210 The Revelation of Jesus Christ the coffers of the Vatican. TRAFFICKING IN THE BODIES AND SOULS OF MEN! May God keep every Protestant minister from ever having a charge like this laid against him! It is a serious thing for a man to be able to say, "I am set as a watchman." The moment such a man lapses into professionalism and uses his high office to make himself rich in this world's goods, he traffics in the bodies and souls of men! Please pray for every true preacher of the Gospel. that he may be kept faithful to his charge and more concerned in caring for the flock of God than for his own selfish interests. The wailing of the merchants, because of the destruction of this system by the ten kings, is recorded in verses 15-19: "The merchants of these _things, which were made rich by her. shall stand afar off for the fear of her torment, weeping and wailing, and saying, Alas, alas that great city, that was clothed in fine linen, and purple, and scarlet, and decked with gold. and precious stones, and pearls! For in one hour so great riches is come to nought. And every shipmaster, and all the company in ships, and sailors, and as many as trade by sea, stood afar off. and cried when they saw the smoke of her bum• ing, saying, What city is like unto this great city! And they cast dust on their heads, and cried, weeping and wailing, say• ing. Alas, alas that great city, wherein were made rich all that had ships in the sea by reason of her costliness! for in one hour is she made desolate.' . God will put it into the hearts of the ten kings, associated with the Antichrist, to wipe out this wicked and abominable system. In our study of the previous chapter, we saw how that is to be accomplished. As we.said before, God oftentimes uses one evil thing to destroy another; and when His time for doing so has come, He will use those God-defying rulers to accomplish His purpose concerning Babylon. When that de struction has been accomplished, the merchants will see that the commercialism of the Roman world has been destroyed; and then there will rise from their hearts the wail which is recorded in the verses quoted above. The events portrayed in chapters seventeen and eighteen will occur just prior to the Battle of Armageddon and the re turn of our Lord Jesus in glory. Linked with this religious system, is the city where the system has its center. It is possi ble that the city is Rome, where the Vatican now stands. Read again verse 16, which seems to be a description of that city,
Made with FlippingBook flipbook maker