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The Beast of Rev. 17 | Rule #1

11/19/2019

Every instance where the Book of Revelation is quoting and reapplying a prophecy from the divine tutorials of old - this should give us some pause. The 7 Headed & 10 Horned Beast of Revelation 17 is no exception.

Rule #1: A Continuity of Discontinuities
“O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out! For who hath known the mind of the Lord? or who hath been his counsellor?” – Rom. 11:33-34

When comparing the ancient forms of various prophetic entities to the renewed livelihoods conveyed by the Book of Revelation, there are glaring discontinuities. Yes! To the perplexity of the would-be-interpreter of the Book of Revelation, inconsistencies abound! Even so, this makes for no light reading of the holy text. As often is the case (nature itself teaching us), the weightier matters of life prove to be the most complex.

The Horsemen of the Apocalypse, first seen by Zechariah (Zech. 1:7-11, 6:1-8), are different than those seen by John (Rev. 6:1-8); in Zechariah the riders drive Chariots (red, black, white, & grisled + bay) while in Revelation 6 the riders are mounted on solitary Horses (white, red, black, & pale) and, as you can see, one of the four correlating horses is a different color.

The Angelically / Celestially administered Marking / Sealing, first seen by Ezekiel (Ezek. 9:1-11), implicates something different than what will happen according to the Majesty of the LORD in the Book of Revelation (Rev. 7:1-8, 9:4); in Ezekiel those marked / sealed by God cannot die (Ezek. 3:17-21, 18:1-32, 33:1-20) while in Revelation many of the marked / sealed by God will die (Dan. 11:32-35, Rev. 13:10, 14:13, 16:6, 17:6, 18:20, 19:2, 20:4).

The 12 Tribes of Israel, first identified by Jacob (“All these are the Twelve Tribes of Israel” – Genesis 49:1-28), are different from those identified by John (Rev. 7:4-8); in comparison, John’s account differs from Jacob’s in that Dan is missing and Manasseh is added (of additional note, Ephraim is absent).

The Man with the Measuring Reed / Line, first seen by Ezekiel and secondarily by Zechariah (Ezekiel 40:3, Zech. 1:16, 2:1-2), is different from the man in the Book of Revelation (Rev. 11:1-2); the man seen by Ezekiel and Zechariah was an angel (not a human being!) while in Revelation the man is the apostle John; and regarding the measurements, the angel seen by Ezekiel (with a Line & a Reed) measured the Temple (the inner court and the outer court) and the Land so as to divide inheritances (Ezek. 40-48) while in Revelation John (with a Reed) measures the Temple and its inner court and nothing besides (Rev. 11:1-2).

The Two Witnesses, first seen by Zechariah (Zech. 4:1-14), are different from those seen by John (Rev. 11:3-4); the two men seen by Zechariah are represented by 1 Candlestick & 2 Olives Trees while, in Revelation, they’re represented by 2 Candlesticks & 2 Olives Trees.

My reader, is your Theology reconcilable to the above discontinuities? In other words, is your understanding of the nature of God consistent with the above "inconsistencies" of God’s word? If so, one is enabled to realize how the constancy of minor inconsistencies make up an overall consistency! One realizes how the continuous discontinuities make up an overall continuity! This is the story of Biblical Church History (the Abrahamic & Davidic Covenants). Truly, the half has not been told. Much more could be said concerning the interworking of various other prophecies in relationship to the above notations, for example:

The Branch, who we knew to be Joshua the son of Josedech in the 1st Restoration Generation (Zech. 6:12), is more fully realized in Jesus of Nazareth in the 2nd Restoration Generation (Isa. 11-12).

The Headstone, which Zerubbabel the Governor did establish upon the foundation of what was supposed to be Ezekiel’s Temple in the 1st Restoration Generation (Zech. 4:7), is more fully realized in the person of Jesus as a Spiritual Headstone for the building of a Spiritual Temple after the fall of the 2nd Restoration Generation (1 Pet. 2:7, Ps. 118:22).

Zerubbabel, who was the real-time Governor of the 1st Restoration Generation, is more fully realized in a Zerubbabel Generation (“the seed of Babylon”) that will be purified by Mystery Babylon, empowered by the Two Witnesses, and enabled to build unto perfection the Spiritual Temple of the Gentile Church Age as a witness to the Jews (Zech. 4).

These prophecies are multi-sensed and synergistic, and in being such they are synchronized with and impossible without the coming of a One World Government, here called: “Mystery Babylon the Great” (Rev. 17:5), or, “the Beast” (Rev. 17:8). So, who or what is the Beast?

Well, in yet another continuation of ancient prophecy, “the Beast” is said to have 7 Heads & 10 Horns in Revelation 17. However, following the pattern of the aforementioned ancient personages & ministerial operations, we must be careful to rightly interpret the ongoing livelihood of the 10 Horned Beast of Daniel 7:7-8 & 19-28. Why? Because of the rule or pattern that we have observed heretofore: a continuity of discontinuities.

Some interpreters assume that the 4th Beast of Daniel 7:7-8 does in fact have 7 Heads & 10 Horns like the Beast of Revelation 17, however the text states that the Beast has 10 Horns and… that’s all. It doesn’t say anything about 7 Heads – a feature of the Beast that is extremely important and worthy of mentioning (if it were so)! Furthermore, the 10 Horned Beast of Daniel 7:7-8 cannot be the 7 Headed & 10 Horned Beast of Revelation 17, historically speaking, because the Beast of Daniel 7:7-8 had a succession of Horns: 10 + 1 (Little Horn) – 3 = 7 + 1 (Little Horn). Therefore, the final estate of this End-Time Beast has 7 Horns + the Antichrist, however, the final estate of the End-Time Beast of Revelation 17 has 10 Horns + the Antichrist. (7 +1 ≠ 10 + 1).

Obviously, things are not as simple as they may appear at first glance. For, indeed, it would appear that the 10 Horned Beast of Daniel is, in fact, the same Beast of Revelation 17. However, to understand the full intent and meaning of Revelation 17 we must consult Daniel 7; moreover, in consulting Daniel 7, we need to consult the entirety of the Book of Daniel to discover, weigh, and hold in balance every passage that prophesies of an End-Time Kingdom or Empire that will exist right before the End of the World. According to Daniel, diverse and generational identities bear witness of one inter-generational identity when it comes to the End-Time Beast that God is going to use to punish the backslidden Church in the Last Century (bearing witness of this, consider the prophecies of Daniel in Daniel 2, Daniel 7, Daniel 8, Daniel 9, & Daniel 10-12).

As you will soon see, God giving grace, Revelation 17 draws from the 10 Horned typological exemplification and yet alters it and recasts it, and what was not commented upon is necessarily accounted for in Revelation 17, namely the discontinuance of Rome (and herein a discontinuity) and the arising of another Kingdom (making an overall continuity).

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JUDGMENT DAY | "the Hour of His Judgment is Come" - Rev. 14:7

11/16/2019

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Upon hearing the words - "Judgment Day" - most people think about the divine reckoning that will take place at the Great White Throne described in Revelation 20:11-15. Certainly, this is the final destination of all mankind. No one is wrong for considering this Judgment Day. However, the vast majority of times the prophets foresaw and declared the coming of divine judgment, they weren't speaking about the final destination of all mankind at the Great White Throne (Rev. 20:11-15). Rather, when they spoke of "judgment" they were foreseeing divine acts of war.

To discover the formation of this doctrine through Church History, we must follow the course of things from Abraham to David. The prophetic developments that took place between these two men expanded the divine objectives of war from the Canaanite Nations to the whole Earth, notwithstanding there were many episodes of sin and consequential divine wrath that frustrated and prolonged these objectives.

The Conquest of Canaan

Firstly, God judged the Canaanites through the Israelites by war (Gen. 15:16; Lev. 18:24-30, 20:22-27; Deut. 18:9-14). The Church of the Wilderness (Acts 7:38) was reared for this divine objective in accordance with the Abrahamic Covenant. The exact territory was specifically outlined to Abraham hundreds of years before the conquests of war began (Gen. 15:18-21), and God sent Moses to bring the people out of Egypt to inherit the Promised Land (Ex. 2:23-25, 3:7-10; 1 Chron. 16:12-19; Deut. 26:5-8).

However, sadly, after repeated provocations (Exhibit #1, Exhibit #2), the Exodus Generation fell from grace and came short of the promises made in the Abrahamic Covenant (Broken Promise / Oath: Num. 14:34, Num. 14:30, Heb. 4:1; Principle: Ezek. 16:59, 17:18-19). Church History tells the story (Progressive Provocations Leading to Reprobation: Exodus 32:10-14, Ex. 33:11-34:9, Deut. 9:6-29 (Ex. 17:8-16); Psalm 106:23 (Num. 11:1-3, 33-35, 12:13); Numbers 14:11-21; Num. 16:21-22; Num. 16:45-50). Therefore, of necessity, God commissioned the next generation (Joshua's Generation) to pick up the mantle of war to see the fulfillment of the Abrahamic Covenant.

The Rules of Warfare were clear. The preincarnate Christ was the Warrior Captain of the Host (Josh. 5:13-15). The Soldiers of the Host, the Israelites, being employed to execute the judgment written (Ps. 149:6-9), were successful in war through communion with the Warrior Captain (“the light of Thy countenance” – Ps. 44:1-3). The divine mandate of war required the total annihilation of all the Canaanites in the Promised Land according to Ex. 23:20-33, 34:11-14, Lev. 18:24-30, 20:22-27, Num. 33:51-56, Deut. 7:1-6, 16-19, 23-26, 12:1-4, 29-32, 18:9-14, 20:16-18, 23:1-17, Josh. 23:2-16, Judges 2:2-3. Loss or victory at war was always determined by the status of the people’s relationship with the Warrior Captain (Ezek. 39:22-29, Jer. 24:5-7). Whether individually or corporately, all things were dependent upon the Face of God being for or against the people (a spiritually tangible difference), which is the essence of their communion with the LORD (individually: Ps. 32:8, Ps. 33:18, Ps. 34:11-16, Ps. 145:18; corporately: Ezek. 15:7, Amos 9:4, Jer. 21:10, Jer. 24:6-7, Jer. 31:28, Jer. 44:27, Dan. 9:14). Therefore, the legitimacy of their faith was discernible through loss or victory at war.

Under the leadership of God through Joshua, the Israelites broke the power of the Canaanite Nations. Their conquests of war were largely successful. Herein, the Church transitioned from the Wilderness into a Civilization, and this brings us to an important hallmark of Church History. For, eventually, in this context, the establishment of an earthly King in the government of Israel would profoundly affect the Israelite People. After all, this peculiar people and the government which ruled them was divinely intended to be THE KINGDOM OF GOD. Furthermore, the ultimate ruler of the Israelite Kingdom foretold to arise was declared to be a champion of salvation by this vehicle: THE KINGDOM OF GOD.

However, sin prolonged these things from taking the forefront of the biblical story line for several generations after Joshua. For, at the latter years of Joshua, the residue of the overwhelmingly defeated Canaanite Nations remained intact; and when due responsibility was laid upon the individual tribes to finish the work… they compromised (Joshua 13:13, 15:63, 16:10, 17:12-18, 18:3; Judges 1). Then, at the death of Joshua & the Elders (Josh. 24:31, Judges 2:7, 10), and through the people’s longstanding slackness (Josh. 18:3), Israel fell under the wrath of God (Judges 1:2-2:15). Fearfully, the next generation utterly forsook the God of Israel (Psalm 78:56-58; Judges 2:1-5; Psalm 106:34-36). Also, thereafter, despite various minor divine repentances in the subsequent generations (Judges 2:16-3:4), the covenantal objectives were largely stalled until the coming of David (“the LORD hath sought him a man after his own heart” – 1 Sam. 13:14; Ps. 78:59-72).

The Conquest of Earth

David was an extraordinary trophy of grace. Truly. For, in his lifetime the Abrahamic & Mosaic Covenants came into fruition for the birth of the Davidic Covenant. Markedly, David was a war fighter ("the battles of the LORD" - 1 Sam. 25:28; Ps. 101). He relentlessly pursued the recovery of the Promised Land while praying to God for judgment - namely that he would get the victory in the fight and ultimately win the war (Ps. 7:8-13, 21:8-13, 50:4, 73:18-20, 135:14, 146:7-10; Ps. 18). However, as is evident in his latter years, David was in agony concerning what was unfulfilled in the Covenant (2 Sam. 23:1-7).

David’s Success: THE PROMISED LAND (Ps. 52:5, 142:5, 56:13, 143:10, 140:11, 37:3, 9, 11, 22, 27-29, 34; Ps. 27:13, 116:9, 5:4-6)
David’s Failure: ALL THE EARTH (Ps. 64:9-10; Ps. 82:1, 7-8; 1 Chron. 16:23-36, Ps. 47:2-3, 7-8, 86:9-10; Ps. 9:7-8, 16-20)

At the fruition of the Abrahamic & Mosaic Covenants in the birth of the Davidic Covenant, the divine objectives prophetically expanded to include ALL NATIONS. Literally, the scope of the Kingdom was enlarged from THE PROMISED LAND to THE WORLD. Therefore, in the same way the Israelites were used by God in war to judge the Canaanite Nations for the setting up of the Kingdom of God on location (and therein the will of God was being enforced among these peoples), lo and behold: the government would be expanded worldwide in absolute dominance for the enforcement of God's will EVERYWHERE.

Remember, the Davidic Covenant includes all of what God directly covenanted with David to accomplish (2 Sam. 7, 1 Chron. 16) - when God spoke to David about the stature and glory of the Coming Kingdom (1 Chron. 16:23-36; Ps. 96, 97, 98) and the total domination of its reigning King (Ps. 45, 87, 65, 66, 67, 148, 149). Furthermore, because the Heathen Nations of the Earth don't desire to relinquish their territories and confess the King of Israel as their personal Lord, this means war.

“let men say among all nations,
THE LORD REIGNETH” – 1 Chron. 16:31

“HE COMETH TO JUDGE THE EARTH”
– 1 Chron. 16:33

“HE SHALL JUDGE THE WORLD IN RIGHTEOUSNESS”
– Ps. 9:7-8, 16-20; 96:10, 13, 98:9

In biblical language, the Coming of the Kingdom of God in worldwide dominance implies a world war; and, seeing that divine judgment is war, the prophetically declared forewarning to all mankind comes in the words: "HE COMETH TO JUDGE THE EARTH" (1 Chron. 16:33). Literally, there's no other practical means of the Kingdom of God being established worldwide (any other definition of the Kingdom would warrant serious explanation). Explicitly, this too was revealed to David - namely, that the Kingdom would be established worldwide by war (Ps. 2, 110, 83, 46, 118, 58, 21, 144, & 104).

"I wept much, because no man was found worthy..." - Rev. 5:4

Certainly, David should have galloped into the prophetic vision by war and conquest to realize the glory of these divine objectives, but by reason of his manhood he couldn't. He fell exceedingly short! Likewise, the subsequent Kings and their generations declined into many episodes of divine wrath, and these repeated provocations frustrated the vision and warranted the coming of Assyria & Babylon instead. Unsurprisingly, God didn't hide this from David either (Babylonian Captivity: Ps. 79, 88, 89, 137, 126, 107; Ps. 14:7, 53:6).

God's intention to judge the backslidden Church through the conquests of Assyria and Babylon was made abundantly clear by the ministries of the prophets. Truly, this is a Day of Judgment all by itself (Heb. 10:30-31; Deut. 32:35-36). Howbeit, the only reason God was judging the Church in this way was because they refused to judge themselves (Isa. 1:21 [O.T.], 1 Cor. 11:31[N.T.]). For, in ideal circumstances, judgment would flourish through divinely empowered Church Officers (and hereby the saints would judge themselves), but because the backsliders forsook judgment, the LORD was circumventing Covenantal Idealism (E.g. #1, #2, #3, #4, #5, #6) in the exercise of judgment to accomplish the same objective by another means.

In such circumstances - amidst the void of judgment (Isa. 5:7) - the eyes of prophets would be opened to behold something impending on the horizon. Literally, the prophetic use of the word "judge" meant war, only this time God was using Heathen Nations to judge the backslidden Church (Judgment through Assyria / Babylon: Isa. 1:27, 3:13-14, 4:4, 5:16, 26-30, 10:5-19, 28:17-22). The prophets heralded the message with all boldness, calling it, "the Day of the LORD", while maintaining the witness first revealed to David - namely, that the Kingdom of God would eventually come in worldwide dominance even after Babylon took over the world (Judgment upon Assyria / Babylon: Isa. 2:4, 10-22, 11:3-4, 26:8-10, 30:18, 27-33, 32:1-4, 33:5-6, 22, 34:1-10, 42:1-4, 51:4-5). Therefore, what was first revealed to David was later elaborated upon by Isaiah and all the prophets.

“Repent ye: for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand” - Matt. 3:1-2
“The time is fulfilled, and the Kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the Gospel” - Mk. 1:15

Of course, all these doctrines were echoed and enlarged by the prophets and apostles of the New Testament. Therefore, the gaze of those who look for the fruition of the Kingdom of God is pointed towards another King who must arise to take up the mantle and fulfill the word of prophecy - Jesus of Nazareth, the Lion of the Tribe of Judah (Rev. 5). Another King more worthy than David must arise to fulfill the vision; and, accordingly, He must do so by war and conquest (Rev. 19:11-16).

My reader, this is THE GOSPEL ("the LORD reigneth” – 1 Chron. 16:31; Ps. 93:1 (Rev. 4); Ps. 96:10 (1 Chron. 16:31); Ps. 97:1, 99:1; “God reignteh” – Ps. 47:8; “the God of Jacob…which executeth judgment” – Ps. 146:5-10). David was the first one to come to understand the Gospel of the Kingdom of God in the fullest sense of all its implications worldwide. Then, Isaiah coined the term that was later proclaimed by John the Baptist & Christ (Matt. 4:23, 9:35, 11:5, 24:14, Mk. 1:1, 14-15, 8:35, 10:29, 13:10, 16:15, Lk. 2:10, 4:18-19, 7:22, 9:6); and, in every instance the message was declared by Isaiah, the Good Tidings was the coming of the Kingdom of God in worldwide sovereignty by war and conquest ("Good Tidings…Behold your God!” – Isa. 40:9-11; “One that bringeth Good Tidings” – Isa. 41:27; “My Servant” – Isa. 42:1-7, 13-14; “Good Tidings…Thy God reigneth!” – Isa. 52:7; “Good Tidings” – Isa. 61:1-2).

“HE SHALL JUDGE THE WORLD IN RIGHTEOUSNESS”
– Ps. 9:7-8, 16-20; 96:10, 13, 98:9

“a DAY in the which HE WILL JUDGE THE WORLD IN RIGHTEOUSNESS
by that Man” – Acts 17:31

What David foresaw of old, and Isaiah elaborated upon, the apostles and prophets of the New Testament clarified and enlarged. The "Man" is clearly identified (Acts 17:31). The one David foresaw in the prophecy, "HE SHALL JUDGE THE WORLD IN RIGHTEOUSNESS" (Ps. 96:10, 13, 98:9), is clarified in a near exact quotation by the apostle Paul, when he said, "HE WILL JUDGE THE WORLD IN RIGHTEOUSNESS by that Man" (Acts 17:31). In accordance with Biblical Prophecy, Paul knew what this "DAY" of worldwide JUDGMENT entailed. It is the most highly anticipated DAY of the New Testament, the most fearful reference point essential to pastoral rhetoric, and the most dreadful situation forthcoming upon mankind (Rev. 8:13, 12:12; "Christ-Centered Preaching").

"the Righteous Judgment of God" - Rom. 2:5
“In the DAY when God shall JUDGE the secrets of men by Jesus Christ
according to my GOSPEL.” – Rom. 2:16

“the Righteous Judgment of God” – 2 Thess. 1:3-12
"the EVERLASTING GOSPEL...the Hour of His JUDGMENT is Come" - Rev. 14:6-7

Speaking of this, Paul forewarned both believers and nonbelievers by telling them about "the Righteous Judgment of God" in "the Day of Wrath" in Romans 2:4-11, because the coming of the Kingdom of God in judgment is the "GOSPEL" (Rom. 2:16). Literally, "the EVERLASTING GOSPEL" is "the Hour of His JUDGMENT" (Rev. 14:6-7). It lasts 1,335 Days. It culminates in the revelation of Jesus Christ from heaven with his mighty angels in flaming fire for the dealing out of vengeance upon Babylon's World (2 Thess. 1:3-10); and, believe it or not, this is a message of love and hope. This is Good News. Howbeit, only to those who are in right-standing in the eyes of Christ (Lk. 21:34-36).

Therefore, the N.T. ministers of Christ repeatedly warned that "the Judge" was coming (Jas. 5:9, Jude 1:14-15). Even so, Jesus of Nazareth will pick up where Joshua left off - He will lead the people of God into the exploits of war to inherit the earth and fulfill the vision revealed to David. This is "the Revelation of Jesus Christ" (Rev. 1:1-3). These judgments are the acts of Christ in the End of the World (Rev. 6:10, 11:18, 14:7, 16:5, 17:1, 18:10, 19:2), and at the accomplishment of these judgments the Earth will be conquered and the Kingdom of God will be established worldwide for the commencement of the Millennial Reign of Christ ("God Almighty…hast reigned” – Rev. 11:17-19; “the Lord God Omnipotent reigneth” – Rev. 19:6; “The Everlasting Gospel” – Rev.14:6-13; “King of Saints…Thy judgments are made manifest” – Rev. 15:3-4).

Then, after a 1,000 years of glory are accomplished, and theretofore judgment flourished worldwide (Rev. 20:4-6, Lk. 19:11-27, Ps. 149:6-9, Zech. 14), all the dead will appear before the Great White Throne in the most climactic moment of judgment to date - "JUDGMENT DAY" (Rev. 20:12-13). Officially, this is the end of divine judgment. It's all over. "It is done." (Rev. 21:6).

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The Salvation of the Jews

11/8/2019

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Of old, at Sinai & against Egypt, the LORD acted to win the Jews by bringing them into a Covenant Agreement through the following operation – acts of God so glorious and unprecedented they were unrepeatable and unbeatable, except in what God would do in the 2nd Advent of Christ! Anew, at the 2nd Advent & against Babylon, the LORD acts to win the Jews by bringing them into Covenant Agreement through the following operation, albeit this time the totality of redemptive purposes are inter-working in one unparalleled display of Majesty.

SINAI: Behind the veil of Consuming Fire, unseen by men, there dwelt One Seated on a Throne of Glory surrounded & transported by Cherubim. The definitive expression of the Glory of God in Heaven is veiled by the Fire in its appearance on earth at Sinai’s peak, hiding it until the time appointed when it would be revealed (Heb. 12:18-21, Ex. 19:16-20, 25:19, Neh. 9:13, Deut. 4:11-12, 15, 36, Ps. 18:10, 68:17, 80:1, 99:1, Ezek. 9:3, 10:2-14 | Deut. 33:2, Judges 5:4-5, Hab. 3:3).

2nd ADVENT: Set forth within the Fire and unveiled by the Fire, and seen by all men (Heb. 12:25-29, Rev. 6:16-17, 15:1-8), there dwells One Seated on a Throne of Glory surrounded and transported by Cherubim (as observed at length in the Rapture, the Judgment, Heaven Besieging Earth, the Gathering, & the Shaking).

SINAI: Proceeding forth from the Devouring Fire came the voice of God through the vocal cords of angels (Ex. 20:18-21, Deut. 4:33, 36, 18:16, “the word spoken by angels” – Heb. 2:2), as was meet in the Old Covenant (Heb. 1:1-2:4; Gal. 3:19, Acts 7:53).

2nd ADVENT: Proceeding forth from the Pavilion of Fire comes the voice of God the Son, Jesus of Nazareth, as is meet for the New Covenant (Heb. 1:1-2:4, 12:25-29, Deut. 18:15-19, Acts 3:22-23; see the Shaking).

SINAI: The voice of God through angels was the deadliest force to mankind (Ex. 20:18-19, Deut. 4:33, 5:24-29, 18:15-19), the most earth-shaking force to nature (Ex. 19:18, Heb. 12:26), and the most magnified manifestation of God Himself (Ps. 138:2, Ps. 29:1-11), and therefore is it the most frightening to men (Deut. 4:10, Heb. 12:18-21).

2nd ADVENT: The voice of God the Son is the deadliest force to mankind (Heb. 1:1-2:4, 3:7-4:11, 10:26-31, 12:25-29) insomuch that its power, as a blast of divine volume, shakes heaven and earth universally (Heb. 12:25-29, Lk. 21:26, Ps. 46:6, Isa. 42:13, Jer. 25:30, Joel 3:15-16, Isa. 30:30, Heb. 12:25-29), and because this terrible shaking is the breaking point of Babylon’s pride (Isa. 2:10-22), therefore it is the most frightening to men (Heb. 12:28-29; see the Shaking).

SINAI: The experience was so impactful, it should have kept the Jews from idolatry thenceforth. (Ex. 20:20, Deut. 4:9-40, 5:29).

2nd ADVENT: The experience is so impactful, it will cause the Jews and Babylonians alike to violently cast their idols to the ground with great astonishment & horror (Isaiah 2:18, 20, 30:22, 31:6-7, 48:5; see the Shaking).

SINAI: The Consuming Fire of Sinai had the real potential to devour men if God was provoked (Deut. 9:3, 18-20, 25, 10:10, Ps. 106:23; Deut. 32:22, Ps. 21:9, Nah. 1:6, Zeph. 1:18; Lev. 10:2, Num. 11:1-3, 16:35, Ps. 78:21, 106:18).

2nd ADVENT: The Consuming Fire at the 2nd Advent War does devour men and angels because God is provoked (2 Thess. 2:8, Heb. 10:27, Isa. 11:4, 30:27-28, 30, 33, 34:8-10, 66:14-16; see the Shaking & the Consummation).

EGYPT: In a finishing act of dominance and as a culmination of all divine signs, the LORD won the heart of the Jews by fighting and winning a war against Egypt (Ex. 15:1-22). Intentionally, God hardened Pharaoh and the Egyptians in a purpose of wrath (Rom. 9:17-18) so that in making war against them He would be glorified in a purpose of mercy for the Jews; those men whose hearts the Lord hardened were used by God for the glory of His praise among those whose hearts He softened (Rom. 9:15-16, 18).

BABYLON: In a finishing act of dominance and as a culmination of all divine signs, the Son of God will win the heart of the Jews by fighting and winning a war against Babylon’s World of Nations (Isa. 59:16-60:3, Zech. 12:8-14, Ezek. 34:23-31, 39:4-29, Isa. 61:1-4, 63:1-6, 35:1-10, 41:8-16, 42:1-25, 43:1-21, 46:13-47:15, Micah 7:7-20, Jer. 50:1-8, 17-20, 22-37, 51:1-11, 19-24, 29-33, 45, 47-57; see the Armies of Heaven in Worldwide Battle). Intentionally, God hardened the Antichrist & the Babylonians in a purpose of wrath (2 Thess. 2:10-12, Joel 3:9-16, Rev. 16:13-16, 17:17, Ezek. 38:16-19; see The Gathering) so that in making war against them He would be glorified in a purpose of mercy for the Jews; those men whose hearts the Lord hardened were used by God for the glory of His praise among those whose hearts He softened (Rom. 9:15-16, 18).

God’s Covenantal Intentions with the Jews are profound & exhaustive (Jeremiah 31:31-40, 32:37-44, & 33:6-26; Ezekiel 34:11-30, 36:7-38, 37:21-28, & 39:21-29). The Consummation is for a Restoration. The death of the dead and dying is for the living; the apocalyptic end is for a new beginning. In fact, the making of this Covenant is the dawning of a New World (“The Wolf also shall dwell with the Lamb…” – Isa. 11:6-9)! Literally. The making of this Covenant is not only a new era of redemption and glory but one of New Life (“life from the dead” – Rom. 11:15)!

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BABYLON & THE COMING OF THE LORD

11/3/2019

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Most "Christians" today believe in the bodily return of Jesus Christ in a 2nd Advent. Literally, and visibly, this is the Coming of the LORD. However, what's rarely considered or even completely ignored is the coming of Babylon. Professing believers simply don't think it's important (Hab. 1:5-6).

Many would readily admit that Babylon is an adversary in the Book of Revelation that apparently exists at the Coming of the LORD in the 2nd Advent War (Rev. 19:11-16), but that's about it. Even fewer in number, of the more studious sort, would go so far as to acknowledge the eschatological importance of Babylon (the Beast) as a signal event that immediately precedes the Coming of the LORD. After all, this was repeatedly emphasized by Jesus in Matthew 24:15 & Mark 13:14 (Dan. 9:26-27, 11:31, 12:11).

Accordingly, we are instructed to discern the Coming of the LORD by discerning the Coming of Babylon - specifically, when the Antichrist is at the helm of power (the Beast; Rev. 13:1-18, 17:1-18; 2 Thess. 2:4). That's the plain teaching of Jesus in Matthew 24:15 & Mark 13:14. Furthermore, we know that Babylon (the Beast) will be made up of 10 Kings who commit their power to the Antichrist (Rev. 17:12-18) on the fateful day when Jerusalem is invaded for the seizure of the Temple (Zech. 14:1-2; Lk. 21:20-24; Jerusalem: the Stronghold of Apostasy). Therefore, at the visible appearance of Babylon in this manner we can be sure that the Coming of the LORD is nigh (Lk. 21:28-31; Mk. 13:28-31; Matt. 24:32-35).

"For thus hath the Lord said unto me, Go, set a Watchman,
let him declare what he seeth." - Isaiah 21:6

This degree of discernment is commendable. Herein, we discern the season of the Coming of the LORD (1 Thess. 5:1). This is Biblical. We are called by God to discern the season, even though the day and the hour is utterly indiscernible (Matt. 24:36, Mk. 13:32). This is essential. However, we need to discern all that the season brings, not just that it's coming. This requires a higher degree of discernment.

Learning to discern the Coming of the LORD by discerning the Coming of Babylon is just the beginning. However, sadly, most students of Biblical Prophecy don't proceed any further. Learning to acknowledge or recognize the calendered existence of these events isn't enough. That's exactly why so many "Christians" are dangerously unprepared for what's coming.

"Woe unto you that desire the Day of the LORD! To what end is it for you?
The Day of the LORD is darkness, and not light." - Amos 5:18

Anyone can discern the Coming of the LORD by the aforementioned indicators and genuinely disdain the Beast before and upon its arrival in real time; yet, all the while their souls are in grave danger. Even now, if asked, hundreds of millions of "Christians" would profess an eagerness to see or experience the bodily return of Jesus Christ in the Earth! However, according to Amos 5:18, the vast majority of them are utterly deceived (Matt. 25:11, Lk. 13:24-30; Matt. 7:21-23, Rev. 3:2-3).

Why? Because "the Day of the LORD" is not what they think (1 Thess. 5:2, 2 Pet. 3:10). Because very few people are willing to welcome the Coming of Babylon as a judgment from God upon the backslidden Church. The very idea is repulsive to "Christians" today (Isa. 27:8-9). Despite the vast testimony of Holy Scripture on the subject, people don't even give it a second thought (Prov. 12:15). Nevertheless, God's judgment by this means hasn't expired. Indicating this, John beheld "Mystery Babylon the Great" in Revelation 17:5. Therefore, evidently, and urgently, we must come to discern how the LORD works through Babylon to accomplish a redemptive purpose in the Earth (Rev. 7:14, Dan. 12:10, Lk. 21:36).

Literally, howbeit invisibly, this is to discern the Coming of the LORD in the Coming of Babylon, all of which directly precedes the physical and visible Coming of the LORD in the 2nd Advent. That's why the Coming of Babylon is called the Day of the LORD in Biblical Prophecy (not the Day of the Devil, nor the Day of the Heathen, but the Day of the LORD!). The combined duration of the first invisible "Coming" (1,260 Days) and the second visible "Coming" (75 Days) - amounting to 1,335 Days - is what the Spirit of Prophecy calls "the Day of the LORD". From a biblical perspective this message is undeniable and absolutely overwhelming, despite the ignorance of the masses.

It is simply impossible to comprehend the Day of the LORD through Babylon if we ignore the Tribulation Prophets whom God ordained to declare the matter. Ezekiel, being one of these prophets, was made to behold what is normally invisible to men: namely, the departure of the Glory of the GOD from the Jews to join the Babylonians (Ezek. 11:22-25; Jer. 6:7-8, 9:1-3, 12:7-12; Ezek. 8:6). This vision was granted to Ezekiel that all men might understand how the Coming of Babylon is in fact the Coming of the LORD. Moreover, that's why Jeremiah repeatedly called Babylon's invasion of Judah the Lord's Day of Visitation (Jer. 5:29, 6:15, 8:5-12, 9:9, 10:15, 14:10, 23:12; Hos. 9:7; 1 Pet. 2:12). Specifically speaking, God-through-Babylon visited the Jewish People.

THE COMING OF BABYLON

What is the Coming of Babylon? Literally, howbeit invisibly, it's the Coming of the LORD. It's when MAN MEETS GOD in the invasion of heathen Armies (Assyria: “Prepare to MEET THY GOD, O Israel” - Amos 4:12, 5:17). It's when prophets see the LORD smiting, slaying, searching, and taking captives, as in the invasion of Assyria of old ("I saw the Lord" - Amos 9:1; "I will slay" - Amos 9:1; "I will search" - Amos 9:3 [Zeph. 1:12]; "I will command" - Amos 9:9). It's when the Face of God and the Eyes of the LORD directly, especially, and meticulously conduct the seemingly ungovernable chaos of Battle (Jer. 21:10, 31:28; Ezek. 15:7; Amos 9:4, 8-10). It's when the aftermath of the Battle in the totality of destruction accomplished is credited to "THE PRESENCE OF THE LORD" (Jer. 4:23-26; Zeph. 1:7; Jer. 22:8).

THE DAY OF DESTRUCTION

What is the Day of Destruction? It's the Coming of Babylon as "a destruction from the Almighty" (Isa. 13:6, Joel 1:15). It's when the LORD will make preparations to perform an unquantifiable amount of destruction in the earth (Jer. 4:20, 17:18; Lam. 2:11, 1 Thess. 5:3; Dan. 12:1). This will be accomplished through the divine appointment of "Destroyers" - the likes of which the world has never seen ("I will prepare Destroyers" - Jer. 22:7-9); ones far worse than "the Destroyer" that passed through the Land of Egypt on the fateful night of slaughter (Ex. 12:12, 23); ones far more numerous than "the Destroyer" that slew the backsliding murmurers of "the Church in the Wilderness" or any generation thereafter (1 Cor. 10:10, Acts 7:38, 1 Cor. 5:5).

While it is true that the crooked path of backsliders has always been fraught with destroying Angels standing in the way (Num. 22:31, Ps. 90:3, 2 Pet. 2:15-16, Job 33:22), this situation is completely different. This destruction will not be localized or isolated like the six unsparing Angels targeted the backslidden Church in Judah and marched through Jerusalem of old, each one having a "destroying weapon" in hand for the slaughter (Ezek. 9:1-11). Literally, over 33 million times greater: suddenly, at the time appointed, 200 million enraged evil Angels will be loosed from Hell (wherein they were confined!) for one final rampage of destruction in the Earth (Rev. 9:1-19)!

In a prophetic scene that threatens destruction beyond human description, lo and behold: LUCIFER (Rev. 9:1; Isa. 14:4, 12), the "DRAGON" (Rev. 12:1-17, 13:2-4, 16:13), is divinely allowed to become the KING of Celestial Babylon (Rev. 9:1-11, 11:7, 17:8)! Therefore, upon the opening of Hell, which is for the spawning of an army of evil Angels unto his command, LUCIFER officially becomes "the Angel of the Bottomless Pit" - "whose name in the Hebrew tongue is ABADDON [DESTROYER], but in the Greek tongue hath his name APOLLYON [DESTROYER]" (Rev. 9:11). Oh, this terrific Day of Destruction! When torrents of thick darkness ascend from the burning mouth of Hell; and, proceeding forth from the smokey blackness: LOCUSTS.

In a situation of foreboding destruction (Rev. 8:13, 12:12) that is absolutely unimaginable and indescribable, lo and behold: the whelming swarm of LOCUSTS (Rev. 9:1-19)! Of old, like in the case of Egypt, human civilizations were wasted by locusts with no more forewarning than a dark cloud ascending on the horizon that had an appearance of smoke or perhaps a coming rainstorm, only to find a locust plague so large it darkened the light of the sun as it approached (Ex. 10:15)! If an approaching swarm of earthly locusts can rouse such terror and helpless amazement within mankind, how much more dreadful is an army of evil Angels spawned from Hell swarming on the horizon after the similitude of a locust plague? Truly, this is a Day of Darkness. The powerful sting of a scorpion’s tail (Rev. 9:3, 19) being wielded by the raw appetite of a locust’s lifetime of devouring everything green implicates boundless destruction.

"Before their face the people shall be much pained:
all faces shall gather blackness." - Joel 2:6

Many prophets spanning the ages of time caught a glimpse of this Army of the future. Having no words to describe the sight, they utilized the rhetoric of metaphors and similitude. It's all written in Holy Scripture for the reader to undergo the same eye-opening experience themselves. While beholding Hell's Army swarm in destructive fury (Joel 1:4, 2:25; Isa. 33:4) - in totality, there we see the Army’s swiftness in flight and its running stride in appearance (Isa. 46:11, Hab. 1:8, Isa. 8:8, Jer. 48:40, Rev. 9:9; Joel 2:4, Rev. 9:7; Joel 2:7, 9); its jaw and teeth in likeness (Joel 1:6, Rev. 9:8); its invasion and advancement in sound (Joel 2:5, Re. 9:9); its power to hurt and kill in analogous doctrine (Lk. 10:18-20, Rev. 9:6, 10, 19); and, its insubordination to man and subordination to God in metaphor (2 Cor. 4:4, Eph. 6:12, Dan. 10:13, 20-21; Rev. 9:7; Isa. 46:11, Isa. 7:18, Ps. 95:3).

This is an Army that hungers to hurt and kill mankind like locusts devour green things. This is an ascended hoard of enraged Devils who conspire to unleash a boundless onslaught of destruction and death upon all mankind like as a locust plague leaves nothing green in the wake of its swarm (Ex. 10:15, Ps. 105:34-35). In action, its marching, patrolling, advancing, and assaulting is unbreachable and infallible (Joel 2:7, 8); its persons are both invincible and undying until their work is done (Joel 2:8); and, its strength and energy are both tireless and weariless while every warrior abides sleepless (Isa. 5:26-30)! This isthe rise of Babylon in war and conquest.

Babylon is first born celestially, as described in Revelation 9:1-19 (Rev. 11:7, 17:8; Trumpet #5 & Trumpet #6), and then it is formed terrestrially (Rev. 13:1, 17:15). Before all is said and done, Babylon “shall devour the whole earth, and shall tread it down, and break it in pieces” (Dan. 7:23); in so doing Babylon will be like an unstoppable Beast that is “exceedingly dreadful”, for it “devoured, brake in pieces, and stamped the residue [of earthly kingdoms] with his feet” (Dan. 7:19)! Dreadfully so, Babylon is prophetically called a “destroying Mountain [Kingdom]” – in very deed it “destroyeth all the earth” (Jer. 51:25)! All of this and more will force Babylon’s dominion upon the inhabitants of the earth; they, being forced into submission will be made to exclaim, “Who is like unto the Beast? Who is able to make war with him?” (Rev. 13:4)!

What is the Day of Destruction? It's when the LORD takes credit for all that Babylon is destroying (Ezek. 24:21, Jer. 19:9). Professedly, and repeatedly, the LORD spoke of what He did through Babylon in explicit language of undeniable clarity ("I will consume" - Jer. 14:12; "I will punish" - Jer. 9:25-26 [Zeph. 1:8]; "I will persecute" - Jer. 29:18). That's why Jeremiah lamented, saying, “The LORD was as an ENEMY: He hath swallowed up Israel…He hath DESTROYED His strong holds" (Lam. 2:5). The destroyed survivors are made to understand the doctrine and lament acceptable words in the Book of Lamentations - for, herein, Babylon is peripheral and the LORD is front and center amidst the Babylonian Captivities of old.

THE DAY OF BATTLE

What is the Day of Battle? It's what false prophets will not tell you about (Ezek. 13:5, 22:30-31; Lam. 2:14). It's what the filthy dreams of sinners would never imagine (Jer. 23:16, Rom. 8:7). It's when God is the hidden & unseen force behind Assyrians, Babylonians, and Medo-Persians of old or anew when they do good or evil (Isa. 45:7, 15, 46:9-11; Deut. 32:21-43). It's when the Day of Evil is of the LORD. Why? Because evil Angels are spawned from Hell to punish evil men (Rev. 9:1-21) - and they are all under the ultimate command of a good God who punishes evil men to make them good again (E.g. #1, #2, &#3). Very boldly, Isaiah says, "the LORD of Hosts mustereth the HOSTS of the BATTLE" (Isa. 13:4).

Therefore, when Celestial & Terrestrial Babylon invades the earth to the punishment of the backslidden Church, in actuality, "He [GOD] will invade with His TROOPS" (Hab. 3:16). Professedly, and explicitly, with the locust-like Army of Hell in view, God called it: "MY GREAT ARMY" (Joel 1:4, 2:25; Rev. 9). This is "the BATTLE in the Day of the LORD" the false prophets refuse to speak about. Literally, howbeit invisibly, the Coming of Babylon is the Coming of the LORD.

Therefore, as the Armies of Hell furiously advance in Battle, rightly instructed onlookers will regard it as an Operation of Heaven. Even as Nebuchadnezzar was humbled before the Watchers of Heaven and afterward was made to confess: "THE HEAVENS DO RULE" (Dan. 4:26). The furious swarms of hellish warriors are beckoned by God with a "hiss" (Isa. 7:18) - they fly to Him swiftly as a bird to execute the counsel of the LORD and nothing more (Isa. 46:11). Why? Because the Devils tremble before the presence of the LORD (James 2:19) as He is presiding over them as the Commander ("...it was commanded" - Rev. 9:4). Even as Joel testified under inspiration, saying, "And the LORD shall utter His voice before His ARMY: for His CAMP is very great: for He is strong that executeth His word: for the day of the LORD is great and very terrible; and who can abide it?" (Joel 2:11).

This is a very real delegation of destructive authority that is MAJESTIC, MIRACULOUS, CELESTIAL, & METICULOUS. Therefore, to stop the onslaught of manslaying justice, the Angel’s hands must be stayed from destroying the people (1 Chron. 21:27)! God's Majesty prevails through the invisible channels of authority in a seemingly uncontrollable superstructure; therefore, what is done by the Angels is duly regarded as an act of God. Who smote the people? God-through-Angels did (1 Chron. 21:87, 2 Sam. 24:16; Ezek. 7:9, 21:3-5, Jer. 21:5-6). Hence, God is able to employ unholy Angels in the causes of divine justice while they remain unaware of their divine appointment, just like the historical armies of Assyria and Babylon were so used (Isa. 10:15; Rev. 17:17). Speaking of the divine usage of God on this wise, it was said of the King of Assyria, “Howbeit he meaneth not so, neither doth his heart think so; but it is in his heart to destroy and cut off nations not a few” (Isa. 10:7). God has employed Satan into the service of the Kingdom for centuries (1 Cor. 5:5), only this time the scope of his role is radically increased (Rev. 7:14).

"And I will shew wonders in the heavens and in the earth, blood, and fire, and pillars of smoke." - Joel 2:30

These evil Angels join with evil men to form an earthly & terrestrial Empire made up of "the worst of the heathen" (Ezek. 7:24, 36:5). Together, they will be a "bitter and hasty nation" (Hab. 1:6) - a people that are both "terrible and dreadful" (Hab. 1:7). This is a "nation of fierce countenance" (Deut. 28:50) whose people "are cruel, and have no mercy" (Jer. 6:23). They are like their leader, the Antichrist, "a King of fierce countenance" (Dan. 8:23) who smites the peoples of the Earth "in wrath with a continual stroke" (Isa. 14:6). This is a Day of Wrath (Ezek. 8:18). This "Son of Perdition" (2 Thess. 2:3) is "the Oppressor" foretold of old (Isa. 14:4) who will make war with the saints and prevail (Dan. 7:21, Rev. 11:17) through the aid of "craft" & "dark sentences" concocted by Lucifer (Dan. 8:23, 25; Rev. 13:2). The "affliction" suffered by the Church will be exceedingly abundant in these days of "Great Tribulation" (Mk. 13:19, Matt. 24:21-22). Notwithstanding, worst of all, God said: “MY SOUL SHALL ABHOR YOU” (Lev. 26:30).

THE DAY OF JUDGMENT

What is the Day of Judgment? It's the Day of the LORD. It's the Coming of Babylon in a Day of Destruction through the violence of Battle. My reader, it is clear that Babylon will act independent and unconscious of God (Isa. 47:1-10) under the direct inspiration of Satan via the forbidden crafts of divination and such like things (Ezek. 21:21-23), and upon ultimate success, after all is said and done according to what was foretold in that the Antichrist “shall destroy wonderfully” (Dan. 8:24), the bewitched Antichrist will ascribe power and glory to a false god for what was accomplished (Hab. 1:11; “they worshipped the Dragon which gave power unto the Beast” – Rev. 13:4). This being the case, however, it is also true that Babylon will act dependently upon the LORD insomuch that Babylonians can do nothing without Him! Therefore, to compel men to look beyond the visible presence of Babylon, God said, "I, EVEN I, AM AGAINST THEE" (Ezek. 5:8, 13:8), speaking on behalf of what God was doing to the backslidden Church through Babylon. This is the Strange Work of the LORD.

The celestial and terrestrial King(s) and Kingdom(s) of Babylon do act profoundly independent and unconscious of God (insomuch that they make war against Him!); albeit, meanwhile, God is profoundly and meticulously involved insomuch that He calls the King(s) of Babylon, “My Servant” (Jer. 25:9, 27:6, 43:10). How can it be? Verily, God is profoundly removed from and innocent of all of Babylon’s wretchedness and yet, simultaneously, He is profoundly near and responsible for what is happening (Heaven Rules Hell!). At first glance we read that “they had a King over them” (Rev. 9:11), but in full scope we read that in the selfsame events, God is saying, “with a mighty hand…will I rule over you”, “I will cause you to pass under the rod”, “I will bring you into the bond of the Covenant” (Ezek. 20:33-38)!

The average man looks up at the highest tier of terrestrial rule and sees, the antichrist; the witch looks up at the highest tier of celestial rule and sees, Lucifer; the prophet looks up at the highest tier of terrestrial and celestial rule and sees, the LORD of Hosts. For, when the earth is overtly displaced into the diabolical rule of Satan via Babylon because of the divine sentence, “I WILL FORSAKE YOU” (Jer. 23:39), the situation is far from divine abandonment in any human estimation. When God calls the King of Babylon, “Lucifer” (Isa. 14:12), and also, “My servant” (Jer. 25:9, 27:6, 43:10), He is underscoring the universal truth that all celestial and terrestrial happenings are first of all and after all a service to God. In other words, the immaterial and material King(s), armies, and governments of Babylon are God’s servants and services.

Conclusively, as we have observed, Babylon’s celestial and terrestrial forces are “Destroyers” raised up by God for “destruction” as “the Hammer of the Whole Earth” (Jer. 50:11, Ezek. 7:25, Jer. 50:23), even as “a golden cup in the LORD’S hand, that made all the earth drunken” (Jer. 51:7). Yea, and because of the LORD’s hand in it all, God said to the targeted peoples of Babylon’s fury, “I have wounded thee with the wound of an enemy, with the chastisement of a cruel one” (Jer. 30:14). Marvelously, God’s Eyes (GOD's JUDGMENTS) control the Celestial Eyes (ANGEL JUDGMENTS) which control Babylon’s Eyes (BABYLON's JUDGMENTS) in the acts of war, conquest, and government.

GOD's JUDGMENTS | Celestial Eyes | God’s Eyes: “And to the others he said in mine hearing, Go ye after him through the City, and smite: let not your eye spare, neither have ye pity: Slay utterly old and young, both maids, and little children, and women: but come not near any man upon whom is the mark; and begin at my sanctuary. Then they began at the ancient men which were before the house…And as for Me also, Mine eye shall not spare, neither will I have pity, but I will recompense their way upon their head.” – Ezek. 9:5-6, 10

GOD's JUDGMENTS | Babylon’s Judgments | God’s Jealousy | Babylon’s Fury: “The Babylonians, and all the Chaldeans, Pekod, and Shoa, and Koa, and all the Assyrians with them: all of them desirable young men, captains and rulers, great lords and renowned, all of them riding upon horses. And they shall come against thee with chariots, wagons, and wheels, and with an assembly of people, which shall set against thee buckler and shield and helmet round about: and I will set judgment before them, and they shall judge thee according to their judgments. And I will set my jealousy against thee, and they shall deal furiously with thee: they shall take away thy nose and thine ears; and thy remnant shall fall by the sword: they shall take thy sons and thy daughters; and thy residue shall be devoured by the fire.” – Ezek. 23:23-25

When God said, speaking to the Church, “I will do these things unto thee” (Ezek. 23:30), what did He mean? When God in retrospect, said, “according to their way and according to their doings I judged them” (Ezek. 36:19), what did He mean? Evidently, this meant that God did set His own “judgment before [Babylon]” as eyes to the head so that, according to prophecy, BABYLON's JUDGMENT become GOD's JUDGMENT (Ezek. 23:24); and all of this means the fulfillment of the divine threat to the Church, “I will set My jealousy against thee”, which in turn means, “[Babylon] shall deal furiously with thee” (Ezek. 23:25)! These be "the Days of Vengeance" (Lk. 21:22).

This transferable exchange of judgments from God to the terrestrial forces of Babylon is harmonious with the missing link in the exchange – God’s use of the Celestial. Thus, we observe the same harmonious relationship existing in God’s use of the celestial determining how the celestial controls the terrestrial. So, when God spoke of His judgment of the backsliders of the Church in retrospect, saying, “according to their way and according to their doings I JUDGED THEM” (Ezek. 36:19), this meant that Babylon judged the Church accordingly, as it was written, “…according to thy ways, and according to thy doings, shall [Babylon] judge thee, saith the Lord GOD” (Ezek. 24:14). Then, shockingly, after it was all said and done, Babylon ascribes honor to a false god and pays tribute to breathless idols (Hab. 1:12, Isa. 45:15)! …can you believe it?

This testifies to the fact that the demonic element of Babylon’s celestial and terrestrial armies maintain an insubordinate subjection to God and by nature are at enmity against the righteousness of God’s judgments the whole time, and yet all of God’s will is still accomplished via the dynamic of an ongoing war in the heavenlies as God uses Heaven’s Army to rule over Hell’s Army. Amazingly, and as a manifest token of the aforementioned heavenly conflict, God guided the sword of Babylon even as the King of Babylon consulted Devils via the use of divination (Ezek. 21:18-27). Evidently, therefore, the surety of God’s success in the celestial warfare between holy and unholy angels is both calculated and impeccably exact! – God’s Judgment, not the Devil’s or the Antichrist’s!

“And say to the land of Israel, Thus saith the LORD; Behold, I am against thee, and will draw forth My sword out of his sheath, and will cut off from thee the righteous and the wicked. Seeing then that I will cut off from thee the righteous and the wicked, therefore shall My sword go forth out of his sheath against all flesh from the south to the north: That all flesh may know that I the LORD have drawn forth My sword out of his sheath: it shall not return any more. Sigh therefore, thou son of man, with the breaking of thy loins; and with bitterness sigh before their eyes. And it shall be, when they say unto thee, Wherefore sighest thou? that thou shalt answer, For the tidings; because it cometh: and every heart shall melt, and all hands shall be feeble, and every spirit shall faint, and all knees shall be weak as water: behold, it cometh, and shall be brought to pass, saith the Lord GOD.” – Ezek. 21:3-7

“...they shall know that I am the LORD, when I shall put My sword into the hand of the king of Babylon, and he shall stretch it out upon the land of Egypt” - Ezek. 30:24-25

“...I myself will FIGHT against you with an outstretched hand and with a strong arm, even in anger, and in fury, and in great wrath.” – Jer. 21:4-10

The chaos of seemingly uncontrollable Battle is a divinely set stage of GOD's JUDGMENT (Ezek. 5:13-15, 7:3-4). Obviously. Who could doubt the marksmanship of THE SWORD OF THE LORD? Herein, God is the one doing the FIGHTING & SMITING (Jer. 21:5-6, 10, 13, 14)! Resistance is futile. The LORD renders the backslidden Church helpless and gives it into the hands of Babylon (Jer. 20:4, 21:7). Marvelously, what Babylon does then is in accordance with the judgment of God who is directing its hands (Jer. 27:8). Literally, God is actively strengthening the arms of Babylon and breaking the arms of resistors (Ezek. 30:24-25). Meticulously, in the very throes of warfare, God is turning back the weapons of war in the hands of resistors who fight against Babylon (Isa. 13:5, Jer. 21:4-10) while placing THE SWORD OF THE LORD into the hands of Babylon (Ezek. 30:24-25, 32:10-11; Jer. 47:6-7).

Therefore, when Babylon breaks the bones of the backslidden Church (Jer. 50:17), we are to understand that God broke the bones (Lam. 3:4, 16). Babylon’s forces will not deviate from the divine targets (Ezek. 3, 18, 33, Zeph. 2:2-3). Babylon’s Army is God’s purifying apparatus and through them the divine saying is fulfilled, “I WILL SEARCH” (Zeph. 1:12, 2:1-3, 11, 15, 3:11-13, 17-20). Backslidden Christians hide from Babylon hoping to escape all in vain (Jer. 43:10-13, 44:11-14, 26-29). Babylon is God’s net or snare (Ezek. 12:13-14, 17:20-21) that’s alive like a “ravenous bird” - it lives and breathes to execute, God said, “My Counsel” (Isa. 46:11), and the LORD is in hot pursuit of Church Purity (Ezek. 20:33-44; COMMENTARY)!

Hence, fortified Cities do strengthen their defenses and hereby they assay to make their walls unbreachable by the armies of Babylon, but meanwhile God is saying, “I WILL ASSEMBLE [Babylon] into the midst of this City” (Jer. 21:4-10). The blood-thirsty faces of heathen soldiers, the Babylonians, do ride forth to smite the inhabitants of the City and meanwhile, God says, “I WILL SMITE the inhabitants of this City”, and, “I MYSELF WILL FIGHT AGAINST YOU with an outstretched hand and with a strong arm, even in anger, and in fury, and in great wrath” (Jer. 21:4-10)! In doing so, God says, “I have set My Face against this City for evil” (Jer. 21:10).

The truth be told, because God will not spare (Ezek. 5:11, 7:4, 9, 8:18, 9:5-6, 10) the soldiers of Babylon will not spare (Jer. 21:7, Deut. 28:50, 2 Chron. 36:17). God will comfort Himself in the exacting of divine justice through Babylon, but until then the anger of God will not abate or diminish ("...I shall execute judgments in thee in anger and in fury and in furious rebukes." - Ezek. 5:13-15, 22:17-22). What's in GOD's MIND will be in BABYLON's MIND in respect to the decisive blows of the war that determine life and death (Ezek. 3, 18, 33; Jer. 30:23-24). The conquests of war and the government of Babylon as a whole was and will be “the work of the LORD” (Jer. 48:10, 1 Kings 20:42). This is a judgment from God (Ezek. 22:30-31). Conclusively, there is nothing that men can do to escape it. The only safe option is to embrace it.

Come Day 1,260, God's judgment through Babylon will be accomplished. Then, from Day 1,260 to Day 1,335, God will judge Babylon, liberate the Jews, convert every living survivor among them, and then regather and restore the Jews to Jerusalem for the commencement of the Millennial Reign of Christ. Herein, the Majesty of the LORD will transition from an invisible majesty into a visible majesty, while both scenarios must be regarded as the Coming of the LORD. Beware, my reader, lest any man tell you otherwise! THE DAY OF LORD IS AT HAND.

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