Babylon Is Fallen

FALLEN, FALLEN BABYLON THE GREAT	WHO MADE ALL NATIONS DRINK	OF THE WINE OF THE PASSION OF HER IMMORALITY

The first is the result of opposition to the will of the Father, the second against the Spirit, the last against Christ. This we shall see. I have preserved John’s order, and translated thumos as in the NT, a strong emotion , either good or evil .God has a passion for righteousness. V10.

WHAT IS BABYLON?

Under the judgments of the Almighty this alliance breaks down into three parts. Rev 16:19.(It is riveting to notice that the cities of the nations then fall. All round the world many of their tall buildings are like dominoes on end.) Religiously Babylon includes the dragon, the beast and the false prophet. V14. These are paganism(the Satanic gospel, including New Age spiritism): the Papacy and apostate Protestantism.

*The Greek word from which we derive dragon actually means a serpent. Greeks and Romans had a distortion of the account of Genesis 3 in which a snake is guarding the now golden apples and Hercules, instead of Christ, “crushes the serpents head” and takes the apples. So the dragon is a symbol for Satanic power and worship. The Roman Imperial version of this cult attempted to devour the infant Jesus . Rev 12:3,4.

*The beast in Rev 13.2 succeeds to the power, throne and authority of pagan Rome. Just as 2 Thess 2.7,8. foretold, in 330 AD Constantine “got out of the centre”(literal trans.) of the Roman Empire, where Rome was, moved to Constantinople. The Bishop of Rome filled the power vacuum thus left, progressively seized vast dictatorial power.(“lawless one revealed.”)

* Balaam died as a user of demonic arts.Josh 13.22.The Spirit prevented him from this when Balak wanted him to.Num 24.1.But at Baal Peor he lured Israelites to Sun & spirit worship. (what the name means.) This is precisely what the false prophet does in charismatic movemt,

The symbolism of the Second Angel points us back to Daniel 5. Here King Belshazzar in party mode sends for the vessels captured from God’s temple by his grandfather. And proceeds to fill them with the wine of Babylon. In symbols the Book must explain itself. Else we finish up with loony ideas.. Isaiah 14 tells us the King of Babylon is Satan. Vessels = people (2 Cor 4:7); fermented wine = evil spirits. Eg Jer 51.7.(scriptural view of madness gen. defences of psyche against demons weakened.) What then? God’s folk in Reformation churches previously taken captive (over Sunday see Dan 8:13 and leaflet You Be the Judged)are filled with and under the influence of spirits from hell.. Who masquerade as the Holy Spirit ministered by angels. 2 Cor ll:14,Heb 1:7. At the same time where the lampstand (Bible- Ps 119:105) shines a three-fold message appears. Which is a summary of the Three Angels’ messages. (Judicial limit ; religion too light for God; kingdom divided to saints.)

John’s statement of three unclean spirits like frogs (Rev 16:13-18) is a flash back. He is showing how before the close of probation Satan is enlisting folk to fight in the final war and the final battle against God.(A careful reading of the 71 references by EGW to Armageddon show that it is a war which begins with the close of probation. The final battle is naturally at the end of the war. Polemos is translated war/battle 12/5 in the l611. And some of the 5 could equally be war.The plagues follow the end of probation ( no one is in the temple,l6:8, the intercession of Jesus has finished.) The idea of Armageddon is that Heaven does the fighting.

Demons are speaking and working miracles in Papal and Protestant churches, as well in New Age spiritism which does not now concern us. In the first two this again is the charismatic movement. When the second angel began in the 1840’s it was almost unheard of. Hence unlike the others, this Angel doesn’t shout. It took off in the l890’s The Catholic church had no part of it until the 1970’s because of its Protestant origin. It is noted for two things-speaking in “tongues” (out of mouth )and emphasis on miracles (as the text says.)

I well remember a charismatic congress I attended. (They are good places to keep away from, but since I expose the movement I must know whereof I speak.) There were 12,000 present, hundreds of arms up in the air like TV antennae in a strong wind. “Tongues” like machine-gun fire all over (no translation.) The hymns swung & almost unrecognisable. On leaving I said to my companion. “I’ve never been in a place so filled with devils in my life. I didn’t stop praying the entire time I was there.” To which the reply , ”I know, nor did I”.

The Second Angel reaches a crescendo in company with the Angel of Rev 18. Who has”great authority and the earth is illumined from his glory.” In the Book glory =character. Ex 33:18,19. So the high point of Divine excellence was reached when the Infinite became Finite and Jesus was given. This is God’s highest glory.,as the choir sang. Luke 2:14 The power of the Spirit to the human messengers through this Angel lights up earth.“Servants of God, with their faces lighted up and shining with holy consecration” GC,Final Warning,par 23. This one “shouted with a mighty voice.” Amplif. Thus making up for No 2’s soft start. The situation is now utterly perilous. The churches, through the charismatic movement have become the dwelling of demons and their members prisoners of every unclean spirit.(Current meaning-Phulake.) Notice that birds of prey get a mention. This ties up with Isaiah’s bird songs. Jeremiah tells of baskets of birds used as a decoy to trap free ones & of the wealth of the organisers.5:26,27. A brilliant analysis of the charismatic movement with demonic power & utterance as bait and their millionaire TV evangelists..Every species of evil will be seen in the lives of members. Babylon makes all nations drink of her passion for paganism. Note this description of the fall of the church into papalism. It is also a definition of the wine. “Almost imperceptibly the customs of heathenism found their way into the Christian church. THE SPIRIT OF CONFORMITY AND COMPROMISE was restrained for a time by the fierce persecutions ..” (GC Chapter 3, par 2.Caps mine). The “spirit of conformity and compromise “ is the Satanic spirit or spirits who foster the infiltration into the Christian Church of heathenism -the “doctrine (teaching) of demons.” I Tim 4.1.Of which Sunday worship is a notable example. “Making drink “means Sunday worship is made compulsory.

In Rev 13:13 the beast with the lamb-like horns does great miracles, bringing fire from the sky in the sight of folk. This power is the United States. It may well be that John saw a bison whose horns are rather modest. Col 2;15 tells how Christ stripped the Jewish hierarchy of their leadership and the authority of the Mosaic law. The first He vested in the congregation. So- “we have decided, being agreed”Acts l5.25. The second he replaced with religious liberty (see Romans l4:1-12. Where the weak in faith who still practise the ceremonial law after the crucifixion are to be tolerated. The days kept are ceremonial feasts. Their diet the Yom Kippur fast.) So the horns or powers of the Lamb are religious liberty and democracy. The only country that then rose or developed with these is USA. Further this beast or political power rises from the earth. The very place to which the persecuted fled to escape the rampages of Rome. Rev 12:15,16.And this is why the Pilgrim Fathers went there.

These wonders this power does are more deceptive because done in the sight of the beast.V 14. The Papacy holds that a miracle proves the outworking of Divinity. In reality it shows the working of a super-natural being, good or evil. So Satan was able to transport Jesus to a pinnacle of the temple and show Him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time. Luke 4:4,9. In Scripture there are two appearances of fire. The first was Mt Carmel when the fire represented the Holy Spirit turning their hearts back to God.1Kings 18:37. The second was Pentecost when tongues of fire appeared, and the apostles were heard multilingually. Now the evil counterfeit of the first is spiritism which turns the life over to the power of a Satanic spirit. And that of the second the charismatic movement with its so-called gift of tongues. And both in their modern form appeared first in the United States. Of course this sign will fully come about when these movements by Satanic power literally bring down fire.

Rev 1:19 tells us that the vision of the 7 churches is both of churches “that are”, and of the church “hereafter”. Ie of 7 existing churches and of 7 stages of that body through time. The last church then must be of the church of our day. Jesus keeps emphasising the new birth. He says ,”You say I am rich and I have become rich and have need of nothing and you are unaware that you are in desperate straits (Gk lit. at the end of the road) and in a pitiful condition ,poverty- stricken, blind and naked. “Rev 3:17.This is a searching run down. It includes Charismatic Christians who claim the baptism of the Spirit and are not born again. S is an example . He claims the gift of the spirit. He lived for almost a decade with P who is now also a Charismatic and who still loves him. But he spurns her because the spirit tells him to have nothing to do with her. The Holy Spirit dictates that he owes her a wedding ring. 1 Cor 7:36.The demon who deceives him brings guilt on him and despair on her. The new birth sets one free from demonic control.

Isaiah has counsel for S and all of us. Gather up the testimony (prophetic Word), seal the law among My disciples. – 8.16.This is more readily understood by ladies who have worn long skirts-as most every one did then. If the country traversed is unfavourable they gather up the garment to protect its extremity. In our age most Christians allow Darwinian delusions to obscure Genesis. Revelation they deem obscure anyhow. They allow faithless critics like termites to take out much of the brilliant God-given testimony. An ancient seal gave the title and territory of the ruler. Only the fourth commandment gives Iahweh’s kingdom of heaven and earth and title as Creator. Iahweh means the One(s) Who make it happen anyhow.

The prophet then declares that he and his kids are signs and portents to unconverted Israel. He of the power of the Spirit; they of His power to recreate new life among His people.(new birth.) He then warns against Satanic delusions in two typically brilliant Bible puns. Literally it is-When they say to you seek unto bottles and initiates.who lapse into bird songs. And meditate.- Wow! Skin bottles were rather sad unless filled. So are sorcerers and charismatics.Archie Glover tells of a pagan Chinese who went off into hours of chilling sing-song under possession of a demon.(In A 1,000 Miles of Miracles.) What they call speaking in tongues is the same thing in a Christian context. And transcendental meditation and the tarrying time before “the spirit” comes upon them are one and the same. And they come to those initiates who have established contact with these demonic powers.

George was driven across town by friend Jack to a charismatic meeting. Before the main event they had a tarrying time. Then one of the elders’ wives went off in “tongues”, joined by several others. Jack pulled George’s sleeve and hissed,”I’ve gotta go, are you coming?” George whispered “But we just got here, and came all that way.” Jack insisted. Outside G. was rather explicit about his friend’s vacillations. But he hadn’t wished to be stranded. J. confessed,”You know I used to be a slave to the spirit powers of the séance. The Lord set me free. The spirits of that meeting are the spirits of the séance . If I stayed they’d get me.”

Of “tongues” there are some things we should consider. “Glossa” in Greek is a language. But most of the tongues speaking is gibberish, and has been so analysed by computer. Every gift of the Spirit is for the general good. 1Cor 12:7. No translation, no tongues. 14:28.Paul prefers 5 words with meaning to 10,000 that are unintelligible. 14:19. And he is dealing with the real thing, not the phony nonsense we are treated to.

One day everyone who has ever lived on earth will be gathered in and around the vast New Jerusalem. Matt 25.31-33. They will be separated as ancient shepherds used to divide sheep from goats. They usually led a flock of up to two score, wandering anywhere they could find pasture. So during the day they were mixed with wild goats. But at the end of the day the pastor stood at the door of the fold. The sheep who trusted him came past to have their heads anointed if injured etc. See Ps 23.5 and John 10:1-14. But the fearful goats stayed outside. Through the transparency of the wall the damned Pharisees among the goats will see Abraham ,Isaac & Jacob sitting down in the kingdom. Luke 13:28.

But what is this? A crowd of people who have just arrived, Rev 20:8,9, break away from the legions of the lost and beat on those immense gates. They cry to the Christ enthroned above the wall with His Right Hand towards the city, His Left to those outside. “Lord there has been a terrible mistake. We don’t belong out here. We belong inside. We have prophesied in Your Name and cast out demons in Your Name, and in It performed works of power.”

Graciously the Lord replies. But His words hold the knell of doom. “I never knew you. Depart from Me you who have wrought lawlessness. Matt 7:21-23.

Is not this the lot of the unborn again charismatic? Of those who despise the decalogue ?