"Fall Of Babylon," The Great City

Revelation 18:1 

"And after these things I saw another angel come

down from heaven, having great power; and

the earth was lightened with his glory." 

  This chapter begins with the words "after these things." What Things you ask? The things recorded in the previous chapter, the destruction of "Mystical Babylon." Since  "Mystical Babylon" was destroyed in Chapter seventeen then she cannot appear in Chapter eighteen. So the "City" that is described here must be the "City" called Babylon, and since there is no city of that name on earth today, and has never been since the ancient city of Babylon was destroyed. This alone tells us that this must be a reference to a future city of Babylon. 

       The fact that both, Chapters seventeen, and eighteen refer to different things is verified by the fact that they are announced by different angels. The events in chapter seventeen are announced by one of the "Vial" Angels, while those of the eighteenth are announced by "another" angel; probably the "second Angel Messenger," who by the way of anticipation, announced in chapter 14:8, the "Fall of Babylon," "That Great City." 

        But Isaiah is still more specific for he locates the time when his prophecy will be fulfilled. He calls it the "Day of the Lord." Isa. 13:9. That is the Millennium. And he locates it at the beginning of the Millennium, or during the events that usher in the Millennium, for he says; "For the stars of heaven and the constellations thereof shall not give their light: the sun shall be darkened in his going forth, and the moon shall not cause her light to shine  (Is. 13:10).  "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; Men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken. And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory (Luke 21:25-27. Surely nothing like this happened when Babylon was taken by Cyrus.

        Amen!!

Reading: (Rev. Chap 17, 18)

Ref: (HGSB, BSB)

        (C. Larkin)

May God Bless You

And Your Family

Minister Robert A. Lail Sr.

The Cross Life Ministry

 
         

Mystery, Babylon The Great (Part 3)

Revelation 17:6  

"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."

        We left off last time that the colors, scarlet and purple are the colors of the Papacy. We are also told that the woman was "drunken with the blood of the Saints, and with the blood of the Martyrs of Jesus."  While this refers more to the martyrs of the time of Antichrist, yet who knows, who has studied the history of the Christian church for the past nineteen centuries, to say this is true of the Papal Church during those centuries? We only need to read the history of the persecutions of the early Christians and more particularly the story of the "Inquisition" in Papal lands, to see that the Papal Church has been "drunk" with the blood of the Saints.

        The fact that the Woman sits on a 'Scarlet Colored Beast" reveals the fact that at that time the "Beast" (Antichrist) will support the woman in her pretensions, or others words, the Woman as a  "State Church," will control and rule the State. Her long dream of world-wide Supremacy will at last be realized, for John tells us that "the waters which thou sawest, where the 'Whore' sitteth, are Peoples, and Multitudes, and  Nations, and Tongues."
        That means  that after the "True Church" (the Bride of Christ) is taken out of this world; then the "False or "Papal Church" (The bride of Antichrist) will remain, and the professing body of Christians (having the "form of Godliness without the power") that is left behind will become the Universal Church.. But this will continue for only a short time, because the "Ten Kings"  "of the Federated Kingdom," finding their power, will "Hate the "Whore," and strip her of her gorgeous apparel, take her wealth (eat her flesh) and burn her churches and cathedrals with fire. Rev:17:16.
        This will take place at the time the worship of the Beast is set up, because Antichrist in his jealous hate will not permit any worship that does not center on him.  Now the Beast which the Woman sits on is to show from whom the Woman (The Papal Church) gets her power and support after the true church has been "caught out," and also to show that the Beast (Antichrist) and the Woman (The Church) are not the same , but separate. Therefore The Papacy is not Antichrist. 
        So from the foreview of the Papacy we see that the Papal Church is not a dying "System."  She is to be revived and become a "Universal Church," and in doing so is to commit fornication with the Kings of the Earth, and that she will again be "drunk with the blood" of the martyrs of the Tribulation Period. So now the meaning of Chapter seventeen of the Book of Revelation is no longer a Mystery. The prophetic portrait of the Woman, corresponds too closely with the history of the Papal Church to be a mere coincidence. Tomorrow we begin Chapter eighteen; "The Fall of Babylon," "The Great City."
        Amen!!

Reading: (Rev. 17:6-18)
Ref: (HGSB, BSB)
       (C.Larkin)
       (Inquisition - Wikipedia Online)
 

May God Bless You

And Your Family

Minister Robert A. Lail Sr.

The Cross Life Ministry

        

     

"Mystery, Babylon The Great (Part 2)

Revelation 17:4 

 "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:"

        We left with a question from  our last Devotion Study. Why give a "bride" the name of a "City"? The answer is that it is not unusual in the Scriptures. The same angel that showed John in this chapter "Mystery, Babylon the Great" also came to John in chapter 21:9-10 and said; "come hither, I will shew thee the Bride' "The Lamb's wife," he did not show John a woman, but the great city, the "Holy Jerusalem" descending out of Heaven from God

        Here we see that a ""city" is called a "bride because its inhabitants, and not the city itself is the bride. "Mystery, Babylon the Great," the "bride of Antichrist, then is not a literal city, but a "System" a religious and apostate "System." As the Church, the Bride of Christ, is composed of regenerated followers of Christ, so "Mystery, Babylon the Great," the bride of Antichrist, will be composed of followers of all False Religions.  The river Euphrates, on which the city of Babylon was built, was one of the four branches that flowed into the Garden of Eden. And Satan doubtless chose the site of Babylon as his headquarters.

        As to the word "Mystery," The Papal Church has always surrounded herself in mystery. The mystery of "Baptismal Regeneration;" the mystery of  "Miracle and Magic" whereby the simple memorials of the Lord's Supper are changed by the mysterious word  "Transubstantiation,"  from simple bread and wine into the literal Body and Blood of Christ; the mystery of  the  "Holy Water," the mystery of  "Lights on the Altar,"  and other superstitious rites and ceremonies mumbled in a language that tends to mystify, and causes confusion; "which is the meaning of the word Babylon." 

        All this was a "Mystery in John's day, because the "Papal Church" had not yet developed, though the "Mystery of Iniquity" was already at work (2 Thess. 2:7). It is now no longer a Mystery, for it is easy to identify the "Woman;"  "Mystery, Babylon the Great, because John described her as the "Papal Church." In Rev. 17:4 we read that the "Woman" was arrayed in purple and scarlet color, and decked with gold and precious stones and pearls having a 'Golden Cup in her hand full of abominations and filthiness of her fornications. Now who does not know that scarlet and purple are the colors of the Papacy? (The office and jurisdiction of a pope). Tomorrow we will finish Chapter 17 of "The Great Mystery" and move forward to Chapter 18 "The Fall of  Babylon."

        Amen!!

Reading: (Rev. 17:1-5) 

Ref: (HGSB, BSB)

        (C. Larkin) 

May God Bless You

 And Your Family

Minister Robert A. Lail Sr.

The Cross Life Ministry

"Mystery," Babylon The Great

Revelation 17:5 

"And upon her forehead was a name written,

MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT,

THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND 

ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH."

        The ancient city of Babylon restored, plays an important part in the events of the last days. his is very clear by what is said in the seventeenth and eighteenth chapters of the Book of Revelation. When first read the two chapters seen to contain some things in common, but difficult to resolve. However; when we get the "Key" the understand will be easy.

        It all starts with the seventeenth chapter when it speaks of a "Woman," and this "Woman is called, "MYSTERY," Babylon The Great, The Mother of Harlots And Abominations of the Earth.  The eighteenth chapter speaks of a "City," a literal city, called "Babylon The Great. It is clear that the "Women" and the "City" do not symbolize the same thing; because what is said of the "Woman" does not apply to a city, and what is said of the "City" does not apply to a woman. The "Woman" is destroyed  by the "Ten Kings," while the "Kings of the Earth" in the next chapter, "bewail and lament" (cry and grieve) over the destruction of the "City," which is not destroyed by them, but by a mighty earthquake and fire. So that makes the "Woman" to be destroyed "Three and a Half Years Before The City: and the fact that the first verse of chapter eighteen says; "after these things," that is after the destruction of the "Woman." What happens to the "City" shows that the "Woman" and the "City" are not one in the same. 

        So we know the "Woman's" name is; "MYSTERY, Babylon the Great."  We have heard the word "Mystery" before! Paul calls the Church a "Mystery" because it was not known to the Old Testament Patriarchs and Prophets (see  Eph: 3:1-21). Christ to have a "Bride" was first revealed to Paul (Eph 5:23-32, and the "Mystery" that Antichrist is to have a "bride" was first revealed to John on the Isle of Patmos. The name of Antichrist's "bride" is "Babylon the Great. Some may ask why give a "bride" the name of a "City"? We will find the answer to that question in tomorrows "Devotional Study" 

        Amen!!

Reading: (Rev. Chap.17)

Ref: (HGSB, BSB)

       (C. Larkin)

May God Bless You

And Your Family

Minister Robert A. Lail Sr.

The Cross Life Ministry

      

The Seven Vials Of God's Wrath (Part 3)

Revelation 16:16 

"And he gathered them together into a place

called in the Hebrew tongue Armageddon."

        When the "Seventh Vial" is poured out a "great voice," probably the voice of the One who cried on the Cross; "It Is Finished." He (Christ) will cry; "It is Done," and there will be a "Great Earthquake" that will divide into three parts. The "Great City" and the cities of the Nations (the ten Federated Nations), London, Rome, Paris, etc, and "Great Babylon" that will be rebuilt by that time, and whose destruction by an earthquake is foretold in (Rev. chap 18) will fall. This earthquake is foretold by the Prophet Zechariah; "And his feet shall stand in that day upon the mount of Olives, which is before Jerusalem on the east, and the mount of Olives shall cleave in the midst thereof toward the east and toward the west, and there shall be a very great valley; and half of the mountain shall remove toward the north, and half of it toward the south.  And ye shall flee to the valley of the mountains; for the valley of the mountains shall reach unto Azal: yea, ye shall flee, like as ye fled from before the earthquake in the days of Uzziah king of Judah: and the LORD my God shall come, and all the saints with thee (Zech. 14:4-5).

        In the "Great Hail," every stone of which shall weigh 100lbs, will fall on men. Here we have a repetition of the "Seventh Egyptian Plague."  ( Ex. 9:13-35). Hail has been one of God's weapons of war. God used it to destroy the enemies of Israel at Bethhoron in the days of Joshua  (Joshua 10:11). The Law required that the "blasphemer" Should be "stoned,"  "And he that blasphemeth the name of the LORD, he shall surely be put to death, and all the congregation shall certainly stone him: as well the stranger, as he that is born in the land, when he blasphemeth the name of the LORD, shall be put to death" (Lev. 24:16).  And the "Blasphemers of the "End Time" will be stoned from Heaven.
        In the Book of Revelation, between the pouring out of the Vials and the "Battle of Armageddon," which ends the Tribulation Period," in chapter seventeen and eighteen, there is a destruction of a "System" called "Mystery, Babylon the Great," and a city called Babylon. They are mentioned in that place in Revelation, not because they did not exit until that time, but because they are both destroyed at that time. We will study the "Mystery, Babylon the Great," and a city called Babylon Starting tomorrow. After this study, will follow the "Battle of Armageddon."  
        Amen!!

Reading: (Rev. 16:17-21)
Ref: (HGSB, BSB)
        (C. Larkin)

May God Bless You

And Your Family 

Minister Robert A. Lail Sr.

The Cross Life Ministry 

The Seven Vials Of God's Wrath (Part 2)

Revelation 16:9  

"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." 

        When the "Fourth Vial" is poured out men will be "scorched with great heat." This is the only plague for which there is no parallel Egyptian plague.  However; The Prophet Malachi refers to it in Mal 4:1,  "For, behold, the day cometh, that shall burn as an oven; and all the proud, yea, and all that do wickedly, shall be stubble: and the day that cometh shall burn them up, saith the LORD of hosts, that it shall leave them neither root nor branch." The effect of this plague will be to make men repent, but to cause them to Blaspheme the Name of God.  

        When the "Fifth Vial" is poured out there will be "darkness" over the whole Kingdom of the "Beast" and men will "gnaw their tongues for pain." This will be a repetition of the "Ninth Egyptian Plague." Ex. 10:21-23. Notice that this Plague follows the Plague of "Scorching Heat," as if God will hide the sun whose heat was so hard to bear. The effect of  "Darkness" will be to make men "gnaw their tongues" for pain, and for their sores, showing that these "Vial Plagues," overlap or follow each other rapidly. 

        When the "Sixth Vial" is poured out the river Euphrates will be dried up so the Kings of the East (India, China, Japan) and their armies may cross over and gather for the great Battle of Armageddon. This will be a repetition of the opening of the Red Sea and the river Jordan. The Prophet Isaiah foretells this:  "And the LORD shall utterly destroy the tongue of the Egyptian sea; and with his mighty wind shall he shake his hand over the river, and shall smite it in the seven streams, and make men go over dryshod.  And there shall be an highway for the remnant of his people, which shall be left, from Assyria; like as it was to Israel in the day that he came up out of the land of Egypt" (Is. 11:15-16).

        These nations will be gathered by "Three Unclean Spirits," like frogs, that shall come out of the mouth of the "Dragon," and the "Beast" and the "False Prophet." Rev. 16:13-16. They will be the "Spirit of Demons," the "Seducing Spirits" of those days. 1Tim. 4:1. It was such a "Lying Spirit" that deceived King Ahab and led him to his death. 1Kings 22: 20-38.   Tomorrow we will conclude with the pouring out of the "Seventh Vial" (Rev. 16:17-21).

        Amen!!

Reading: (Rev. Chap 16)

Ref: (HGSB, BSB)

        (C.Larkin)

May God Bless You

And Your Family

Minister Robert A. Lail Sr.

The Cross Life Ministry  

The Seven Vials of God's Wrath (Part 1)

Revelation 16:1  

"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." 

        Let us go back and recapture where we are at this point. The first expression of God's wrath is seen in the "Seven Seals" (Rev. 6:1-17). The Seventh Seal contains the "Seven Trumpet Judgments" (Rev. 8:1-13; 9:1-21: 11:15-19). Then out of the "Seventh Trumpet Judgment" comes the "Seven Vials of God's Wrath" (Rev. 15:1; 16:1-21). 

        Now we will start with the final expression of the wrath of God during the Tribulation. The pouring out of the "Seven Vials" filled with wrath. When the "First Vial" is poured out a "noisome and grievous sore" will fall upon men who have the "Mark of the Beast," and who "worship his image." This is a repetition of the "Sixth Egyptian Plague."  Ex. 9:8-12. What the Lord told Moses in Exodus to do in those few verses were verbatim and with an obvious meaning! And We believe that to be, so why can this not be? The "Literalness of these "Vial Judgment" is the key to the meaning of the whole Book of Revelation. 

        When the "Second Vial" is poured out, the sea (Mediterranean) will become as the "blood of a dead man," and every "living soul" (creature, for creatures have souls) in the sea will die. Something similar, though not so great in extent, happened when the "Second Trumpet" sounded. Rev. 8:8,9.

       When the "Third Vial" is poured out the "rivers" and "fountains of water" will become "blood." This is a repetition of the "First Egyptian Plague." Ex. 7:19-24. Those will be awful and dreadful times when there is nothing to quench the thirst but "blood." Tomorrow we will continue with the pouring out of the "Seven Vials". Thank God I'm saved by the Blood of Jesus Christ, Our Lord and Saviour.  

        Amen!!!!

Reading: (Rev. 15:1; 16:1-21)
Ref: (HG SB; BSB)
        (C. Larkin)

May God Bless You

And Your Family

Minister Robert A. Lail Sr.

The Cross Life Ministry