146 - Les Feldick Bible Study Lesson 1 - Part 2 - Book 13 - Babylon - "The World System"

https://lesfeldickbiblestudy.com Through the Bible with Les Feldick LESSON 1 * PART 2 * BOOK 13 BABYLON - "THE WORLD SYSTEM" Revelation 18 & 20 Let's continue on with Revelation Chapter 18. We only hope to teach The Book where people can read the Scriptures and understand and enjoy them. Now, back to the Book of Revelation. Revelation 18:5,6 "For her sins (her rebellion, her disobedience) have reached unto heaven, and God hath remembered her iniquities. Revelation 18:7 "How much she hath glorified herself, and lived deliciously [do you see the language? Revelation 18:8 "Therefore (God says) shall her plagues come in one day, death, and mourning, and famine; and she shall be utterly burned with fire: for strong is the Lord God who judgeth her." Again, remember the term `Babylon' (as we are speaking of in Revelation and back in the Old Testament) has to be taken from the text. Early in the Chapters of 50 and 51, it is indeed talking about Nebuchadnezzar's Babylon just before it fell. But like so many Old Testament prophecies, you have both the near-term and the long-term in view. It's the judgment of God that's going to fall on Babylon as it was in Jeremiah's day. But now, as you come on down to Jeremiah Chapter 51 verse 7, the prophecy takes the long-term view, and we are looking at the Babylon that Revelation refers to, the whole world system. Jeremiah 51:7 "Babylon hath been a golden cup in the LORD'S hand, that made (what's the next three words? Not just the Middle East but all the earth) all the earth drunken (notice the next two words): the nations have drunken of her wine; therefore the nations are mad." Jeremiah 51:8 On our way back to Revelation, stop at Daniel Chapter 2 because all these Old Testament prophecies were looking forward to these same things that the Book of Revelation is explaining. Now, here in Daniel, King Nebuchadnezzar of the ancient empire of Babylon had a dream, and Daniel interprets it: Daniel 2:31-33 "Thou, O king, sawest, and behold a great image. This great image, whose brightness was excellent, stood before thee: and the form thereof was terrible (or terrifying). This image's head was of fine gold, his breast and his arms of silver, his belly and his thighs of brass, His legs of iron, his feet part of iron and part of clay." There is that whole system of Gentile empires all depicted in that great image that Nebuchadnezzar saw in his dream. Daniel 2:34 "Thou sawest till (until a point in time. And then a stone) that a stone was cut out without hands (remember a stone or rock in Scripture is Christ. It was Christ. Here It's Christ at His Second Coming), which smote the image upon his feet that were of iron and clay (in other words this amalgamation of the nations of the world, but especially the nations of the western world), and brake them to pieces." Daniel 2:35 The great empires and governments, the White Houses of the world will be no more): and the stone (Christ) that smote the image became a great mountain, and filled the whole earth." Now back to Revelation Chapter 18. Revelation 18:8 I mentioned it in the last lesson, and we'll see how even the words of Jesus Himself, during His earthly ministry spoke of these things. When I speak of Jesus' earthly ministry, we need to remember that when we come to the letters of the Apostle Paul, they are the words of Christ as well. Luke 21:25 Luke 21:26,27 Now go to Matthew Chapter 24. Let's look at verse 37. This is Jesus speaking while here on earth: Matthew 24:37,38 When you talk to pastors and church people, they are so distraught because they can't get people involved anymore. Even young people. Why? Matthew 24:39 It's an indication of the time of His return. Genesis 6:5 "And GOD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually." Now verse 11: Genesis 6:11 "The earth also was corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with violence." Now what's violence? Murder! Genesis 6:12,13 "And God looked upon the earth, and, behold, it was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted his way upon the earth. And God said unto Noah, `The end of all flesh is come before me; for the earth is filled with violence through them; and, behold, I will destroy them with the earth.'" Go to Chapter 7. The real cataclysmic event you will find in verse 11. Genesis 7:11 In the earth! Tremendous volcanoes and earthquakes, cataclysmic and instantaneous destruction), and the windows of heaven were opened." Let's re-read verse 9: Revelation 18:9 Revelation 18:10 "Standing afar off for the fear of her torment, saying, `Alas, alas, that great city Babylon, that mighty city! There is great potential there for profit and business. Now verse 11: Revelation 18:11 When it mentions this city here in Revelation 18, just think of all the commercial centers all over the world: Tokyo, Singapore, Hong Kong, Tehran, Rome, London, Paris, New York, and Chicago. #LesFeldick #BibleStudy #Bible