Before we continue with - 'An Hour and An End' by William Grotheer, I'd like to do a little background study on the special message that was given to the Seventh Day Adventist movement after the great disappointment, when the book of Daniel was opened and the prophecies unfolded.
The Three Angel's Messages-
Rev 14:6 And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people,
Rev 14:7 Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters.
Rev 14:8 And there followed another angel, saying, Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication.
Rev 14:9 And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand,
Rev 14:10 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:
Rev 14:11 And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name.
Rev 14:12 Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.
I did a study on this in depth, a lengthy study I've copied here- PLEASE, by the grace of God, pray and study for yourselves!
'Christ's Message for Our Days (Rev. 14: 6-13)
What does all that mean?
'And I saw..'
Who saw?
John. He's the one who received all these visions. John was given the revelation of Jesus Christ. We read in Revelation 1:1-
'The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to shew unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified [it] by his angel unto his servant John'
John then saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven. This angel John saw has something. The everlasting gospel. Why does the angel have the everlasting gospel? To preach to us on earth, to every nation, kindred, and tongue and people.
God's word-
Rev.14:6 And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people
What is the everlasting gospel?
EVERLASTING-
(dictionary def)
everlasting (èv´er-làs´tîng) adjective
1. Lasting forever; eternal.
2. a. Continuing indefinitely or for a long period of time. b. Persisting too long; tedious: everlasting complaints.
noun
1. Everlasting. God. Used with the.
2. Eternal duration; eternity.
GOSPEL-
1. Often Gospel . The proclamation of the redemption preached by Jesus and the Apostles, which is the central content of Christian revelation.
2. a. Gospel. Bible. One of the first four books of the New Testament, describing the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus and recording his teaching. b. A similar narrative.
3. Often Gospel . A lection from any of the first four books of the New Testament included as part of a religious service.
The everlasting gospel is Eternal Redemption. The gospels bring to us the reality of our redemption found only in Christ. The gospels give to us the life of Christ- His birth, His ministry, His great sacrifice so that we all might choose life in Him and therefore find eternal redemption in Christ.
The angel John saw was to preach of eternal redemption to all on the earth. Amazing and so wonderful.
Everyone has the opportunity for eternal redemption, it's not a gift that goes to the highest bidder, it's not something only the rich can buy, it's not an exclusive gift, there haven't only been so many copies made, it's there for all.
I'd say it's there like the air we breath, air that every human has access to, but you know what, it's even more accessible than that.
There is no way for access to eternal redemption to be cut off, unlike oxygen.
This message from the angel is giving EVERYONE the opportunity to have eternal redemption to know about the love of God through the sacrifice of his Son Jesus Christ.
That's not all… What else does this angel do?
'Rev. 14:7 Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters.'
He speaks. What's he saying?
Fear God. Give glory to him.
Why? For the hour of his judgment is come.
Worship him that made heaven and earth and the sea and the fountains of waters.
~
Fear God.
Fear.
(dictionary def)
fear (fîr) noun
1. a. A feeling of agitation and anxiety caused by the presence or imminence of danger. b. A state or condition marked by this feeling: living in fear.
2. A feeling of disquiet or apprehension: a fear of looking foolish.
3. Extreme reverence or awe, as toward a supreme power.
4. A reason for dread or apprehension: Being alone is my greatest fear.
Reverence God.
(dictionary def)
reverence (rèv´er-ens) noun
1. A feeling of profound awe and respect and often love; veneration. See synonyms at honor.
2. An act showing respect, especially a bow or curtsy.
3. The state of being revered.
4. Reverence. Used as a form of address for certain members of the Christian clergy: Your Reverence.
Feel profound awe towards God.
Respect and love God=Fear God
(dictionary def)
venerate (vèn´e-rât´) verb, transitive
venerated, venerating, venerates
To regard with respect, reverence, or heartfelt deference.
Heartfelt deference towards God=Fear God
Fear God-Love God
We are to Love God, be in awe of God, revere him, fear him. Do you? Think about it? Do you love God? What is love?
1 John 4:8 '…for God is love.'
We are to love God as He loves.
Is it easy to love someone who meets your every need? Is it easy to love someone who showers you in gifts? Is it easy to love someone who only has your best interest at heart? Is it easy to love someone who is selfless? Is it easy to love someone who first loves you?
The answer should be yes.
Should be.
Perfect love should be easy to love in return. All God wants of us is our love. All God wants is what he gives to us perfectly. Our needs in this world have been so warped we often think God isn't meeting our needs.
What is our greatest need? God. And yes, he is available to us always, through all we go through, the bad, the good, and every day in between. Even through the worst we can possibly imagine going through, the ultimate worst, God is there. Love, something not dependent upon any conditions- is there. God. Love that offers eternal life-- is there. God. Redemption through Jesus--is always there. God. The promise for a better life with Jesus--is always there. God. No matter what catastrophe we are passing through, the promise given in Love is ours. The promise is not taken away because of what we are going through. It's not a sign God has left us when we go through the deepest, darkest valley in existence. We like to cry out and ask God why he's doing this to us, why is he letting us go through such torture, such pain. If he were loving he wouldn't let these horrible, horrible things happens. Yet God's promise is a new life through Jesus Christ. It is a promise that promises eternity after this life, after all this pain, after all the torture that comes our way and the way of others. The ultimate prize, not 1,000,000 dollars after an arduous six weeks traveling the world and facing hard tasks, not a 1,000,000 dollars after rough living for a month with no amenities and passing through skill tests, physical and mental, not two weeks paid vacation after fifty weeks of hard work. After a lifetime of living whatever lot in life is yours for however long that lifetime is, a promise of eternity where there is no pain, no tears, no heartache, no suffering, no torture, but only love, forever. God.
Love. A promise. God.
God, the giver of the promise through his Son, Jesus Christ.
We are to love God, to reverence him, to be in awe of him.
Fear God and do what?
'Rev. 14:7 Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters.'
And give glory to him.
GLORY TO GOD.
(Dictionary Def)
GLORY (glôr´ê, glor´ê) noun
plural glories
1. Great honor, praise, or distinction accorded by common consent; renown.
2. Something conferring honor or renown.
3. A highly praiseworthy asset: Your hair is your crowning glory.
4. Adoration, praise, and thanksgiving offered in worship.
5. Majestic beauty and splendor; resplendence: The sun set in a blaze of glory.
6. The splendor and bliss of heaven; perfect happiness.
7. A height of achievement, enjoyment, or prosperity: Paris in its greatest glory.
8. A halo, nimbus, or aureole. In this sense, also called gloriole.
Glory to God. Honor, praise, renown, adoration, thanksgiving to God. How do we honor God?
(Dictionary Def)
HONOR
1. a. To hold in respect; esteem. b. To show respect for. c. To bow to (another dancer) in square dancing: Honor your partner.
2. To confer distinction on: He has honored us with his presence.
3. To accept or pay as valid: honor a check; a store that honors all credit cards.
Respect, confer distinction. Respect God. Confer distinction upon God.
(Dictionary Def)
RESPECT (rî-spèkt´) verb, transitive
respected, respecting, respects
1. To feel or show deferential regard for; esteem.
2. To avoid violation of or interference with: respect the speed limit.
3. To relate or refer to; concern.
Esteem God. Do we respect him? Do we esteem God? Do we honor God? Do we give glory to God? How do you show honor to another human being? How do you esteem another person? How do you show respect to others? You use your manners with them? The head of your state, country, land, kingdom wherever it is you live, is coming to visit you… yes… you! They're coming to visit you and you are going to behave how towards them? Just imagine it if you will. Too much of a stretch? Alright a relative from afar is coming to visit you, an elderly relative with all their wits and faculties has just rung you up and told you they're coming for a visit. Let's just say it's a great, great aunt. How would you receive this long lost elderly relative that is coming to visit? Would you show them respect? Would you show them honor? Would you hold them in high esteem? What would your actions be? Respectful to be sure, right? How much respect and honor does God deserve?
ALL our respect. ALL our honor. ALL the glory we can possibly give him. We are told fear God and give glory to him. Why?
'Rev. 14:7 Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters.'
'For the hour of his judgment is come'
Guess what? You remember that promise? The promise given to us from the God of Love? The promise is soon to be realized. What good is a promise if it's not kept? If it is never realized? An empty promise is NOT what God offers, that's not love and God is love.
God's promise will be realized and for it to be realized God has to know who of his humans have chosen him as their creator, redeemer, ruler, king, who have chosen his love, to love him.
The only way God can put an end to this life we're living now and usher in the new world, the only way he can bring eternity with him (with love) into reality is to judge the good from the bad, the loving from the unloving, the redeemed from those who have shunned redemption.
There has to be a judgment or there can never be an end to this world full of sin.
God's judgment is underway.
It's not something in the far future.
You're not going to be able to stand before God and plead your case with him.
There will be no lawyers present to argue on your behalf.
There will be no date set for you to appear in God's court.
It's all underway and our lives themselves are a testament to our guilt or innocence.
We do have an advocate, Jesus Christ.
We have to claim him, to believe in him, to trust him, to have faith that He as our advocate will plead our case for us. Yes, the hour of his judgment is come. Time is running out and He wants everyone, every nation, kindred, tongue and people to claim His promise to choose Him, to Love him. He doesn't want to lose a single person, not one.
''Rev. 14:7 Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters.'
Worship him that did what? Worship him that made what? Worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea and the fountains of waters.
Whoa. People worship lots of things. Are you sitting there shaking your head saying not you? You don't worship anything but God. Well that's wonderful and amazing and praise God for that.
(Dictionary Def)
WORSHIP (wûr´shîp) noun
1. a. The reverent love and devotion accorded a deity, an idol, or a sacred object. b. The ceremonies, prayers, or other religious forms by which this love is expressed.
2. Ardent devotion; adoration.
3. Often Worship . Chiefly British. Used as a form of address for magistrates, mayors, and certain other dignitaries: Your Worship.
Reverent love and devotion accorded a deity, an idol, or a sacred object. Ceremonies, prayers, or other religious forms by which this love is expressed. Accorded a deity. Accorded God. Accorded an idol. You can worship anything really. Just put it first in your life and give the respect and honor you possess. To be clear I think this angel is telling us exactly who we're to worship as God, the one and only true God. No other God made the heavens, the earth, the sea , the fountains of water, none.
Let's look up a few things here-
1 Chronicles 16:26 For all the gods of the people [are] idols: but the LORD made the heavens.
Psalms 96:5 For all the gods of the nations [are] idols: but the LORD made the heavens.
Psalms 136:1 O give thanks unto the LORD; for [he is] good: for his mercy [endureth] for ever. {136:2} O give thanks unto the God of gods: for his mercy [endureth] for ever. {136:3} O give thanks to the Lord of lords: for his mercy [endureth] for ever. {136:4} To him who alone doeth great wonders: for his mercy [endureth] for ever {136:5} To him that by wisdom made the heavens: for his mercy [endureth] for ever. {136:6} To him that stretched out the earth above the waters: for his mercy [endureth] for ever.
Psalm 33:6 By the word of the LORD were the heavens made; and all the host of them by the breath of his mouth.
Psalm 95:3 For the LORD [is] a great God, and a great King above all gods. {95:4} In his hand [are] the deep places of the earth: the strength of the hills [is] his also. {95:5} The sea [is] his, and he made it: and his hands formed the dry [land.]{95:6} O come, let us worship and bow down: let us kneel before the LORD our maker.
Psalm 124:8 Our help [is] in the name of the LORD, who made heaven and earth.
Acts 14:15 And saying, Sirs, why do ye these things? We also are men of like passions with you, and preach unto you that ye should turn from these vanities unto the living God, which made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all things that are therein
There is no doubt that God made these things, not if you believe in God, believe in his amazing word - I just have to bring this up again, from a song I listen to because it just blows my mind over and over again that people can't see the power of the word, that they can't recognize the miracle the Bible truly is.
'The Word is Alive- Casting Crowns-'
'The bible was inscribed over a period of 2000 years
In times of war and in days of peace
By kings, physicians, tax collectors, farmers, fishermen, singers and shepherds
The marvel is that a library so perfectly cohesive
Could have been produced by such a diverse crowd
Over a period of time which stagers the imagination
Jesus is it's grand subject our good is designed and the Glory of God is its end'
Inscribed over a period of 2000 years. 2000 years. By so many people. Another aspect to the word of God's validity is the prophecy it contains. Prophecy that was prediction hundreds and thousands of years in advance and all of it coming to pass. Do you get more proof than that? Do you?
The Bible is a miracle book. The Bible is truth and within that truth is the history of mankind's origin. God made the heavens and the earth. We're to worship Him that did so. How can we show worship to God? Go to church for an hour a week? Toss some money in a collection plate? Lucky us, God set up a perfect design for us to worship Him. He didn't leave us to our own devices, he didn't leave us without instruction. Right there in Genesis, right there after we are given the story of Creation what does God do?
'Genesis 2:1 Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them. {2:2} And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made. {2:3} And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it: because that in it he had rested from all his work which God created and made.'
God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, God rested from all his work the he created and made. Do you think God really needed to rest? God was doing this for us, for his creation.
Read on…
'Exodus 20:8 Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. {20:9} Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work: {20:10} But the seventh day [is] the sabbath of the LORD thy God: [in it] thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that [is] within thy gates: {20:11} For [in] six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them [is,] and rested the seventh day: wherefore the LORD blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it.'
Are we giving honor and glory to God when we obey His commandments? The Sabbath was instituted at the beginning of the world, at Creation.
When God gave his ten commandments, the embodiment of his love and how we are to love, in among them was the commandment to remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy. A holy rest day. Do many people bulk when given the weekend off? Do many people complain when they are given two days off after working five? I don't know of anyone personally that complains when they have a day off of anything. School, work, it doesn't matter, they're not complaining when they're given a day off. God designed things so we'd have six days to do our own devices, but one day he wanted us to rest on and worship him. That's not too much to ask is it?
We can't plead ignorance as to what this verse means, we just can't.
''Rev. 14:7 Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters.'
God has made it possible for all of us to worship him. To recognize him as our creator, the one who made heaven and earth and the sea and the fountains of water. The angel here that John saw proclaimed- 'Fear god, and give glory to him, for the hour of his judgment is come, and worship him that made heaven and earth and the sea and the fountains of waters.'
At a time when the world is filled with evil, selfishness, self-love.. the me, me, me generation. The me at all cost. At this time when people are no longer compelled to go to church and have a religious affiliation - no person's livelihood or position in their community is threatened by their lack of church going-not any longer. Religion has been shoved to the back, to an afterthought. We are too enlightened to allow ourselves to be caught up in anything remotely illogical and inexplicable as a deity creating the earth, we have our own theories thank you very much. Science shows me that everything has a scientific, logical explanation and only fools look to religion to explain things. I could go on, but do I really need to?
The world's condition speaks for itself. We need a reminder to worship God and that's why it's been given. We need to be told that judgment is here. We need to be given all the chances in the world to choose Christ as our Savior and let our lives reflect His love.
There are six more verses in that message for our day. Six more wonderful verses so here we go.
What happened next… A second angel was seen.
'Revelation 14:8 And there followed another angel, saying, Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication.'
'Daniel 5:25-27 - 5:25 And this [is] the writing that was written, MENE, MENE, TEKEL, UPHARSIN. {5:26} This [is] the interpretation of the thing: MENE; God hath numbered thy kingdom, and finished it. {5:27} TEKEL; ; Thou art weighed in the balances, and art found wanting.'
Just a little while after that pronouncement, Babylon was destroyed. Babylon a great, great city, Babylon, we hear about the Hanging Gardens of Babylon even today. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hanging_Gardens_of_Babylon
The Hanging Gardens of Babylon (also known as Hanging Gardens of Semiramis) (near present-day Al Hillah in Iraq) are considered one of the original Seven Wonders of the World. They were built by Nebuchadnezzar II around 600 BC. He is reported to have constructed the gardens to please his wife, Amytis of Media, who longed for the trees and fragrant plants of her homeland.[1] The gardens were destroyed in an earthquake after the 1st century BC.
Babylon hasn't been forgotten for all these years. How much history from 600BC has been forgotten? From 500BC, 400, 300, 200, 100 and so on? How many names of cities have been lost to time? And yet strangely enough Babylon that name hasn't been forgotten and for purely secular reasons. Do you think maybe the wonder that was Babylon in the height of its glory is something God wanted us to remember? It wasn't a name that slipped away and has to be dredged up from thousands of years of dust and dirt. Babylon. If these hanging gardens were so magnificent that we still have them well known today is it any wonder that more of Babylon's history should perhaps be known?
Tidbits-
It has been estimated that Babylon was the largest city in the world from ca. 1770 to 1670 BC, and again between ca. 612 and 320 BC. It was perhaps the first city to reach a population above 200,000. It is recorded that Babylon's legal system developed a form of negligence law and Babylon was probably the first culture to develop negligence law. In the common law world, the law of negligence was not fully rediscovered until the 20th century.
More tidbits-
During the reign of Sennacherib of Assyria, Babylonia was in a constant state of revolt, led by Mushezib-Marduk, and suppressed only by the complete destruction of the city of Babylon. In 689 BC, its walls, temples and palaces were razed, and the rubble was thrown into the Arakhtu, the sea bordering the earlier Babylon on the south. This act shocked the religious conscience of Mesopotamia; the subsequent murder of Sennacherib was held to be in expiation of it, and his successor Esarhaddon hastened to rebuild the old city, to receive there his crown, and make it his residence during part of the year. On his death, Babylonia was left to be governed by his elder son Shamash-shum-ukin, who eventually headed a revolt in 652 BC against his brother in Nineveh, Assurbanipal.
More tidbits-
Under Nabopolassar, Babylon threw off the Assyrian rule in 626 BC, and became the capital of the Neo-Babylonian Empire.
With the recovery of Babylonian independence, a new era of architectural activity ensued, and his son Nebuchadnezzar II (605-562 BC) made Babylon into one of the wonders of the ancient world. Nebuchadnezzar ordered the complete reconstruction of the imperial grounds, including rebuilding the Etemenanki ziggurat and the construction of the Ishtar Gate - the most spectacular of eight gates that ringed the perimeter of Babylon. The Ishtar Gate survives today in the Pergamon Museum in Berlin. Nebuchadnezzar is also credited with the construction of the Hanging Gardens of Babylon (one of the seven wonders of the ancient world), said to have been built for his homesick wife Amyitis. Whether the gardens did exist is a matter of dispute. Although excavations by German archaeologist Robert Koldewey are thought to reveal its foundations, many historians disagree about the location, and some believe it may have been confused with gardens in Nineveh.
More tidbits (Don't worry just a few more)-
In 539 BC, the Neo-Babylonian Empire fell to Cyrus the Great, king of Persia, with an unprecedented military manoeuver. The famed walls of Babylon were indeed impenetrable, with the only way into the city through one of its many gates or through the Euphrates, which ebbed beneath its thick walls. Metal gates at the river's in-flow and out-flow prevented underwater intruders, if one could hold one's breath to reach them. Cyrus (or his generals) devised a plan to use the Euphrates as the mode of entry to the city, ordering large camps of troops at each point and instructed them to wait for the signal. Awaiting an evening of a national feast among Babylonians, Cyrus' troops diverted the Euphrates river upstream, causing the Euphrates to drop to wading levels or to dry up altogether. The soldiers marched under the walls through thigh-level water or as dry as mud. The Persian Army conquered the outlying areas of the city's interior while a majority of Babylonians at the city center were oblivious to the breach. The account was elaborated upon by Herodotus,[1] and is also mentioned by passages in the Old Testament.[2][3] Cyrus claimed the city by walking through the gates of Babylon with little or no resistance from the drunken Babylonians.
Cyrus later issued a decree permitting the exiled Jews to return to their own land, and allowed their temple to be rebuilt.
Under Cyrus and the subsequent Persian king Darius the Great, Babylon became the capital city of the 9th Satrapy (Babylonia in the south and Athura in the north), as well as a centre of learning and scientific advancement. In Achaemenid Persia, the ancient Babylonian arts of astronomy and mathematics were revitalised and flourished, and Babylonian scholars completed maps of constellations. The city was the administrative capital of the Persian Empire, the preeminent power of the then known world, and it played a vital part in the history of that region for over two centuries. Many important archaeological discoveries have been made that can provide a better understanding of that era[4].
The early Persian kings had attempted to maintain the religious ceremonies of Marduk, but by the reign of Darius III, over-taxation and the strains of numerous wars led to a deterioration of Babylon's main shrines and canals, and the disintegration of the surrounding region. Despite three attempts at rebellion in 522 BC, 521 BC and 482 BC, the land and city of Babylon remained solidly under Persian rule for two centuries, until Alexander the Great's entry in 331 BC.
More tidbits- (seriously just a few more!)
In 331 BC, Darius III was defeated by the forces of the Macedonian ruler Alexander the Great at the Battle of Gaugamela, and in October, Babylon fell to the young conqueror. A native account of this invasion notes a ruling by Alexander not to enter the homes of its inhabitants.[citation needed]
Under Alexander, Babylon again flourished as a centre of learning and commerce. But following Alexander's death in 323 BC in the palace of Nebuchadnezzar, his empire was divided amongst his generals, and decades of fighting soon began, with Babylon once again caught in the middle.
The constant turmoil virtually emptied the city of Babylon. A tablet dated 275 BC states that the inhabitants of Babylon were transported to Seleucia, where a palace was built, as well as a temple given the ancient name of Esagila. With this deportation, the history of Babylon comes practically to an end,[citation needed] though more than a century later, it was found that sacrifices were still performed in its old sanctuary. By 141 BC, when the Parthian Empire took over the region, Babylon was in complete desolation and obscurity.
* (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Babylon)
There we have it, Great Babylon its rise and its fall. Such history, such splendor, such ungodliness. Babylon was never a godly city.
Biblically Babylon was weighed in the balances and found.. wanting.
'Daniel 5:25-27 - 5:25 And this [is] the writing that was written, MENE, MENE, TEKEL, UPHARSIN. {5:26} This [is] the interpretation of the thing: MENE; God hath numbered thy kingdom, and finished it. {5:27} TEKEL ; Thou art weighed in the balances, and art found wanting.'
Babylon was destroyed, just as predicted in the prophecies of Daniel. So why is the word Babylon being brought up in a message for the end of time?
Why this…
'Revelation 14:8 And there followed another an angel, saying, Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication.'
Babylon is fallen is fallen that great city…why is she fallen? Because she made ALL the nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication. Well, lets look at that a bit closer. Jump to Revelation 17 with me.
'{17:1} 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 sitteth upon many waters: {17:2} With whom the kings of the earth have committed fornication, and the inhabitants of the earth have been made drunk with the wine of her fornication. {17:3} 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. {17:4} 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: {17:5} And upon her forehead [was] a name written, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH. {17:6} 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.'
Mystery Babylon the great, the mother of harlots and abominations of the earth, drunken with the blood of the saints and blood of martyrs of Jesus. Wow.
The verse in our study -
'Revelation 14:8 And there followed another angel, saying, Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication.'
What does it mean? If Babylon represents that which isn't Godly, then this is saying that the ungodly are going to make all the nations drink the wine of the wrath of her fornication. The ungodly are going to make ALL the nations follow after her. This is why she falls.
There are those with God and those not with God.
As the end draws to a close the earth is going to be as it was in the days of Noah, as it was in the days of Sodom and Gomorrah. Both examples of a world, of a city filled with sin so much so God's wrath was brought down on them. The world was destroyed by a flood and only eight people were spared. Eight people. The city of Sodom and Gomorrah how many were spared? Lot and his two daughters, for even his wife looked back and turned into a pillar of salt. It's no wonder that Babylon, representing the ungodly, will make all nations drink the wine of her wrath. Babylon the whore. While the Bride of Christ is what? The true church. God's true people. A virgin.
Eph. 5:25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; {5:26} That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, {5:27} That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.
1 Cor. 11:1 Would to God ye could bear with me a little in [my] folly: and indeed bear with me. {11:2} For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present [you as] a chaste virgin to Christ.
Rev. 19:7 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. {19:8} 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. {19:9} 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.
Rev. 21:1 And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. {21:2} And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.
The whore is…
Come on, we have a virgin and a whore. Would it matter if the virgin we spoke of was lets say an animal virgin. Look there's my dog, she's a virgin. Yes, it matters. You can't have two totally different things when we're talking of opposites. The opposite of a true church is… a false church. God's true church, His true people are virginal, while the false church is…a whore. Strong words but true. There is Babylon, a whore, and this whore is going to make ALL the nations drink the wine of her wrath of what? Fornication. So here we have a people worshiping God, giving glory to him, and then there is talk of the whore church, the ungodly falling..failing…obviously going to be punished. Punished because of her deception. No church today is going to jump up and say…I'm a whore! I'm Babylon! I'm not following God. By the very nature of church and deception, this whore is going to be able to deceive many, she is going to be able to deceive nations. So we're not talking some tiny little wild sect, crazy and holed up somewhere that few are going to be deceived with. We're talking HUGE deception. All Nations are going to drink of the whore. HUGE deception.
Tell me something- if we are told by the first angel to worship God and we know factually that God set aside a day of worship, and then we are told by the second angel that the ungodly church, the false church, the whore of deception is going to make all nations fornicate with her- guilty by association- what one thing pops to mind about all this?
There is a day of worship set aside and that day is the seventh-day, no other day was blessed or sanctified, no other day were we told to remember to keep weekly, not one. And yet, do the majority of Christians worship on the seventh day? No. Deception on such a grand scale. Deception worldwide. Deception for all the nations. Deceptions that cause the fall of so many. Deception is just that….it's being fooled, tricked into believing something that isn't true. It's a lie, a falsehood. How can we be protected from it?
Fear God and give glory to him, worship him that made heaven and earth.
John sees yet another angel doesn't he, a third angel.
14:9} And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive [his] mark in his forehead, or in his hand, {14:10} 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: {14:11} And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name. {14:12} Here is the patience of the saints: here [are] they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus. {14:13} And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed [are] the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them.
Wow! So we have the first angel telling us to fear God to worship him and we have the third angel saying if any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead or his hand, the same are going to drink the wine of the wrath of God.
Let's take this slowly. Worship God. Worship the beast. One or the other. We need to know who this beast is and that second angel gave us a huge clue. Think about it. First Angel - Worship God. Second Angel- Babylon is Fallen. Third Angel- Worship the Beast. A very logical progression there.
There is much talk about a universal system of microchips being implanted in people where they'll use the chip instead of paper money, credit cards and the like, much more efficient. Can't be stolen easily, gruesomely perhaps, who knows but not easily. Can't lose it easily. Clean, efficient logical and well it'd be a way to keep track of every human being on earth. It the technological age we live in today we are looking to use that technology to make life better, safer, easier. So here we are looking at this…many, many people are opposed to such a thing for many reasons. We'd no longer have privacy. Some even are outright saying it'd be the mark of the beast to do something like that so we have to have it in order to buy and sell. Where is the deception? What? You read that right. Where is the deception in something so blatantly out there? There is no deception if this mark of the beast is something so obvious. People are going to fight that tooth and nail and not just supposedly godly people. People everywhere will object to something like a mark - a chip implanted in the hand or forehead. Don't get me wrong, it sounds devilish and mark of the beast-ish and people are talking about doing it.
Let's look at things a little differently for a moment. The hand. If you have a hand in something, does that always mean literally? No.
Your forehead, what exactly is important about the forehead? Perhaps what's behind it? The brain, your thoughts, your beliefs they all reside there right? Head and hand, thinking and doing. It's logical isn't it? Could you receive a mark in any other way than physically?
Yes. A marked man, is a man that has been slotted for a purpose, it doesn't necessarily mean that man has a physical mark on him. Receiving a mark. Does the marked man actually receive a mark? A mark in the hand, a mark in the forehead. It sounds so physical but for a moment consider this. Can a man's actions mark him? Seriously? We judge people all the time by their actions, the things they say and do. We form opinions of them based on the things we witness. Yes, it's wonderful to think that the mark of the beast will be something totally blatant because then, well, then it'll be hard to deceive someone if they're saying line up for this mark. Warning bells will sound for all who have seen the Omen, or one of the other many movies out there about the mark of the beast and the end times. Satan is deceptive. Ah, I hear the supposition that his trickery is to get us not to think it's blatant and then it is. Well, I personally suppose we could think any number of things. However I can't quite separate the three angels messages but rather take them all together. Let's look a little further, after we're told if we receive this mark and how awful it will be for us there is this bit…
'Rev. 14:12 Here is the patience of the saints: here [are] they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.'
Saints, those not receiving the mark of the beast. The saints do what to protect them from the mark of the beast? Seriously, there are those getting that mark and those who aren't. If those who are getting the mark are satan's then the saints have to be the ones not getting the mark, right? They're doing something too aren't they? It doesn't say the saints are the ones refusing to be marked. No, I don't read that anywhere. It says…
'…here [are] they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.'
They're keeping the commandments of God. And they have the faith of Jesus. Keeping the commandments of God. Commandments of God. And just a couple verses before in the first angel's message we read about worshipping God and giving him glory. What particular commandment has anything to do with honoring the maker of heaven and earth?
'Exodus {20:8} Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. {20:9} Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work: {20:10} But the seventh day [is] the sabbath of the LORD thy God: [in it] thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that [is] within thy gates: {20:11} For [in] six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them [is,] and rested the seventh day: wherefore the LORD blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it.'
Maker of heaven and earth and the sea. Suppose for a moment that the saints who are keeping God's commandments and have the faith of Jesus, suppose that they don't receive the mark of the beast because they are keeping those commandments. A seal, any official seal has what? 3 Components- Name, Honorific, Location. God, Creator, Maker of Heaven and Earth. Suppose for a moment that those who are keeping God's commandments are sealed by Him so they can't receive the mark of the beast. It doesn't say the saints are those brave souls who refused to be marked in their hand or forehead, we assume that because the beast marked will be. Specific mention is made of the saints keeping God's commandments. Remember up there when we were talking about the whore, the false church, the ungodly people disguised as Godly? Remember when we mentioned that the false church is going to deceive All nations? Think about it carefully. The Sabbath, worshipping God on the seventh day. The majority of Christians worship on what day? Sunday. Sunday is not the seventh day, it's the first.
Deception at its finest. What day you worship doesn't matter, you hear that all the time. Or…we worship on the first day because Jesus rose on the first day and it was changed. There isn't a single Biblical passage stating it was changed, not one. And yet… the majority of Christians today worship on Sunday. It'd be great to be able to say it doesn't matter, but when we're dealing with marks and such it's really important and it does matter. Maker of Heaven and Earth. Mark of the Beast. Keep the commandments of God and have the faith of Jesus. Without Jesus you could keep all the commandments you want and worship on the correct day all you want and it won't matter. The saints of God have to have both. They have to have the love and grace of Jesus in their lives and out of that love they have to keep his commandments which were given out of love. There is a lot more to this study, a lot, but for now this is enough. God loves us so much, he doesn't want to lose a single person to satan, but inevitably the end has to come. Let's all choose to be among the saints. Let's all choose to love Jesus, to accept his grace, his mercy, his forgiveness and seek to follow him as He wills us to. May God bless us all.
In His Son's Name, by His mercy and grace, in His righteousness alone.
Amen.
*******
This is the amazing message given to the Seventh Day Adventist movement after the great and bitter disappointment. And yet now, sadly, the corporate church has shaken hands with the very beast they know to be deadly, eternally deadly.
All by the GRACE and MERCY of our LORD JESUS CHRIST!
In HIS LOVE!
The Three Angel's Messages-
Rev 14:6 And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people,
Rev 14:7 Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters.
Rev 14:8 And there followed another angel, saying, Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication.
Rev 14:9 And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand,
Rev 14:10 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:
Rev 14:11 And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name.
Rev 14:12 Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.
I did a study on this in depth, a lengthy study I've copied here- PLEASE, by the grace of God, pray and study for yourselves!
'Christ's Message for Our Days (Rev. 14: 6-13)
What does all that mean?
'And I saw..'
Who saw?
John. He's the one who received all these visions. John was given the revelation of Jesus Christ. We read in Revelation 1:1-
'The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to shew unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified [it] by his angel unto his servant John'
John then saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven. This angel John saw has something. The everlasting gospel. Why does the angel have the everlasting gospel? To preach to us on earth, to every nation, kindred, and tongue and people.
God's word-
Rev.14:6 And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people
What is the everlasting gospel?
EVERLASTING-
(dictionary def)
everlasting (èv´er-làs´tîng) adjective
1. Lasting forever; eternal.
2. a. Continuing indefinitely or for a long period of time. b. Persisting too long; tedious: everlasting complaints.
noun
1. Everlasting. God. Used with the.
2. Eternal duration; eternity.
GOSPEL-
1. Often Gospel . The proclamation of the redemption preached by Jesus and the Apostles, which is the central content of Christian revelation.
2. a. Gospel. Bible. One of the first four books of the New Testament, describing the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus and recording his teaching. b. A similar narrative.
3. Often Gospel . A lection from any of the first four books of the New Testament included as part of a religious service.
The everlasting gospel is Eternal Redemption. The gospels bring to us the reality of our redemption found only in Christ. The gospels give to us the life of Christ- His birth, His ministry, His great sacrifice so that we all might choose life in Him and therefore find eternal redemption in Christ.
The angel John saw was to preach of eternal redemption to all on the earth. Amazing and so wonderful.
Everyone has the opportunity for eternal redemption, it's not a gift that goes to the highest bidder, it's not something only the rich can buy, it's not an exclusive gift, there haven't only been so many copies made, it's there for all.
I'd say it's there like the air we breath, air that every human has access to, but you know what, it's even more accessible than that.
There is no way for access to eternal redemption to be cut off, unlike oxygen.
This message from the angel is giving EVERYONE the opportunity to have eternal redemption to know about the love of God through the sacrifice of his Son Jesus Christ.
That's not all… What else does this angel do?
'Rev. 14:7 Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters.'
He speaks. What's he saying?
Fear God. Give glory to him.
Why? For the hour of his judgment is come.
Worship him that made heaven and earth and the sea and the fountains of waters.
~
Fear God.
Fear.
(dictionary def)
fear (fîr) noun
1. a. A feeling of agitation and anxiety caused by the presence or imminence of danger. b. A state or condition marked by this feeling: living in fear.
2. A feeling of disquiet or apprehension: a fear of looking foolish.
3. Extreme reverence or awe, as toward a supreme power.
4. A reason for dread or apprehension: Being alone is my greatest fear.
Reverence God.
(dictionary def)
reverence (rèv´er-ens) noun
1. A feeling of profound awe and respect and often love; veneration. See synonyms at honor.
2. An act showing respect, especially a bow or curtsy.
3. The state of being revered.
4. Reverence. Used as a form of address for certain members of the Christian clergy: Your Reverence.
Feel profound awe towards God.
Respect and love God=Fear God
(dictionary def)
venerate (vèn´e-rât´) verb, transitive
venerated, venerating, venerates
To regard with respect, reverence, or heartfelt deference.
Heartfelt deference towards God=Fear God
Fear God-Love God
We are to Love God, be in awe of God, revere him, fear him. Do you? Think about it? Do you love God? What is love?
1 John 4:8 '…for God is love.'
We are to love God as He loves.
Is it easy to love someone who meets your every need? Is it easy to love someone who showers you in gifts? Is it easy to love someone who only has your best interest at heart? Is it easy to love someone who is selfless? Is it easy to love someone who first loves you?
The answer should be yes.
Should be.
Perfect love should be easy to love in return. All God wants of us is our love. All God wants is what he gives to us perfectly. Our needs in this world have been so warped we often think God isn't meeting our needs.
What is our greatest need? God. And yes, he is available to us always, through all we go through, the bad, the good, and every day in between. Even through the worst we can possibly imagine going through, the ultimate worst, God is there. Love, something not dependent upon any conditions- is there. God. Love that offers eternal life-- is there. God. Redemption through Jesus--is always there. God. The promise for a better life with Jesus--is always there. God. No matter what catastrophe we are passing through, the promise given in Love is ours. The promise is not taken away because of what we are going through. It's not a sign God has left us when we go through the deepest, darkest valley in existence. We like to cry out and ask God why he's doing this to us, why is he letting us go through such torture, such pain. If he were loving he wouldn't let these horrible, horrible things happens. Yet God's promise is a new life through Jesus Christ. It is a promise that promises eternity after this life, after all this pain, after all the torture that comes our way and the way of others. The ultimate prize, not 1,000,000 dollars after an arduous six weeks traveling the world and facing hard tasks, not a 1,000,000 dollars after rough living for a month with no amenities and passing through skill tests, physical and mental, not two weeks paid vacation after fifty weeks of hard work. After a lifetime of living whatever lot in life is yours for however long that lifetime is, a promise of eternity where there is no pain, no tears, no heartache, no suffering, no torture, but only love, forever. God.
Love. A promise. God.
God, the giver of the promise through his Son, Jesus Christ.
We are to love God, to reverence him, to be in awe of him.
Fear God and do what?
'Rev. 14:7 Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters.'
And give glory to him.
GLORY TO GOD.
(Dictionary Def)
GLORY (glôr´ê, glor´ê) noun
plural glories
1. Great honor, praise, or distinction accorded by common consent; renown.
2. Something conferring honor or renown.
3. A highly praiseworthy asset: Your hair is your crowning glory.
4. Adoration, praise, and thanksgiving offered in worship.
5. Majestic beauty and splendor; resplendence: The sun set in a blaze of glory.
6. The splendor and bliss of heaven; perfect happiness.
7. A height of achievement, enjoyment, or prosperity: Paris in its greatest glory.
8. A halo, nimbus, or aureole. In this sense, also called gloriole.
Glory to God. Honor, praise, renown, adoration, thanksgiving to God. How do we honor God?
(Dictionary Def)
HONOR
1. a. To hold in respect; esteem. b. To show respect for. c. To bow to (another dancer) in square dancing: Honor your partner.
2. To confer distinction on: He has honored us with his presence.
3. To accept or pay as valid: honor a check; a store that honors all credit cards.
Respect, confer distinction. Respect God. Confer distinction upon God.
(Dictionary Def)
RESPECT (rî-spèkt´) verb, transitive
respected, respecting, respects
1. To feel or show deferential regard for; esteem.
2. To avoid violation of or interference with: respect the speed limit.
3. To relate or refer to; concern.
Esteem God. Do we respect him? Do we esteem God? Do we honor God? Do we give glory to God? How do you show honor to another human being? How do you esteem another person? How do you show respect to others? You use your manners with them? The head of your state, country, land, kingdom wherever it is you live, is coming to visit you… yes… you! They're coming to visit you and you are going to behave how towards them? Just imagine it if you will. Too much of a stretch? Alright a relative from afar is coming to visit you, an elderly relative with all their wits and faculties has just rung you up and told you they're coming for a visit. Let's just say it's a great, great aunt. How would you receive this long lost elderly relative that is coming to visit? Would you show them respect? Would you show them honor? Would you hold them in high esteem? What would your actions be? Respectful to be sure, right? How much respect and honor does God deserve?
ALL our respect. ALL our honor. ALL the glory we can possibly give him. We are told fear God and give glory to him. Why?
'Rev. 14:7 Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters.'
'For the hour of his judgment is come'
Guess what? You remember that promise? The promise given to us from the God of Love? The promise is soon to be realized. What good is a promise if it's not kept? If it is never realized? An empty promise is NOT what God offers, that's not love and God is love.
God's promise will be realized and for it to be realized God has to know who of his humans have chosen him as their creator, redeemer, ruler, king, who have chosen his love, to love him.
The only way God can put an end to this life we're living now and usher in the new world, the only way he can bring eternity with him (with love) into reality is to judge the good from the bad, the loving from the unloving, the redeemed from those who have shunned redemption.
There has to be a judgment or there can never be an end to this world full of sin.
God's judgment is underway.
It's not something in the far future.
You're not going to be able to stand before God and plead your case with him.
There will be no lawyers present to argue on your behalf.
There will be no date set for you to appear in God's court.
It's all underway and our lives themselves are a testament to our guilt or innocence.
We do have an advocate, Jesus Christ.
We have to claim him, to believe in him, to trust him, to have faith that He as our advocate will plead our case for us. Yes, the hour of his judgment is come. Time is running out and He wants everyone, every nation, kindred, tongue and people to claim His promise to choose Him, to Love him. He doesn't want to lose a single person, not one.
''Rev. 14:7 Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters.'
Worship him that did what? Worship him that made what? Worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea and the fountains of waters.
Whoa. People worship lots of things. Are you sitting there shaking your head saying not you? You don't worship anything but God. Well that's wonderful and amazing and praise God for that.
(Dictionary Def)
WORSHIP (wûr´shîp) noun
1. a. The reverent love and devotion accorded a deity, an idol, or a sacred object. b. The ceremonies, prayers, or other religious forms by which this love is expressed.
2. Ardent devotion; adoration.
3. Often Worship . Chiefly British. Used as a form of address for magistrates, mayors, and certain other dignitaries: Your Worship.
Reverent love and devotion accorded a deity, an idol, or a sacred object. Ceremonies, prayers, or other religious forms by which this love is expressed. Accorded a deity. Accorded God. Accorded an idol. You can worship anything really. Just put it first in your life and give the respect and honor you possess. To be clear I think this angel is telling us exactly who we're to worship as God, the one and only true God. No other God made the heavens, the earth, the sea , the fountains of water, none.
Let's look up a few things here-
1 Chronicles 16:26 For all the gods of the people [are] idols: but the LORD made the heavens.
Psalms 96:5 For all the gods of the nations [are] idols: but the LORD made the heavens.
Psalms 136:1 O give thanks unto the LORD; for [he is] good: for his mercy [endureth] for ever. {136:2} O give thanks unto the God of gods: for his mercy [endureth] for ever. {136:3} O give thanks to the Lord of lords: for his mercy [endureth] for ever. {136:4} To him who alone doeth great wonders: for his mercy [endureth] for ever {136:5} To him that by wisdom made the heavens: for his mercy [endureth] for ever. {136:6} To him that stretched out the earth above the waters: for his mercy [endureth] for ever.
Psalm 33:6 By the word of the LORD were the heavens made; and all the host of them by the breath of his mouth.
Psalm 95:3 For the LORD [is] a great God, and a great King above all gods. {95:4} In his hand [are] the deep places of the earth: the strength of the hills [is] his also. {95:5} The sea [is] his, and he made it: and his hands formed the dry [land.]{95:6} O come, let us worship and bow down: let us kneel before the LORD our maker.
Psalm 124:8 Our help [is] in the name of the LORD, who made heaven and earth.
Acts 14:15 And saying, Sirs, why do ye these things? We also are men of like passions with you, and preach unto you that ye should turn from these vanities unto the living God, which made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all things that are therein
There is no doubt that God made these things, not if you believe in God, believe in his amazing word - I just have to bring this up again, from a song I listen to because it just blows my mind over and over again that people can't see the power of the word, that they can't recognize the miracle the Bible truly is.
'The Word is Alive- Casting Crowns-'
'The bible was inscribed over a period of 2000 years
In times of war and in days of peace
By kings, physicians, tax collectors, farmers, fishermen, singers and shepherds
The marvel is that a library so perfectly cohesive
Could have been produced by such a diverse crowd
Over a period of time which stagers the imagination
Jesus is it's grand subject our good is designed and the Glory of God is its end'
Inscribed over a period of 2000 years. 2000 years. By so many people. Another aspect to the word of God's validity is the prophecy it contains. Prophecy that was prediction hundreds and thousands of years in advance and all of it coming to pass. Do you get more proof than that? Do you?
The Bible is a miracle book. The Bible is truth and within that truth is the history of mankind's origin. God made the heavens and the earth. We're to worship Him that did so. How can we show worship to God? Go to church for an hour a week? Toss some money in a collection plate? Lucky us, God set up a perfect design for us to worship Him. He didn't leave us to our own devices, he didn't leave us without instruction. Right there in Genesis, right there after we are given the story of Creation what does God do?
'Genesis 2:1 Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them. {2:2} And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made. {2:3} And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it: because that in it he had rested from all his work which God created and made.'
God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, God rested from all his work the he created and made. Do you think God really needed to rest? God was doing this for us, for his creation.
Read on…
'Exodus 20:8 Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. {20:9} Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work: {20:10} But the seventh day [is] the sabbath of the LORD thy God: [in it] thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that [is] within thy gates: {20:11} For [in] six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them [is,] and rested the seventh day: wherefore the LORD blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it.'
Are we giving honor and glory to God when we obey His commandments? The Sabbath was instituted at the beginning of the world, at Creation.
When God gave his ten commandments, the embodiment of his love and how we are to love, in among them was the commandment to remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy. A holy rest day. Do many people bulk when given the weekend off? Do many people complain when they are given two days off after working five? I don't know of anyone personally that complains when they have a day off of anything. School, work, it doesn't matter, they're not complaining when they're given a day off. God designed things so we'd have six days to do our own devices, but one day he wanted us to rest on and worship him. That's not too much to ask is it?
We can't plead ignorance as to what this verse means, we just can't.
''Rev. 14:7 Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters.'
God has made it possible for all of us to worship him. To recognize him as our creator, the one who made heaven and earth and the sea and the fountains of water. The angel here that John saw proclaimed- 'Fear god, and give glory to him, for the hour of his judgment is come, and worship him that made heaven and earth and the sea and the fountains of waters.'
At a time when the world is filled with evil, selfishness, self-love.. the me, me, me generation. The me at all cost. At this time when people are no longer compelled to go to church and have a religious affiliation - no person's livelihood or position in their community is threatened by their lack of church going-not any longer. Religion has been shoved to the back, to an afterthought. We are too enlightened to allow ourselves to be caught up in anything remotely illogical and inexplicable as a deity creating the earth, we have our own theories thank you very much. Science shows me that everything has a scientific, logical explanation and only fools look to religion to explain things. I could go on, but do I really need to?
The world's condition speaks for itself. We need a reminder to worship God and that's why it's been given. We need to be told that judgment is here. We need to be given all the chances in the world to choose Christ as our Savior and let our lives reflect His love.
There are six more verses in that message for our day. Six more wonderful verses so here we go.
What happened next… A second angel was seen.
'Revelation 14:8 And there followed another angel, saying, Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication.'
'Daniel 5:25-27 - 5:25 And this [is] the writing that was written, MENE, MENE, TEKEL, UPHARSIN. {5:26} This [is] the interpretation of the thing: MENE; God hath numbered thy kingdom, and finished it. {5:27} TEKEL; ; Thou art weighed in the balances, and art found wanting.'
Just a little while after that pronouncement, Babylon was destroyed. Babylon a great, great city, Babylon, we hear about the Hanging Gardens of Babylon even today. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hanging_Gardens_of_Babylon
The Hanging Gardens of Babylon (also known as Hanging Gardens of Semiramis) (near present-day Al Hillah in Iraq) are considered one of the original Seven Wonders of the World. They were built by Nebuchadnezzar II around 600 BC. He is reported to have constructed the gardens to please his wife, Amytis of Media, who longed for the trees and fragrant plants of her homeland.[1] The gardens were destroyed in an earthquake after the 1st century BC.
Babylon hasn't been forgotten for all these years. How much history from 600BC has been forgotten? From 500BC, 400, 300, 200, 100 and so on? How many names of cities have been lost to time? And yet strangely enough Babylon that name hasn't been forgotten and for purely secular reasons. Do you think maybe the wonder that was Babylon in the height of its glory is something God wanted us to remember? It wasn't a name that slipped away and has to be dredged up from thousands of years of dust and dirt. Babylon. If these hanging gardens were so magnificent that we still have them well known today is it any wonder that more of Babylon's history should perhaps be known?
Tidbits-
It has been estimated that Babylon was the largest city in the world from ca. 1770 to 1670 BC, and again between ca. 612 and 320 BC. It was perhaps the first city to reach a population above 200,000. It is recorded that Babylon's legal system developed a form of negligence law and Babylon was probably the first culture to develop negligence law. In the common law world, the law of negligence was not fully rediscovered until the 20th century.
More tidbits-
During the reign of Sennacherib of Assyria, Babylonia was in a constant state of revolt, led by Mushezib-Marduk, and suppressed only by the complete destruction of the city of Babylon. In 689 BC, its walls, temples and palaces were razed, and the rubble was thrown into the Arakhtu, the sea bordering the earlier Babylon on the south. This act shocked the religious conscience of Mesopotamia; the subsequent murder of Sennacherib was held to be in expiation of it, and his successor Esarhaddon hastened to rebuild the old city, to receive there his crown, and make it his residence during part of the year. On his death, Babylonia was left to be governed by his elder son Shamash-shum-ukin, who eventually headed a revolt in 652 BC against his brother in Nineveh, Assurbanipal.
More tidbits-
Under Nabopolassar, Babylon threw off the Assyrian rule in 626 BC, and became the capital of the Neo-Babylonian Empire.
With the recovery of Babylonian independence, a new era of architectural activity ensued, and his son Nebuchadnezzar II (605-562 BC) made Babylon into one of the wonders of the ancient world. Nebuchadnezzar ordered the complete reconstruction of the imperial grounds, including rebuilding the Etemenanki ziggurat and the construction of the Ishtar Gate - the most spectacular of eight gates that ringed the perimeter of Babylon. The Ishtar Gate survives today in the Pergamon Museum in Berlin. Nebuchadnezzar is also credited with the construction of the Hanging Gardens of Babylon (one of the seven wonders of the ancient world), said to have been built for his homesick wife Amyitis. Whether the gardens did exist is a matter of dispute. Although excavations by German archaeologist Robert Koldewey are thought to reveal its foundations, many historians disagree about the location, and some believe it may have been confused with gardens in Nineveh.
More tidbits (Don't worry just a few more)-
In 539 BC, the Neo-Babylonian Empire fell to Cyrus the Great, king of Persia, with an unprecedented military manoeuver. The famed walls of Babylon were indeed impenetrable, with the only way into the city through one of its many gates or through the Euphrates, which ebbed beneath its thick walls. Metal gates at the river's in-flow and out-flow prevented underwater intruders, if one could hold one's breath to reach them. Cyrus (or his generals) devised a plan to use the Euphrates as the mode of entry to the city, ordering large camps of troops at each point and instructed them to wait for the signal. Awaiting an evening of a national feast among Babylonians, Cyrus' troops diverted the Euphrates river upstream, causing the Euphrates to drop to wading levels or to dry up altogether. The soldiers marched under the walls through thigh-level water or as dry as mud. The Persian Army conquered the outlying areas of the city's interior while a majority of Babylonians at the city center were oblivious to the breach. The account was elaborated upon by Herodotus,[1] and is also mentioned by passages in the Old Testament.[2][3] Cyrus claimed the city by walking through the gates of Babylon with little or no resistance from the drunken Babylonians.
Cyrus later issued a decree permitting the exiled Jews to return to their own land, and allowed their temple to be rebuilt.
Under Cyrus and the subsequent Persian king Darius the Great, Babylon became the capital city of the 9th Satrapy (Babylonia in the south and Athura in the north), as well as a centre of learning and scientific advancement. In Achaemenid Persia, the ancient Babylonian arts of astronomy and mathematics were revitalised and flourished, and Babylonian scholars completed maps of constellations. The city was the administrative capital of the Persian Empire, the preeminent power of the then known world, and it played a vital part in the history of that region for over two centuries. Many important archaeological discoveries have been made that can provide a better understanding of that era[4].
The early Persian kings had attempted to maintain the religious ceremonies of Marduk, but by the reign of Darius III, over-taxation and the strains of numerous wars led to a deterioration of Babylon's main shrines and canals, and the disintegration of the surrounding region. Despite three attempts at rebellion in 522 BC, 521 BC and 482 BC, the land and city of Babylon remained solidly under Persian rule for two centuries, until Alexander the Great's entry in 331 BC.
More tidbits- (seriously just a few more!)
In 331 BC, Darius III was defeated by the forces of the Macedonian ruler Alexander the Great at the Battle of Gaugamela, and in October, Babylon fell to the young conqueror. A native account of this invasion notes a ruling by Alexander not to enter the homes of its inhabitants.[citation needed]
Under Alexander, Babylon again flourished as a centre of learning and commerce. But following Alexander's death in 323 BC in the palace of Nebuchadnezzar, his empire was divided amongst his generals, and decades of fighting soon began, with Babylon once again caught in the middle.
The constant turmoil virtually emptied the city of Babylon. A tablet dated 275 BC states that the inhabitants of Babylon were transported to Seleucia, where a palace was built, as well as a temple given the ancient name of Esagila. With this deportation, the history of Babylon comes practically to an end,[citation needed] though more than a century later, it was found that sacrifices were still performed in its old sanctuary. By 141 BC, when the Parthian Empire took over the region, Babylon was in complete desolation and obscurity.
* (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Babylon)
There we have it, Great Babylon its rise and its fall. Such history, such splendor, such ungodliness. Babylon was never a godly city.
Biblically Babylon was weighed in the balances and found.. wanting.
'Daniel 5:25-27 - 5:25 And this [is] the writing that was written, MENE, MENE, TEKEL, UPHARSIN. {5:26} This [is] the interpretation of the thing: MENE; God hath numbered thy kingdom, and finished it. {5:27} TEKEL ; Thou art weighed in the balances, and art found wanting.'
Babylon was destroyed, just as predicted in the prophecies of Daniel. So why is the word Babylon being brought up in a message for the end of time?
Why this…
'Revelation 14:8 And there followed another an angel, saying, Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication.'
Babylon is fallen is fallen that great city…why is she fallen? Because she made ALL the nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication. Well, lets look at that a bit closer. Jump to Revelation 17 with me.
'{17:1} 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 sitteth upon many waters: {17:2} With whom the kings of the earth have committed fornication, and the inhabitants of the earth have been made drunk with the wine of her fornication. {17:3} 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. {17:4} 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: {17:5} And upon her forehead [was] a name written, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH. {17:6} 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.'
Mystery Babylon the great, the mother of harlots and abominations of the earth, drunken with the blood of the saints and blood of martyrs of Jesus. Wow.
The verse in our study -
'Revelation 14:8 And there followed another angel, saying, Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication.'
What does it mean? If Babylon represents that which isn't Godly, then this is saying that the ungodly are going to make all the nations drink the wine of the wrath of her fornication. The ungodly are going to make ALL the nations follow after her. This is why she falls.
There are those with God and those not with God.
As the end draws to a close the earth is going to be as it was in the days of Noah, as it was in the days of Sodom and Gomorrah. Both examples of a world, of a city filled with sin so much so God's wrath was brought down on them. The world was destroyed by a flood and only eight people were spared. Eight people. The city of Sodom and Gomorrah how many were spared? Lot and his two daughters, for even his wife looked back and turned into a pillar of salt. It's no wonder that Babylon, representing the ungodly, will make all nations drink the wine of her wrath. Babylon the whore. While the Bride of Christ is what? The true church. God's true people. A virgin.
Eph. 5:25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; {5:26} That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, {5:27} That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.
1 Cor. 11:1 Would to God ye could bear with me a little in [my] folly: and indeed bear with me. {11:2} For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present [you as] a chaste virgin to Christ.
Rev. 19:7 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. {19:8} 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. {19:9} 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.
Rev. 21:1 And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. {21:2} And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.
The whore is…
Come on, we have a virgin and a whore. Would it matter if the virgin we spoke of was lets say an animal virgin. Look there's my dog, she's a virgin. Yes, it matters. You can't have two totally different things when we're talking of opposites. The opposite of a true church is… a false church. God's true church, His true people are virginal, while the false church is…a whore. Strong words but true. There is Babylon, a whore, and this whore is going to make ALL the nations drink the wine of her wrath of what? Fornication. So here we have a people worshiping God, giving glory to him, and then there is talk of the whore church, the ungodly falling..failing…obviously going to be punished. Punished because of her deception. No church today is going to jump up and say…I'm a whore! I'm Babylon! I'm not following God. By the very nature of church and deception, this whore is going to be able to deceive many, she is going to be able to deceive nations. So we're not talking some tiny little wild sect, crazy and holed up somewhere that few are going to be deceived with. We're talking HUGE deception. All Nations are going to drink of the whore. HUGE deception.
Tell me something- if we are told by the first angel to worship God and we know factually that God set aside a day of worship, and then we are told by the second angel that the ungodly church, the false church, the whore of deception is going to make all nations fornicate with her- guilty by association- what one thing pops to mind about all this?
There is a day of worship set aside and that day is the seventh-day, no other day was blessed or sanctified, no other day were we told to remember to keep weekly, not one. And yet, do the majority of Christians worship on the seventh day? No. Deception on such a grand scale. Deception worldwide. Deception for all the nations. Deceptions that cause the fall of so many. Deception is just that….it's being fooled, tricked into believing something that isn't true. It's a lie, a falsehood. How can we be protected from it?
Fear God and give glory to him, worship him that made heaven and earth.
John sees yet another angel doesn't he, a third angel.
14:9} And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive [his] mark in his forehead, or in his hand, {14:10} 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: {14:11} And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name. {14:12} Here is the patience of the saints: here [are] they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus. {14:13} And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed [are] the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them.
Wow! So we have the first angel telling us to fear God to worship him and we have the third angel saying if any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead or his hand, the same are going to drink the wine of the wrath of God.
Let's take this slowly. Worship God. Worship the beast. One or the other. We need to know who this beast is and that second angel gave us a huge clue. Think about it. First Angel - Worship God. Second Angel- Babylon is Fallen. Third Angel- Worship the Beast. A very logical progression there.
There is much talk about a universal system of microchips being implanted in people where they'll use the chip instead of paper money, credit cards and the like, much more efficient. Can't be stolen easily, gruesomely perhaps, who knows but not easily. Can't lose it easily. Clean, efficient logical and well it'd be a way to keep track of every human being on earth. It the technological age we live in today we are looking to use that technology to make life better, safer, easier. So here we are looking at this…many, many people are opposed to such a thing for many reasons. We'd no longer have privacy. Some even are outright saying it'd be the mark of the beast to do something like that so we have to have it in order to buy and sell. Where is the deception? What? You read that right. Where is the deception in something so blatantly out there? There is no deception if this mark of the beast is something so obvious. People are going to fight that tooth and nail and not just supposedly godly people. People everywhere will object to something like a mark - a chip implanted in the hand or forehead. Don't get me wrong, it sounds devilish and mark of the beast-ish and people are talking about doing it.
Let's look at things a little differently for a moment. The hand. If you have a hand in something, does that always mean literally? No.
Your forehead, what exactly is important about the forehead? Perhaps what's behind it? The brain, your thoughts, your beliefs they all reside there right? Head and hand, thinking and doing. It's logical isn't it? Could you receive a mark in any other way than physically?
Yes. A marked man, is a man that has been slotted for a purpose, it doesn't necessarily mean that man has a physical mark on him. Receiving a mark. Does the marked man actually receive a mark? A mark in the hand, a mark in the forehead. It sounds so physical but for a moment consider this. Can a man's actions mark him? Seriously? We judge people all the time by their actions, the things they say and do. We form opinions of them based on the things we witness. Yes, it's wonderful to think that the mark of the beast will be something totally blatant because then, well, then it'll be hard to deceive someone if they're saying line up for this mark. Warning bells will sound for all who have seen the Omen, or one of the other many movies out there about the mark of the beast and the end times. Satan is deceptive. Ah, I hear the supposition that his trickery is to get us not to think it's blatant and then it is. Well, I personally suppose we could think any number of things. However I can't quite separate the three angels messages but rather take them all together. Let's look a little further, after we're told if we receive this mark and how awful it will be for us there is this bit…
'Rev. 14:12 Here is the patience of the saints: here [are] they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.'
Saints, those not receiving the mark of the beast. The saints do what to protect them from the mark of the beast? Seriously, there are those getting that mark and those who aren't. If those who are getting the mark are satan's then the saints have to be the ones not getting the mark, right? They're doing something too aren't they? It doesn't say the saints are the ones refusing to be marked. No, I don't read that anywhere. It says…
'…here [are] they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.'
They're keeping the commandments of God. And they have the faith of Jesus. Keeping the commandments of God. Commandments of God. And just a couple verses before in the first angel's message we read about worshipping God and giving him glory. What particular commandment has anything to do with honoring the maker of heaven and earth?
'Exodus {20:8} Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. {20:9} Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work: {20:10} But the seventh day [is] the sabbath of the LORD thy God: [in it] thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that [is] within thy gates: {20:11} For [in] six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them [is,] and rested the seventh day: wherefore the LORD blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it.'
Maker of heaven and earth and the sea. Suppose for a moment that the saints who are keeping God's commandments and have the faith of Jesus, suppose that they don't receive the mark of the beast because they are keeping those commandments. A seal, any official seal has what? 3 Components- Name, Honorific, Location. God, Creator, Maker of Heaven and Earth. Suppose for a moment that those who are keeping God's commandments are sealed by Him so they can't receive the mark of the beast. It doesn't say the saints are those brave souls who refused to be marked in their hand or forehead, we assume that because the beast marked will be. Specific mention is made of the saints keeping God's commandments. Remember up there when we were talking about the whore, the false church, the ungodly people disguised as Godly? Remember when we mentioned that the false church is going to deceive All nations? Think about it carefully. The Sabbath, worshipping God on the seventh day. The majority of Christians worship on what day? Sunday. Sunday is not the seventh day, it's the first.
Deception at its finest. What day you worship doesn't matter, you hear that all the time. Or…we worship on the first day because Jesus rose on the first day and it was changed. There isn't a single Biblical passage stating it was changed, not one. And yet… the majority of Christians today worship on Sunday. It'd be great to be able to say it doesn't matter, but when we're dealing with marks and such it's really important and it does matter. Maker of Heaven and Earth. Mark of the Beast. Keep the commandments of God and have the faith of Jesus. Without Jesus you could keep all the commandments you want and worship on the correct day all you want and it won't matter. The saints of God have to have both. They have to have the love and grace of Jesus in their lives and out of that love they have to keep his commandments which were given out of love. There is a lot more to this study, a lot, but for now this is enough. God loves us so much, he doesn't want to lose a single person to satan, but inevitably the end has to come. Let's all choose to be among the saints. Let's all choose to love Jesus, to accept his grace, his mercy, his forgiveness and seek to follow him as He wills us to. May God bless us all.
In His Son's Name, by His mercy and grace, in His righteousness alone.
Amen.
*******
This is the amazing message given to the Seventh Day Adventist movement after the great and bitter disappointment. And yet now, sadly, the corporate church has shaken hands with the very beast they know to be deadly, eternally deadly.
All by the GRACE and MERCY of our LORD JESUS CHRIST!
In HIS LOVE!
