Revelation 18, 19
WWN 1995 Oct -- XXVIII -- 10(95) -- EXEGESIS OF REVELATION -- THE TALE OF TWO CITIES -- Part 6 --
So much Adventist tradition has been built around the "angel" of Revelation 18, that it is most difficult to analyze just what is written without reading into the text some aspects of that tradition.
The message of this angel which comes down from heaven "having great authority" is similar to the message of the second angel of Revelation 14 with certain distinct differences.
Babylon has now become "the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and the cage of every unclean and hateful bird." (ver. 2)
Instead of the proffered wine which Babylon made all nations drink (14:8), the nations now have drunk (perfect tense), and the leaders ("kings") of the earth have committed fornication with her and the "merchants of the earth" have profited by their association. (18:3)
The union between the combined forces of religion - "Babylon the great" - and the governments of earth is complete.
The dire warning is that the power which activates these religious forces is the power of the devil.
To all outward appearances, he has become the undisputed sovereign of the earth.
If we understand the symbolism of this angel the same as the symbolism of the three angels of Revelation 14, it represents a "MOVEMENT" under the direction of this assigned angel of heaven who is given great authority to carry out his mandate.
But when will this take place?
Obviously from the text, it is JUST PRIOR to the pouring out of the Seven Last Plagues, because these are spoken of as still future in the context (18:8).
Rev 18:8 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.
Yet the message declares that the forces of evil have fixed their abode in Babylon - "Babylon ... is become the habitation of devils." (18:2)
Rev 18:2 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.
This prior event noted in the prophecy is the working of "the spirits of devils" as they gather "the kings of the earth and the whole world" to "the battle of that great day of God Almighty." (Rev. 16:14) (Keep in mind that Revelation 16:13-16 describes activity in "the last remnant of time" which is the justification of the sixth plague, verse 12. See WWN, 8/95, pp 3-4; also note Great Controversy, pp. 561-562)
The revelation of what the Harlot says in her heart "I sit a queen, and am no more a widow..." (18:7) - clearly defines the time of the message of this fourth angel as congruent with the "harlot" riding forth out of the wilderness on the scarlet colored beast. (17:3-5)
While yet future, it is the immediate future! We can even now see the beginnings of this final confrontation.
Within the two chapters - the 17th and the 18th -certain time references are given.
The ten horns "receive power as kings one hour with the beast." (17:12)
While the harlot's plagues "come in one day" (18:8),
in "one hour is [her] judgment come" (v. 10).
"In one hour" her "great riches is come to nought" (v. 17).
"In one hour is she made desolate" (v. 19).
A close comparison of the wording would indicate that the same time allocated to the reign of the ten horns, is the same amount of time that these horns use to turn on the harlot and make her "desolate." (Compare 17:12, 17 with 18:19)
Rev 17:12 And the ten horns which thou sawest are ten kings, which have received no kingdom as yet; but receive power as kings one hour with the beast.
Rev 17:17 For God hath put in their hearts to fulfil his will, and to agree, and give their kingdom unto the beast, until the words of God shall be fulfilled.
Rev 18:19 And they cast dust on their heads, and cried, weeping and wailing, saying, Alas, alas, that great city, wherein were made rich all that had ships in the sea by reason of her costliness! for in one hour is she made desolate.
While a prophetic day equals one year (Eze. 4:6), the hour, if reckoned as a 24th part of the prophetic day, would be 15 literal days.
However, hora, the Greek word for hour, can mean a short period of time, rather than a literal 24 hours.
Whatever reckoning of time is used, there is one thing certain - "the final movements will be rapid ones."
It is indicated that those on the side of the Lamb "are called, and chosen, and and faithful." (17:14)
Little do we realize what faithfulness in that hour will mean.
To all appearances, Christ has come.
Spiritual wonders convince the eye.
The third millennium projects unity, peace and prosperity.
For the human instruments to give the warning of the fourth angel will require an absolute confidence in the revelation of the Word contrary to all outward appearances.
For those on the side of the Lamb will have to call the great return to "moral values" the working of Satan disguised as an angel of light.
Those who cannot stand for truth now, how can they expect to stand then?
The 18th Chapter closes with an illustration. A mighty angel takes a millstone and casts it into the sea, saying, "Thus with violence shall the great city be thrown down, and shall be found no more at all." (18:21)
Pen cannot describe, the carnage, the anarchy - "the violence" - which will ensue when the inhabitants of earth awaken to the fact that through religious deception they have lost all in the battle of life and have joined forces with Satan against Christ.
*******
Read this again--
'To all appearances, Christ has come.'
Now take a moment and really, really IMAGINE this!
PEOPLE worldwide are going to believe that Christ has come back to earth!!!!!!!
At this point it's all been decided, probation is over and the deception is completed. Is it possible that the impersonation of Christ's coming will be right up there along with the mark of the beast? Seriously. We know all those who receive the mark of the beast are on Satan's side. We know all those sealed by God are will be saved and will NOT be caught up in the mark of the beast or fooled by the impersonation of our Savior's return.
Can you even imagine, seriously imagine having people all around you- hundreds, thousands, tens of thousands, hundreds of thousands, millions of people believing that Christ has returned and you NOT believing?!
Can you imagine even people of religions that have nothing to do with our Lord and Savior suddenly changing their faith because they believe that Jesus Christ has returned to earth as the Christian faith has foretold? This impersonation will be so real, so incredibly realistic to deceive all but the very elect. Those who aren't sealed, or going to be sealed will be DECEIVED! Completely and utterly deceived.
'Spiritual wonders convince the eye.' This is true! So many will rely on their physical sight and be deceived.
'For the human instruments to give the warning of the fourth angel will require an absolute confidence in the revelation of the Word contrary to all outward appearances.'
CONTRARY to ALL outward appearance! EVERYTHING outward will tell us to believe in this false Christ! And yet if we are going to belong to our Savior we have to rely on the Word of God we've studied and studied and studied. Being swayed by popular opinion for good or bad has become so incredibly popular. In some countries today there are men, women, and even children who are choosing to believe in Christ's truth and they are being put to death, they are suffering unimaginably for their faith which goes far against what the majority of people in their environment believe. But we who don't live like that at all, we who have the fortune of living in a country where religious freedom is supposed to be one of our constitutional rights, will we really be able to stand up for the true Christ in face of an impersonator Christ that has deceived almost every single person around us?
We have to realize that these people- the majority- will believe they are following GOD! When we denounce their God as being false we will be the ones targeted as being God haters! Christ haters! That will be what we are labeled and it's something we need to think about now because if we wait to think about all this another time then it is very, very likely that we will be among the deceived simply because we haven't studied, we don't know the word of truth as God would have us know it, and we will be led astray by words that sound wonderful and sweet, soothing words of peace, of safety, of love. To stand out against all that *good* stuff will be all but impossibly unless we realize in our heart of hearts that the truth is with our Savior in His word of truth, through His righteousness alone and it's not here and now on earth. He isn't coming to take over as prince of this world when He returns, He is calling us to meet Him in the air and live with Him in heaven for 1000 years-- THIS is BIBLICAL! This is TRUTH!
Please Lord help us! Help us stay with you in all truth always! Please Lord keep us from being deceived!
In Your amazing love!
AMEN!
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