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Revelation
Insights #5
Welcome To Babylon
The Land of Merchants
(Ezekiel 16:29 NIV)
A Mad, Bad, Sad World
For those who choose not to look
beyond the horizons of their own lives, the world can appear as being rather a
pleasant place . . . after all, we might hear them say, the economy is
flourishing, we are prospering, our cupboards are full, holidays are just around
the corner, the kids are well and doing well, and all-in-all we have very little to complain
about. The sad fact, however, is that the great majority of people on this planet
are either starving or desperately ill, living in fear or sorrow, and/or merely eking out an
existence - a meaningless existence. While our
own private world
might be somewhat comfortable, for millions of people on this planet, life is
only a little way from our worst perceptions of a living hell.
Let us imagine for a moment what
the all-seeing eye of God is confronted with in the course of just one day? Is
there ever any one second in any one day when God does not see something that
must break His infinitely compassionate heart? Can God be happy for one second
in any one day as He sees children being abandoned, neglected, molested, abused,
kidnapped and being sold on sex markets? Can God be happy for one second in any
one day as He sees people and animals being cruelly treated and killed, homes
being robbed, accidents taking place, mothers and fathers getting divorced,
injustices being committed, women being raped, and on and on and on? Most
assuredly, this paragraph has the potential to be the longest paragraph ever
written
While the commercials may paint a
rather rosy picture of our world, and while the public relations exercises of
large institutions may give us the impression that all is well, and while the
overtures of governments might speak of future hope, prosperity and peace, and
while the busy-ness of our lives may draw our minds away from the heartaches and
the hurts of people all around us, the truth is that for most people on this
planet, every day of their lives is but another chapter in a horror story - a
horror story that will only end, either in the grave, or with the coming
of Jesus.
`There are multitudes struggling
with poverty, compelled to labor hard for small wages, unable to secure the
barest necessities of life. Toil and deprivation, with no hope of better things,
make their burden heavy. When pain and sickness are added, the burden is almost
unbearable. Care-worn and oppressed, they know not where to turn for relief.'
(9T90.4)
Why does God not do something
about this? you might ask.
He did. He made you and I . . .
In truth, therefore, our world is an
extremely sad world, an extremely mad world, and an extremely bad world. So bad,
in fact, that if it were not for law and for law-enforcement, we would surely be
living in chaos right now - that is, if we were still living at all.
Some years ago, the city of New
York experienced a protracted power failure. Realizing that security systems were disabled, thousands upon thousands took to the streets, looted
stores, broke into homes and cars, and bedlam reigned until the power was
restored. Unrestrained by fear of the law, and aided by dense darkness,
human nature revealed its true character . . . and the world was given
a frightening preview of what is yet to come.
There is no question, therefore, that
our world is primed for destruction. We only live as we do today
because the angels of God are using various agencies to hold back the winds of strife. (Revelation 7:1)
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`Hunger does not result from scarcity of food; it comes from the economic
and political choices of well-fed people.' (Tom Dybdahl, The Empty
Breadbasket, p.12).
`Poverty,' according to the Second
Carnegie Report into Poverty in Southern Africa, `does not occur in a
vacuum; it is the consequence of a process which enriches some men while
impoverishing others.' (The Johannesburg Star, 26th January, 1989) |
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It is in this light, therefore,
that I wish to welcome my reader to Babylon. Welcome to a world
where the rich get richer and the poor get poorer, not by chance, but as the
result of the
cunningly devised plans of the rich; a world where the hungry only
get more hungry, not because there is a lack of food, but only because there is
an abundance of greed and a lack of genuine compassion in high places; a world
where hope is unknown to the masses, not because there is no hope, but because
the custodians of hope are ineffectual in sharing their hope. Welcome to a world
where even the desire to live has gone from the hearts of untold millions, a
world where men's hearts are even now "failing them for fear, and for looking
after those things which are coming on the earth." (Luke 21:26)
Welcome to "Babylon, land of
merchants!" (Ezekiel 16:29 NIV).
Welcome to a world that is driven by the desire for money - a world where greed
is unashamedly dubbed "the theology of Wall Street." Welcome to a world
where the largest and most "respected" institutions on the planet profit handsomely
and shamelessly out of the
afflictions, the ignorance, and the fears of men. Welcome to a world where everything that can be traded is traded - even
"the bodies and
souls of men." (Revelation
18:10)
Yes, welcome to a world that has
proportionately more financial experts than ever before, and yet there is more
debt and poverty than ever before; a world that has proportionately more medical
professionals than ever before, and yet there is more sickness than ever before;
a world that has more psychiatrists than ever before, and yet there is more
mental illness than ever before; a world that has proportionately more marriage counselors than ever before, and
yet there are more divorces and unhappy marriages than ever before . . .
Welcome to a world where
governments are but pawns in the hands of the mega-rich, where wars are arranged
and where millions may die - not for the sake of some widely-publicized "noble cause"
- but simply because war can be extremely profitable to those who pull the financial
strings. Welcome to a world that is kept extremely "well informed" by a huge
media network, but where the real news, that is, the news behind the news, is
known only to a few.
In general, the history of this
world is a record
of cruel oppression - a sad testimony of the "inhumanity of man towards man."
Scripture itself alludes to oppression more than one hundred times. So where is
the oppression today? Is oppression no longer a problem? Has anything changed
over the centuries? Is man more morally and/or socially conscious than he was in
days gone by? Not a chance!
The truth is that society today is
probably more cruelly oppressed than ever before, the only difference
being that the modern-day oppressors have learnt how to condition the minds of
the masses through "media dazzle," and they have become masters at veiling their
profit-motivated designs
under a cloak of morality and/or integrity and/or social responsibility. While on the one hand public relations
departments will trumpet loudly that the institutions that they represent really
do "care," on
the other hand those same institutions rob the poor and the widow, deprive people of their homes,
"strip the land bare," and all the while
they profit handsomely and proudly out of the suffering and uncertainty that they themselves
have authored.
Should my reader have any doubts
about the truthfulness of the latter statement, the modules that follow will more
than eradicate those doubts.
Meditational Nuggets: `We know that we are children
of God, and that the whole world
is under the control of the evil one.' (1 John 5:19)
This is why `the dark places of the earth are full
of the habitations of cruelty.' (Psalm 74:20 NKJV)
We should not be surprised to
discover, therefore, that `there is a kind of man
whose teeth are like swords And his jaw teeth like knives,
to devour the
afflicted from the earth and the needy from among men.' (Proverbs 30:14 NAS)
`Truly the hearts of the sons of
men are full of evil; madness is in their hearts while they live, and after that
they go to the dead.' (Ecclesiastes 9:3)
A Mad, Bad, Sad Economy
Living as we do in an extremely bad, mad,
sad world, we cannot but expect that our world economy is
anything other than bad, mad, and sad - and it surely is. In this regard, the following comment on James 5:1-6
is of particular interest.
`The Scriptures describe the
condition of the world just before Christ's second coming. James the apostle
pictures the greed and oppression that will prevail. This is a picture of what
exists today
[written prior to 1900]. By every species of oppression and
extortion, men are piling up colossal fortunes, while the cries of
starving
humanity are coming up before God.' (COL170)
In the light of this statement,
we may draw the following conclusions:
(1) Oppression and extortion were
rampant prior to the year 1900. As such, we may safely conclude that oppression and
extortion are even more rampant today.
(2) Mega rich institutions are
behind much of the oppression and extortion that is practiced in our world
today.
(3) Much of the poverty in our
world today is the result of the oppressive and extortionary practices of
mega-rich institutions.
(4) Because we hear much about
the starving masses, and much about the mega-rich, and very
little about the greed, the oppression and the extortion that are so rampant
in our world today, we must conclude that the oppressive and extortionary practices of the mega-rich are
very well camouflaged (usually in the name of PR).
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`Do not the rich oppress you?' (James 2:6 NKJV)
`In the day of His wrath, He [the
LORD]
shall execute the heads of many countries.' (Psalm 110:5-6 NKJV) |
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Bearing these thoughts in mind, let
us now turn our attention to Revelation Chapter 18. This chapter assures us
that in the last days Babylon is going to fall, and that her economy is going to
fall with her. This
means that if
we are living in the last days today - and we surely are - then we are currently living in
spiritual Babylon and, as such, our economy today must be typically Babylonish.
In this light, let us again
consider an interesting statement relative to Revelation chapter 18.
`This Scripture (Rev 18:1, 2, 4) points forward to a time when the announcement of
the fall of Babylon, as made by the second angel of Revelation 14, is to be
repeated, with the additional mention of the
corruptions that have been entering the
various organizations that constitute Babylon, since that message was first
given, in the summer of 1844.' (GC603)
From this statement we may
conclude, . . .
(1) that we are in fact living in
"Babylon" today,
(2) that our present-day Babylon is made up
of "various organizations" and/or institutions,
(3) that these
organizations and/or institutions have become especially corrupted since 1844,
(4) that these organizations have
a huge global presence and that they most probably have a significant impact on
life as we know it.
As such, we need to prepare
ourselves for a few surprises. If this is "Babylon," and if our economy today is
typically Babylonish in nature, then "the news behind the news" is certain to
startle us.
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`These kindred heresies, and the rejection of the truth, convert the church
into Babylon. Kings, merchants, rulers, and religious teachers are
all in corrupt harmony.' (2SM68.2) |
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The Big Four
One sure way of judging
the true nature of an economy is to examine the character of the major
institutions that buoy up that economy. As such, let us take a moment to
consider four of the richest, largest and most influential institutions in the
world, namely . . .
(1) the Catholic
church,
(2) the medical/drug industry,
(3) the banking industry, and
(4) the insurance industry.
As we consider these
four institutions, please understand that we are not leveling criticism at the
many fine, honest and well-intentioned people who are employed by, or who are
associated with these institutions - nor are we questioning any legitimate
service that these institutions may render. We will be noticing, however, that
the spirit of Babylon has infiltrated a few boardrooms.
As we well know, each of
these institutions is founded on and thrives on meeting the distinctive needs of
society. Yet there is an abundance of evidence to suggest that an avaricious
spirit dominates each of these institutions, a spirit that is infinitely more
concerned with profiting out of the needs of society than it is
concerned with
satisfying or meeting the needs of society - and this point is certainly
confirmed by the "colossal fortunes" that have been and are being amassed by
each of these institutions.
In the modules following
I will prove to my reader that a number of corruptions have taken root within
these institutions, and that these corruptions have given rise to a number of
very serious tensions . . .
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`The same spirit
that existed among the Jews, leading them to substitute gain for godliness,
and outward pomp for inward purity, curses the Christian world today.'
(2SP123.3)
And if this spirit
curses the Christian world today, the curse on the non-Christian world can
only be tenfold worse. |
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¤
tensions between (a) doing what is morally correct, and (b) doing what will be
most profitable,
¤ tensions
between (a) the satisfying of societies needs and (b) the invention of and/or exaggeration of
societies needs,
¤ tensions
between (a) helping, serving and educating society and (b) capitalizing on the misfortune,
the fear, and the
ignorance of society,
¤ tensions
between (a) the realization of reasonable returns - which is the reasonable
right of any organization that provides a valid public service - and (b) the amassing of
"colossal fortunes" at the expense of the man in the street.
As can be expected in a mad, bad,
sad world, covetousness has triumphed over integrity and, as a direct result, we
now find ourselves living in a largely
usurious economy - that is,
according to ancient definition, an
economy that not only bleeds society through
excessive interest, but one that actually
uses the misfortunes, the
afflictions, and the ignorance of the masses to amass colossal fortunes.
Meditational Nuggets:
`The ancient problem of
"usury," in the form of the exploitation of the ignorant poor by moneylenders,
is still important in many parts of the world.' (Professor Kenneth E. Boulding,
Encyclopedia Britannica, Vol.17, p.959)
`Usury enshrines the
principles of exploitation, greed and guaranteed gain at the expense of others.
It is diametrically opposed to the concept of people living and transacting in
an atmosphere of mutual trust, concern and good will. The current global
monetary system gives control to those who create money and charge interest
[reserve banks and banks], leaving the majority of the world's population open
to manipulation and exploitation.' (PAID News, Autumn 1990, p.1)
`The biggest and most modern
buildings in the blighted and debt-ridden downtowns of the world are still banks
and insurance companies. Both are active in usury in slightly different ways and
have cornered the larger part of the wealth of the world.' (R. K. Hoskins, War
Cycles Peace Cycles, p.10)
`Will you judge this city
of bloodshed? Then confront her with all her detestable practices and say, "You
take [a] usury and [b] excessive interest . . . There is a conspiracy of her princes
within her like a roaring lion tearing its prey; they devour people, take
treasures and precious things and make many widows within her. Her officials
within her are like wolves tearing their prey; they shed blood and kill people
to make unjust gain . . . The people of the land practice extortion and commit
robbery, they oppress the poor and needy and ill-treat the alien, denying them
justice." '
(Ezekiel 22:2-29)
If we were to define usury as the
act of "using" the negative circumstances of others to advantage
ourselves, then it is obvious
that our "big four"
thrive on usury. You see, whichever way we view these institutions, the tragic
fact today is that, . . .
(1) the Catholic church
amasses colossal fortunes, as ever, out of
guilt,
(in times gone by she even sold "certificates of pardon" to
guilt-ridden believers),
(2) the medical/drug industry amasses colossal fortunes out of
sickness,
(3) the banking industry amasses colossal fortunes out of
poverty,
and
(4) the insurance industry amasses colossal fortunes out of
fear.
This means, in short, that our
present-day world economy is largely an usurious economy in that it is
founded upon, vitally dependant on, and flourishing on
guilt,
and sickness,
and poverty,
and fear.
Does that not sound like Babylon to you?
Could anything be more sad
and more "babylonish" than the fact that our current-day world economy is as dependant on human
affliction and suffering as a table is dependant on its legs?
To make matters worse, far
worse, and this I will also convincingly prove to my reader in the modules
following, . . .
(1) the Catholic church has
little in its make-up today that relieves guilt, but much that promotes guilt,
(2) the medical/drug
industry has little in its make-up today that actually heals sickness, but much that promotes
sickness (or that keeps us alive while we remain sick and while we continue to
pay the bills),
(3) the banking industry
has nothing in its make-up today that relieves poverty, but much that promotes poverty,
(4) the insurance industry
has nothing in its make-up today that relieves fear, but much that promotes fear.
In short, therefore, each of
these institutions is uniquely positioned, not only to amass "colossal fortunes"
out of the misfortunes, the afflictions, the fears, and the ignorance of society, but even to fuel and/or to exaggerate those
misfortunes and afflictions. While powerful public relations exercises may well have conditioned
our minds into believing otherwise, it should take only a little unbiased thought to
convince us that this is in fact the truth.
Bearing in mind, therefore, that
our current-day world economy is vitally dependent on
guilt,
and sickness,
and poverty
and fear,
let us focus our minds on a few sobering realities . . .
¤ In order to boost
the economy of a country, or of the world, all that we have to do is to ensure
that mankind is more severely plagued by guilt,
by sickness,
by poverty
and by fear.
¤ Anything that
relieves guilt,
sickness,
poverty
and fear,
would constitute a most serious threat to the world economy.
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`Between truth and error
there is an irrepressible conflict. To uphold and defend the one is to
attack and overthrow the other.' (GC11-126) |
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¤ The gospel of Jesus is
the greatest threat to our present-day world economy for the simple reason that the gospel, which
includes the gospel of health (MM259), is God's failsafe answer to
guilt,
to sickness,
to poverty
and to fear.
Looking to the future, therefore, there is no question that the dissemination of
gospel truth will in some way contribute to the collapse of our Babylonish
economy.
Is this not perhaps one
good reason why God's children will be blamed for the calamities that are soon
to come upon the earth? (Mar176)
¤ The troubles and
the tragedies of our present-day world are not so much the result of the
meanderings of fate, or the result of a wayward economy, as they are the result
of circumstances that have been ably engineered by the financial puppet masters
of our world. Does this not explain why so many country's, those that only
recently were peaceful and prosperous, are today riddled with crime and poverty
and every manner of affliction - and why their economies, sustained as ever by
the "big four," are still booming in spite of these afflictions?
The sad truth
is that in our Babylonish economy, crime does pay - and handsomely, guilt does
pay - and handsomely, sickness does pay - and handsomely, poverty does pay - and
handsomely, and insecurity and fear do pay - and handsomely.
¤ We have the
assurance that `poverty is coming upon this world.' (Ev240). While some of the
poverty-stricken will have authored their own fate, the great majority will be
victims of boardroom decisions - victims of "the rot behind the recession."
¤ Had the church
been true to her mandate, these institutions would not be enjoying the power and
the influence that they currently enjoy. This again confirms that our Laodicean
lethargy is largely to blame for much of the hardship, affliction, and tragedy
in our world today.
Meditational Nuggets: `I looked and saw all the
oppression that was taking place under the sun: I saw the tears of the oppressed
- and they have no comforter; power was on the side of their oppressors - and
they have no comforter.' (Ecclesiastes 4:1)
`Men cry out under a load of
oppression; they plead for relief from the arm of the powerful. But no
one says, 'Where is God my Maker." ' (Job 35:9)
`The treacherous dealer deals treacherously, and the plunderer plunders.'
(Isaiah 21:2 NKJV)
`In his arrogance the wicked man
hunts down the weak, who are caught in the schemes he devises.' (Psalm 10:2)
`They crush your people, O LORD;
they oppress your inheritance. They slay the widow and the alien; they murder
the fatherless.' (Psalm 94:5)
`The people of God are
sighing and crying for the abominations done in the land.' (5T474)
`Like birds caught in a snare, so the
sons of men are snared in an evil time.' (Ecclesiastes 9:12 NKJV)
`We pay for the water we drink,
and our wood comes at a price. We labor and have no rest.' (Lamentations 5:4-5
NKJV)
`Will the evildoers never learn -
those who devour my people as men eat bread and who do not call on God?' (Psalm
53:4)
Realizing, therefore, that all
that we read and hear about is not necessarily all that is, and remembering that
oppression is probably more rife today than ever before, and bearing in mind
that "mega rich institutions are behind much of the oppression and extortion
that is practiced in our world today," and that oppression and extortion are certainly
more effectively concealed today than ever before, let us continue to cast a critical eye upon the big four of
our Babylonish economy.
The Apocalyptic Horsemen
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"The amount of energy and
money and ingenuity applied to corporate spin and corporate lying has never
been greater or more effective than it is now. The biggest delusion of our
times is that great corporations have an ethical centre. They have
absolutely no ethical or moral centre." (Paul Sheehan, Sydney Morning
Herald, 28 February, 2001) |
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We have now come a long way
together, dear reader, and at this stage you are probably wondering whether I am
suggesting that the "big
four" of planet earth are the apocalyptic horsemen of
Revelation chapter six. The answer to this question is a resounding NO!
Please notice that the focus of
Revelation 1-8 is on four horsemen who sit upon and direct four horses. The
horses are simply vehicles that are being directed and used by four
ill-intentioned "riders" or, for lack of a better term, "spirits." Clearly, therefore, the horses in
themselves are not the architects of evil as are the "riders" or spirits who
direct and control them.
It is my belief that these four
institutions are the horses of Revelation 6 - but they are not the riders. I repeat, therefore, that we are
not leveling criticism at the many fine, honest and well-intentioned people who
are employed by, or who are associated with these institutions - nor are we
questioning any legitimate service that these institutions may render. Our
concern, however, is with the "spirit" that "sits upon" and that currently directs,
sways, and controls
these institutions.
While at this point in time it
would be unrealistic of me to expect my reader to believe as I do, I now need to state, and this I
do humbly and sincerely, that I am as convinced as ever I will be
that "the spirits" that currently control and direct these four institutions are
the Apocalyptic Horsemen. Wherever we mention these institutions from here
on, therefore, please bear in mind that they are merely the "horses" and that
the primary focus is on the ill-intentioned spirits (the apocalyptic horsemen)
who are straddled upon and who currently direct these institutions.
The onus now rests on me to
support this interpretation, and it is going to take the remainder of this
module and at least four more modules in order to do so. Please bear with me,
therefore, and
please reserve your judgment until such time as all the (shocking) evidence has
been presented.
The "Legs" Of Our
Babylonish World Economy |
|
(1) |
(2) |
(3) |
(4) |
The
world's mega-
rich institutions |
Catholic
Church |
Medical/Drug Industry |
Banking
Industry |
Insurance
Industry |
Primary income boosters |
Guilt
Amassing colossal
fortunes out of our spiritual woes |
Sickness
Amassing colossal
fortunes out of our physical woes |
Poverty
Amassing colossal
fortunes out of our financial woes |
Fear
Amassing colossal
fortunes out of our fear and insecurity |
Positioning |
Uniquely positioned to profit out of guilt while promoting guilt |
Uniquely positioned to profit out of sickness while promoting sickness |
Uniquely positioned to profit out of poverty while promoting poverty |
Uniquely positioned to profit out of fear while promoting fear |
To
Ensure Future Growth |
Keep
people ignorant of the true character of God and of His forgiving grace |
Keep
people and health professionals ignorant of
the true nature of disease and
the laws of health |
Covertly fuel
the fires of inflation and thus force individuals and industry into
high-interest debt. |
Capitalize on the fruits of instability and godlessness - such as crime, murder,
insecurity and fear of death. |
Top-of-the-range "Products" |
Eternal life at a heavy price |
Life
at an exorbitant price |
Money at an exorbitant price |
Peace of mind at an exorbitant price |
Payment Plan |
Pay
monthly and reap when you
die |
Pay
monthly and reap when death threatens |
Reap
now and pay monthly till you
die,
or until your debt kills you |
Pay
monthly and reap when you die
|
Greatest Allies |
Ignorance and forgetfulness of God |
Ignorance and forgetfulness of God |
Ignorance and forgetfulness of God |
Ignorance and forgetfulness of God |
Greatest Threat |
The gospel
is God's answer to
guilt. |
The gospel,
which includes the gospel of health, is God's answer to
sickness. |
The gospel
is the good news of a God who provides for us and who shields us from
poverty. |
The gospel
assures us that if we fear (revere) God, we have nothing else to
fear. |
Gospel Promises |
`Whatever the sin, if the
soul repents and believes, the guilt is washed away in the blood of
Christ.' (DA322) |
`The laws of nature, as truly as the precepts of the
Decalogue, are divine, and
only in
obedience to them can health be recovered or preserved.' (LLM110) |
`My God shall supply
all
your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.'
(Psalm 34:19).
`There is no want to those who fear Him.'
(Philippians 4:11, 19) |
`I have the keys of Hades and of Death.'
(Revelation 1:18)
`Call upon Me in the day of trouble;
I will
deliver you.' (Psalm 50:15)
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`In the kingdoms of the world, position meant self-aggrandizement. The
people were supposed to exist for the benefit of the ruling classes.
Influence, wealth, education, were so many means of gaining control of
the masses for the use of the leaders. The higher classes were to think,
decide, enjoy, and rule; the lower were to obey and serve. Religion,
like all things else, was a matter of authority. The people were
expected to believe and practice as their superiors directed. The right
of man as man, to think and act for himself, was wholly unrecognized.'
(DA 550.2)
Has anything changed? |
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In modules 1 and 2 we demonstrated that our traditional interpretation of the apocalyptic horsemen
is more than questionable. Then in modules 4 to 5 we assembled a number of
logical guidelines to direct us in our search for a more credible interpretation.
In the light of those guidelines, therefore, let us now apply the following tests
to this possible interpretation:
TEST 1: The true interpretation
must correspond perfectly with
the
interpretive keys that we assembled in modules four and five.
TEST 2: The true interpretation
must correspond perfectly with the
tabulated comparison of the True
Vineyard and the Corrupted Vineyard or Wasteland that we compiled in module five.
TEST 3: The true interpretation
must correspond perfectly with the actual description that is given in
Revelation chapter 6 of the four horses and
their riders.
TEST 4:
An in-depth investigation (which will be included in modules 7 to 10) must leave
us in no doubt (a) that the spirits that currently dominate these institutions do have agendas and characteristics that
perfectly match the characteristics of the Apocalyptic Horsemen, and (b) that the
current activities of these institutions may be considered as judgments from God
- judgments that have come upon the earth largely in consequence of Laodicean
lassitude.
TEST 1:
The true interpretation
must correspond perfectly with
the
interpretive keys that we assembled in modules four and five.
In prophecy, horses may
represent
"unrighteous" organizations . . . |
Key no. |
Characteristic |
Catholic Church |
Medical Drug Industry |
Banking Industry |
Insurance Industry |
Key
1 |
that
thrive on "meeting the needs" of people. |
YES |
YES |
YES |
YES |
Key
2 |
that
do not have the best interests of people at heart - although they may
profess "to care" (heard that before?). |
YES |
YES |
YES |
YES |
Key
3 |
that are large and
powerful. |
YES |
YES |
YES |
YES |
Key
4 |
that are generally
admired and highly regarded. |
YES |
YES |
YES |
YES |
Key
5 |
that "satisfy" a
widely felt public and/or social need. |
YES |
YES |
YES |
YES |
Key
6 |
that have a great
public following (even though they do not always act in the best interests of
the public). |
YES |
YES |
YES |
YES |
Key
7 |
that work in "corrupt harmony" against the best interests of
society. |
YES |
YES |
YES |
YES |
Key
8 |
that
have a global presence and a world-wide influence. |
YES |
YES |
YES |
YES |
Key
9 |
that could fill the
office of merchant, guardian or official. |
YES |
YES |
YES |
YES |
Key
10 |
that are pretty
much a law unto themselves. |
YES |
YES |
YES |
YES |
Key
11 |
that existed prior to 1844, but that have become especially corrupted since 1844. |
YES? |
YES |
YES |
YES |
Key
12 |
that
could be described as either an organization, an institution, or an
industry. |
YES |
YES |
YES |
YES |
Key
13 |
that
are led by "human instrumentalities." |
YES |
YES |
YES |
YES |
Key
14 |
that
are cloaked in a garb of holiness and/or morality and/or respectability
and or public "service." |
YES |
YES |
YES |
YES |
Key
15 |
all
of which might serve in one way or another to misrepresent the character
of God and to obliterate the knowledge of God. |
YES |
YES |
YES |
YES |
Key
16 |
one
of which presents mankind with "another God" |
YES |
|
|
|
Key
17 |
one
of which presents mankind with an alternative to obedience. |
|
YES |
|
|
Key
18 |
one
of which presents mankind with an alternative to depending on God. |
|
|
YES |
|
Key
19 |
one
of which presents mankind with an alternative to trusting in God. |
|
|
|
YES |
|
TEST 2:
The true interpretation must
correspond perfectly with the
tabulated comparison of the True
Vineyard and the Corrupted Wasteland that we compiled in module five.
Because there is still much to be
said about these four institutions (and much that the world will probably never know), I must
again urge my reader to reserve judgment until
much later in this exercise. In the meantime, I invite you to carefully consider
whether
the big four fit into our tabular representation of the true and the corrupted vineyard
(Babylon).
The True Vineyard |
(1) |
(2) |
(3) |
(4) |
Wine-yard Owner |
Wall |
Winepress |
Watchtower |
God |
Moral Law |
Natural Law |
Temple |
A God
To
Love |
A
Law
To
Obey |
A
Nature
To
Depend On |
(A
Place
Of)
Worship |
Rest In His Proprietorship |
Rest In His
Protection |
Rest In His
Provision |
Rest In His
Promises |
Life
Giver |
Life
Guard |
Life
Support |
Life
Line |
Know
Me |
Obey My
Moral Laws * |
Obey
My
Natural Laws |
Trust Me |
"Fear (or revere) God" |
"Give Glory to Him" |
"Worship Him" |
Freedom |
The Corrupted "Wasteland" |
A
human instrumentality posing as God |
Human instrumentalities posing as our great protectors |
Human instrumentalities posing as our great providers |
Human instrumentalities posing as great promise-keepers |
A man-made alternative to God |
Man-made alternatives to obeying God |
Man-made alternatives to depending on God |
Man-made alternatives to trusting in God |
Promoting
Godlessness |
Promoting
Disobedience
* |
Promoting
Self-Dependence |
Promoting
Self-Belief |
Resulting In
Guilt,
Skepticism, Pride
and Infidelity |
Resulting In
Spiritual, Mental
and Physical Ills |
Resulting In
Poverty, Want, and Hardship |
Resulting In
Fear, Anxiety
and
Insecurity |
Fear
(Revere) Man |
Trust Man And Give Glory to Man |
The Catholic
Church
& The Pope? |
The Medical/Drug
Industry? |
The Banking
Industry? |
The Insurance
Industry? |
Slavery |
`There is a religion of
man [that leads to slavery] and a religion of God [that leads to freedom].'
(2SM379)
`Fear of man will prove
to be a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord is kept safe.' (Proverbs 29:25) |
* `There
are many ways of practicing the healing art; but there is only
one way that heaven approves. God's remedies are the simple
agencies of nature, that will not debilitate the system
through their powerful properties.
Health is to be secured
through obedience to the laws that God has established for the
good of all mankind. The laws of nature, as truly as the
precepts of the Decalogue, are divine, and
only in
obedience to them can health be recovered or preserved.
The only hope of better things is in the education of the people in right
principles. Let physicians teach the people that
restorative power is not in drugs, but
in nature.' (CH323; MH113; CH90) |
|
TEST 3:
The true interpretation must
correspond perfectly with the description that is given of the four horses and
their riders in Revelation chapter 6.
The White Horse & Its Rider
Revelation 6:2 |
A white
horse |
White is
a symbol of purity and, as such, it is a fitting symbol or color for a
religious body.
This
white horse rider, therefore,
is "carried" by religion. |
Its
rider held a bow |
Scripture indicates that Jesus has many symbolic bows (His children, His
wrath, the conscience, blessings withdrawn etcetera). These are the
"weapons" that Jesus uses in the cause of truth and in the best interests of
His children. The fact that this rider holds only one bow suggests that this
is not Jesus but an imposter.
William Barclay tells us that this bow represents military power.
This
white horse rider, therefore,
is "carried" by religion. He is someone other than Jesus, someone who
depends on military or governmental power to advance his cause. |
He was
given a crown, |
Jesus is
the eternal king and, as such, he has always had a crown (many in fact). The
fact that this rider was given a solitary crown implies that there was a
time when he never had a crown. Again, therefore, this is not Jesus - but an
imposter.
This
white horse rider, therefore, is "carried" by religion. He is someone other
than Jesus, someone who wears a crown, someone who depends on military or
governmental power to advance his cause. |
He rode
out as a conqueror bent on conquest. |
In
Revelation 19 we read that Jesus is bent on justice. This rider, by
contrast, is bent only on conquest.
`Satan
is filled with wrath against Jesus. But he cannot hurt the Saviour except by
conquering those for whom Christ died. He knows that when through his
devices souls are ruined, the Saviour is wounded.’ (2MR343.1)
`Satan
knew that he must either conquer or himself be conquered.' (AG162)
`Satan continues the warfare in the determined purpose of
conquering.’ (RH,
November 27, 1894.1)
This
white horse rider, therefore, is "carried" by religion. He is someone other
than Jesus, someone who wears a crown and who is bent on conquest, someone
who depends on military or governmental power to advance his cause.
|
Let's Identify The White
Horse?
Which institution perfectly
matches
our interpretive keys?
Which institution offers the
world "another God?"
`For thou [the Pope]
art the Shepherd, thou art the physician, thou art the director, thou art
the husbandman; finally thou art another God on earth.' (Christopher
Marcellus' Oration in the Fifth Lateran Council, 4th session, in J. D. Mansi,
Sacorum Conciliorum ... Collectio, Vol. 32, col. 761, translated).
Which institution offers the
world doctrines that misrepresent God and Jesus and that thus promote guilt,
skepticism, pride and infidelity?
Which institution
fits the description
- "carried" by religion. He is someone other than Jesus, someone who wears a
crown and who is bent on conquest, someone who depends on military or
governmental power to advance his cause?'
Which institution is amassing
colossal fortunes out of mankind's spiritual woes?
In 1990 one researcher
estimated the value of the liquid assets of the Catholic Church at $150 billion.
Heaven only knows what they are today. Wouldn't Jesus rather have used this money to help the poor?
Which institution thrives on
guilt while at the same time
promoting guilt, skepticism, pride and infidelity?
Who is the rider on the white horse of Revelation 6:2?
This rider is represented by a spirit that straddles and steers the Catholic Church.
Here we are not speaking of the many fine dedicated Catholics
in our world - and there are many - but of a parasitic,
avaricious, unbiblical religious system that (a) interposes a Pope, a mere
mortal,
between God the Father and His children, (b) that venerates Mary, a women
who confessed her need of a Saviour (Luke 1:47), above the Saviour Himself,
(c) that is founded on a multitude of
doctrines that have no Scriptural foundation, (d) that deprives the
guilt-weary sinner of direct access to our gracious heavenly Father by
teaching that confession should be made to a priest, who is, at best, a mere
fellow-sinner, and (e) that gorges itself on
mankind's inclination to worship His maker, on mankind's guilt, and on mankind's ignorance of
the Scriptures.
If you can think of a more
likely candidate, please
let me
know. |
The Red Horse & Its Rider
Revelation 6:4
NB: Readers who are not
familiar with the SOP teachings with regard to the nature of disease are
urged to click here and to carefully read this article before continuing
below. |
A fiery red
horse. |
We are told that red is a
symbol of blood. (4T120.3). Then Scripture tells us that `the life of a creature
is in the blood.' (Leviticus 17:11).
This
red horse rider, therefore,
is "carried" by life - or by our desire to live. |
Its
rider was given power to take peace from the earth |
According to Vine's Dictionary, the
corresponding word for "peace" in the Old testament is "shalom," which
primarily means "wholeness."
This
red horse rider, therefore,
is "carried" by life - or by our desire to live, but its "services" deprive mankind of wholeness (or wellness). |
To make
men slay each other. |
This
red horse rider, therefore,
is "carried" by life - or by our desire to live, but its "services"
deprive mankind of wholeness (or wellness), and ultimately result in the
death of men at the hands of men. |
To him was given a large
sword. |
Reference here to a "large sword" must indicate that this rider is responsible for the death of a large number
of people.
This
red horse rider, therefore,
is "carried" by life - or by our desire to live, but its "services"
deprive mankind of wholeness (or wellness), and ultimately result in the
death of great numbers of people at the hands of men. |
Let's Identify The Red Horse?
Which institution perfectly
matches
our interpretive keys?
Which institution offers the
world an alternative to obedience?
`The
laws of nature, as truly as the precepts of the Decalogue, are
divine, and only in obedience to them can health be recovered
or preserved.' (LLM110). This
statement assures us that healing is vitally dependant on our
obedience
to Nature's laws. The medical/drug industry, however, teaches that healing
is vitally dependant on
drugs,
with little or no mention ever being made of our need to comply with
Nature's
laws.
This means, in short, and in general, and notwithstanding those times when
drugs do serve a vital role, that the medical/drug industry is offering
to the world
an alternative to obedience.
Which institution is
responsible for the death of large numbers of people?
`The
drugs administered to the sick do not restore, but
destroy. Drugs never
cure. Instead, they place in the system seeds which bear a very
bitter
harvest. (2SM288.3).
`The drugging business has done
more harm to our world
and killed more than it has
helped or cured.' (MM27.2)
"The effects of medicine on the human system are in
the highest degree uncertain: except indeed that it has already destroyed
more lives than war, pestilence, and famine all combined." (Dr Mason Good, a
London Professor, As Quoted by Dr Hartley-Hennessey, Water the Healer,
p.215)
`It's not that drugs are
absolutely unnecessary; as I have stated before, drugs are on occasion a
necessity. It is instead that, driven by what has become a savage and deadly
greed, drugs are catastrophically over-promoted, over-prescribed, over-used
and over-trusted in the Western world. Always remember this: it is
very rare for any drug to improve your health; rather they are nearly always
a band-aid for your symptoms . . . a patch that must be applied over and
over for extended periods or permanently, and is therefore in a sense
addictive, and is therefore incredibly profitable to the drug companies.
Except for a little thing called social concern, why would the drug
companies possibly want to cure the underlying health of people, since that
would mean taking away the need for repeated use of their mere treatments
and therefore their immense profits?' (Dr
Joseph Mercola)
Close reading of
medical peer-review journals reveals that the American Medical System is the
leading cause of death in the US. (Large sword? - read
more and
more and more and
more). According to an article in the Journal of the American Medical
Association, doctors are the third leading cause of death in the USA, causing
250,000 deaths every year (read
more). To read more about drug side effects,
click here. To
read more about how disease should be treated, and how inappropriate
treatments lead to more serious diseases and to premature death,
click here and read two
chapters and/or
click here. And if you thought you could believe all that the drug
companies write about their drugs, please
read here. If you wish to know more about the autism/vaccine link please
read here.
Which institution is amassing
colossal fortunes out of mankind's physical woes?
`Many good and merciful acts
have been done by practicing physicians, but I was shown that as a general
thing the medical profession has become a den of thieves' (1MR211.1) `Under
cover of the medical profession, what iniquities have been practiced, what
delusions supported!' (CTBH113.1) `There are many novices in the medical
profession, men who have wicked hearts, who take advantage of their
position, and corrupt not only the souls but the bodies of those under their
care [see Rev 18:13]. Their reward in the day of final account will be according to their
works. Only daily faith in Christ will make and keep the physician pure
before God; for Satan will stand at the side of the physician to tempt him,
to open avenues to practice dishonesty, to commit grave sins under the cloak
of his profession.' (1MR 212.1).`There are many who are practicing
physicians who do not work with an eye single to the glory of God, but for
the sake of gain to themselves. They exact exorbitant prices from those who
require their services. In a large degree they work from selfish motives.
Their unreasonable charges are recorded in the books by the true Witness,
who says, "I know thy works." The money physicians generally take from rich
and poor, is in many cases too large for the services rendered and is
reckoned no more or less than dishonest gain, by the God of Heaven.' (1MR
198.1)
Which institution thrives on
sickness while at the same time promoting sickness?
Which institution plays a
major role in depriving mankind of "wholeness?"
`By the use of poisonous
drugs, many bring upon themselves lifelong illness, and many lives are lost
that might be saved by the use of natural methods of healing. The poisons
contained in many so-called remedies create habits and appetites that mean
ruin to both soul and body. Many of the popular nostrums called patent
medicines, and even some of the drugs dispensed by physicians, act a part in
laying the foundation of the liquor habit, the opium habit, the morphine
habit, that are so terrible a curse to society.' (CH 89.3)
Which institution fits the
description - "carried" by life - or by our our desire to live, but
its "services" deprive mankind of wholeness (or wellness), and ultimately
result in the death of great numbers of people at the hands of men?
Who is the rider on the red
horse in Revelation 6:4? This rider is represented by a "spirit" that
directs and influences the Medical/Drug Industry. This "spirit" does not include
the many fine, self-sacrificing people serving in this industry - and there
are many - and it does not include the many legitimate treatments that are
offered by this industry - and there are many. It does however include a parasitic, avaricious,
drug-besotted spirit that dominates the worldwide medical/drug industry - a
spirit that has infinitely more to do with
"disease-treating" than it has to do with "health-building,"
a spirit that has infinitely more to do with the suppression of symptoms
than it has to do with health recovery, a spirit that is infinitely more concerned
with amassing colossal fortunes than it is with healing and educating the
masses, a spirit that doggedly refuses to recognize the relationship between
a bad lifestyle and diet and the development of disease, a spirit that
remains blissfully ignorant of the laws of health and of the role of a good
lifestyle and diet in the prevention and cure of disease,
a spirit that seeds its future on
inappropriate treatments and that gorges itself on mankind's ignorance of
the laws of health. (To fully appreciate what I am saying here some may have
to first read this article.)
If you can think of a more
likely candidate, please
let me
know.
More on this subject: (
1 ) |
The Black Horse & Its Rider
Revelation 6:5-6 |
A black
horse. |
A
commercial enterprise is said to be either in the red (loss) or in the black
(profit).
This
black horse rider, therefore,
is "carried" by profits. |
Its rider was holding a pair of scales in his hand. |
A scale implies trading activity. The fact that this rider holds
two scales in one hand denotes an obsession with trading.
This
black horse rider, therefore,
is "carried" by, and obsessed with the profits that may be realized from trading and commercial
interests. |
A quart
of wheat for a day's wages, and three quarts of barley for a day's wages, |
"What
John is foretelling is a situation in which a man's whole [daily] working
wage would be needed to buy enough corn for himself for a day, leaving
absolutely nothing to buy any of the other necessities of life and
absolutely nothing for his wife and family." (William Barclay)
"The prices reported show an
inflation rate of 1,200 percent over the 1st-century norm." (Richards, L.
1991. The Bible Reader's Companion. Victor Books: Wheaton, Ill.)
Clearly
this passage is referring to the effect of inflation.
This
black horse rider, therefore, is "carried" by, and obsessed with the
profits that may be realized from trading and commercial interests, and is
in some way responsible for inflation. |
Do not
damage the oil and the wine! |
"There
is wheat - at a prohibitive price; and the wine and the oil are not
affected." (William Barclay).
What is
the significance of this? Scripture tells us `Whoever loves wine and oil
will never be rich.' (Proverbs 21:17). Clearly, therefore, oil (taken out of
its natural context, refined, and hydrogenated, as most freely-available
oils are today) and wine (taken out of its natural context and fermented)
are a curse. As such, Satan would not want inflation to "damage" or to
dampen sales of these deleterious substances.
Oil, in itself, as eaten in the olive, for example, is not harmful, but when
the oil is extracted from the plant cell and refined and hydrogenated
(turned into a type of cellulose or plastic), it places a tremendous burden on the human system. For more
information on the curse of hydrogenated oils and margarine (which include
almost all fats that are freely available today and almost all fats that are included in
almost all processed products today) please
click here.
"And," let us ask, "have oil and wine
remained reasonably affordable?" Yes.
This black horse rider, therefore, is "carried" by, and obsessed with, the
profits that may be realized from trading and commercial interests, and is in
some way responsible for inflation. This is a selective type of inflation,
however, in that it increases the price of essential commodities, but has
little adverse effect on the sale of deleterious substances. |
Let's Identify The Black
Horse?
Which institution perfectly
matches
our interpretive keys?
Which institution forces
people to depend on it instead of on God?
`The money power prays
upon the nation in times of peace and conspires against it in times of
adversity. It is more despotic than a monarchy, more insolent than
autocracy, more selfish than bureaucracy. I see in the near future a crisis
approaching that unnerves me, and causes me to tremble for the safety of my
country. Corporations have been enthroned, an era of corruption will follow,
and the money power of the country will endeavour to prolong its reign by
working upon the prejudices of the people, until the wealth is aggregated in
a few hands, and the republic is destroyed.' (Abraham Lincoln, as quoted by
H. S. Kennan, The Federal Reserve Bank, p.9)
Which institution is largely
responsible for the inflationary trends in our world today?
When banks were required to
hold in reserve 95% of all monies deposited with them, they were simply places of
safe deposit. When "fractional reserve" banking was introduced, however,
and a central reserve was created, and
banks were thus permitted to lend 95% (or all) of the monies deposited with them,
they became money-lenders - and since that time the very worst kinds
of evils have taken root and have cursed society. In many countries, the fractional reserve banking system is the major cause of inflation. More
about this in module 9.
Which institution
thrives on poverty and yet is largely responsible for much of the poverty, want,
and hardship on our planet?
Which institution is amassing
colossal fortunes out of mankind's financial woes?
Which institution fits the
description -
"carried" by,
and obsessed with, the
profits that may be realized from trading and commercial interests and is in
some way responsible for inflation. This is a selective type of inflation,
however, in that it increases the price of essential commodities, but has
little adverse effect on the sale of deleterious substances.
Who is the rider on the black
horse in Revelation 6:5-6. This rider is represented by a "spirit" that
directs and influences the Banking Industry. This does not include the
many fine, well-meaning people who are employed in this industry - and there
are many. It does however include a parasitic, avaricious, usurious,
profit-blinded spirit that bears sway in the worldwide banking system - a spirit
that corrupts entire economies - a spirit that increases profits by
increasing poverty - a spirit that gorges itself on mankind's blissful
ignorance of the inner workings of the fiscal system and on mankind's greed
and need.
If you can think of a more
likely candidate, please
let me
know. |
The Pale Horse & Its Rider
Revelation 6:8 |
A pale horse. |
Various
versions of the Scriptures translate the word "pale" as "yellowish color,"
"ashen," "pale green," "sickly" or "deathly pale." According to William
Barclay, "the word is chloros (GSN5515) which means pale in the sense
of livid and is used of a face blenched with terror."
This
pale horse rider, therefore,
is "carried" by fear or terror. |
Its
rider was named Death, and Hades was following close behind him. |
Jesus says, "Do not worry about your life."
(Matthew 6:25). Then He tells us why we need not worry about our lives - for "I hold the
keys of death and Hades."
(Revelation 1:18).
But this
rider is named Death and Hades? Hades is variously translated, but
Scripture tells us of a time when "Death
and Hades delivered up the dead who were in them." (Revelation
20:13). Whatever else Hades may be, therefore, we may safely conclude that
it is a "holding
place for the dead."
This
pale horse rider, therefore,
is "carried" by fear of death. |
They
were given power over a fourth of the earth |
While divine grace has limited the influence of this institution to one quarter of the world's people,
it nevertheless wields great power and influence over the inhabitants of our
planet.
This
pale horse rider, therefore,
is "carried" by fear of death and it has a huge global presence. |
To kill
by sword, famine and plague, and by the wild beasts of the earth. |
We are not told exactly
what it is that this institution kills, which means that it could kill
bodily or it could kill faith etcetera. In the light of what is revealed about this
institution, and considering the character of the other horses and riders, I would suggest that it kills our faith by promoting fear of
death and. more especially, fear of dying by sword, famine and plague etcetera.
This
pale horse rider, therefore,
is "carried" by fear of death, has a huge global presence, and it kills
faith by instilling in people a fear of death by whatever means. |
Let's Identify The Pale
Horse?
Which institution perfectly
matches
our interpretive keys?
Which institution is largely
responsible for killing faith?
`Life insurance is a worldly policy which leads our brethren who engage in
it to depart from the simplicity and purity of the gospel. Every such
departure weakens our faith
and lessens our spirituality.' (1T550). And thus we lose sight of God as our
protector, provider and promise-keeper.
Which institution forces
people to trust in it instead of in God?
`This [life insurance] is a commerce with the
world which God does not approve. Those who engage in this enterprise are
uniting with the world, while God calls His people to come out from among
them and to be separate.' (1T549)
Which institution is amassing
colossal fortunes out of mankind's insecurity?
`Those who engage in this
worldly [life insurance] policy invest means which belong to God, which He
has entrusted to them to use in His cause, to advance His work. But few will
realize any returns from life insurance [for, over time, inflation will reduce the
projected payout to a mere pittance], and without God's blessing even these
will prove an injury instead of a benefit. Those whom God has made His
stewards have no right to place in the enemy's ranks the means which He has
entrusted to them to use in His cause.' (1T550)
Which institution thrives on
fear and insecurity and yet works actively at promoting fear and
insecurity?
"Wherefore the rather,
brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye
do these things, ye shall never fall: for so an entrance shall be ministered
unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour
Jesus Christ." (2 Peter 1:10-11)
Which institution fits the
description
-
"carried" by fear of death, has a huge global presence, and it
kills faith by instilling in people a fear of death by whatever means?
Who is the rider on the pale
horse in Revelation 6:5-6. This rider is represented by a "spirit" that
directs and influences the Insurance Industry. This does not include the
many fine, well-meaning people who are employed in this industry - and there
are many. It does however include a parasitic, avaricious, usurious,
profit-blinded spirit that bears sway in the worldwide life insurance industry - a
spirit that increases profits by increasing our
fear of death - a spirit that gorges itself on mankind's lack of faith in God and
his resultant insecurity.
If you can think of a more
likely candidate, please
let me
know. |
In the light of the foregoing, we
need to once again consider that if Laodicea had responded to God's call, none
of these institutions would be enjoying the power and the influence that they
currently enjoy. How great is our answerability?
Thanks largely to Laodicea's failure, however, these institutions have
had opportunity to direct the course of recent history, and even to forge the
very character of life as we know it - and they will continue to do so
(a) to serve as a judgment
against modern-day Babylon - just as Cyrus served as a judgment against ancient
Babylon,
(b) to help the world's people to
come to an understanding of the true character of their money god,
(c) to enable stubborn eyes to
see beyond the quagmire of earth and to behold the fathomless wonders of
Calvary,
(d) to awaken God's children so
that they may do, "in days of darkness, under the pressure of trial and
persecution" the work that they could have done "in peace and comparative
prosperity." (5T456/7)
Test number 4 will span the next four modules
wherein we will be devoting an entire module to each of the "big four."
The Broad Picture
As we proceed, please bear in
mind that throughout the great controversy God has been on trial and, in the final analysis,
He will prove to all the universe that He is just and that He could not have
done one more thing to redeem one more person.
|
|
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"I form the light and
create darkness, I make peace and create calamity; I, the LORD, do all
these things.' (Isaiah 45:7) |
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God's redemption strategy has
always been the same - to reveal His love to a fallen race. Where eyes have
refused to be opened to the wonders of Calvary, God has often used calamity and
consequences to open those eyes - a process that has already begun.
Through infinite patience, and at
the cost of infinite pain, and with Laodicea as His sad trophy, and with a
planet in rebellion screaming for divine intervention, the Lord now has no
option but to allow the world to suffer the consequences of her choices.
It is my studied belief that the
four horsemen of
Revelation chapter 6 are the first of these final consequences. Please note the
words of William Barclay: `Here [Revelation 6:2-8] John is using a traditional
picture of what is to happen when God dispatches his wrath upon his disobedient
people. At the back of it all is the permanent truth that no man or nation can
escape the consequences of their sin.'
Then come the seven trumpets - but
these yield little fruit for we are told that "they did not repent." (Revelation
9:20-21)
Then come the seven bowl
judgments or plagues, and here again the harvest fails, for we are told
that despite their suffering, "they blasphemed the God of heaven because of
their pains and their sores, and did not repent of their deeds.' (Revelation
16:11; 21)
Then comes the final fall of
Babylon - but even here they never repented but rather lamented their material
loss, "for in one hour such great riches came to nothing." (Revelation 18:17)
And then, finally, when earth's
darkest hour comes to its close, with mankind having been exposed to Calvary and
to calamity, to love at its best and to terror at its worst, every knee will bow
and declare:
"Blessing and honor and glory and
power be to Him who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb, forever and ever!"
(Revelation 5:13)
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`I saw that Jesus would not leave the
most holy place until every case was decided either for salvation or
destruction: and that the wrath of
God could not come until Jesus had finished his work in the most holy
place. I saw that [1] the anger of the nations [the present], [2]
the wrath of God, and [3] the
time to judge the dead, were separate events, one following the other. The
nations are now getting angry.
Therefore what is done to rescue souls from the coming storm of wrath, must
be done before Jesus leaves the most holy place of the heavenly sanctuary.
(Mar258.1; ExV 19.1; CET 105.1) |
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Meditational Nuggets:
`Babylon was a golden cup in the Lord's hand, that made all the earth drunk. The
nations drank her wine; therefore the nations are deranged. His plan is
against Babylon to destroy it, because it is the vengeance of the LORD. The LORD
has both devised and done what He spoke against the inhabitants of Babylon. O
you who dwell by many waters,
abundant in treasures, your end has come, the measure of your
covetousness.
They shall not take from you a stone for a corner nor a stone for a foundation,
but you shall be desolate forever. The land will tremble and sorrow; for every
purpose of the LORD shall be performed against Babylon, to make the land of
Babylon a desolation without inhabitant. For the LORD is the God of recompense,
He will surely repay. Thus Babylon shall sink and not rise from the catastrophe
that I will bring upon her.' (Jeremiah 51:11-13; 26; 29; 56; 64)
` "I will send four kinds of
destroyers against them," declares the LORD.' (Jeremiah 15:3)
`How much worse will it be when I
send against Jerusalem my four dreadful judgments - sword and famine and wild
beasts and plague - to kill its men and their animals!' (Ezekiel 14:21)
`The earth dries up and
withers, the world languishes and withers, the exalted [the custodians of
truth] of the earth languish.
The earth is defiled by its people; they have disobeyed the laws, violated the
statutes and broken the everlasting covenant. Therefore a curse consumes the
earth; its people must bear their guilt.' (Isaiah 24:4-6)
` "You will
not go unpunished, for I am calling down a sword upon all who live on the
earth, declares the LORD Almighty. "The tumult will resound to the ends of the
earth, for the LORD will bring charges against the nations; he will bring
judgment on all mankind and put the wicked to the sword.’ (Jeremiah
25:29; 31)
`The wicked
in his pride persecutes the poor; he blesses the greedy and renounces the LORD.
His mouth is full of cursing and deceit and oppression; under his tongue is
trouble and iniquity. He sits in the lurking places of the villages; in the
secret places he murders the innocent; his eyes are secretly fixed on the
helpless. He lies in wait secretly, as a lion in his den; he lies in wait to
catch the poor; he catches the poor when he draws him into his net. So he
crouches, he lies low, that the helpless may fall by his strength. LORD, do
justice to the fatherless and the oppressed, that the man of the earth may
oppress no more.' (Psalm 10:2, 3, 7-10, 17)
`Defend the poor and fatherless;
do justice to the afflicted and needy. Deliver the poor and needy; free them
from the hand of the wicked.' (Psalm 82:3-4)
` "Babylon is fallen, is fallen,
that great city, and has become a habitation of demons, a prison for every foul
spirit, and a cage for every unclean and hated bird! For all the nations have
drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, the
kings of the earth have
committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth have become rich
through the abundance of her luxury." 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." ' (Revelation 14:8; 18:2-4)
`For our struggle is not against
flesh and blood, but against [a] the RULERS, against [b] the AUTHORITIES, against
[c] the POWERS of this dark world . . . and . . . against
[d] the SPIRITUAL FORCES of evil
in the heavenly realms.' (Ephesians 6:12)
Dear reader and fellow
truth-seeker. Once again we would like to open the door to friendly dialog
with anyone who has any suggestion or constructive criticism that will
contribute in any way to this document. Please feel free to
share your
insights with us.
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