"Your Deliverance Is Getting Near"!

THE BEGINNING OF THE GREAT TRIBULATION

How will the great tribulation begin?  The book of Revelation answer by describing the destruction of "Babylon the Great." (Revelation 17:5-7) How appropriate that all false religion is likened to a prostitute! The clergy have prostituted themselves  with the leaders of this wicked world. Instead of loyally supporting Jesus and his Kingdom, they have given their support to human rulers and have compromised godly principles just to gain political influence. They stand in stark contrast with the clean virgin-like anointed ones of God. (2 Corinthians 11:2; James 1:27; Revelation 14:4)  But who will destroy the harlot-like organization?  Jehovah God will put "his thought" into the hearts of  "the ten horns" of the scarlet colored wild beast." These horns  represent all the present political powers  that give support to the United Nations, an organization pictured by the "scarlet colored wild beast." -Read Revelation 17:3. 16-18. 

Should we conclude, though, that the destruction of the religions of Babylon the Great results in the death of all the former members of those religions?  Apparently not. The prophet Zechariah was inspired to write about that time.  Speaking of someone who was previously part of false religion, the account states;  "He will say, 'I am no prophet.  I am a man cultivating the soil, because a man bought me when I was young.' And  if someones asks him, 'What are these wounds between your shoulders?' he will answer, 'Wounds I received in this house because of my friends.' "  (Zechariah 13:4-6) So, apparently, even some of the clergy will abandon their religious course and deny that they were ever part of those false religions.  

How will God's people fare at that time?  Jesus explains:  "In fact, unless those days were cut short, no flesh would be saved; but on account of the chose ones those days will be cut short."   (Matthew 24:22) As we considered, in 66 C.E. the tribulation was "cut short."  This allowed  "the chosen ones," anointed Christians, to flee the city and its environs. Likewise, the initial part of the future great tribulation will be  "cut short" because of "the chosen ones." The political "ten horns" will not be allowed to annihilate God's people. Rather, there will be a brief respite. 

Next time: "Your Deliverance Is Getting Near"! - A TIME OF TESTING AND JUDGMENT

From the Watchtower magazine, 2015