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"THEN THE SEVENTH ANGEL POURED
HIS BOWL ON THE AIR". (Rev 16:17 NEB).
"...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 16:17,18).
In verses 19 to 21, is described the
anger of God poured out upon "the air" leading to the ruinous fall of the
world's cities, and the consequences of "It is over!" Further details can be
found in the Apocrypha, in 2 Esdras chapter 16 (NEB).
What follows is a brief synopsis of verses 17-34:
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 most will die in the famine*
during earth's desolation it says: "Famine and plague, suffering and
hardship, [were 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). By means of 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 an end.
(Rev 16:17 NEB).
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
(pangs of distress) of the new age" must take place before it can be said:
"It is over!" (Matt
24:7,8
NEB.
2 Esdras 16:38).
The prophecy of 2 Esdras Chapter 16 NEB
instructs us to:
(1) Get
ready for battle.
(2)
When the calamities surround you, be as though you were strangers on earth.
(3) Do
not be a trader (or merchant), or in
(4)
Construction, or
(5)
Agriculture, or
(6)
Conceiving children, or
(7)
Seeking profit and lavish living. (16:40-48).
(8) Do
not imitate wickedness, or
(9)
Deny your sins against the Lord God or try to hide them.
We must abandon our sins and have done with our wicked deeds forever.
"Then God will set you free from all distress". (16:51-54. 16:65-67).
"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 of "madmen" who will make a violent attack on all those who
still fear the Lord are demon spirits and those they inhabit, in order to
plunder and destroy them. 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 even strangers, (those "entangled in their sins". 16:77,78),
during the fulfilment of the "2,300 evenings and mornings" of Daniel 8:13,14
faithful anointed servants of God also endured the spirit "trampling" work of
those who like to call themselves Jehovah's Witnesses but who are in fact the
"disgusting thing" "standing in a holy place.
(Matt 24:15).
(10) As servants of God
we must cast away fears and doubts,
(11) We
must not let our former sins weigh us down.
(12) In
summary: We must avoid involvement with the world and its rebellious
spirit.
We must be as though we are
strangers on earth. We must be unemployed as to sin!
12/3/86. |