There were many people who benefited financially from this world City, Tyre. Not only did many people become wealthy from the construction and shipping required to build and maintain this global Capital, but many people were falsely enriched by this city's beauty and it's goods. They will look on with disbelief that this magnificent city could be destroyed as it will, in one hour. John completes Chapter 18, verses 9-24, with this;
(9)"And the kings of the earth, who committed acts of immorality and lived
sensuously with her, will weep and lament over her when they see the smoke
of her burning,(10) standing at a distance because of the fear of her torment,
'Woe,woe, the great city, Babylon, the strong city! For in one hour your
judgment has come.'
They called it a strong city because the military from almost all the nations on the earth will have a presence their. This is because the whole concept of this city, as a peace keeper, will be introduced as a necessity to mantain peace in the middle east area. Following Iran's attempt to take over the region and the worlds response to stop them, will result in the 7 year peace covenant that will be made among the nations in the area. This is the peace that will allow Israel to rebuild their temple and start back up the regular sacrifices. At the same time, they will suggest that there be peace keeping city in the region, and thus we have Babylon,Tyre. Satan is building a snare for Israel. He knows that he is going to be kicked out of heaven, so when he gets here, he will have a vessel to occupy, the king of Tyre, and a military at his disposal. Satan has made it to where Israel can, after many years, begin to have regular sacrifices again in their newly built temple in Jerusalem. His desire is that, with these sacrifices now being done, it would bring many Jews to make pilgramages from the nations to Jerusalem for the passover feasts. Gathering as many Jews into one place as he could, Satan would then come down from Tyre into Israel to kill as many as possible. This will take place half way through the 7 year period as the leader of Tyre is killed and comes back to life, with the power of Satan, as Satan is kicked out of heaven.
John continues in verse 11;
(11)"And the merchants of the earth weep and mourn over her, because no one
buys their cargoes any more;(12) cargoes of gold and silverand precious stones
and pearls and fine linen and purple silk and scarlet, and every kind of citon wood
and every article of ivory and every article made from costly wood and bronze
and iron and marble,(13) and cinnamon and spices and incense and perfume and
frankincense and wine and olive oil and fine flour and wheat and cattle and sheep,
and cargoes of horses and chariots and slaves and human lives."
These are all the worlds most valuble resources. At the end of these verses you will notice that this city will be brought humans to be slaves. When Satan implements his system of not being able to buy or sell unless you receive the mark of the beast on your right hand or forehead, there will be many saints who will not receive it. With the saints not participating in the new monitary system, they will be rounded up and some of them will be sent on ships to Tyre to be slaves. This will not happen until half way through the 7 year tribulation period, when Satan will come down from Tyre against Israel and sits himself in the temple claiming to be God. If you remember, back in Revelation Chapter 13, verses 5-10, John wrote this pertaining to the beast whose fatal wound was healed;
(5)"And it was given to him a mouth speaking arrogant words and blasphemies;
and authority to act for fourty-two months was given to him.(6) And he opened
his mouth in blasphemies against God, to blasphemies His name, and His
tabernacle, that is, those who dwell in heaven.(7) And it was given to him to make
war with the saints and to overcome them; and authority over ever tribe and
people and tongue and nation was given to him.(8) And all who dwell on the earth
will worship him, everyone whose names has not been written in the book of life
of the Lamb slain before the foudation of the world.(9) If anyone has an ear, let
him hear.(10) If anyone is destined for captivity,to captivity he goes; If anyone
kills with the sword, with the sword he must be killed. Here is the perseverance
and faith of the saints."
This is the one who will come in the power of Satan. His claim of being God is the blasphemie.
He will then mock Jesus and all that exist in heaven. Then he will come against the saints and take many into capivity. Jesus tells his saints to persevere and remain faithful despite the circumstance.
John continues in Chapter 18, verse 14-19, about Babylons fate writing this;
(14)"And the fruit you long for has gone from you, and all things that were
luxurious and splendid have passed away from you and men well no longer find
them.(15) The merchants of these things, who became rich from her, will stand at
a distance because of the fear of her torment, weeping and mourning, saying,
'Woe, woe, the great city, she was clothed in fine linen and
purple and scarlet, and adorned with gold and precious stones
and pearls;(17) for in one hour such great wealth has been
laid waste!'
And every shipmaster and every passenger and sailor, and as many as make their
living by the sea, stood at a distance,(18) and were crying out as they saw the
smoke of her burning, saying,'What city is like the great city?"(19) and they threw
dust on their heads and were crying out weeping and mourning, saying,
'Woe, woe, the great city, in which all who had ships at sea
became rich by her wealth, for in one hour she has been laid
waste!'
Notice that all the people who were involved in the shipping were standing at a distance and saw the smoke of her burning. They saw the citys destuction from the sea. This gives evidence to the fact that it will be a coastal city. Tyre is a coastal city and its location and geography make it a perfect coastal port as it was once before.
John concludes the Chapter with this in verses 20-24;
"(20) Rejoice over her, O heaven, and you saints and apostles and prophets,
because God has pronounced judgment for you against her.(21) And a strong
angel took up a stone like a great millestone and threw it into the sea, saying,
'Thus will Babylon, the great city, be thrown down with
violence, and will not be found any longer.'
(22) And the sound of the harpists and musicians and flute-players and
trumpeters will not be heard in you any longer ,and no craftsmen of craft will
be found in you any longer; and the sound of a mill will not be heard in you
any longer.(23) and the light of a lamp will not be found in you any longer;
and the voice of the bridegroom and the bride will not be found in you any
longer; for your merchants were the great men of the earth, because all the
nations were deceived by your sorcery. (24) And in her was found the blood
of all who have been slain on the earth."
All the saints, apostles and prophets, will be in heaven at this time with Jesus. All the activity of this vibrant city will come to an end. All the nations of the earth will be deceived by the supernatural powers the will be used, in the power of Satan. This is what the apostle Paul wrote about in his 2nd letter to the Thessalonians in the 2nd Chapter, verses 8-10;
(8)"And then the lawless one will be revealed whom the Lord will remove
with the breath of His mouth and bring to an end by the appearof His coming;
(9) that is, the one whose coming is in accord with the activity of Satan, with
all power and signs and FALSE wonders, (10) and with all DECEPTION of
wickedness for those who perish, BECAUSE THEY DID NOT RECEIVE
THE LOVE OF THE TRUTH SO AS TO BE SAVED."
Please, if you haven't yet, receive the love of the truth and be saved. The famous passage of scripture written in John's gospel Chapter 3, verse 16, says it best and that is why you might see it so much;
"For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever
believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life."
God Himself came to this world in the person of Jesus, and gave up His own human life, that he might purchase you, with the shedding of His own blood, for the forgiveness of sins and in Him we are transformed from the kingdom of darkness, into the kingdom of His glorious light. Becoming part of His body, He becomes the Ark that carries us from this earthly realm, that will perish as we know it, into the spiritual realm that is eternal.
May Jesus bless you with understanding and His peace.
No comments:
Post a Comment