Pastor John,
I opened up my Bible and randomly started reading Isaiah 47, and it chilled me. Is it prophetically saying the same thing as Rev 18?
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Yes, it is speaking of the final destruction of Babylon (the religion of Christianity).
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I don’t know why God wanted me to re-visit that topic, out of the blue, but it made me fear for our brothers and sisters even more. (Oh, why doesn’t our Father let them SEE and HEAR what we have heard concerning Christianity?!!)
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We fear for our brothers and sisters who are still in Babylon because if they stay there, they will (1) partake of Babylon’s sins and (2) partake of Babylon’s coming plagues, which are, as you saw, described in Isaiah 47. Let’s continue to pray that Jesus will open their eyes.
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Then I wondered about one of Darren’s newer songs. . . where he sings, “Where is my bite? Where is my sting? Who do I blame for anything? Where is sarcasm in my voice? Tell me please.” It sure seems as if God is harshly scolding and mocking the people (Babylonians, not Jews?) with much sarcasm. Also, in other books and verses, God has spoken with sarcasm and disdain towards Israel, hasn’t He?
Thanks in advance for your comments.
Brad
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There is a time for all things. Yes, God did ridicule foolish men, several places in Scripture – but only when it was just to do so because His mercy, and patience, and earnest warnings were proudly refused for a long time. Proverbs 1:22-33 describes circumstances that could lead to the Almighty mocking humans:
“How long, you simple ones, will you love simplicity? and the scorners delight in their scorning, and fools hate knowledge? Turn you at my reproof! Behold, I will pour out my spirit unto you; I will make known my words unto you.
Because I have called, and ye refused, I have stretched out my hand, and no man regarded, but you have set at nought all my counsel and wanted none of my reproof, I also will laugh at your calamity. I will mock when your fear comes, when your fear comes as desolation, and your destruction comes as a whirlwind, when distress and anguish comes upon you. Then shall they call upon me, but I will not answer; they shall seek me early, but they shall not find me. Because they hated knowledge, and did not choose the fear of the Lord, they wanted none of my counsel; they despised all my reproof. Therefore shall they eat of the fruit of their own way and be filled with their own devices.
For the turning away of the simple shall slay them, and the prosperity of fools shall destroy them. But whoever listens to me will dwell safely and be quiet from fear of evil.”
Hope that helps,
Pastor John