TRUE WEALTH IS IN JESUS
CHAPTER 18
THE COMING GLOBAL FINANCIAL COLLAPSE
LESSON 1 PART B
THE WORTHLESSNESS OF WORLDLINESS
(18:9-19)
WORLDLY POSSESSIONS CAN’T LAST FOREVER. Revelation 18:9 “The
kings of the earth who committed fornication and lived luxuriously with her will
weep and lament for her, when they see the smoke of her burning,
* The words “bewail and lament” speak of an uncontrollable sobbing and
beating of the breast in anguish! They are insecure and not enduring in the
end.
WORLDLY POSSESSIONS CAN’T MEET OUR DEEPEST NEEDS. Revelation
18:10-12
10 Standing afar off for the fear of her torment, saying, Alas, alas, that great city Babylon, that mighty city! for in one hour is thy judgment come.
11 And the merchants of the earth shall weep and mourn over her; for no man buyeth their merchandise any more:
12 The merchandise of gold, and silver, and precious stones, and of pearls, and fine linen, and purple, and silk, and scarlet, and all thyine wood, and all manner vessels of ivory, and all manner vessels of most precious wood, and of brass, and iron, and marble,
* There are 28 types of possessions named in 8 categories:
1. POSSESSIONS OF SECURITY. In all of history gold, silver and precious
stones have been a vehicle to hold the wealth of the rich against inflation,
warfare and decline.
2. POSSESSIONS OF EXTERNAL BEAUTY. These are the fine materials
of clothing, decorating and fashion.
3. POSSESSIONS OF EXQUISITE FURNISHINGS. The woods (thyanine a
fragrant, rare coniferous wood of Northern Africa makes table tops worth
$10,000 each), ivory, marble (the most expensive building material) and
so on.
4. POSSESSIONS OF PERSONAL LUXURY. These are the fragrances of
perfumes and incenses, the oils of ointments and beautifiers, the spices of
exotic cuisine.
5. POSSESSIONS OF PERSONAL INDULGENCE. The inclusion of wine
would cover all the personal intoxicants including distilled spirits (not
known in the ancient world), and drugs (known and used back then). The
oil named may be olive oil of the ancient world or a prophetic look ahead
to the vast petroleum industry.
6. POSSESSIONS OF LIFE. The list also has foodstuffs for daily life, this
would be all agricultural products, and then also are the fine meats
named.
7. POSSESSIONS OF TRANSPORTATION. The word for chariot is not the
normal 2 wheeler from the movies like Ben Hur; it is the four wheeled
wagon (Greek: rheda) of travel. This may be a prophetic look at the vast
automotive industry.
8. POSSESSIONS OF SLAVERY. The including of slaves “souls of men”
may indicate a resurgence of slavery which was outlawed by Christian
nations in the 19th century (although in Asia and Africa it continues), or this
may be a spiritual reference to the sale of indulgences
WORLDLY POSSESSIONS CAN BLIND THE SOUL TO ETERNAL
CONCERNS.
Revelation 18:15-19
15 The merchants of these things, which were made rich by her, shall stand
afar off for the fear of her torment, weeping and wailing,
16 And saying, Alas, alas, that great city, that was clothed in fine linen,
and purple, and scarlet, and decked with gold, and precious stones, and pearls!
17 For in one hour so great riches is come to nought. And every shipmaster,
and all the company in ships, and sailors, and as many as trade by sea, stood afar off,
18 And cried when they saw the smoke of her burning, saying, What city is like unto this great city!
19 And they cast dust on their heads, and cried, weeping and wailing, saying, Alas, alas, that great city,
wherein were made rich all that had ships in the sea by reason of her costliness! for in one hour is she made desolate.
Remember what the prophet Zephaniah said (1:18)
Neither their silver nor their gold shall be able to deliver them in the day of the LORD’S wrath;
but the whole land shall be devoured by the fire of his jealousy: for he shall make even a speedy riddance of all them that dwell in the land.
One hour such great riches came to nothing.’ Every shipmaster, all who travel by
ship, sailors, and as many as trade on the sea, stood at a distance “and cried
out when they saw the smoke of her burning, saying, ‘What is like this great
city?’ “They threw dust on their heads and cried out, weeping and wailing, and
saying, ‘Alas, alas, that great city, in which all who had ships on the sea became
rich by her wealth! For in one hour she is made desolate.’
* In four verses the earth dwellers lament their loss of luxuries, money and
things (v. 9, 11, 15, 19) and the lightning like speed of their loss (v. 10, 17,
19).
* But in all the weeping and wailing THEY FAIL TO EVEN NOTICE the greatest
loss is of their own souls! What a tragic scene!
JESUS CELEBRATING THE END OF WORLDLINESS (18:20-24)
WORLDLINESS USES THE DEAFENING SPELL OF ENTERTAINMENT
Revelation 18:20-24
“Rejoice over her, O heaven, and you holy apostles and
prophets, for God has avenged you on her!” (They refused to listen to God’s
servants)
21 Then a mighty angel took up a stone like a great millstone and
threw it into the sea, saying, “Thus with violence the great city Babylon shall be
thrown down, and shall not be found anymore. (They lost their opportunity to live
forever, instead they will die forever)
22 “The sound of harpists, musicians,
flutists, and trumpeters shall not be heard in you anymore. (No more music and
tunes to drown out God ) No craftsman of any craft shall be found in you
anymore, and the sound of a millstone shall not be heard in you anymore.
23 “The light of a lamp shall not shine in you anymore, and the voice of bridegroom
and bride shall not be heard in you anymore. For your merchants were the great
men of the earth, for by your sorcery all the nations were deceived.
24 “And in he was found the blood of prophets and saints, and of all who were slain on the
earth.”
* Gone will be the diversions. Music and entertainment are shut down. The
work that captivates so many keeping them from spiritual things ceases. The
regular grind (millstone) of life stops. There is nothing left to hide the thoughts
of God. No diversions, no distractions! This is just another of the endings of
this chapter.
* The profits of commerce ended in v. 11.
* The enjoyment of exotic commodities ended in v. 14.
* The whole system of materialism burned in v. 21
* The very sounds of life: music, industry, and home cease in v. 22.
* Finally even light and social life v. 23 stop.
Why? Because of the sorceries (Greek. Pharmakeia) the drug induced stupors of
addiction, the demonic induced bondage of the astrology industry, the godless
and mindless following of the evolutionary, dehumanization of mankind by
philosophy and secular education. All the evils are facing judgment day.
WHAT IDOLS DO WE NEED TO WATCH OUT FOR TODAY?
What are some of these deadly modern idols? We can take a look at some of the
old ones the Lord condemns, and then looking around we can see their modern
counterparts. For instance, the oldest book in the world is probably the Old
Testament account of Job. So the oldest record of man’s struggle with idols, and
what was a very tempting idol back four thousand or more years ago? The same
as today; THE IDOL OF MONEY.
Job 31:24-28
24 If I have made gold my hope, or have said to the fine gold, Thou art my confidence;
25 If I rejoiced because my wealth was great, and because mine hand had gotten much;
26 If I beheld the sun when it shined, or the moon walking in brightness;
27 And my heart hath been secretly enticed, or my mouth hath kissed my hand:
28 This also were an iniquity to be punished by the judge: for I should have denied the God that is above.
The Old Testament prophets WARNED THAT THE ISRAELITES COULD BEGIN
TO WORSHIP THEIR CAREER, JOB, OCCUPATION OR TECHNOLOGY.
And then his work would become an idol. Note the little minor prophet Habakkuk.
Habakkuk 1:15-16
15 They take up all of them with the angle, they catch them in their net, and
gather them in their drag: therefore they rejoice and are glad.
16 Therefore they sacrifice unto their net, and burn incense unto their drag;
because by them their portion is fat, and their meat plenteous.
In the New Testament church, the apostle Paul warned the saints at Philippi to
BEWARE OF THE POTENTIAL IDOL OF APPETITE, AND PHYSICAL DESIRES.
Philippians 3:19
Whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame,
who mind earthly things.)
WHAT DOES GOD TRULY WANT FROM US?
Since no one has ever seen the Father, we need to listen to Jesus:
Matthew 22:37-38
37 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart,
and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.
38 This is the first and great commandment.
All of this we saw is only a foretaste of what’s to come. But God has not left us
without instructions. In Revelation we see truth to live by for a safe future.
HOW DO WE SURVIVE THE 2020’S?
BUILD YOUR LIFE WITH FIREPROOF MATERIALS
1. REMEMBER JESUS COMPARES OUR EARTHLY LIFE TO A BUILDING,
SO WE MUST WATCH WHAT WE BUILD WITH AND WHERE. [Quakes,
fires, hurricanes, floods]
* I Corinthians 3:10-17
10 According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation,
and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon.
11 For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.
12 Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble;
13 Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire;
and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is.
14 If any man’s work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward.
15 If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.
16 Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?
17 If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.
2. REMEMBER JESUS SAYS OUR LIFE IS A STEWARDSHIP, SO WATCH
WHERE YOU INVEST IT. [Scams, bilked out of millions, folded companies,
Depco, stock market crashes]
* 2 Corinthians 5:10
For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive
the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.
*. REMEMBER JESUS SAYS OUR LIFE IS LIKE A RACE, SO WATCH OUT
FOR THE RULES, KNOW THE BOUNDARIES AND KEEP THE BAGGAGE
AT A MINIMUM. [We must keep in the lines, follow the rules, and not trip]
* Hebrews 12:1-2 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so
great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which
doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set
before us, 2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who
for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the
shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. (KJV)
APPENDICES
WILL BABYLON THE CITY OF DANIEL’S DAY BE REBUILT?
Many Bible Scholars believe it will be. The main reasons are:
* When it is destroyed the sun and stars are darkened as in Isaiah 13:1,9,10.
1 The burden of Babylon, which Isaiah the son of Amoz did see.
9 Behold, the day of the LORD cometh, cruel both with wrath and fierce anger,
to lay the land desolate: and he shall destroy the sinners thereof out of it.
10 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.
* Desolation will follow like that of Sodom and Gomorrah as in Isaiah 13:19
And Babylon, the glory of kingdoms, the beauty of the Chaldees’ excellency, shall be as when God
overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah.
Jer.50:40.
As God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah and the neighbour cities thereof, saith the LORD;
so shall no man abide there, neither shall any son of man dwell therein.
* Isaiah 13:20
It shall never be inhabited, neither shall it be dwelt in from generation to
generation: neither shall the Arabian pitch tent there; neither shall the shepherds
make their fold there.
* Jeremiah 50:40
As God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah and the neighbour cities thereof, saith the LORD;
so shall no man abide there, neither shall any son of man dwell therein.
* Babylon will be desolate forever as in Isaiah 13:20;
Jer 51:62
Then shalt thou say, O LORD, thou hast spoken against this place, to cut it off,
that none shall remain in it, neither man nor beast, but that it shall be desolate for ever.
* All nations of the world will be involved in this judgment as in
Jeremiah. 51:49.
As Babylon hath caused the slain of Israel to fall, so at Babylon shall fall the slain of all the earth.
Isaiah 13:11-13
11 And I will punish the world for their evil, and the wicked for their iniquity; and I will cause the
arrogancy of the proud to cease, and will lay low the haughtiness of the terrible.
12 I will make a man more precious than fine gold; even a man than the golden wedge of Ophir.
13 Therefore I will shake the heavens, and the earth shall remove out of her place, in the wrath of
the LORD of hosts, and in the day of his fierce anger.
* Global peace and rest from God come after this destruction in
Isaiah 14:7-8.
7 The whole earth is at rest, and is quiet: they break forth into singing.
8 Yea, the fir trees rejoice at thee, and the cedars of Lebanon, saying, Since thou art laid down,
no feller is come up against us.
*The destruction of Babylon is seemingly tied to the fall of Satan in
Isaiah 14:12-15
12 How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground,
which didst weaken the nations!
13 For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God:
I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north:
14 I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High.
15 Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit.
Babylon’s stones will never be used to build anything again as in
Jeremiah 51:26
And they shall not take of thee a stone for a corner, nor a stone for foundations; but thou shalt be desolate for ever,
saith the LORD.
“Only one life to live and soon is past
Only what’s done for Christ will last!”
Hoping to make the time I have left count for the glory of God.
REVELATION CHAPTER 18 LESSON 1 PART B