|
"THEN THE SEVENTH ANGEL
POURED HIS BOWL ON THE AIR".
"...and out of the sanctuary came a loud voice
from the throne, which said, 'It is over!'"
"POURED HIS BOWL ON THE AIR" AND "IT IS OVER!" (Rev 16:17 NEB).
Verses 19 to 21
describe the anger of God poured out upon "the air" leading to the
ruinous fall of the world's cities the consequences of "It is over!"
Further details can be found in 2 Esdras 16:17-34 (NEB). What follows is a
synopsis of those verses:
A sign of the imminent calamities
to be poured out upon all the nations is when: "A time will come when food
grows cheap, so cheap that they will imagine they have been sent peace and
prosperity. But at that very moment the earth will become a hotbed of disasters
sword, famine, and anarchy. Most of its inhabitants will die in the famine;*
and those who survive the famine will be destroyed by the sword... For the earth
will be left empty, and its cities a ruin."
(16:21-23). "Sharp-eyed pickers" will "search the houses
to kill". (16:29 32). Despite the fact that during the desolation
of the earth most will die in the famine,*
it is written: "Famine and plague, suffering and hardship, are scourges
sent to teach men better ways. But even so they will not abandon their crimes,
nor keep in mind their scourging." (16:19,20). Through these devastating
calamities Almighty God will bring His anger to a finish! Then: "It is
over!" The outpouring of the seventh "bowl" brings the
anger of God to its completion. (Rev 16:17).
TO YOU
WHO ARE THE LORD'S SERVANTS:
"BE AS THOUGH YOU WERE STRANGERS ON EARTH."
Servants of God are
warned of the imminent calamities about to be poured out upon the earth. These "birth pangs (distress) of the new age" must take
place before "It is over!" (Matt 24:7,8 NEB)
(2 Esdras 16:38,39).
The prophecy of 2 Esdras 16:35-78 (NEB)
gives us the following instructions in readiness for the Day of the Lord:
|
(1) |
Get
ready for battle. (16:40). |
| (2) |
When the calamities surround you, be as though you were strangers on earth.
(16:40). |
|
(3) |
Avoid buying and selling as a trader or merchant. (16:41,42). |
|
(4) |
Avoid involvement in house building. (16:42). |
|
(5) |
Expect no profit from agriculture. (16:43). |
|
(6) |
Do
not seek a marriage partner or expect children.
(16:44). |
| (7) |
Do
not lavish money on oneself, or on houses, or on property. (16:47,48). |
|
(8) |
Do
not imitate wickedness. (16:51,52). |
|
(9) |
Do
not deny your sins against the Lord God or try to hide them. (16:53-66). |
|
(10) |
Abandon your sins, and have done with your
wicked deeds forever,
then God will set you free from all distress. (16:67). |
"A great horde will descend on you;
they will seize some of you and make you eat pagan sacrifices. Those who give in
to them will be derided, taunted, and trampled on."
This great horde "like madmen" who violently attack those who
still fear the Lord, are demon spirits and those they inhabit, who seek to
plunder and destroy. But of those who remain faithful it is written:
"Then it will be seen that My chosen people have stood the test like gold in the
assayer's fire." (16:68-73).
In addition to the
"trampling" work carried out by demonically inspired local authorities,
work associates, relatives, neighbours and strangers (all
"entangled in their sins". 16:77,78) during the 2,300 "evenings
and mornings" of Daniel 8:13,14, faithful anointed sons of God also
endured the spirit "trampling" work of those who falsely call
themselves Jehovah's Witnesses but who are, in fact, the "disgusting
thing... standing in a holy place". (Matt 24:15).
|
(11) |
As
servants of God we must cast away our fears and doubts. (16:75). |
|
(12) |
We
must not let our former sins weigh us down. (16:76). |
| (13) |
We
must avoid involvement with the world and its Godlessness.
We must be as though we are strangers on earth, and be unemployed as to
sin! |
12/3/86.
|