Title:
HAS AMERICA CROSSED THAT FINAL JUDGMENT LINE WITH GOD AFTER SUPREME COURT
LEGALIZED "PRIVATE ACTS" OF HOMOSEXUALITY? Title:
HAS AMERICA CROSSED THAT FINAL JUDGMENT LINE WITH GOD AFTER SUPREME COURT
LEGALIZED "PRIVATE ACTS" OF HOMOSEXUALITY?
Learn how to protect yourself, your loved ones!
Stand by for insights so startling you will never look at the news the same way again.
YOU ARE NOW ON
THE CUTTING EDGE
On 6/26/2003, the Supreme Court legalized homosexual acts in Texas -- and by the nature of their high national office -- and throughout the rest of the nation as well. For years, Christian Fundamentalists have been mightily warning that America is in severe danger of God's physical judgment because of our multiple sins in his eyes. To list just a few:
* Abortion killing over 43,000,000 babies
* Partial Birth Abortion killing tens of thousands, with a most deceptive "ban" about to become law [NEWS1829]
* Moral poisoning of our youth and the youth of the world through our Rock Music
* Changing the values and attitudes of our youth to that of the Satanic - Harry Potter, occult TV shows and movies
* Teaching our youth secular humanistic values and gay values through Public Schools
* Rising flood tide of Apostasy of Christian Churches
* Leading the nations of the world steadily into the New World Order -- Kingdom of Antichrist -- for the past 224 years
Doubtless you can think of many more national sins of which America is guilty, but you get my point; this country was ripe for God's judgment a long time before this latest outrage by the Supreme Court. Let us quickly review this news of the day and the aftermath it is likely to cause, then go through a brief Bible study on the subject, and then review the prophetic possibility that America might be the economic Babylon of Revelation 18.
LEGALIZATION OF HOMOSEXUALITY
NEWS BRIEF: "Supreme Court Overturns Texas Gay Sex Ban", Fox News, June 26, 2003.
"WASHINGTON — The U.S. Supreme Court rejected Texas' gay sex ban Thursday, ruling that a state law that punished homosexual couples for engaging in sex acts that are legal for heterosexuals was an unconstitutional violation of privacy. The justices struck down a Texas Supreme Court ruling that banned 'deviate sexual intercourse with another individual of the same sex' ... 'The law "demeans the lives of homosexual persons,' Justice Anthony M. Kennedy wrote for the 6-3 majority, adding that the men 'are entitled to respect for their private lives. The state cannot demean their existence or control their destiny by making their private sexual conduct a crime,' Kennedy wrote."
"Chief Justice William H. Rehnquist and Justices Antonin Scalia and Clarence Thomas dissented. 'The court has largely signed on to the so-called homosexual agenda', Scalia wrote for the three. He took the unusual step of reading his dissent from the bench."
I had been following the progress of this Texas case before the Supreme Court, but had never entertained the idea that the Court might actually rule to strike down the Sodomy Law. This law is squarely based upon Biblical principles and has been on Texas' books for a very long time. However, if we are as close to the End of the Age as we think we might be, this decision makes a lot of prophetic sense, as you will see when we get into our brief Bible study. Still, this decision was the kind to take your breath away if you fear God and understand that He is a "consuming fire" [Hebrews 12:29; Deuteronomy 4:24; Isaiah 30:27; Jeremiah 4:4; Lamentations 2:3]
It did not take long for the full rippling impact of this terrible, momentous decision to take shape. Because the issue was based upon privacy in the home of the people involved, numerous other despicable acts might now be declared legal. Listen to the privacy issue first:
"Professor Paul Rothstein, a constitutional law professor at Georgetown University, said the justices did not strike down the Texas law because it treated gays differently from heterosexuals, but rather because of how much it violated people's privacy. 'These are acts, these sodomy acts, that both heterosexuals and homosexuals engage in', Rothstein said. '[The justices] chose much broader ground. There are certain things you do in the privacy in your home between consenting adults … that grants a very broad right to people and prevents the states from infringing on it." [Ibid.]
Notice that the ground upon which the Supreme Court Justices were standing when they made this decision was people's privacy in their home! This decision was not decided upon the validity or the worth of the sex act themselves, but upon the fact they were done in the privacy of their home. Does this mean that other illegal acts will now be declared legal if they are done within the privacy of one's home? Listen to this sobering article:
NEWS BRIEF: "Ruling on Gay Sex Ban May Have Far Reach", by Gina Holland, Associated Press, Washington Post, June 27, 2003.
"WASHINGTON - The Supreme Court's ruling striking down bans on gay sex also strengthens the constitutional underpinnings for legal abortion and other socially divisive issues, some legal experts say. The court said Thursday that what gay men and women do in the privacy of their bedrooms is their business and not the government's, a historic civil rights ruling that will likely be used to challenge other bans involving private conduct. The decision in many respects deals with the same issues as the court's 30-year-old Roe v. Wade ruling that provided for legal abortions. Emory University law professor David Garrow said the ruling "strengthens and enshrines" the court's thinking in the abortion case."
Therefore, fighting Abortion just became more difficult, even though an abortion is not usually carried out in the privacy of the mother's own home; however, notice here that the "privacy within one's home" has just quickly transformed into "private conduct". Truly, when a formerly forbidden door is opened just a small crack, the forces of change quickly move to knock it completely open!
Now, let us go back to this article for some more sobering ideas as to how far the ripples from this decision might spread.
"Garrow said it also weakens the reasoning used by the Supreme Court in ruling in 1997 that terminally ill people do not have a constitutional right to doctor-assisted suicide ... Scalia said the ruling could open the way to laws allowing gay marriage ... The ruling also threatens laws banning bestiality, bigamy and incest, he wrote."
Now, from Justice Scalia himself, we see that this ruling might weaken arguments against some pretty awful societal sins:
* Gay marriage -- Now legal in Canada; get ready for mighty push to legalize here
* Euthanasia -- doctor-assisted suicide
* Bestiality
* Bigamy
* Incest
If Justice Scalia is correct, Satan and his demons must be laughing all the way from the Abyss, for they have just opened America wide open to the most awful demonic spirits known. Make no mistake: a giant spiritual portal into Hell has just been opened by this decision. White and Black Magic practitioners are very happy today, for they know the impact of this legal - spiritual decision!
Now, let us examine what the Bible has to say about these practices.
BRIEF BIBLE STUDY
God Never Changes
* "I, the Lord, do not change." [Malachi 3:6]
* "Jesus Christ is the same Yesterday, Today, and Forever." [Hebrews 13:8]* "... by two unchangeable things [His promise and His oath] in which it is impossible for God ever to prove false or deceive us, we who have fled to Him for refuge might have mighty indwelling strength and strong encouragement to grasp and hold fast the hope appointed for us and set before us." [Hebrews 6:18; Parallel Bible, KJV/Amplified Bible Commentary]
* "For ever, O LORD, thy word is settled in heaven." [Psalms 119:89]
Read NEWS1822 and NEWS1822b, "God Is Not (Only) Love" for a full treatment of God's Attributes, His full nature.
Listen carefully to the Apostle Paul: "Let no one delude and deceive you with empty excuses and groundless arguments for these sins, for through these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of rebellion and disobedience." [Ephesians 5:6; Parallel Bible, KJV/Amplified Bible Commentary] Tens of millions of people today are allowing themselves to be deceived by "empty excuses and groundless arguments for these sins", allowing themselves to be deluded into thinking that Jesus was not against homosexuality and that Paul was a "homophobe" who incorrectly railed against homosexuality.
One day you will stand before God's White Throne Judgment Seat and you will
not be able to plead that you were mislead, for your sins will be yours alone!
God never changes! What He forbade 4,000 years ago, He forbids today. No man
has any authority whatsoever to change any of God's commands!
Homosexuality
"Do you not know that the unrighteous and the wrongdoers will not inherit or have any share in the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived (misled): neither the impure and immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor those who participate in homosexuality, Nor cheats (swindlers and thieves), nor greedy graspers, nor drunkards, nor foulmouthed revilers and slanderers, nor extortioners and robbers will inherit or have any share in the kingdom of God." [1 Corinthians 6:9-10; Parallel Bible, KJV/Amplified Bible Commentary]
"You shall not lie with a man as with a woman; it is an abomination." [Leviticus 18:22; Ibid]
Bestiality
"Neither shall you lie with any beast and defile yourself with it; neither shall any woman yield herself to a beast to lie with it; it is confusion, perversion, and degradedly carnal." [Leviticus 18:23; Parallel Bible, KJV/Amplified Bible Commentary]
Incest and Bigamy
"None of you shall approach anyone close of kin to him to have sexual relations. I am the Lord.
* The nakedness of your father, which is the nakedness of your mother, you shall not uncover; she is your mother; you shall not have intercourse with her.
* The nakedness of your father's wife you shall not uncover; it is your father's nakedness.
* You shall not have intercourse with or uncover the nakedness of your sister, the daughter of your father or of your mother, whether born at home or born abroad.
* You must not have sexual relations with your son's daughter or your daughter's daughter; their nakedness you shall not uncover, for they are your own flesh.
* You must not have intercourse with your father's wife's daughter; begotten by your father, she is your sister; you shall not uncover her nakedness.
* You shall not have intercourse with your father's sister; she is your father's near kinswoman.
* You shall not have sexual relations with your mother's sister, for she is your mother's near kinswoman.
* You shall not have intercourse with your father's brother's wife; you shall not approach his wife; she is your aunt.
* You shall not uncover the nakedness of your daughter-in-law; she is your son's wife; you shall not have intercourse with her.
* You shall not have intercourse with your brother's wife; she belongs to your brother." [Leviticus 18:6-16; Ibid.]
* You shall not marry a woman and her daughter, nor shall you take her son's daughter or her daughter's daughter to have intercourse; they are [her] near kinswomen; it is wickedness and an outrageous offense. [Leviticus 18:17]
Thus does God forbid any sexual activity between relatives. Of course, incest would be forbidden just on the basis of keeping marital relations between husband and wife; yet, God knew the wickedness of man's heart and knew he would tend toward just this kind of wickedness. In fact, the first command God gives in this section on Godly Morality is this statement:
"You shall not do as was done in the land of Egypt in which you dwelt, nor shall you do as is done in the land of Canaan to which I am bringing you; neither shall you walk in their statutes." [Leviticus 18:3] The pagans of Egypt practiced these abominations, so we must not be too surprised that our fascination with the occult has now resulted in such a terrible weakening of the sexual code.
God assigned the Death Penalty to anyone caught committing these acts!
"Whoever commits any of these abominations shall be cut off from among his people." [Leviticus 18:29] The word, "cut off" means killed. In Ancient Israel, people caught committing one of these sins was stoned to death. Why did God want violators of His sexual code to receive the Death Penalty?
"So shalt thou put the evil away from the midst of thee." [Deut 13:5] In God's Omniscience, He knew that, if a violator of these moral codes was allowed to live within the population, their evil would spread to others; given the inherent evil of man's heart, this moral evil is likely to spread far and wide within the population. Since most of our crimes are committed by repeat offenders, we have brought much damage upon our nation by allowing criminals back out in society rather than punishing them according to God's commands.
Furthermore, God warned that these very acts violated and polluted the land upon which these sinners were living! Listen:
"And the land is defiled; therefore I visit the iniquity of it upon it, and the land itself vomits out her inhabitants ... For all these abominations have the men of the land done who were before you, and the land is defiled-- Do none of these things, lest the land spew you out when you defile it as it spewed out the nation that was before you." [Leviticus 18:25, 27-28; Parallel Bible, KJV/Amplified Bible Commentary]
Lest you think that Israel is the only nation that is liable for God's physical judgment for these sins, listen to this warning from God:
"But if any nation will not hear and obey,
I will utterly pluck up and destroy that nation, says the Lord."
[Jeremiah 12:17; Ibid.]
Now, let us go on to the land of America, to see how she is so defiled that she is in line for the most forbidding physical judgment possible.
ECONOMIC BABYLON OF REVELATION 18 SEEMS TO BE AMERICA!
We have repeatedly shown how this nation has rejected our original foundation
of Judeo-Christian values and had replaced them with actual Satanic values.
This single act has resulted in many other problems with which we are now struggling:
Divorce and the breakup of the traditional family, drugs, alcohol, crime of
every type, the acceptance of homosexuality, and many others. For this dramatic
denial of our original Christian values, America richly deserves God's physical
judgment.
Also from the beginning, we have shown how America is leading the world into the New World Order, which is the Biblical Great Tribulation, the Kingdom of Antichrist. As we know, the Bible calls the Great Tribulation the greatest time of God's judgment upon the entire world that mankind has ever seen, coupled with the most murderous campaign of extinction ever carried out by any leader anytime or anywhere. Of course, this leader is the Anti-Christ, the one whom the New Agers call Maitreya.
If we are truly at the end of the Age as we believe we are, we know we are headed for God's massive judgment. And finally, we know that the New World Order plans to reorganize the world into 10 Super-Nation states immediately after officially establishing the United Nations as the One-World Government. This act will be the literal fulfillment of the prophecy of 10-toes (Daniel 2:28-48) and the 10-kings prophecy (Daniel 7:1-28). God foretells in these prophecies that three of these 10 nations will immediately be destroyed after the world is reorganized. This destruction is so complete, it sounds like war, which is consistent with God's revelations concerning the events of the Great Tribulation.
According to the New World Order reorganization plan, America is part of the North American Super-Nation (NAFTA), along with Canada and Mexico. Will America be one of these three super-nations which are destroyed? Today, we will show you, in detail, that America may be the Economic Babylon of Revelation 18. We believe this prophecy fits this country exactly, so precisely that it could refer to no other nation on the earth today.
However, before we get started on this study, we need to reach some basis prophetic understandings:
1. Even though this judgment occurs in Chapter 18 of the Book of Revelation, this fact does not mean that the events described herein are necessarily deep into the 7-year Tribulation Period. Why is this true? The last of God's prescribed judgments ends in Revelation 16:17, where an angel poured out the last Bowl Judgment and then proclaims, "It is all over, it is all accomplished, it has come!" The action does not resume then until Chapter 19. Thus the events of Chapters 17 and 18 are parenthetical and can occur at any time in the Tribulation Period.
2. The term, 'Babylon' is "repeatedly used by the prophets in a symbolic sense". ["Old Scofield Bible" footnote to Revelation 18:2]. Thus, Cutting Edge believes the the Economic Babylon of Revelation 18 -- prophetically described as an economy that is the economic engine of the world and whose land mass is surrounded by ocean -- cannot be the Ancient City of Babylon, contrary to much current prophetic teaching to this effect. Listen again to Old Scofield:
"The notion of a literal Babylon to be rebuilt on the site of ancient Babylon is in conflict with Isaiah 13:19-12." [Ibid.]
Thus, we have no trouble saying that America may be the Economic Babylon of Revelation 18, as she is certainly symbolic of the widespread system of Anti-God evil that the Bible says is inherent in a Babylonian system.
3. People who say that this Economic Babylon is the Ancient City of Babylon have several serious, and fatal, flaws against their argument:
a. As alluded to above, Isaiah 13 is one of the Bible's "Near and Far" fulfillments. The first fulfillment is described in Daniel 5, as the Medo-Persian army sacked the city and conquered the land. Because this chapter's prophecy was fulfilled in 536 B.C., the judgment pronounced in verses 19-22 will prohibit Babylon from ever being a functioning city again; today, tours are held in the partially rebuilt Babylon and concerts have even been held there, but this prophecy will forbid Babylon from becoming the economic engine of the world as required in Revelation 18.
b. In history, no single city has ever been so economically strong that it drove the economies of the rest of the world.
c. Even if this should happen here, it would take 30-50 years to build a vacant city into a city that can drive the economies of the world. If the world continues that long, Jesus is a liar, for He foretold:
"From the fig tree learn this lesson: as soon as its young shoots become soft and tender and it puts out its leaves, you know of a surety that summer is near. So also when you see these signs, all taken together, coming to pass, you may know of a surety that He is near, at the very doors. Truly I tell you, this generation( the whole multitude of people living at the same time, in a definite, given period) will not pass away till all these things taken together take place." [Matthew 24: 32-34; Parallel Bible, KJV/Amplified Bible Commentary]
Israel is the "fig tree", and the act of putting forth its young shoots means that it is beginning to grow again. When did Israel begin to grow again, to start her inevitable return to her land? Historians will tell you that event was the Balfour Declaration of 1917, an event which recognized Israel's right to return to her homeland.
A "generation" is also defined by the Parallel Bible, above, as the lifetime of people. People today are living 80-90 years; therefore, this world has only until about 2007 until this time period comes to an end. Therefore, the world does not have 30-50 more years to wait for the Ancient City of Babylon to build up to the point where it can dominate the economy of the entire world.
We believe America is the most likely candidate for being this Economic Babylon, as you will see as you read this explanation.
Revelation 18 describes destruction by fire--God's fire--of "Babylon the Great", an evil system that has greatly stirred God's wrath
We need to compare the "Babylon" of Chapter 17 and the Babylon of Chapter 18. These two Babylons are NOT the same for following reasons:
1. `And after these things...' (18:1). The events described here will not take place until after the events of Chapter 17 have been fulfilled.
2. Names in the two chapters are different. The `Babylon' in Chapter 17:5, is named `Mystery, Babylon the Great, the Mother of Harlots.' We know this Babylon is religious by the words `Mystery' and `Mother of Harlots'. But, the term in Chapter 18:2 is merely `Babylon the Great'. The Babylon in Chapter 18 is a commercial Babylon.
3. Babylon, the harlot of Chapter 17, will be destroyed by the kings (rulers) of the earth. The Babylon of Chapter 18 will be destroyed by God's cataclysmic judgments.
4. The Babylon of Chapter 17 will be destroyed by the kings of the earth, who rejoice in her destruction. But, in Chapter 18, the kings and the merchants of the earth lament and weep for the destroyed Babylon. (18:15-19) 2
5. Finally, common sense tells us that, once something is destroyed, it is
gone. For the Babylons of Chapter 17 and 18 to be the same, the system would
have to be destroyed twice. This makes no sense whatever.
Now let us begin our study, verse by verse.
THE HEAVENLY ANGEL WHO DELIVERS GOD'S JUDGMENT POSSESSES GREAT (SPECIAL) POWER OR AUTHORITY.
(18:1) "And AFTER these things, I saw another angel come down from heaven, having GREAT power; and the earth was filled with his glory." God has evidently given a special power, to this angel--hence, the words "having great power".
THIS NATION BABYLON HAS BECOME INHABITED BY SATAN
AND HIS DEMONS
(18:2) "And he cried mightily with a strong voice, `Babylon the great is
fallen, and is become the (resort) of (demons), and the (dwelling place) of
every foul spirit, and the cage of every unclean and hateful bird.'"
This Babylon has become thoroughly inhabited by Satan and his demons. Remember our earlier discussions of such disgusting, vile American sins, the very nature of which are filled with demons and their activity? These sins have become so pervasive that God is finally moved to physical judgment.
This Nation Is THE CENTRAL NATION In The World
(18:3) "For all nations have drunk of the wine and the wrath of her (passionate unchastity), and the (leaders) of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the (businessmen) of the earth (have become) rich through the abundance (excessive luxury) of her delicacies."
This is another powerful, overflowing statement. This city/country is THE CENTRAL nation in the world at this time.
* Businessmen of other nations have become excessively, wantonly, filthy rich
in their trade with Babylon.
* Babylon must be THE richest nation on earth.
* Babylon must possess an abundance of cash and must be so willing to spend
it, that this process enriches the leaders and the businessmen of the world.
* Babylon must be a consumer country without equal, repeatedly buying, using,
discarding, and buying again. Many Babylonian citizens must also buy merchandise
which they do not need. automobiles, T.V. sets, VCR's, homes, furs, expensive
clothing, toys, and yachts.
Consider LEADERSHIP. Babylon is clearly the world leader in two areas symbolically mentioned. (1) Wine--values, ideas, culture. (2) `Delicacies' are commercial. The world is now at this point--with America.
The New Age editor of "USA Today" describes this trend:
Global communications, universal trends, and common aspirations are making us more alike than we are different. We gradually are becoming one world.
More and more people are:
* Eating the same foods.
* Reading the same books.
* Watching the same movies.
* Listening to the same music.
* Enjoying the same sports.
* Sharing the same dreams and drives.
* We share technology...
* We share high-speed transportation..."
* "Much of the common ground comes from the GLOBAL SPREAD of U.S. pop culture--which has become EVERYBODY'S culture. ...It's a WORLDWIDE network of shared experience." 3
"USA culture has become a WORLDWIDE culture..." 4
The Biblical definition of `idolatry': I John 5:21, "Little children, keep yourselves from idols--false gods," Literally means, from anything and everything that would occupy the place in your heart due to God, from any sort of SUBSTITUTE for Him that would take FIRST place in your life.
What is it that the USA has exported to all the nations of the world? We have exported our popular culture, with its values of supremacy of self, and of satisfying oneself completely, instantly. We have exported to the entire world our god of self, and have taught our people and the peoples of the world to worship the idol of materialism and self.
GOD CALLS HIS CHRISTIANS OUT OF BABYLON BEFORE
HE EXECUTES JUDGMENT
(18:4)--"I heard another voice from heaven saying, `Come out of her, MY
people, that you be not partakers of her sins, and that you receive not of her
plagues.'"
This message is clearly a warning to Jesus' people to stop their participation in the wickedness of this society, so they may escape the Godly wrath about to fall. Christians may have to quit their jobs, lower their lifestyle, or change their life goals. Many Christians today are winking at sin in their lives. They may be committing sin just by the nature of their jobs. For example, no Christian can work in a liquor store, or in an `Adult Only' bookstore. If the very nature of your job requires you to participate in sin, you must NOW COME OUT of that job, or face the certainty of incurring God's eternal judgment.
Also strongly implied in this passage is that conditions of life will appear to be very normal, until God's judgment suddenly falls in a single day. (Luke 17:28-30).
Herein lies God's PRINCIPLE of judgment: God will issue repeated warnings to repent before destruction. These warnings will be given to and through His. But, He has set a specific DAY for destruction. That day will dawn as any other--the sun will come up; the skies will look normal; people will be going to work or to school; traffic jams will be occurring; businesses and factories will be operating; trains, planes, and busses will be running; Wall Street will be busy.
This day upon which God's judgment will fall will look and feel like any normal day. There will be no special, visible warning.
And, destruction will be total.
BABYLON'S SINS HAVE PILED UP FROM EARTH TO HEAVEN.
THE TIME HAS ARRIVED TO CALL THEM UP FOR REMEMBRANCE
(18:5)--"For her crimes and transgressions--are piled up as high as heaven
and God has remembered her wickedness and her crimes--and calls them up for
settlement..."
This is a statement of staggering proportions. How high is it from earth to heaven? When these sins are stacked, they literally reach from earth to heaven, according to God's accounting.
God DOUBLES The Punishment Which This Nation Is To Receive.
(18:6)--"Reward her even as she rewarded you, and double unto her double
according to her works: in the cup which she hath filled, fill to her double."
Our destruction will be by both massive nuclear blasts and earthquakes. Dr. Einstein clearly proved that a small nuclear blast on the right place on an earthquake fault would produce earthquakes of such magnitude as to displace entire continents. The North American continent is covered with many such faults, from sea to shining sea. Thus, America would be doubly-destroyed, just as God foretold. Our destruction will be by both massive nuclear blasts and earthquakes.
Further, I understood God's reasoning in doubling America's punishment. America has led the way in originating and thoroughly disseminating spiritual lies and the love of the world, to our children and the children of the world. These children then grow to adulthood to pass these un-Christian values to their children.
How many children's eternal souls have been lost through:
* Humanistic, Godless public school teaching
* Alcoholism
* Drugs
* T.V.
* VCR's and video movies
* Ouija board games; Dungeons/Dragons and other occult role playing games, including
Yu-Gi-Oh role playing cards
* Rock music, with all its horrific themes.
* Country music, with its themes glorifying alcohol and those `cheating' songs
America's leadership in these sins has been instrumental in leading untold millions, perhaps billions, of precious souls into eternal Hell. Is it any wonder that God singles her out for "double" punishment?
BABYLON BOASTS PROUDLY IN HER HEART OF HER RICHES,
BELIEVING SHE WILL CONTINUE FOREVER IN HER PROSPERITY
(18:7)--"How much she has glorified herself, and lived (luxuriously), so
much torment and sorrow give her; for she says in her heart, `I sit a queen,
and am no widow, and shall see no sorrow.'"
Many of my friends believe that this good life will never end. Certainly, the very rich believe it with all their heart. Americans still lead the world in the wealth of her businessmen.
The number of billionaires per country.
USA 40+
Japan 24
West Germany 13
United Kingdom 7
Hong Kong 6
Canada 6
Saudi Arabia 5 -- 5
American businessmen still hold the predominate wealth in the world. What is the attitude on the part of Americans toward this wealth? They believe they need nothing else and that this good time will never end.
This passage also implies that, at the time of God's destruction, this nation will be at her HEIGHT of power and monetary influence. Is America at her economic zenith now, or are we in serious decline?
"...The average American has NEVER HAD IT SO GOOD. By almost any measure of health and wealth...we are demonstrably better off now than in the...50's and 60's.
* Our incomes are up...
* We have more opportunities
* We can choose among more things to buy..
* The average American commands TWICE AS MUCH buying power today as in 1962, despite inflation and higher taxes..."
* Employment benefits are twice as large a share of total compensation as they were 35 years ago...
* Counting government subsidies, 1 in 10 Americans today is poor, versus 1 in 5 in 1960..."
* We can expect to live 5 years longer
* Infant mortality...fell by 50% during the 70-80's. * Fewer adults die of heart disease or in accidents * Medical costs have soared, but many more Americans can get care when they need it...because of Medicare, Medicaid...as well as a widening umbrella of private insurance plans...85% of Americans have some form of coverage, compared with 70% in 1962. Poor Americans have made the biggest gains."
* It takes the average family 23 weeks of income to buy that average car now, versus 26 weeks in 1960..."
* Homes are less affordable than in the 1960's...but more Americans own their own homes..
* The average apartment today is newer, more spacious, and more stuffed with amenities than in 1960."
* "The old in America work less and live longer, and at the same time, they are wealthier and more independent than ever before...today's elderly have piled up assets like no other generation of oldsters in history..." 9
America is now at her zenith of economic power, even though we are currently struggling with recession and loss of jobs.
GOD'S JUDGMENTS FALL IN ONE DAY UTTERLY DESTROYING
BABYLON
(18:8)--"Therefore, shall her plagues come in one day, death, and mourning,
and famine; and she shall be utterly burned with fire: for (mighty) is the Lord
God who judges her."
At this point, carefully consider the statement of God in Jeremiah 50:25, "The LORD hath opened his armory, and hath brought forth the weapons of his indignation: for this is the work of the Lord GOD of hosts." This passage could read, "The Lord has opened His armory, and has brought forth [the nations who unknowingly] are the weapons of His indignation and wrath..." Amazing!! God has used men and nations to accomplish His will in most instances when He delivers His wrath.
Historically, no nation has ever been utterly destroyed in one day. The single-day destruction of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, who were destroyed by a small primitive nuclear weapon, was actually a destruction which occurred within a SINGLE HOUR. As we look ahead to verse 10, God further narrows Babylon's destruction to a single hour. The nature of nuclear destruction is complete, utter devastation, within seconds and minutes. This destruction occurs from blast, radiation, and (fire)--hotter than the sun's surface.
This is the first, and only, time in world history that an ENTIRE nation could literally be destroyed in a single hour--with massive nuclear weapons.
EARTH'S LEADERS BEMOAN BABYLON'S DESTRUCTION
(18:9)--"And the rulers and leaders of the earth, who joined her in her
immorality [idolatry] and luxuriated with her, will weep and beat their breasts
and lament over her when they see the smoke of her conflagration."
This nation provided great leadership and she was the economic engine of the world. World leaders are weeping because this loss threatens their own luxurious wealth. Does America really buy from all other nations of the world to such a degree?
"...The Third World now relies upon the United States to buy 65% of its manufactured exports, compared with only 45% in 1979." 10
The USA imports more than both Japan and West Germany combined. Remember Jesus' words, "...no one will buy their cargo anymore...". The emphasis here is on Imports; this Economic Babylon imports far more than she exports and is likely to run consistent Import Imbalances.
Consider the current imbalance of Imports vs Exports from the major economic giants of the world today:
|
Country
|
Exports
|
Imports
|
|
United States of America
|
$322 Billion
|
$460 Billion
|
|
Japan
|
$265 Billion
|
$236 Billion
|
|
Germany
|
$323 Billion
|
$230 Billion
|
Notice that, of all the major economic nations in the world export more than they import. Only America consistently runs huge imbalances of Imports.
Finally, look at the word `conflagration'--the inevitable white plumes formed by a nuclear explosion.
EARTH'S BUSINESSMEN BEMOAN BABYLON'S FATE. IMMENSITY
AND COMPLEXITY OF BABYLON'S ECONOMY IS DESCRIBED
(18:10-17a) -- "They (the rulers of the earth in verse 9) will stand a
long way off, in terror of her torment, and they will cry, `Woe and alas! The
great city! The mighty city, Babylon! In one single hour, how your doom (judgment)
has overtaken you. And earth's businessmen weep and grieve over her, because
no one buys their (cargo) any more."
God then describes the extent of the economy of this nation, and it is huge. We do not have the time to read this text in detail, but we encourage you to read it, in verses 12-14.
God's judgment pronouncement is severe:
"The ripe fruits and delicacies for which your soul longed have gone from you, and ALL your luxuries and dainties, ... are lost to you, never again to be recovered or experienced." `Because, in one [single] hour, all the vast wealth has been wiped out.'"
Now consider some pertinent points of this passage:
I. In verses 10 and 15, God says that the rulers and the businessmen are standing a "long way off" in their intense lamenting over the loss of this great nation. Look at a world globe. The North American continent is UNIQUELY SURROUNDED on all sides by immense bodies of water. The great majority of our commercial trade is done with two major parts of the world--Asia to the West, across the Pacific Ocean; and Europe, to the East, across the Atlantic.
II. Verse 11: this great nation was unique. She alone bought such a huge amount of the cargo from the other nations of the world. No nation could replace her.
Only America is EXTREMELY DEPENDENT upon consumer purchasing for the health of her economy. Two-thirds of our total economic activity is generated by consumer spending.
Other statistics which show clearly that America is unique in the world's economy.
Compare the wealth of nations in terms of Purchasing Power Parity (PPP). Assign the US an index score of 100...Listed below are the scores of the other nations."17
| India-- PPP 17 | Red China-- PPP 19 | South Korea--PPP 31 |
| Taiwan-- PPP 36 | Singapore-- PPP 46 | USSR-- PPP 47 |
| Italy-- PPP 54 | Hong Kong--PPP 58 | Great Britain-- PPP 66 |
| Japan-- PPP 77 | France-- PPP 79 | Germany--PPP 84 |
With the United States having a Purchasing Power Parity (PPP) of 100, you can see that no other nation could replace her import purchasing power!
3. America's loss to the world's economy would be devastating. The world would lose THE MOST PRODUCTIVE agricultural exporting continent in the WORLD.
Turning back to Revelation 6:4: the second rider out of heaven was on a flaming red horse; this rider carried a huge sword, bringing great war upon the earth, so that men slaughtered one another. If we understood that this great slaughter was the utter destruction of Canada and the USA in Chapter 18, then we could easily see how Revelation 6:5-6 and 6:8 could be fulfilled literally and quickly. Revelation 6:5-6 describe famine and subsistence living for the world's people. This scenario would certainly happen quickly, once the world's most productive agricultural continent, and the world's most important economic engine, was removed. Instantly following the nuclear annihilation of North America, the stock markets and economies of Europe and Asia would collapse, plunging the global economy into the deepest economic depression ever.
The literal fulfillment to Revelation 6:8 would quickly follow--famine, plague, disease.
The economy of this great nation is described in 18:12-13, and 16, as vast, multifaceted economy. The key emphasis is on the volume of merchandise which this economy IMPORTS.
* Iron is specifically mentioned
* This economy also bought and sold luxurious products: perfumes, incense, ointments.
* An immense agricultural economy is also described:
* Fine flour and wheat
* Cattle, sheep, and horses.
* This economy also imports and exports `chariots' or `conveyances'. Our modern vehicles of `conveyances'--cars, trucks, planes, buses, tractors. Imports of this type of product into and out of the American economy is enormous. This part of the economy, plus the geographical facts mentioned below, convinced me that this Economic Babylon is America.Even if Ancient Babylon is re-inhabited, there is no guarantee that its citizens will display the purchasing habits Americans now demonstrate everyday: buying, using for a short while, selling and re-buying! This type of buying frenzy is the driving force behind the statistics of this Economic Babylon, and this buying frenzy is exactly the American consumer today. If the citizen of the re-inhabited Babylon is of the European model -- which is highly likely -- you can see from the statistics, above, that this "new" Babylon would never be able to buy-sell-rebuy in the kind of quantity needed to fulfill these statistics.
SHIP CAPTAINS, NAVIGATORS, AND CREWS BEMOAN BABYLON'S
FATE
(18:17b-19)--"...And all ship captains and
pilots, navigators, and all who live by seafaring...stood a long way off, and
exclaimed as they watched the smoke of her burning, `What city could be compared
to the great city!' And, they threw dust on their heads, as they wept and grieved,
exclaiming, `Woe and alas, for the great city, where all who had ships on the
sea grew rich through her extravagance from her great wealth! In one single
hour, she has been destroyed, and has become a desert.'"
Babylon is foretold to be unique in that she imported/exported most of her trade via the ocean. As we have already stated, only America is so uniquely situated geographically that she has to carry her imports so completely via the ocean. If you look at Ancient Babylon, she is connected by land to Europe, the rest of the Middle East, to India, and China. She would not possess the enormous need to have the great majority of her imports come in by ocean. In fact, the access to Iraq via ocean vessels is tremendously limited, especially compared to the vast ports on three oceans -- Atlantic, Gulf, Pacific -- of the United States today.
In 18:9, 15, and 19: the leaders, businessmen, and ship-owners are able to see the smoke of this nation's burning. Not even huge pillars of white nuclear smoke, rising over America, could be seen with the naked eye 2,000-4,000 miles away. This viewing of the smoke from such great distances can only occur today, with TV transmissions from orbiting satellites.
* The very end of verse 19: This destruction has made this nation `a desert'. One of the effects of nuclear explosions, especially at the point of impact, is the formation of glass and sand.
BABYLON WILL BE DESTROYED BY GREAT VIOLENCE AS
THOUGH A MIGHTY MILLSTONE WERE CAST INTO THE SEA.
(18:21)--"And a MIGHTY angel took up a stone like a great millstone,
and cast it into the sea, saying, `Thus, with such violence, shall that great
city Babylon be thrown down, and shall be heard no more at all.'"
This destruction of this nation will evidently be of UNPARALLELED VIOLENCE, producing a destruction the likes of which have NEVER been seen BEFORE in world history.
EVERYTHING COMPRISING A CIVILIZATION IS GONE FOREVER.
(18:22-23a)--"And the voice of harpers, and musicians, and of pipers,
and trumpeters, shall be heard no more at all in thee; and no craftsman, of
whatever craft he be, shall be found any more in thee; and the sound of a millstone
shall be heard no more at all in thee; And the light of a candle shall shine
no more at all in thee; and the voice of the bridegroom and of the bride shall
be heard no more at all in thee..."
BABYLON'S GREAT BUSINESS LEADERS WILL BE DESTROYED
FOR THE WAY IN WHICH THEY MISLEAD OTHERS
(18:23b)--"...for thy merchants were the great men of the earth;
for by thy sorceries were all nations deceived."
The United States of America has led the world into this Satanic New World Order, both in terms of national political and economic leadership, but mostly in the leadership of values. People all over the world have yearned to be like America, as they have seen our wealth, success, and power. Such a position draws people to emulate, to allow themselves to be deceived.
Such is the case today. We believe the United States of America is the Economic Babylon of Revelation 18. We further believe it possible that NAFTA, of which the U. S. is a part, may be one of the three super nations destroyed in the prophecy of Daniel 8:7-8.
CONCLUSION
We have attempted to show you several facts in this article:
1. Why this Supreme Court ruling most likely has placed America firmly across God's Judgment Line.
2. What the Bible has to say about the kinds of sexual sins that are implicitly authorized by this court ruling and the sexual sins Justice Scalia mentioned that might be authorized as a result of this ruling.
3. The kind of physical judgment we believe is coming for America.
We pray that you will recognize the spiritual truth contained within this article and, if you are on the wrong side of God and His commandments, we urge you to repent immediately and seek forgiveness through the blood of Jesus Christ. The Salvation Page hotlink is right below.
This Supreme Court ruling emphasizes how close America has come to point Jesus foretold, "As in the days of Lot ...".
We truly are living in the last of the Last Days.
Are you spiritually ready? Is your family? Are you adequately protecting your loved ones? This is the reason for this ministry, to enable you to first understand the peril facing you, and then help you develop strategies to warn and protect your loved ones. Once you have been thoroughly trained, you can also use your knowledge as a means to open the door of discussion with an unsaved person. I have been able to use it many times, and have seen people come to Jesus Christ as a result. These perilous times are also a time when we can reach many souls for Jesus Christ, making an eternal difference.
If you have accepted Jesus Christ as your personal Savior, but have been very lukewarm in your spiritual walk with Him, you need to immediately ask Him for forgiveness and for renewal. He will instantly forgive you, and fill your heart with the joy of the Holy Spirit. Then, you need to begin a daily walk of prayer and personal Bible Study.
If you have never accepted Jesus Christ as Savior, but have come to realize His reality and the approaching End of the Age, and want to accept His FREE Gift of Eternal Life, you can also do so now, in the privacy of your home. Once you accept Him as Savior, you are spiritually Born Again, and are as assured of Heaven as if you were already there. Then, you can rest assured that the Kingdom of Antichrist will not touch you spiritually.
If you would like to become Born Again, turn to our Salvation Page now.
We hope you have been blessed by this ministry, which seeks to educate and warn people, so that they can see the coming New World Order -- Kingdom of Antichrist -- in their daily news.
Special Notice to all our homosexual readers. We write this
article in the full love of the Savior, Jesus Christ. While we boldly uphold
Biblical teachings on homosexuality, we wish only to draw you to the Cross of
Jesus in all His love and concern for your eternal soul. Homosexuality is an
abomination to the Lord, but it is only sin and not an "accident of birth".
As sin, it can be forgiven and forgotten by the Lord Jesus so your soul can
live eternally with the saints of God. We do not wish you any harm and do not
threaten you whatsoever. We only wish that you would become Born Again from
Above.
If you would like to become Born Again, turn to our Salvation
Page now.
Finally, we would love to hear from you.
You can contact us by mail or email.
God bless you.
FOOTNOTES
1. Tim LaHaye, "The Beginning of the End" Tyndale House, Wheaton, Illinois, p. 238-239.
2. Allen H. Neuharth, "Nearly One World", USA Today Books, Doubleday, NY, 1989, p. 5.
3. Ibid., p. 11-13, 19.
4. "The World's Billionaires," Forbes, Oct. 5, 1987, p. 82.
5. "Getting Rich In America," Money Magazine, July, 1986, p. 49-53.
6. "Do We Live As Well As We Used To?" Fortune, Sept. 14, 1987, p. 32-46.
7. "United States' Commerce," Reader's Guide To Periodical Literature, 1987.
7. "Stop Bashing Japan For U.S. Deficits," USA Today, Vol. 117, January, 1989, p. 26-28.
8. Peter Ross, "The Drug Money Hunt," US News and World Report, Volume 107, No 8, 8/21/89, p. 22-25.
9. "The Wealth Of Nations," Fortune, Sept., 14, 1987, p. 35.
