145 - Les Feldick Bible Study Lesson 1 - Part 1 - Book 13 - Babylon - "The World System"

https://lesfeldickbiblestudy.com Through the Bible with Les Feldick LESSON 1 * PART 1 * BOOK 13 BABYLON - "THE WORLD SYSTEM" Revelation 18 & 20 Now let's get back into the Book and turn to Revelation Chapter 18. Remember in our last lesson we were at the battle of Armageddon, where all the armies of the world had gathered into the land of Israel. The analogy in Scripture of course, is like bringing the grapes into a wine vat. Now, as we come into Chapter 18, this Chapter gives us the full view of how the whole world system will finally come to its end. Revelation 18:1 "And after these things (all the cataclysmic events that have been taking place, to include of course, the demise of the Anti-christ and all the armies of the world) I saw another angel come down from heaven, having great power; and the earth was lightened with his glory." Revelation 18:2 Many folks try to make you think that this Babylon spoken of here in Revelation, is the ancient city of Babylon that has been rebuilt and will become a tremendous trade center. I beg to differ with them on the basis of Scripture. Let's turn back to Isaiah Chapter 13. This Babylon in Revelation is not speaking of any one city in particular. But, as we have been witnessing in the last 20 years or so, the world is getting smaller and smaller. With all of our vast communications systems, and the speed of transportation, anything that takes place is all of a sudden a world-wide news event. We are talking about one world government lately and the great new age. Those three areas of activity comprise, you might say, the whole social fabric of the world tonight; it is all intertwined, and that's the world system. Since the world is getting so small and it's getting there so fast, the Bible can rightfully call that whole system now one word. Babylon! Confusion. Jesus said in Luke 21:25, "...and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity;..." Within our own nation we have perplexity. But nothing compared to the perplexity of the whole world! Now if you have Isaiah Chapter 13, here is the basis for my saying that the city of Babylon is not going to be rebuilt and become a center of commerce. Isaiah 13:19 "And Babylon, the glory of kingdoms, the beauty of the Chaldees' excellency, shall be as when God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah." Now, this Babylon is talking about the ancientcity, the capital of Nebuchadnezzar's empire. Isaiah 13:20,21 We call it the Eastern Gate. If you ever see a picture of the eastern wall of Jerusalem, always be mindful that right in the center of that wall is the eastern gate. And it is always shut, and Scripture says, "that when God mandated it to be shut it would never again be opened until Christ returns." Go back to Revelation Chapter 18. So this Babylon in Revelation is the whole global system. It's all the great commercial and cultural centers of the world that are included in that one word. Revelation 18:3 I was thinking about this verse this week. I think of the life style of the rich and famous when I think on this verse. And that won't be just in isolated areas, but world-wide. Even the communists in Russia have sumptuous places where they can live head and shoulders above the common man. Solomon would have called it, "vanity, vanity, all is vanity." But more and more this is what the world is coming to. Now verse 4: Revelation 18:4a Now let's read verse 4 again: Revelation 18:4 "And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, `Come out of her, my people (see God doesn't expect the unsaved world to drop that life style, but He expects His own to shun it), that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues." God is very patient tonight. What did God do for seven days? Let's go to II Corinthians Chapter 6 and this whole concept of separating ourselves from this ungodly wicked world. II Corinthians 6:17 I always maintain that under Grace, God never says, "That you will or else." "Yield not," Paul says. Look at I Corinthians Chapter 6. We've gotten to the place where the world can't tell a Christian when they see one. Paul again is writing to the Gentile believers at Corinth: know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?" We are something special in God's eyes and His program. And He can't use us if we are amalgamated with the world. I Corinthians 6:20 "For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God (how? With your body) in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's." I Corinthians 3:16,17 "Know ye not that ye are the temple (the dwelling place) of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? If any man (a believer) defile the temple (his own body) of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are." Whatever you do to the body, you're doing to the temple of God. #LesFeldick #BibleStudy #Bible