December 9: THE LIGHT OF WISDOM

Here is the mind which has wisdom: The seven heads are seven mountains on which the woman sits. Revelation 17:9

If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. (James 1:5-6)

Rome, the city of seven hills, is literally situated upon a set of seven hills mountainous enough to each have separate names.* Upon each of these are ruins, monuments, and palaces—all maintained to remind the world of the immense power that Rome has held throughout history. Its philosophies are built upon the three empires that preceded it: Babylon, Medo-Persia, and Greece, but even those rested upon the idea of inherent immortality of the soul which is simply an extension of the serpent’s lie to Eve in Genesis 3:4.

The number seven also suggests a complete succession of countries or nations that have purposefully and pointedly oppressed God’s people (more on this tomorrow).

There is a noteworthy resemblance between the visual lessons given by God to His people in the building of the tabernacle sanctuary — lessons about Himself and how He saves people from sin — and the counterfeit religious system that has spread over the world. The seat upon which God sits, His throne, is represented by the golden mercy seat, on top of the ark of the Testimony. That ark served as special housing for the Ten Commandment Law, the foundation of God’s government and the Testimony of God’s will for the safety and happiness of mankind. Meanwhile, the pope sits enthroned on a foundation laid by ancient pagan empires and holds up to the world a radically altered set of Ten Commandments. In a typical duplicitous act by the current pope, children from all religions were staged around him while he pronounced an endorsement of each religion as a path to God. In vision, John is seeing the man of sin (2 Thessalonians 2:3) who sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God (v.4).

Jesus taught an enduring lesson about the true light that He brings into the world. Those who absorb His testimony of light into their lives become as a city that is set on a hill [that] cannot be hidden (Matthew 5:14). The citizenship of His followers is in the heavenly Jerusalem. No glittering city anywhere on earth compares. Think of that fact when you are sorely tempted by Satan. Do not allow your countenance to fall. Shift your thoughts to the salvation of the Lord and let the light of your countenance point a hurting soul to the Savior.

“Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.” Matthew 5:16 (see also Philippians 2:15; 1 Peter 2:9)

*Aventine, Cailian, Capitoline, Esquiline, Quirinal, Viminal, and Palatine.