"The glory of the Lord shall endure for ever: the Lord shall rejoice in His works." (Psalm 104:31)
"... looking unto Jesus the Author and Finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider Him that endured such contradiction of sinners against Himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds." (Hebrews 12:2-3)
"But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved." (Matthew 24:13; Mark 13:13)
Whilst our world is in chaos, we are increasingly called to be shining lights for Jesus -- "But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shines more and more unto the perfect day." (Proverbs 4:19 And "if thy whole body therefore be full of light, having no part dark, the whole shall be full of light, as when the bright shining of a candle doth give thee light." (Luke 11:36) Like a candle that never loses its flame -- even in the midst of tribulation. Like the salt of the earth. Like that city upon a hill that cannot be hid.
"... looking unto Jesus the Author and Finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider Him that endured such contradiction of sinners against Himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds." (Hebrews 12:2-3)
"But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved." (Matthew 24:13; Mark 13:13)
Whilst our world is in chaos, we are increasingly called to be shining lights for Jesus -- "But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shines more and more unto the perfect day." (Proverbs 4:19 And "if thy whole body therefore be full of light, having no part dark, the whole shall be full of light, as when the bright shining of a candle doth give thee light." (Luke 11:36) Like a candle that never loses its flame -- even in the midst of tribulation. Like the salt of the earth. Like that city upon a hill that cannot be hid.
"Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men. Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house." (Matthew 5:13-15)
Another way to look at this -- "And the Lord will create upon every dwelling place of mount Zion, and upon her assemblies, a cloud and smoke by day, and the shining of a flaming fire by night: for upon all the glory shall be a defense." (Isaiah 4:5)
It is in this context that the Lord would not have us ignorant of the times we live in. As we know from Revelation 17 and 18, the prophecies are being fulfilled. For those who have not read these chapters, it is important to understand that these things will occur, but we do not have to fear. Why? Because in all things, Jesus said, "I will never leave thee nor forsake thee." (Hebrews 13:5)
"... persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed;" (II Corinthians 4:9)
For our edification and learning, Revelation 17 with some explanation follows:
"And there came one of the seven angels which had the seven vials, and talked with me, saying unto me, "Come hither; I will shew unto thee the judgment of the great whore that sits upon many waters: 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."
So he carried me away in the spirit into the wilderness: and I saw a woman sit upon a scarlet coloured beast, full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns. And the woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet colour, and decked with gold and precious stones and pearls, having a golden cup in her hand full of abominations and filthiness of her fornication:
And upon her forehead was a name written, "Mystery, Babylon The Great, The Mother Of Harlots And Abominations Of The Earth." And I saw the woman drunken with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus: and when I saw her, I wondered with great admiration. And the angel said unto me, "Wherefore didst thou marvel? I will tell thee the mystery of the woman, and of the beast that carries her, which hath the seven heads and ten horns."
The beast that thou saw was, and is not; and shall ascend out of the bottomless pit, and go into perdition: and they that dwell on the earth shall wonder, whose names were not written in the book of life from the foundation of the world, when they behold the beast that was, and is not, and yet is. And here is the mind which hath wisdom. The seven heads are seven mountains, on which the woman sits.
And there are seven kings: five are fallen, and one is, and the other is not yet come; and when he cometh, he must continue a short space. And the beast that was, and is not, even he is the eighth, and is of the seven, and goes into perdition. And the ten horns which thou saw are ten kings, which have received no kingdom as yet; but receive power as kings one hour with the beast. These have one mind, and shall give their power and strength unto the beast.
"These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for He is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with Him are called, and chosen, and faithful. And He saith unto me, "The waters which thou saw, where the whore sit, are peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues. And the ten horns which thou saw 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. For God hath put in their hearts to fulfil His will, and to agree, and give their kingdom unto the beast, until the words of God shall be fulfilled. And the woman which thou saw is that great city, which reigns over the kings of the earth." (Revelation 17:1-18)
The woman is the false church that sits on seven hills. In prophecy, this religious system is contrasted with the woman clothed in white, which is the body of Christ church -- pure and undefiled -- whose head of the church is the risen Lord Jesus Christ.
Within this contrast, we see that the woman clothed in purple and scarlet is wicked, full of names of blasphemy, otherwise known as the Mother of harlots, drinking from the cup filled with abominations and the filth of her own fornications. This includes the worship of pagan gods, the proliferation of false teachings contrary to the scriptures, and fornication -- (as in wicked and impure dealings) with kings and queens and governments of all nations - with the intent of provoking the Lord's anger. (Ezekiel 16:26)
" ... commit fornication with all the kingdoms of the world upon the face of the earth." (Isaiah 23:17)
"Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry:" (Colossians 3:5)
Specifically then, Babylon the Great; the Mother of harlots is the church in Rome which reigns over all nations. And the beast - the world's evil political and monetary system -- who of late, have all one mind, going after strange flesh, suffering the vengeance of hell fire. (Jude 1:7)
Other thoughts? Through the church in Rome, inhabitants of the earth have been made “drunk” (i.e. intoxicated, stupefied, distracted, misled, fooled, conned, robbed, bamboozled and mystified - much like a drunken person) through the proliferation of false religious teachings (including catechism), and traditions, rituals and customs that have no scriptural basis. Sadly however, Rome has enlarged its borders by recruiting daughter churches (including those who once protested against Catholicism) and the heads of many non-Christian religions who together (as we see outlined in Revelation 17) join forces against anyone and everyone proclaiming the precious, holy name of the Lord Jesus. Behold, the Lamb of God.
Another way to look at this -- "And the Lord will create upon every dwelling place of mount Zion, and upon her assemblies, a cloud and smoke by day, and the shining of a flaming fire by night: for upon all the glory shall be a defense." (Isaiah 4:5)
It is in this context that the Lord would not have us ignorant of the times we live in. As we know from Revelation 17 and 18, the prophecies are being fulfilled. For those who have not read these chapters, it is important to understand that these things will occur, but we do not have to fear. Why? Because in all things, Jesus said, "I will never leave thee nor forsake thee." (Hebrews 13:5)
"... persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed;" (II Corinthians 4:9)
For our edification and learning, Revelation 17 with some explanation follows:
"And there came one of the seven angels which had the seven vials, and talked with me, saying unto me, "Come hither; I will shew unto thee the judgment of the great whore that sits upon many waters: 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."
So he carried me away in the spirit into the wilderness: and I saw a woman sit upon a scarlet coloured beast, full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns. And the woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet colour, and decked with gold and precious stones and pearls, having a golden cup in her hand full of abominations and filthiness of her fornication:
And upon her forehead was a name written, "Mystery, Babylon The Great, The Mother Of Harlots And Abominations Of The Earth." And I saw the woman drunken with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus: and when I saw her, I wondered with great admiration. And the angel said unto me, "Wherefore didst thou marvel? I will tell thee the mystery of the woman, and of the beast that carries her, which hath the seven heads and ten horns."
The beast that thou saw was, and is not; and shall ascend out of the bottomless pit, and go into perdition: and they that dwell on the earth shall wonder, whose names were not written in the book of life from the foundation of the world, when they behold the beast that was, and is not, and yet is. And here is the mind which hath wisdom. The seven heads are seven mountains, on which the woman sits.
And there are seven kings: five are fallen, and one is, and the other is not yet come; and when he cometh, he must continue a short space. And the beast that was, and is not, even he is the eighth, and is of the seven, and goes into perdition. And the ten horns which thou saw are ten kings, which have received no kingdom as yet; but receive power as kings one hour with the beast. These have one mind, and shall give their power and strength unto the beast.
"These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for He is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with Him are called, and chosen, and faithful. And He saith unto me, "The waters which thou saw, where the whore sit, are peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues. And the ten horns which thou saw 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. For God hath put in their hearts to fulfil His will, and to agree, and give their kingdom unto the beast, until the words of God shall be fulfilled. And the woman which thou saw is that great city, which reigns over the kings of the earth." (Revelation 17:1-18)
The woman is the false church that sits on seven hills. In prophecy, this religious system is contrasted with the woman clothed in white, which is the body of Christ church -- pure and undefiled -- whose head of the church is the risen Lord Jesus Christ.
Within this contrast, we see that the woman clothed in purple and scarlet is wicked, full of names of blasphemy, otherwise known as the Mother of harlots, drinking from the cup filled with abominations and the filth of her own fornications. This includes the worship of pagan gods, the proliferation of false teachings contrary to the scriptures, and fornication -- (as in wicked and impure dealings) with kings and queens and governments of all nations - with the intent of provoking the Lord's anger. (Ezekiel 16:26)
" ... commit fornication with all the kingdoms of the world upon the face of the earth." (Isaiah 23:17)
"Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry:" (Colossians 3:5)
Specifically then, Babylon the Great; the Mother of harlots is the church in Rome which reigns over all nations. And the beast - the world's evil political and monetary system -- who of late, have all one mind, going after strange flesh, suffering the vengeance of hell fire. (Jude 1:7)
Other thoughts? Through the church in Rome, inhabitants of the earth have been made “drunk” (i.e. intoxicated, stupefied, distracted, misled, fooled, conned, robbed, bamboozled and mystified - much like a drunken person) through the proliferation of false religious teachings (including catechism), and traditions, rituals and customs that have no scriptural basis. Sadly however, Rome has enlarged its borders by recruiting daughter churches (including those who once protested against Catholicism) and the heads of many non-Christian religions who together (as we see outlined in Revelation 17) join forces against anyone and everyone proclaiming the precious, holy name of the Lord Jesus. Behold, the Lamb of God.
"And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth." (Revelation 5:6)
"For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes." (Revelation 7:17)
"... the same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb:" (Revelation 14:10)
"And they sing the song of Moses the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, "Great and marvelous are Thy works, Lord God Almighty; just and true are Thy ways, Thou King of saints." (Revelation 15:3)
"And He saith unto me, "Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb." And He saith unto me, "These are the true sayings of God." (Revelation 19:19)
"And I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it." (Revelation 21:22)
"And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof." (Revelation 21:23)
"And He shewed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb. In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and His servants shall serve Him: and they shall see His face; and His name shall be in their foreheads." (Revelation 22:1-3)
More to come. For now, be assured of your salvation.
Stand in the offering plate.
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