SUMMARY:
...Is not this great
Babylon, that I have built for the house of the kingdom by the
might of my power, and for the honour of my majesty? While the
word was in the king's mouth, there fell a voice from heaven,
saying, O king Nebuchadnezzar, to thee it is spoken; The kingdom
is departed from thee.
...When his heart was lifted up, and his mind hardened in pride, he was deposed from his kingly throne, and they took his glory from him: And he was driven from the sons of men; and his heart was made like the beasts, and his dwelling was with the wild asses: they fed him with grass like oxen, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven; till he knew that the most high God ruled in the kingdom of men, and that he appointeth over it whomsoever he will.
...Nebuchadnezzar was a king of kings, and wheresoever the children of men dwell, God gave into his hand, and hath made him ruler over all. Nebuchadnezzar was this head of gold. And after shall arise another kingdom inferior, and another third kingdom of brass, which shall bear rule over all the earth. And the fourth kingdom shall be strong as iron: forasmuch as iron breaketh in pieces and subdueth all things; and as iron that breaketh all these, shall it break in pieces and bruise.
...The fourth kingdom upon earth, which shall be diverse from all kingdoms, and shall devour the whole earth, and shall tread it down, and break it in pieces.
...When the transgressors are come to the full, a king of fierce countenance, and understanding dark sentences, shall stand up. And his power shall be mighty, but not by his own power (for Satan shall give him his throne and power): and he shall destroy wonderfully, and shall prosper, and practise, and shall destroy the mighty and the holy people. And through his policy also he shall cause craft to prosper; and shall magnify himself in his heart, and by peace (or, prosperity) shall destroy many.
...He shall oppose and exalt himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God shall sit in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.
...He shall come in peaceably. And such as do wickedly against the covenant shall he corrupt by flatteries. God hath put in their hearts to fulfil his will, and to agree, and give their kingdom unto this ruler, until the words of God shall be fulfilled.
...There shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time God's people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book. And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.
...Pray to God in the name of Jesus, that he may defer his anger for the sake of the present generation, and that of our little ones; and when the time comes, that we may be accounted worthy to escape those things that shall come to pass, and to stand brfore the Son of man.
FURTHER
READING
WARS AND RUMOURS
OF WARS
BLIND LEADERS
OF THE BLIND
THE RULE OF
VIOLENCE
FEDERAL EUROPE
DEFENCE
DECEPTION
COMMON MARKET
SINGLE CURRENCY
AND FINANCIAL CONTROL
PRESIDENTIAL
POWERS
THE BEAST
APATHY
IDOLATRY
DISTRESS
IN CONSEQUENCE
THE PRECEPT
OF MEN
NATURE AND
ORIGIN OF THE WORLD POWER
THE FALSE
GOD
THE FALSE
PROPHET (A pseudo Christ)
PERSECUTION
WATCH AND
BE PREPARED
GREAT TRIBULATION
JUDGMENT
FALL OF THE
COMMON MARKET
COME OUT
FROM AMONG THEM
IN WHOM SHOULD
WE TRUST?
FEAR YE NOT
FURTHER
READING:
(1) And the whole
earth was of one language, and of one speech. And it came to pass
(after the flood), as they journeyed from the east (or,
eastward, Gen1102m), that they found a plain in the land of
Shinar; and they dwelt there. And they said one to another, Go
to, let us make brick and burn them throughly. And they had brick
for stone, and slime they had for morter. And they said, Go to,
let us build us a city and a tower, whose top may reach into heaven;
and let us make us a name, lest we be scattered abroad upon the
face of the whole earth.
(2) And the Lord came down to see the city and the tower, which the children of men builded. And the Lord said, Behold, the people is one, and they have all one language; and this they begin to do: and now nothing will be restrained from them, which they have imagined to do. Go to, let us go down, and there confound their language, that they may not understand one another's speech. So the Lord scattered them abroad from thence upon the face of all the earth: and they left off to build the city. Therefore is the name of it called Babel (that is, Confusion, Gen1109m); because the Lord did there confound the language of all the earth: and from thence did the Lord scatter them abroad upon the face of all the earth, Gen1101-09.
(3) And the Lord shall scatter you among the nations, and ye shall be left few in number among the heathen, whither the Lord shall lead you. And there ye shall serve gods, the work of men's hands, wood and stone, which neither see, nor hear, nor eat, nor smell. But if from thence thou shalt seek the Lord thy God, thou shalt find him, if thou seek him with all thy heart and with all thy soul. When thou art in tribulation, and all these things are come upon thee, even in the latter days, if thou turn to the Lord thy God, and shalt be obedient unto his voice; (For the Lord thy God is a merciful God;) he will not forsake thee, neither destroy thee, nor forget the covenant of thy fathers which he sware unto them, Deu0427-31.
(4) Thy prophets have seen vain and foolish things for thee: and they have not discovered thine iniquity, to turn away thy captivity; but have seen for thee false burdens and causes of banishment, Lam0214.
WARS
AND RUMOURS OF WARS
(5) When ye shall
hear of wars and commotions, be not terrified: for these things
must first come to pass; but the end is not by and by. Then said
he unto them, Nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against
kingdom: And great earthquakes shall be in divers places, and
famines, and pestilences; and fearful sights and great signs shall
there be from heaven, Luk2109-11.
BLIND
LEADERS OF THE BLIND
(6) As for my people,
children are their oppressors, and women rule over them. O my
people, they which lead thee cause thee to err, and destroy the
way of thy paths, Isa0312. The rod and reproof give wisdom: but
a child left to himself bringeth his mother to shame. When the
wicked are multiplied, transgression increaseth: but the righteous
shall see their fall. Correct thy son, and he shall give thee
rest; yea, he shall give delight unto thy soul. Where there is
no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy
is he, Pro2915-18.
(7) Woe unto you, lawyers! for ye have taken away the key of knowledge: ye entered not in yourselves, and them that were entering in ye hindered, Luk1152. They be blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch, Mat1514. But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men, Mat1509.
(8) Wherefore the Lord said, Forasmuch as this people draw near me with their mouth, and with their lips do honour me, but have removed their heart far from me, and their fear toward me is taught by the precept of men: Therefore, behold, I will proceed to do a marvellous work among this people, even a marvellous work and a wonder: for the wisdom of their wise men shall perish, and the understanding of their prudent men shall be hid. Woe unto them that seek deep to hide their counsel from the Lord, and their works are in the dark, and they say, Who seeth us? and who knoweth us? Isa2913-15. Evil will befall you in the latter days; because ye will do evil in the sight of the Lord, to provoke him to anger through the work of your hands, Deu3129.
(9) For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness (unbelief, Rom0303, cf.Gal0306); Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them. For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things. Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves, Rom0118-24. And as Esaias said before, Except the Lord of Sabaoth had left us a seed (which is Christ, Gal0316), we had been as Sodoma, and been made like unto Gomorrha, Rom0929.
(10) For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet. And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient; Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful: Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them, Rom0126-32.
(11) The leaders of this people cause them to err; and they that are led of them are destroyed (if they had stood in y counsel, and had caused my people to hear my words, then they should have turned them from their evil way, and from the evil of their doings, Jer2319-22). Therefore the Lord shall have no joy in their young men, neither shall have mercy on their fatherless and widows: for every one is an hypocrite and an evildoer, and every mouth speaketh folly. For all this his anger is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out still, Isa0916,17.
THE
RULE OF VIOLENCE
(12) Behold the
day, behold, it is come: the morning is gone forth; the rod hath
blossomed, pride hath budded. Violence is risen up into a rod
(rule, cf.Rev0227) of wickedness, Eze0710,11. As for my
people, children are their oppressors, and women rule over them.
(13) Because sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil, Ecc0811.
(14) Behold, a whirlwind of the Lord is gone forth in fury, even a grievous hirlwind: it shall fall grievously upon the head of the wicked. The anger of the Lord shall not return, until he have executed, and till he have performed the thoughts of his heart: in the latter days ye shall consider it perfectly. I have not sent these prophets, yet they ran: I ave not spoken to them, yet they prophesied. But if they had stood in y counsel, and had caused my people to hear my words, then they should have turned them from their evil way, and from the evil of their doings, Jer2319-22.
(15) In vain have I smitten your children; they received no correction: your own sword hath devoured your prophets, like a destroying lion, Jer0230. But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear. For your hands are defiled with blood, and your fingers with iniquity; your lips have spoken lies, your tongue hath muttered perverseness. None calleth for justice, nor any pleadeth for truth: they trust in vanity, and speak lies; they conceive mischief, and bring forth iniquity. They hatch cockatrice' eggs, and weave the spider's web: he that eateth of their eggs dieth, and that which is crushed breaketh out into a viper. Their webs shall not become garments (coverings), neither shall they cover themselves with their works: their works are works of iniquity, and the act of violence is in their hands. Their feet run to evil, and they make hast to shed innocent blood: their thoughts are thoughts of iniquity; wasting and destruction are in their paths. The way of peace they know not; and there is no judgment in their goings: they have made them crooked paths: whosoever goeth therein shall not know peace, Therefore is judgment far from us, neither doth justice overtake us: we wait for light, but behold obscurity; for brightness, but we walk in darkness.
(16) We grope for the wall like the blind, and we grope as if we had no eyes: we stumble at noonday as in the night; we are in desolate places as dead men. We roar all like bears, and mourn sore like doves: we look for judgment, but there is none; for salvation, but it is far off from us. For our transgressions are multiplied before thee, and our sins testify against us: for our transgressions are with us; and as for our iniquities, we know them; In transgressing and lying against the Lord, and departing away from our God, speaking oppression and revolt, conceiving and uttering from the heart words of falsehood. And judgment is turned away backward, and justice standeth afar off: for truth is fallen in the street, and equity cannot enter. Yea, truth faileth; and he that departeth from evil maketh himself a prey: and the Lord saw it, and it displeased him that there was no judgment, Isa5902-15.
FEDERAL
EUROPE
(17) Associate yourselves,
O ye people, and ye shall be broken in pieces; and give ear, all
ye of far countries: gird yourselves, and ye shall be broken in
pieces; gird yourselves, and ye shall be broken in pieces. Take
counsel together, and it shall come to nought; speak the word,
and it shall not stand: for God is with us. For the Lord spake
thus to me (Isaiah) with a strong hand, and instructed
me that I should not walk in the way of this people, saying, Say
ye not, A confederacy, to all them to whom this people shall say,
A confederacy; neither fear ye their fear, nor be afraid. Sanctify
the Lord of hosts himself; and let him be your fear, and let him
be your dread, Isa0809-13.
(18) Put not your trust in princes,
nor in the son of man, in whom there is no help. His breath goeth
forth, he returneth to his earth; in that very day his thoughts
perish, Ps14603. The fear of man bringeth a snare: but whoso putteth
his trust in the Lord shall be safe. Many seek the ruler's favour;
but every man's judgment cometh from the Lord, Pro2925,26.
DEFENCE
(19) Let not him
that is deceived trust in vanity: for vanity shall be his recompence,
Job1531. Some trust in chariots, and some in horses: but we will
remember the name of the Lord our God, Pss2007.
(20) For the indignation of the Lord is upon all nations, and his fury upon all their armies, Isa3402.Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the Lord of hosts, Zec0406. Salvation is of the Lord, Jon0209.
DECEPTION
(21) Evil men and
seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived,
2Tm0313. This know also, that in the last days perilous times
shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous,
boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful,
unholy, Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers,
incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, Traitors,
heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;
Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from
such turn away. For of this sort are they which creep into houses,
and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers
lusts, Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge
of the truth. Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do
these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning
the faith. But they shall proceed no further: for their folly
shall be manifest unto all men, as theirs also was, 2Tm0301-09.
(22) Take heed that ye be not deceived: for many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ (howbeit, Christ's represenitive on earth?); and the time draweth near: go ye not therefore after them, Luk2108. For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect. Behold, I have told you before, Mat2424,25.
(23) Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things? And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time. For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way. And then shall that Wicked (that man of sin.., the son of perdition; Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God, 2Th0203,04) be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth (For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do,Heb0412,13), and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming: Even him (the beast; The fourth beast shall be the fourth kingdom upon earth, which shall be diverse from all kingdoms, and shall devour the whole earth, and shall tread it down, and break it in pieces. Dan0723), whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness, 2Th0205-12. And the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful, Mrk0419.
COMMON
MARKET
(24) If any man
teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even the
words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according
to godliness; He is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions
and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil
surmisings, Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute
of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw
thyself. But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we
brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry
nothing out. And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.
But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and
into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction
and perdition. For the love of money is the root of all evil:
which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith,
and pierced themselves through with many sorrows, 1Tm0603-10.
(25) There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death, Pro1625. What shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? Mrk0836. Go to now, ye that say, To day or to morrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain: Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away. For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that. But now ye rejoice in your boastings: all such rejoicing is evil, Jas0413-16.
(26) Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof, Mat0631-34.
SINGLE
CURRENCY AND FINANCIAL CONTROL
(27) If sinners
entice thee, consent thou not. If they say, Come with us, let
us lay wait for blood, let us lurk privily for the innocent without
cause: Let us swallow them up alive as the grave; and whole, as
those that go down to the pit: We shall find all precious substance,
we shall fill our houses with spoil: Cast in thy lot among us;
let us all have one purse: My son, walk not thou in the way with
them; refrain thy foot from their path: For their feet run to
evil, and make haste to shed blood. Surely in vain the net is
spread in the sight of any bird. And they lay wait for their own
blood; they lurk privily for their own lives. So are the ways
of every one that is greedy for gain; which taketh away the life
of the owners thereof, Pro0110-19.
(28) The Lord will enter into judgment with the ancients of his people, and the princes thereof: for ye have eaten up the vineyard; the spoil of the poor is in your houses. What mean ye that ye beat my people to pieces, and grind the faces of the poor? saith the Lord God of hosts, Isa0304,05. For the vineyard of the Lord of hosts is the house of Israel, Isa0507. (The commonwealth of Israel, Eph0212.)
PRESIDENTIAL
POWERS
(29) Ye shall cry
out in that day because of your king which ye shall have chosen
you; and the Lord will not hear you in that day, 1Sm0818.
(30) He shall come in peaceably , Dan1121. And such as do wickedly against the covenant shall he corrupt by flatteries, Dan1102. God hath put in their hearts to fulfil his will, and to agree, and give their kingdom unto the beast (Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is Six hundred threescore and six. Rev1318), until the words of God shall be fulfilled, Rev1717. To the intent that the living may know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will, and setteth up over it the basest of men, Dan0417.
THE
BEAST
(31) Then I (Daniel)
would know (what shall be in the latter days, Dan0228)
the truth of the fourth beast (fourth from that of Nebuchadnezzar),
which was diverse from all the others, exceeding dreadful, whose
teeth were of iron, and his nails of brass; which devoured, brake
in pieces, and stamped the residue with his feet; And of the ten
horns (kings, Rev1712) that were in his head, and of the
other which came up, and before whom three fell; even of that
horn that had eyes, and a mouth that spake very great things,
whose look was more stout than his fellows. I beheld, and the
same horn made war with the saints, and prevailed against them;
Until the Ancient of days came, and judgment was given to the
saints of the most High; and the time came that the saints possessed
the kingdom.
(32) Thus he said, The fourth beast shall be the fourth kingdom upon earth, which shall be diverse from all kingdoms, and shall devour the whole earth, and shall tread it down, and break it in pieces. And the ten horns out of this kingdom are ten kings that shall arise: and another shall rise after them; and he shall be diverse from the first, and he shall subdue three kings. And he shall speak great words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High, and think to change times and laws: and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time (forty and two months, Rev1305), Dan0719-25.
(33) When the transgressors are come to the full, a king of fierce countenance, and understanding dark sentences, shall stand up. And his power shall be mighty, but not by his own power: and he shall destroy wonderfully, and shall prosper, and practise, and shall destroy the mighty and the holy people. And through his policy also he shall cause craft to prosper; and shall magnify himself in his heart, and by peace (or, prosperity) shall destroy many, Dan0823-25.
APATHY
(34) How long, ye
simple ones, will ye love simplicity? and the scorners delight
in their scorning, and fools hate knowledge? Turn you at my reproof:
behold, I will pour out my spirit unto you, I will make known
my words unto you. Because I have called, and ye refused; I have
stretched out my hand, and no man regarded; But ye have set at
nought all my counsel, and would none of my reproof: I will also
laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your fear cometh; When
your fear cometh as desolation, and your destruction cometh as
a whirlwind; when distress and anguish cometh upon you. Then shall
they call upon me, but I will not answer; they shall seek me early,
but they shall not find me: For that they hated knowledge, and
did not choose the fear of the Lord: They would none of my counsel:
they despised all my reproof. Therefore shall they eat of the
fruit of their own way, and be filled with their own devices.
For the turning away (or, ease) of the simple shall slay them,
and the prosperity of fools shall destroy them (Behold, this was
the iniquity of ...Sodom, pride, fulness of bread, and abundance
of idleness was in her and in her daughters, neither did she strengthen
the hand of the poor and needy. And they were haughty, and committed
abomination before me: therefore I took them away as I saw good,
Eze1649,50). But whoso hearkeneth unto me shall dwell safely,
and shall be quiet from fear of evil, Pro0122-33.
(35) For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape. But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief. Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness. Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober. For they that sleep sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night. But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation. For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ, Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him. Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do, 1Th0503-11.
IDOLATRY
(36) The work of
a man's hands, ... respect for that which his fingers have made,
cf.Isa1708. Their land also is full of silver and gold, neither
is there any end of their treasures; their land is also full of
horses, neither is there any end of their chariots: Their land
also is full of idols; they worship the work of their own hands,
that which their own fingers have made: And the mean man boweth
down, and the great man humbleth himself: therefore forgive them
not, Isa0207-09.
(37) Take heed unto yourselves, lest ye forget the covenant of the Lord your God, which he made with you, and make you a graven image, or the likeness of any thing, which the Lord thy God hath forbidden thee, Deu0423. Ye shall make you no idols nor graven image, neither rear you up a standing image, neither shall ye set up any image of stone in your land, to bow down unto it: for I am the Lord your God, Lev2601.
(38) Also, Fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry: For which things' sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience, Col0305,06.
(39) How weak is thine heart, saith the Lord God, seeing thou doest all these things, the work of an imperious whorish woman; In that thou buildest thine eminent place (shrine) in the head of every way, and makest thine high place in every street; and hast not been as an harlot, in that thou scornest hire; But as a wife that committeth adultery, which taketh strangers (gods of the people, Deu0614) instead of her husband! Eze1630-32. So he (the angel) carried me (John) 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. Rev1703-05.
DISTRESS
IN CONSEQUENCE
(40) Plead with
your mother, plead: for she is not my wife, neither am I her husband:
let her therefore put away her whoredoms out of her sight, and
her adulteries from between her breasts; Lest I strip her naked,
and set her as in the day that she was born, and make her as a
wilderness, and set her like a dry land, and slay her with thirst.
And I will not have mercy upon her children; for they be the children
of whoredoms.
(41) For their mother hath played the harlot: she that conceived them hath done shamefully: for she said, I will go after my lovers, that give me my bread and my water, my wool and my flax, mine oil and my drink. Therefore, behold, I will hedge up thy way with thorns, and make a wall, that she shall not find her paths. And she shall follow after her lovers, but she shall not overtake them; and she shall seek them, but shall not find them: then shall she say, I will go and return to my first husband; for then was it better with me than now. For she did not know that I gave her corn, and wine, and oil, and multiplied her silver and gold, which they prepared for Baal, (He that rules and subdues.)
(42) Therefore will I return, and take away my corn in the time thereof, and my wine in the season thereof, and will recover my wool and my flax given to cover her nakedness. And now will I discover her lewdness in the sight of her lovers, and none shall deliver her out of mine hand. I will also cause all her mirth to cease, her feast days, her new moons, and her sabbaths, and all her solemn feasts. And I will destroy her vines and her fig trees, whereof she hath said, These are my rewards that my lovers have given me: and I will make them a forest, and the beasts of the field shall eat them. And I will visit upon her the days of Baalim (idols, masters, false gods.), wherein she burned incense to them, and she decked herself with her earrings and her jewels, and she went after her lovers, and forgat me, saith the Lord, Hos0202-13.
THE
PRECEPT OF MEN
(43) They sought
righteousness, not by faith, but as it were by the works of the
law, Rom0932: Which stood only in meats and drinks, and divers
washings, and carnal ordinances, or, rites, or ceremonies, imposed
on them until the time of reformation, Heb0910+m. Wherefore the
Lord said, Forasmuch as this people draw near me with their mouth,
and with their lips do honour me, but have removed their heart
far from me, and their fear toward me is taught by the precept
of men: Therefore, behold, I will proceed to do a marvellous work...
for the wisdom of their wise man shall perish, and the understanding
of their prudent men shall be hid, Isa2913,14.
(44) As many as desire to make a fair shew in the flesh, they constrain you to be circumcised (conformed to Moses and the customs, or, to ordinances of divine service, cf.Heb0901-10:Act1501); only lest they should suffer persecution for the cross of Christ. For neither they themselves who are circumcised keep the law; but desire to have you circumcised, that they may glory in your flesh (that which is outward, or, in appearance, or, appearing to be righteous, Mat2308), Gal0612,13.
(45) For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God. For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth, Rom1003,04. And to them that look for Christ shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation, Heb0928.
(46) We know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law (unreformed, cf.Heb0910): that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God. Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin. But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested by the law and the prophets; Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference: For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God, Rom0320-25.
NATURE
AND ORIGIN OF THE WORLD POWER
(47) And I (John)
stood upon the sand of the sea (the bound of the sea, Jer0522:
The number of the children of Israel shall be as the sand of the
sea, Hos0110; the children of God that were scattered abroad,
Jhn1152), and saw a beast rise up out of the sea (the wicked
are like the troubled sea, when it cannot rest, whose waters cast
up mire and dirt, Isa5720), having seven heads and ten horns,
and upon his horns ten crowns, and upon his heads the name of
blasphemy. And the beast that I saw was like unto a leopard, and
his feet were as the feet of a bear, and his mouth as the mouth
of a lion: and the dragon (that is, Satan, Rev2002) gave
him his power, and his seat, and great authority (All these
things will I Satan give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship
me, Mat0409). And I saw one of his heads as it were wounded
to death; and his deadly wound was healed: and the world wondered
after the beast. And they worshipped the dragon (Satan, Rev2002)
which gave power to the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast?
who is able to make war with him?
THE
FALSE GOD
(48) And there was
given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies;
and power was given unto him to continue forty and two months.
And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme
his name, and his tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven. And
it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome
them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues,
and nations. And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him,
whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain
from the foundation of the world. If any man have an ear, let
him hear. He that leadeth into captivity shall go into captivity:
he that killeth with the sword must be killed with the sword.
Here is the patience and faith of the saints.
THE
FALSE PROPHET (A pseudo Christ)
(49) And I beheld another beast coming up out of the earth
(enemies of the cross of Christ: Whose end is destruction,
whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who
mind earthly things, Phl0318,19); and he had two horns like
a lamb (the false prophet, Rev1920; Beware of false prophets,
which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening
wolves. Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes
of thorns, or figs of thistles? Even so every good tree bringeth
forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.
A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt
tree bring forth good fruit, Mat0715-18.), and he spake as
a dragon. And he exerciseth all the power of the first beast,
and causeth the earth and all them which dwell therein to worship
the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed.
(50) And he doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men, And deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast; saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast, which had the wound by the sword, and did live. And he had power to give life (or, breath) unto the image of the beast, and that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed. And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads: And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name. Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is Six hundred threescore and six (666), Rev1301-18.
PERSECUTION
(51) But before
all these, they shall lay their hands on you, and persecute you,
delivering you up to the synagogues, and into prisons, being brought
before kings and rulers for my name's sake (Jesus Christ's).
And it shall turn to you for a testimony. Settle it therefore
in your hearts, not to meditate before what ye shall answer: For
I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which all your adversaries
shall not be able to gainsay nor resist. And ye shall be betrayed
both by parents, and brethren, and kinsfolks, and friends; and
some of you shall they cause to be put to death. And ye shall
be hated of all men for my name's sake. But there shall not an
hair of your head perish. In your patience possess ye your souls,
Luk2112-19.
(52) The time cometh, that whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service. And these things will they do unto you, because they have not known the Father, nor me (Jesus). But these things have I told you, that when the time shall come, ye may remember that I told you of them, Jhn021602-04. Be not afraid of them that kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do. But I (Jesus) will forewarn you whom ye shall fear: Fear him, which after he hath killed hath power to cast into hell; yea, I say unto you, Fear him, Luk1204,05.
WATCH
AND BE PREPARED
(53) God hath said,
Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation,
2Co0602. For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on
the face of the whole earth. Watch ye therefore, and pray always,
that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that
shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man, Luk2136.
(54) Howbeit, When thou art in tribulation, and all these things are come upon thee, even in the latter days, if thou turn to the Lord thy God, and shalt be obedient unto his voice; (For the Lord thy God is a merciful God;) he will not forsake thee, neither destroy thee, nor forget the covenant of thy fathers which he sware unto them, Deu0430,31.
GREAT
TRIBULATION
(55) And at that
time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for
the children of thy (Daniel's) people: and there shall
be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation
even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered,
every one that shall be found written in the book. And many of
them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to
everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.
And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament;
and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever
and ever. But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the
book, even to the time of the end: many shall run to and fro,
and knowledge shall be increased, Dan1201-04.
JUDGMENT
(56) And there came
one of the seven angels which had the seven vials, and talked
with me (John), saying unto me, Come hither; I will shew
unto thee the judgment of the great whore (Babylon the Great)
that sitteth upon many waters (peoples): 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 (These
nations feared the Lord, and served their graven images, both
their children, and their children's children: as did their fathers,
so do they unto this day, 2Kg1741) (do they not say, Come
and join us, and bring your religion with you?).
(57) So he carried me away in the spirit into the wilderness: and I saw a woman sit upon a scarlet coloured beast, full of the names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns. And the woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet colour, and was 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.
(58) 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 carrieth her, which hath the seven heads and ten horns. The beast that thou sawest was, and is not; and shall ascend out of the bottomless pit, and go into perdition: and they that dwell on the earth shall wonder, whose names are 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.
(59) And here is the mind which hath wisdom. The seven heads are seven mountains, on which the woman sitteth. And there are seven kings: five are fallen, 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 goeth into perdition. And the ten horns which thou sawest are ten kings, which have received no kingdom as yet; but receive power as kings one hour with the beast. These have one mind, and shall give their power and strength to 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.
(60) And he (the angel) saith unto me (John), The waters which thou sawest, where the whore sitteth, are peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues. And the ten horns which thou sawest upon the beast, these shall hate the whore, and 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 sawest is that great city, which reigneth over the kings of the earth, Rev1701-17. (Is there not, even now, one whose earthly titles include that of 'king of kings?' cf.Dan0237,38).
FALL
OF THE COMMON MARKET
(61) And after these
things I (John) saw another angel come down from heaven, having
great power; and the earth was lighted with his glory. And he
cried mightily with a strong voice, saying, Babylon the great
is fallen, is fallen (Babylon is fallen, is fallen; and all
the graven images of her gods he hath broken unto the ground,
Isa2109), and is become the habitation of devils, and the
hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful
bird. For all the nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath
of her fornication, and the kings of the earth have committed
fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth are waxed
rich through the abundance of her delicacies.
COME
OUT FROM AMONG THEM
(62) 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. For her sins have reached unto heaven, and God
hath remembered her iniquities. Reward her even as she rewarded
you, and double unto her double according to her works: in the
cup which she hath filled fill unto her double. How much she hath
glorified herself, and lived deliciously, so much torment and
sorrow give her: for she saith in her heart, I sit a queen, and
am no widow, and shall see no sorrow. 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.
(63) And the kings of the earth, who have committed fornication and lived deliciously with her, shall bewail her, and lament for her, when they shall see the smoke of her burning, Standing afar off for the fear of her torment, saying, Alas, alas, that great city Babylon, that mighty city! for in one hour is thy judgment come.
(64) And the merchants of the earth shall weep and mourn over her; for no man buyeth their merchandise any more: The merchandise of gold, and silver, and precious stones, and of pearls, and fine linen, and purple, and silk, and scarlet, and all thyine wood, and all manner vessels of ivory, and all manner vessels of most precious wood, and of brass, and iron, and marble, And cinnamon, and odours, and ointments, and frankincense, and wine, and oil, and fine flour, and wheat, and beasts, and sheep, and horses, and chariots, and slaves, and souls of men. And the fruits that thy soul lusted after are departed from thee, and all things which were dainty and goodly are departed from thee, and thou shalt find them no more at all.
(65) The merchants of these things, which were made rich by her, shall stand afar off for the fear of her torment, weeping and wailing, And saying, Alas, alas, that great city, that was clothed in fine linen, and purple, and scarlet, and decked with gold, and precious stones, and pearls! For in one hour so great riches is come to nought. And every shipmaster, and all the company in ships, and sailors, and as many as trade by sea, stood afar off, And cried when they saw the smoke of her burning, saying, What city is like unto this great city! And they cast dust on their heads, and cried, weeping and wailing, saying, Alas, alas, that great city, wherein were made rich all that had ships in the sea! for in one hour she is made desolate.
(66) Rejoice over her, thou heaven, and ye holy apostles and prophets; for God hath avenged you on her (for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord, Rom1219). And 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. 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; And the light of a candle shall shine no more at all in thee; and the voice of the bridegroom (Christ) and of the bride (New Jerusalem) 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. And in her were found the blood of the prophets, and of saints, and of all that were slain upon earth, Rev1801-24.
(67) And after these things I heard a great voice of much people in heaven, saying, Alleluia; Salvation, and glory, and honour, and power, unto the Lord our God: For true and righteous are his judgments: for he hath judged the great whore, which did corrupt the earth with her fornication, and hath avenged the blood of his servants at her hand. And again they said, Alleluia. And her smoke rose up for ever and ever. And the four and twenty elders and the four beasts fell down and worshipped God that sat on the throne, saying, Amen; Alleluia. And a voice came out of the throne, saying, Praise our God, all ye his servants, and ye that fear him, both small and great. And I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude, and as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of mighty thunderings, saying, Alleluia: for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth. Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready. And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints (These are they which came out of great tribulation, Rev0714). 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.
(68) And I (John) fell at his feet to worship him. And he said unto me, See thou do it not: I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren that have the testimony of Jesus: worship God: for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy. And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war. His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself. And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God. And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean. And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword (For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and open unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do, Heb0412,13), that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.
(69) And I saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried with a loud voice, saying to all the fowls that fly in the midst of heaven, Come and gather yourselves together unto the supper of the great God; That ye may eat the flesh of kings, and the flesh of captains, and the flesh of mighty men, and the flesh of horses, and of them that sit on them, and the flesh of all men, both free and bond, both small and great. And I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against him that sat on the horse, and against his army. And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone. And the remnant were slain with the sword of him that sat upon the horse, which sword proceeded out of his mouth: and all the fowls were filled with their flesh, Rev1901-21.
(70) Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth, while the evil days come not, nor the years draw nigh, when thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in them; While the sun, or the light of the moon, or the stars, be not darkened, nor the clouds return after the rain: In the days when the keepers of the house shall tremble, and the strong men shall bow themselves, and the grinders cease because they are few, and those that look out of the windows be darkened. And the doors shall be shut in the streets, when the sound of the grinding is low, and he shall rise up at the voice of a bird, and all the daughters of music shall be brought low; Also when they shall be afraid of that which is high, and fears shall be in the way, and the almond tree shall flourish, and the grasshopper shall be a burden, and desire shall fail: because man goeth to his long home, and the mourners go about the streets: Or ever the silver cord be loosed, or the golden bowl be broken, or the pitcher be broken at the fountain, or the wheel broken at the cistern. Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it. Vanity of vanities, saith the preacher; all is vanity, Ecc1201-08.
IN
WHOM SHOULD WE TRUST?
(71) We should not
trust in ourselves, but in God which raiseth the dead, 2Co0109:
We by Jesus Christ do believe in God, that raised him up from
the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be
in God, 1Pe0121. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall
all be made alive. But every man in his own order: Christ the
firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ's at his coming, 1Co1522,23.
(72) And I (John) saw thrones, and they that sat on them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years, Rev2004.
(73) Then cometh the end, when Christ shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power. For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet. The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death. For he hath put all things under his feet. But when he saith, all things are put under him, it is manifest that he is excepted, which did put all things under him. And when all things shall be subdued unto him, then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him that put all things under him, that God may be all in all, 1Co1524-28. Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The Zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this, Isa0907,08.
FEAR
YE NOT
(74) Now we beseech
you brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our
gathering together unto him, That ye be not soon shaken in mind,
or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter
from us, as that day of Christ is at hand. Let no man deceive
you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come
a falling away first (from grace, Gal0504: For they being ignorant
of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own
righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness
of God, Rom1003), and that man of sin be revealed, the son
of perdition; Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that
is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth
in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God. Remember
ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things?
(75) And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time. For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let (hinder the gospel, 1Co0912; to turn away from the faith, Act1308), until he be taken out of the way. And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming: Even him (that Wicked), whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: That they might be damned who believe not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness, 2Th0201-12.
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