December 25: THE PUNISHMENT FITS THE CRIME
“In the measure that she glorified herself and lived luxuriously, in the same measure give her torment and sorrow; for she says in her heart, ‘I sit as queen, and am no widow, and will not see sorrow.’” Revelation 18:7
The attitude at the heart of Babylon that is expressed here takes us directly back to Isaiah 47. The prophetic ministry of Isaiah is laid out like a miniature Bible. When Israel went into the seventy years of Babylonian captivity, there were many lessons to be learned regarding the distinctions between a life of self-glorification and a life of devotion to God. It is a microcosm of what is now taking place over the face of the entire world. God’s people everywhere are subjected to the influences of Babylon, and Satan works to blur the distinctions.
The people called by the name of Israel were named for a single man who overcame (prevailed with God). Jacob had wrestled with worldly ways (which include deception) and with God, ultimately conceding that God’s way is the only winning way (Genesis 32:28). Likewise, a Christian is called such after Christ Himself, who demonstrated by example a life of commandment-keeping in the Spirit of pure love. Paul merged the two ideas (see Romans 2:29). The end of each of Jesus’s letters to the churches (Revelation 2&3) does the very same. To prevail with God is to overcome along with Him who declared, “I have overcome the world!” (John 16:33)
The entity called the Lady of Kingdoms (Isaiah 47:5) is referred to as the queen of heaven by Jeremiah (see Jeremiah 7:18; 44:17,18,19,25). Isaiah expounds on the thoughts of her heart thusly: And you said, “I shall be a lady forever…I am, and there is no one else besides me; I shall not sit as a widow, Nor shall I know the loss of children.” (Isaiah 47:7a,8b) The sorrow she claims she will not see is the loss of children.
Millions came out of the Catholic Church during the Reformation as a result of the exposure of some (not all) of her deceptions by the faithful Reformers. This was most definitely a loss of children. But the MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND OF THE ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH (Revelation 17:5) — by Satan’s influence — continues to counteract the Reformation by stealth. She continues to glorify herself and live luxuriously, at great monetary cost to her congregation. The Vatican operates under a runaway budget deficit. Dioceses and orders are filing for bankruptcy protection. But far greater than financial cost is the eternal spiritual cost due to the deadly cup of confusion that she serves up to the world. Bankruptcy protection involves selling of assets, but Rome herself will never part with assets. Instead, she will hold on to her vast collection of worldly riches by selling her own soul and the souls of her followers.
Then [Jesus] said to them, “Take heed what you hear. With the same measure you use, it will be measured to you; and to you who hear, more will be given.” Mark 4:24 (see also Luke 6:38)