September 18: FURY OF THE ADVERSARY

And the dragon was enraged with the [faithful] woman, and he went to make war with the rest of her offspring, who keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ. Revelation 12:17

The last-day unmasking of fallen, fallen Babylon (14:8) also exposes her source of power who hides like a coward (21:8) in the shadows: Satan himself, whose fury toward commandment keepers is ironic proof of their importance. Since he knows the Scriptures, he understands that breaking one commandment is the same as breaking all in the eyes of the Lord, for they are linked like a chain. They are built upon a sure foundation of sincere love for God (Deuteronomy 6:5; 13:3-4; Matthew 22:37-38; John 14:15; James 2:10, 1 John 4:7-8).

Many Christians will readily agree upon nine of the commandments, yet Satan has successfully singled out the fourth one and convinced the world that God does not care about the Sabbath commandment. Nevertheless, it begins with the word “Remember…” (Exodus 20:8). He calls it “My holy day” (Isaiah 58:13), and welcomes everyone who keeps from defiling the Sabbath (56:2,4,6). The followers of Jesus kept it and taught it (Mark 16:1; Luke 23:56; Acts 13:13-14, 42,44; 16:13; 17:2; 18:4; Revelation 1:10), and Jesus Himself taught and kept it (Matthew 24:20; Mark 1:21-22; 3:1-6; Luke 4:16; 13:10-17). God crowned creation with a blessed and sanctified seventh day of rest (Genesis 2:1-3) and it will be eternally kept as the day of sacred assembly for worship (Isaiah 66:23).

All whose heart’s desire is to order their lives in loving obedience to the Lord’s commandments will become the focus of Satan’s fury. But God’s people are promised divine aid (see Psalm 91) to survive the fury of Satan and his worldly Babylonian system. In fact, the Bible teaches that the last days will see multitudes choosing to exit that system while there is still time.*

The literal city of Babylon was situated on the River Euphrates. It was easily overrun in a single night by an army from the east immediately after that river was drained, exposing the underwater gates which had been left open (see Isaiah 45:1). The army entered the city by marching under the city wall which was built over the river. Likewise, the symbolic waters of Babylon (Revelation 17:15, Jeremiah 51:55) are beginning to dry up.

Beloved, do not wait for the coming crisis. Unfortunately, many will choose to remain in Babylon due to heeding worldly voices. Through the message of the second angel, God is calling His people out of every system that does not keep His commandments. Those who refuse to come out will become God’s instruments of punishment against Babylon during the final bowl plagues. Mystery Babylon’s final fall—in the eyes of fallen mankind—will signify the end of its own support system upon which she depended; it will dry up in total disappointment over her failure to fulfill her false spiritual promises. The love of her former “lovers” will turn to deep hatred (17:16; see also Ezekiel 16:35-41; 23:22-26).

Then the sixth angel poured out his bowl on the great river Euphrates, and its water was dried up, so that the way of the kings from the east might be prepared. Revelation 16:12

* Flee from the midst of Babylon, And every one save his life! Do not be cut off in her iniquity, For this is the time of the LORD’s vengeance; He shall recompense her. Jeremiah 51:6 (compare to Revelation 18:4-6)