Category Archives: Hell

June 18, 2023 · 10:00

Beast-Riding Harlot

And there came one of the seven angels which had the seven vials, and talked with me, saying unto me, Come hither; I will shew unto thee the judgment of the great whore that sitteth upon many waters: (Revelation 17:1)

We come to another parenthesis in John’s record. The seven-bowl judgments have been poured out, and the end of the Tribulation has come. While we focused on the terrors of the seven bowl judgments, other things were happening on Earth that John explains in the next two chapters. These details help us to understand the purpose behind all these judgments. They also help us to see what is taking place around us right now which will prepare us for what is coming.

One of the angels which had one of the seven vials (we are not told which one) takes John aside to show him “the judgment of the great whore that sitteth upon many waters.” To me, a “whore” is a promiscuous woman (to put it nicely) who engages in indiscriminate sex with whoever comes along. However, the word translated as “whore” here is the Greek word “pornē” from which we get our English words “pornography” and “pornographic.” As used here, the word refers to a prostitute; a woman who sells herself for sexual favors. That she “sitteth upon many waters” refers to people. Often, when we see “the sea” mentioned in Revelation, it refers to the Mediterranean Sea where most of these events take place, and the people that dwell in those areas. So, when we read, “I stood upon the sand of the sea, and saw a beast rise up out of the sea” (Revelation 13:1, emphasis mine), it refers to the area around the Mediterranean Sea and the people from that area. Thus, we conclude that the Antichrist, the Beast, will rise up out of the people around the Mediterranean Sea, i.e., the revived Roman Empire. This also agrees with the Prophet Daniel’s account that “the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary” (Daniel 9:26, emphasis mine).  The “people” that destroyed “the city and the sanctuary,” were the Romans in AD 70, and “the prince that shall come” from those people is the Antichrist. However, this “harlot” sits on “many waters,” so her influence spans all the people of all the world.

As we will see later on, the woman represents a world religion. She is portrayed as a woman because the Bible views “religion” as feminine. For example, in the Old Testament (OT), God looked at Israel as His unfaithful wife.[1] The entire prophecy of Hosea is an allegory of an unfaithful wife that prostitutes herself, yet her faithful husband (Hosea) goes and buys her back out of prostitution. The allegory is of Israel, the unfaithful wife who goes into idolatry (i.e., prostituting herself), and God, the faithful husband, who redeems her out of that idolatry. In the New Testament (NT), the Church is called “the Bride of Christ.”[2] Likewise, this prostitute represents a worldwide, idolatrous, false religion that is supported (she “sits upon”) by all the people of the world.

“And there came one of the seven angels which had the seven vials, and talked with me, saying unto me, Come hither; I will shew unto thee the judgment of the great whore that sitteth upon many waters: With whom the kings of the earth have committed fornication, and the inhabitants of the earth have been made drunk with the wine of her fornication” (Revelation 17:1-2, emphasis mine). The world leaders have “used” this religion in order to subdue and control the masses of the earth.

“So he carried me away in the spirit into the wilderness: and I saw a woman sit upon a scarlet coloured beast, full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns” (Revelation 17:3). The beast upon which the prostitute rides is the Antichrist. That he is scarlet (red) in color represents sin,[3] wealth,[4] and power.[5] He is “full of the names of blasphemy.”[6] This description of the Beast concurs with that given in Revelation 13:1-10 which I addressed in a previous article.[7]

“And the woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet colour, and decked with gold and precious stones and pearls, having a golden cup in her hand full of abominations and filthiness of her fornication: And upon her forehead was a name written, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH” (Revelation 17:4-5). Through the years, many scholars of end-times prophecy attributed the moniker to the Roman Catholic Church (RCC); however, I think there is more to it than that. From the time of the Reformation (16th Century) until relatively recent history, the RCC was the only religion that fit that description. Without question, the RCC with its headquarters in the Vatican possesses more wealth than most countries on earth. I recall visiting a Catholic Church in San Juan de las Colchas, Michoacán, Mexico. The small village, at that time, was immersed in poverty. There was not even one paved street in the tiny town, but the church edifice was beautiful beyond the apparent means of the people. The interior was even more incredible. It was elaborately trimmed in solid gold. Many of the images were of solid gold. I could not help but think of how all that wealth could be used to benefit the poverty-stricken people of the town. (I know, I’m kind of sounding like Judas.)[8] The point I want to make is that the RCC is incredibly rich. In keeping with that theme, the Pope, in his priestly regalia, dresses in “purple and scarlet” and priceless jewels like a king.

This harlot is called “MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH”. Beginning with the rebellion at the Tower of Babel, Babylon originated all the pagan religions of the earth. Many of them follow a similar theme that mimics the virgin birth of Christ and His death and resurrection. The “Queen of Heaven”[9] went by many names beginning with Astarte or Ashtoreth[10] and later Aphrodite (Greek) and Venus (Roman). “The ‘Queen of Heaven’ is mentioned in the Bible and has been associated with a number of different goddesses by different scholars, including: Anat, Astarte or Ishtar, Ashtoreth, or as a composite figure. The worship of a ‘Queen of Heaven’ (Hebrew: מלכת השמים, Malkath haShamayim) is recorded in the Book of Jeremiah, in the context of the Prophet condemning such religious worship and it being the cause of God declaring that He would remove His people from the land.”[11] Here is another reason why early end-times students associated the RCC with “Mystery Babylon.” They took the pagan title “Queen of Heaven” and applied it Mary the mother of Jesus and attributed divine attributes to her.

Mystery Babylon is the “mother of harlots.” In other words, she gave birth to a whole host of false religions and the RCC fits perfectly in that mold. However, there is more to Mystery Babylon because it also includes “Gaia” (or earth) worship.[12] Up until maybe 40 or 50 years ago, the worship of the planet was unheard of. However, the whole world wants to “save the planet” (save the trees, save the whales, save the polar bears, save the sharks, save the air, etc.) as if there is anything man can do to alter the course of God’s creation. Of course, the proponents of this movement (the UN, WEF, et al) would not call it a religion, but they certainly promote it religiously. One of the major supporters of the “climate change” agenda is the RCC with the Pope leading the way. The RCC also puts forth great efforts to unite all the religions of the world behind the cause. The Pope is also willing to bring our “space brothers” into the “fold” by baptizing aliens![13] This is “MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT.” Add to this transhumanism and all that goes along with that, and it is not difficult to see that we are approaching the day of Christ’s return. There is also another control system creeping in called Environmental, Social, and Business Governance (ESG).[14] It is a system of social control based on a “credit scoring” system that grades the individual on how he measures up to environmental rules/laws; how he stacks up on social issues (human rights issues, pro-choice, acceptance of the LGBTQ+ agenda, etc.), and how he complies with matters of “equity, diversity, and inclusion.” We see this creeping into our society by how businesses are pushing the “gay agenda,” regardless of loss in profits. Their end goal is to increase their ESG score, which will keep them viable when the full force of the system impacts everyone.

“And I saw the woman drunken with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus: and when I saw her, I wondered with great admiration” (Revelation 17:6). Beginning with the RCC, false religions (Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, etc.) have spilt the blood of many of Jesus’ saints since the Church began. The new world religion will spill much more. Globalists want to reduce Earth’s population to five-hundred million, according to the Georgia Guidestones.[15] (Of course, they would be excluded from the culling.) Christians who believe in the sanctity of life and God’s ownership of the planet will be in their crosshairs.

“And the angel said unto me, Wherefore didst thou marvel? I will tell thee the mystery of the woman, and of the beast that carrieth her, which hath the seven heads and ten horns. The beast that thou sawest was, and is not; and shall ascend out of the bottomless pit, and go into perdition: and they that dwell on the earth shall wonder, whose names were not written in the book of life from the foundation of the world, when they behold the beast that was, and is not, and yet is” (Revelation 17:7-8). John is just as baffled as we are at the sight. The angel tells John that the Beast “was, and is not.” We learned in Revelation 13:3 that he receives a deadly wound; therefore, he “was and is not.” However, he appears to come back to life to mimic the resurrection of Christ. Here we are told how that happens. He “shall ascend out of the bottomless pit,” which tells me that his body gets possessed by Satan (the Dragon) himself. However, he will “go into perdition,” i.e., Hell.[16] Those who bear the “mark of the beast,” whose names are “not written in the book of life,” will be amazed at the end of the Beast and his False Prophet. “They that see thee [the Dragon/the Beast] shall narrowly look upon thee, and consider thee, saying, Is this the man that made the earth to tremble, that did shake kingdoms; That made the world as a wilderness, and destroyed the cities thereof; that opened not the house of his prisoners?” (Isaiah 14:16-17). In the end, he is pretty unimpressive.

“And here is the mind which hath wisdom. The seven heads are seven mountains, on which the woman sitteth” (Revelation 17:9). Those that identify the RCC as Mystery Babylon point to the “seven mountains on which the woman” sits as Rome, the “City of Seven Hills,” the seat from which the Pope rules. There are other candidates for the headquarters of Mystery Babylon. Jerusalem supposedly sits on seven hills, and the False Prophet will set up the image of the Beast in the Temple there and demand that the world worship the image and the Beast.[17] Babylon in Iraq, although there are no hills around it, is also a candidate. Upon closer inspection, the “seven mountains” are “the seven heads” which are rulers, so this may not refer to a specific place at all, but rather the seat of government, or the foundation of past governments (see the next paragraph). I will look deeper into that in the next chapter.

“And there are seven kings: five are fallen, and one is, and the other is not yet come; and when he cometh, he must continue a short space” (Revelation 17:10). The “seven kings” are world empires. “Five are fallen”: Egypt, Assyria, Babylon, Medo-Persia, and Greece. “One is”: Rome; Rome is the empire that “was” during John’s time. “The other is not yet come:” this is the revived Roman Empire, the kingdom of the Beast. Daniel saw this kingdom as the feet of iron mixed with clay in Nebuchadnezzar’s dream.[18] In the dream, Nebuchadnezzar saw a stone cut out of a mountain that struck the feet of iron and clay and collapsed the entire statue.[19] The dream means that at the end of time, Christ (the stone) would destroy all the kingdoms of the world and He, Himself, will reign forever.

“And the beast that was, and is not, even he is the eighth, and is of the seven, and goeth into perdition. 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. These have one mind, and shall give their power and strength unto the beast” (Revelation 17:11-13). There is much speculation on exactly how this will shape up. There is talk that the UN has plans on how to divide the world into 10 regions under a one-world government. Maps are available with a Google search. However, these maps include China and other Asian nations that I do not believe will play along with that scheme. Russia is also included in these maps, and I do not believe that Russia will want to play along either. As I see it (and I can be wrong about this), the Antichrist’s control will be mostly over the Western nations, i.e., nations that were part of the old Roman Empire. Neither China nor Russia (or any of the Asian nations for that matter) were part of the Roman Empire. So, exactly how this will play out is anyone’s guess. In all probability, it will include the nations of the European Union (EU) and possibly the nations of Northern Africa (that were part of the old Roman Empire). However, this works out, there will be ten rulers, three of who will cede their power over to the Antichrist. The others will “have one mind, and shall give their power and strength unto the beast.”

“These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with him are called, and chosen, and faithful” (Revelation 17:14, emphasis mine). We read in Revelation 16:16, when the seventh angel pours out the contents of the seventh bowl, that God draws all the kings, i.e., leaders, to Armageddon for the final battle. Note that the “Lord of lords, and King of kings” does not come alone (albeit, He is the only one that does any fighting); He comes with His saints that are “called, and chosen, and faithful.”[20] This is the Church that was raptured before the Tribulation and the Tribulation saints that were martyred throughout the Tribulation. It will make for a spectacular aerial phenomenon!

“And he saith unto me, The waters which thou sawest, where the whore sitteth, are peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues. And the ten horns which thou sawest upon the beast, these shall hate the whore, and shall make her desolate and naked, and shall eat her flesh, and burn her with fire. For God hath put in their hearts to fulfil his will, and to agree, and give their kingdom unto the beast, until the words of God shall be fulfilled. And the woman which thou sawest is that great city, which reigneth over the kings of the earth” (Revelation 17:15-18, emphasis mine).

In the end, just like any whore, Mystery Babylon, the religion of the Beast, will be used for his satisfaction and then cast aside when she is no longer useful to him. And, although the Beast and his henchmen think they are in control, it is really God that is running the show.[21]

We see the one-world religion that the Antichrist will use and abuse to get what he wants rising even now. We see it in the form of ecumenism. We see it in the efforts of “religious” leaders to unite all the religions of the world. We see it in the form of Earth worship. We see it in the form of humanism that places the will of man above that of God. All of that is taking place right now, and if you do not see it, you are not paying attention. Things are falling into place in preparation for the Beast to step in and take over.

How about you, reader? Are you paying attention? If you do not know the Savior, do not wait any longer. The time is short. Please read my page on “Securing Eternal Life.”

Notes:

[1]  Isaiah 54:5-6; 62:5; Jeremiah 3:20; Ezekiel 16:30-33

[2]  John 3:39; Ephesians 5:25-27; Revelation 21:9

[3]  Isaiah 1:18

[4]  Lamentations 4:5

[5]  Daniel 5: 7, 16, 29

[6]  2 Thessalonians 2:3-4

[7]  The Beast and His Mouth | Ernie’s Musings (erniecarrasco.com)

[8]  John 12:3-5

[9]  Jeremiah 7:18; 44:17-19, 25

[10]  1 Kings 11:5, 33; 2 Kings 23:13

[11]  Queen of Heaven (antiquity) – Wikipedia

[12]  GAIA WORSHIP – THE NEW PAGAN RELIGION (environment-ecology.com)

[13]  Pope Francis Says He Would Definitely Baptize Aliens If They Asked Him To – The Atlantic

[14]  HOME – Advance ESG

[15]  What Did The Georgia Guidestones Say? Mysterious Words On Blown Up Monument (newsweek.com)

[16]  Revelation 19:20

[17]  Revelation 13:14-15

[18]  Daniel 2:41-44

[19]  Daniel 2:45

[20]  Revelation 19:14

[21]  Psalm 2

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June 11, 2023 · 10:00

Vile Vials

Image used by permission of artist Pat Marvenko Smith, Copyright 1992.
Visit her “Revelation Illustrated” site at https://revelationillustrated.com/.

And I heard a great voice out of the temple saying to the seven angels, Go your ways, and pour out the vials of the wrath of God upon the earth. (Revelation 16:1)

In the words of an old country-western song, “Turn out the lights; the party’s over.” According to my understanding, we have arrived at the final 21 months of the seven-year Tribulation. The first three and one-half years brought the seven seal judgments.[1] When Jesus, the Lamb, breaks open the seventh seal, the seven trumpets begin to sound.[2] Around the midpoint of the Tribulation, according to Daniel the Prophet, the Antichrist, a.k.a. the Beast, defiles the Jewish Temple in Jerusalem. If he was not recognized when he confirmed “the covenant” securing peace for Israel, which initiated the seven-year Tribulation, there will be no doubt about his identity at this time.[3]

As we follow the progression of the judgments, we notice that they become increasingly severe. At the same time, there is no indication that one judgment ends when another begins. With a few exceptions, the effects of the judgments continue throughout the Tribulation period. There are wars, economic collapses, famines, pandemics, natural disasters, and more, and now things are about to get worse.

“And one of the four beasts gave unto the seven angels seven golden vials full of the wrath of God, who liveth for ever and ever” (Revelation 15:7, emphasis mine). John does not tell us which of the four beasts gives the seven vials (or “bowls”) to the angels, but I think it might be the third beast having “a face as a man.”[4] I come to that conclusion because the judgments that come upon the earth, while they affect all of nature, are aimed at a sinful and rebellious human race. The other beasts (lion, calf, and eagle) represent the animal kingdom which does not have a sin nature. “And I heard a great voice out of the temple saying to the seven angels, Go your ways, and pour out the vials of the wrath of God upon the earth” (Revelation 16:1). Here it comes!

“And the first went, and poured out his vial upon the earth; and there fell a noisome and grievous sore upon the men which had the mark of the beast, and upon them which worshipped his image” (Revelation 16:2, emphasis mine). This “grievous sore” only affects those having the “mark of the beast.” With the advancement of modern technology, things like RFID chips, which can be embedded under the skin, or quantum dot tattoos[5] (that can not only contain all of one’s personal information, including health, financial, and social credit records, but they can be tracked) already exist and can easily be used as “the mark of the beast.” Because these things penetrate the body, it is possible that the human body will react to the foreign invader and produce these sores. In the case of the quantum dot tattoos, right now they are being promoted as a way to vaccinate people while also providing proof of vaccination. Many of the proposed vaccines of the mRNA type have the potential of modifying a person’s DNA. I have heard that altering a person’s DNA by only one percent renders them no longer human. If that is true, that person (being no longer human) loses any possibility for salvation – Jesus died for humans. Also, considering that only those with the “mark” contract these horrible sores implies that not all earth dwellers take the mark of the beast. These are either Tribulation saints that have survived in the midst of all these judgments or those who potentially will be saved before Christ returns.

“And the second angel poured out his vial upon the sea; and it became as the blood of a dead man: and every living soul died in the sea” (Revelation 16:3, emphasis mine). The sea does not turn into blood; “it became as blood,” which suggests some sort of pollution. When the second trumpet sounded, a third part of the sea was turned to blood.[6] However, here all the ocean waters are affected; all marine life dies. Imagine the stench of the rotting flesh and the potential for the spread of diseases!

“And the third angel poured out his vial upon the rivers and fountains of waters; and they became blood” (Revelation 16:4, emphasis mine). Here the waters are turned into blood, just like in the plagues of Egypt.[7] In that case, the plague lasted only seven days; here there is no indication of cessation.  What does one drink when there is no water to drink? All soft drinks are made with water. Alcoholic drinks do not quench thirst, and worse, they promote dehydration. Then imagine the chaos resulting from an intoxicated population! Milk might work, but the climate alarmists want to do away with cows, so that option may not be available.

While things here on earth are dire, in heaven God’s righteousness is acknowledged and celebrated. “And I heard the angel of the waters say, Thou art righteous, O Lord, which art, and wast, and shalt be, because thou hast judged thus. For they have shed the blood of saints and prophets, and thou hast given them blood to drink; for they are worthy. And I heard another out of the altar say, Even so, Lord God Almighty, true and righteous are thy judgments” (Revelation 16:5-7, emphasis mine). To us, the judgment may seem like cruel and unusual punishment, but God is always righteous in all of His acts. I have often stressed God’s mercy, even during this time of Great Tribulation. He gives mankind every opportunity to repent, but they rebelliously continue to reject Him. Even when they recognized that the judgments are from God, they curse God rather than repent.

“And the fourth angel poured out his vial upon the sun; and power was given unto him to scorch men with fire. And men were scorched with great heat, and blasphemed the name of God, which hath power over these plagues: and they repented not to give him glory” (Revelation 16:8-9, emphasis mine). The adage “When you’re in a hole, stop digging” is lost on these people. The fact that they have already pledged their allegiance to the Antichrist has sealed their doom. They are beyond redemption.

“And the fifth angel poured out his vial upon the seat of the beast; and his kingdom was full of darkness; and they gnawed their tongues for pain, And blasphemed the God of heaven because of their pains and their sores, and repented not of their deeds” (Revelation 16:10-11, emphasis mine). Notice that this darkness is localized. It is only “upon the seat of the beast,” or the capital of the Antichrist. There is debate as to where his seat will be located. Some think that his capital will be in Rome, the seat of the old Roman Empire. Others suggest that it might be Jerusalem since it is there where he desecrates the Temple.[8] Still others believe it is literal Babylon as we shall see later. The argument against today’s Babylon is that it is insignificant on the world stage, unlike its historical past. However, considering modern technology, any place can serve as a control center; so why not Babylon? Wherever “the beast” chooses to make his capital, it will experience such a dreadful darkness that it causes the inhabitants to “gnaw their tongues for pain.”

“And the sixth angel poured out his vial upon the great river Euphrates; and the water thereof was dried up, that the way of the kings of the east might be prepared. And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs come out of the mouth of the dragon, and out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet. For they are the spirits of devils, working miracles, which go forth unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty” (Revelation 16:12-14, emphasis mine).

If I have not done so in previous articles, I need to make it clear now. The Antichrist will not rule the entire world. He wants to, but he will not achieve his goal. The Asian nations, China, North Korea, India, Pakistan, and many of Muslim nations, will oppose his rule. The Muslim nations, because they are monotheistic, will reject him when he demands to be worshipped as God. China and many other Asian nations desire their own domination of the world. They do not want to submit to the leadership of “the West.” These “kings of the east” will be enticed by the demonic spirits sent by the “unholy trinity” (the dragon, the beast, the false prophet) to come against the Antichrist. He thinks he will finally crush his opposition, but little does he know that this is God’s doing “to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty.” We learn in the next verses that this is the infamous “Battle of Armageddon.”

Jesus speaks now. “Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame” (Revelation 16:15). He is not speaking to the Church because the Church is with Him in heaven. No, this is addressed to those saints that are suffering through the Tribulation. They are studying this book. They see the signs. They know the sequence of events. They know what comes next. They are watching. They know that they need to hang on for just 21 more months. Jesus here encourages them to remain steadfast and faithful in their trials. They will be blessed, as they watch the heaven split open and their long-awaited Lord descend on a white horse followed by all of His saints. Hang in there, Saints! It will not be much longer. Jesus comes “as a thief,” but not to these saints; they are expecting Him. The sudden surprise of His appearing is reserved for God rejecting sinners.

“And he gathered them together into a place called in the Hebrew tongue Armageddon” (Revelation 16:16). God is the one gathering all the armies of the world into this one valley. The name in Hebrew means Mount Megiddo and it actually refers to the valley north of this mountain. “This valley in northern Israel extends from the Mediterranean Sea to the Joran River south of Lake Tiberias (Sea of Galilee). It covers an area of roughly 380 square kilometers or 146.7 square miles. The blood of Jesus’ enemies will fill this “winepress” as high as a horse’s bridle. It is “the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God” (Revelation 19:15).”[9]

“And the seventh angel poured out his vial into the air; and there came a great voice out of the temple of heaven, from the throne, saying, It is done” (Revelation 16:17, emphasis mine). That is it! It is over! What follows describes the result of this final battle.

“And there were voices, and thunders, and lightnings; and there was a great earthquake, such as was not since men were upon the earth, so mighty an earthquake, and so great. And the great city was divided into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell: and great Babylon came in remembrance before God, to give unto her the cup of the wine of the fierceness of his wrath. And every island fled away, and the mountains were not found. And there fell upon men a great hail out of heaven, every stone about the weight of a talent: and men blasphemed God because of the plague of the hail; for the plague thereof was exceeding great” (Revelation 16:18-21, emphasis mine).

Earthquakes of 5.5 magnitude and above are on the increase albeit rarely publicized and occurring in locations where earthquakes are rare. The earth is groaning. “For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now” (Romans 8:22). At the beginning of the Tribulation when the sixth seal is opened, we are told that there was “a great earthquake” great enough to blot out the sun and turn the moon blood red.[10] So great is this earthquake that it causes heaven to appear as if it is rolled up like a scroll. That earthquake is small compared to this one. This one is greater even than those that split the “fountains of the deep” at the time of the Great Flood.[11] The earthquake causes “the great city” (Jerusalem) to split three ways. This will not be a localized earthquake. It will eradicate islands and demolish mountains. The tectonic upheaval created by this earthquake will spawn volcanoes worldwide, spewing dust and ash high into the atmosphere. Increased evaporation from superheated oceans will send water vapors high into the atmosphere to return to the earth as massive hailstones weighing in excess of 120 pounds.

Men on earth recognize that these things are truly “an act of God,” and rather than repent, they curse and blaspheme God. The text says that at this time “Babylon came in remembrance before God.” That does not mean God had forgotten and then suddenly said, “Oh yeah! I forgot about Babylon.” No, God’s timing is always perfect, and He does not forget (which, by the way, is why hell is eternal. Sin offends the Eternal God eternally and the only remedy is the sin-atoning, sin-covering blood of Jesus.). The time has come for Babylon to be judged. We will see that in the chapters that follow.

I take no pleasure when I think about the horrors that will come upon mankind during the Tribulation. That is why I am writing this series on the Book of Revelation. I hope that my efforts will lead as least some to avoid the judgments that are coming. And, if they do not heed the warnings before the Rapture of the Church and the coming Tribulation, perhaps they will reconsider during the Tribulation while they still have a chance. Reader, if you do not know the Savior, do not wait any longer. The time is short. Please read my page on “Securing Eternal Life.”

Notes:

[1]  Revelation 6

[2]  Revelation 8-9

[3]  Daniel 9:27

[4]  Revelation 4:7

[5]  An Invisible Quantum Dot ‘Tattoo’ Could Be Used to ID Vaccinated Kids : ScienceAlert

[6]  Revelation 8:8

[7]  Exodus 7:14-25

[8]  Daniel 9:27; 11:45; Matthew 24:15; 2 Thessalonians 2:4

[9]  Harvest Time | Ernie’s Musings (erniecarrasco.com)

[10]  Revelation 6:12-14

[11]  Genesis 7:11

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May 21, 2023 · 10:00

Tribulation Witnesses

And I looked, and, lo, a Lamb stood on the mount Sion, and with him an hundred forty and four thousand, having his Father’s name written in their foreheads. (Revelation 14:1)

Jesus warned, “When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place,[1] (whoso readeth, let him understand:) Then let them which be in Judaea flee into the mountains: Let him which is on the housetop not come down to take any thing out of his house: Neither let him which is in the field return back to take his clothes. And woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck in those days! But pray ye that your flight be not in the winter, neither on the sabbath day: For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be. And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect’s sake those days shall be shortened” (Matthew 24:15-22, emphasis mine).

Jesus’ Olivet Discourse[2] is often misinterpreted and misapplied to include all followers of Christ. However, one must consider the audience Jesus addressed. It was His disciples who asked, “Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?” (Matthew 24:3). The question was prompted by Jesus’ remark concerning the Temple they were admiring. “And Jesus said unto them, See ye not all these things? verily I say unto you, There shall not be left here one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down” (Matthew 24:2). The disciples were Jewish, and their concern was from a Jewish perspective. They were not yet “Christian.” They believed that Jesus was the promised Messiah. They knew He was destined to reign in Jerusalem and that His reign would culminate at the “end of the age.” Their twofold question requested two specific answers: when will He come to set up His kingdom, and when will “the end of the world” (Gk: aiōn – age) be?

Jesus’ reply addressed Jews, and the events outlined in His discourse were directed to Jews. “The abomination of desolation spoken of by Daniel the prophet” was intended for Daniel and his people and his holy city, i.e., the Jews and Jerusalem.[3] Jesus warned that they should pray that their escape from Jerusalem would not be on a Sabbath Day. Such a warning can only apply to Jews; Christians observe the Lord’s Day (Sunday), not the Sabbath (Saturday). Jesus’ discourse on the last days described the events of the seven-year Tribulation prophesied by Daniel. Its primary purpose is “to finish the transgression [of Israel], and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy” (Daniel 9:24). The prophets all speak of the scattering and regathering of Israel into their own land in the “latter days” with the promise that God will restore the nation forever (sealing up “the vision and prophecy”). Hence, the Tribulation is for that purpose and to bring God’s judgment to bear on a rebellious and sinful world.

In my previous article, I focused on Revelation 13 which deals with “the beast” (i.e., “the abomination of desolation, a.k.a. the Antichrist) and his false prophet,[4] who shows his true colors at the midpoint of the Tribulation initiating the final 3½ years, or what Jesus called the “Great Tribulation.” Of that time Jesus said, “And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect’s sake those days shall be shortened” (Matthew 24:22).

It is at this point that John once again changes the scene. “And I looked, and, lo, a Lamb stood on the mount Sion, and with him an hundred forty and four thousand, having his Father’s name written in their foreheads” (Revelation 14:1). The Lamb he sees is Jesus standing on Mount Zion.[5] Zion sometimes refers to Jerusalem and at other times it refers to the Temple Mount or “the mountain of God.” However, it almost always refers to the dwelling place of God. God established Jerusalem as His city forever[6] and the Temple as His dwelling place forever.[7] Even so, Solomon rightly concluded, “But will God indeed dwell on the earth? behold, the heaven and heaven of heavens cannot contain thee; how much less this house that I have builded?” (1 Kings 8:27). Obviously, God cannot be confined to a single place; therefore, Zion goes beyond an earthly temple or city. Zion is the habitation of God in heaven.

Now we see Jesus, the Lamb, in Zion, His heavenly home, and there with Him are the 144 thousand “having his Father’s name written in their foreheads.”[8] We have seen them before in Chapter 7 of Revelation and as a result of their evangelistic efforts, millions on earth are saved.[9] Now, here they are in heaven. What happened? Either they were Raptured about the same time as the two witnesses,[10] or they paid with their lives for their evangelistic zeal.

“And I heard a voice from heaven, as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of a great thunder: and I heard the voice of harpers harping with their harps: And they sung as it were a new song before the throne, and before the four beasts, and the elders: and no man could learn that song but the hundred and forty and four thousand, which were redeemed from the earth” (Revelation 14:2-3). Clarence Larkin sums this up better than I can, so I will include his commentary as follows:

What the “voice” said is not told us, but it was followed with the voice or singing of the “Harpers” accompanied by their harps. These “Harpers” sung a “NEW SONG” before the Throne, and the “Four Living Creatures,” and the “Elders.” As the “Elders” represent the Church, these “Harpers” are not the Church, for they sing before the “Elders.” Who these “Harpers” are we are told in chapter 15:2-4. They are those who stand on the “Sea of Glass” before the Throne, Rev.4:6. The “New Song” they sing is a “double song,” the “SONG OF MOSES” and the “SONG OF THE LAMB,” and we are told that no man could learn the Song but the 144,000 who were redeemed from the earth. This is further evidence that the 144,000 “Sealed Ones” are in Heaven, either having been translated or died a Martyr’s death and from Rev. 14:4 we learn that they are the “FIRST-FRUITS” of the restored nation of Israel, not the “First-Fruits” of the Church, for that is represented by the “Elders,” and was gathered out long before.[11]

“These are they which were not defiled with women; for they are virgins. These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth. These were redeemed from among men, being the firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb. And in their mouth was found no guile: for they are without fault before the throne of God” (Revelation 14:4-5). Larkin suggests that the idea that they were “not defiled with women” may mean that they were celibate like the Apostle Paul who did not marry. However, since “the word translated ‘virgins’ means persons of either sex, they are ‘virgins’ in the sense that they kept themselves clean of the crowning sin of that day—FORNICATION, for the crowning sin of the Tribulation Period will be fornication (Rev. 9:21; 14:8), or looseness and laxity of the marriage tie of which ‘free-love,’ and the doctrine of “affinities,” and multiplied divorce in these days are but the opening wedge to the looseness of morals of those Anti-Christian times.”[12] This allows for the possibility that this number includes women and not just men. The defining characteristic is chastity or sexual purity, faithfulness in the bond of marriage, and fidelity to the Lord’s leading “whithersoever he goeth.”

What is remarkable to me, but not surprising, is the mercy God extends to a fallen world even at this time of judgment. He sends the 144,000 Jewish converts to spread the Gospel around the world, and they are so effective that millions of people on earth reject the Antichrist and turn to Jesus Christ for salvation even at the cost of their very lives. “After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands; And cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb” (Revelation 7:9-10). Along with that, He sends two witnesses,[13] who could be Moses and Elijah. As a result, many millions are saved during the first 3½ years of the Tribulation.

Chronologically, in the Revelation account, we are at about the midpoint of the Tribulation. The two witnesses have been killed. They are allowed to lay in the streets of Jerusalem for three days in full view of the entire world. Then God resurrects their dead bodies and calls them up to heaven to the shock and dismay of the watching world. It is possible that around this same time the 144,000 are taken out of the world, either by martyrdom or rapture, but they seem to be in heaven now according to the text. However, God still continues His outreach efforts. “The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9). “Say unto them, As I live, saith the Lord GOD, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die, O house of Israel?” (Ezekiel 33:11)

God’s outreach options are not exhausted. “And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people, Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters” (Revelation 14:6-7). Just because the 144,000 and the two witnesses are gone from the scene does not mean that the message of the Gospel has ended. Surely, there are many Tribulation saints that have survived to this point and many will survive to the very end when Christ returns. They will continue to spread the Gospel by whatever means they have available. In the meantime, God sends angelic help by way of what I call the “Gospel Angel.”

John sees another angel flying in the “midst of the heaven.” This “heaven” is the atmospheric “heaven” of the earth. The Gospel historically has been the responsibility of humans. Now, with severe persecution and limited resources, God sends an unstoppable angel to preach “the everlasting gospel” to all people of every language. No one will be able to say they never heard the message of redemption. No one will have an excuse for rejecting the Gospel. It will be preached everywhere, in every language, non-stop. And Antichrist will have no power over this angel to stop him. However, it is not just one angel. Two more follow.

“And there followed another angel, saying, Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication” (Revelation 14:8). This message is not of an actual event. It is a promise of an event that is coming, and it is such a sure thing, that it is proclaimed in the present tense.

“And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand, The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb: And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name” (Revelation 14:9-11). For any rational person, this warning should serve to scare the hell right out of them. Receiving the mark of the beast[14] is the unpardonable death sentence. No one on earth will be forced to take the mark of the beast. They will take it willingly as a sign of fidelity to the Antichrist, the beast, and they will be eternally doomed for that choice.

No one will be able to plead ignorance. Three angels are sent by God to warn the earth dwellers of the judgments that are coming and provide them with the message of salvation. To take the mark of the beast may spare one’s life for a brief time, but in the end, the eternal fires of hell await. To reject the mark of the beast and choose Christ may mean physical death, but in the same instant that they close their eyes in death they will awaken in the presence of God, the Lamb, and all of the hosts of heaven.

“Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus. And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them” (Revelation 14:12-13).

There exist scoffers today that reject this message thinking that they will be able to survive the Tribulation. They think “if” that time ever comes, they will reject the mark and accept Christ. That sounds very self-assured, confident, and arrogant. However, if one will not accept Jesus now when it is relatively easy to do so, what makes one think that one will have enough courage in the midst of the worst economic, climatic, and environmental disasters the world has ever seen to stand up for Jesus when doing so means certain death? Reader, if you do not know the Savior, do not wait any longer. The time is short. Please read my page on “Securing Eternal Life.”

Notes:

[1]  Daniel 9:27

[2]  Matthew 24; Mark 13; Luke 21:5-36

[3]  Daniel 9:24

[4]  The Beast and His Mouth

[5]  Sion vs Zion is due to the Greek of the New Testament. The Greek does not have a “Z” in its alphabet. The nearest thing to it is the Greek letter sigma (Σ) that equates to our English letter “S.”

[6]  2 Chronicles 6:6

[7]  1 Kings 9:3

[8]  The 144K

[9]  Revelation 7:9-17

[10]  Revelation 11:1-14

[11]  Clarence Larkin, The Book of Revelation, Illustrated, (Rev. Clarence Larkin Estate, Philadelphia, 1919), p. 131.

[12]  Ibid.

[13]  The Two Witnesses

[14]  Revelation 13:16-18

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February 6, 2022 · 10:00

We’ve Been Warned

Surely the Lord GOD will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets. (Amos 3:7)

As you watch or listen to news reports, even from the “fake news” media, do you wonder about what is going on in the world? Russia amasses troops and armaments on the border of Ukraine threatening an invasion. It already has troops stationed in Syria, which although not openly voiced, threaten Israel with its alliances with Turkey and Iran.[1] China boldly invades Taiwan’s airspace daring the United States to do something about it. North Korea once again tests its ballistic missiles in defiance again of the United States. Just yesterday (February 4, 2022), the United States lifted all sanctions from Iran allowing the belligerent nation to go unrestrained in the development of their nuclear weapons – not that the sanctions were any deterrent to their plans, but perhaps the plight of the Iranian people will improve somewhat.

The United States has sent 3000 troops to Europe to scare Putin into backing off of Ukraine. In addition, the United States has sent weapons of various kinds to Ukraine for their own defense. NATO nations are also sending troops and weapons. Germany sent helmets! By analyzing the situation, it appears that the stage is being set for World War III.

Meanwhile, the COVID “plandemic” is being used by governments to oppress their people. Australia and Canada exemplify the harsh totalitarian mandates imposed by governments to exercise control over their people. The United States is not far behind. However, here we have the Constitution that hobbles the government from taking such draconian measures. Instead, government mouthpieces exert their influence to pressure large businesses to do their dirty work for them. Hence, airlines force employees to take the “shot” and require passengers to mask up.

Because medical facilities are on the government teat (they accept Medicare/Medicaid), the government can force “shot” and mask mandates to all employees and they can require patients to show proof of the injection before receiving treatment. Many hospitals are experiencing shortages in healthcare workers because many healthcare workers refuse to take the “jab” because they, being medical “experts” know the harm that the injection can do. As for COVID patients arriving at many hospitals, strict regimens of prescribed treatments (by the CDC) prevent medical staff from administering any of alternative treatments that have been proven to work. Instead, they end up killing patients with “approved” treatments.

Large businesses that employ 100 or more employees are carrying out the government mandate that all employees take the injection as a requirement for employment, even though the Supreme Court struck down the mandate as unconstitutional. They do it because they know “from whence cometh their help.” As a result, many businesses suffer from shortages of workers, which further weakens the economy – and this is true around the world. Of course, government employees must adhere to government mandates for shots and masks, which further enhances government inefficiency. I personally am dealing with an IRS matter that I cannot resolve because no one at the IRS is there to answer the phones. They use COVID to excuse their inability to provide service.

In the meantime, “woke” cities experience increasingly high crime and murder rates because “woke” city leaders refuse to prosecute crimes. Then they blame guns for their problems while they prevent honest, law-abiding citizens from purchasing guns for their own self-defense.

Do you get the picture? Do you find all of this a bit unnerving and perplexing? If you are a Christian and a serious student of the Bible, this should not come as a surprise. All of what we are experiencing right now has been predicted in the pages of the Bible. Jesus said of the last days, “And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring” (Luke 21:25). Of course, in context, Jesus referred to the time of Tribulation before His Second Coming, but these things will not happen suddenly. They take time to develop and increase in intensity. For those of us who are paying attention, we have seen all of this building up and ramping up for the last 50 years or more. Jesus spoke of the time of Tribulation in His “Olivet Discourse.”[2] However, what Jesus described will be much worse, if you can imagine. Think about the phrase, “upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity.” Is that not what we see happening? It seems that the world has gone mad and governments are at a loss as to what to do to fix it. They are perplexed!

Jesus also spoke of “signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars.” That is happening also. NASA watches as “Apophis,” a large asteroid, approaches earth and is due to arrive on April 13, 2029.[3] While Earth has experienced many “close encounters,” this one actually has the potential of striking Earth. As a result, NASA is trying to come up with a way to divert giant space rocks away from Earth. Could Apophis be the “great mountain burning with fire” spoken of in Revelation 8:8, or the “great star from heaven, burning as it were a lamp” described in Revelation 8:10?

Jesus said that “Men’s hearts [would be] failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken” (Luke 21:26). Does that not sound like the prevailing attitude these days? My goodness! Even among Christians, I see so much fear about the Wuhan Bug that they are even staying away from church. They willingly get injected with this unproven mRNA therapy treatment (trusting the NIH and the CDC rather than trusting God), and not daring to leave their homes without their face coverings! I think that is sad.

The Scripture verse I cited at the beginning clearly tells us that God will not do anything without first revealing it to His prophets. We have that revelation in the Bible, so none of what is happening should come as a surprise to Christians if they are reading their Bibles.

So, is God doing all of this? Yes! Nothing in this world takes place unless God either does it directly or allows it to take place. Just read Job 1 and 2, for example. God says, “I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the LORD do all these things” (Isaiah 45:7, emphasis mine). By the way, “evil” in this context does not mean “sin.” It is the Hebrew word râ‛âh, which means “bad, disagreeable, malignant, unpleasant, displeasing, etc.” Many of the bad things that happen around the world arise from men inspired by Satan, but it is God that allows it in order to accomplish His purpose, which will ultimately work out for good.

Again, Christians should not be caught by surprise by what is taking place in the world today. Understanding what God revealed to His prophets long ago should give comfort and hope to Christians knowing that our “blessed hope”[4] is drawing near. As Christians (the Church, the Bride of Christ), we may experience the “wrath of man” (and we see that on the rise around the world), but we will miss the “wrath of God” that will be in full display during the Tribulation. “For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Thessalonians 5:9). As things ramp up, we have the hopeful expectation that Jesus is coming soon for His Bride. He promised, “I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also” (John 14:3).

Sadly, most Christians do not study end-times prophecy, hence they find prophecy confusing, bewildering, and even frightening. However, there are many resources readily available which provide insight into current events and how they relate to Bible prophecy. Here are some of the resources I use frequently to keep me apprised of world events that the secular media purposefully obfuscate. If you find end-time prophecy scarry or confusing, I would encourage you to take advantage of these resources.

The above is not an exhaustive list, but all of these are solid Bible teachers that I do not hesitate to recommend. When you look at end-times prophecy correctly, it should not be cause for fear, but for hope and anticipation. It should also be a motivator for evangelism. When you know that the time is short, and that you have many friends and loved ones that are lost and hell-bound, it should motivate you to warn them of what is to come and hopefully bring them to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ.

If you are unsure of where you will spend eternity, please read my page on “Securing Eternal Life.”

Notes:

[1]  Ezekiel 38

[2]  Matthew 24; Mark 13; Luke 21

[3]  https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/asteroid-watch/eyes-on-asteroids

[4]  Titus 2:13

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January 9, 2022 · 10:00

Hell

And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. (Luke 16:23)

No one wants to hear about hell, but someone needs to talk about it. Why not me? I do not write this blog to be popular or become famous. If anything, dealing with topics such as this may win my place in infamy. That is okay; I will take my chances.

Most people largely ignore hell. They ask, “How can a loving God send anyone to hell?” Indeed, God sends no one to hell. “The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9, emphasis mine). In fact, when God unleashes the full force of His wrath upon the world during the seven-year Tribulation, He provides 144,000 witnesses to preach the Gospel to all nations.[1] He brings two Old Testament prophets from the dead to preach repentance and perform miracles in Jerusalem.[2] If that is not enough, God sends an angel to proclaim the Gospel to all of the world.[3] God does not want to send anyone to hell. He gives mankind every opportunity to avoid that place. (That is the main purpose of this blog.) However, it is up to every individual to make that choice for themselves. God does not force His affection on anyone.

If hell is not real, why would God go to such extremes – like taking on human form[4] to die on a cross for our sins[5] – to keep us out of that place? The Bible speaks more about hell than it speaks about heaven. Yet, some scoffers foolishly mock claiming that they look forward to going to hell so that they can party with all of their friends. Little do they know that they will suffer hell alone. (More on that later.) Still others, while accepting the fact of hell, reject the eternal nature of hell. Obviously, they have misinterpreted the multiple times that Jesus referred to hell as a place of “everlasting fire.”[6] While some may acknowledge that hell is eternal, they believe a sentence to hell is not. They believe that those that go to hell will only spend enough time there to pay for their sins and then cease to exist. However, that amounts to a lot of wishful thinking with no basis in Scripture.

In the Old Testament, “hell” often translates the Hebrew word she’ôl, which is the abode of the dead. Sometimes it is translated as “the grave” or “the pit,” and it is a place of no return. It is not clear to me, but it seems that she’ôl refers to “life after death,” and it could be either bad or good. King David expressed this idea at the death of his son by Bathsheba.[7] When the child was sick, David fasted and prayed unto God for the child’s life, but when the child died, he washed, dressed in his kingly apparel, and ended his fast. When asked about this seemingly odd behavior, David said, “But now he [the child] is dead, wherefore should I fast? can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he shall not return to me” (2 Samuel 12:23, emphasis mine). David understood that there was life after death, and his anticipation of that event was not cause for dread; rather, David looked forward to that day.

She’ôl also has a not-so-pleasant side to it. In describing Israel’s reward for idolatry, Moses records God’s plan. “And he [God] said, I will hide my face from them [Israel], I will see what their end shall be: for they are a very froward generation, children in whom is no faith. They have moved me to jealousy with that which is not God; they have provoked me to anger with their vanities: and I will move them to jealousy with those which are not a people; I will provoke them to anger with a foolish nation. For a fire is kindled in mine anger, and shall burn unto the lowest hell, and shall consume the earth with her increase, and set on fire the foundations of the mountains. I will heap mischiefs upon them; I will spend mine arrows upon them” (Deuteronomy 32:20-23, emphasis mine). While the language may be figurative (I take it literally), it describes the extent of God’s wrath against sin, and it is not pretty.

We see, then, that she’ôl, the abode of the dead, has both a good and a bad side. Jesus confirmed this idea when He recounted the death of a rich man and Lazarus.[8] Some assume that this was one of Jesus’ parables, but a close inspection reveals that Jesus relayed this as an actual account. Lazarus died as did the unnamed rich man, but they ended up in two different locations. Lazarus died “and was carried by the angels into Abraham’s bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried” (Luke 16:22). Albert Barnes points out that “Burial was thought to be an honor, and funerals were, as they are now, often expensive, splendid, and ostentatious. This is said of the rich man to show that he had “every” earthly honor, and all that the world calls happy and desirable.”[9]

That the rich man was buried also expresses the finality of, at least, his earthly life. However, that was not his end. “And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom” (Luke 16:23, emphasis mine). “Hell” here translates the Greek word hadēs which is equivalent to the Hebrew she’ôl. Two regions of the abode of the dead are expressed here: “Abraham’s bosom” and “torments.”

“Torments” is what we normally understand as “hell.” Notice that the rich man possessed consciousness. He could see Abraham and Lazarus “afar off.” However, Lazarus seems to be unaware of the rich man’s suffering. It appears that part of the torture of those in hell is seeing those who are enjoying heaven. At the same time, those in heaven remain unaware of those suffering in hell. Heaven would not be so heavenly knowing the fate of friends and loved ones suffering in hell.

Jesus described the rich man’s end as a place of fire. “And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame” (Luke 16:24, emphasis mine). Some deny the fire of hell, but Jesus never did.[10] Notice that the rich man retains his selfish nature in hell. He dares to ask Abraham to send Lazarus to relieve him of some of his suffering. Later, he asks that Lazarus be sent to preach to his five brothers (vv. 27-28). He does not care about the rest of the lost, only his brothers. Sinners in hell do not change their sinful ways.

Finally, Jesus does not mention others suffering along with the rich man. He appears to be alone and isolated. So much for those who think they will party in hell with their friends. When one rejects God’s free offer of salvation, that one alone bears the responsibility for that choice. It is important to point out that nothing in this account describes the rich man as a particularly wicked or sinful person. Nor does it portray Lazarus as a particularly upright man. However, by implication, the rich man took no thought about God, while Lazarus depended on no one else but God. The rich man counted on his riches and thereby rejected God – not overtly – he probably attended synagogue regularly – but in his attitude of self-sufficiency.

Hell is a real place and the final destination of many. Jesus said, “Enter ye in at the strait [i.e., “narrow”] gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it” (Matthew 7:13-14, emphasis mine). Sadly, Jesus makes it clear that the majority of people will end up in hell.

Many believe that at “judgement day” their good deeds will outweigh the bad and they will gain access into heaven by their good works. They correctly conclude that their deeds will be judged, but the standard to which they will be evaluated is the perfect, sinless life of Jesus Christ, and all will fall short of that standard. Everyone’s life is recorded in the annals of heaven and everyone will give an account. John the Revelator writes, “And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works … And death and hell [hadēs] were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire” (Revelation 20:12, 14-15, emphasis mine). “The lake of fire” is the place we understand as “hell,” and it is eternal.

The question remains. Which way do you choose, the broad way or the narrow way? Do you want to follow the majority on the way to hell or choose the narrow way that leads to eternal life? The choice is yours and yours alone. Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me” (John 14:6, emphasis mine). Does that seem narrow? It is! If you are on the broad way with the majority, you can get off of that road to destruction. Please read my page on “Securing Eternal Life.”

Notes:

[1]  Revelation 7; 14:1-5

[2]  Revelation 11:1-14

[3]  Revelation 14:6-7

[4]  John 1:14

[5] Philippians 2:5-8

[6]  Matthew 18:8-9; 25:46; Mark 3:29; 9:43-48

[7]  2 Samuel 12:1-25

[8]  Luke 16:19-31

[9]  Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible (Published in 1847-85; public domain.)

[10]  Matthew 3:12; 5:22; 7:19; 13:40, 42, 50; 18:8-9; 25:41, et al

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