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Chapter 45: The Destruction Of The False
Church
During the past few chapters we have left the book of Revelation and taken an in depth look at the time of the first resurrection, Satan and demons, and a review of the gospel as seen by Mary Magdalene. We now return to the book of Revelation where we left off, just moments after the sounding of the seventh trumpet that initiated the first resurrection. Revelation 17:12 gives us an explanation of how the false church will be destroyed. The Antichrist and the ten kings who supported him will turn against the religion they formerly embraced. Revelation 17:12-13 & 16-17 "The ten horns you saw are ten kings who have not yet received a kingdom, but who for one hour will receive authority as kings along with the beast. They have one purpose and will give their power and authority to the beast. "The beast and the ten horns you saw will hate the prostitute. They will bring her to ruin and leave her naked; they will eat her flesh and burn her with fire. For God has put it into their hearts to accomplish his purpose by agreeing to give the beast their power to rule, until God's words are fulfilled." At some point in time, perhaps after the sores break out on those who have the mark, or after the first resurrection has taken place, and the people of the world realize that they have missed the rapture, the ten kings who rule the world under the Antichrist will hate the false religion that deceived them and will destroy it's capital city with fire. They will hate the false religion that they formerly loved because they will now realize that everyone who has taken the mark will be condemned to the lake of fire forever, and not only that but the fact that they will have to continue to suffer until the bowls of the wrath of God are completed. That’s enough to ruin anyone’s day, and make them angry, knowing that the future holds enduring God’s wrath, then death, followed by hell for 1000 years, and that followed by the last judgment and eternity consigned to the lake of fire. All because they listened to the False Prophet and the false religion rather than to the Christians and the Two Witnesses. Revelation 18:1-10 After this I saw another angel coming down from heaven. He had great authority, and the Earth was illuminated by his splendor. With a mighty voice he shouted: "Fallen! Fallen is Babylon the Great! She has become a home for demons and a haunt for every evil spirit, a haunt for every unclean and detestable bird. For all the nations have drunk the maddening wine of her adulteries. The kings of the Earth committed adultery with her, and the merchants of the Earth grew rich from her excessive luxuries." Then I heard another voice from heaven say: "Come out of her, my people, so that you will not share in her sins, so that you will not receive any of her plagues; for her sins are piled up to heaven, and God has remembered her crimes. Give back to her as she has given; pay her back double for what she has done. Mix her a double portion from her own cup. Give her as much torture and grief as the glory and luxury she gave herself. In her heart she boasts, 'I sit as queen; I am not a widow, and I will never mourn.' Therefore in one day her plagues will overtake her: death, mourning and famine. She will be consumed by fire, for mighty is the Lord God who judges her. "When the kings of the Earth who committed adultery with her and shared her luxury see the smoke of her burning, they will weep and mourn over her. Terrified at her torment, they will stand far off and cry: "'Woe! Woe, O great city, O Babylon, city of power! In one hour your doom has come!' The merchants of the Earth will mourn over the great city that the ten kings have destroyed. They will weep because of the financial loss they will suffer because of its destruction. Revelation 18:11-20 "The merchants of the Earth will weep and mourn over her because no one buys their cargoes any more--cargoes of gold, silver, precious stones and pearls; fine linen, purple, silk and scarlet cloth; every sort of citron wood, and articles of every kind made of ivory, costly wood, bronze, iron and marble; cargoes of cinnamon and spice, of incense, myrrh and frankincense, of wine and olive oil, of fine flour and wheat; cattle and sheep; horses and carriages; and bodies and souls of men. The merchants who sold these things and gained their wealth from her will stand far off, terrified at her torment. They will weep and mourn and cry out: "'Woe! Woe, O great city, dressed in fine linen, purple and scarlet, and glittering with gold, precious stones and pearls! In one hour such great wealth has been brought to ruin!' every sea captain, and all who travel by ship, the sailors, and all who earn their living from the sea, will stand far off. When they see the smoke of her burning, they will exclaim, 'Was there ever a city like this great city?' They will throw dust on their heads, and with weeping and mourning cry out: "'Woe! Woe, O great city, where all who had ships on the sea became rich through her wealth!'" In one hour she has been brought to ruin! Rejoice over her, O heaven! Rejoice, saints and apostles and prophets! God has judged her for the way she treated you.'" Notice in the verses above that those who are mourning over the city of Babylon are not sorrowful because the false religion led them to worship idols. They are only concerned about their loss of monetary gain. Notice also that the smoke from this burning city will be viewed by those who are on ships. This means that this city will either be a seaport city, or one that is not situated too far inland. Both Rome and Babylon qualify. Some think that it could be new York city. In Ezekiel chapter 27 and 28 the account of the destruction of the city of Tyre is eerily similar to the prophecy in Revelation concerning the destruction of Babylon. (Ezek 27:1-4 NIV) The word of the LORD came to me: "Son of man, take up a lament concerning Tyre. Say to Tyre, situated at the gateway to the sea, merchant of peoples on many coasts, 'This is what the Sovereign LORD says: "'You say, O Tyre, "I am perfect in beauty." Your domain was on the high seas; your builders brought your beauty to perfection. (Ezek 27:12-24 NIV) "'Tarshish did business with you because of your great wealth of goods; they exchanged silver, iron, tin and lead for your merchandise. "'Greece, Tubal and Meshech traded with you; they exchanged slaves and articles of bronze for your wares. "'Men of Beth Togarmah exchanged work horses, war horses and mules for your merchandise. "'The men of Rhodes traded with you, and many coastlands were your customers; they paid you with ivory tusks and ebony. Aram did business with you because of your many products; they exchanged turquoise, purple fabric, embroidered work, fine linen, coral and rubies for your merchandise. "'Judah and Israel traded with you; they exchanged wheat from Minnith and confections, honey, oil and balm for your wares. "'Damascus, because of your many products and great wealth of goods, did business with you in wine from Helbon and wool from Zahar. "'Danites and Greeks from Uzal bought your merchandise; they exchanged wrought iron, cassia and calamus for your wares. "'Dedan traded in saddle blankets with you. "'Arabia and all the princes of Kedar were your customers; they did business with you in lambs, rams and goats. "'The merchants of Sheba and Raamah traded with you; for your merchandise they exchanged the finest of all kinds of spices and precious stones, and gold. "'Haran, Canneh and Eden and merchants of Sheba, Asshur and Kilmad traded with you. In your marketplace they traded with you beautiful garments, blue fabric, embroidered work and multicolored rugs with cords twisted and tightly knotted. (Ezek 27:25 & 28 NIV) "'The ships of Tarshish serve as carriers for your wares. You are filled with heavy cargo in the heart of the sea. Your wealth, merchandise and wares, your mariners, seamen and shipwrights, your merchants and all your soldiers, and everyone else on board will sink into the heart of the sea on the day of your shipwreck. The shorelands will quake when your seamen cry out. (Ezek 27:30-36 NIV) They will raise their voice and cry bitterly over you; they will sprinkle dust on their heads and roll in ashes. They will shave their heads because of you and will put on sackcloth. They will weep over you with anguish of soul and with bitter mourning. As they wail and mourn over you, they will take up a lament concerning you: "Who was ever silenced like Tyre, surrounded by the sea?" When your merchandise went out on the seas, you satisfied many nations; with your great wealth and your wares you enriched the kings of the earth. Now you are shattered by the sea in the depths of the waters; your wares and all your company have gone down with you. All who live in the coastlands are appalled at you; their kings shudder with horror and their faces are distorted with fear. The merchants among the nations hiss at you; you have come to a horrible end and will be no more.'" (Ezek 28:1-5 NIV) The word of the LORD came to me: "Son of man, say to the ruler of Tyre, 'This is what the Sovereign LORD says: "'In the pride of your heart you say, "I am a god; I sit on the throne of a god in the heart of the seas." But you are a man and not a god, though you think you are as wise as a god. Are you wiser than Daniel? Is no secret hidden from you? By your wisdom and understanding you have gained wealth for yourself and amassed gold and silver in your treasuries. By your great skill in trading you have increased your wealth, and because of your wealth your heart has grown proud. (Ezek 28:6-10 NIV) "'Therefore this is what the Sovereign LORD says: "'Because you think you are wise, as wise as a god, I am going to bring foreigners against you, the most ruthless of nations; they will draw their swords against your beauty and wisdom and pierce your shining splendor. They will bring you down to the pit, and you will die a violent death in the heart of the seas. Will you then say, "I am a god," in the presence of those who kill you? You will be but a man, not a god, in the hands of those who slay you. You will die the death of the uncircumcised at the hands of foreigners. I have spoken, declares the Sovereign LORD.'" It is possible that the seventh trumpet will sound and rescue God's people even as the Antichrist's missiles are streaking toward Rome, Babylon, New York City, and all of the target cities of America, and the cities of any other country that has refused to worship the image of the beast. The God of the bible is known for dramatic last second rescues. Revelation 18: 21-24 Then a mighty angel picked up a boulder the size of a large millstone and threw it into the sea, and said: "With such violence the great city of Babylon will be thrown down, never to be found again. The music of harpists and musicians, flute players and trumpeters, will never be heard in you again. No workman of any trade will ever be found in you again. The sound of a millstone will never be heard in you again. The light of a lamp will never shine in you again. The voice of bridegroom and bride will never be heard in you again. Your merchants were the world's great men. By your magic spell all the nations were led astray. In her was found the blood of prophets and of the saints, and of all who have been killed on the Earth." The religion of "Mystery Babylon," which has promoted the worship of false Gods since before the time of the flood, is said to be guilty of all the blood of the prophets and saints that has been shed down through the centuries. Revelation 19:1-7 After this I heard what sounded like the roar of a great multitude in heaven shouting: "Hallelujah! Salvation and glory and power belong to our God, for true and just are his judgments. He has condemned the great prostitute who corrupted the Earth by her adulteries. He has avenged on her the blood of his servants." And again they shouted: "Hallelujah! The smoke from her goes up for ever and ever." The twenty-four elders and the four living creatures fell down and worshipped God, who was seated on the throne. And they cried: "Amen, Hallelujah!" Then a voice came from the throne, saying: "Praise our God, all you his servants, you who fear him, both small and great!" Then I heard what sounded like a great multitude, like the roar of rushing waters and like loud peals of thunder, shouting: "Hallelujah! For our Lord God Almighty reigns. Let us rejoice and be glad and give him glory! For the wedding of the Lamb has come, and his bride has made herself ready. The saved of all ages are told to rejoice over the destruction of the false church. The first resurrection will have occurred just shortly beforehand and all of the saved from all generations will be, rejoicing and watching this scene from above the Earth. After we view the punishment of the false church, we will stand before the judgment seat of Christ and receive our rewards for faithful service on Earth. 2 Corinthians 5:8 &10 We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad. Revelation 19:8-9 Fine linen, bright and clean, was given her to wear' (Fine linen stands for the righteous acts of the saints.) Then the angel said to me, `Write: Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding supper of the Lamb!'" The church is portrayed as a virgin bride, the bride of Christ dressed in white linen. The white linen represents the righteous acts of the saints, the things done for Christ from a pure heart. After the awards ceremony takes place, the festivities will begin. When the Lord celebrated the Passover with his disciples a few days before his crucifixion he told them that he would not drink the fruit of the vine again until he drank it with them in his kingdom. Matthew 26:29 KJV "But I say unto you, I will not drink henceforth of this fruit of the vine, until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father's kingdom." While the false church is being destroyed, the saved of all ages will be celebrating with Christ in God's kingdom, at the wedding supper of the Lamb. |