Friday: Further Thought – Babylon and Armageddon
Further Thought: “In several places in the battle of Armageddon narrative the hideous creatures and the ugly events take the back stage for a moment and a glimpse of more personal truth appears. As we have seen, one of them is Revelation 16:15: ‘Behold, I come like a thief!
Image © Stan Myers from GoodSalt.com
Blessed is he who stays awake and keeps his clothes with him, so that he may not go naked and be shamefully exposed’ (NIV). This text, coming right in the middle of the one place in the Bible that actually names Armageddon, echoes many New Testament passages about personal preparation for the return of Jesus and the events of the end.
“Another such text is Revelation 17:14: ‘These will make war with the Lamb, but the Lamb will overcome them, because he is Lord of lords and King of kings — and those with him are called and chosen and faithful’ (author’s translation). Here the great war at the end engages an army of people whose primary purpose is not to destroy others with weapons, but to be faithful to their divine calling and election. This is a very different kind of battle from the ones that nations and insurgent operations still fight today. As I have said repeatedly, the battle of Armageddon is a struggle for the mind. It is also a battle for the heart — a call to heartfelt allegiance to the Lamb that was slain (Rev. 5:9-10; Rev. 5:12; Rev. 13:8)”. — Jon Paulien, Armageddon at the Door (Hagerstown, Md.: Autumn House Publishing, a division of Review and Herald Publishing Association, 2008), p. 193.
Discussion Questions:
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What a great synopsis of our lesson study.
Tucked between the lines of destruction a call for hope and victory.
God of love is the only one can be constant, consistent and persistent in his call to the people.
Sabbath - Mystery - Something that is difficult or impossible to understand or explain
Revelation is book of mystery, it's hard to understand.
God - Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear it and take to heart what is written in it, because the time is near.
Sunday - Wine - wine and wise does not go together
Walk in a straight line test given to one who is influenced by wine. why? He thinks he is walking in straight, his mind is telling him he is walking in straight but his feet is not able to because of the influence of the drug.
God - 7 The end of all things is near. Therefore be alert and of sober mind so that you may pray.
Monday - Babylon the GREAT is fallen - The greatness of this world will be turned in to ashes.
God - Come out of her MY PEOPLE
Tuesday - Armageddon - a battle for your mind, soul and body
God - Do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell.
Wednesday - Armageddon and Mt Carmel 1- Power is given to deceive God's people
God - Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me
Thursday - Armageddon and Mt Carmel 2 - If the Lord is God, follow him; but if Baal is God, follow him. But the people said NOTHING.
The people knew it was not wise to demonstrate their belief in God.
God's People - I am the only one of the Lord’s prophets left
The battle will be intensified at the end of the world and we will be made a spectacle to the world for our disobedience to the beast but the victory is sure in our Lord Jesus Christ.
What a wonderful exposition of the text - very uplifting and helpful.
So good to have understanding of truth.
Yes, this last battle is over the right to worship God according to one's convictions, and not according to the dictates of the State, with it's endorsement and enforcement of false teachings. It's the war in heaven now taking place upon the earth, and Satan's last effort to overthrow the faith of those who remain true to the word of God by using the force of the State against any who resist the false teachings of Babylon.
We can only teach others what we ourselves have studied and understand ourselves. It's not difficult to see and show the symbolic nature of these prophecies, and how literal meanings do not really fit in a book loaded with symbols. Jesus' parables are a good source for helping to understand the Revelation.
To recognize Babylon's false teachings, one need only be sound in the teachings of God's Word. The Word of God is only a lamp for our feet and light for our path if we take heed to know it for ourselves and follow it's teachings in our daily life. Anything false will expose itself to any who have their lamps filled with Oil.
The church becomes united with the world as it's members become united with it. The higher the percentage of members attached to the world, the more united that church will be in it's policies, practices, and sympathies. It is apparent in some congregations that the worldly mold is strong, and many institutions have become powerful influences for the world instead of Christ. Sad when this takes place. What do you do when you see it creeping into your local church? Is there a wrong way to address these issues?
I think we have to watch out for the seductive appeal of money in the US culture. Money isn’t bad, but the love of money is the root of evil. Babylon worshipped gold and silver while ignoring the One who created it. We must keep our eyes fixed on Jesus and remember that He is the great pearl without price and the true treasure. What use are fancy cars, nice clothes and a big house if we don’t have Christ. They are rubbish in comparison to the great love and mercy of Jesus. Let us ask the Holy Spirit to help us set aside all hindrances and run the race set before us for the great prize of seeing Our Savior face to face.
It's good to understand that the battle is in our mind. The churches are getting more and more roped into popular doctrines coined up by men to attract church goers and in most cases fleece them of their monies. We must be discerning and put our total faith in God, praying for his divine guidance in our pursuit of wealth.