I am Vice Chair of the Pastoral Council at my Church. Our biggest concern is how to get people to come back to Church in person (butts in pews). I would say that our attendance is down at least 30% since the pandemic. The youth, especially, are leaving in droves. It's no longer "cool" to talk about God. It is "cool" to strut around naked chanting "We're here, we're queer and we want your children". Now, they want not just a whole month to celebrate their perversity, but the whole summer! I don't know about the rest of you, but I have had it up to my eyeballs with pride month. I believe a lot of the LGBTQ community feels the same way. I pray that God will help to turn things around in our nation, before it's too late.
Jesus said, No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up on the last day. and that not everyone who calls me Lord Lord will enter the kingdom of heaven but only those who do the will of my father (only those who persevere to the end will be saved. The Gospel the Holy Spirit and the agape love we show as we live our lives is what Christ will use to draw people to himself, any other plan of men will fail. We could all be seeing the beginning of the great falling away and It's Christ who is doing the sifting.
That’s my general feeling at this point. The idea that Christ is sifting and separating. Lately, It really feels like a veil of protection has been lifted from us. All the crazy really IS coming out and God really IS allowing it. I hope it doesn’t ‘get bad’ either, but it has to get ‘too bad’ to set the stage for Jesus to come back. Our job is to be faithful. That’s what we are told. I’m making my peace with that. But I’m like many who think ‘does it really have to get super bad because I don’t want to be hurt and I don’t want my loved ones to be hurt’, so that’s a struggle.
I’d rather have a more faithful church with less people than more people and a ‘meh’ church.
Your right it does need some context, yes a fair question. (It needs Biblical and real world context)
Biblical context
Mystery Babylon is mentioned and described by name in two scriptures Rev 17&18
17, "the great harlot who sits on many waters, with whom the kings of the earth committed acts of immorality, and those who dwell on the earth were made drunk with the wine of her immorality.
the great harlot who sits on many waters, with whom the kings of the earth committed acts of immorality, and those who dwell on the earth were made drunk with the wine of her immorality."
(It also explains what the seven headed/10 crowned beast is).
Mystery Babylon comes in riding on the back of this (final) world empire.
18 describes the fall of MB
18 Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great! She has become a dwelling place of demons and a [b]prison of every unclean spirit, and a [c]prison of every unclean and hateful bird. 3 For all the nations [d]have drunk of the wine of the [e]passion of her immorality, and the kings of the earth have committed acts of immorality with her, and the merchants of the earth have become rich by the [f]wealth of her [g]sensuality.”
God warns His people (US) to come out of her (NY?) Come out of her, my people, so that you will not participate in her sins and receive of her plagues; 5 for her sins have [h]piled up as high as heaven, and God has remembered her iniquities.
Lament
And the kings of the earth, who committed acts of immorality and lived [l]sensuously with her, will weep and lament over her when they see the smoke of her burning...And the merchants of the earth weep and mourn over her, every ship master and every [u]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?’
Based on the Biblical description of Mystery Babylon, it's an economic system primarily (mark of the beast) the beast she rides in on. It obviously has a spiritual aspect to it as well, because she persecutes the saints (Dan 7:21, Rev 6:9-11 & 13:7-8). (The Vatican a tiny (the smallest) horn (nation) but the most Powerful?
The beast itself (the final world empire, 7 heads 10 horns), she rides in on destroys her and God put's it in the heart of the beast to do this REV 17:16-18.
Conclusions,
Real world,
(The beast she rides in on is not here yet)
MB rides into the world scene on the back of the final world empire (a beast) run by the two beasts the AC and FP. One clue is about it's authority is in Rev 13 where one of the beasts subdues all the nations and no one can make war with him, (that has not happened yet).
This current mess of world will lead to a war but that will lead to this final world empire and out of that rises the little horn and overthrows it (Dan 7:8-24) and he does it with great signs and wonders just like Jesus said in Matt 24. He is raised from the dead and the whole world runs after him thinking they have been rescued from this mess Rev 13:3.
Real world context
(NY is just a tiny part of global commerce)
NY city commerce and international trade is just about $2-3 trillion a year, world commerce is well over $100 trillion a year. (CA ports have more trade/commerce than NY) NY is a tiny fraction of world commerce, it is not in control, it's just a cog in a much bigger wheel.
(all the merchants of the world lament)
A better argument would be Wash DC where the IMF WB and the UN sit with BIS that is an extension or central bank of all banks that DC controls. The BIS literally runs the entire banking system on the planet That is the foundation of this coming first time global system. (that is not here yet but soon and very soon).
What ties this all together is the mark of the beast so that all the merchants of the world have to partake in her adulteries, that is not here yet.
I have lived or spent some time in serveral countries around the world and I can tell you NY would not be on the top 5 list of evil, dark, sinful, wicked, cities.
The truth is none of know what that will be and look like. It's like trying to figure out who "the" Anti-Christ will be.
Jesus said it well in Matt 24 As you see these things take place, then you will know.
"so, you too, when you see all these things, [u]recognize that [v]He is near, right at the [w]door. 34 Truly I say to you, this [x]generation will not pass away until all these things take place. 35 Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will not pass away.
We have been trying to jump the gun on who is what for almost 2000 years and we have all been wrong for 2000 years. Even Irenaeus the disciple of Polycarp lamented so many were trying to figure out who the Anti-Christ was.
So as we see these things take place we can all come together and celebrate that we were all wrong!
Is not God doing these things Himself? Is not all of this being done by His hand as judgement?
Jesus did not die for our American culture, nation or govt. He died for His Church globally. Everything else has always been and always will be under God's judgment, including this nation. Jesus clearly told John that all the nations of the earth will come under the Authority of the Man of Sin. This authority was given to him for two purposes, to deceive all who are not written in the Lamb's book of life and to persecute true believers to get them to abandon their faith (the great falling away). It was too late when Adam and Eve fell. The only rescue plan (Ark) is Christ even before the foundation of the world.
Romans,
For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, (everyone outside the church) because that which is known about God is evident [m]within them; for God made it evident to them. For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse. For even though they knew God, they did not honor Him as God or give thanks, but they became futile in their speculations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing to be wise, they became fools, and exchanged the glory of the incorruptible God for an image in the form of corruptible man and of birds and four-footed animals and crawling creatures.
Therefore, God gave them over in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, so that their bodies would be dishonored among them. For they exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.
"After these things I saw another angel coming down from heaven, having great authority, and the earth was illuminated with his glory. And he cried mightily with a loud voice, saying, “Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and has become a dwelling place of demons, a prison for every foul spirit, and a cage for every unclean and hated bird!”
"And I heard another voice from heaven saying, “Come out of her, my people, lest you share in her sins, and lest you receive of her plagues. For her sins have reached to heaven, and God has remembered her iniquities."
"Therefore her plagues will come in one day—death and mourning and famine. And she will be utterly burned with fire, for strong is the Lord God who judges her." ~ REVELATION 18
I am Vice Chair of the Pastoral Council at my Church. Our biggest concern is how to get people to come back to Church in person (butts in pews). I would say that our attendance is down at least 30% since the pandemic. The youth, especially, are leaving in droves. It's no longer "cool" to talk about God. It is "cool" to strut around naked chanting "We're here, we're queer and we want your children". Now, they want not just a whole month to celebrate their perversity, but the whole summer! I don't know about the rest of you, but I have had it up to my eyeballs with pride month. I believe a lot of the LGBTQ community feels the same way. I pray that God will help to turn things around in our nation, before it's too late.
Jesus said, No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up on the last day. and that not everyone who calls me Lord Lord will enter the kingdom of heaven but only those who do the will of my father (only those who persevere to the end will be saved. The Gospel the Holy Spirit and the agape love we show as we live our lives is what Christ will use to draw people to himself, any other plan of men will fail. We could all be seeing the beginning of the great falling away and It's Christ who is doing the sifting.
That’s my general feeling at this point. The idea that Christ is sifting and separating. Lately, It really feels like a veil of protection has been lifted from us. All the crazy really IS coming out and God really IS allowing it. I hope it doesn’t ‘get bad’ either, but it has to get ‘too bad’ to set the stage for Jesus to come back. Our job is to be faithful. That’s what we are told. I’m making my peace with that. But I’m like many who think ‘does it really have to get super bad because I don’t want to be hurt and I don’t want my loved ones to be hurt’, so that’s a struggle.
I’d rather have a more faithful church with less people than more people and a ‘meh’ church.
🙌🏻 Thank you for this essay, Michael.
Carl,
Your right it does need some context, yes a fair question. (It needs Biblical and real world context)
Biblical context
Mystery Babylon is mentioned and described by name in two scriptures Rev 17&18
17, "the great harlot who sits on many waters, with whom the kings of the earth committed acts of immorality, and those who dwell on the earth were made drunk with the wine of her immorality.
the great harlot who sits on many waters, with whom the kings of the earth committed acts of immorality, and those who dwell on the earth were made drunk with the wine of her immorality."
(It also explains what the seven headed/10 crowned beast is).
Mystery Babylon comes in riding on the back of this (final) world empire.
18 describes the fall of MB
18 Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great! She has become a dwelling place of demons and a [b]prison of every unclean spirit, and a [c]prison of every unclean and hateful bird. 3 For all the nations [d]have drunk of the wine of the [e]passion of her immorality, and the kings of the earth have committed acts of immorality with her, and the merchants of the earth have become rich by the [f]wealth of her [g]sensuality.”
God warns His people (US) to come out of her (NY?) Come out of her, my people, so that you will not participate in her sins and receive of her plagues; 5 for her sins have [h]piled up as high as heaven, and God has remembered her iniquities.
Lament
And the kings of the earth, who committed acts of immorality and lived [l]sensuously with her, will weep and lament over her when they see the smoke of her burning...And the merchants of the earth weep and mourn over her, every ship master and every [u]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?’
Based on the Biblical description of Mystery Babylon, it's an economic system primarily (mark of the beast) the beast she rides in on. It obviously has a spiritual aspect to it as well, because she persecutes the saints (Dan 7:21, Rev 6:9-11 & 13:7-8). (The Vatican a tiny (the smallest) horn (nation) but the most Powerful?
The beast itself (the final world empire, 7 heads 10 horns), she rides in on destroys her and God put's it in the heart of the beast to do this REV 17:16-18.
Conclusions,
Real world,
(The beast she rides in on is not here yet)
MB rides into the world scene on the back of the final world empire (a beast) run by the two beasts the AC and FP. One clue is about it's authority is in Rev 13 where one of the beasts subdues all the nations and no one can make war with him, (that has not happened yet).
This current mess of world will lead to a war but that will lead to this final world empire and out of that rises the little horn and overthrows it (Dan 7:8-24) and he does it with great signs and wonders just like Jesus said in Matt 24. He is raised from the dead and the whole world runs after him thinking they have been rescued from this mess Rev 13:3.
Real world context
(NY is just a tiny part of global commerce)
NY city commerce and international trade is just about $2-3 trillion a year, world commerce is well over $100 trillion a year. (CA ports have more trade/commerce than NY) NY is a tiny fraction of world commerce, it is not in control, it's just a cog in a much bigger wheel.
(all the merchants of the world lament)
A better argument would be Wash DC where the IMF WB and the UN sit with BIS that is an extension or central bank of all banks that DC controls. The BIS literally runs the entire banking system on the planet That is the foundation of this coming first time global system. (that is not here yet but soon and very soon).
What ties this all together is the mark of the beast so that all the merchants of the world have to partake in her adulteries, that is not here yet.
I have lived or spent some time in serveral countries around the world and I can tell you NY would not be on the top 5 list of evil, dark, sinful, wicked, cities.
The truth is none of know what that will be and look like. It's like trying to figure out who "the" Anti-Christ will be.
Jesus said it well in Matt 24 As you see these things take place, then you will know.
"so, you too, when you see all these things, [u]recognize that [v]He is near, right at the [w]door. 34 Truly I say to you, this [x]generation will not pass away until all these things take place. 35 Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will not pass away.
We have been trying to jump the gun on who is what for almost 2000 years and we have all been wrong for 2000 years. Even Irenaeus the disciple of Polycarp lamented so many were trying to figure out who the Anti-Christ was.
So as we see these things take place we can all come together and celebrate that we were all wrong!
Welcome to the United States of Gomorrah.
Is not God doing these things Himself? Is not all of this being done by His hand as judgement?
Jesus did not die for our American culture, nation or govt. He died for His Church globally. Everything else has always been and always will be under God's judgment, including this nation. Jesus clearly told John that all the nations of the earth will come under the Authority of the Man of Sin. This authority was given to him for two purposes, to deceive all who are not written in the Lamb's book of life and to persecute true believers to get them to abandon their faith (the great falling away). It was too late when Adam and Eve fell. The only rescue plan (Ark) is Christ even before the foundation of the world.
Romans,
For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, (everyone outside the church) because that which is known about God is evident [m]within them; for God made it evident to them. For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse. For even though they knew God, they did not honor Him as God or give thanks, but they became futile in their speculations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing to be wise, they became fools, and exchanged the glory of the incorruptible God for an image in the form of corruptible man and of birds and four-footed animals and crawling creatures.
Therefore, God gave them over in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, so that their bodies would be dishonored among them. For they exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.
The Fall of Babylon the Great:
"After these things I saw another angel coming down from heaven, having great authority, and the earth was illuminated with his glory. And he cried mightily with a loud voice, saying, “Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and has become a dwelling place of demons, a prison for every foul spirit, and a cage for every unclean and hated bird!”
"And I heard another voice from heaven saying, “Come out of her, my people, lest you share in her sins, and lest you receive of her plagues. For her sins have reached to heaven, and God has remembered her iniquities."
"Therefore her plagues will come in one day—death and mourning and famine. And she will be utterly burned with fire, for strong is the Lord God who judges her." ~ REVELATION 18
So where are the other events leading up.to ch 18? Where are all the seal and trumpet judgements fulfilled? This current NY is not mystery babylon.
Hello Daniel. I don't understand your question. Please elaborate.