64. Mount Zion versus Babylon

Covering Revelation 13:11 through Chapter 18:

In order for a key to unlock a door, all the tumblers in the lock must fall into place correctly – the function of the key. For the first time in my life, all the tumblers are falling into place. Once we open the door, the Gospel Comments should flow in easily. For that reason, I want to find what Revelation is about, which is, of course, the Unveiling of Jesus Christ. But first we must delineate what it’s not about, that is, psychotic confusion, otherwise known as “Babylon.”

Revelation is not about a brief triumph of evil, nor about a solitary “Antichrist.” Revelation is not about God punishing sinful humans, nor about apocalyptic disasters coming upon the earth. And Revelation is especially not about what happens to Judeans converted after Christians have been “raptured.”

Seeing Love. Revelation 13:9-10 is the verse that has unlocked Revelation for me. Let’s bring back in the picture of the four Levites at the bottom of the Jordan. I believe that they are facing south, standing in-between two million Israelites and the wall of death behind them, a vast threat of violence rearing skyward – WITHOUT STRENGTH! As they walked past, we can be certain that every individual in that crowd looked at the Ark of the Covenant, with the throne of heaven upon it, the Mercy Seat.

Each one saw three things. First, each saw God in Mercy, the Covenant He had entered into with them. Second each saw death screaming in rage against them. But finally each saw something truly remarkable, something not of this world. They saw the faces of four men unmoving. They saw LOVE.

Unlocking Revelation. Revelation seems to be filled with many awful things. But remember that evil has no strength, all it can do is pretend. We find odd little statements, gospel words scattered all through the vision, but words that seem parenthetical, almost out of place, overshadowed by the litany of horrors. Let’s turn that thought completely around.

The right question regarding what Revelation is about is – Who are THEY? And that question has finally brought us to the answer – THEY are those – who Love the Church above their own lives. The masquerade of evil is parenthetical. Every one of these little gospel words is definitional. Each is defining THEY, those who stand unmoving for the sake of their Christian brethren, the face of LOVE, the revelation of Jesus Christ.

The Confusion of Babylon. We will now be able to move more quickly from the bulleted verses to the Gospel Comments. We start with the false caller. While the beast wars outwardly against the Church, the false prophet has to do with this great contradiction God has set into the human experience, the contention over Word and what that word brings forth.

Here is confusion. Babylon, the mother of confusion, rules our earth today. Yet this wickedness in the world and in the church calls itself “Zionism,” thus making that which is most precious to be known as that which is most vile. As Jesus was being crucified, on that same day, the yearly lamb of Passover was offered to and received by God. From the moment Jesus offered His Blood in the True Tabernacle, every further offering of Judaism became a sacrifice to Satan.

From Zion into Jerusalem. Saying “sacrifice to Satan” is NOT meant to glorify the occult, as if it is something different from normal self-worship. Rather, we are placing all these dark things into “I, not Christ,” into the same violent and delusionary horror.

In this lesson, we focus first on the thing most visible, which is the Word of our Testimony, that is, the Flow of Gospel Word from our hearts into the Church. – For out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem (Isaiah 2:3). The next lesson is “Jerusalem.” This lesson is Mount Zion, with “the law” being the law of the Spirit of Life inside of Christ Jesus, against the confusion of Babylon masquerading as “Jerusalem.” Then we will consider the foundation upon which we stand, the Blood of the Lamb, and the Great Love God is proving through us.

The Bible Wide-Open. Nothing is more important to God and to us right now than this Flow of Gospel Word entering into millions of believers over a fairly short period of time, becoming the entire story of their souls together. The Word goes forth from Jerusalem; we impart to them that Word through the Spirit of Life inside of Christ Jesus. And thus we see Word against word, receiving Seed against imposing argument, Gospel Truth written upon the heart against a mixture of Bible ideas with paganism and outright unbelief, in minds that see everything by good versus evil.

In this lesson, then, we want to find the Completion of the Call and the Victory of the True callers over the false. The war began with a “Bible study,” and it will end with the Bible written upon the hearts of millions wide-open for all to read.

The False Caller. (Chapter 13) • 11 Then I saw another beast rising out of the earth, and it had two horns in resemblance to a lamb, but it was speaking like a dragon. 12 It exercises all the authority of the first beast on its behalf, and causes the earth and those dwelling in it, that they will worship the first beast, the one whose death wound had been healed. 13 And this second beast works great signs, so that it should even cause fire to come down out of heaven into the earth in the presence of humans. 14 It deceives those who dwell upon the earth through the signs that were given to it to perform in the presence of the wild beast, telling those dwelling upon the earth to make an image to the beast that had the sword-wound and yet has lived. 15 And there was given it the ability to give breath to the image of the beast so that the image of the beast should speak and should cause all who would not worship the image of the beast to be killed.

Influence towards the False. This is a description of the false prophet, the one who calls forth death out from the curse. The witnesses of Christ call forth Life out from death, God’s people out from the harlot.

When we force our definition onto one thing only, however, we miss the point. The larger point is that this fakery speaks of every influence pointing people in the wrong direction. For instance, the first time fire fell from heaven upon the earth in the sight of men was 1922, when the British first bombed Arabs in order to steal their oil. Then, the image that speaks and causes is the television, the greatest change agent in human history. It is technology and applied science that convinces people that the political class speaks the truth.

At the same time, this is a “lamb,” thus it includes Christian leaders who turn people towards “king and country,” as well as towards the falseness of the little Pharisaic nation.

Defining the False Caller. 11-15 Definition: The great war is a war over the Word of our testimony; does God speak the Truth or does He lie. The false prophet or caller is any influence that calls God’s people to turn away from Jesus within sustaining them. The contention is always between minds that define everything by good versus evil, “a God who comes to punish sin,” against those who speak Christ their only Life. Just as the Lamb of God is a voice of many waters, so also is the false lamb, speaking in both the Church and the world, but always with the target being those who would believe that God speaks the Truth. Technology and applied science convinces people that all called “science” must be the truth. Bombs falling as fire from heaven, including nuclear, convinces people that no one can war against the beast. The television set, an image that speaks, is the greatest change agent in human history, whereas artificial intelligence is becoming a guiding voice, even a new religion, to millions.

But it is in the Church that the false caller works its greatest woe, teaching God’s people to pledge themselves to “king and country,” the thieves and murderers masquerading as political government, deceiving God’s people that Jesus is someday and faraway, convincing everyone to worship that Pharisaical nation, risen from the ashes, and to aid its determination to seize the inheritance by violence under the curse. This false caller is set against the True, those who call God’s precious people into all the Life of Christ.

We Choose Wisdom. 16 It causes all… that it should give them an identification stamp or engraving upon their right hand or upon their forehead, 17 so that no one would be able to buy or to sell if they do not have the identification stamp, the name of the beast, or the number of its name. • 18 Here is wisdom. Let the one who has understanding count the number of the beast; for it is humanity’s number, and the number of it is six hundred sixty-six.

18 Definition: We choose wisdom; we stay with Agur the wise. “I don’t know anything” (Proverbs 30:2). Those who try to “count the number of the beast” have zero understanding (see Psalm 18:26). Yet the requirement to identify one’s self inside the entire digital world is upon us, meaning that you cannot access anything, from bank account to starting your car, without identifying yourself by fingerprints (the right hand) and by facial recognition software (the forehead). (This is not a claim of fulfillment, only that we must walk with care).

Enlarging Our Understanding. (Chapter 14) • 1 Then I looked, and I saw that the Lamb was standing upon Mount Zion and with Him one hundred forty-four thousand, having His name and the name of His Father written on their foreheads. 2 And I heard a voice out from heaven, as the sound of many waters and as the sound of great thunder. The voice that I heard was like harpists playing on their harps. • 3 And they were singing a new song in the presence of the throne, and in the presence of the four living things and the elders. No one was able to learn the song except the one hundred forty-four thousand who are purchased from the earth.

As we go quickly through the remainder of Revelation, we will be enlarging our understanding of that company of people who Love the Church, Jesus through them, and the wondrous Church for whom they give their lives.

Singing a New Song. 14:1 Definition & Ruling Verse 10: “Mount Zion” is another word for the ministry of Christ, those who give their all for the sake of the Church. As Isaiah said, the law [of the Spirit of Life inside of Christ Jesus] goes out from Zion (Isaiah 2:3). Ruling Verse 10 says that the Lamb of God is inside of us and we are inside of Him, literally and absolutely, and that His name is written upon us. The number “144,000” means the completion of the ministry of Christ inside a Church clothed with Jesus, the same meaning as the crown of twelve stars (see Revelation 12:1).

3 Definition: The new song is a song of Christ our Life, singing of a Jesus who shares all that He is with us, making us to be just like Himself. The song sung “in the presence of the throne” means those who give themselves as upon the Mercy Seat, that Father might win the people of His Desire.

Placing the Firstfruits. 4 These have not been defiled with women; for they are virgins. • They follow the Lamb wherever He goes. These have been purchased out from humanity as firstfruits to God and to the Lamb. 5 And in their mouth was not found any lie or falseness or pretending; blameless they are in the presence of the throne of God.

Let’s set our two “bookmarks” – Revelation 10:7, the mystery of God will be completed, and Revelation 15:5, the Tabernacle in the heavens now opened for all to see. In-between these two we have four views of the same central reality. (1) The second ministry of Christ giving their all. (2) The overcomers protecting a glorious Church. (3) The endurance of the devoted ones against evil. (4) The firstfruits, singing the Song of the Lamb, victorious over all opposition.

Four Different Views. In other words, we have four different views of those who Love the Church, protecting her from evil. Let’s go so far as to apply the “four living creatures” to these four views. The one like a lion is the completion of the ministry of the Resurrected Christ towards His Church. The one like a calf is that offering at the heart of Love for all who belong to Jesus. The one like the face of a man is the faces of the four Levites, standing firm against death. That leaves the one as the flying eagle to be this view of the same as firstfruits, those who carry God’s people into safety.

To “follow the Lamb” does not speak of achievement or performance. To follow the Lamb is to walk His same path, carrying our brothers and sisters inside our hearts all the way into God, the Song and the Joy-filled singing of the Lamb.

To Follow the Lamb. 4-5 Covenant: To “follow the Lamb” does not speak of achievement or performance. To follow the Lamb is to walk His same path, just like Jesus – the Covenant fulfilled, carrying our brothers and sisters inside our hearts all the way into God, the Song and the Joy-filled singing of the Lamb.

4-5 Ruling Verse 9: To “follow the Lamb” means to walk in the same ministry of Christ towards His Church, yet now out from the Resurrection. These firstfruits are THEY who love God’s people as Jesus through them, yet now in the role of bringing to the Father His great Desire.

5 Speak Christ & Ruling Verse 6: We walk with no consciousness of sins, and out from the presence of God’s Mercy Seat, we speak no lie of any separation from Christ, but only the Truth of Christ your LIFE into all who will hear.

A Gospel “Placed Upon.” • 6 Then I saw another angel flying in mid-heaven, having the age-unfolding gospel to proclaim upon those sitting upon the earth, to proclaim it upon every ethnic family and tribe, language and people, 7 saying in a great voice, “Fear God, and give Him glory, because the hour of His judgment has come. And worship the One who made heaven and earth, the sea and springs of waters.”

When we look carefully at what is actually being said here, we see something quite extraordinary. This is not the Gospel to the Church, this is the Gospel from the glorious Church now placed upon nominal Christians and everyone else. This is the Word of the Lord going forth from Jerusalem. “Fear God, and give Him glory” is the Covenant now become the Kingdom, all now fully aware of God. – As Jesus said, They will KNOW when they see your love for one another (John 17:21-23).

The Gospel of the Kingdom. Thus we see that “age-unfolding gospel,” unfolding every next moment, is the same as the “gospel of the kingdom.” Those who receive the Gospel of Jesus inside, making us to be just like Himself, are the heavenly woman. Then, through their Love for one another comes the ordering of God upon all creation.

6-7 Definition: Those who receive the Gospel of Jesus inside, making us to be just like Himself, are the heavenly woman. Then, through their Love for one another comes the ordering of God upon all creation. The “age-unfolding gospel,” unfolding every next moment, is the same as the “gospel of the kingdom.” Such a Word is then “placed upon” all the people of the world.

6-7 Kingdom: “Fear God, and give Him glory” is the Covenant now become the Kingdom, all now fully aware of God. – As Jesus said, “They will KNOW when they see your love for one another” (John 17:21-23).

Love, not Death. • 12 Here is the perseverance of the devoted ones, those watching over the completion of God and the faith of Jesus. 13 I heard a voice out of heaven saying, “Write, blessed are the dead inside of the Lord, those dying from now on.” “Yes,” says the Spirit, “So that they will rest from their toil; for their works accompany them.”

We are certainly comforted when loved ones die physically, for we know that Jesus continues to keep them inside of Himself. Yet the Ruling Verses continue to rule. This is NOT speaking of physical death, but of Love – those who give their entire souls to the Father for the sake of the Church.

“I am crucified with Christ, nevertheless I live.” – “Blessed are the dead inside of the Lord.” Same thing. By the Gospel, verse 13 can be only our blessed union with the Lord Jesus. Then, “rest and works” is living turned around.

Full Union with Christ in Service. You see, here is the description of these “dead” inside of Jesus. – “Those watching over the completion of God and the faith of Jesus.” The completion of God is the Church, and the faith of the Son of God (Galatians 2:20) is the entire meaning of propitiation connecting her with God ongoing forever.

12-13 Ruling Verses 5 & 1: “I am crucified with Christ, nevertheless I live.” – “Blessed are the dead inside of the Lord.” Same thing. By the Gospel, verse 13 can be only our blessed union with the Lord Jesus. Then, works FOLLOWING rest is living turned around inside of God, synergeoing with Him in all.

12-13 Ruling Verse 4: The completion of God is the Church, and the faith of the Son of God (Galatians 2:20) is the entire meaning of propitiation connecting her with God ongoing forever. Firstfruits means full union with Christ in service.

The Harvest of the Earth. 15 And another angel came out of the temple, crying in a great voice to the One sitting on the cloud, “Put forth Your sickle and reap, because the hour to reap has come, for the harvest of the earth has ripened.” • 16 And the One sitting upon the cloud swung His sickle upon the earth, and the earth was harvested.

We put this into the same category where we placed the two witnesses rising from the dead and ascending into the heavens, the category called “I Don’t Have a Clue.” Nonetheless we can do the same as before, and that is to place these things into the simplicity of the Gospel that we do know. But in doing that, we need to bring into the picture the practical transition from the present age to the Age of Tabernacles, a background theme all the way through.

A Practical Transition. Now, the title of this lesson is “Mount Zion versus Babylon,” referencing Revelation 14:1 and 17:5. The two witnesses prophesying Christ, they who cast down accusation, and those who stand firm against evil, these are inside this present fulness of times. But the firstfruits singing the Song of the Lamb are as the flying eagle, carrying the transition from Victory to the Age of Tabernacles.

From Mount Zion, the firstfruits, the law of the Spirit of Life inside of Christ Jesus is fulfilled in a Glorious Church. Then from her the Word of the Lord, this wondrous flow of Gospel Word now expressed through the voices of many, comes upon the peoples of the entire inhabited earth. Here is the harvest. – So shall My word be… It shall return to Me… accomplishing what I please (Isaiah 55:11 – reduced).

Placing the Harvest. Wow. Read all of Isaiah 55, for it is speaking of what I just described in its entirety. This is the age-unfolding Gospel now coming upon all the people of the earth. (Note: the second “harvest” remains inside the resolution of God’s pain, which cannot be resolved by “killing people,” especially since God has already ended all by the Cross.)

15-16 Definition: Here is the harvest. – So shall My word be… It shall return to Me… accomplishing what I please (Isaiah 55:11 – reduced). There is taking place now, inside the fulness of times, the great transition from this present Age of God’s Patience to the already arising Age of Tabernacles. From Mount Zion in 14:1 to the elimination of the confusion called Babylon in 18:21, the firstfruits of Christ, those who Love the Church, speaking only the Truth, carry God’s people across this great transition as Word returning to the Father fulfilled.

Conquering out from the Beast. (Chapter 15) • 2 And I saw as if a sea of glass mixed with fire, and those conquering out from the beast and out from its image, and out from the number of its name, standing firm upon the glass sea, having harps of God. 3 • And they sang the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying: “Great and wonderful are Your works, Lord God, the All-Carrying One! Just and true are Your ways, O King of the ethnic families. 4 Who should not fear You, O Lord, and glorify Your name? For You alone are Devoted. For all the ethnic families will come and will worship inside of Your presence, for Your just actions have been made visible and clear.”

We are seeing that the Song of the Lamb is the entrance of the Kingdom into the experience of all humans, the great transition from one age to the next.

The Song of the Lamb. 2 Definition: The sea of glass mixed with fire represents that spreading forth of full alignment with Jesus, as a crystalline structure, through giving thanks prevailing in all things.

2 Ruling Verse 4: Just as we walk in all Victory over the accuser for ourselves and for all our Christian brethren, so we also repudiate all violent human government through the revelation of Love. Resurrected sons together are better than politicians.

3-4 Definition: The Song of the Lamb is Jesus singing in our hearts, sharing with us His propitiation, that we also might carry all creation inside our hearts back into the Father.

3-4 Ruling Verse 9: The glorious liberty of the sons of God unveiled and the just actions of God made visible and clear are the same thing. They are the fulfillment of Philippians 2:10-11, all creation worshipping God through the giving of Jesus.

The Time of Indignation. • 5 After these things I looked, and the temple of the tabernacle of the testimony inside of heaven was opened. 6 And the seven angels came forth out of the temple, having the seven striking blows. – 8 And the temple was filled with smoke out from the glory of God and out from His power; and no one was able to enter into the temple until the seven striking blows of the seven angels were finished.

The Temple, God’s dwelling place, comes out from the Tabernacle, God’s Way, which comes out from the Testimony, that is the Covenant as the Flow of Gospel Word. This is not a structural thing in a geographical place. It is a description of firstfruits, God’s entrance into being known. Yet this line is also referencing Isaiah’s warning to enter into safety, our chambers, during the time of indignation.

Finding the Real Meaning. Consider the worst thing possible. Consider loving Christian parents and their five-year-old daughter. The innocent little girl is snatched by wicked men to be sold into horrors, and the parents will never see her again.

That is the theme of the movie, Taken, with Liam Neeson. Consider his response. A good word for it would be “indignation,” defining every single next step inside the window of 48 hours, in which a father finds and saves his daughter. The words spoken in that moment pierced me to the core when I first heard them. “You came for me.” – “I told you that I would.” At what point would Liam Neeson’s character, Brian Mills, have been appeased in his wrath? Such a concept is ludicrous, having nothing to do with reality. Only one thing mattered, his daughter rescued unharmed.

Passionate and Driven Urgency. This is how we perceive our God, that He is moved beyond all indignation to rescue His daughter, we might say, the woman clothed with the sun. And this is how we are to perceive the reckless plunge of Jesus into ALL that the RESCUE requires. I would urge you to watch the movie, Taken, for we need the desperate urgency it conveys. Here is another way to say the same thing. – And the temple was filled with smoke out from the glory of God and out from His power. This means the same passionate urgency now through us.

5-6 & 8 Definition: The passionate urgency of God, to rescue His Church from all that would assail her, is beyond all human comprehension, yet we see Jesus showing us the reckless plunge of God into whatever that rescue might require for Him and for us through whom He comes. This is the testimony unveiled inside the heavens, that God will ENTER INTO His Desire upon the earth, a people for Himself.

Defining God’s Pain. (Chapter 16) • 1 Then I heard a great voice out of the temple saying to the seven angels, “Go and pour out the seven bowls of the pain-filled anger of God into the earth.

16:1 Definition: Four things cause God pain beyond human comprehension: (1) billions of humans and angels accusing God that He lies, that His Word is not True, (2) the accusation that God knows evil, (3) every lie that turns God’s people away from knowing Christ their only Life, and (4) the actions of those who abuse and manipulate others for their own gain, in the world, yes, but especially in the Church.

1 Ruling Verse 9: “Punishing” humans CANNOT resolve God’s pain. Only one thing can do so, and that is the rescue of His people out from these four awful things. This is the reckless entrance of Jesus now through us again, the Unveiling, to rescue His Bride from all evil.

We Cover Our Brethren. • 15 “Behold, I continuously come like a thief. Blessed is the one who is wakeful and alert, keeping watch over his garments, so that he should not walk naked, so that they might not see his indecency.”

The first thing you do when you have rescued your daughter is to wrap her with a cloak,
whether literally, or as your embrace. The “I” is Jesus through us. The prize is God’s people, whom we are “stealing” back from wicked men. We are the ones who cover our brethren with Jesus.

15 Ruling Verse 9: The “I” is Jesus through us. The prize is God’s people, whom we are “stealing” back from wicked men. We are the ones who cover our brethren with Jesus. We enclothe our fellow Christians with the Lord Jesus Christ, for all sins are already covered.

The Mighty Transition. • 17 Then the seventh angel poured out his bowl upon the air, and a great voice came out from the throne in the temple, saying, “Become!”

It is not just our Christian brethren whom we are rescuing from evil, but the entire creation. An extraordinary thing happened during our study of The Apocalypse Now; Revelation 16 came back into the Gospel. Now we see that it is not separate from Revelation 12, but is rather a systematic description of that rescue into “a place prepared for her.” And this is that mighty transition from one age to the next.

17 Definition: The transition from this dark age to the Age of Tabernacles is by our speaking out from the authority of God now residing in His Church, as we speak the same word with God in the beginning, “Become.”

Babylon the Great. (Chapter 17) • 3 And the angel carried me away inside of the Spirit into a desolate wilderness, where I saw a woman sitting upon a scarlet beast filled with names of slander, having seven heads and ten horns. 4 And the woman was clothed in purple and scarlet, and adorned with gold, precious stones, and pearls. She held a golden cup in her hand, filled with detestable things and the impurity of her pornographic immorality. 5 Upon her forehead a name was written, a mystery: “Babylon the Great, the Mother of the Prostitutes and of the Disgusting Things of the Earth.” 6 And I saw the woman drunk from the blood of the devoted ones, and from the blood of the witnesses of Jesus. And seeing her, I marveled with great wonder.

My explanation of “The Golden Cup” in Our Glorious Salvation is sufficient. In fact, I want to draw from that entire chapter, “The Enemies of Christ,” to write the comment.

Defining the Violent Thieves. However – we need our definition to fit into this contest of Mount Zion versus Babylon, that is, “Come out of her, My People,” the contention over word – and now inside the transition into the Age of Tabernacles. Go back to “Finding the Real Meaning.” We are describing the wicked criminals who have stolen “our daughter.”

18:3-6 Definition: Babylon the Great symbolizes all false worship, whether it be inside nominal Christianity, the mixing of paganism and the thinking of the flesh with Bible truths by those who have no interest in the Lamb, or if it be the many false worships of this world, all false identities, including flag and nation, and especially the inordinate love of money. Babylon means confusion, and its greatest crime is that it has kidnapped God’s people into its cruelty.

Need Shall Drive Him. • 14 These will make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb will defeat them, because He is the Lord of lords and King of kings; and those with Him are called, chosen, and faithful.

That picture of Brian Mills, the rescuing father in Taken, truly is the picture we need to understand what it means to share Hheart with God in this hour of great need. This is also the meaning given to Aragorn in the book version of “The Passing of the Gray Company” in The Lord of the Rings. – “Need shall drive him. (His city was about to be destroyed.) – ‘Follow me.’ Then Aragorn led the way, and such was the strength of his will that all followed him.”

“Thy people shall be willing in the day of Thy power.” We are speaking of the rescue of the Church.

The Mission of Love. The mind at war against God has turned Revelation into ludicrous nonsense. The entire equation of “Mount Zion versus Babylon” is the rescue of millions of believers in Jesus from those who hate them. This is what the Lamb is and does, with reckless endurance. We could also call this lesson the practical meaning of “Sharing Hheart with God.”

The greatness of Aragorn, the returning king, was mutilated in the movies, but there are few other pictures in world literature that better demonstrate for us the real meaning of this GREAT LOVE of Jesus now coming through us.

14 Ruling Verse 9: The Lamb comes to rescue millions of believers in Jesus from those who hate them, to rescue His Church from all opposition and to establish her as God’s Jerusalem in every land on earth. This the Lamb now does through us with reckless exuberance, the mission of Love, sharing Hheart with God.

Come Out of Her, My People. (Chapter 18) 4 Then I heard another voice out from heaven, saying: • “Come out of her My people, so that you may not have fellowship together with her sins and so that you may not receive of her afflictions and beatings. 5 For her sins have been joined together as far as heaven, and God has considered her wrongful actions. 6 Give back to her as she has given; and double to her twofold according to her works. • In the cup which she has mixed, mix to her double. 7 As she has glorified herself and lived in luxurious self-indulgence, give to her that much torment and grief, for she says in her heart, ‘I sit a queen; I am no widow and I will never see grief.’ 8 For this reason, her beatings and afflictions will come in one day, death and grief and famine; and she will be consumed with fire because the Lord God is mighty, the One who has judged her.

The Call. 18:4 Definition: The call of Revelation 18:4, “Come out of her, My people,” is the call of the Spirit through those who cast down the accuser to all who have ears to hear across the entirety of John’s vision. This one call defines all other soundings of prophetic word. The rescue of God’s people is the reckless intensity of God through us now.

6 Definition: Verse 6 presents “in the cup which she has mixed,” referencing the mixture of the Word God speaks, many precious truths of the Gospel, together with words of unbelief, of twisting, of paganism, and of downright hostility against God, otherwise known as Nicene Christianity. It is the field of Christianity sown with true word and sown with tares, all grown up together. To call God’s people out from this mess takes the great ability of our brilliant and capable Savior.

Shall Not Be Found Anymore. • 20 Rejoice over her, O heaven, and you devoted ones, and apostles and prophets, because God judged the judgment against her for you, for your sake.” 21 Then an angel took up a mighty stone, like a great millstone, and cast it into the sea, saying: • “Thus with violence Babylon will be cast down, the great city, and shall not be found anymore.

To grasp the incredible meaning of “shall not be found anymore,” we must go all the way back to Genesis 3, to the serpent twisting everything God speaks. And then again to Revelation 11:4, with an extraordinary realization. The transition from the age of God’s patience to the Age of Tabernacles begins the very moment the Golden Oil, this Flow of Gospel Word, begins to enter into the consciousness of millions of Christians.

Kept Hidden. We have never before considered the impact Revelation 11:4 will have on everything happening today inside the human experience. God has certainly kept this well hidden.

And that’s the truth. And now, lest he put out his hand and take also of the tree of life, and eat… He drove out the man; and He placed cherubim at the east of the garden of Eden, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to guard the way to the tree of life (Genesis 3:22-24). God has blocked all Christians from the tree of life, primarily because they twisted verse 22, with Satan’s accusation that God knows evil. God does this until He has prepared that ministry who will humble themselves with Jesus to reveal the Father, the meaning of “clothed with sackcloth,” the Ekenosis. Let’s do our definition before continuing.

Jesus Shares All with Us. 21 Definition: All that is false worship “shall not be found anymore.” “No one left in her” is the wondrous promise of all creation returning to the Father. This great transition begins with Revelation 11:4, as the Flow of Gospel Word into the Church begins to change Christianity from the inside out.

I want to come back to Revelation 14:12-13, for its truth has become of great importance to us. “Blessed are those who die inside of Jesus.” This “die” is the same meaning as the seed planted “dying,” in John 12. It means that we do not take upon ourselves the responsibility to rescue the church, that it’s up to us, and that we have to get with the program. It means that Jesus in us is the One rescuing His Bride, and that He shares that great rescue with us as we rest inside of Him, our works following, not going before.

That He Might Rescue His Church. Revelation is all about Jesus imparting Himself to His ministry that through them He might rescue His Church, millions of believers in Jesus alive today, from all evil, the greatest demonstration of Love. And Jesus through us rescues His Church, Jerusalem, for it is through her that the knowledge of God enters the knowledge of all, through her creation is set free, through her, this Flow of Gospel Word becomes the ordering of everything, the Kingdom.

Revelation is about nothing else. And when we see what it’s about, we see how everything fits as the power of the Gospel to save to the uttermost. Thus I am writing the final two lessons of this wondrous study together, “Offered as Sons,” and “Jerusalem.” And they should be studied together.