What is Babylon? Babylon today 2012

What is Babylon????????

   

1 Peter 5:8: Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour

       Reader Bonnie asked me this today- a good question!   I’m sure we all have ideas and theories, but what is Babylon? What is the babylon of the last days? I had this same question on my page “4 Lions and a Storm“. I know the lion represents Babylon, but what is this lion that we are to be careful of? What or who is Babylon?  The Lord is sending out a strong message and warning about this deceiver.

                      I see three different, yet similar Babylons- the first- we know as the tower of confusion in Genesis, then we see it as an enemy of Israel/Judah when the Lord used them to punish His people, then lastly we see it as God’s enemy to be destroyed finally in the last days. Who are they? What is it? What does the Lord want us to understand?  Let’s take some scripture and see what we can discover.

A GREAT DECEIVER!

According to Scripture( I listed below):

   Babylon is a place and spoken to as a nation of peoples that is supernaturally lead by satan.(see verses below)  It rules in anger and wants to take over the whole earth.(doesn’t that sound familiar?) I believe Babylon is an invisible army of wicked rulers who have deceived the people on earth to turn from God and worship other gods all the while they show pretentious face (remember Eph tells us we battle not against flesh and blood but against wicked rulers and principalities in the heavenlies ) According to scripture I found, we are told they act/pretend right and holy and fear the Lord but do not serve Him. This is only a front or cover for the wickedness, unfaithfulness and idolatry that fuels this people. It’s final demise will come at it’s greatest power, in what we know as the last days, or the day of the Lord. It is here where we see the King of Kings on a horse spoken of in Revelation 19. The winepress is the their blood – the punishment for their horrible wickedness and unfaithfulness

  This also we know: They are against God, Enemies of Israel,  rule in hatred and anger, they seem by outsiders as righteous or those who fear the Lord, but they do not love him or worship him, but instead have made up their own gods to serve, the are full of violence,  they are master deceivers, pretending to be friends with you, not revealing that they want to devour you as a lion devours it’s prey, they were used by God to punish His people,  it is a place where they held the Lord’s people captive –yet God’s people thrived there as they returned back to the Lord and repented, it is a mighty, beautiful and powerful city, a deceiver of nations, uses confusion to destroy God’s people, wants to rule all the nations and pour out it’s wrath upon them, . It is a  strong fortress that wants you to trust in it and not in God. It is a city given great authority and power. And a definition straight from the Word of God:  Babylon is the Mother of Harlots and the abomination of the earth.

Edom? The Church? 3 Part End times Babylon:     

   I’ve found scripture below and a few more if you look into it- that have me considering Edom/descendants of Esau (coming up from the Jordan River)- There seems to be puzzle pieces that can be put together with almost exact matching end time words that we see in Revelation concerning Edom- in Micah, Isaiah, Jeremiah and more. I also found scripture referring to Babylon that reminded me of the Church today. Consider this verse: Revelation 16:19: And the great city was divided into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell: and great Babylon came in remembrance before God, to give unto her the cup of the wine of the fierceness of his wrath. (could Babylon be a 3 part system in the last days?) See video link below for more info on the Church.

Three horns in Daniel?
     Could the three parts of Babylon have anything to do with the three horns mentioned in Daniel?  Daniel 7:8   I considered the horns, and, behold, there came up among them another little horn, before whom there were three of the first horns plucked up by the roots: and, behold, in this horn were eyes like the eyes of man, and a mouth speaking great things and Daniel 7:20 And of the ten horns that were in his head, and of the other which came up, and before whom three fell; even of that horn that had eyes, and a mouth that spake very great things, whose look was more stout than his fellows

We are told Babylon will one day be a dwelling place of demons, a prison for every foul spirit, and a cage for every unclean and hated bird because the King of Kings will come and Heaven will be VICTORIOUS!

           Can I point them out? Can I show you on a map? I have not been given this information, I can only speculate, assume and wonder. I will give you what we are told and from there I believe you will understand what I am talking about and what the Lord is revealing.

Babylon/ Babel

1.      Descendents of Ham through Cush who began the kingdom

2.      When the people became one against God? Indeed the people are one and they all have one language, and this is what they begin to do; now nothing that they propose to do will be withheld from them. ⁷ Come, let Us go down and there confuse their language, that they may not understand one another’s speech.” ⁸ So the Lord scattered them abroad from there over the face of all the earth, and they ceased building the city. ⁹ Therefore its name is called Babel, because there the Lord confused the language of all the earth; and from there the Lord scattered them abroad over the face of all the earth.

3.      Defined by Strongs- Confusing, a mixing, Babylonian empire by the Euphrates

4.      Some say it is Iraq

5.      Some say it means the Gate of God

6.      Enemies of Israel Joshua 7, 2 Kings 24, 2 Kings 25, Jer 20-21,

7.      They served gods they had created but on the outside it seemed as if they Feared the Lord.  “ They feared the Lord, yet served their own gods” ²⁹ However every nation continued to make gods of its own, and put them in the shrines on the high places which the Samaritans had made, every nation in the cities where they dwelt. ³⁰ The men of Babylon made Succoth Benoth…………… So they feared the Lord, and from every class they appointed for themselves priests of the high places, who sacrificed for them in the shrines of the high places.  They feared the Lord, yet served their own gods. 2 k 17

8. They act as if they are your friend, but want to destroy you. Is 39,  At that time Berodach-Baladan^[a] the son of Baladan, king of Babylon, sent letters and a present to Hezekiah, for he heard that Hezekiah had been sick.  And Hezekiah was attentive to them, and showed them all the house of his treasures—the silver and gold, the spices and precious ointment, and all^b] his armory—all that was found among his treasures. There was nothing in his house or in all his dominion that Hezekiah did not show them.¹⁴ Then Isaiah the prophet went to King Hezekiah, and said to him, “What did these men say, and from where did they come to you?”So Hezekiah said, “They came from a far country, from Babylon.”¹⁵ And he said, “What have they seen in your house?”So Hezekiah answered, “They have seen all that is in my house; there is nothing among my treasures that I have not shown them.”¹⁶ Then Isaiah said to Hezekiah, “Hear the word of the Lord: ¹⁷ ‘Behold, the days are coming when all that is in your house, and what your fathers have accumulated until this day, shall be carried to Babylon; nothing shall be left,’ says the Lord. ¹⁸ ‘And they shall take away some of your sons who will descend from you, whom you will beget; and they shall be eunuchs in the palace of the king of Babylon.’”¹⁹ So Hezekiah said to Isaiah, “The word of the Lord which you have spoken is good!” For he said, “Will there not be peace and truth at least in my days?”

9.      Used by God to punish the Lord’s people for disobedience, unfaithfulness  2 Kings 24,2 Kings 25, 1 Chronicles 9:1, ezra 5:12

10.  Break down the house of the Lord 2 Kings 25 and it’s gates

11.  A Far away city 2 Chro, 333,36

12.  A City of Captivity 2 Chronicles 33-36

13.  A city where the remnant and the prophet were taken to and lived amidst

14.  A city that dwelt around another temple of a god they created

15.  A powerful city

16.  A place where God’s people wept, realized their sins and repented (well, some) Ps 137

17.  The great and beautiful city (aka The Golden city) the Lord will come against in the last days Is 13 and Rev 19:11

18.  Rules with anger Is 14

19.  Compared to Lucifer Is 14- we can assume then it is a city, a people, a nation that is ruled by satan, and will fall like satan will fall- and then we can say it is disguised in light as he is- a deceive of people and of nations who rules with great anger

20.  It’s ruler tries to ascend upon High, tries to put itself in the place of God Almighty Is 14

21.  She makes all nations drink of her wrath rev 14:8 and for this she will fall

22.  It is divided into three parts and on her was poured the wrath of God Rev 16:19

23.  Mother of all harlots (rahab ps 87) and abominations on earth Rev 17:5

24.  It will be a dwelling place for demon

25 A Lion!
For thus has the Lord said to me:
“Go, set a watchman,Let him declare what he sees.”
⁷ And he saw a chariot with a pair of horsemen,
A chariot of donkeys, and a chariot of camels,
And he listened earnestly with great care.
⁸ Then he cried, “A lion, my Lord!
I stand continually on the watchtower in the daytime;
I have sat at my post every night.
⁹ And look, here comes a chariot of men with a pair of horsemen!” Is 21Jeremiah 50:17“Israel is like scattered sheep; The lions have driven him away. First the king of Assyria devoured him; Now at last this Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon has broken his bones.”

26.  Babylon is a strong fortress that wants you to trust in it and not in God- Get out and get away from Babylon- remember to Trust in the LordGo forth from Babylon!Flee from the Chaldeans!With a voice of singing,Declare, proclaim this,
Utter it to the end of the earth;Say, “The Lord has redeemed His servant Jacob!”²¹ And they did not thirst When He led them through the deserts;He caused the waters to flow from the rock for them;He also split the rock, and the waters gushed out.

27.  A city given great authority and Power, Is, Jer 25,27

28.  Mother of Harlots and the abomination of the earth

29.  Dwelling place of demons, a prison for every fowl spirit, and a cage for every unclean and hated bird rev 18 9

30.  Full of violence rev 18 21 -A hammer of all the nations Jeremiah 50

31.  Heaven is victorious over it rev 19

4 More Verses to Consider: –

Isaiah 34:6The sword of the LORD is drenched with blood and covered with fat— with the blood of lambs and goats, with the fat of rams prepared for sacrifice. Yes, the LORD will offer a sacrifice in the city of Bozrah. He will make a mighty slaughter in Edom.

Isaiah 63:1 Who is this who comes from Edom, from the city of Bozrah, with his clothing stained red? Who is this in royal robes, marching in his great strength? “It is I, the LORD, announcing your salvation! It is I, the LORD, who has the power to save!” 

Jeremiah 49:21The earth will shake with the noise of Edom’s fall, and its cry of despair will be heard all the way to the Red SeaBehold, he (Edom/descendants of Esau) shall come up like a lion from the floodplain of the Jordan, against the dwelling place of the strong.but I will suddenly make him run away from her: and who is a chosen man, that I may appoint over her? for who is like me? and who will appoint me the time? and who is that shepherd that will stand before me? The earth is moved at the noise of their fall, at the cry the noise thereof was heard in the Red sea. Behold, he shall come up and fly as the eagle, and spread his wings over Bozrah: and at that day shall the heart of the mighty men of Edom be as the heart of a woman in her pangs Jeremiah 49:18,19,21,22

He wore a robe dipped in blood, and his title was the Word of God. Revelation 19:13

   We know that whatever lies ahead, the Lord is with us. We do not need to fear. Notice the great men and prophets that rose us during this time of Captivity- let’s pray for more workers because the harvest is great. Be strong in the Lord and keep your hearts of fire continually flowing with the Mighty Power of the Holy Spirit.

    Give Praise and Honor to His Name- the Lord God Almighty and His Precious Son, Lamb of God, The Alpha and Omega, the Word, the Truth, Messiah, King of Kings and Lord of Lords- Jesus is His Name. He is the only way to Salvation. He is the only Way to the Father. He is Our Savior, let us lift up Holy Hands and Praise Him today.

    Remember you are here for such a time as this.

  Good Video:  http://www.eternalweight.com/video-gallery/ew-video-productions on Godtube discussing Babylon and the Apostacy of the Church.  (The 3 faces of the Apostacy)

There was silence in heaven about the space of half an hour. Revelation 8:1

And when he had opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven about the space of half an hour. Revelation 8:1

Be silent, O all flesh, before the Lord: for he is raised up out of his holy habitation. Zech 2:13
Be still before the Lord, all mankind, because he has roused himself from his holy dwelling (niv)

 

And there was silence in heaven…………………..

           I’ve always wondered about this. What was going on in heaven during this silence? Was it fear? Was it trembling? Was it a stillness? And what about the time frame we are given? It always sends my mind and imagination off into every scenario. I’ve decided to search the scripture for some clues to this mystery.

What has sparked this study?…I sense a stillness and silence when I go to the Lord, I don’t know if it’s just me… or if something is going on. I just sense this silence and I’ve sensed it for about two weeks.  Its got me wondering- what is going on? It’s not that the Lord isn’t working or speaking, it’s different… it’s like a stillness…as if I was watching a race and I could see disaster ahead, like a cliff that the race car driver couldn’t see and there would be no way to warn him ….. and a silent gasp – stillness in awe/terror- of what is coming. Maybe it’s me? I don’t know, but it has sparked my curiosity further…..so off I go.

 

If you want to know more, read Zephaniah 1 and Isaiah 24 (see below) I believe both of these chapters have within them the keys to this time and to this mystery of Revelation 8:1. I’m focusing on the “silent” part, haven’t really dove into the time frame study.

      It seems, according to scripture, there is a silence before destruction. We see silence as reverence, a silencing of our enemies,  a way to act when we are angry, yet over and over again we see a silence both before destruction and a silence after the desolation. I imagine all the host of heavens still –gasping to breath- silence as they watch the Lord God Almighty rise up from His throne. What a terrifying moment.

Here are some verses that have stirred the Fear of the Lord within me as I went about this study:

      And I will destroy those who used to worship me but now no longer do. They no longer ask for the LORD’s guidance or seek my blessings. I will destroy my own people, because they refuse to change their evil ways. The earth suffers for the sins of its people, for they have twisted God’s instructions,violated his laws, and broken his everlasting covenant. Therefore, a curse consumes the earth. Its people must pay the price for their sin.They are destroyed by fire, and only a few are left alive. The grapevines waste away, and there is no new wine. All the merrymakers sigh and mourn. The cheerful sound of tambourines is stilled; the happy cries of celebration are heard no more.  The melodious chords of the harp are silent. Stand in silence in the presence of the Sovereign LORD, for the awesome day of the LORD’s judgment is near. The LORD has prepared his people for a great slaughter and has chosen their executioners.” Stand in silence in the presence of the Sovereign Lord, for the awesome day of the Lord’s judgment is near. ² “I will sweep away everything from the face of the earth,” says the Lord. “I will sweep away people and animals alike. I will sweep away the birds of the sky and the fish in the sea.I will reduce the wicked to heaps of rubble, and I will wipe humanity from the face of the earth,” says the Lord. Be silent, O all flesh, before the Lord: for he is raised up out of his holy habitation. You quieted the raging oceans with their pounding waves and silenced the shouting of the nations
Our God approaches, and he is not silent. Fire devours everything in his way, and a great storm rages around himPsalm 65:7 Psalm 50:3 Zech 2;13 Zephaniah 1:6 Jer 15:7 Is 24,Zephaniah 1:7

    Could the Lord be about to rise up? I heard these words a few months ago- Weep O Ye People, fall down before Him in Reverent Fear- I am silent now in a frozen state, almost wondering what is ahead.

Silence in the Scripture:

1. In wonder-( what was about to happen) Gen 24:21
2. In Reverence and awe of God’s Power Lev 10:3, Ps 8:2, 65:7 ,Micah 7:16 Hab 2:20
3. In waiting to see what was about to happen 1 Kings 18:21
4. During Judgement: The earth trembles and stands silent as the Lord sentences His enemies Ps 76:8
5. In obedience , when the people were told to be silent as their enemies blasphemed their God and terrified them with words 2 Kings 18;36, Is 36:31
6. In dreadful fear of the unknown Job 4:16
7. In sorrow and repentance Lam 2:10, 3:28, Ez 16;63
8. In emptiness and desolation after destruction Is 27;10, 47:5, Jer 25:10
9. in Awe Acts 21;40, Acts 22:2
10. Sound of the enemy as they approach-before war Jer 46;22
11. Something we hope our accusers would do- just be quiet Job 13:5,13
12. In reverence of an honored person or silent awestruck at a horrific site Job 29;9, 21(When people were silenced before Job)
13. In anger -A way to control yourself when you’re angry- be silent overnight and think about it Ps 4:4, 39:2,
14. In waiting on the Lord- A way to stand against your enemies, allowing God to take over  Ps 38:13 (Jesus also stood silent before His accusers) waiting and knowing that God was in control Is 53:7, Mt 26:63, 27:12, Mk 14:61, Acts 8:32
15. In Sorow and Repentance -Silence in deserved punishment for sins Ps 39:9
16. Ps 50:21 “While you did all this, I remained silent, and you thought I didn’t care.” Is 42:14. Is 57;11, Is 64:12
17. In mourning for the sins of a nation Is 23:2, Jer 47:5, Lam 1:4
18. Before destruction: a silence, stillness before the Lord completely destroys all the earth because a curse consumes the earth for they have twisted and violated God’s Instructions Is 24
19. Before Judgment: A silence before the awesome day of the Lord’s judgment- a great slaughter Zeph 1;7 before He sweeps everything away from the earth, Is 41:1, Acts 19:33
20. To silence enemies (and wrong teachers)- a benefit for the servants of the Lord Is 54;17, Jer 51:55, Ez 27:32 (city under the sea), Titus 1:11, 1 Peter 2;15
21. Disobedient silence of God’s watchmen who don’t warn others  Is 56:10, Acts 18:9
22. Instructed silence when one should mourn- mourn silently Ez 24;17, Amos 8:3
23. In Honor: How we should stand before the Lord hab 2:20, Zeph 1;7
24. In destruction: Sound of a city destroyed and deserted Zeph 3:6
25. Before the Lord rises up and acts “for he has roused himself from his holy dwelling”- be silent Zech 2:13
26. Silence- when you have no more argument left, God’s words silence others (teachers were silenced with Jesus’ words) Matt 22:34, luke 20;26. Acts 21:40, Acts 22:2
27. A rebuke to the wind- Be Silent, Be Still! Mk 4;39
28. Punishment for disbelief Luke 1:20-22

 HEAR THE WORD OF THE LORD: 

Genesis 24:21The servant watched her in silence, wondering whether or not the LORD had given him success in his mission.
Leviticus 10:3Then Moses said to Aaron, “This is what the LORD meant when he said, ‘I will display my holiness through those who come near me. I will display my glory before all the people.’” And Aaron was silent.
 1 Kings 18:21Then Elijah stood in front of them and said, “How much longer will you waver, hobbling between two opinions? If the LORD is God, follow him! But if Baal is God, then follow him!” But the people were completely silent
2 Kings 18:36But the people were silent and did not utter a word because Hezekiah had commanded them, “Do not answer him.”
Job 4:16The spirit stopped, but I couldn’t see its shape. There was a form before my eyes. In the silence I heard a voice say
Job 13:5If only you could be silent! That’s the wisest thing you could do.,“Be silent now and leave me alone. Let me speak, and I will face the consequences
Job 29:9The princes stood in silence and put their hands over their mouths.
Job 29:21“Everyone listened to my advice. They were silent as they waited for me to speak
Psalm 4:4Don’t sin by letting anger control you. Think about it overnight and remain silent
Psalm 38:13But I am deaf to all their threats. I am silent before them as one who cannot speak
Psalm 50:21While you did all this, I remained silent, and you thought I didn’t care. But now I will rebuke you, listing all my charges against you
Psalm 76:8From heaven you sentenced your enemies; the earth trembled and stood silent before you
Isaiah 23:2Mourn in silence, you people of the coast and you merchants of Sidon. Your traders crossed the sea
Isaiah 24 The earth mourns and dries up,and the crops waste away and wither. Even the greatest people on earth waste away.⁵ The earth suffers for the sins of its people, for they have twisted God’s instructions,violated his laws, and broken his everlasting covenant. Therefore, a curse consumes the earth. Its people must pay the price for their sin.They are destroyed by fire, and only a few are left alive.⁷ The grapevines waste away, and there is no new wine. All the merrymakers sigh and mourn.⁸ The cheerful sound of tambourines is stilled; the happy cries of celebration are heard no more.    The melodious chords of the harp are silent.
Isaiah 41:1 “Listen in silence before me, you lands beyond the sea. Bring your strongest arguments. Come now and speak. The court is ready for your case
Isaiah 53:7 He was oppressed and treated harshly, yet he never said a word. He was led like a lamb to the slaughter. And as a sheep is silent before the shearers, he did not open his mouthIsaiah 54:17
But in that coming day no weapon turned against you will succeed. You will silence every voice raised up to accuse you. These benefits are enjoyed by the servants of the LORD; their vindication will come from me. I, the LORD, have spoken
Isaiah 56:10For the leaders of my people— the LORD’s watchmen, his shepherds— are blind and ignorant. They are like silent watchdogs that give no warning when danger comes. They love to lie around, sleeping and dreaming
Jeremiah 46:22Egypt flees, silent as a serpent gliding away. The invading army marches in; they come against her with axes like woodsmen
Ezekiel 27:32As they wail and mourn over you, they sing this sad funeral song: ‘Was there ever such a city as Tyre, now silent at the bottom of the sea
Ezekiel 27:32As they wail and mourn over you, they sing this sad funeral song: ‘Was there ever such a city as Tyre, now silent at the bottom of the sea
Habakkuk 2:20But the LORD is in his holy Temple. Let all the earth be silent before him
Zephaniah 1:7Stand in silence in the presence of the Sovereign LORD, for the awesome day of the LORD’s judgment is near. The LORD has prepared his people for a great slaughter and has chosen their executioners.” Stand in silence in the presence of the Sovereign Lord, for the awesome day of the Lord’s judgment is near.
Zechariah 2:13Be silent before the LORD, all humanity, for he is springing into action from his holy dwelling.”
Matthew 22:34[ The Most Important Commandment ] But when the Pharisees heard that he had silenced the Sadducees with his reply, they met together to question him again
Mark 4:39When Jesus woke up, he rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Silence! Be still!” Suddenly the wind stopped, and there was a great calm
Luke 1:20But now, since you didn’t believe what I said, you will be silent and unable to speak until the child is born. For my words will certainly be fulfilled at the proper time
1 Corinthians 14:28But if no one is present who can interpret, they must be silent in your church meeting and speak in tongues to God privately
1 Corinthians 14:34Women should be silent during the church meetings. It is not proper for them to speak. They should be submissive, just as the law says
Titus 1:11They must be silenced, because they are turning whole families away from the truth by their false teaching. And they do it only for money
1 Peter 2:15It is God’s will that your honorable lives should silence those ignorant people who make foolish accusations against you
Psalm 39:9 I am silent before you; I won’t say a word, for my punishment is from you

Isaiah 24
Look! The Lord is about to destroy the earth
    and make it a vast wasteland.
He devastates the surface of the earth
    and scatters the people.
 Priests and laypeople,
    servants and masters,
    maids and mistresses,
    buyers and sellers,
    lenders and borrowers,
    bankers and debtors—none will be spared.
³ The earth will be completely emptied and looted.
    The Lord has spoken!
⁴ The earth mourns and dries up,
    and the crops waste away and wither.
    Even the greatest people on earth waste away.
⁵ The earth suffers for the sins of its people,
    for they have twisted God’s instructions,
violated his laws,
    and broken his everlasting covenant.
⁶ Therefore, a curse consumes the earth.
    Its people must pay the price for their sin.
They are destroyed by fire,
    and only a few are left alive.
⁷ The grapevines waste away,
    and there is no new wine.
    All the merrymakers sigh and mourn.
⁸ The cheerful sound of tambourines is stilled;
    the happy cries of celebration are heard no more.
    The melodious chords of the harp are silent.
⁹ Gone are the joys of wine and song;
    alcoholic drink turns bitter in the mouth.
¹⁰ The city writhes in chaos;
    every home is locked to keep out intruders.
¹¹ Mobs gather in the streets, crying out for wine.
    Joy has turned to gloom.
    Gladness has been banished from the land.
¹² The city is left in ruins,
    its gates battered down.
¹³ Throughout the earth the story is the same—
    only a remnant is left,
like the stray olives left on the tree
    or the few grapes left on the vine after harvest.
¹⁴ But all who are left shout and sing for joy.
    Those in the west praise the Lord’s majesty.
¹⁵ In eastern lands, give glory to the Lord.
    In the lands beyond the sea, praise the name of the Lord, the God of Israel.
¹⁶ We hear songs of praise from the ends of the earth,
    songs that give glory to the Righteous One!

But my heart is heavy with grief.
    Weep for me, for I wither away.
Deceit still prevails,
    and treachery is everywhere.
¹⁷ Terror and traps and snares will be your lot,
    you people of the earth.
¹⁸ Those who flee in terror will fall into a trap,
    and those who escape the trap will be caught in a snare.

Destruction falls like rain from the heavens;
    the foundations of the earth shake.
¹⁹ The earth has broken up.
    It has utterly collapsed;
    it is violently shaken.
²⁰ The earth staggers like a drunk.
    It trembles like a tent in a storm.
It falls and will not rise again,
    for the guilt of its rebellion is very heavy.

²¹ In that day the Lord will punish the gods in the heavens
    and the proud rulers of the nations on earth.
²² They will be rounded up and put in prison.
    They will be shut up in prison
    and will finally be punished.
²³ Then the glory of the moon will wane,
    and the brightness of the sun will fade,
for the Lord of Heaven’s Armies will rule on Mount Zion.
    He will rule in great glory in Jerusalem,
    in the sight of all the leaders of his people.

Zephaniah 1

1 The Lord gave this message to Zephaniah when Josiah son of Amon was king of Judah. Zephaniah was the son of Cushi, son of Gedaliah, son of Amariah, son of Hezekiah.

 “I will sweep away everything
    from the face of the earth,” says the Lord.
³ “I will sweep away people and animals alike.
    I will sweep away the birds of the sky and the fish in the sea.
I will reduce the wicked to heaps of rubble,^[a]
    and I will wipe humanity from the face of the earth,” says the Lord.
⁴ “I will crush Judah and Jerusalem with my fist
    and destroy every last trace of their Baal worship.
I will put an end to all the idolatrous priests,
    so that even the memory of them will disappear.
⁵ For they go up to their roofs
    and bow down to the sun, moon, and stars.
They claim to follow the Lord,
    but then they worship Molech, too.
⁶ And I will destroy those who used to worship me
    but now no longer do.
They no longer ask for the Lord’s guidance
    or seek my blessings.”

⁷ Stand in silence in the presence of the Sovereign Lord,
    for the awesome day of the Lord’s judgment is near.
The Lord has prepared his people for a great slaughter
    and has chosen their executioners.^[c]
8 “On that day of judgment,”
    says the Lord,
“I will punish the leaders and princes of Judah
    and all those following pagan customs.
⁹ Yes, I will punish those who participate in pagan worship ceremonies,
    and those who fill their masters’ houses with violence and deceit.

¹⁰ “On that day,” says the Lord,
    “a cry of alarm will come from the Fish Gate
and echo throughout the New Quarter of the city.^[d]
    And a great crash will sound from the hills.
¹¹ Wail in sorrow, all you who live in the market area,
    for all the merchants and traders will be destroyed.

¹² “I will search with lanterns in Jerusalem’s darkest corners
    to punish those who sit complacent in their sins.
They think the Lord will do nothing to them,
    either good or bad.
¹³ So their property will be plundered,
    their homes will be ransacked.
They will build new homes
    but never live in them.
They will plant vineyards
    but never drink wine from them.

¹⁴ “That terrible day of the Lord is near.
    Swiftly it comes—
a day of bitter tears,
    a day when even strong men will cry out.
¹⁵ It will be a day when the Lord’s anger is poured out—
    a day of terrible distress and anguish,
a day of ruin and desolation,
    a day of darkness and gloom,
a day of clouds and blackness,
¹⁶     a day of trumpet calls and battle cries.
Down go the walled cities
    and the strongest battlements!

¹⁷ “Because you have sinned against the Lord,
    I will make you grope around like the blind.
Your blood will be poured into the dust,
    and your bodies will lie rotting on the ground.”

¹⁸ Your silver and gold will not save you
    on that day of the Lord’s anger.
For the whole land will be devoured
    by the fire of his jealousy.
He will make a terrifying end
    of all the people on earth.

             May His Words be sent out and not return void.  May the Lord fill you with all wisdom and understanding , as you walk in obedience and in reverent Awe of our Lord God and His Holy Son Jesus Christ. Grace and Peace of the Lord God and His Son Jesus be with you all.

 7 Seals; Revelation 8: A Voice in the Wilderness

Living Journey- Attn: Watchmen -The Silent Watchmen

Behold He comes quickly – Jeremiah 7-8

“Amend your ways and your doings, and I will cause you to dwell in this place.” “Behold, you trust in lying words that cannot profit. 
  and then come and stand before Me in this house which is called by My name, and say, ‘We are delivered to do all these abominations’?
I spoke to you, rising up early and speaking, but you did not hear, and I called you, but you did not answer. Do you not see what they do in the cities and in the streets? jer 7-17

  Do they provoke Me to anger?” says the Lord. “Do they not provoke themselves, to the shame of their own faces?” Therefore thus says the Lord God: “Behold, My anger and My fury will be poured out on this place—on man and on beast, on the trees of the field and on the fruit of the ground. And it will burn and not be quenched.”

‘Obey My voice, and I will be your God, and you shall be My people. And walk in all the ways that I have commanded you, that it may be well with you.’  Yet they did not obey or incline their ear, but followed the counsels and the dictates of their evil hearts, and went backward and not forward. 
        ‘This is a nation that does not obey the voice of the Lord their God nor receive correction. Truth has perished and has been cut off from their mouth.

“They have set their abominations in the house which is called by My name, to pollute it.   Then death shall be chosen rather than life by all the residue of those who remain of this evil family. Jer 7:19-8:3

‘Thus says the Lord:

⁵ Why has this people slidden back, in a perpetual backsliding?
They hold fast to deceit,They refuse to return.
⁶ I listened and heard, But they do not speak aright.
No man repented of his wickedness,
Saying, ‘What have I done?’
Everyone turned to his own course,
As the horse rushes into the battle.

⁷ “Even the stork in the heavens
Knows her appointed times;
And the turtledove, the swift, and the swallow
Observe the time of their coming.
But My people do not know the judgment of the Lord.

⁸ “How can you say, ‘We are wise,
And the law of the Lord is with us’?
Look, the false pen of the scribe certainly works falsehood.
⁹ The wise men are ashamed,
They are dismayed and taken.
Behold, they have rejected the word of the Lord;
So what wisdom do they have?

                                            Everyone is given to covetousness;
                                               From the prophet even to the priest
                                                         Everyone deals falsely.

Saying, ‘Peace, peace!’
When there is no peace.
¹² Were they ashamed when they had committed abomination?
No! They were not at all ashamed,
Nor did they know how to blush.
Therefore they shall fall among those who fall;
In the time of their punishment
They shall be cast down,” says the Lord.
¹³ “I will surely consume them,” says the Lord.

               My heart is overwhelmed and saddened with the amount of false teaching that is rampant everywhere.  The only way to know right and wrong teaching is to stay in the Word of God. Don’t be led astray- don’t believe every word you hear. This is a warning – many think they are saved and think they are in good standing with the Lord because of the false words of many teachers.

  We must teach every man, in all wisdom and warn every man- for now is the time- that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus.

          They hold fast to deceit,They refuse to return.
 I listened and heard, But they do not speak aright.
No man repented of his wickedness,
Saying, ‘What have I done?’
Everyone turned to his own course

Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ. Col 2;8

   Is there oil in your lamp? Are you on the narrow path? Have you crucified your old life and accepted your new life in Christ? Have you checked your heart? Have you repented?  Have you been deceived to believe that a lukewarm existence will gain you entrance to God’s Holy Place?

             Today is the day to commit to your Salvation in Jesus Christ, step out of the World and it’s evil ways. For behold – The Lord comes quickly.

          Grace and Peace of the Lord God and His Son Jesus Christ be with you all.

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