"And after these things I saw another angel come down from heaven, having great power; and the earth was lightened with his glory."
BRIEF REVIEW
REVELATION CHAPTER 12
Presents the history of God’s TRUE church under the symbol of a pure woman.
Outlines her trials and tribulations as she is pursued by the serpent (Devil or Satan)
Presents her true enemy - the 7 headed red dragon – the serpent, devil & Satan- v 9
Identifies who the true church is. - Rev 12:17.
Presents the duration of her persecution – 1260 years in verses 6 & 14
Sees the church fleeing into the wilderness from the persecuting serpent.
Sees her emergence in the New World – the USA, with ‘the Testimony of Jesus’.
REVELATION CHAPTER 13
EXPOSES THE ENEMIES OF THE TRUE CHURCH IN REAL TIME
The enemies of the true church are unmasked.
The 1st is Papal Rome.
It receives its seat, power etc from the Dragon
The 2nd is Protestant USA – spake as a Dragon
It legislates in favour of the apostate church
Both beasts are the agents of the Dragon.
Both beasts are here NOW.
2nd beast makes an image of the 1st beast.
Both are the worship of Babylon.
In Dan 2, the head of the image is literal Babylon.
In Dan 2, the feet represents spiritual Babylon.
The woman on the beast of Rev 17 is Babylon.
The woman is the church, the beast is the state.
The woman is “Babylon the Great” - Rev 17:5
Dan 2 image commences with literal Babylon
Dan 2 image ends with spiritual Babylon, the feet of Iron & clay.
Revelation 13 saw the seed of the woman in great peril from these two beasts.
In Revelation 14, we see the woman’s seed victorious over both beasts.
REVELATION CHAPTER 14
THE WORK OF THE CHURCH OUTLINED IN THE 3 ANGELS MESSAGES
Rev 14:1-5 - the church victorious. cf Rev 15:2,3
Rev 14:6-12 - work of the church in the last days
Rev 14:15-20 - sees two harvests.
Jesus 'harvests' his people from the earth.
Angel harvests the wicked for the wrath of God.
Revelation 14 is a final warning.
It is a warning against the Beast and its image.
Both beast powers and their leader, the dragon are doomed to the “lake of fire” Rev 19:20, 20:10
Their followers suffer the same fate – Rev 20:15.
REVELATION CHAPTER 15
INTRODUCTION TO THE 7 LAST PLAGUES
Revelation 15 is an introduction to the seven last plagues. There are a number of events described in Revelation 15 which are related to the seven last plagues in one way or another.
1. SEVEN ANGELS HAVING THE SEVEN LAST PLAGUES.
Verse 1 – 7 angels are seen having the 7 last plagues; filled with the wrath of God.
Verse 6 – Seven angels came out of the temple with the seven last plagues.
Verse 7 – Seven angels are given 7 golden vials full of the wrath of God.
2. THE SEA OF GLASS
Verse 2 – After verse 1 is seen the sea of Glass mingled with fire.
Verse 2 – The sea of glass is before the throne of God – Rev 4:6
Verse 2 – The victorious saints are seen standing on the sea of glass. (SOG)
Verse 2 – Those victorious over the beast, its image, mark & number are on the SOG.
Verse 2 – Hence, John has a vision before the throne of events after the 7 last plagues.
Verse 2 – The victorious have harps. Harps often associated with deliverance.
Verse 3 – They sing the song of Moses & of the Lamb.
3. POSTMILLENIAL VISION
Verse 4 – All nations “shall come and worship before thee” after the millennium.
Verse 4 – They worship God because His judgments are made manifest.
Verse 4 – All nations worship God because they acknowledge that He is just.
4. THE TEMPLE OF GOD WAS OPENED
Verse 5 - The temple of God opens at the sound of the 7th trumpet – Rev 11:15-19
Verse 5 -The temple is opened into the Most Holy place - Rev 11:19
Verse 5 – There is seen in the temple the tablets of the testimony – the Law of God.
Verse 5 – The law of God is the yardstick in the judgment.
5. HEAVEN IS A PLACE OF INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC
Verse 2 – The victorious saints have harps.
Verse 2 – With these harps they sing the Song of Moses and of the Lamb – verse 3
Verses 2 & 3 - The Israelites sang at the deliverance by the Red Sea – Exo 15:21.
Verses 2 & 3 - The redeemed will sing when God delivers them.
6. THE CLOSE OF PROBATION
Verse 8 – no man able to enter the temple till the plagues were fulfilled, even Jesus
Verse 8 – Christ’s high priestly ministry is over – probation has closed.
Verse 8 – The 7 angels pour out the seven last plagues after the close of probation.
The deliverance from Egypt was a type for the final deliverance of God’s people as we journey to the promised land.
In the deliverance from Egypt, the Red Sea was dried up – Psalm 106:7-9
In the deliverance from the world, the spiritual Euphrates will be dried up – Rev 16:12
In the deliverance from Egypt, God delivered the faithful from Pharoah.
In the deliverance from the world, God delivers the faithful from the beast & its image.
In the deliverance from Egypt, Israel sang the Song of Moses – Exodus 15:21
In the deliverance from the world, ‘Israel’ sings song of Moses & the Lamb – Rev 15:3
REVELATION 16
THE SEVEN LAST PLAGUES
The Seven Last Plagues are poured out.
The plagues are "her plagues" - i.e. Babylon's.
The professed Christian church is Babylon.
Hence it is her plagues.
The call is to come out of her my people that ye receive not of her plagues.
The call is to join the commandment keeping people of God.
REVELATION 17
TAKES US BACK TO THE JUDGMENT OF THE GREAT WHORE
The apostate Christian church is Babylon.
She is drunk with the blood of the saints.
She is the beast that was and is not .
She is one of the five that are fallen.
She is the 8th head & goes into perdition.
The 10 horns will give her their power.
The 10 horns (Europe) will eventually hate her.
REVELATION 18 - THE LOUD CRY
Revelation 17 mentions the harlot, Papal Rome, sitting upon the waters (nations) and her ultimate destruction.
Revelation 18 enlarges upon Babylon's (Papal & Protestant Rome) destruction.
1. And after these things I saw another angel come down from heaven, having great power; and the earth was lightened with his glory.
Godʼs final appeal to mankind through His faithful people is symbolized
by a glorious angel coming close to the earth...
And after these things
means another vision, not that these events follow chronologically after those of Rev 17. The end of Rev 17 described the destruction of Babylon but in the first verse of 18 Babylon is not yet fallen.
“Angel”
Angel means “messenger” and here represents the faithful end-time saints to whom is given the responsibility to call Godʼs people out of Babylon just before the plagues fall. (v 4).
Glory
Godʼs glory is His character of love. Exodus 33:18,19 and 34:6
Love is the fulfilling of the law - Romans 13:10
This will be seen upon the end-time saints who will do all they can to save others.
The truths they share will be brought to the attention of all
The message begun in Rev 14:8, “Babylon is fallen is fallen,” will swell to a Loud Cry.
With their ranks purified, the remnant will receive an outpouring of Godʼs Spirit
This is called by the prophet Joel, the “latter rain.” (Joel 2:23).
The true Christian church began under the power of the early rain
The true Christian church will be finished under the power of the latter rain.
Everywhere faithful souls will be pointing men to Christ and uplifting the law of God.
The message of Rev 18 is the same as the 2nd message of Rev 14
It is given later when evil has reached its limit.
It is given when Babylon has worldwide power & her sins have reached to heaven (v 5).
Her sins reach unto heaven when they enforces sin upon the inhabitants of the world.
Her mandating of a Sunday law transgressing the 4th commandment is enforced sin.
Clearly the message of Rev 18 occurs AFTER the second angel’s message of Rev 14
2. And he cried mightily with a strong voice, saying, Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and is become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird.
Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen
Babylon, the center of false religion in ancient times, is used as a symbol of global false religion in end-time. "Babylon the Great" is the Name of the Apostate Christian church, of Rev 17:5
Her fall is a moral one having rejected the message that the judgment is come (Rev 14:6-8), the fallen churches fall further by enforcing the mark of the beast.
become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird.
As literal Babylon was home of unclean birds so spiritual Babylon is home of unclean birds (Isa 13:19-22; 34:5-15; Zeph 2:14).
Jer 5:27 “ For among my people are found wicked [men]: they lay wait, as he that setteth snares; they set a trap, they catch men. As a cage is full of birds, so [are] their houses full of deceit: therefore they are become great, and waxen rich.”
Note the distinction between clean & unclean foods was still in existence when John wrote Revelation
The word “HABITATION,” which means dwelling place or residence, is only found twice in Scripture. Here in Revelation and in Ephesians 2:22
Ephesians 2:22 “In whom ye also are builded together for an HABITATION of God through the Spirit.”
The true church is a habitation of God
Babylon, the false church is the habitation of devils.
3. For all nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, and the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth are waxed rich through the abundance of her delicacies.
"For all nations" means something global.
All nations have drunk Papal Rome's false doctrines & been deceived by her.
Friendship of the church with the world is called adultery in James 4:4:
Because all the world has accepted her teachings all the world is to suffer her plagues.
The faithful will renounce the spiritual fornication of the church uniting with the State to enforce its doctrines. Faithful souls will hurry out of the doomed churches as Lot hurried out of Sodom. The false sabbath will be exposed as the mark of the beast in a contest between the law of man and the law of God. When all have been enlightened and chosen whom they will obey then shall the end will come. Matt 24:14
This church, which is supposedly the bride of Christ, has had illicit relations with the civil powers. She seeks to influence the state to enFORCE HER will instead of relying on Christ to DRAW all men unto HIM.
and the merchants of the earth [the great men of the earth are made drunk, spiritually confused, through the wine or doctrines of this corrupt church. cf. v 3, 23]
are waxed rich through the abundance of her delicacies.
This verse points to the future commercial, economic and political support of global Babylon.
“The Catholic Church is the biggest financial power wealth accumulator and property owner in existence. She is the greater possessor of material riches than any other single institution, corporation, bank, ginat trust government or state, of the whole globe. The Pope as the visible head of this immense amassment of wealth, is consequently the richest individual of the 20th century. No one can realistically assess how much he is worth in terms of billions of dollars.” Avro Manhattan, The Vatican Billions, p197
This kind of financial power influences the world. The Catholic Church is the largest multinational in the world. Her tentacls spread through nearly all other multinationals as a result of clever financial investment. This means she influences much or most of the finance of the world. Co-operation with her is financially rewarding, and she is able to bouycott all who resist her policy. cf. Rev 13:17].
4. And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.
Come out of her, my people
God has people in the fallen churches of Babylon. These must separate from her fellowship lest they become partakers of her sins and receive her plagues - the seven last plagues.
cf. Gen 19:15-17 where God called His people out from the presence of the wicked.
John 10:16 “And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, [and] one shepherd.”
Evidently many of God’s people are presently in the fallen churches. The best witness they can give to their fellow church members is to seperate from them, in fact God commands it. The idea that by staying in the fallen churches one might help them is not based on God’s counsel but is a deception of the enemy.
SEPARATE FROM BABYLON - THE FALLEN CHURCHES & RELIGIONS
“Thus the message of the third angel will be proclaimed. As the time comes for it to be given with greatest power, the Lord will work through humble instruments, leading the minds of those who consecrate themselves to His service. The laborers will be qualified rather by the unction of His Spirit than by the training of literary institutions. Men of faith and prayer will be constrained to go forth with holy zeal, declaring the words which God gives them. The sins of Babylon will be laid open. The fearful results of enforcing the observances of the church by civil authority, the inroads of spiritualism, the stealthy but rapid progress of the papal power--all will be unmasked. By these solemn warnings the people will be stirred. Thousands upon thousands will listen who have never heard words like these. In amazement they hear the testimony that Babylon is the church, fallen because of her errors and sins, because of her rejection of the truth sent to her from heaven. As the people go to their former teachers with the eager inquiry, Are these things so? the ministers present fables, prophesy smooth things, to soothe their fears and quiet the awakened conscience. But since many refuse to be satisfied with the mere authority of men and demand a plain ‘Thus saith the Lord,’ the popular ministry, like the Pharisees of old, filled with anger as their authority is questioned, will denounce the message as of Satan and stir up the sin-loving multitudes to revile and persecute those who proclaim it.” GC11, p606-607.
God’s people in Babylon become guilty of her sins when they refuse revealed truth, prior to that God does not hold them accountable:
“And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent:” Acts 17:30
THE CALL OUT OF BABYLON PARALLELS LOT'S CALL OUT OF SODOM
CALL OUT OF SODOM | CALL OUT OF BABYLON |
Sins of Sodom very grevious | Sins of Babylon reached unto heaven |
Sodom's sins, esp fornication | Babylon's sin of fornication |
God decrees Sodom's destruction | God decrees Babylon's destruction |
A remnant in Sodom called out | A remnant in Babylon called out |
3 angels involved in the deliverance | 3 angels involved in the deliverance |
3 calls to come out - Gen 19:12,15,17 | 3 angel's messages |
3 peoples delivered | People from Dragon, beast & false prophet |
Sodom was destroyed | Babylon, apostate Christianity will be destroyed |
5. For her sins have reached unto heaven, and God hath remembered her iniquities.
Sin is the transgression of the 10 commandment Law of God. Babylon's sin will have reached unto heaven when she deliberately forces people to transgress the law of God by having them cooperate with or accept the keeping of the Sunday Law which has been passed by legislation in place of the seventh day Sabbath commandment.
Ancient Babylon filled up the measure of her guilt when she tried to place alcohol in the sacred vessels she had stolen from God's temple (Dan 5). So end-time Babylonʼs sins will reach unto heaven when she tries to force the saints to keep the Sunday law. (See on the Mark of the Beast. Rev 13). Note: "Vessels" represent people (1Thess 4:4; 2Tim 2:21).
“When do her sins reach unto heaven? When the law of God is finally made void by legislation. Then the extremity of God's people is His opportunity to show who is the governor of heaven and earth. As a Satanic power is stirring up the elements from beneath, God will send light and power to His people, that the message of truth may be proclaimed to all the world.” Mar 179
The glory of God, His character of love manifest in His people is represented as coming from the east and God’s last warning message is given by the multitudes of His people, “And, behold, the glory of the God of Israel came from the way of the east: and his voice [was] like a noise of many waters: and the earth shined with his glory.” Eze 43:2 This would have been fulfilled by literal Israel had she been faithful but it will now be fulfilled by the true church.
6. Reward her even as she rewarded you, and double unto her double according to her works: in the cup which she hath filled fill to her double.
7. How much she hath glorified herself, and lived deliciously, so much torment and sorrow give her: for she saith in her heart, I sit a queen, and am no widow, and shall see no sorrow.
As she had done so it will be done to her. Babylon and her supporters will die the SECOND DEATH. “...take vengeance upon her [Babylon]; as she hath done, do unto her.” Jer 50:15
She has glorified herself
She has lived deliciously
She dished out so much torment
She dished out so much sorrow
She says I sit a queen
She says I am no widow
She is united again with her husband, the STATE
She says I shall see no sorrow.
Her power looks secure but she shall be brought down
She will see sorrow.
She will receive double according to her works.
8. Therefore shall her plagues come in one day, death, and mourning, and famine; and she shall be utterly burned with fire: for strong is the Lord God who judgeth her.
The seven last plagues are described as HER plagues
Sadly, many deceived followers will partake of the plagues - Matt 7:13,14
Famine is included in the plagues.
Famine does not occur in one literal day, this “day” must be symbolic.
A symbolic day represents a year in prophecy (Eze 4:6; Num 14:34 Matt 18:22).
The seven last plagues will therefore fall inside one year.
Many with the sores of the first plague will still be alive under the 5th (Rev 16:2, 11).
9. And the kings of the earth, who have committed fornication and lived deliciously with her, shall bewail her, and lament for her, when they shall see the smoke of her burning,
World leaders, the kings of the earth who have benefited from associating with her. Babylon is a threefold union and verses 9-19 mention three groups who give three lamentations and each declare that Babylon’s doom has come in “one hour..” (verses 10, 17, 19):
1. “Kings of the earth” v 9
2. “Merchants of the earth” v 11
3. “Every shipmaster” v 17
“In one hour is thy judgment come.” (v 10).
“In one hour is so great riches come to naught.” (v 17).
“In one hour is she made desoloate.” (v 19).
While Babylonʼs plagues occur inside one day (inside one year), her judgment or desolation occurs in “one hour.” Like the “day” this “hour” is almost certainly symbolic. As a symbolic day represents a year (Eze 4:6; Num 14:34, Matt 18:22) a symbolic hour (1/24th of a day) would be 1/24th of a year, i.e. about 15 literal days.
As the 10 horns will unite with Babylon against the faithful for “one hour” (Rev 17), so they will eventually turn on Babylon and desolate her in “one hour.” The peoples of the earth by which Babylon intended to destroy the saints will destroy her just as the wicked Haman was hanged on his own gallows. (cf. Est 5:4; 7:10).
shall bewail her, and lament for her, when they shall see the smoke of her burning,
This is not the burning of the Vatican which is merely the “seat” of the beast. As Babylon is a spiritual entity the burning is not a literal fire but the consumption of her as a power.
Babylon is a trinity of antichrist powers:
“...PROTESTANTISM shall stretch her hand across the gulf to grasp the hand of the ROMAN power, when she shall reach over the abyss to clasp hands with SPIRITUALISM, when, under the influence of this THREEFOLD UNION, our country shall repudiate every principle of its Constitution. Through the two great errors, the immortality of the soul and Sunday sacredness, Satan will bring the people under his deceptions. While the former lays the foundation of spiritualism, the latter creates a bond of sympathy with Rome. The Protestants of the United States will be foremost in stretching their hands across the gulf to grasp the hand of spiritualism; they will reach over the abyss to clasp hands with the Roman power; and under the influence of this THREEFOLD UNION, this country will follow in the steps of Rome in trampling on the rights of conscience. . . ..” Mar 190],
10. Standing afar off for the fear of her torment, saying, Alas, alas that great city Babylon, that mighty city! for in one hour is thy judgment come.
The kings of the earth stand afar off, i.e. distance themselves from her.
Her plagues come “in one day” i.e. inside one year but her dissolution occurs during that period
“In one hour thy judgment is come” v 10
“In one hour so great riches is come to naught.” v 17
“In one hour is she made desolate.” v 19
This will be fulfilled when the support of Babylon is dried up, her union ends and she breaks into three parts under the sixth and seventh plagues.
The hour is mentioned three times as Babylon is a threefold union. The three uses of the term indicate Divine completeness.
In Rev 17 Babylon’s supporters unite with her for “one hour” Rev 17:12 “And the ten horns which thou sawest are ten kings, which have received no kingdom as yet; but receive power as kings ONE HOUR with the beast.” As Babylon was given support for one hour so her judgment will come in one hour.
The ten horns gave their power to the beast under the contol of the whore of Babylon. Her destruction comes in one hour
11. And the merchants of the earth shall weep and mourn over her; for no man buyeth their merchandise any more:
The merchants of the earth do not once lament their sins but of the outcome of events. They have lost everything, including eternal life.
No man buyeth THEIR merchandise anymore.
Three groups lament Babylonʼs doom:
1. “kings of the earth” v 9
2. “Merchants of the earth” v 11
3. “Every shipmaster” v 17
12. The merchandise of gold, and silver, and precious stones, and of pearls, and fine linen, and purple, and silk, and scarlet, and all thyine wood, and all manner vessels of ivory, and all manner vessels of most precious wood, and of brass, and iron, and marble,
13. And cinnamon, and odours, and ointments, and frankincense, and wine, and oil, and fine flour, and wheat, and beasts, and sheep, and horses, and chariots, and slaves, and souls of men.
Thyine Wood: An odoriferous citrus of North Africa used as incense and prized by the ancient Greeks and Romans on account of the beauty of its wood for various ornamental purposes.
The Merchandise:
Two sets of 14 items are described:
Gold
Silver
Precious stones
Pearls
Fine linen
Purple
Silk
Scarlet
Thyine wood
Vessels of ivory
Vessels of most precious wood
Brass
Iron
Marble
Cinamon
Odours - Rather incense, a Sanctuary item.
Ointments - Muron or “myrhh.” A Sanctuary spice.
Frankincense - A Sanctuary spice.
Wine - Used in the Sanctaury.
Oil - Olive oil was used in the sanctuary.
Fine flour - Used in certain offerings.
Wheat - Used in the Sanctuary
Beasts - Gr. Ktene, domesticated animals, probably cattle offered in the Sanctuary.
Sheep - Sacrificial animals.
Horses - Always associated with military activity in Scripture.
Chariots - Military
Slaves - Literally bodies.
Souls of men - Rather “Human beings.” Soul often means human being in Scripture
(cf. Eze 27:13 which literally says, “they traded the souls of men.”).
Babylon values GOLD first up more than the souls of men which is last in the list. This is the opposite to heaven: “For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?” Matt 16:26
Could slavery be resurrected? Possibly in one form or another. Rev 6:15, 13:6
14. And the fruits that thy soul lusted after are departed from thee, and all things which were dainty and goodly are departed from thee, and thou shalt find them no more at all.
15. The merchants of these things, which were made rich by her, shall stand afar off for the fear of her torment, weeping and wailing,
16. And saying, Alas, alas, that great city, that was clothed in fine linen, and purple, and scarlet, and decked with gold, and precious stones, and pearls!
Gr. 'Apora' - “the season of ripe fruits.” The fruits she anticipated are gone. Perhaps a
reference to the saints whose blood she longed for. Everything she longed for is gone.
The merchants were made rich by her stand afar off, distancing themselves.
The Roman Cæsars, state rulers, wore purple. John 19:2.
Scarlet represents sin. Isaiah 1:18.
She is a church clothed in the colour of the state.
She is a union of Church & State - feet of IRON (State) and CLAY (Church) - Dan 2
The great city that was clothed in fine linen, and purple, and scarlet, and decked with gold, and precious stones, and pearls. This is the 'city', Babylon the Great described in Rev 17.
17. For in one hour so great riches is come to nought. And every shipmaster, and all the company in ships, and sailors, and as many as trade by sea, stood afar off,
18. And cried when they saw the smoke of her burning, saying, What city is like unto this great city!
Every shipmaster, and all the company in ships, and sailors, and as many as trade by sea, stood afar off, And cried when they saw the smoke of her burning. This confirms the symbolic nature of this prophecy. Literal Babylon is many miles from the sea and certainly out of sight of “EVERY” shipmaster. Babylon here symbolizes a global system and the shipmaster here symbolise the merchants and traders world wide who experience her fall.
19. And they cast dust on their heads, and cried, weeping and wailing, saying, Alas, alas, that great city, wherein were made rich all that had ships in the sea by reason of her costliness! for in one hour is she made desolate.
20. Rejoice over her, thou heaven, and ye holy apostles and prophets; for God hath avenged you on her.
"one hour" - possibly a 24th part of a prophetic day, i.e. about 15 days
Heaven, and [ye] holy apostles and prophets; for God hath avenged you on her.
Vengeance is Godʼs - Rom 12:19
The destruction of spiritual 'Babylon' is a matter to rejoice over.
The Revelators draws from the descriptions of the destruction of four different cities:
1. Babylon Jer 51:28; Isa 44:23; Jer 51:63, 64, 49
2. Jerusalem Jer 25:10,11
3. Tyre Eze 26:13; Isa 23:8
4. Nineveh Nah 3:4, 7.
21. And a mighty angel took up a stone like a great millstone, and cast it into the sea, saying, Thus with violence shall that great city Babylon be thrown down, and shall be found no more at all.
Sunk as a stone in the sea
As the armies of literal Egypt were destroyed beneath the literal waters when they rushed to destroy Godʼs people, so spiritual Babylon will be devoured by the spiritual waters - a symbol of peoples and nations of the world.
“But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and [that] he were drowned in the depth of the sea.” Matt 18:6
The term, “found no more at all,” in verses 21-23 is employed six times. Six is the number of Babylon.
22. And the voice of harpers, and musicians, and of pipers, and trumpeters, shall be heard no more at all in thee; and no craftsman, of whatsoever craft he be, shall be found any more in thee; and the sound of a millstone shall be heard no more at all in thee;
23. And the light of a candle shall shine no more at all in thee; and the voice of the bridegroom and of the bride shall be heard no more at all in thee: for thy merchants were the great men of the earth; for by thy sorceries were all nations deceived.
Music heard no more at all
Harpers - Musicians who played the Kithara (cithara, a stringed instrument with a wooden sounding box that resembled a lyre).
Musicians.
Pipers - Flue players
Trumpeters
Heard no more at all - The arts and merrymaking have ceased.
Craftsman - Artisans, mechanics and skilled workers
The sound of a millstone - Food production.
Arts and industry all gone.
Sorceries: Gr. pharmakeia - from which we derive the word pharmacy or pharmaceutical. Dr. Young says it means, “Enchantment with drugs.” Pagan priests used drugs to prepare the minds of men to communicate with the powers of the occult. Babylon makes men drunk through the drug of alcohol in the wine of her doctrines.
No more candle
Candle - literally lamp.
Bridegroom & bride - All social life ended (cf. Jer 25:10).
Merchants -The great men of the earth.
Sorceries - deceptions used to secure the allegiance of the inhabitants of the earth.
24. And in her was found the blood of prophets, and of saints, and of all that were slain upon the earth.
Babylon, in its fullest sense, includes all false religion from the beginning of the world. Thus she is responsible for the deaths of all the martyred saints.
This system is responsible for the death of all.
Christ said to the Jews, “That upon you may come all the righteous blood shed upon the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel unto the blood of Zacharias son of Barachias, whom ye slew between the temple and the altar.” Matt 23:35 Clearly those Christ here addressed were part of Spiritual Babylon.
“By condemning the people of God to death they have as truly incurred the guilt of their blood, as if it had been shed by their hands. In like manner Christ declared the Jews of his time guilty of all the blood of holy men which had been shed since the days of Abel; for they possessed the same spirit, and were seeking to do the same work, with these murderers of the prophets.” GC88 p 627
REVELATION 18:2-4 "And he cried mightily with a strong voice, saying, Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and is become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird. ...
And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues."
May God bless you as you study into Daniel & Revelation and find him who is calling for you. - Genesis 3:9