THE HARLOT BABYLON

 

THE HARLOT BABYLON REVELATION 17.1 One of the seven angels who had the seven bowls came and spoke with me, saying, “Come here. I will show you the judgment of the great prostitute who sits on many waters, 17.2 with whom the kings of the earth committed sexual immorality, and those who dwell in the earth were made drunken with the wine of her sexual immorality.” 17.3 He carried me away in the Spirit into a wilderness. I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet-colored animal, full of blasphemous names, having seven heads and ten horns. 17.4 The woman was dressed in purple and scarlet, and decked with gold and precious stones and pearls, having in her hand a golden cup full of abominations and the impurities of the sexual immorality of the earth. 17.5 And on her forehead a name was written, “MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF PROSTITUTES AND OF THE ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH.” 17.6 I saw the woman drunken with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus. -WEB Bible When Eve picked the forbidden fruit in the Garden of Eden, she made a selfish decision that was based on pride. She deliberately disobeyed God because she was deceived or enchanted by the evil serpent. She didn’t ask her mate Adam about it: she made this life-altering decision entirely on her own, and then she asked Adam to join her in eating the fruit. Now, fast-forward to the end of time, and we see the culmination of Eve’s one small sin. The harlot of Babylon is the ultimate example of all selfishness, vanity, pride and corruption. She gloats in her own self-sufficiency and brags that she submits to no man. She is vile in all her pleasures, and she delights in the destruction of God-fearing people.  She entices others to join in her sinful pleasures. Babylon is evil to the core, like the beasts and the dragon, but there is a difference. Like the Tower of Babel in ancient times, this Babylon is entirely a human construction. She may be influenced by demons, and empowered by them: but she is not a demonic beast like the others, so her demise is different from theirs. IMAGE CREDIT: Illustration of the Harlot of Babylon was generated by SeaArt.ai and edited by C.A. Stevens. The image of Eve was generated by Perchance AI. Part 2 of the Harlot of Babylon will continue tomorrow.

 

RIOTS IN BELFAST

 

RIOTS IN BELFAST By Frank Mceleny The Lord Jesus warned in Matthew 24:7, "For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom." The word translated "nation" is the Greek word ethnos, from which we derive our word ethnicity. It speaks not merely of political states and national borders, but of peoples, tribes, and ethnic groups. The word translated "kingdom" is the Greek word basileia, meaning a kingdom, realm, dominion, or political power. Thus, the Lord foretold both “ethnos against ethnos” and “basileia against basileia” —people group against people group and kingdom against kingdom. The twentieth century witnessed the fulfillment of basileia against basileia on a scale never before seen. The great powers of the earth hurled themselves against one another in two world wars, leaving tens of millions dead and entire continents devastated. Yet in our own day, we see another aspect of the Lord's warning becoming increasingly visible: ethnos against ethnos. People group against people group. Through unprecedented movements of populations, mass migration, cultures that for centuries existed separately now find themselves living side by side. Peoples who otherwise would rarely have come into contact with one another are suddenly thrust together in vast numbers. The result is often tension, division, tribalism, and growing hostility. Ancient grievances are imported across borders. Cultural conflicts are transplanted from one continent to another. Communities become fragmented, and social cohesion weakens. This should not surprise the student of Scripture. The Lord did not merely warn of wars between governments. He warned of upheaval among peoples. Ethnos against ethnos. The tragedy is that men imagine they can solve spiritual problems by political means. Yet whenever Christ is removed from the center of a people, divisions inevitably multiply. Men retreat to tribe, race, language, culture, and identity because they have lost the greater identity found in God. As the age hastens toward its conclusion, we should expect increasing turmoil among both kingdoms and peoples. The words of Christ were not given to frighten His saints but to prepare them. When we see these things, we are reminded that the Lord knew the end from the beginning, and that the kingdoms of this world are passing away. Only the Kingdom of our God shall endure forever. Used with permission of Frank Mceleny on Facebook CLICK HERE

 

TURN YOUR EYES UPON JESUS

 

TURN YOUR EYES UPON JESUS O soul, are you weary and troubled? No light in the darkness you see? There’s light for a look at the Savior, And life more abundant and free. REFRAIN: Turn your eyes upon Jesus, Look full in His wonderful face, And the things of earth will grow strangely dim, In the light of His glory and grace. Through death into life everlasting He passed, and we follow Him there; O’er us sin no more hath dominion For more than conquerors we are! His Word shall not fail you, He promised; Believe Him and all will be well; Then go to a world that is dying, His perfect salvation to tell! Author Helen Howarth Lemmel (1922)

 

THE GOD OF ALL COMFORT

 

THE GOD OF ALL COMFORT Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort. 2 Corinthians 1:3 The only reason atheists experience any peace at all is because God, in His mercy, allows it. Every calm breath, every moment of joy, every sense of stability is borrowed grace. Even those who deny Him live inside a world sustained by His patience and kindness. God is good even to those who reject Him. But do not confuse that with true peace. Worldly peace is temporary, circumstantial, fragile. It depends on health, money, distraction, or control. It fades the moment suffering arrives or death comes into view. That kind of peace cannot stand when the night gets long and the soul is forced to be honest. True peace is found only in Christ. It is not the absence of trouble but the presence of truth. Jesus said, “My peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you.” This peace fulfills because it reconciles us to our Creator, anchors us beyond death, and satisfies the soul the world can never reach. Everything else is borrowed comfort. By Biblical Creation on Facebook: CLICK HERE Used with Permission

 

THE DOOR OF THE SHEEPFOLD

 

THE DOOR OF THE SHEEPFOLD Rev. Anees T. Baroody 1916 I will never leave you nor forsake you. Hebrews 13:5 In order to become thoroughly acquainted with the shepherd of the Syrian sheep, nothing could be better than spending a day with the flock on the Lebanese hillside, until our faithful shepherd returns home in the evening. His little village, nestling most restfully on the shoulders of a Lebanon hill, in the midst of a fascinating circle of ancient pines and oaks, looks from the adjacent sea-coast like a piece of a new paradise. The sheep, being tired, are led straight to the fold, where they are counted and left to rest. Then the shepherd goes home, washes his face and feet, and takes supper. Early in the evening our shepherd returns to his sheep, spreads his bed across the door of the fold, lays his heavy rod by his side, and sings himself quietly and happily to sleep. Doesn’t this remind us of the meaning of Christ when he said, “I am the door?” During the long silence of the Lebanon night the wolves may prowl around the fold, the thieves may peep over the wall, but the mere presence of the shepherd at the door is sufficient to hold all the enemies of the sheep at bay. Considering this parable, what shall I say to those nervous, fearful Christians — and America is full of nervous people — who keep running from one minister to another, from one church to another, from one lecture hall to another, searching diligently for a sure-as-daylight salvation, but without peace, without rest? As long as the Good Shepherd is at the door of their hearts, yes, rather in their hearts, they are safer than the stars in their courses - and need not worry at all about their salvation, or anything else for that matter, because we are not alone in this journey.