Chapter Thirty/"Babylon the Great Has Fallen!"

 It was at Babylon, more than 4,000 years ago, that Jehovah confused the tongues of the would-be builders of the Tower of Babel. The different language groups were scattered to the ends of the earth, taking with them the apostate beliefs and practices that are the basis of most religions to this day. (Genesis 11:1-9) Babylon the Great is the religious part of Satan's organization. (Compare John 8:43-47.) Her most prominent segment today is apostate Christendom, which emerged as a powerful, lawless organization in the fourth century after Christ, with creeds and formalisms derived, not from the Bible, but largely from Babylonish religion. - 2 THESSALONIANS  2:3-12.

You may ask, 'Since religion still exercises great influence in the earth, why does the angel announce that Babylon the Great has fallen? Well, what resulted in 539 B.C.E. when ancient Babylon fell? Why, Isarael was freed to return to its homeland and restore true worship there! So the restoration of spiritual Israel in 1919 to a radiant spiritual prosperity, which continues and expands to this day, stands as evidence that Babylon the Great fell in that year. No longer does she have power of restraint over God's people. Moreover, she has come into deep trouble within her own ranks. Since 1919 her corruption, dishonesty, and immorality have been widely exposed. In most Europe, fee people go to church anymore, and in many socialistic countries, religion is regarded as "the opium of the people." Disgraced in the eyes of all lovers of God's Word of truth, Babylon the Great now waits on death row, as it were, for the execution of Jehovah's righteous judgment on her. 

Next time: Chapter Thirty/"Babylon the Great Has Fallen!" - Babylon's Disgraceful Fall

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Chapter Thirty/"Babylon the Great Has Fallen!"

 It is the hour of God's judgment! Listen! then, to this divine message: "And another, a second angel, followed, saying: 'She has fallen, she who made all the nations drink of the wine of the anger of her fornication!' " (Revelation 14:8) For the first time, but not the last, Revelation focuses attention on Babylon the Great. Later, chapter 17 will describe here as a voluptuous harlot. Who is she? As we shall see, she is a global empire, she is religious, and she is Satan's counterfeit system that he uses in fighting against the seed of God's woman. (Revelation 12:17) Babylon the Great is the entire world empire of false religion. She includes all religions that preserve the religious teachings and practices of ancient Babylon and that manifest her spirit.  

Next time: Chapter Thirty/"Babylon the Great Has Fallen!" - Continue

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Chapter Twenty-Nine/Singing the Triumphal New Song - Declaring Everlasting Good News - Conclusion

 Every is urged to fear, not the wild beast and its image, but Jehovah, who is incomparably more powerful than any symbolic beast controlled by Satan. Why, Jehovah created heaven and earth, and now the time has come for him to judge the earth! (Compare Genesis 1:1; Revelation 11:18) When on earth, Jesus prophesied concerning our day: "And this good news of the kingdom will be preached in all the inhabited earth for a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come." (Matthew 24:14) The congregation of anointed Christians is fulfilling the commission. (1 Corinthians 9:16; Ephesians 6:15) Revelation here reveals that invisible angels are also involved in this preaching work. How often does angelic  guidance has been apparent in bringing one of Jehovah's Witnesses to a home where some distressed soul was yearning, even praying, for spiritual help!

As the angel flying in midheaven has declared, the hour of for judgment has arrived. What judgment will God now render? Ears will tingle at the announcements not to be made by a second, a third, and a fourth, and a fifth angel. - JEREMIAH 19:3. 

Next time: Chapter Thiry/"Babylon the Great Has Fallen!" 

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Chapter Twenty-Nine/Singing the Triumphal New Song - Declaring the Everlasting Good News

 John next writes: "And I saw another angel flying in midheaven, and he had everlasting good news to declare as glad tidings to those who dwell on the earth, and to every nation and tribe and tongue and people, saying in a loud voice: 'Fear God and give him glory, because the hour of judgment by him has arrived, and so worship the One who made the heavens and the  earth and the sea ad fountains of waters.' " (Revelation 14:6, 7) The angel flying "in midheaven," where the birds fly. (Compare Revelation 19:17.) Hence, his voice can be heard around the globe. Of how much greater range than any television news flash is this angel's worldwide proclamation!

Next time: Chapter Twenty-Nine/Singing the Triumphal New Song - Declaring Everlasting Good News  -Conclusion

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Chapter Twenty-Nine/Singing the Triumphal New Song- Followers of the Lamb - Continue

 These firstfruits of (Jesus Christ, the 144,000m and he great crowd) have interesting correspondences in the festivals celebrated according to the ancient Mosaic Law.  On Nisan 16, during the festival of Unfermented Cakes, a sheaf of the firstfruits of the barley harvest was offered to Jehovah. (Leviticus 23:6-14) Nisan 16 was the day Jesus was resurrected from the dead. On the 50th day from Nisan 16, in the third month, the Israelites celebrated the festival of the harvest of the first ripe fruits of the wheat harvest. (Exodus 23:16; Leviticus 23:15, 16) This festival came to be called the Pentecost (from a Greek word meaning "fiftieth"), and it was at Pentecost 33 C.E. that the first members of the 144,000 were anointed with holy spirit. Finally, in the seventh month when the whole harvest was gathered in, there was the Festival of Booths, a time of joyful thanksgiving when the Israelites dwelt for a week in booths made of, among other things, palm branches. (Leviticus 23:33-43) Correspondingly, the great crowd, who are part for the great ingathering, give thanks before the throne with "palm branches in their hands." - REVELATION 7:9, 

Next time: Chapter Twenty-Nine/Singing the Triumphal New Song - Declaring the Everlasting Good News 

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Chapter Twenty-Nine/Singing the Triumphal New Song -Followers of the Lamb - Continue

 The 144,000 are "bought from the earth," "bought from among mankind." They are adopted as spirit sons of God, and after their resurrection, they will no longer be mere flesh-and-blood humans. As mentioned in verse 4, they become the firstfruits to God and to the Lamb." True, back in the first century, Jesus was "the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep in death." (1 Corinthians 15:20, 23) But the 144,000 are the "certain firstfruits" of imperfect mankind, purchased by means Jesus' sacrifice. (James 1:18) Nevertheless, the ingathering of fruitage, from mankind does not end with them. The book of Revelation has already pointed to the harvesting of an unnumbered great crowd that cries with a loud voice "Salvation we own to our God, who is seated on the throne, and to the Lamb." This great crowd will survive the great tribulation, and as they continue to be refreshed by the "fountains of waters of life," they will raised to human perfection earth. Sometime after the great tribulation, Hades will be emptied, and countless millions of other humans will be resurrected and have the same opportunity to drink from those same waters of life. With this in mind, it would be correct to call the great crowd a firstfruits of the other sheep-they are the first to 'wash their robes and make them white in the blood of the Lamb' with the hope of living forever on earth. - REVELATION 7:9, 10, 14, 17: 20:12, 13.

Next time: Chapter Twenty-Nine/ Singing the Triumphal New Song - Followers of the Lamb - Conclusion

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Chapter Twenty-Nine/Singing the Triumphal New Song - Followers of the Lamb - Continue

 Additionally, "no falsehood was found in their mouths." In this, they are like their King, Jesus Christ. As a perfect human, "he committed no sin, nor was deception found in his mouth." (1 Peter 2:21, 22) In being simultaneously without blemish and truthful, the 144,000 are prepared as a chaste bride for Jehovah's Great High Priest.  When Jesus was on earth, he invited righthearted ones to follow him. (Mark 8:34; 10:211; John 1:43) Those who responded imitated his way of life and obeyed his teachings. Thus, during their earthly course, they "keep following the Lamb no matter where he goes" as he guides them through Satan's world. 

Next time: Chapter Twenty-Nine/Singing the Triumphal New Son - Followers of the Lamb - Continue

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Chapter Twenty-Nine/Singing the Triumphal New Song - Followers of the Lamb

 Continuing his description of the 144,000 who are "bought from the earth, "John tells us: "These are the ones that did not defile themselves with women; in fact, they are virgins. These are the ones that keep following the Lamb no matter where he goes. These were bought from among mankind as firstfruits to God and to the Lamb, and no falsehood was found in their mouths; they are without blemish." (Revelation 1:4, 5) The fact that the 144,000 "are virgins" does not mean that members of their class are necessarily unmarried in the flesh. The apostle Paul wrote to the Christians who had a heavenly calling that, whereas there are advantages to Christian singleness, marriage is preferable under certain circumstances.  (1 Corinthians 7:1, 2, 36, 37) What characterizes this class is a spiritual virginity. They have avoided spiritual adultery with worldly politics and with false religion. (James 4:4; Revelation 17:5) As the betrothed bride of Christ they have kept themselves pure, "without a blemish in among a crooked and twisted generation." - PHILIPPIANS 2:15.

Next time: Chapter Twenty-Nine/Singing the Triumphal New Song - Followers of the Lamb

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Chapter Twenty-Nine/Singing the Triumphal New Song - Singing as if a New Song - Conclusion

 At this point we might also ask; Why is it that these anointed overcomers ae referred to as the symbolic 24 elders as well as the 144,000? It is because Revelation views this one group with two different standpoints. The 24 elders are always shown in their ultimate position around Jehovah's throne, installed as kings and priests in the heavens. They symbolize the entire group of 144,000 in their heavenly position, although at present a small remnant of these is still on earth. (Revelation4:4, 10;5:5-14; 7:11-13; 11:16-18) Revelation chapter 7, however, focuses on the 144,000 as brought forth from humankind, and it stresses Jehovah's grand purpose to seal the complete number of individual spiritual Israelites and to grant salvation to an unnumbered great crowd. Revelation chapter 14 provides a picture confirming that the complete Kingdom class of 144,000 individual overcomers will be assembled with the Lamb on Mount Zion. The qualifications to be met in order to be known, as shall now see."

Next time: Chapter Twenty-Eight/Singing the Triumphal New Song - Followers of the Lamb

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Chapter Twenty-Nine/Singing the Triumphal New Song - Singing as if a New Song - Continue

 How can the 144,000 sing "before" the elders, since the 2 elders are the 144,000 in their glorious heavenly position? Early in the Lord's day, those "dead in union with Christ were resurrected in spirit creatures. Thus, faithful anointed Christians who have conquered are now in heaven, symbolically fulfilling functions comparable to those of 24 divisions of priestly elders. They are included in the vision of Jehovah's heavenly organization. (1 Thessalonians 4:15, 16; 1 Chronicles 24:1-18; Revelation 4:4; 6:11) The remnant of the 144,000 still on earth are therefore singing the new song before, or in the sight of their resurrected brothers in heaven. 

Next time: Chapter Twenty-Nine/Singing the Triumphal New Song - Singing as if a New Song - Conclusion 

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