Comments for June 29

v.9 - Here we have an example of a prophecy being fulfilled immediately, within hours of it being spoken. This is the way that prophets are tested. Deut.13:1-5, Matt.7:15-16, 1John 4:1-3, Short term prophecy with this degree of detail is a strong sign of God's power in certain individuals. Isa.38:7,8, Mark 14:16.

v.1 The word translated 'vial' is only used on three occasions in Scripture. 'Vial' [1 Samuel 10:1] 'Box' [2 Kings 9:1 3] Whereas David was anointed with a 'horn' of oil. [1 Samuel 16:13]. The usual instrument which was used to carry the oil for anointing was a hrn. In speaking of a "vial" we are shown the idea of judgement- the container of God's wrath as can be seen in Rev 16:2,3,4,8,10,12,17

v.3,4 - Of the three loaves of bread being carried in v.3, only two are given in v.4 - it is a sharing of the bread, not just a giving. We share the bread that is given for us. At this point, it seems, Saul's attitude was quite good. It was later that the power seemed to go to his head.

These two references to the events associated with the death of Rachel are interesting because she died in the process of bearing Benjamin - Saul was a Benjamite. Saul was being taken on a tour of places associated with the events around the birth of his forefather.

A MATTER OF THE HEART

One of the most amazing things God can do to people is to affect their hearts. Saul was one man whose heart God changed. We read that, "As Saul turned to leave Samuel, God changed Saul's heart." (verse 9). It seems that there was a huge difference in the character of Saul, because those who had known him in the past wondered about the difference. But while God can change hearts and give people a kick start or a helping hand to turn their hearts towards him, he cannot make someone love him who is determined not to. Saul was stubborn and not at all interested in God, and so God eventually gave up on him.

There were others whose hearts God touched in the life of Saul too. After Saul was anointed we read that "Saul also went to his home in Gibeah, accompanied by valiant men whose hearts God had touched." (verse 26) Almost certainly these men became the great men of Saul's kingdom - but it all began with God touching their hearts.

One of our prayers at the Bible Campaign in Hamilton this past week, was that God would soften the hearts of the people of Hamilton so that they would be responsive to his word. This has proved to us that God still touches hearts because so far more that 120 people have eagerly sought for God's message. Let us continue to pray for him for change and touch hearts. It can make a world of difference.

:11-12 The surprise at Saul's prophesying is another indication that Saul was not the sort of man that God would have chosen to be His king. Spirituality, it seems, was not Saul's scene.

10:19 Saul is now king and doubtless there had been great rejoicing among the people. Samuel's comment 'ye have rejected your God ..' must have seemed really odd to the people.

V.23-24 There wasn't a man in all that throng to match Saul in physique. Whatever else, in that respect they must all admire him. But when it came to personality and qualities of leadership. he was as small as the smallest of them. That most essential virtue, faith in God, was almost entirely lacking. 

Saul, the new king, looked the part, outwardly (1Sam 10:23).  And this is obviously why God had chosen him.  Israel needed a lesson.  God looks on the heart (1Sam 16:7)

Saul was a reluctant king.  He did not seek the job, and after he was selected did not accept the post with enthusiasm.  Nevertheless, this was the man Yahweh selected as king to show Israel a lesson. Saul's stature, head and shoulders above his fellows, appealed to the carnal attitudes of Israel.  But, Yahweh is interested in a person's spirit not his outward casing. 

Saul was clay in the hands of the divine potter (see Jer 18:3-6).   He filled Saul with His spirit (vs. 6,10) but later we shall see that He filled Saul with an evil spirit (1Sam 16:14).  Who can argue with the interventions of Yahweh (Isa 45:9,10)?

V.2 The design of these specific predictions of what should be met with on the way, and the number and minuteness of which would arrest attention, was to confirm Saul's reliance on the prophetic character of Samuel, and lead him to give full credence to what had been revealed to him as the Word of God.

A strong King or a strong God?
"when he stood among the people, he was taller than any of the people from his shoulders upward. And Samuel said to all the people, 'Do you see him whom the Lord has chosen, that there is no one like him among all the people?' " 1Sam 10:23-24

Perhaps part of the reason that both Samuel and God were angry at the request of Israel for a king, was that a king would take the place of the one they trusted in, rather than God. Up until now, Judges had ruled the people.  These were representatives of God; they spoke on His behalf, and they did His bidding.  They were servants of God and fellow-servants with the people.  Their portion would be provided from offerings and tithes of the people.  A king, however, was according to the pattern of the nations roundabout (8:20).  He was someone who would lead, rather than guide.  He was someone who would take his portion, rather than being given it (8:15).  He was someone who would demand honour by virtue of his position, rather than being given it by virtue of his service to God (cp. 8:11, 9:6).

A kingly position, therefore, was an almost untenable one.  It lifted up the pride of a man, causing him to believe in his own worth, rather than humbling him in order to make him trust in God's strength.  Here we see the qualifications of Saul have nothing to do with Spiritual merit, but only physical. This man's trust was always likely to be in himself rather than God, because he had so much of himself to trust in!

So we come to Jesus who was born in the line of David, who when all Israel called him the son of David and were about to make him king, refused the honour, choosing rather to remain a man of God after the example of Samuel.  He learnt spiritual qualities through the things he suffered, so that his attitude was one of complete humility (Phil 2:5-10).  Jesus chose not to exercise his rightful kingship as mortal ruler of Israel, choosing rather to humble himself and draw men back to God's rulership just as Samuel had done.  Having made that choice, he will in the future return as King of Kings and Lord of Lords on behalf of God, rather than instead of Him (Rev 19:16).

10:11    The choosing of Saul as ‘king’ reflects the promise in Gen 35:11where the subject is the birth of Benjamin.

V.22 - unlike Saul, Christ didn't hide from responsibility.

V.19 Even though the Children of Israel once again rejected the God of their forefathers. He still did not not cast them off. It is another example of His willingness to put up with human weakness, and to tolerate a lower spiritual level in His people, than the ideal which His Law puts before them.

10:22  Saul  was hiding – this time through humility. The next time we find him hiding is before Goliath. Not that the record says he was hiding. However the people wanted a king who would ‘go out before us’ – 1Sam 8:20

10:1 The oil used here by Samuel in the anointing of Saul:  Would it have been the same as the "Holy anointing oil" that Moses was directed to mix (Exo 30:22-25) ? 

10:8  This is the first time that Saul is instructed to wait until an appointed time. We will see other occasions when he is so instructed (and tends to disregard the instruction) 

V.19 Yahweh made it clear to His people that, in their request for a human king, they had rejected Him.  Nevertheless, He acceded to their wishes and established Saul as the first king. 

It was customary in the Ancient Near East to recognize a ruler by bringing him presents (tribute).  However, there were certain men who refused to bring tribute to Saul because they disapproved of him (v.27).  They sinned, and would at some point be punished, because Yahweh had sanctioned Saul. 

Likewise, Yahweh has approved Jesus as the king of kings. All are obliged to pay tribute to Him.  The scripture warns: Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and ye perish from the way, when his wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all they that put their trust in him (Psa 2:12).

10:9  There is nothing mystical about Saul being given ‘another heart’. His attitude changed at this time but it was a transitory change as he soon reverted to type.

1Sam 10:1 First Principles>Kingdom of God>Was overturned>History of fulfilment
2. Saul was made king 1Sam 9:15,16,27, 1Sam 10:1 followed by David 1Sam 6:13, Solomon 1Kin 1:32-34, 1Chron 28:5 then Rehoboam 1Kin 11:43, 2Chron 9:31.
Go to Deut 28:49 to see more details of the history of Israel and its overturning.

V.1 The act of kissing was a sign of homage.  We give the same sign of respect to the Lord Jesus by following His commandments.  This is also the command of Yahweh (Psa 2:12; Matt 17:5).

V.3 Saul was told to take the necessary things for sacrifice.

V.5 The hill (KJV) in other versions is more emphatically stated as a definite place (Gibeah –elohim which means hill of God). The garrison of the Philistines was a observation-post situated on top of a hill.  The Philistines had control of the Land at this time.

Vs.6,10,11 Saul prophesied with the company of prophets.  To prophesy meant to speak or sing under inspiration.  In this case, it was singing (v.5).

V.17 As was already pointed out, Mizpah was one of the three cities that was on Samuel’s judging circuit.  It was also the nation’s rallying place for important announcements.

V.19 Here is a clear declaration that Israel had rejected Yahweh as its king.

Vs.22-24 Saul was reluctant to be king.  What a great start for the nation that wanted a human king.  By contrast, Yahweh, the king who was rejected,  was ever-present, willing, and able to help His nation.

V.25 See 1Sam 8:9.

V.27 In the Ancient Near East, presents to a new ruler meant accepting him in office and pledging loyalty to him. The people who withheld presents showed neither respect for the new king nor respect for Yahweh who appointed him.

Gifts were brought to Jesus (Matt 2:11). In the Kingdom, nations shall bring presents to Jesus, the King of the World, just like they did to David and Solomon, who foreshadowed Him (Psa 68:29; 72:10).

10:14 We know that one of Saul’s uncles was Abner – 1Sam 14:50 - so we may conclude that this uncle was Abner. A man who was to figure greatly in Saul’s life as captain in his army.

10:5     Saul is instructed to travel home via various locations in the land of Israel.  But notice that there is a ‘garrison of the Philistines’ in ‘the hill of God’. A little indication that Israel were oppressed by the Philistines at this time. The scene is being set for David’s appearance on the scene as the giant slayer.

10:24  Whilst it was the people who wanted a king. However the choice was of God as required Deut 17:15

10:8  Here and in 1Sam 13:8 Saul is commanded to wait. Maybe this teaches us a feature of Saul. That he had to learn patience. He waited on this occasion but not on the second. Maybe his patience was stretched when under pressure.

1Sam 10:9-13.

10:20-21         Saul had been anointed privately – 11Sam 10:1 – and when Saul spoke with his uncle he did not mention Samuel’s words about kingship to him – 1Sam 10:16. It is only when Saul is chosen by lot that his kingship became known to the nation. This contrasts with the anointing of David which was a public affair “in the midst of his brethren” 1Sam 16:13

10:25 “The manner of the king” has already been spoken by Samuel – 1Sam 8:11-17 so now he explained the consequences of such a king to the people.

10:1   The anointing of Saul is done in private as can be seen from reading the last few verses of the previous chapter. This contrast with the anointing of David in the midst of his brothers – 1Sam 16:13

10:26-27           Notice, when Saul goes home, that the people are already divided about him as king. There was never such division when David first came to the throne.

10:15-16      One wonders why Saul did not mention anything about being anointed. The anointing was far more significant than the finding of the asses. Maybe it indicates that Saul thought little of himself and so did not want to elevate himself. Or maybe it was that the kingship did not mean much to him. Or there may have been another reason. However we are not told. Maybe we will be able to work out the reason as we read the rest of the inspired record about Saul and his behaviour.

10:26    so even by this time this tall man is seen as being ineffective as a deliverer.

10:24 “God save the king”. The enthusiasm of some was overshadowed by the disdain of others - :27 – where they were looking for someone to save them from the surrounding nations. There clearly was no evidence that Saul had any military skills.

10:6 In turning Saul into “another man” we see God providing Saul with the tools to be a godly man. However, as the record of his life unfolds before us, we will see that Saul did not use those “tools”. God does not force individuals to serve Him faithfully. He provides the environment and then requires us to respond.

10:2        this is the first of a number of implied and actual contrasts that we see between Saul, Israel’s first king, and David, the second.

Saul and his servant have gone looking for lost asses which Saul sought for three days –1Sam 9:20 – and by now Saul’s father was worrying about Saul’s safety, it seems. By contrast David, a younger person that Saul, defended the flock against a lion and a bear – 1Sam 17:34-36.

10:24 “God save the king”. The enthusiasm of some was overshadowed by the disdain of others - :27 – where they were looking for someone to save them from the surrounding nations. There clearly was no evidence that Saul had any military skills.

v. 1,2 - This is the result of the happenings of ch.53. This is the salvation which God is offering to the whole world, but note that it is offered as an extension of the existing covenant and within the context of it - 'enlarge the place of thy tent'. Surely, like so much of the later part of Isaiah, this refers to the inclusion of the gentiles. Also, as you read on (v.6-10) it is clear that the Israelites in the flesh - the actual people of God - will not be cast off ultimately. The inclusion of gentiles then is just that - as well and not instead.

v.13 marks the final use of 03928 learned / taught / disciple in Isaiah. The other uses are Isaiah 8:16 50:4. The prophet has disciples - that is men and women who learnt from his teaching. We are 'learners' of Jesus. Just as learning from Isaiah was hard at times - his message was not appealing to the natural man - so we will find Jesus' teaching hard at times.

In v.4 and 5 we have a picture of the kingdom age woven into the words. The end of verse 5 confirms this as the kingdom is the time when he shall be called the King of the whole earth. We see then a turning back from the shame which we have had ever since the fall at the beginning, we see also the forgetting of the former things. It is a great blessing that our current way of thinking will be removed so far away that we will no longer recall it.

54:1 This verse is speaking of the call of the gentiles - See Galatians 4:27. 'break forth' is a recurring theme in Isaiah. We find it in 44:23 49:13 52:9 54:1 54:3 55:12 58:8 All these occasions use the same Hebrew word. Isaiah is developing a pattern to show the extent of the work of God and the scope of the salvation that is brought through Jesus.

:3 'break forth' RV 'spread abroad' quotes Genesis 28:14 - Isaiah is speaking of the fulfilment of the promises to the patriarchs.

54:10 'My kindness shall not depart ...'  draws on Psa 89:33 and 2Sam 7:15 where the promise to David is given and then expounded as applying to the faithful children.

V.13 This verse was quoted by our future king,(John 6:45) to prove that in order to come to Him, men must be drawn by God.

The idea of God leaving Israel for a short while, and then returning to her for ever (as in Isa 54:7,8), is well explained by Paul in Rom 11:7-32. But it’s important we realise the meanings of the words Paul uses about Israel. In Rom 11:11 the word “fall” is used twice in the AV, but they are different Greek words. “Have they stumbled that they should fall? God forbid.” Here fall means fall down. But later in the same verse, “through their fall salvation is come unto the Gentiles”, fall is the word blunder, falling aside.  The NIV puts the verse like this: "Did they stumble so as to fall beyond recovery? Not at all! Rather, because of their transgression, salvation has come to the Gentiles…”

54:1  The barren that did not bear that was to bring forth is typical of Eve – and the seed of the woman.

The phrase in v1 "more are the children of the desolate than the children of the married woman" can be explained by going back to the first occurrences of the word "desolate" found in Leviticus 26. Here the same word is mentioned over and over again in speaking of the judgements on Israel should they continue in despising God's covenant with them (v31-35). This judgement would be the scattering of Israel among the nations whilst the land remained empty.

In Lev 26:40 we see an important link with Daniel. It was Daniel that prayed this prayer to God in order to bring back the people from captivity. Compare this verse with Dan 9:2-19 and you will see how Daniel quotes the words of this verse, and speaks of the desolation of the land.

So we can suggest that the desolate woman of Isa 54 is Israel, and that the desolation (or barren-ness) spoken of is her period of captivity. What isn't so clear, however, is whether this prophecy refers to this initial captivity alone. If we read on we can see that it is in fact much more far reaching. v2-3 refer to Isa 49:19-21 which speaks of children being brought from the nations into which the Jews were scattered. This must surely point to our time? Are we to see it primarily as a prophecy of the return of the Jews to the land which is happening as we speak, or as a prophecy of the greater gathering in of the children of God by the work of Jesus Christ?

54:8 The ‘mercy’ was experienced by Hezekiah who was reprieved from death and is echoed in his Psalm of despair and thanks – Psa 102:13

54:1 The singing of this chapter develops what Isaiah has already said the people would do. Isa 12:6

V.4 Israel had been a wayward nation since its inception (the shame of thy youth - KJV).  Now, the Babylonian captivity had made Israel a widow.  However, Israel had lost her husband (Yahweh) through divorce.  Not that Yahweh divorced Israel, but that Israel chose to divorce Yahweh (Isa 50:1). 

54:14 We noted that verse 10 quotes elements of the promise to David in 2Sam 7:15 The word ‘established’ in this verse is also another promise to David word. 2Sam 7:16,26

LIKE THE PROMISE TO NOAH

Speaking to Israel, God made some amazing promises. As he presented a picture of what life would be like for his people in the future, he compared his promises about it to the promise he made to Noah. '"To me this is like the days of Noah, when I swore that the waters of Noah would never again cover the earth. So now I have sworn not to be angry with you, never to rebuke you again. Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken, nor my covenant of peace be removed," says the LORD, who has compassion on you.' (Isa 54:9-10) What an awesome promise this is to those who will receive it!

Right now we all go through suffering of some kind or other. The writer to the Hebrews calls it discipline. But the time will come, and the promises is as sure as the promise God made to Noah, that he will no longer be angry and that his people will live in peace.

While the promise God made was directly to Israel, as members of the body of Christ, we also have a part in it. Let's look forward all the more to the day when God's covenant of peace will never be broken, when his unfailing love will always shine through, and when his compassion will never fail. The promise to Noah has never been broken, so we have an amazing hope!

v 6-10 First Principles>Kingdom of God>Restoration clearly foretold
In Eze 21:25-27 UNTIL indicates a limitation to the overturning. Go there for more prophecies about Israel's restoration.

V.1 The children of the desolate one (ESV) refers to the redeemed gathered from the Gentiles.  This group will be elevated above Natural Israel.

Vs.2,3 Natural Israel will also be blessed in the future. Its territory will be enlarged, from Gentile lands, to accommodate the larger numbers of Jews.  Remember that the original boundaries of the Land of Promise included all of Judea and Samaria (presently The West Bank); the Gaza Strip; and parts of Jordan.  Regardless of the present political situation, these lands will be reclaimed by Israel.

Vs.4-8 Nevertheless, in His mercy, Yahweh would act as a redeemer (Heb. gaal) and take away the reproach of this widow.  He would act like Boaz, the kinsman (Heb. gaal), towards Ruth.

Vs.11,12 In the Kingdom, Natural Israel will be blessed as well as Spiritual Israel (the Redeemed in Jesus).  Twelve is a number of completeness, as in the twelve tribes which constitute the whole of Israel.  Compare these verses with the picture of the New Jerusalem in Rev 21:19,20.

Vs.13,14 Peace shall reign in the Kingdom. Israel will truly learn the ways of holiness and righteousness (Zech 8:3-6; Heb 8:10; 10:16).

Vs.15-17 Yahweh pledges to save Israel from all foes. In the last days, before the Kingdom is established, nations will come against Israel.  But, they all shall be defeated.

54:5 Whereas the nations surrounding Israel had territorial Gods, Israel's God is a God of the whole world

54:7  Israel will not be cast off forever. So their period of separation from God will end Rom 11:26. So Isaiah speaks here of the final regathering of repentant Israel.

GOD'S LOVE

"'Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet my unfailing love for you will never be shaken nor my covenant of peace be removed,' says the LORD, who has compassion on you."(Isa 54:10)

What an amazing promise this is! Though these words were originally spoken to Jerusalem and the people in it, we can see from quotes in the New Testament that they are also for us. When Paul quotes part of this chapter to the Galatians, he says, "But the Jerusalem that is above is free, and she is our mother ... Now you, brothers, like Isaac, are children of promise. (Gal 4:26-28) He also says, "For I am convinced that neither death nor life, angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Rom 8:38-39) And again, "God has said, 'Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.'" (Heb 13:5)

We need to remember that God loves us. No matter what happens, he loves us. Nothing can separate us from his love. He will never leave us or forsake us. With the knowledge of God's love for us, we can take courage, knowing that whatever happens to us, God has our best interests at heart.

Let us love him with the unfailing love he pours out on us.

54:15 Whilst the chapter is talking about the beauty of restoration of Israel in the kingdom of God Isaiah warns that not everyone will rejoice at that event. However God will ensure that His will is implemented. As Psa 2:4 shows, they will be in derision, confounded by God.

54:1  That Israel were “desolate” will change when they become “married” to God – Isa 62:4

Isa 54:17

“No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD (Yahweh), and their righteousness is of me, saith the LORD (Yahweh).”

In the midst of incredible adversity, God spoke through Isaiah of an incredibly bright and secure future for His people. He spoke of restoration and renewal under His divine protection, which will find its glorious culmination at the time of the coming of the Messiah.

 In verse 14 God revealed that real security may only be established in righteousness, but that not of our own righteousness, which Scripture defines as “filthy rags” (Isa 64:6), but of His righteousness!  Righteousness is the practice of thinking right and behaving right because of our right relationship with God. God promises that righteousness in Him will protect us.

This does not promise that troubles will not come. We are told that troubles will come (Matt 10:25; Rom 8:17; 2Tim 3:12; 1Pet 4:12), but while troubles may be formed against us by our adversaries, they will not prosper against us. What a promise from God, and it covers every aspect of our lives be it in family relationships, jobs, finances, or slanders!

Being a part of God’s people on a spiritual journey brings with it many challenges, but how comforting to read: “Be not afraid nor dismayed... for the battle is not yours, but God’s” (2Chron 20:15). God told His people Israel this and He tells it to us today. But, there is a catch! We must do our part in trusting and believing in God’s promises in the face of even the fiercest oppositions, in the face of extreme hopelessness and impossibilities. Real faith, a tried and true faith demands that we turn over all our problems, all our fears, all our anxieties to God and then He will sustain us.

54:15   Notice the fall of Israel’s enemies will be “for thy sake” which is a theme that runs through Scripture. The ground was cursed for Adam’s sake – Gen 3:17. The punishment that Adam was to benefit from will achieve its objective and so the salvation will come for the benefit of Israel. 

54:5    Whereas God was Israel’s husband when they went into captivity Jeremiah viewed them as widows – not having a husband – Lamentations ofJer 5:3

1. Isa 54:1 - perhaps the barreness of the married wife (Sarah, Rebekah, Rachel, Hannah, Manoah's wife, Elizabeth, Mary) relates to the children of promise not to the Ishmael seed.

2. Isa 54:2-3 - the kingdom to be on earth not in heaven; there are no desolate Gentile cities to populate in heaven;

an enlargement of Jerusalem and her dominion.

3. Isa 54:4 - perhaps the "children" of Jerusalem's re-marriage after widowhood have already been referred to in Isa 49:14,18-23; they are the children now sleeping in sheol but also to be of the prophesied resurrection by the Redeemer (Isa 54:5-8).

4. Isa 54:5 - Christ is the "Redeemer<1350>" and "the Holy One of Israel" being the Father in manifestation of the whole earth; the maker of all things is God the Father, but upon earth all things are by and for the Son of His love to the Father's glory; the lamb's wife, new Jerusalem, came from the lamb/Christ which is similar to eve coming from Adam (Gen 2:21-23).

5. Isa 54:7 - "for a small moment have I forsaken thee" could refer to the captivity to Babylon; V7 (2Cor 4:17-18;Rom 8:18; even Jesus was briefly forsaken Psa 22:1).

6. Isa 54:7-8 - (see Rom 11:7-32); V8 (KJV "thee" / NIV "you" refers to Zion).

7. Isa 54:9-11 - allusion to the great flood; V9 Matt 24:37 and Noah will see the salvation of which his water-borne ark was but a figure; V10 perhaps the mountains that shall "depart" are the Gentile dominions (Isa 2:2;Dan 2:35,44,45); V11 the "afflicted" city is Jerusalem of the millennial kingdom age.

8. Isa 54:11-13 - (Isa 28:16;Eph 2:19-22 those children in Christ are the stones lesser than the chief corner stone. Rev 21:14,19-21 many stones in 12 foundations are the garnishing of the apostles and/or the 12 tribes representative of new Jerusalem); VS 11-12 the new Jerusalem (so different from the tower of Babel which represents ungodly confusion 1Cor 14:33 KJV); V13 "All your sons will be taught by the LORD" (see John 6:45).

9. Isa 54:13-14 - (John 14:26-27;1Cor 13:12;Isa 2:3).

10. Isa 54:15-17 - rivals to the holy city of Jerusalem will make an attempt to strike as God gathered the Assyrian, Babylonian, Roman, Gogian, and new Babylonian apostasy; V17 "no weapon forged against you will prevail" (there is no better protection than that of God, we remember how Daniel and his trusting friends were protected Dan 2:48-49;Dan 3:10-27;Dan 6:13-24).

54:1  the idea of breaking forth and the joy can be seen in the promise to Jacob in the dream he had – Gen 28:14. On hearing the promise that his family would expand – against the background of his concerns about his future – we can appreciate that he would have rejoiced as Isaiah says.

54:17  After the destruction of the Assyrian army on the mountains of Israel the nation would know that the promise that God makes through Isaiah can be relied on. Do we take similar comfort for ourselves when we feel under attack for our faith?

54:1-2  The enlarging of the tent to accommodate a substantial multiplication of children speaks clearly of the call of the gentiles. God’s plan was never to restrict His offer of salvation to Israel only. This is built into the prophets repeatedly. Sadly it seems Israel never recognised this “mystery”.

Isa 54:9

“This is as the waters of Noah unto me.”

This passage takes us back to Gen 6:2,3,5,11-13. The covenant with Noah and all flesh fulfills the pre-flood covenant promise God gave in v. 18. By the prophet Isaiah addressing the Flood, he wanted to draw our attention to its great importance.

The wrath of God was pronounced on the world because the earth was corrupt and filled with violence.  A particular form of corruption brought up was that “the sons of God saw the daughters of men that they were fair; and they took them wives of all which they chose” (Gen 6:2).The sons of God belonged to the line of Seth who intermarried with the apostate line of Cain, which brought on these disastrous results! Only Noah and his family (eight souls, 1Pet 3:20-22; Heb 11:7) were saved by water along with the creatures both great and small that God directed to the ark.

We read in Matt 24:37-39 that “as it was in the days of Noah, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.” Divine vengeance came upon Israel for their disobedience and will come upon the world again, which includes faithless “believers.” All these past abominations are present today in much greater magnitude. What happened to the waters of Noah, the waters of separation among us?

Isaiah presents the idea of the waters of separation God’s way then and through the ages. For example, we have the Exodus crossing of the Red Sea when the waters were divided (Exo 14:21; cf. 1Cor 10:2). Moses died and we have Joshua, meaning Saviour, who brings Israel into the Land and crossed the Jordan River by separation of the waters (Josh 3). The Ark of the Covenant went before them, and our Ark has gone before us. What a beautiful theme throughout Scripture of division and separation! We now go to the Jordan River where John baptized and Christ was baptized. Under the Law we have the waters of separation; the priests must wash at the laver (Exo 30:17-21). Christ, our High Priest needed to be washed (cf. Heb 9:11). Dr. John Thomas wrote: “Such a thing as an unwashed High Priest was unknown in Israel.” All these were figures and show us what were connected with the waters of separation.  We have been washed with the “water of the word,” (John 15:3; Eph 5:26). Being made clean, separated unto God, we must stay clean, which is to remain separate from the world in all obedience (2Cor 6:17,18).

Isaiah speaks of the new heavenly Jerusalem and its saints, and of God’s covenant - Christ, being the antitype of Noah’s Ark and the Ark of the Covenant who went before us. Isaiah presents as sharp contrast between the terrible stormy scene for the disobedient, a time of trouble such as never was (Dan 12:1; Matt 24:21), and the beautiful future rainbow ahead, a day when “the earth shall be full of the knowledge of Yahweh as the waters cover the sea” (Isa 11:9; Hab 2:14).

54:10    The way in which Isaiah speaks of the mountains and hills being removed is reminiscent of the way in which the flood in Noah’s day – Gen 7:19-20– speaks of the end of all things in his days.

GOD AS TEACHER

As a father, I think this promise would be an incredible one to be given. Listen: "All your children shall be taught by the LORD, and great shall be the peace of your children." (Isa 54:13).

My children have all been to kindergarten, school, some to university, and some learning on the job, but who knows what their teachers have taught them or what their agendas are? But imagine sending them to school with God as their teacher! Not only will they learn things that are good and beneficial to them, but he will teach them in a way that best suits their needs and learning styles. He would prepare them for eternity - not just a degree or a job. And on top of all that, my children would build a close and loving relationship with him. If I could put my children in God's school, they would be there in an instant!

It's nice to dream, but having God as our teacher can also be a reality. He has given us a text book - the Bible. He has given us question time - prayer. And he gives us on the job training through the circumstances of our lives. How privileged are we!!!

If God is our teacher, then let's pay attention in class.
 

54:6 The idea of God finding Israel in an abandoned state I seen later – Eze 16:5-7.

54:11 The disciples were “tossed with tempest” when they were in the ship, “And the sea arose by reason of a great wind that blew” (Jno. 6:18). But later, as indicated by Bro. Charles Link (2015) below, they would be “taught of Yahweh” (Isa. 54:13), as Christ said: “It is written in the prophets, And they shall be all taught of God” (Jno. 6:45). 

54:4 The context of this chapter is of salvation and speaks of the call of the gentiles. However it also talks of the salvation of Israel, speaking of a time when they will no longer be ashamed before God. They will have recognised their sins and repented and forgiven by God. A later prophet – Zeph 3:11 – returns to this point when speaking of the forthcoming kingdom of God.

54:13 the only way one can be taught is if  the one being taught is willing to listen – that is to accept the discipline of instruction (the origin of the word “disciple”) which is the word used here

Are we teachable or are we so set in our own ideas that we have become unmalleable?

Isa 54:9

“For this is as the waters of Noah unto me…”

The following comes from THE CHRISTADELPHIAN, March 1925, a Sunday morning exhortation given by C.C. Walker. I have abridged it in the interest of space, but the points presented as it relates to the above verse is covered.

“There was then a ‘time of the end’ in which God, by His Spirit in the prophets, strove with mankind for 120 years. We have been reading of the characteristics of that time, and of the exemplary illustration of the faith of Noah. What was it that brought wrath on the world? The earth was ‘filled with violence.’ The earth was corrupt—it had ‘corrupted God’s way upon the earth.’ And as regards the particular form of the corruption, we read that ‘the sons of God saw the daughters of men that they were fair; and they took them wives of all which they chose.’

This seems to introduce a larger subject, and yet most closely related, and that is the idea of the waters of separation in God’s ‘way’ throughout the ages; for these ‘waters of Noah’ are closely connected with other waters of ages afterwards. The waters of the Red Sea separated and saved the Israelites from the Egyptians. We have been saved out of Egypt, shut into the Ark, baptized into Christ—how are we walking in the wilderness?

We pass on, and there are other waters of separation. Joshua means ‘Saviour;’ he brings Israel into the Land and crosses the waters of the Jordan, the dividing water. There is a beautiful figure here, another ark is in question, not Noah’s ark, but the Ark of the Covenant – our Ark of the Covenant has gone before us.

Again we look at the history of Israel, and see another incident of the waters of separation. Gideon is raised up by God to repulse the Midianites (Judg 7). He gathers a host which is too big for God’s purpose, so he is told to bring them down to the water and try them. Those who put their faces down were set aside, and there were only three hundred who put their hands to their mouths to drink. The right action with ‘the water of life’ is to speak and do, to put both hand and mouth into the work. By those 300 God saved Israel.

Then again, in the ritual of the law, there was the water of separation always. Dr. Thomas has well said that ‘Such a thing as an unwashed High Priest was unknown in Israel.’ All these things were divine figures, the waters of separation, and look what is connected with them. Many present here have gone down into the waters of baptism, which is symbolic taking of the death of Christ, and scripturally rising to newness of life; henceforth we are in the Ark and stand related to the new order of things that is to be when Christ returns to judge the world for its wickedness and introduces the new order of society in the Kingdom of God.

In Isa 54:6-9, we read: ‘For the Lord hath called thee as woman forsaken and grieved in spirit, and a wife of youth, when thou wast refused, saith thy God. For a small moment have I forsaken thee; but with great mercies will I gather thee. In a little wrath I hid my face from thee for a moment; but with everlasting kindness will I have mercy on thee, saith the Lord thy Redeemer. For this is as the waters of Noah unto me:  for as I have sworn that the waters of Noah should no more go over the earth, so have I sworn that I would not be wroth with thee, nor rebuke thee.’ This is the heavenly Jerusalem which is to come.” (Underlines mine).

Noah, in building the ark, witnessed as to what was coming, but the wickedness of man was so great that their consciences became seared; they became hard-hearted and dull of hearing. The depravity of mankind was so great that they carried on with their daily events without any regard for God let alone His coming judgments - just as it is in our day! After Noah entered the ark, “sudden destruction” (1Thess 5:3) came wherein only “eight souls were saved by water” (1Pet 3:20).

2Tim 3:1-7 prophesied our present-day conditions, and it is the same as Jesus described it would be just before his return (Matt 24:21,22,37-39; Mark 13:5-8,12-23; cf. Luke 17:26-30; 21:25-36). In Luke 17:32 (cf. Gen 19:26), Christ admonished us to, “Remember Lot’s wife.” Why? It is a very significant warning to us and its implication for our day goes much deeper than it first appears. We have been given signs of the nearness of Christ’s return and which generation will witness these signs, yet there are those who prefer to look back, yearn and hope for the way life as it was before March 2020. This normalcy bias is our “looking back” - desiring to live life as it was prior to the pandemic, rather than observing the signs of our times and rejoice at the nearness of Christ’s return! The waters of baptism are our dividing waters of life, and this division must remain; we are not to ignore the warning signs, which God in His mercy gave us. We must stay focused on the “one thing needful” (Luke 10:42). Then and only then will we find favour with God and rest in the Christ Ark in that day when sudden destruction comes unexpectedly upon athe earth (Luke 21:34,35; 1Thess 5:3-23).

54:2 Those, like Abraham and Sarah, who lived a nomadic life would live in tents. The size of the tent would be dependent upon the size of the family. The nomad’s tent, unlike our homes, would not be of a fixed size with rooms available “just in case”. The call, therefore, to increase the size of the tent is a promise that more children are expected.

18 v. 5 - This idea of sins reaching up to heaven is found in odd other places too. It is a picture of sin so great that God chooses to punish rather than forgive, and appears to be reserved for description of only the worst situations. Gen.18:20,21 - Sodom and Gomorrah, 2Chr.28:9 - Judah, Ezra 9:6 - Israel, Jer.51:9 - Babylon, Jonah 1:2 - Nineveh.

17 v.5 - Mysteries are things that the mind of the flesh loves to think about. However the 'mystery' which we are to be concerned with has been revealed. [1 Corinthians 2:7-10]. We should not investigate the mysteries that the world offers in the various religions and philosophies. Our Father has revealed the most beautiful mystery to us - and we are involved in it.

18 v.4 - The call to 'come out of her' is not restricted to the time of the destruction of Babylon. Believers at all times must avoid association with the Babylonian systems of their age. If we cannot dissociate ourselves from Babylon now we will not heed any call from the Lord at the time of the overthrow of this world's order.

TAKEN BY SURPRISE

They thought they were doing well. They bought, they sold, they traded, they married and were given in marriage, they got rich, they lived by their own rules and they lacked nothing - except God. But then the door of the ark was shut and the rain fell bringing sudden destruction on all that were ungodly. It was the same for Sodom and Gomorrah. All of a sudden time was up and fire and brimstone rained down from the heavens. God's judgement on the world we live in will be just the same. People will be so busy getting rich, getting power, doing the things they want to do, living the way they want to live that the fall of Babylon and the battle of Armageddon will take them completely by surprise. They will even have been persecuting the people of God - perhaps to stop the warnings of the coming judgement - but it will all be too late. God's wrath will be poured out on the world whether they are ready or not. The big question is, will you be ready? Do we get so caught up in the things of this world that we will not be ready for the return of Jesus? We need to make room for God in our lives now while there is still time.

Once again we are introduced to the fall of Babylon. On this occasion by quotation from a number of Old Testament areas which speak of the fall of Babylon. Maybe the extent of the range of quotations will help us to realise that the overthrow of Babylon is a major theme right through the Old Testament.

CALLED, CHOSEN AND FAITHFUL

The kings and the beast will make war with the Lamb, but we read, "the Lamb will overcome them because he is Lord of lords and King of kings - and with him will be his called, chosen and faithful followers." (Revelation 17 v 14). Those who are with Christ will be those who have "overcome," as we read in chapters 2 and 3. But those who are not with him will be overcome, defeated, and will bow to his power. So it must be our aim to be part of the company who are with Christ who are called, chosen and faithful. Someone else termed it like this: Selected, Separated and Dedicated.

We do not have much control over the calling or being chosen, but what we do have control over is how we respond to the calling we have received. Will we accept it and respond to it, or have we rejected his calling and turned away from it? And we also have control over how we respond to being chosen. Do we separate ourselves to God from the world or do we just keep doing our own thing our own way? And most of all we have control over how faithful we will be. How firmly will we stand by our Lord? How long will we dedicate ourselves to him?

Will we be one of that faithful crowd who have overcome and stand on the side of Jesus facing eternity?

Given that we hope to be amongst those who are judged worthy at the return of Christ and the resurrection we must be amongst those whose names are written in the book of life - so we must make sure that we are not associated with the powers which are to be destroyed at the return of Christ - we ought to remember that we are 'strangers and pilgrims … ' (Hebrews 11:13 1 Peter 2:11)

We notice that the nations will wail when 'Babylon' and all it's systems are destroyed. What would our reaction be? Are we so locked into this world's way that the overthrow of it and it's governments would distress us also?

"COME OUT"

It would be nice to live in a world that stands by godly principles in its business, pleasure and in any other aspect of life. But unfortunately we have to live in a world and operate our daily lives, as far as it is possible, within the systems of the world. We are told that the time will come when the world's systems and everything the world stands for will be brought to ruin. At that time, just before the fall of Babylon, the call will go out to God's people, "Come out of her, my people, so that you will not receive any of her plagues."

My question is, what will our response be to this calling? We are supposed to be living in the world but not as part of it. But it is so easy to get tangled up in business, politics, or just with living, that we would feel it a terrible strain to be called out. Lot's wife seemed to feel that way, and many of Lot's other relations would not leave because they had too much to lose in Sodom. Then it was destroyed.

Let's keep our priorities right. If God is the centre of our lives we will have no problem coming out as Babylon is destroyed. We will feel no regrets that business is gone because we have eternal joy in the Lord.

 16:15 To walk naked is to be rejected at the Judgment Seat, and so denied the clothing of immortality. (2Cor 5:3) It is of significance that the word "naked"  links the warning of this verse with the warning given to the Laodiceans Rev 3:17. This implies the great possibility of the community of believers living at the time of Christ's coming, being found in a Laodicean state. To walk naked is a disgrace.

16:6 Martyrdom figures in the reason for God's judgement on the nations. The phrase "blood of saints" speaks of this martyrdom in (Rev  17:6) and here.

17:9 "here is ... wisdom" is found twice in Revelation. Here and Rev 13:18. On both occasions wisdom enables the true servant of God to differentiate between the true and the false. This is not only true of the number of the beast or the city on seven hills. It is always the case that God's wisdom can protect the servant of God from all error.  Consider the way that wisdom is used in Scripture - especially the book of Proverbs.

18:5 We have already noticed that "for her ... have reached unto heaven" quotes Jer 51:9. However the idea of sins reaching to heaven is used elsewhere in Scripture (Gen 18:20-21, Jon 1:2) forming the basis of the language in Jeremiah.

Rev. 17: After Armageddon, those of the Apostate Church, and its followers, will conspire to make war with Jesus.  Nations of Europe and Russia will join Rome's Mother Church to try and destroy Jesus, whom they will deem the antichrist.  But Jesus will utterly destroy them. 

Rev. 18: Continues the description of the destruction of Rome (called Babylon because of the similarity to its idolatry and to its destruction). 

16:1  That the word to bring judgment came from ‘the temple’ demonstrates that the final judgment will be decreed and controlled by God, however those in darkness will see them as just another war that they think that they can sort out by negotiation.

17:1  Sitting upon many waters signifies control over many nations. Jer 51:13 has already used this language to speak of the dominion that Babylon had over the world in her day.

18:2 Even if we have difficulty identifying who this ‘Babylon’ is there is no doubt that it is to be a time of rejoicing for the servants of God just like is was to be for those who had gone into captivity in the days of Jeremiah. Jeremiah foresaw the end of Babylon’s domination using similar languageJer 51:53 . That God had kept those words for Israel should give us confidence that no matter how evil the world seems Babylon and all that it represents will eventually be overthrown and the kingdom of God will be here.

17:2 ‘Fornication’ in Scripture regularly refers to false worship. This symbol being used because rather than being married to God these nations are ‘joined to an harlot’. There are only two options married to God or married to an harlot.

17:4    the ‘golden cup’ echoes Babylon – Jer 51:7 helping to identify the woman.

17:1 "Water" is a term used often in Scripture to speak of nations. We have seen in an earlier comment that the idea is found in Jer 51:13 but it can be seen elsewhere, for example – Isa 17:13

17:1 The whore is a description of the papacy-led false system of worship.  The phrase many waters symbolizes many people (17:15).

17:2 The rulers of many nations have come under the influence of the papacy’s blasphemous influence.

17:3 The  woman is a description of the papacy (ecclesiastical power) in all its pomp.  The beast upon which she rides is descriptive of the political power of the Roman Catholic Church (descriptive of a Catholic Europe at the time of the end). Scarlet is the colour of sin (Isa 1:18). Seven heads answer to the seven hills on which Rome sits (17:9). The ten horns reflect the ten toes of Daniel’s image (Dan 2:32,33).  The ten horns represent ten divisions of power in the Roman Empire (17:12). Ten represents a number of completeness.

17:4 The woman is bedecked with all the finery she received from the nations she intoxicated with the spiritual filth she dispensed from her golden cup.

17:5 Babylon is descriptive of Rome because Rome has followed the original idolatrous practices that Nimrod and his wife Semiramis set up in Babylon after the flood. 

17:6 Many true followers of Jesus have been put to death by the woman (papal ecclesiastical power).

17:7 The angelic uncovering of the woman’s mystery begins.

17:8 The bottomless pit is symbolic of (seemingly unending) humanity over the ages.  Perdition is complete destruction. This will happen to the beast (the political system of the papacy) when Jesus returns.  The book of life contains the names of the true followers of Jesus.

17:10 This verse is illustrative of Roman government being played out in history.

17:13 The autonomous nations of the European Union will support the papacy at the time of the end.

17:14 This war will take place after the battle of Armageddon. Jesus and His saints will defeat the enemy.

17:16,17 The events of this verse seem to belong to a different time than after 17:14 because the nations (not individuals) at the end time will not abandon the papal system.  This is probably a reference to the French Revolution (1789-1799).  

17:18 Babylon = Rome.

Chapter 18 will be discussed in the December reading

17:12 The ten kings are seduced by the offer of power because even though they have no power they became powerful because the beast gives them power. So they are not really in control at all, just puppets of the beast. However mankind tends not to notice that what is given has strings attached. The gospel differs from this. We need to decide where we accept gifts from. God’s gifts are freely given.

17:7    Maybe the angel questions why John marvelled as he should have understood already from Scripture and maybe earlier things that (John) he had been shown in Revelation.

18:19     There will come a time of reckoning. Man always seeks to satisfy his own greed. Such activity always ends in disaster. We have had financial crashes regularly in the last 60 years. Each time man works out a way out of his problems. However there will come a time when the problems caused by man’s greed are too great for him to solve. This will  provide a time of great unrest which will precede the return of Jesus.

18:7     “I sit a queen” echoes Isa 47:7 which speaks of how Babylon would view herself. The point being made is that she sets herself up as an authority which disputes God’s supremacy.

17:2   In the current economic climate where nations are so tied in with each other and all are following the same materialistic goals we can easily see how such nations have been made “drunk” – that is out of control and with no restraint.

Tyre and Babylon the Great

Much of the language of this prophecy against Babylon the Great is used previously in Isaiah 23 speaking of Tyre. Here are some linked passages... I'm sure you can find many more!

18:19  In saying that “they cast dust on their heads” we see a picture of mourning. However the phrase is a direct quotation from Eze 27:30 which speaks of the way that those in Tyre will respond when her pomp comes to nothing. This we see yet another link with the downfall of Tyre. 

17:11 ‘perdition <684> is elsewhere Matt 7:13 translated destruction or Matt 26:8 waste which gives us an insight into what is being spoken of here. The utter annihilation of the ‘beast’

18:6  ‘rewards … as she rewarded you’  quotes Psa 137:8 which is a Psalm which speaks of the lament of Israel because of the Babylonian captivity and looks to the redemption from Babylon which is most fitting when speaking of the ‘best’ in Revelation which is described in terms of the Old Testament Babylon.

18:10   Faithful servants of God would want to stand “afar off” from the judgements of God. The same happened when the earth swallowed Korah and his company – Num 16:34.

Rev 18:4

“And I heard another voice from heaven saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.”

“Say not to yourselves, we are Protestants, and therefore not in Babylon. Dear friends, Babylon is a system of things, made up of every departure from the positive institutions and practices of the New Testament. Original Christianity, which is as pure in the sacred writings, as when first delivered to the Jewish nation by the Apostles, recognizes only ‘one Lord, one Faith, one Baptism, one Body, one Spirit, one Hope, and one God and Father of all,’ but if you lift up your eyes, and contemplate the aspect of the ecclesiastical world, you will behold lords many, faiths or gospels, without number; baptisms seven; as many bodies as there are sects; spirits of all kind but ‘the Spirit of Christ;” and more fears than hopes. The present religious system of ‘Christendom,’ in whole or in part, can nowhere be found in the Scriptures, except as ‘the Apostasy,’ which they declare would arise and cover the face of the nations as with a veil of ‘strong delusion.’ The morality of the social system is vicious, giving countenance to all unrighteousness, viciousness and malice; and judging from what comes out of their mouths, the hearts of all kinds of religionists are full of envy, deceit and malignity; being whisperers, back biters, slanderers, haters of truly good men, despiteful, proud boasters, volatile and so forth, being lovers of trifling more than lovers of God. Upon such, His law pronounces Death.

This being the obvious condition of the world is it prepared to receive Messiah? The Scripture says, that ‘the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God.’ Now, when Christ appears, it is to introduce the kingdom in all its glory; therefore, the ‘unwashed, unsanctified, and unjustified’ will have no share in his dominion, for it is such only, whose characters are defined in the Book of Eternal Life, who will partake in the honours of the Age to come.” Dr. John Thomas, The Herald, 1860

Tragic is a mild word when professed believers claim that members of the various names and denominations that Christ describes as “the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird” (Rev 18:2) may well be granted entrance into the Kingdom of Deity! Have Divine principles that distinguish those who are one with Christ from those who are one with the world become so indistinguishable? These professed followers of Christ are no longer a separate and “peculiar” people (Titus 2:14; 1Pet 2:9) – the line of demarcation for them has become indistinct. This being the case, Dr. John Thomas’ comments 158 years ago on this very issue is still very relevant today.

Rev 18

Rome was the mighty power under which the First Century saints spent their probation, and it is the power which in its latter-day form awaits destruction at the hands of Christ. History speaks of Rome as the Fourth Great Universal Empire, and so does Scripture (Dan 2:40; 7:7), delineating its character under the figure of a wild beast “dreadful and terrible.”

The first Emperor of Rome, Emperor Augustus Caesar, ruled during the time when Christ was born. He is described by Edward Gibbon, in The Rise and Fall of the Roman Empire, as possessing, “a cool head, an unfeeling heart, and a cowardly disposition.” He was followed by a succession of pagan rulers, Tiberius, Caligula, Claudius, and Nero, who were successively “a tyrant, a madman, a fool, and a monster.” Historians and poets of that time wrote of it. They include Virgil, Ovid, Livy, Cicero, Tacitus, Suetonius, Seneca, and Pliny. The Coliseum, referred to as, “the slaughter house of Rome” was one of them. It could house some 100,000 spectators assembled to watch our brethren mangled by ferocious beasts!

Rome was known as a nation of warriors and legislators, showing itself as an “iron” people, a symbol also employed in Scripture to denote its strength and inflexible nature (Dan 2:40)! Their soldiers were cruel, sanguinary and indomitable. They had no pity, and shed blood like water. Titus, said to be “the mildest of emperors” caused 80,000 Judeans to be beheaded and killed for amusement! According to Seneca, this era was “a cesspool of iniquity.”

Frederick G. Farrar tells us that this period of history, “presented a picture unparalleled for shame and misery in the annals of the world,” and this wickedness just grew up until the last Roman emperor, Romulus Augustulus, was deposed by the Germanic King Odoacer (476 A.D.). In the east it continued as the Byzantine Empire until the death of Constantine XI, the last Byzantine emperor, who died defending his city against the Ottoman Turks. Constantinople fell to the Ottoman Turks in 1453 A.D., and with it all the last vestiges of Rome ended.

Our Saviour was crucified, the apostle Paul, and many of Christ’s disciples were persecuted, scattered, and worn out under this dreadful and terrible Fourth Beast (Dan 7:25). What a background in which they had to spread the Good News, yet as good soldiers of Christ, they endured not just for their sake, but for ours too! God used their persecutions and sufferings to spread the truth of Christ to a dying world (Luke 21:12,13).

Before then, and since, Rome has been the great enemy of God! Rome is not wholly gone, but has survived as a fragment of what she once was. Divine judgments await her. The ecclesiastical element and the final horn of the eighth head have yet to meet their complete and final doom (Dan 7:11,26; Rev 18). This mission belongs to Christ, in which we will cooperate, if accepted at the Judgment.

http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/25717?msg=welcome_stranger/

https://www.preteristarchive.com/Books/1891_farrar_darknessanddawn.html/

Rev 18:4

A reader writes: “I have read some of your comments with interest.  I think that to make too great a “thing” about the word church as opposed to ecclesia is to present a stumbling block to some of our friends who may be interested in the gospel message.  As long as we ourselves are clear that the church means the body of believers, not the physical building in which we worship, I think that will suffice.  I feel that your objections date back to a bygone era and are not based on current trends.  I have friends who are members of the church of England and who are looking forward to and longing for the Lord to return just as we are.  We may well get a few surprises come the Kingdom! We must leave it to our heavenly Father to decide on who are the sheep and who are the goats!”

My reply: I expect the "bygone era" refers to the days of Brethren Roberts and Thomas, perhaps even to Apostolic times! We were never a "church," not a church then, and not a church now; I sure pray not! Explaining the word, ecclesia, may actually arouse more interest. I sincerely doubt using "ecclesia," or "assembly," would be a stumbling block to sincere searchers for Truth. "Division is doubtless a barrier to enquirers: but we have never found that enquirers of earnest purpose are long obstructed by mere human circumstances in their determination to find the way of God and walk in it." Robert Roberts 1894. If division was not an obstacle, then how hardly one word!

The latter half of this email I found extremely disturbing coming from a Christadelphian! Have Divine principles that distinguish Christ’s disciples one with the world become so indistinguishable? How tragic! We have been called not only to separate from such a harlot religious system, but also from its inhabitants (James 4:4; Rev 17:5,6; 18:2-4).

Brother John Thomas wrote the following on this very issue 158 years ago, and it is still very relevant for us today. “Say not to yourselves, we are Protestants, and therefore not in Babylon. Dear friends, Babylon is a system of things, made up of every departure from the positive institutions and practices of the New Testament. Original Christianity, which is as pure in the sacred writings, as when first delivered to the Jewish nation by the Apostles, recognizes only ‘one Lord, one Faith, one Baptism, one Body, on Spirit, one Hope, and one God and Father of all,’ but if you lift up your eyes, and contemplate the aspect of the ecclesiastical world, you will behold lords many; faiths or gospels without number; baptisms seven; as many bodies as there are sects; spirits of all kind but ‘the Spirit of Christ,’ and more fears than hopes. The present religious system of ‘Christendom,’ in whole or in part, can nowhere be found in the Scriptures, except as ‘the Apostasy,’ which they declare would arise and cover the face of the nations as with a veil of ‘strong delusion.’ The morality of the social system is corrupt, giving countenance to all unrighteousness, viciousness and malice; and judging from what comes out of their mouths, the hearts of all kinds of religionists are full of envy, deceit and malignity; being whisperers, backbiters, slanderers, haters of truly good men, despiteful, proud, boasters, volatile and so forth, being lovers of trifling more than lover of God. Upon such, His law pronounces Death.

This being the obvious condition of the world is it prepared to receive Messiah? The Scripture says, that ‘the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God.’ Now, when Christ appears, it is to introduce the kingdom in all its glory; therefore, the ‘unwashed, unsanctified, and unjustified’ will have no share in his dominion, for it is such only, whose characters are defined in the Book of Eternal Life, who will partake in the honours of the Age to come.” THE HERALD, 1860 (emphasis added).

17:6     When we use the word “admiration” today we probably think of something beautiful. However whilst the word translated “admiration” <2295> is only used once in scripture it does not carry the sense of viewing something beautiful. It simply means “looked at”.

Rev 17:1,5

“Come hither; I will show thee the judgment of the great whore…”

“The charge of Mormonism is an invention. We have as great a detestation of the abomination of Utah as we have of the obscene Grand-mother of the Seven Hills and all her hateful progeny throughout the world. We stand on Christ alone; his apostles alone; the prophets alone; the Bible alone; for one God has spoken by all these. By these we try all pretenders—whether a mitred Pontiff or a village miracle-monger; an imperious archbishop or a Methodist ranter; a sanctimonious ‘Plymouth,’ or an insipid Campbellite. Finding all impostors we stand aside from all—hated of all—misunderstood of all—even as were the true prophets in Israel.”

Brother Robert Roberts, 1871

According to Roman Catholicism, “the whore is Jerusalem and the Beast is Rome…” “Since the Whore persecuted apostles and prophets, the Whore must have existed in the first century. This totally demolishes the claim that Christian Rome or Vatican City is the Whore. Rome was not a Christian city at that time, and Vatican City did not even exist. Furthermore, Fundamentalists continually (though wrongly) claim that Catholicism itself did not exist in the first century, meaning that based on their very own argument Catholicism could not be the Whore!”

https://www.catholic.com/tract/the-whore-of-babylon

"Christian" Rome today is still pagan, with their images, crosses, relic adoration; intercession of Mary, prayers to Mary and the saints, mass, confessions to priests, purgatory, prayers for the dead, holy water, Lent, penances, processions, pilgrimages, celibacy of clergy, heaven and hell going, etc. etc., none of which are Biblical.

Hitler said: “I learned much from the Order of the Jesuits… Until now, there has never been anything more grandiose, on the earth, than the hierarchical organization of the Catholic Church. I transferred much of this organization into my own party.”

Napoleon Bonaparte, Emperor of France, said: “The Jesuits are a MILITARY organization, not a religious order. Their chief is a general of an army, not the mere father abbot of a monastery. And the aim of this organization is power – power in its most despotic exercise – absolute power, universal power, power to control the world by the volition of a single man. Jesuitism is the most absolute of despotisms – and at the same time the greatest and most enormous of abuses.”

Pope Clement XIV said: “Alas, I knew they [i.e., the Jesuits] would poison me; but I did not expect to die in so slow and cruel a manner.” He abolished the Jesuit Order in 1773, and they “abolished” him! He died in 1774.

Abraham Lincoln said: “The war [i.e., the American Civil War of 1861-1865] would never have been possible without the sinister influence of the Jesuits.”

James Parton, American Historian, said: “If you trace up Masonry, through all its Orders, till you come to the grand tip-top head Mason of the World, you will discover that the dread individual and the Chief of the Society of Jesus [i.e., the Superior General of the Jesuit Order] are one and the same person.”

https://www.worldslastchance.com/end-time-prophecy/10-facts-you-must-know-about-the-jesuits.html/

Pope Francis, ruling in the Vatican today, was a Jesuit before becoming Pope and is the first Jesuit Pope ever! As head of the Mother church, the “great whore,” there are daughter churches the Bible calls “harlots.” Roman Catholicism has a family and that family is all the names and denominations we have today. Pope Francis called for “an invitation to reconciliation and fraternity among all believers…” having recently signed “a historic interfaith covenant,” Feb 15, 2019. Changes are coming and knowing Jesuit history, we haven’t seen anything yet!

https://prophecyinthenews.com/world_news/pope-francis-leading-imam-sign-covenant-pushing-one-world-religion/

17:5 The High priest had on his forehead “Holiness to the Lord” Exo 28:36. By contrast “Babylon” is a description of all that opposes God.

17:4 the Bible uses “cup” in different ways. Here it is a cup of judgment. Those in Christ, on the other hand, share a “cup of blessing” 1Cor 10:16

16:17 Amidst the judgments that will be brought on the earth God is praised for the fact that he judged men and women on the earth.

Do we think that God is just and right in punishing sinners? Or do we feel that as a God He should be more tolerant of evil?

The society in which we live would criticise God – if they thought He existed – for the problems they see in the earth, not recognising that they are responsible for at least the majority of them. We should share the view of the “one out of the altar” rather than share the thinking of the world around us.

18:8,9 The way in which God’s judgment came in “one day” and “one hour” is not said so we can work out time periods. Rather we are being taught of the sudden and swift judgment of God when He acts. It is all too easy to think that all things are continuing as they ever have. We must realise that a day is coming when He will intervene, and there will be no delay then.

Doubtless the people in the days of Noah scoffed as Noah built the ark. However when it rained and the foundations of the deep were opened the judgment came speedily.

17:3 We all live in a “wilderness” but should recognise that there is sustenance in the “wilderness” in the same way that He provided for the nation of Israel in the wilderness on their way from bondage in Egypt to freedom in their own land. How does our wilderness journey impact on us. We see a contrast between the woman in 12:6 and here. If it is the same woman we see a stark warning about the potential dangers that lurk in our “wilderness”.