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 Sermon > Lecture Messages |
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Title |
Revelation Lectures(77) |
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Speaker |
Rev. Jaerock Lee |
Bible |
Revelation 18:8-20 |
Date |
2008-09-26 |
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Scripture
Revelation 18:8-20
[8] "For this reason in one day her plagues will come, pestilence and mourning and famine, and she will be burned up with fire; for the Lord God who judges her is strong.
[9] "And the kings of the earth, who committed acts of immorality and lived sensuously with her, will weep and lament over her when they see the smoke of her burning,
[10] standing at a distance because of the fear of her torment, saying, 'Woe, woe, the great city, Babylon, the strong city! For in one hour your judgment has come.'
[11] "And the merchants of the earth weep and mourn over her, because no one buys their cargoes any more--
[12] cargoes of gold and silver and precious stones and pearls and fine linen and purple and silk and scarlet, and every kind of citron wood and every article of ivory and every article made from very costly wood and bronze and iron and marble,
[13] and cinnamon and spice and incense and perfume and frankincense and wine and olive oil and fine flour and wheat and cattle and sheep, and cargoes of horses and chariots and slaves and human lives.
[14] "The fruit you long for has gone from you, and all things that were luxurious and splendid have passed away from you and men will no longer find them.
[15] "The merchants of these things, who became rich from her, will stand at a distance because of the fear of her torment, weeping and mourning,
[16] saying, 'Woe, woe, the great city, she who was clothed in fine linen and purple and scarlet, and adorned with gold and precious stones and pearls;
[17] for in one hour such great wealth has been laid waste!' And every shipmaster and every passenger and sailor, and as many as make their living by the sea, stood at a distance,
[18] and were crying out as they saw the smoke of her burning, saying, 'What city is like the great city?'
[19] "And they threw dust on their heads and were crying out, weeping and mourning, saying, 'Woe, woe, the great city, in which all who had ships at sea became rich by her wealth, for in one hour she has been laid waste!'
[20] "Rejoice over her, O heaven, and you saints and apostles and prophets, because God has pronounced judgment for you against her."
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ.
Revelation Chapter 18 writes about the judgment of God who repays according to what has been done.
It is the judgment of justice that will be made upon Lucifer and the forces of the antichrist that are instigated by Lucifer at the end of the 7 Year Great Tribulation.
1 Timothy 5:24-25 says, "The sins of some men are quite evident, going before them to judgment; for others, their sins follow after. Likewise also, deeds that are good are quite evident, and those which are otherwise cannot be concealed."
As said, someone's sin may not seem to be revealed right away, but the fact is that it will surely be revealed in the end.
All kinds of the acts of unrighteousness and lawlessness that the forces of the antichrist commit during the 7 Year Great Tribulation are clearly revealed.
However, the forces of the antichrist do evil till the end.
Revelation 18:7 says, "She says in her heart, 'I SIT as A QUEEN AND I AM NOT A WIDOW, and will never see mourning.'"
Instead of acknowledging and repenting their faults, they say they can't accept the miserable outcome they face.
But no one can escape from the judgment of God, and every plan of God is accomplished without the slightest error.
Revelation 18:8 says, "For this reason in one day her plagues will come, pestilence and mourning and famine, and she will be burned up with fire; for the Lord God who judges her is strong."
"One day" in this verse doesn't necessarily mean 'one actual day', but rather a very short period of time.
During the 7 Year Great Tribulation, the reign of the antichrist may seem to last forever.
But, when the time that God has fixed is up, the forces of the antichrist rapidly collapse.
Indeed, they try to destroy each other due to their internal conflicts.
After so much they have done, they collapse in vanity.
This verse also says the plagues are pestilence and mourning and famine. It is describing various happenings that take place when the forces of the antichrist collapse.
When the unified government collapses, they destroy each other, and because of this, people come to suffer and mourn.
When the unified government that has controlled the whole world collapses, the entire world falls into terrible chaos again.
The supply of natural resources and food discontinues, and there is an absolute scarcity of everyday-necessities.
The scripture describes this situation as 'famine.'
It's because everything is in short supply and men's lives grow increasingly miserable as if there is famine.
"She will be burned up with fire" refers to the miserable end of the forces of the antichrist.
Along with the forces of the antichrist, all of those who are connected with them end their lives miserably by the Judgment.
However, an even more miserable future is waiting for them.
That's the Lake of Sulfur where they will suffer forever after the Day of the Great White Throne Judgment.
The forces of the antichrist and most of their followers go into the Lake of Sulfur which is seven times hotter than the Lake of Fire in hell.
And they will be burned with the fires forever and ever.
Even though the forces of the antichrist controlled the world as they please, their end will be this horrifically miserable.
It's because God is alive and He surely judges them according to Justice.
Since God is the Sovereign and Judge, Lucifer and the enemy devil and Satan have no alternative but to kneel down before the judgment of God.
There is nothing and no one mightier than God.
You should, therefore, believe that the light surely overcomes the darkness, and that goodness overcomes evil.
Revelation 18:9-10 says, "And the kings of the earth, who committed acts of immorality and lived sensuously with her, will weep and lament over her when they see the smoke of her burning, standing at a distance because of the fear of her torment, saying, 'Woe, woe, the great city, Babylon, the strong city! For in one hour your judgment has come.'"
"The kings of the earth, who committed acts of immorality and lived sensuously with her" refer to those who do all kinds of evil and seek for their benefit by consorting with the forces of the antichrist.
As the forces of the antichrist collapse, those who have allied with them have no other way but to pass into desolation.
Since they have acquired great wealth by cooperating with the forces of the antichrist - the unified government - they are directly affected when the unified government collapses.
They are about to lose their wealth, honor, and authority.
Therefore, how much will they mourn as they watch the collapse of the unified government?
They will also tremble in fear.
Since they have committed all kinds of evils by being attached to the unified government, as the unified government collapses, they have no forces to support them.
In this situation, they look for their own ways of survival.
Because they cannot depend on the unified government, they should find their own means of survival.
And they put all the blame on the unified government.
They say they have no faults and that they have only done what the unified government told them to do; they make all kinds of excuses.
They know the unified government will eventually collapse, and so they try to survive like this.
Dear brothers and sisters.
We can see the attributes of the flesh once again.
The flesh easily betrays and puts all the blame on others when a situation doesn't benefit them.
When it benefits them, they pretend they would go through joys and sorrows together. However, when it doesn't benefit them, they look for the way of their own survival.
For this, sometimes they destroy others without hesitation.
They destroy others for their own survival.
"I have done nothing wrong. It's all their fault. I just did what they told me to do. I didn't want to do it, but I couldn't help it."
They make excuses like this, and put all the blame on others.
Even though they committed sin together, they speak as if the fault lied only with others.
"When something goes well, it's because of me, but if does not, then it's someone else's fault." Those who talk like this never acknowledge their faults.
They make this and that excuse, and they lay the fault on someone else's doorstep.
They cannot find their true 'self,' and thus they can neither change nor come into spirit.
It's because they can truly turn back from their heart and change only when they acknowledge their fault.
What about the heart of those who are left on earth at the end of the 7 Year Great Tribulation?
Moreover, those whose hearts are hardened to do evil by cooperating with the forces of the antichrist can only think of themselves.
No matter what may happen to others, all they care about is their personal survival.
They say, "Woe, woe, the great city, Babylon, the strong city! For in one hour your judgment has come," and they put all the blame on the unified government.
As if they had done nothing wrong, they speak in words cursing the collapsing unified government.
You should never shift your blame on others or accuse others of the things that you should also be taking responsibility.
You may get out of the trouble and escape from being ashamed on the spot, but you will take the responsibility for your deeds eventually.
Now, Revelation 18:11 says, "And the merchants of the earth weep and mourn over her, because no one buys their cargoes any more."
The merchants who have accumulated wealth through their relationship with the unified government also fall into difficulties as the unified government collapses.
They cannot gain benefit any longer by taking advantage of the unified government.
As the unified government collapses, they also experience great loss.
The economy is paralyzed, distribution of products is in difficulty; the world economy faces the worst of situations.
Naturally, those merchants who have invested great amounts in collusion with the unified government also fall into great difficulty.
The products that have been distributed through the unified government are stock piled in warehouses, and it becomes impossible to retrieve their investments.
Suppose a company that has world-wide lines of distribution collapses in one day.
It's natural that all the related companies are also falling into difficulty.
Those products that have already been produced cannot be distributed any longer, and the price declines.
In this way, even though the merchants have accumulated great wealth by playing up to the unified government, they are facing a collapse together with the unified government.
Revelation 18:12-13 says, "cargoes of gold and silver and precious stones and pearls and fine linen and purple and silk and scarlet, and every kind of citron wood and every article of ivory and every article made from very costly wood and bronze and iron and marble, and cinnamon and spice and incense and perfume and frankincense and wine and olive oil and fine flour and wheat and cattle and sheep, and cargoes of horses and chariots and slaves and human lives."
During the 7 Year Great Tribulation, the unified government has complete control over the world economy.
Even the smallest product can be distributed only under its control.
However, as the unified government collapses, the economy which has operated under its system becomes paralyzed.
"Gold, silver, precious stones, and pearls" are the symbols of wealth and authority.
As the unified government collapses, they become useless because people are in immediate need of everyday-necessities.
"Fine linen and purple and silk and scarlet" represents the clothes that the upper classes wear.
Since the core forces of the antichrist fall, these also become useless.
"Every kind of citron wood and every article of ivory and every article made from very costly wood and bronze and iron and marble" refer to vessels that are made of these various materials.
Since they are not distributed any more, they are stocked up in warehouses, having become useless.
"Cinnamon and spice and incense and perfume and frankincense and wine and olive oil" refer to all kinds of fragrant things.
"Fine flour and wheat and cattle and sheep" refer to all the food.
And "cargoes of horses and chariots and slaves" refer to all the transporting methods and hired people.
All of these become useless.
By the way, at the end of this verse, there is "human lives."
It means that the unified government as the forces of the antichrist handles the lives of countless people as they please.
They make the people come in line with them so that their souls cannot be saved.
In addition, they cruelly persecute and kill those who don't ally themselves with the unified government.
Likewise, the unified government has controlled everything in the world and managed them as they please during the 7 Year Great Tribulation.
But when the unified government collapses, the system that has controlled all the products also collapses.
The products, their distribution and transportation, and business transactions are all paralyzed, and the world is destroyed again by confusion and disorder.
Revelation 18:14 says, "The fruit you long for has gone from you, and all things that were luxurious and splendid have passed away from you and men will no longer find them."
"The fruit you long for has gone from you;" it means that their goal can no longer be met.
Everything the forces of antichrist have dreamed of has fallen.
"All things that were luxurious" refer to material wealth, and "all things that were splendid," to honor and authority.
Therefore, it means that the unified government loses all the wealth and authority that they had been enjoying so far, and that they will never see again.
Revelation 18:15-17 says, "The merchants of these things, who became rich from her, will stand at a distance because of the fear of her torment, weeping and mourning, saying, 'Woe, woe, the great city, she who was clothed in fine linen and purple and scarlet, and adorned with gold and precious stones and pearls; for in one hour such great wealth has been laid waste!'"
The merchants who have acquired wealth by playing up to the unified government collapse as the unified government collapses.
That's why they weep and mourn.
And they, too, put all the blame on the unified government and they speak out cursing them.
It says "she who was clothed in fine linen and purple and scarlet, and adorned with gold and precious stones and pearls," to show how great the wealth and authority the unified government is.
But all of these collapse in an instant.
Revelation 18:17-18 says, "And every shipmaster and every passenger and sailor, and as many as make their living by the sea, stood at a distance, and were crying out as they saw the smoke of her burning, saying, 'What city is like the great city?'"
The evil will fall at the judgment of justice of God.
The unified government also collapses in an instant as the time is up for their wealth and authority that they've enjoyed for awhile.
In addition, those who have unfairly acquired wealth by playing up to the unified government also collapse together.
And they lament for the collapse of the unified government, and they worry about their situation.
The unified government that even has said "What city is like the great city?" is falling down to pieces.
Revelation 18:19 says, "And they threw dust on their heads and were crying out, weeping and mourning, saying, 'Woe, woe, the great city, in which all who had ships at sea became rich by her wealth, for in one hour she has been laid waste!'"
The unified government cries out for the world peace and order and equality, but in reality, they accumulate great fortunes.
Many people know the identity of this unified government, but they cooperate with it.
They do it for their benefit.
While cooperating with the unified government, they also unfairly acquire wealth and enjoy authority.
The more actively they cooperate with the unified government and the more they play the role of its slayers, the greater the fortunes they can acquire.
Like this, many people become the slayers of the unified government and they enjoy wealth and prosperity.
Now, when this unified government collapses, how much do they weep and mourn?
When the scripture says, "they threw dust on their heads," it describes the situation while they are weeping and mourning.
Since they value their fortunes more than their lives, they lament greatly when their long-piled up wealth is gone in a day?
It is a fact that the fortunes that are piled up through fleshly ways can disappear in a moment like this.
When their wealth bursts like a bubble, they start to speak in words of cursing words toward the unified government.
They have helped the unified government for their benefit, and they have taken great advantage of the association.
However, when the situation goes bad like this, they do evil toward the unified government.
As I said earlier, it is an attribute of the man of flesh.
No matter how great the grace that was received, when a man of flesh is driven into a difficult situation he forsakes that grace.
Furthermore, in order to escape from the difficulty, he even passes all the blame to those who helped him.
There goes a saying, "Save a stranger from the sea, and he will turn your enemy."
You should remember that the people of flesh seem to cooperate for their benefit, but that they instantly change if it doesn't benefit them.
If they know the truth, or if they are the people of spirit, they should never do such a thing.
They should never forget the grace they received, and they should repay that grace again and again.
They should also accept the blame for other's faults, and they should cover other's transgressions.
Let's say, there is someone who wrongfully afflicted you and made you suffer. Now, he is in difficulty.
What kind of heart will you have then?
"I knew he would end up like this. I feel great about it." Isn't here anyone who would think like this?
Now, Revelation 18:20 is what is said to the unified government by those who used to cooperate with the antichrist but now come to collapse together.
It says, "Rejoice over her, O heaven, and you saints and apostles and prophets, because God has pronounced judgment for you against her."
The evil people don't repent and turn back when a certain judgment comes upon them.
They would rather say in the evil of the heart, "So, you feel great to see me receive a judgment like this? You rejoice and feel happy to see me suffering, don't you!"
Since their heart is evil, they assume others' hearts are the same.
Also, they lament for their situation, and they speak sarcastically with regards to themselves.
"I have become like this because I am evil. I deserve it." Instead of repenting their fault, they make cynical remarks to themselves.
It is the same with those who speak cynically at the collapse of the unified government.
The forces of the antichrist of the unified government have persecuted and killed countless people of God and saints.
But now, the unified government and its supporters are all about to collapse together.
Then, they tell those who have been persecuted and killed by their hands to feel great seeing them in such a situation.
They become pessimistic of their situation, and out of their evil, they speak words from their distorted hearts.
But, the righteous don't laugh or feel great even though the evil receive judgment.
They rather mourn together and feel pity for them.
Now, take this moment to check the goodness in your heart.
Those who are truly good never take joy in the situation of someone becoming miserable and suffering even if that person has acted with evil towards them.
They rather feel the pain in their hearts and mourn.
We will continue to look into the collapse of the unified government and its followers in the next lecture.
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ.
We can say the unified government has enjoyed everything that they can for the period of the 7 Year Great Tribulation.
They have acquired great fortunes, honor, and authority, and they even have people's lives at their disposal.
However, what about its result?
Everything vanishes in an instant.
And eternal punishment is waiting for them.
The things that are piled up in a fleshly way like this are useless.
Galatians 6:8 says, "For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life."
No matter how much you sow and reap for your own flesh, it is like a mere a mist.
It will eventually perish and vanish; you cannot take it with you into the life that is eternal.
Moreover, those who sow to their own flesh will reap the fruit of the flesh and the fruit of the flesh corrupts, rots, and passes away.
Those of you who are attending the Divine Healing Meeting tonight because of any problem, please look back on yourself where it has started.
And see how much you have sown according to the lust of the flesh, your selfish desires, your greed, or how much you have departed from the word of God which is the truth.
As time went by, these things result in diseases of your body, difficulties in your business, or problems within your family.
If you are to say, "I've also sown according to the spirit," then ask yourself how much you have filled your heart with the spirit.
Unless you fill yourself with the spirit and it effects a change in you, all the outward things you've piled up may fall away in an instant.
You may be surprised if you see only the outward appearance of someone, but if he doesn't circumcise his heart and fill it with the spirit, all the things he has sown to the flesh will be eventually be revealed.
Please make sure that it is only the things you sow and do in the spirit before God that have true value.
That is to circumcise your heart, and diligently sow and be faithful through deeds.
I urge you to think of the things of spirit all the time, and give your life to God as a beautiful aroma.
By doing so, may what you do and sow in this earth be piled up as glory and reward in heaven, in the name of the Lord, Jesus Christ, I pray!
[Amen] |
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