"That is the great word-picture of the merchandising empire of religious Babylon! The luxuriance of the language must not blind our eyes to the fact that though it involves the kings of the earth, the merchants of the earth, and the ship-masters and sailors, it is really just one great lamentation, and one too of unequalled pathos; for the saddest sight imaginable is not the judgment of a World but the crashing to destruction of a professing Christian Church — the vision of a church first faithless, then fallen, and finally destroyed, consumed by the fire of God’s judgment! So great a space is devoted in the Revelation to the lamentations over her — one entire chapter — because so momentous, surprising, complete, and far-reaching is her destruction! The age and the land in which we live are full of the merchandising of Mystery Babylon. On every side we see the church and the world on the best of terms, and in such close alliance the one with the other that in reality they can only fall together! Thus, while Babylon burns, the world stands by and wrings its hands, casts dust on its head, and in stark fear weeps and mourns!"
Much more in the link:
https://www.godfire.net/eby/rev202.html
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In Hosea we read that the woman is drawn into the wilderness, comforted there until a time she forgets the names of her former masters. In Revelation 12, the woman is rescued to the wilderness, protected from the serpent for 1260 days. (2 witnesses time) In Matthew 24 Jesus said pray that your flight is not in the winter or on Sabbath. Daniel says that those who know their God will carry out great exploits against the evil one and teach many. And yes, many will go to death or prison while in this wilderness. And the woman comes out of the wilderness prepared as a bride. Let's not be those foolish virgins with no oil in our lamps.
Interesting, before the woman(true church) flees to the widerness, she gives birth, the true church gives birth to a man child. As the one woman is corporate so the man child is corporate, the many sons of God, these are not children, they're full grown perfected man the body of Christ......."and there was war in heaven"
Rev 12:5 "And she brought forth a man child, who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron: and her child was caught up unto God, and to his throne."
That's our savior. That man is not corporate, nor is the woman who gave birth to him. But the woman in the wilderness can be seen as the corporate Body of Christ. (similar to how Israel is described as the woman when 'she' is fornicating with idols.)
I think the war in heaven is happening now.
Revelation 2:26 And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations: 27 And he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers: even as I received of my Father.
Notice the overcomers rule with Him.
Revelation 3:21 To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.
Notice the overcomer sits with Him in His throne.
That I agree with, but it isn't the war in heaven, it is war in heaven, it's been going on in every son of God since their birthing, Jesus Christ is their head, they have the seal of God in their forehead.
Revelation 14:14 And I looked, and, lo, a Lamb stood on the mount Zion, and with him an hundred forty and four thousand, having his Father's name written in their foreheads.
It's all symbolism, I like how it goes together like that.
Yes I see that the saints will rule with Him as kings and priests. But He is the King of kings.
We are witnessing the greatest time. Read Joel 2.
Thank you for considering these things, also, the woman giving birth to a manchild is not Mary, Revelation occurs fully after Jesus Christ's ascension. Jesus Christ is many players in the Book, but the manchild cannot be Jesus Christ, it most certainly can be the many sons inchristed, by the new birth and leading of the Holy Spirit.
BTW, this is part 202 of a 250 part study of the book of Revelation. The interpretive meathod is Idealist or Spiritual. I share it because I'd never considered it in my 4 decade Christian walk, it opened my eyes to the book of Revelation.
I read this book many times in the past and could not make sense of it. But I've been given new eyes, and ears to hear in the past couple years, but much more so in the past few months.
It's very sobering to realize how little attention Christians have paid it. And then you read REV 22:18-19 and see that it destroys some very popular (false) doctrines being taught every Sunday. We're in for some upheaval to put it mildly.
Yes, that's great, we are in spectacular times, thank you for your patience, it's a mark of Christ leading, one body in Him!
"Violence, suddenness, and permanence combine in the overthrown of Babylon."
"Yet — one can easily discern the difference between the great city Babylon and the holy city New Jerusalem — in the “great city” of Babylon all these things are merchandised! In the “holy city” of New Jerusalem they are freely given! “And the gates of it shall not be shut at all by day: for there shall be no night there…and the Spirit and the Bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him TAKE THE WATER OF LIFE FREELY!” (Rev. 21:25; 22:17). "
"This is the day of victory, not of defeat. It is the day when God is “bringing again Zion” (Isa. 52:8)"
“Rejoice over her, thou heaven, and ye holy apostles and prophets; for God hath avenged you on her” (Rev. 18:20).
"Repay to her what she herself has paid to others and double her doom in accordance with what she has done. Mix a double portion for her in the cup she mixed for others. To the degree that she glorified herself and reveled in her wantonness, to that measure impose on her torment and anguish and tears and mourning…so shall her plagues come thick upon her in a single day, pestilence and anguish and sorrow and famine; and she shall be utterly consumed with fire, FOR MIGHTY IS THE LORD GOD WHO JUDGES HER” (Rev. 18:6-8, Amplified).