think of this. Are we to ignore Gods clear revelation of testing it or do what Christ himself said to do personally and through the apostles. Only the Scriptures deserve to be considered infallible. As you read he then prays the Holy Spirit would lead you into the truth, and separate any chaff that may be present from the wheat.” This is what Jesus said the spirit would do for his word. If the final Quest is to be in any way considered from God there must be NO chaff. It needs to all conform to Scripture 100%. If this man was hearing from the Holy Spirit he should have been guided into all truth in the revelation, in the writing as well as the recording of this document. He readily admits this document is not on par with holy Writ but he claims is a compilation of revelatory truth from the same source as Scripture, God the Holy Spirit. Then it must bear the same accuracy if it is to be deemed credible. Joyner’s book needs to be distinguished from other books or commentaries in that it is proposed by the author as being a collection of truths revealed in a supernatural way and not merely the conjectures or insights of a person studying scripture who subsequently wrote a book or commentary. These are claimed to be revelations from the almighty God who can only be the author of truth. Again who decides what is wheat or chaff? You the reader do, so there is no objective way of sureness to be found. since I may accept one portion that you may not and vice versa. None of this have the opportunity to do the same with Scripture. The question everyone needs to ask, does this book stand up under scrutiny by submitting to the biblical test of Scripture? Or is the Bible under reformation by his visions. These are some general examples of what he describes demons do “A single demon of Bitterness could sow his poison into multitudes of people, even entire races or cultures.” “send what appeared to be bolts of electric slime that would hit and “desensitize” great masses of people.” “The most shocking part of this vision was that this horde was not riding on horses, but primarily on Christians!” p.17 X-TRA BIBLICAL one demon can infest whole culture which is basically an impossibility even if they are non corporeal beings. They are limited to be one place at a time. Everything is blamed on the demonic, discounting the fallen nature of man. Their purpose to preempt the coming move of God. While we cannot not discount demons affecting people, the main problem is that the church is not applying the word of God so we fall prey to the world the flesh and the devil. Yet we also become prey to every wind of doctrine, which from Joyner’s corner is blowing in hurricane force. Joyner does say the Christians are captive and “If the Christians had just used their weapons they could have easily freed themselves.” Joyner has no answer for this and he may just be part of the problem by having us focus on the demons instead of the Word. The Bible says if we stand firm in Christ, resist the devil he flees. No long battle and chasing after him or getting more troops to enter a battle to vanquish him. But then there would be no book! “Many of these believers were host to more than one demon, but one would obviously be in charge. The nature of the one in charge dictated which division it was marching in. Even though the divisions were all marching together, it also seemed that at the same time the entire army was on the verge of chaos. For example, the demons of hate, hated the other demons as much as they did the Christians.p.18 Comment : All this is setting up the scenario of a civil war inside the Church which according to him is going to be demon deceived Christians (the grays) against the Christians who are Spirit followers (blues). Jesus said Luke 11:17-18 “Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation, and a house divided against a house falls. This sounds much similar to the civil war that was lead in heaven by Lucifer in his rebellion. The BIBLE: Mt.12:25 “If Satan also is divided against himself, how will his kingdom stand? Which is exactly what he is describing. Although he is careful to say the Demons are on the outside the Christian, the control is no different. Jealousy, hatred bitterness, accusations and other emotions are manifested all from demons. Scripture says they are from the fallen nature of man, our flesh Gal.5. this does not mean they can be manipulated in some way by our enemy but what he is doing is blaming it all on demons. He is demonizing a whole segment of the Church without any legitimacy biblically except by a dream and vision that may or may not be accurate (even by his own standards). Non biblical: “the sky was black with vultures named Depression. Occasionally these would land on the shoulders of a prisoner and would vomit on him. The vomit was Condemnation.” p.20 He states he saw Christians” picking up the enemy arrows and shooting them back. … The demons easily dodged the arrows and let them hit the Christians.” p.26 “swarms of vultures would fly above us to vomit down on us, or to carry demons who would urinate or defecate upon the ledges, making them very slippery.” p.28 Christians” legs were bound by serpents.” p.33 Comment: Since when do we use the enemies arrows which are not physical but fiery darts, in other words condemnation accusing us to God and making us have a guilty conscience. which is the very things his vision is communicating. X-tra Biblical Christians demonically bound are able to attack and killing one another with slander and accusation. We do not find this army described in Scripture. In his previous book “The Hordes of Hell Are Marching”) “However, this slime made the Christians feel so much better… they easily believed that the demons were messengers of God, and they actually thought this slime was the anointing of the Holy Spirit.” Joyner takes no notice to speaking this way of the brethren? (Eph
4:29-32.) p.19 “It was clear that the power of the demons was rooted almost entirely in the power of deception, but they had deceived these Christians to the point where they could use them and they would think they were being used by God.” “He knew that a house divided cannot stand, and this army represented an attempt to bring such division to the church that she would completely fall from grace. It was apparent that the only way he could do this was to use Christians to war against their own brethren, and that is why almost everyone in the forward divisions were Christians, or at least professing Christians. “Comment: What he is describing those who are in an army as possibly false Christians. he states about a house falling if divided as Satan's strategy on the church but when it is happening to Satan’s kingdom it seems to have no affect. So this is logically contradictory. but there is something under the surface that seems to rising. this is his theology that those who speak out against prophetic revelations (such as his) are part of this army that brings division to the church. p.23 “Behind this army there was a trailing mob similar to the prisoners who followed the evil horde, but these were very different in nature. They seemed overly happy, as if intoxicated. They were playing games, singing songs, feasting and roaming about from one little camp to the next. This reminded me of Woodstock.” Joyner concerned for this mob ' tried to raise my voice above the clamor to warn them that a battle was about to begin. Some” gave me the “peace sign” and said they did not believe in war, and that the Lord would not let anything bad happen to them.” Comment: this reminds me of the Toronto blessing that Joyner and his patriot's endorse. you know, the ones that lay on the floor enjoying the blessing by being intoxicated on too much wine. The very ones Joyner holds to. He has been ineffective for them as well. “Then a messenger came up to me, gave me a trumpet and told me to blow it quickly. I did, and those who had on at least some of their armor immediately responded, snapping to attention. behind the army. As we looked at them all of our shields began to grow. p.23 Comment- Joyner now becomes an important part of the army In his vision Joyner sees himself at the head of a great army which he calls the “army of the Lord.” Joyner continues to appear, in all of his visions, as the central character (the leader) the “army of the Lord In his vision Joyner sees himself at the head of a great army which he calls the “army of the Lord.” Joyner continues to appear, in all of his visions, as the central character (the leader) the “army of the Lord In his vision Joyner sees himself at the head of a great army which he calls the “army of the Lord.” And the scenario for his view of the end times (Joel's army) is set up and the plot unfolds. p.25”Immediately three great angels named Faith, Hope and Love came and stood behind the army. As we looked at them all of our shields began to grow.” Non biblical: faith, hope and love are not angels but qualities from the Holy Spirit that exemplifies Christians. They continue with us for eternity. It was Gnosticism that had angels for qualities. A “great angel named Wisdom then appeared and directed us to fight from the mountain behind us.” p. 26 “On the mountain there were ledges at different levels for as high as we could see. At each higher level the ledges became narrower, and more difficult to stand on. Each level was named for biblical truth. The lower levels were named after foundational truths such as “Salvation,” “Sanctification,” “Prayer,” “Faith,” etc., and the higher levels were named after deeper biblical truths. The higher we climbed, the larger both our shields and our swords grew, and fewer of the enemy arrows could reach our positions.” comment: Shades of pilgrims progress. Is faith and prayer lower levels? Serious Scriptural doctrines are also treated in the allegory in a casual manner. For instance, when Christian warriors were captured they were led away to prison camps which were named after different “doctrines of demons.” These doctrines were never enumerated and it was not explained why they were assigned to prison camps or what lessons we should draw. This is a careless use of a term which is acutely relevant to the Church in the present age. In particular, the doctrine of salvation, which is Scriptures overriding purpose and part of Messiahs name ( -- God is salvation), is treated cavalierly. Wisdom (the angel which is his guide, he later says is Jesus) . Joyner explains his climbing up The Holy Mountain, As he climbs to each “new level”, he learns new spiritual truths ( but not always biblical ones), and receives new weapons to help kill the demonic creatures. At the top of the mountain is the garden of God and Jesus, but in order to get there one must first climb up the “levels” as soldiers fighting battles. Joyner describes these levels on a mountain he is climbing. He explains the order of these levels going up as Salvation p.51, Sanctification p.26, Thanksgiving and praise p.47. unity of the brethren p.27. Galatians 2:20 p.29, and patience p.33.The lower levels of truth which other Christians are content with are “salvation, Sanctification, Prayer, Faith. The very things were are told to always have in Scripture, they are the focus of our Christian life and walk. Believing and walking in the Spirit for growth is NOT like the Masons: we do not work our way up by levels of initiation in order to grow and have our authority. p.27 “When we reached the level called “The Unity of the Brethren,” none of the enemy's arrows could reach us.” “Soon my skills were good enough to shoot and hit the demons without hitting the Christians. I felt that if I kept going higher I could shoot far enough to hit the main leaders of the evil horde who stayed behind their army.” Comment: while the Bible does mention this Joyner twists this to mean something it does not. I don't think anyone can now rest easy that Joyner has learned skill in his aiming and stopped hitting Christians. I think it just may be the opposite from all the demonic descriptions of Christians . “At each level there were arrows of Truth scattered about which I knew were left from those who had fallen from that position (many had fallen from each position). All of the arrows were named after the Truth of that level.” p.28 “Since the enemy could not hit us on the higher levels with its arrows, swarms of vultures would fly above us to vomit down on us, or to carry demons who would urinate or defecate upon the ledges, making them very slippery.” Comment: Beside this being disgusting it is unbiblical and just downright ridiculous. “ Our swords grew after we reached each level, but I almost left mine behind because I did not seem to need it at the higher levels. I almost casually decided to keep it, thinking that it must have been given to me for a reason. Then, because the ledge I was standing on was so narrow, and becoming so slippery, I drove the sword into the ground and tied myself to it while I shot at the enemy. The voice of the Lord then came to me, saying: “You have used the wisdom that will enable you to keep climbing. Many have fallen because they did not use their sword properly to anchor themselves. “ No one else seemed to hear this voice, but many saw what I had done and did the same.”Comment: Joyner has become a leader in this war even though he admits he does not know what he is doing. Imagine having a vision with yourself in it and being the hero. are we to believe he is climbing “levels” and in a fierce battle he almost leaves his sword behind? All this stretches ones credulity. His aim becomes better “ Soon we were hitting the demons with almost perfect accuracy. Rage ascended from the enemy army like fire and brimstone. I knew that the Christians trapped in that army were now feeling the brunt of that rage. Some became so enraged that they were now shooting at each other. Normally this would have been very encouraging, but those who suffered the most were the deceived Christians who were in the camp of the enemy. “ “The arrows of Truth would seldom penetrate the vultures, but they hurt them enough to drive them back.” Comment: Truth doesn't seem to be to powerful in his vision. One can only ask what is? The Bible describes Jesus as grace and truth revealed and the word as truth, that the truth sets one free (from falsehood). 2 Cor.10:3-6 our warfare is against false knowledge and we find our most powerful weapon is the word of God (truth). Eph.6:10-18 mentions it as our sword. As a matter of fact all the armor we are to have on and use daily is to Joyner the lower level. p.29 ..”on this level I caught up to Faith, Hope and Love, which before I had only been able to see from a distance. Here I was almost overpowered by their glory. ...When they touched my sword, great bolts of brilliant lightning began flashing from it. Love then said, “Those who reach this level are entrusted with the powers of the age to come.” Comment: Really! . Here Joyner says he is bestowed power beyond anything given before. Nowhere does the Bible teach this. This phrase occurs only at Hebrews 6:5 is preceded by the phrase “and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come.”The powers of the age to come are reserved for the AGE TO COME. There is no level to climb literally or metaphorically. “The “Galatians Two Twenty” level ...We decided not to use the arrows of truth until we had destroyed all of the vultures, because the cloud of depression they created made the truth less effective.” Comment: If this is beginning to take on the life of fantasy you may be getting closer to reality than he is. p.32 For a long time we continued killing the vultures and picking off the demons that were riding the Christians. We found that the arrows of different Truths would have greater impact on different demons. We knew that it was going to be a long battle, but we were not suffering any more casualties now, and we had continued to climb past the level of “Patience.” p.33We shot arrows of Truth at the serpents, but they had little effect. We then tried the arrows of Hope, but without results.' Comment: Once again truth has little affect on the enemy in Joyner's dream. Is this a subtle hint to what source this is from? “ We passed levels of truth very fast. .... Faith, Hope and Love stayed right with us, but I had not noticed that we had left Wisdom far behind. It would be a long time before I would understand what a mistake this was. He would catch up to us on the top, but leaving him behind cost us a much quicker and easier victory over the evil horde.”Almost without warning we came to a level that opened up into a garden. It was the most beautiful place I had ever seen. Over the entrance to this garden was written, “The Father's Unconditional Love.” This entrance was so glorious and inviting that we just could not resist entering. As soon as I entered I saw a tree that I knew was the Tree of Life.” p.34 Then from an angel guarding the tree “ called out, “Those who make it to this level, who know the Father's love, can eat.” Bible says all who overcome can eat it is by faith we overcome I did not realize how hungry I was. When I tasted the fruit, it was better than anything I had ever tasted, but it was, also, somehow familiar. It brought memories of sunshine, rain, beautiful fields, the sun setting over the ocean, but even more than that, of the people I loved. With every bite I loved everything and everyone more. Then my enemies started coming to mind, and I loved them, too. The feeling was soon greater than anything I had ever experienced, even the peace on “Galatians Two Twenty” when we had first reached that level. Then I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, “This is now your daily bread. It shall never be withheld from you. You may eat as much and as often as you like. There is no end to My love.” Comment: Look what Joyner is saying, that he is privileged enough to eat from the tree of life in Paradise. he is allowed to eat of the “tree of life,” which doesn't make its appearance for other Christian believers until the New Jerusalem in Revelation 22:2. biblically if one eats from the tree of life they will never die. This becomes his daily bread a physical fruit while Jesus said it was his word. But the affect on him is like a mystical experience. “The Lord Jesus Himself then appeared right in out midst. He took the time to greet each one personally, congratulating us for reaching the top of the mountain. Then He said, “I p.35 “must now share with you what I shared with your brothers after My ascension--the message of My kingdom. The enemy's most powerful army has now been put to flight, but not destroyed. Now it is time for us to march forth with the gospel of My kingdom. The eagles have been released and will go with us. We will take arrows from every level, but I am your Sword, and I am your Captain. It is now time for the Sword of the Lord to be unsheathed. “X-tra biblical- if this is the message he shared after the ascension it is missing from the Scriptures even though he was with them 40 days. This sounds reminiscent to the Gnostic gospels content. Where does Jesus talk about eagles released or arrows taken from LEVELS this is all a concoction of Joyner’s mind. what was the sword that was growing if not the sword of the Lord. but the sword of the Lord is the word, it is the truth which seems to have little use up until now. On this page beautiful eagles with “blinding glory” do his bidding. The Lord Jesus appears and personally congratulates him for reaching the top of the mountain (pp. 35-36) . What's wrong with the ancient truths do we really need new truths unrevealed in scripture by the new prophets? Jesus never used terms of marchin' and capturing and this is all from the bent of Joel's army. After Jesus resurrected the gospel of the kingdom was on the death burial and resurrection and there are no banners to be carried. From his own admission this is the day of the Lord so the church is here and not only that is going to march triumphant. This is latter rain dominionism. p.35”I then turned and saw that the entire army of the Lord was standing in that garden. There were men, women, and children from all races and nations, each carrying their banners which moved in the wind with perfect unity. I knew that nothing like this had been seen in the earth before. I knew that the enemy had many more armies, and fortresses throughout the earth, but none could stand before this great army. I said almost under my breath, “This must be the day of the Lord.” The whole host then answered in an awesome thunder, “The day of the Lord of Hosts has come.” Xtra-biblical Joyner¹s focus is on a great human army, but Scripture emphasizes the execution of vengeance on the Day of the Lord not through a victorious human army not on earth but by the Lord Himself: the only army amassed on earth is those who fight against the Lord.
The “day of the Lord” described by Joyner has nothing in common
with the Day of the Lord in Scripture, which is a dark and fearful
day, not a day of celebration: this is prophecy and must be accurate
for what he is claiming here p.37 Joyner pondered his dream. Claiming certain events and conditions in the church paralleled the hordes from hell marching .” I was then reminded of Abraham Lincoln. The only way that he could become “the Emancipator,” and preserve the Union, was to be willing to fight a Civil War.” Fighting with “the resolution not to compromise until the victory was complete. He also had to have the grace to fight the bloodiest war in our history without “demonizing” the enemy with propaganda.” comment: With that statement in mind, “to fight the bloodiest war in our history without 'demonizing' the enemy with propaganda.” Yet this “Civil war,” is described as the demons deceiving Christians defecating on them and all the rest of the expletives. Pride, Selfish Ambitions, Unrighteous Judgement, Jealousy ... Intimidation ... Treachery ... Accusation, Gossip, Slander, Faultfinding ... are a few of the descriptions as their actions. Xtra-biblical- The prophecies in Scripture about the last days speak neither of a Civil war nor of a great revival. The unanimous testimony of the apostles and prophets is that in the last days of this age, Christendom (not The Church) shall be characterized by apostasy: false prophets and teachers, false brethren and false doctrines. He also implies that the church will triumph on earth, something which is contradicted by passages such as Matthew 24 which forecasts deception and terrible persecution (to those who claim Christ), not triumph, for the church prior to His return. We are nowhere told to expect things to get better but only worse. So much worse, in fact, that our Lord Jesus Christ, Himself, asked the question when I come will I find faith on the earth? In Luke 18: which strongly suggests that there will not be a victorious earthly church at that time, but few who have held to his teachings. “The Lord is now preparing a leadership that will be willing to fight a spiritual civil war in order to set men free. The main issue will be slavery versus freedom…. The church will not be destroyed, but the institutions and doctrines that have kept men in spiritual slavery will be.” Comment: Scripture says he who the Son sets free is free indeed. Doctrines keep us in slavery? Actually the Bible which is filled with doctrines we are to obey because it keeps us on course. What he means by doctrine is not really explained but one can gather from his writings it is holding to the written word and proven historic interpretations. Joyner's belittling doctrine shows his animosity toward the truth from the very words of the one he calls his savior.
This is also unscriptural in that,
although there will be unbelievers or false believers intermingled
among true ones in the visible church on earth, Jesus makes it plain
that these “tares” among the wheat will not be uprooted until the
end of the age when the Son of Man will send out angels to gather
the wheat into the barn and burn the tares in the fire (Matthew
13:40-41). It is the angels, and not men, who will have the job of
cleaning up the church! Comment: This passage suggests that the church will be an active force for the women¹s rights movement and for political liberation movements focusing on racism and economic exploitation. Is this “politically correct” Christianity? In the current climate this is wrong, since it is such movements as Feminist Theology in the seminaries which is actually destroying Scripture-based teaching. Furthermore, the Bible proclaims that God is no respecter of persons and that He looks past outward forms and circumstances and regards each child of God equally. Gal.3:28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. . J oyner seems to attribute to the church what only Christ himself ruling on the earth can do.(Isa.9:6) Only when Jesus comes and installs his Government will this be accomplished. No one else can bring this about but the savior in the millennium (Mt.25). This is dominion teaching, kingdom now explanations, that have nothing to do with the true biblical scenario of the end.“I closed my eyes because the glory I was seeing with my heart was as great as what I was seeing with my physical eyes....then an angel said, “Close your eyes again.” When I did, I beheld the glory of the Lord. This was no small relief I knew that I just could not live without the glory now that I had experienced it. Here again Joyner goes within to experience Gods glory. all the prophets speak of Gods glory outside themselves. The NT teaches Christ in you the hope of Glory 1Kings 8:11 So that the priests could not stand to minister
because of the cloud: for the glory of the LORD had filled the house
of the LORD. “ p.42 Then the angel Wisdom teaches Joyner, “What you see with the eyes of your heart is more real than what you see with your physical eyes.” I had myself made this statement many times, but how little I had walked in it! The angel continued, “It was for this reason that the Lord told His first disciples that it was better for Him to go away so that the Holy Spirit could come. The Lord dwells within you. You have taught this many times, but now you must live it, for you have eaten of the tree of Life.” The Angel leads Joyner out of Paradise and he protests not wanting to leave.” Looking surprised, the Angel took me by the shoulders and looked me in the eyes, that is when I recognized him as the Angel Wisdom. 'You never have to leave this garden, this garden is in your heart because the Creator Himself is within you.'“ p.43 “I then looked past him to the Tree of Life. I had a compulsion to grab all of the fruit that I could before leaving. Knowing my thoughts, Wisdom gently shook me. “No. Even this fruit, gathered in fear, would go bad. This fruit and this tree are within you because He is in you. You must believe. “
Comment: This
supposed angel of God goes on to tell Joyner that the tree and its
fruit dwells within him. Nowhere does Scripture teach this, but
Gnosticism does. like the divine spark of the Gnostics. (The inner
Christ which the new age promotes). After the Resurrection when
Thomas doubted, Jesus did not tell him that the evidence did not
matter he had only to “see with the eyes of his heart;” rather, He
offered the evidence by telling Thomas to look at His hands and
touch His side (John 20:27). The difference between Jewish beliefs
and religions of the East (and some in the West) was that, say,
Hindus believed that the physical was unimportant, “maya,” illusion,
that needs to be transcended so that it would disappear, while the
Jews believed in a physical resurrection. This statement of the
“angel” was not a Jewish statement that Jesus would have made it
is more like a statement made by someone who believed that only the
spiritual realm, not the physical universe, was “real.” The physical
fact of the Resurrection was all-important because, as Paul said, if
Christ is not [really] risen, then our faith is futile and we are
still dead in our sins (1 Cor 15:17).Paul points to those who were
witnesses to the resurrection as an opportunity for those who
question to ask. Luke tells of Jesus presenting Himself alive “by
many infallible proofs” (Acts 1:3), a legal term referring to
irrefutable evidence. Truth, and hence reality, and hence evidence
of that reality, were important to Jesus and His disciples. Non biblical-The “tree of life” is misused here. Scripture begins with the tree of life (Gen 2:9) and, at the climax of history, ends at the tree of life (Rev 22). In the age to come, the tree of life will be for those who persevered in their faith in this life, it is a reward for being victorious on earth: Rev. 2:7 To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God.
Non biblical: It
will not be available until after a “new heaven and a new earth” are
created and the New Jerusalem comes down (Rev 21). Yet Joyner who
obviously implies has already overcome says he has partaken of it
which means he will never die. Warning- Mr. Joyner has certainly put his revelation on par to John the apostle. He carefully warned Rev 22:18-19For I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: If anyone adds to these things, God will add to him the plagues that are written in this book; and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part from the Book of Life, from the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.” One needs to ask if what Joyner has done by prophetic inspiration is add to the revelation contained in this book. “You have tasted of the heavenly realm, and no one ever wants to go back to the battle once they do. No one ever wants to leave the manifest presence of the Lord. When the apostle Paul came here he struggled for the rest of his life as to whether he should stay and labor for the sake of the church or return here to enter into His inheritance. His inheritance was magnified the longer he stayed and served on earth. Now that you have the heart of a true worshiper you will always want to be here, but you can when you enter into true worship. The more focused you are on Him, the more glory you will see, regardless of where you are.”
Comment: We
see here that Rick Joyner seems to believe he is much superior in
anointing and privilege to Paul, who visited the “third heaven” but
was completely forbidden to say anything about what he heard (2 Cor.
12:4). In Col 2:18 Paul warns about similar people of his day who
were “puffed up” and went around claiming knowledge superior to what
he and the other apostles taught. NOTE FROM DEE: I MUST REMIND THE READER THAT DIFFERENT RELIGIONS DO NOT APPROVE OF EXTRA BIBLICAL GIFTS THAT SOME PEOPLE HAVE. THE COMMENTOR IS ENTITLED TO HIS OPINION BUT THAT DOESN'T MAKE HIM RIGHT EITHER! “Wisdom's words had finally calmed me. Again I closed my eyes just to thank the Lord for this wonderful experience, and the life He had given to me. As I did, I started to see His glory again, and all of the emotion of the previous worship experience flooded my soul. The Lord's words to me were so loud and clear that I was sure they were audible; “I will never leave or forsake you. “ “Lord, forgive my unbelief,” I responded. “Please help me never to leave or forsake you.” One of Joyner¹s most basic mistakes is to think Jesus is an angel called “Wisdom.” The Creator and Lord of the universe is not one of His creations (an angel). He is vastly superior to the angels, as Hebrews 1 declares. To promote this as the revelation he received from Jesus shows to me this is not from the Jesus of the Bible. The revelation He has goes from one thing to another that often times contradict Scripture. p.44 “Here the “real world” was not real, and the spiritual realm was so much more real that I just could not imagine going back to the other. Wisdom says, “You are dreaming, “ he said. “But this dream is more real than what you think of as real. The Father gave men dreams to help them see the door to His dwelling place. He will only dwell in men's hearts, and dreams can be a door to your heart, which will lead you to Him. “ 'I am the primary gift that has been given to you for your work “ he said. “I will show you the way, and I will keep you on it, but only love will keep you faithful. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, but the highest wisdom is to love Him. “NOTE FROM DEE: I PERSONALLY DO NOT ESPOUSE 'FEAR' AS THE WAY TO FOLLOW ANYONE, INCLUDING JEHOVAH OR JESUS. LOVE IS THE ONLY WAY TO DO SO - OR DON'T FOLLOW IT. NON Biblical: The above paragraph can only be described as “a revelation of babble.” What on earth does it mean? How can this be explained adequately? Joyner uses familiar Scripture verses to sound Biblical and give himself authority, but when strung together or qualified with other phrases they don't always make any clear sense. Do our dreams lead to our heart where we will find the Father? Does the Father ONLY dwell in men’s heart? This is certainly New Age mysticism to go within oneself and find this. Where does the Bible say the greatest WISDOM is love? The spiritual realm is not more real than what we live in. This sounds like it is tainted with Hinduism which teaches this world is an illusion and not the true reality. The Dream concept seems to have picked up in Tommy Tenney’s book God’s Dream team, where God has planted his dream within His children and we need to Keep His dream alive. I don't have any answers for this except to say it is not biblical. He follows Wisdom toward the gate. “ I remembered the exhilaration of the battle and the climb up the mountain, and it was compelling, but there was no comparison to the presence of the Lord and the worship I had just experienced. Leaving this would be the greatest sacrifice I had ever made. Then I remembered how it was all inside of me and was amazed that I could forget this so quickly. It was like there was a great battle raging within me, between what I saw with my physical eyes and what I saw with my heart.”p44
Comment: Saying
that “it was all inside of me” is an Eastern concept, not a Biblical
one. God¹s spirit comes to abide in Christians but is not contained
by them. The Jesus with eyes of flaming fire and feet of fine brass
that John the beloved disciple saw in Revelations 1 was not “all
inside” of him. Phil 2:10-11 says that every knee shall bow and
tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the
Father. We don't bow to ourselves. The Bible says in him is found
all wisdom. He is a person. “I moved forward so that I was walking beside Wisdom, and asked, “I have prayed for twenty-five years to be caught up p44 into the third heaven like the apostle Paul. Is this the third heaven?"“this is part of it, “ he replied, "but there is much more.” Will I be allowed to see more?" I asked.“You will see much more. I am taking you to see more now," he replied. I started thinking of the book of Revelation. "Was John's revelation part of the third heaven?” I asked. “part of John's revelation was from the third heaven, but most of it was from the second heaven. The first heaven was before the fall of man. the second heaven is the spiritual realm during the reign of evil upon the earth. The third heaven is when the love and domain of the Father will again prevail over the earth through the king. ” Comment : Notice he says his desire was to have the experience of Paul. So he was pursuing and coveting a spiritual experience which puts one is a precarious position of being deceived. Students of the Bible generally agree that the first heaven refers to the atmosphere where, for instance where birds fly (Gen 1:9, 20), the second to space where the stars are (Gen 1:1), and the third of course to the realm where God dwells. There is absolutely no Scriptural basis for Joyner¹s conceptions of the first and second heavens. Actually the Bible refutes Joyner because when the judgments are poured out from heaven to the earth during the tribulation. there is no reason to believe the heavens are ages.“What was the first heaven like?” I inquired, strangely feeling a cold chill as I asked. “It is wisdom not to be concerned about that now, “ Wisdom responded with increased seriousness as my question seemed to jolt him. “Wisdom is to seek to know the third heaven just as you have. There is much more to know about the third heaven than you can know in this life, and it is the third heaven, the kingdom, that you must preach in this life. In the ages to come you will be told about the first heaven, but it is not profitable for you to know about it now. ” comment: Paul
warned about teachers who intrude into things not seen and become
vainly puffed up through a fleshly mind (Col 2:18).I never heard the
Scripture mentioning preaching a third heaven message. I resolved to remember the cold chill I had just felt, and Wisdom nodded, which I knew to be an affirmation of that thought. “What a great companion you are,” I had to say as I realized the valuable gift that this angel was. “You really will keep me on the right path.” “I will indeed,” he replied.p.45
comment: Psalm
119:105 says that “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my
path,” and 119:11 says, “Your word have I hidden in my heart, that I
might not sin against You.” God's word, not an angel named Wisdom,
is given to us to keep us on the right course. Where does the
Bible say an angel personally guides us on our path, this is like
spirit guides in the new age. The Holy Spirit guides us, he is not
angel but God. hew leads us into God's word of truth. Comment: Extra biblical-Angels are God's messengers and agents, always on a Divine mission. The Bible does not speak of their emotions and that angels love us. This guided tour by an angel is in my biblical opinion the deception in his vision. consider what this angel next says to him. NOTE FROM DEE: I ALSO HAVE A PERSONAL ANGEL WHO IS SO FULL OF LOVE, ONE CANNOT EXPLAIN HIS WORK IN ANY OTHER WAY. THAT SAID, I KNOW OF ANOTHER ANGEL WHO HAS NO EMOTION IN HIS TEACHINGS AT ALL. SO PERSONAL EXPERIENCE IS THE ONLY WAY TO FOLLOW ANGELS - THEY ARE NOT ALL THE SAME. “It is wisdom to love and I could not be Wisdom if I did not love you. It is also wisdom to behold the kindness and the severity of God. It is wisdom to love Him and to fear Him. You are in deception if you do otherwise. This is the next lesson that you must learn,” he said with unmistakable earnest. “I do know that, and have taught it many times,” I responded, feeling for the first time that maybe Wisdom did not fully know me. “I have been your companion for a very long time, and I know your teachings, “Wisdom replied. “Now you are about to learn what some of your own teachings mean. As you have said many times, 'It is not by believing in your mind, but in your heart that results in righteousness. comment: What does this angel mean by his own teachings? The Scriptural concept of the “heart” was more inclusive than just feelings but was “the rational-spiritual nature of man” and “the center of thought and conception” which knows, understands, and reflects (The New Unger¹s Bible Dictionary, page 544). Therefore, it includes not excludes, belief in the mind. Otherwise “believing in your heart” would make no sense for how can the heart rejoice over something the mind has not taken in. We are made to act as a whole being body soul spirit not portions. Joyner lacks a proper understanding of a Biblical concepts, but this can be due to his accepting the vision and angels words over the Bibles. “now taking you to another place because it is time for you to worship Him in the fear of His judgment. Until you know both there is a danger that we can be separated from each other “ “Do you mean that if l had stayed back there in that glorious worship I would have lost you?” I asked in disbelief. 'Yes. I would have always visited with you when I could, but we would have rarely crossed paths. It is hard to leave such glory and peace, but that is not the whole revelation of the King. He is both a Lion and a Lamb. To the spiritual children He is the Lamb. To the maturing He is the Lion. To the fully mature He is both the Lion and the Lamb. Again, I know you understand this, but you have known it in your mind. Soon you will know it in your heart, for you are about to experience the judgment seat of Christ.” Comment : Jesus is “the Lamb who takes away the sins of the world” (John 1:29). His role as the perfect Passover Lamb who was acceptable to the Father as the sacrifice for mankind¹s sin has nothing to do with the spiritual age or youth of believers. This is a misunderstanding and misuse of this key theological term. As the inheritor of the throne of David, He is also the Lion of Judah who opens the seals. But no teaching ever tells us to know him as the lion. This has nothing to do with the spiritual maturity of those who believe in Him. To all believers as the Lamb He is their savior and their Lord. He comes back as the lion in as far as the judgment. The judgment seat of Christ is after one dies not for a dream or vision. What kind of interpretation is this? Certainly since it is outside the Bibles revelation it becomes a mystical journey that science fiction writers would be jealous of. He then asked Wisdom to ponder all that that I had experienced. ... he replied, “but I have a better place for you to do it.” He follows Wisdom out of the gates down the mountain. “To my surprise the battle was still going on, but not as intensely as it was when we ascended. There were still arrows of accusation and slander flying about on the lower levels, but most of the enemy horde that was left was furiously attacking the great white eagles. The eagles were easily prevailing.” We kept descending until we were almost at the bottom. just above the levels of “Salvation” and “Sanctification” was the level “Thanksgiving and Praise.” I remembered this level very well because one of the greatest attacks of the enemy p.47 Each level [of the mountain] was named for a biblical truth. The
lower levels were named after foundational truths such as
“Salvation,” “Sanctification,” “Prayer,” “Faith,” etc., and the
higher levels were named after deeper biblical truths. (My
emphasis.) “Salvation” is here presented as a level lower than “Thanksgiving and Praise.” This is certainly a lower view of salvation than the apostle Paul had when he determined to know nothing but “Jesus Christ and Him crucified” (1 Cor 2:2). To Paul, no knowledge was higher than the knowledge that Christ died for our sins. Joyner's angel belittles this with handing him a whole new view of Christianity. FROM: http://www.letusreason.org/BookR4.htm THE FOLLOWING INTERPRETATIONS HAVE NOT BEEN COMMENTED ON BY DEE AND STAND ON THEIR OWN MERITS. FOLLOW YOUR OWN DISCERNMENT |
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Who Is the Harlot of Revelation 17?
Cover Story: Roderick C. Meredith
Who is the mysterious "Harlot" of Revelation 17? This is a puzzle to millions of people—and even to many theologians. Yet the Word of God devotes most of an entire chapter—plus many references elsewhere—to this vital topic. Whoever this great "Harlot" is, she is very powerful. She has, and will in the future, MARTYR untold millions of human beings. She is destined to dramatically CHANGE the lives of every one of you who read this article! This Harlot sits astride a system encompassing many nations and peoples, "Then he said to me, 'The waters which you saw, where the Harlot sits, are peoples, multitudes, nations, and tongues'" (Revelation 17:15). And she continues to exist right up to the Second Coming of Christ! For God's Word describes the "ten horns" or ten KINGS (v. 12) which will arise at that time: "These will make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb will overcome them, for He is Lord of lords and King of kings; and those who are with Him are called, chosen, and faithful…. And the ten horns which you saw on the beast, these will hate the harlot, make her desolate and naked, eat her flesh and burn her with fire" (vv. 14, 16). Modern theologians and Bible commentaries try to be "politically correct" in their references to this great Harlot. For instance, notice this comment from the Expositor's Bible Commentary, Vol. 12, pp. 553-554: "In an important sense, the interpretation of this chapter controls the interpretation of the whole Book of Revelation. For a majority of exegetes, Babylon represents the city of Rome. The beast stands for the Roman Empire as a whole, with its subject provinces and peoples. The seven hills (v. 9) are the seven selected dynasties of Roman emperors from Augustus to Domitian. The ten kings are heads of lesser and restless states, eager to escape their enslavement to the colonizing power. John's prediction of the fall of Babylon is his announcement of the impending dissolution of the Roman Empire in all its aspects." Though these scholars may be sincere, it is amazing that they seem either unwilling or unable to see that the "woman"—the great Harlot—"RIDES" the Beast (modern Babylon). She is clearly set forth as being distinctly SEPARATE from the Beast—the empire with ten final kings giving their power and authority to one super-dictator also called the "Beast." Obviously, the woman cannot "ride" the Beast and at the same time be the Beast! Many scholars do realize, however, that the Beast of Revelation 17 is the Roman Empire and its "revivals" in various forms. For a fascinating and thorough explanation of the identity of this "Beast" of Revelation 17, please write for a copy of our booklet entitled The Beast of Revelation. It will be sent to you absolutely FREE upon your request.
Who IS This "Woman"?
Please understand. Throughout the New Testament, the term "woman" is used as a symbol for a church. For instance, the Apostle Paul writes the Church of God at Corinth, "Oh, that you would bear with me in a little folly; and indeed you do bear with me. For I am jealous for you with godly jealousy. For I have betrothed you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ (2 Corinthians 11:1-2)." Clearly, the true church is here described as "betrothed" to Jesus Christ—in the position of an engaged woman to her fiancé who is Jesus Christ. In Ephesians 5:23-24, Paul writes, "For the husband is head of the wife, as also Christ is head of the church; and He is the Savior of the body. Therefore, just as the church is subject to Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in everything." Again, the analogy clearly identifies the true Church as being in the position of a woman—a wife who is submissive to her husband, Christ. And in Revelation 12:1-5, we read the inspired account of the "woman"—this time ancient Israel, the "CHURCH in the wilderness" (Acts 7:38, KJV)—being used by God to bring forth the Messiah, "a male child who was to RULE all nations with a rod of iron." Verse 5 picks up the story about "the woman"—now the true New Testament Church—fleeing into the wilderness to "a place prepared by God." The following verses make it even more evident that this "woman" is, in fact, the true Church of God that is protected by God Himself from the wrath of Satan. So when we come to the "woman" of Revelation 17, it should be very obvious that—letting the Bible interpret its own symbols—this woman is indeed a church. However, this church, "sitting on a scarlet beast" (v. 3) is truly a spiritual "harlot." For she has entered into adulterous alliances with the leaders and kings of this world (v. 2). And the inhabitants of the earth are made spiritually "drunk" because of her false teachings. She is a "mother" church—giving birth to spiritual "harlots" (v. 5). And, as indicated, she deals in "mysteries," as did the ancient pagan religions before her.
A PERSECUTING Church
Also, this "woman" is a great PERSECUTING church. For John was inspired to write, "I saw the woman, drunk with the blood of the saints and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus. And when I saw her, I marveled with great amazement" (v. 6). Please think about that. Who is this great fallen woman—a powerful church—which has and which will again be "drunk with the blood of the SAINTS"? Obviously, she persecutes the true Christians—the true "saints" of God. They are described in Revelation 14:12: "Here is the patience of the saints; here are those who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus." In contrast to the commandment-keeping Church of God, this great apostate church and her "daughter" churches REJECT the need to keep the Ten Commandments as a WAY of life! Somehow, in their spiritual drunkenness, they manage to reason around the plain and clear teachings of Jesus: "IF you want to enter into life, KEEP the commandments" (Matthew 19:17). Historically, do we read about a great church that did persecute millions of people during the Middle Ages? Did such a church actually exist? In his well-documented book, A Woman Rides the Beast (pp. 243-244), author Dave Hunt describes what the "woman" did for hundreds of years during the Middle Ages:
Making every allowance required by an historian and permitted to a Christian, we must rank the Inquisition, along with the wars and persecutions of our time, as among the darkest blots on the record of mankind, revealing a ferocity unknown in any beast. So when John saw this "woman" or apostate church "drunk with the BLOOD of the saints," he was certainly not exaggerating. Even scores of Catholic writers have been mightily embarrassed about what their church practiced for hundreds of years. For with the vast record of priests sodomizing young men, of many popes openly maintaining mistresses and fathering illegitimate children all over Italy, high offices in the church being offered and bought for money—it has seemed to many objective historians that this powerful church was the veritable embodiment of evil in nearly every aspect.
Daniel's "Little Horn"
The prophet Daniel was inspired to describe this foul religious system as a "little horn." After describing the four great ruling kingdoms of the Gentile world—Babylon, Medo-Persia, Alexander's Greco-Macedonian Empire and finally Rome—Daniel then describes a "little horn" coming up among the early resurrections of the Roman Empire: "I was considering the horns, and there was another horn, a little one, coming up among them, before whom three of the first horns were plucked out by the roots. And there, in this horn, were eyes like the eyes of a man, and a mouth speaking pompous words." (Daniel 7:8). In verses 25-27 of this same chapter, Daniel is inspired to describe the actions of this pompous "little horn" and how it would last right up to Christ's return and His RULE over the nations: "He shall speak pompous words against the Most High, shall persecute the saints of the Most High, and shall intend to change times and law. Then the saints shall be given into his hand for a time and times and half a time. But the court shall be seated, and they shall take away his dominion, to consume and destroy it forever. Then the kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of the kingdoms under the whole heaven, shall be given to the people, the saints of the Most High. His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey Him." Notice that this "little horn" is different from the pagan empire (v. 24), for it is, in fact, a RELIGIOUS empire! Note also that the human leader of this foul system speaks "pompous words" against God, persecutes the true Christians and intends to change TIMES and LAW. This is a direct reference to the fact that the Catholic Church fostered the idea that the Ten Commandments were subsumed to church authority and that they CHANGED God's commanded seventh-day Sabbath (Exodus 20:8-11; Hebrews 4:9-11). They substituted the pagan "day of the sun" in place of God's Sabbath. Renowned modern historian Will Durant writes, "The serious temper of the Jewish Sabbath was transferred to the Christian Sunday that replaced it in the second century" (The Story of Civilization, vol. 3, 1972, p. 599). How did this happen? A Roman Catholic study course tells us that "the [Roman] Church transferred the obligation from Saturday to Sunday" (Father Smith Instructs Jackson). The Catholic Mirror agrees: "The Catholic Church… by virtue of her Divine mission, changed the day from Saturday to Sunday" (Sept. 23, 1893). If you wish further information about the true biblical Sabbath, please write for our powerful and enlightening booklet, Which Day is the Christian Sabbath?
The Papacy Predicted in Advance
As we have seen, the "little horn" of Daniel is describing the false church and especially its spokesman, the pope, speaking "pompous words." In the New Testament, God inspired the Apostle John to describe the "resurrection" of the final Beast, the Roman Empire (Revelation 13:1-10). Then, in verses 11-14, "another beast" is described as rising up who looks like a "Lamb," or Christ, but speaks like a "dragon," Satan the devil (Revelation 12:9). This exceedingly clever and sinister FALSE PROPHET "exercises all the power of the first beast (the revived Roman Empire) in his presence, and causes the earth and those who dwell in it to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed." In other words, this great False Prophet is able to sway most of mankind to stand in awe of and OBEY the revived Roman Empire! Then we read, "He performs great SIGNS, so that he even makes FIRE come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men. And he DECEIVES those who dwell on the earth by those signs which he was granted to do in the sight of the beast, telling those who dwell on the earth to make an image to the beast who was wounded by the sword and lived" (vv. 13-14). As this system developed, a "man of sin" would be revealed—audaciously taking to himself titles and authority that belong only to GOD. He was to sit as a veritable "god" in the temple of God—using some of the very titles of God. In fact, though Jesus called God "Holy Father," Catholics call the pope Most Holy Father" and "Vicar of Christ"—which literally means "in place of Christ"! Dave Hunt describes the blasphemous pretentions of the papacy:
So the popes have claimed that they hold "the place of GOD on earth"! And what is most frightening is that they continue to make such claims—and even get away with it in our so-called "modern" world. For because the Roman Catholic Church is such an omnipresent and powerful entity, the media usually treads very lightly in attacking even the most outrageous and blasphemous claims of the modern popes and clergy. But how is all this destined to affect your life?
The Beast and the Woman—Together Again
Few realize that the so-called "Holy" Roman Empire is being revived right under our noses! Throughout most of continental Europe, there is a great push for full European unity. And one of the major players in this geopolitical chess game is—you guessed it!—the pope himself. In his detailed and revealing book, The Principality and Power of Europe (pp. 36-37), British author Adrian Hilton explains what is now happening:
Although the Bible certainly does not indicate that the final pope will be the "emperor" of this revived Holy Roman Empire; it does show that he will be the "power behind the throne." As God carefully indicates to us, the coming False Prophet "causes" those who will not worship this system "to be KILLED" (Revelation 13:15). So, as many popes did during the Middle Ages, he will use the power of the state—the "Beast"—to force His will on the entire western world! Remember what happened under Hitler? A knock on the door, the father or mother grabbed and hustled into a van by the state police for saying or doing some "politically incorrect" thing! Do you think that could NOT happen again? If so, you could not be more wrong! The God who gives us life and breath clearly describes how, once again, the woman "rides" the Beast. And what most people do not realize is that the false teachings and practices of this fallen "woman" have permeated the ENTIRE world. That is precisely what John was inspired to write: "So the great dragon was cast out, that serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan, who deceives the WHOLE WORLD; he was cast to the earth, and his angels were cast out with him" (Revelation 12:9). Even sincere Protestants and Evangelicals have unwittingly been made spiritually DRUNK by the paganism of this system: "The inhabitants of the earth were made drunk with the wine of her fornication" (Revelation 17:2). What each reader needs to realize is that SATAN is the invisible "god" of this present world (2 Corinthians 4:3-4). And that "all nations" are spiritually DRUNK. In describing this entire system and the harlot "daughters" that have come out of "mother" Rome, here is what the respected Critical and Experimental Commentary has to say:
What You Should DO
Recent news reports from many nations have indicated that Catholic persecution of religious minorities continues. Although they have learned to smile and act agreeably in nations where the Protestants or others are in the majority, the old demons of hate and authoritarianism come out very quickly when Catholics are in control. A recent article in Christianity Today magazine (August 2000, p. 30) reported: "In March, about 70 Protestant families were expelled from the Mexican village of Plan de Ayala, in Chiapas state, by the town's Roman Catholic majority. 'Fourteen homes were demolished by the mob as the Protestants fled to the hills for refuge,' reports Seventh-Day Adventist pastor Isias Espinosa." This is just a tiny sampling of the type of religious oppression practiced by this powerful church! And its leaders continue to emphasize that they are the ONLY true church—that others are, in effect, only "second-class Christians." A recent report by Victor Simpson came through the Associated Press wire on September 5, 2000:
So they not only admit, but even insist that they are the "MOTHER" of all churches"! And they insist also that they alone have the "keys" to God's Kingdom! Truly, it is time to WAKE UP! It is time for all who believe in God to go back and PROVE whether their religious beliefs and practices actually came out of the Bible—or out of "Babylon." For the Creator God tells all who will heed, "'For all the nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth have become rich through the abundance of her luxury.' And I heard another voice from heaven saying, 'COME OUT of her, my people, lest you share in her sins, and lest you receive of her PLAGUES'" (Revelation 18:3-4). In Christ's name, I urge you: please begin to genuinely STUDY your Bible as never before! Also, do yourself a favor and write in for your absolutely FREE enrollment in our inspiring and most helpful Tomorrow's World Bible Study Course. Study through this course and follow Paul's inspired admonition, "PROVE all things, hold fast that which is good" (1 Thessalonians 5:21, KJV). And again, I urge you to write in immediately and request your FREE copy of our truly revealing booklet The Beast of Revelation. This booklet—coupled with this article you are now reading—will give you the full picture and PROOF of the nature of the powerful and ominous forces now rising in Europe. As Jesus said, "Watch." Keep your eyes on this revival of the Holy Roman Empire. "Watch" how it slowly but surely begins to gain total power in most of Europe—then Central and South America and finally most of the entire world. "Watch" how other churches are, bit by bit, coaxed, persuaded or finally coerced into going back to the "mother" church. Frankly, you will be disappointed to see how many supposedly dedicated Protestant and evangelical leaders will be maneuvered into giving up much of what they have always believed when real PRESSURE is put upon them. Will YOU also turn aside from the God of the Bible? For your eternal good, pray for real understanding, faith and courage. Obey Jesus' instruction, "Watch therefor, and PRAY always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man" (Luke 21:36). FROM: http://www.tomorrowsworld.org/magazines/2001/jan-feb/who-is-the-harlot-of-revelation-17 |
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The Vision of the Woman and the Scarlet BeastThe angel promises to show John the punishment of the great prostitute(v. 1) with whom the kings of the earth committed adultery (v. 2). The angel's language, focusing on the prostitute's punishment, confirms the notion that the vision extends beyond chapter 17 through 19:10. Her punishment is not specified until 17:16, and it then goes on to occupy chapter 18 and the beginning of chapter 19. The angel begins by carrying John in the Spirit to a desert, where he is shown a kind of tableau, or still life, of the woman sitting on a scarlet beast that was covered with blasphemous names and had seven heads and ten horns (v. 3). The beast is recognizable from an earlier vision (13:1), but the center of the tableau is the seated woman, who is dressed in purple and . . . glittering with gold, precious stones and pearls (v. 4). She is a picture of wealth, extravagance, luxury and ease. John's attention is intently focused on this woman, and he identifies her by the name written on her forehead: BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF PROSTITUTES AND OF THE ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH (v. 5). This name, he tells us, is a mystery. He has used the name "Babylon" before (14:8; 16:19), but now he explains that it is a figurative or symbolic name, like "Sodom and Egypt" applied earlier to the city where the two witnesses died (11:8). The corruption of the woman is evident both in the angel's first mention of her (vv. 1-2) and in John's own observation (vv. 4-6). She is the great prostitute (v. 1) and the mother of prostitutes (v. 5), the latter probably in the sense that she deceived or led other cities astray. Her adulteries are compared to wine, with which the inhabitants of the earth were intoxicated (v. 2; compare 14:8). John sees in her hand a golden cup . . . filled with abominable things and the filth of her adulteries (v. 4). He sees too that she herself is drunk, not with wine and adulteries, but with the blood of the saints, the blood of those who bore testimony to Jesus(v. 6). She is the evil genius behind those on earth who "shed the blood of your saints and prophets" and have been given blood to drink (16:6). The fierce rhetoric of John's vision is directed not against the woman's wealth, laziness, or luxurious living, nor against her drunkenness or prostitution. These characteristics are noted, but the vision's real target is the woman's deception of the earth (v. 2), and above all her violence against the people of God (v. 6). In this sense her crimes match those of the dragon (12:9, 17) and the beast (13:7-9). Only rarely in his visions does John express emotion at what he sees. He collapsed at the feet of the figure who appeared to him in 1:17 and was told, "Do not be afraid." He began to weep bitterly (5:4-5) when "no one was found worthy to open the scroll or look into it" and was told, "Do not weep." Here he is greatly astonished at what he has just seen (v. 6), and the angel asks him, "Why are you astonished?" In each instance John's emotion is calmed and corrected by a heavenly being of some kind (compare also 19:10; 22:9). What exactly is the emotion here? H. B. Swete (1908:218) defined it as sheer surprise: "The Seer had been invited to see the downfall of Babylon; the angel had offered to shew him her sentence executed. He expected to see a city in ruins. But instead of this there had risen before him on the floor of the desert the picture of a woman gilded, jeweled, splendidly attired, mounted on a scarlet monster, drunk with blood. It was a complete surprise. Who was this woman?" Tina Pippin (1992:57) describes it as something more akin to lust. "The narrator of the Apocalypse of John relates a marvelous feeling on encountering the Whore of Babylon. The female has seductive power. The desire of the male who views her erotic power is brought quickly under control by the angel: `Why are you so amazed?'" Pippin is correct that John is being seduced here, yet John's language suggests that he sees Babylon first of all not as a seductive woman, but as a city, "the great city" of 16:19. A man can be "astonished" or "amazed" at the splendor of a world metropolis, but in the case of a sexually alluring woman, "astonishment" is not the right word! The Greek text says, literally, "And seeing her I marveled a great marvel." The archaic accents of the King James Version capture the meaning quite well: "and when I saw her I wondered with great admiration." A man may lust after a prostitute, but rarely "admires" her. John is on the brink of yielding to temptation, but the temptation is not sexual. John's astonishment is more dangerous than that, for it is closer to worship. It recalls the earlier account in which "the whole world was astonished and followed the beast" (13:3; see Caird 1966:214). John is taken in by the beast as much as by the woman. It is not "erotic power" that momentarily beguiles him, but the power and wealth and magnificence that ruled the world in which he lived. Seductive? Yes. Erotic? No. Previous commentary: Next commentary: About this commentary: |
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CHAPTER SEVENTEEN - THE GREAT HARLOT In this writer’s opinion, Revelation 17 is the most difficult chapter in the whole of the Revelation. This, in no sense, is my final word on this chapter. It, no doubt, will undergo many changes as we prayerfully reflect and study it in the future. I seek to understand the text in its most normal, natural and customary sense. Thus, I tend to shy away from views, which do not have direct textual support. Therefore, views which do not have explicit biblical support are ignored. Revelation 17:1-2 (1) Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls came and spoke with me saying, (2) "Come here, I will show you the judgment of the great harlot (3) who sits on many waters, (4) with whom the kings of the earth committed acts of immorality, and (5) those who dwell on the earth were made drunk with the wine of her immorality."
Revelation 17:3 (1) And he carried me away in the Spirit into a wilderness; and (2) I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast, (3) full of blasphemous names, having seven heads and ten horns.
Revelation 17:4-5 (1) The woman was clothed in purple and scarlet, and (2) adorned with gold and precious stones and pearls, (3) having in her hand a gold cup full of abominations and of the unclean things of her immorality, and (4) on her forehead a name was written, a mystery, (5) "Babylon the great, the mother of Harlots and of the abominations of the earth."
Revelation 17:6 (1) And I saw the woman drunk (2) with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the witnesses of Jesus. (3) When I saw her, I wondered greatly.
Revelation 17:7 (1) And the angel said to me, "Why do you wonder? (2) I will tell you the mystery of the woman and of the beast that carries her, which has the seven heads and the ten horns.
Revelation 17:8 (1) The beast that you saw was, and is not, and is about to come up out of the abyss and go to destruction. (2) And those who dwell on the earth, whose name has not been written in the book of life from the foundation of the world, (3) will wonder when they see the beast, that he was and is not and will come.
Revelation 17:9-10 (1) Here is the mind which has wisdom. (2) The seven heads are seven mountains on which the woman sits, and they are seven kings; (3) five have fallen, one is, the other has not yet come; and (4) when he comes, he must remain a little while.
Revelation 17:11 (1) The beast which was and is not, (2) is himself also an eighth and is one of the seven, and he goes to destruction.
Revelation 17:12 (1) The ten horns which you saw are ten kings who have not yet received a kingdom, (2) but they receive authority as kings with the beast for one hour.
Revelation 17:13 (1) These have one purpose, and (2) they give their power and authority to the beast.
Revelation 17:14 (1) These will wage war against the Lamb, and (2) the Lamb will overcome them, because He is Lord of lords and King of kings, and (3) those who are with Him are the called and chosen and faithful.
Revelation 17:15 And he said to me, (1) "The waters which you saw where the harlot sits, are peoples and multitudes and nations and tongues.
Revelation 17:16 (1) And the ten horns which you saw, and the beast, (2) these will hate the harlot and will make her desolate and naked, and will eat her flesh and will burn her up with fire.
Revelation 17:17 (1) For God has (2) put it in their hearts to execute His purpose, and by having a common purpose, and by giving their kingdom to the beast, (3) until the words of God will be fulfilled.
Revelation 17:18 (1) The woman whom you saw is the great city, (2) which reigns over the kings of the earth.
Next Section: Chapter Eighteen - The Great City
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN - THE GREAT CITY Revelation 18:1 (1) After these things I saw another angel coming down from heaven, (2) having great authority, and the earth was illumined with his glory.
Revelation 18:2 (1) And he cried out with a mighty voice, saying, "Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great! (2) She has become a dwelling place of demons and a prison of every unclean spirit, and a prison of every unclean and hateful bird.
Revelation 18:3 For all the nations have drunk of the wine of the passion of her immorality, and the kings of the earth have committed acts of immorality with her, and (1) the merchants of the earth have become rich by the wealth of her sensuality."
Revelation 18:4-5 (1) I heard another voice from heaven, saying, (2) "Come out of her, my people, (3) so that you will not participate in her sins and receive of her plagues; (4) for her sins have piled up as high as heaven, and (5) God has remembered her iniquities.
Revelation 18:6 (1) Pay her back even as she has paid, and (2) give back to her double according to her deeds; (3) in the cup which she has mixed, mix twice as much for her.
Revelation 18:7 (1) To the degree that she glorified herself and lived sensuously, (2) to the same degree give her torment and mourning; (3) for she says in her heart, (4) "I sit as a queen and I am not a widow, and will never see mourning.’
Revelation 18:8 (1) For this reason in one day her plagues will come, (2) pestilence and mourning and famine, and (3) she will be burned up with fire; (4) for the Lord God who judges her is strong.
Revelation 18:9-10 (1) "And the kings of the earth, who committed acts of immorality and lived sensuously with her, (2) will weep and lament over her when they see the smoke of her burning, (3) standing at a distance because of the fear of her torment, saying, (4) ‘Woe, woe, the great city, Babylon, the strong city! (5) For in one hour your judgment has come.’
Revelation 18:11-13 (1) And the merchants of the earth weep and mourn over her, (2) because no one buys their cargoes any more; (3) cargoes of gold and silver and precious stones and pearls and fine linen and purple and silk and scarlet, and every kind of citron wood and every article of ivory and every article made from very costly wood and bronze and iron and marble, and cinnamon and spice and incense and perfume and frankincense and wine and olive oil and fine flour and wheat and cattle and sheep, and cargoes of horses and chariots and (4) slaves and human lives.
Revelation 18:14 (1) The fruit you long for has gone from you, and (2) all things that were luxurious and splendid have passed away from you and (3) men will no longer find them.
Revelation 18:15-17a (1) The merchants of these things, who became rich from her, will stand at a distance because of the fear of her torment, weeping and mourning, saying, (2) ‘Woe, woe, the great city, (3) she who was clothed in fine linen and purple and scarlet, and adorned with gold and precious stones and pearls; (4) for in one hour such great wealth has been laid waste!’
Revelation 18:17b-18 (1) And every shipmaster and every passenger and sailor, and as many as make their living by the sea, (2) stood at a distance, and were crying out as they saw the smoke of her burning, saying, (3) "What city is like the great city?’
Revelation 18:19 (1) And they threw dust on their heads and were crying out, weeping and mourning, saying, ‘Woe, woe, the great city, in which all who had ships at sea became rich by her wealth, for in one hour she has been laid waste!’
Revelation 18:20 (1) Rejoice over her, (2) O heaven, and you saints and apostles and prophets, (3) because God has pronounced judgment for you against her.
Revelation 18:21 (1) Then a strong angel took up a stone like a great millstone and threw it into the sea, saying, (2) "So will Babylon, the great city, be thrown down with violence, and (3) will not be found any longer.
Revelation 18:22-23 (1) And the sound of harpists and musicians and flute-players and trumpeters will not be heard in you any longer; and (2) no craftsman of any craft will be found in you any longer; and (3) the sound of a mill will not be heard in you any longer; (4) the light of a lamp will not shine in you an longer; and (5) the voice of the bridegroom and bride will not be heard in you any longer; (6) for your merchants were the great men of the earth, (7) because all the nations were deceived by your sorcery.
Revelation 18:24 (1) And in her was found the blood of prophets and of saints and (2) of all who have been slain on the earth.
Next Section: Chapter Nineteen - The Great Army
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17Revelation 17
Chapter 17
This chapter contains another representation of those things that had been revealed before concerning the wickedness and ruin of antichrist. This antichrist had been before represented as a beast, and is now described as a great whore. And here, I. The apostle is invited to see this vile woman (v. 1, v. 2). II. He tells us what an appearance she made (v. 3-6). III. The mystery of it is explained to him (v. 7-12). And, IV. Her ruin foretold (v. 13, etc.). Verses 1-6 Here we have a new vision, not as to the matter of it, for that is contemporary with what came under the three last vials; but as to the manner of description, etc. Observe, 1. The invitation given to the apostle to take a view of what was here to be represented: Come hither, and I will show thee the judgment of the great whore, etc., v. 1. This is a name of great infamy. A whore [in this passage] is one that is married, and has been false to her husband’s bed, has forsaken the guide of her youth, and broken the covenant of God. She had been a prostitute to the kings of the earth, whom she had intoxicated with the wine of her fornication. 2. The appearance she made: it was gay and gaudy, like such sort of creatures: She was arrayed in purple, and scarlet colour, and decked with gold, and precious stones, and pearls, v. 4. Here were all the allurements of worldly honour and riches, pomp and pride, suited to sensual and worldly minds. 3. Her principal seat and residence—upon the beast that had seven heads and ten horns; that is to say, Rome, the city on seven hills, infamous for idolatry, tyranny, and blasphemy. 4. Her name, which was written on her forehead. It was the custom of impudent harlots to hang out signs, with their names, that all might know what they were. Now in this observe, (1.) She is named from her place of residence—Babylon the great. But, that we might not take it for the old Babylon literally so called, we are told there is a mystery in the name; it is some other great city resembling the old Babylon. (2.) She is named from her infamous way and practice; not only a harlot, but a mother of harlots, breeding up harlots, and nursing and training them up to idolatry, and all sorts of lewdness and wickedness—the parent and nurse of all false religion and filthy conversation. 5. Her diet: she satiated herself with the blood of the saints and martyrs of Jesus. She drank their blood with such greediness that she intoxicated herself with it; it was so pleasant to her that she could not tell when she had had enough of it: she was satiated, but never satisfied. Verses 7-13 Here we have the mystery of this vision explained. The apostle wonders at the sight of this woman: the angel undertakes to open this vision to him, it being the key of the former visions; and he tells the apostle what was meant by the beast on which the woman sat; but it is so explained as still to need further explanation. 1. This beast was, and is not, and yet is; that is, it was a seat of idolatry and persecution; and is not, that is, not in the ancient form, which was pagan; and yet it is, it is truly the seat of idolatry and tyranny, though of another sort and form. It ascends out of the bottomless pit (idolatry and cruelty are the issue and product of hell), and it shall return thither and go into perdition. This beast has seven heads, which have a double signification. (1.) Seven mountains —the seven hills on which Rome stands; and (2.) Seven kings—seven sorts of government. Rome was governed by kings, consuls, tribunes, decemviri, dictators, emperors who were pagan, and emperors who were Christian. Five of these were extinct when this prophecy was written; one was then in being, that is, the pagan emperor; and the other, that is, the Christian emperor, was yet to come, v. 10. This beast, the papacy, makes an eighth governor, and sets up idolatry again. 3. This beast had ten horns; which are said to be ten kings which have as yet received no kingdoms; as yet, that is, as some, shall not rise up till the Roman empire be broken in pieces; or, as others, shall not rise up till near the end of antichrist’s reign, and so shall reign but as it were one hour with her, but shall for that time be very unanimous and very zealous in that interest, and entirely devoted to it, divesting themselves of their prerogatives and revenues (things so dear to princes), out of an unaccountable fondness for the papacy. Verses 14-18 Here we have some account of the downfall of Babylon, to be more fully described in the following chapter. I. Here is a war begun between the beast and his followers, and the Lamb and his followers. The beast and his army, to an eye of sense, appear much stronger than the Lamb and his army: one would think an army with a lamb at the head of them could not stand before the great red dragon. But, I. Here is a victory gained by the Lamb: The Lamb shall overcome. Christ must reign till all enemies be put under his feet; he will be sure to meet with many enemies, and much opposition, but he will also be sure to gain the victory. III. Here is the ground or reason of the victory assigned; and this is taken, 1. From the character of the Lamb: He is King of kings and Lord of lords. He has, both by nature and by office, supreme dominion and power over all things; all the powers of earth and hell are subject to his check and control. From the character of his followers: They are called, and chosen, and faithful. They are called out by commission to this warfare; they are chosen and fitted for it, and they will be faithful in it. Such an army, under such a commander, will at length carry all the world before them. IV. The victory is justly aggrandized. 1. By the vast multitude who paid obedience and subjection to the beast and to the whore. She sat upon (that is, presided over) many waters; and these waters were so many multitudes of people, and nations, of all languages; yea, she reigned not only over kingdoms, but over the kings, and they were her tributaries and vassals, v. 15, v. 18. 2. By the powerful influence which God hereby showed he had over the minds of great men. Their hearts were in his hand, and he turned them as he pleased; for, (1.) It was of God, and to fulfil his will, that these kings agreed to give their kingdom unto the beast; they were judicially blinded and hardened to do so. And, (2.) It was of God that afterwards their hearts were turned against the whore, to hate her, and to make her desolate and naked, and to eat her flesh, and burn her with fire; they shall at length see their folly, and how they have been bewitched and enslaved by the papacy, and, out of a just resentment, shall not only fall off from Rome, but shall be made the instruments of God’s providence in her destruction. Our
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18Revelation 18Chapter 18 We have here, I. An angel proclaiming the fall of Babylon (v. 1, v. 2). II. Assigning the reasons of her fall (v. 3). III. Giving warning to all who belonged to God to come out of her (v. 4, v. 5), and to assist in her destruction (v. 6-8). IV. The great lamentation made for her by those who had been large sharers in her sinful pleasures and profits (v. 9-19). V. The great joy that there would be among others at the sight of her irrecoverable ruin (v. 20, etc.). Verses 1-8 The downfall and destruction of Babylon form an event so fully determined in the counsels of God, and of such consequence to his interests and glory, that the visions and predictions concerning it are repeated. 1. Here is another angel sent from heaven, attended with great power and lustre, v. 1. He had not only light in himself, to discern the truth of his own prediction, but to inform and enlighten the world about that great event; and not only light to discern it, but power to accomplish it. 2. This angel publishes the fall of Babylon, as a thing already come to pass; and this he does with a mighty strong voice, that all might hear the cry, and might see how well this angel was pleased to be the messenger of such tidings. Here seems to be an allusion to the prediction of the fall of pagan Babylon (Isa. 21:9 ), where the word is repeated as it is here: has fallen, has fallen. Some have thought a double fall is hereby intended, first her apostasy, and then her ruin; and they think the words immediately following favour their opinion; She has become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and the cage of every unclean and hateful bird, v. 2. But this is also borrowed from Isa. 21:9 , and seems to describe not so much her sin of entertaining idols (which are truly called devils ) as her punishment, it being a common notion that unclean spirits, as well as ominous and hateful birds, used to haunt a city or house that lay in its ruins. 3. The reason of this ruin is declared (v. 3); for, though God is not obliged to give any account of his matters, yet he is pleased to do so, especially in those dispensations of providence that are most awful and tremendous. The wickedness of Babylon had been very great; for she had not only forsaken the true God herself, and set up idols, but had with great art and industry drawn all sorts of men into the spiritual adultery, and by her wealth and luxury had retained them in her interest. 4. Fair warning is given to all that expect mercy from God, that they should not only come out of her, but be assisting in her destruction, v. 4, v. 5. Here observe, (1.) God may have a people even in Babylon, some who belong to the election of grace. (2.) God’s people shall be called out of Babylon, and called effectually. (3.) Those that are resolved to partake with wicked men in their sins must receive of their plagues. (4.) When the sins of a people reach up to heaven, the wrath of God will reach down to the earth. (5.) Though private revenge is forbidden, yet God will have his people act under him, when called to it, in pulling down his and their inveterate and implacable enemies, v. 6. (6.) God will proportion the punishment of sinners to the measure of their wickedness, pride, and security, v. 7. (7.) When destruction comes on a people suddenly, the surprise is a great aggravation of their misery, v. 8. Verses 9-24 Here we have, I. A doleful lamentation made by Babylon’s friends for her fall; and here observe,1. Who are the mourners, namely, those who had been bewitched by her fornication, those who had been sharers in her sensual pleasures, and those who had been gainers by her wealth and trade—the kings and the merchants of the earth: the kings of the earth, whom she had flattered into idolatry by allowing them to be arbitrary and tyrannical over their subjects, while they were obsequious to her; and the merchants, that is, those who trafficked with her for indulgences, pardons, dispensations, and preferments; these will mourn, because by this craft they got their wealth. 2. What was the manner of their mourning. (1.) They stood afar off, they durst not come nigh her. Even Babylon’s friends will stand at a distance from her fall. Though they had been partakers with her in her sins, and in her sinful pleasures and profits, they were not willing to bear a share in her plagues. (2.) They made a grievous outcry: Alas! alas! that great city, Babylon, that mighty city! (3.) They wept, and cast dust upon their heads, v. 19. The pleasures of sin are but for a season, and they will end in dismal sorrow. All those who rejoice in the success of the church’s enemies will share with them in their downfall; and those who have most indulged themselves in pride and pleasure are the least able to bear calamities; their sorrows will be as excessive as their pleasure and jollity were before.3. What was the cause of their mourning; not their sin, but their punishment. They did not lament their fall into idolatry, and luxury, and persecution, but their fall into ruin—the loss of their traffic and of their wealth and power. The spirit of antichrist is a worldly spirit, and their sorrow is a mere worldly sorrow; they did not lament for the anger of God, that had now fallen upon them, but for the loss of their outward comfort. We have a large schedule and inventory of the wealth and merchandise of this city, all which was suddenly lost (v. 12, v. 13), and lost irrecoverably (v. 14): All things which were dainty and goodly have departed from thee, and thou shalt find them no more at all. The church of God may fall for a time, but she shall rise again; but the fall of Babylon will be an utter overthrow, like that of Sodom and Gomorrah. Godly sorrow is some support under affliction, but mere worldly sorrow adds to the calamity.II. An account of the joy and triumph there was both in heaven and earth at the irrecoverable fall of Babylon: while her own people were bewailing her, the servants of God were called to rejoice over her, v. 20. Here observe, 1. How universal this joy would be: heaven and earth, angels and saints, would join in it; that which is matter of rejoicing to the servants of God in this world is matter of rejoicing to the angels in heaven. 2. How just and reasonable; and that, (1.) Because the fall of Babylon was an act of God’s vindictive justice. God was then avenging his people’s cause. They had committed their cause to him to whom vengeance belongs, and now the year of recompence had come for the controversies of Zion; and, though they did not take pleasure in the miseries of any, yet they had reason to rejoice in the discoveries of the glorious justice of God. (2.) Because it was an irrecoverable ruin. This enemy should never molest them any more, and of this they were assured by a remarkable token (v. 21): An angel from heaven took up a stone like a great millstone, and cast it into the sea, saying, "Thus shall Babylon be thrown down with violence, and be found no more at all; the place shall be no longer habitable by man, no work shall be done there, no comfort enjoyed, no light seen there, but utter darkness and desolation, as the reward of her great wickedness, first in deceiving the nations with her sorceries, and secondly in destroying and murdering those whom she could not deceive,’’ v. 24. Such abominable sins deserved so great a ruin. |
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