¿Sabes lo que sucederá pronto? |
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¿Sabes lo que sucederá pronto? |
¿Logramos a identificar las cosas más importantes? |
Como vimos en una publicación anteriorÂ
(http://attenzioneallaprofezia.blogspot.it/2017/05/identifichiamo-le-cose-piu-importanti.html)
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http://www.treccani.it/enciclopedia/storia-della-russia_(Enciclopedia-dei-ragazzi)/
https://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/Campagna_di_Russia#Bilancio_e_conseguenze
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Daniel 8:9-12
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¿Quién es realmente Babilonia la Grande? |
Estoy seguro que tu crees que la Biblia es la Palabra de Dios.
Si realmente lo crees, estarás de acuerdo que Ella es consistente y no contradice a sà misma.
También aceptarás que es la máxima autoridad a la que deberÃa referirse el cristiano: compare Mateo 4: 4.
El Señor Jesucristo fue indudablemente la persona más educada e inteligente que haya existido; sin embargo, muchas veces en sus discursos se refirió a la Palabra de Dios - Mateo 15: 3-9; 21: 13-16; Marcos 12: 24-27
No solo esto, Él animó a leer y meditar personalmente sobre las Escrituras - Lucas 10:25, 26
Estoy seguro de que eso es lo que ya estás haciendo, pero... ¿alguna vez has conocido a una persona con un prejuicio?
¿No es cierto que algunas personas, a pesar de ser devotos, no logran entender ciertas escrituras debido a sus propias ideas preconcebidas?
Si una persona cree firmemente en la inmortalidad innata del alma humana, por ejemplo, cuando lee una escritura simple y directa como Juan 5:28, 29 ¿qué va a decir, lo más probable?
"¡La resurrección tiene lugar en el cielo!" y por lo tanto, no hará mucho preguntar "dónde están las tumbas conmemorativas" porque su propia preconcepción les impedirá de comprender incluso las cosas más simples.
Esto no significa que la persona sea estúpida o incluso una mala persona. Simplemente tiene un prejuicio.
¿Estás de acuerdo en que el cristiano debe estudiar la Biblia con el mayor cuidado de la mente, a semejanza de los bereanos, y esto incluye no tener ningún tipo de prejuicio?
¿Crees que es posible que incluso entre los verdaderos cristianos, hoy en dÃa, los prejuicios pueden existir? - Gálatas 2: 11-14
Este artÃculo pretende mostrar lo que la Biblia realmente enseña sobre un tema muy importante: Babilonia la Grande.
¿Harás que la máxima autoridad, osea la Biblia, tenga la última palabra en este sentido, o permitirás que prevalezca un posible prejuicio?
Babilonia la Grande: ¿qué dice la Biblia?
¿Qué sabemos con certeza acerca de Babilonia la Grande?
Se describe como una mujer vestida de púrpura y escarlata y adornada con piedras preciosas y perlas - Apocalipsis 17: 4
Ella está sosteniendo una copa de oro llena de "cosas repugnantes" y está sentada "sobre una feroz bestia escarlata que estaba cubierta de nombres blasfemos y tenÃa siete cabezas y diez cuernos" - Apocalipsis 17: 3.
También está sentado en "muchas aguas" que significa "pueblos, multitudes, naciones y lenguas" - Apocalipsis 17:15
Ella es descrita como una "gran ramera" ya que los reyes de la tierra cometen inmoralidad sexual con ella y todos los habitantes de la tierra se emborrachan con el vino de su inmoralidad sexual - Apocalipsis 17: 1, 2.
Estos aspectos fundamentales y todos los eventos que giran en torno a élla, descritos en los capÃtulos 17 y 18 de Apocalipsis, son las únicas pistas que tenemos útiles para identificar correctamente el tema.
Debido al nombre que lleva, la historia de la antigua Babilonia también puede ser útil, pero lo más básico es que cualquier razonamiento que se haga para identificarlo está en armonÃa con la Palabra de Dios - 2 Timoteo 3:16, 17
Estoy seguro de que estarás de acuerdo en esto.
Entonces comenzamos a ver si lo que se nos ha dicho sobre este tema está realmente en armonÃa con las Escrituras.
¿No puede ser una nación?
Se nos ha dicho, por ejemplo, que Babilonia la Grande no puede ser una nación.
Una de las razones principales para probarlo es el hecho de que "comete fornicación con los reyes de la tierra".
Un fortalecimiento de esta declaración serÃa el hecho de que tanto los reyes como los comerciantes lloran su destrucción.
En final, no serÃa una nación porque se dice que engaña a toda la tierra habitada a través de sus "prácticas espirituales".
"Veamos si las cosas son realmente asÃ" examinando las Escrituras - Hechos 17:11
En IsaÃas 23: 15-17 hablamos de Tiro como una "prostituta olvidada" y por lo tanto, como tal, "comete prostitución con todos los reinos de la tierra sobre la haz del suelo".
Vamos a detenernos por un momento.
¿Estás de acuerdo en que IsaÃas está hablando de una nación, y no de un imperio simbólico o espiritual, y de que esta nación comete prostitución con todos los reinos de la tierra? - Romanos 15.4
Entonces, una nación puede describirse, en la Biblia, en el acto de prostituirse con todos los reinos de la tierra y quedar a ser una nación.
La prostitución puede tener que ver con el comercio o los actos de injusticia y derramamiento de sangre y no necesariamente con la religión - Naum 3: 1-4
En particular, la prostitución de Tiro no tiene nada que ver con la religión falsa porque, de ser asÃ, Jehová no habrÃa considerado "santa" su "recompensa" - IsaÃas 23:18
La prostitución puede tener que ver con el pacto y la confianza puestos en otras naciones, como se ha dicho muchas veces en la Biblia cuando Israel y Judá demostraron ser infieles al aliarse con las naciones paganas.
Por lo tanto, está claro que si se compara a esta nación con una prostituta, la pérdida de esta prostituta habrÃa causado dolor a sus amantes (las naciones con las que prostituyó y los mercaderes que se han enriquecido con ella) asà como el antiguo Israel sintió alegrÃa. para los regalos de prostitución de Tiro y esto no porque Tiro fuera una religión o la religión de Tiro.
Un rey puede "llorar" por la pérdida de un aliado polÃtico (por lo tanto, por la caÃda de una nación) y un gran comerciante puede llorar por la caÃda de un aliado comercial (que puede ser una nación grande o pequeña pero ciertamente rica).
Entonces las razones por las cuales "Babilonia la Grande" no puede ser una nación porque los reyes y los mercaderes lloran su partida no son válidos.
¿Qué podemos decir, sin embargo, de la afirmación más fuerte en referencia a Babilonia La Grande, es decir, que "todas las naciones han sido engañadas por su práctica espiritual"?
Esta declaración en particular ha llevado a muchos a pensar que fue un imperio religioso (para muchas sectas del cristianismo, Babilonia la Grande es catolicismo y para algunos católicos incluso es el Concilio Vaticano II).
En primer lugar, debemos darnos cuenta de que todos los imperios del pasado han recurrido a prácticas espiritistas, y esto también es cierto para los llamados imperios ateo modernos.
Faraón se opuso a sus "practicantes de magia" a Moisés y Nabucodonosor fue prácticamente rodeado - Éxodo 7:11 - Daniel 2: 2
Lo mismo puede decirse de Asiria, Siria, Media Persia, etc.
Entonces, si la Biblia, hablando de una nación literal, dijera que "usa magia" o "práctica de adivinación", no dirÃa nada excepcional.
También sabemos por el estudio de las Escrituras que las naciones están gobernadas por demonios que engañan a toda la tierra habitada y que durante las guerras no solo están involucrados los seres humanos - Daniel 10:13
¿Podemos hipotetizar que los demonios le han dado un poder particular a una nación y que esto tiene, hoy, "el reino sobre los reyes de la tierra"? - Apocalipsis 17:18 (vea también Lucas 4: 5-7)
Independientemente de nuestras creencias, si nos atenemos solo a las Escrituras no podemos descartar "Babilonia la Grande" entre las naciones.
Si Babilonia la Grande fuera una nación, ¿a qué nación corresponderÃa hoy?
De lo que acabamos de leer, aceptar la posibilidad de que Babilonia la Grande sea una nación implica comprender qué nación puede ser.
De hecho, a lo largo de la historia, ha sida "identificada" con muchas ciudades y naciones: USA, EU, El Reino Unido, la URSS, Roma, China y, por supuesto, todos pueden decir lo que quieran.
Sin embargo, ninguna de estas hipótesis ha pasado el escrutinio de las Escrituras que, como hemos dicho, es la única autoridad.
De las pistas de Apocalipsis, ¿podemos entender de manera unÃvoca qué nación podrÃa ser?
En Apocalipsis 17: 1, 2 leemos que Babilonia la Grande "se sienta sobre muchas aguas".
Sabemos que las aguas significan "pueblos y multitudes y naciones e idiomas".
¿Qué nación, más que todas otras, se sienta hoy sobre muchos pueblos?
Israel "se sienta sobre muchas aguas" porque está rodeado de pueblos y naciones que no lo soportan ("sentarse" también puede significar en contra de la voluntad de los pueblos vecinos).
En IsaÃas 8: 5-8 uno habla del poderoso ejército asirio como "aguas devastadoras"; por lo tanto, las "aguas" no son siempre un sÃmbolo de protección.
Ella fue puesta allà por la ONU contra la voluntad de las muchas naciones vecinas.
También se sienta "sobre muchas aguas" porque su posición se debe a las naciones que forman las Naciones Unidas (Babilonia la Grande también se sienta sobre la bestia salvaje de color escarlata, ¿quién es la bestia de color escarlata?) que, además de haberla establecida donde todavÃa es hoy, la protegen militarmente.
Los ejércitos de Asiria se comparan con las "aguas devastadoras", por lo que podemos decir que también se sientan en muchos ejércitos. - Apocalipsis 17: 3, 16
También es digno de mención que solo la nación de Israel està en la "encrucijada" de tres continentes: Europa, Ãfrica y Asia.
Tal vez piensas que esto no tiene sentido, pero te invito a seguir leyendo.
Recuerde: un prejuicio puede afectar la comprensión - Santiago 1:19
Si Babilonia la Grande fuera una nación (supongamos, si lo fuera) y quisiera encontrar una nación situada en "muchas aguas" (es decir, pueblos y naciones y tribus e idiomas), geográficamente y polÃticamente, ¿qué nación corresponderÃa mejor que Israel moderno?
También sabemos que la prostituta monta una feroz bestia escarlata.
De acuerdo con lo que nos han enseñado, ¿quién o qué representa esta bestia escarlata?
Es la ONU, ¿verdad?
En Apocalipsis 17: 3 leemos: "Y me llevó en [el poder del] espÃritu+ a un desierto. Y alcancé a ver a una mujer sentada sobre una bestia salvaje de color escarlata+ que estaba llena de nombres blasfemos+ y que tenÃa siete cabezas+ y diez cuernos".
¿Cómo es posible que el imperio mundial de la religión falsa se suba a la ONU?
En cambio, Israel existe, gracias al impulso del imperio angloamericano, gracias y a través de las Naciones Unidas, desde 1948.
Los eventos históricos anteriores y posteriores a la creación del estado de Israel confirman que el pueblo judÃo ha montado en la bestia salvaje de color escarlata incluso antes de volver a ser una nación.
En este sentido, los animo a hacer una investigación histórica sobre Balfour (1917) y todos los eventos posteriores.
Hay otro detalle al que debemos prestarle atención.
Esta bestia es de color escarlata y representa a las Naciones Unidas, ¿verdad?
La gran prostituta está vestida de púrpura y escarlata. ¿No parece indicar que es una nación?
La Revelación también nos dice que ella es la madre de todas las prostitutas.
¿En qué sentido?
Apocalipsis 17: 4-5: "Y la mujer estaba vestida de púrpura y escarlata, y estaba adornada de oro, piedras preciosas y perlas, y tenÃa en su mano una copa de oro llena de cosas repugnantes y los impÃos de su fornicación. en su frente estaba escrito un nombre, un misterio: 'Babilonia la Grande, la madre de las rameras y de las cosas repugnantes de la tierra' ".
Si aceptamos la posibilidad de que una nación pueda compararse con una prostituta (al igual que Tiro), entonces la nación de Israel es la "madre de todas las prostitutas" porque ha cometido una mayor fornicación que ninguna otra nación en el mundo.
¿Cómo podemos decirlo?
Si la ramera cabalga sobre la bestia salvaje de color escarlata, que, como sabemos, es la Liga o la Liga de las Naciones, se supone que cometió fornicación con todas las naciones que se adhieren a las Naciones Unidas.
De hecho, su propia existencia como nación se debe a sus amantes polÃticos, asiqué, para continuar a existir, debe cometer un exceso de prostitución de manera continua.Â
Ninguna otra nación puede compararse con ella como actos de prostitución porque ninguna otra nación tiene la necesidad urgente de agradar a la ONU para que siga a existir.
Borracha con la sangre de los santos.
La escritura continúa diciendo "Y vi que la mujer estaba ebria de la sangre de los santos y de los testigos de Jesús".
Israel tiene una gran culpa de sangre y Jesús se refirió a esta nación cuando dijo: "para que venga sobre ustedes toda la sangre justa vertida sobre la tierra,+ desde la sangre del justo+ Abel+ hasta la sangre de ZacarÃas, hijo de BaraquÃas, a quien ustedes asesinaron entre el santuario y el altar" - Mateo 23:35 - Luca 11:50, 51
Asà que Jesús mismo identifica a Israel, no a otra nación, como responsable del pago de "toda la sangre justa" (compárense también las palabras de Hechos 7: 51-53).Â
El libro "Insight" (Perspicacia) bajo el tÃtulo "Babilonia la Grande", señala correctamente que no todos los cristianos fueron perseguidos por los fariseos y los Judios mismos han sufrido, a su vez, una gran persecución y es absolutamente cierto.
Sin embargo, incluso Abel no fue asesinado por un fariseo o incluso por ningún ministro religioso.
Además, los millones de muertes causadas por el imperio ateo comunista difÃcilmente podrÃan apuntar a la religión falsa.
¿Podemos hipotetizar que Jehová y Jesús consideran particularmente responsables a aquellos que han "conocido a Dios" y, a pesar de esto, han cometido crÃmenes indescriptibles?
La nación de Israel encaja perfectamente en este contexto. - Oseas 8: 2 - Amós 3: 2
Condolencia para la muerte de Babilonia.
Apocalipsis 18: 9-14 dice: ”Y los reyes+ de la tierra que cometieron fornicación con ella y vivieron en lujo desvergonzado llorarán y se golpearán en desconsuelo por ella,+ cuando miren el humo+ del incendio de ella, 10  mientras se quedan de pie lejos, por su temor del tormento de ella, y dicen:+ ‘¡Qué lástima, qué lástima, tú, la gran ciudad,+ Babilonia la fuerte ciudad, porque en una sola hora ha llegado tu juicio!Â’.+ 11  ”También, los comerciantes+ viajeros de la tierra están llorando y lamentándose por ella,+ porque no hay nadie que compre ya su surtido cabal, 12  surtido cabal+ de oro y plata y piedra preciosa y perlas y lino fino y púrpura y seda y escarlata; y todo lo de madera olorosa* y toda clase de objeto de marfil y toda clase de objeto de la madera más preciosa, y de cobre y de hierro y de mármol;+ 13  también canela y especia de la India* e incienso y aceite perfumado y olÃbano y vino y aceite de oliva y flor de harina y trigo y ganado mayor y ovejas, y caballos y coches y esclavos* y almas humanas.*+ 14  SÃ, el fruto excelente que tu alma deseaba*+ se ha apartado de ti, y todas las cosas exquisitas y las cosas suntuosas han perecido de ti, y nunca volverán a hallarse".
Como vimos al principio, tanto los reyes de la tierra como los comerciantes viajeros sufren por la desaparición de su amante.
A diferencia de cualquier otra nación, la destrucción de Israel traerÃa desesperación y "desgracias" entre gobernantes y comerciantes de todo el mundo.
¿Por qué?
Porque los judÃos son dueños de los bancos más grandes del mundo, casi todo el oro, el petróleo, las multinacionales más grandes y todo lo que se pueda imaginar.
Las potencias mundiales más grandes (incluidas EE. UU., La URSS y China) se han beneficiado de copiosos préstamos para librar una guerra contra otras naciones y para construir estructuras colosales y masivas (como el Canal de Suez).
Solo haga una investigación para descubrir cómo y cuántos propietarios de los bancos más grandes del mundo han estado involucrados en casi todas las guerras de los últimos dos siglos y probablemente en un tiempo muy lejano.
Las palabras de Apocalipsis 18: 11-14 a este respecto son significativas.
Realmente los reyes de los comerciantes de la tierra y viajeros de todo el mundo estarÃan derecho a golpearse el pecho, a llorar y gritar, "¡Que lastima!"
"Sálganse de ella, pueblo mÃo"
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Si Babilonia la Grande es el imperio mundial de la religión falsa, debemos asumir necesariamente que Dios llama a las personas que se convertirán en su pueblo. Esas personas que podrÃan convertirse en su gente, pero que aún no lo son.
La Escritura, sin embargo, parece indicar claramente que, cuando llama a estas personas "fuera de Babilonia", ya son su pueblo (tal como lo hicieron en la antigüedad, tal vez tuvieron que ser purificados y disciplinados, pero permanecieron, todo el tiempo, Su pueblo).
Si Babilonia la Grande, por otra parte, es la nación moderna de Israel, entonces no hay mucho que interpretar.
Nuestros queridos hermanos también están en la nación moderna de Israel.Â
¿Es posible que Dios les esté diciendo a los hermanos presentes en Israel que huyan literalmente en vista de la destrucción inminente?
Esto significarÃa que "el remanente", como se informó muchas veces en las Escrituras, ¡serÃa literalmente (y fÃsicamente) un remanente! Un remanente da salvar.
Si admitimos que Babilonia la Grande es una nación, ¿corresponde Israel a la descripción que hace la Biblia?
Nos guste o no, y por más que pueda constituir un "efecto dominó" en otras interpretaciones, esto está en armonÃa tanto con la historia secular como con las Escrituras.
Entonces la respuesta es sÃ.
¿Cuál de los dos temas, a la luz de las Escrituras y no de deseos o ideas personales, es más probable que lo sea?
Hagamos una serie de reflexiones honestas.
Es evidente que en la Biblia hay cientos de paralelismos entre Babilonia e Israel infiel.
Incluso la copa "llena de cosas repugnantes" de la que la ramera se embriaga recuerda los utensilios del templo de Jehová.
El problema es comprender lo que debemos entender cuando leemos estos paralelos.
Sin duda, la religión falsa tiene algunos puntos en común con la descripción de Babilonia la Grande (como el derramamiento de sangre y sus prácticas espirituales en todas las naciones), pero ¿podemos decir honestamente que responde a todas las indicaciones indicadas?
Todos los juicios de Jehová, informados en las Escrituras, han caÃdo sobre pueblos y naciones literales, e incluso las heridas enviadas a la tierra de Egipto, que sirvieron para destruir / humillar a sus dioses falsos, pero tuvieron que caer sobre una nación especÃfica.
Si aceptamos la posibilidad de que Babilonia la Grande sea un lugar literal (y seamos el moderno Israel) debemos considerar que incluso las montañas, sobre las cuales se sienta la mujer, son montañas literales.
Siempre se habla de las siete potencias mundiales de la historia bÃblica, pero nunca hablamos de las siete montañas.
Nunca hablamos de las siete montañas porque los poderes polÃticos, dicen, son las siete montañas.
Sin embargo, la escritura de Apocalipsis 17 explica que hay siete reyes ... y (en conjunción, que es "y también hay") siete montañas, y esta conjunción podrÃa hacer pensar que, incluso si las montañas representan los poderes que conocemos, de hecho hay siete montañas como objeto de similitud con el número de reyes.
ParecerÃa una pista literal útil para identificar a Babilonia la Grande.
Ahora la pregunta es ...
¿Cuál y cuántas montañas se indican en las Escrituras que formaban parte de la Tierra Prometida?
1) Monte Moria 2) Monte Sion 3) Monte de los Olivos 4) Ghilboa 5) Gherizim 6) Ebal 7) Monte Tabor.
Nótese bien: El Monte Nebo y los demás, mencionados también en las Escrituras, formaban parte del territorio de Moab y Edom y, por lo tanto, están excluidos.
Este paralelo es simplemente imposible de hacer con el imperio mundial de la religión falsa.
Apocalipsis 3:12 y otras escrituras que se cumplen después del dÃa del Señor, que mencionan la Nueva Jerusalén, parecen enfatizar un contraste con la Vieja Jerusalén.
En el cap. 18 de Apocalipsis, Babilonia la Grande es destruida.
En el capÃtulo 19: 7, 8 el matrimonio del cordero está preparado, entonces ...
Murió la prostituta que se hizo pasar por la novia y el matrimonio puede haber comenzado finalmente.
El matrimonio tiene lugar con la "Nueva Jerusalén"; ¿Quizàs la prostituta era la "Vieja Jerusalén" que es la carnal, impura, desobediente, idólatra? - I Corintios 9: 6-8; 10:18 - Gálatas 4: 26-29
Si estuviera buscando un pueblo y una nación literal que se hiciera pasar y ese fuera el pueblo de Dios, ¿a qué paÃs llegarÃa?
Solo las personas que realmente eran el pueblo de Dios tendrÃan los papeles en orden, por asà decirlo, para pasar a ser un cónyuge legÃtimo.
De los dos testigos descritos en el capÃtulo 11 de Apocalipsis, se dice que, una vez muertos, "sus cadáveres estarán en la ancha calle de la gran ciudad que en sentido espiritual se llama Sodoma y Egipto, donde incluso su Señor fue puesto en la hoguera" - Apocalipsis 11: 8
¿En cual "gran ciudad" el Señor Jesús fue empalado?
Al final podrÃamos preguntarnos por qué, el escritor de Apocalipsis, después de haber visto espantosas bestias salvajes, increÃbles visiones celestiales tanto bellas y aterradoras, declaraciones atronadoras y muchas otras cosas, solo a la vista de la mujer él "admiré con gran admiración" - Apocalipsis 17: 6 , 7
Por supuesto que no podemos saber, entonces solo podemos hacer hipótesis, pero en general nos sorprende cuando vemos algo que nunca esperarÃamos ver.
¿Hubiera podido "maravillarse de gran maravilla" por haber visto a su propio pueblo y a su propia nación (que en el momento de la escritura de Apocalipsis ya no existÃa)?
JeremÃas 25:10, 11 y Apocalipsis 18:22, 23 son muy similares entre sÃ, sin embargo, JeremÃas habla de Israel, mientras que la Revelación habla de Babilonia la Grande.
En Apocalipsis 18: 5-8 se dice que "Dios ha recordado sus actos de injusticia".
¿Por qué Dios "recuerda"?
La religión falsa no siempre ha hecho el mal, en 6,000 historias, sin detenerse ni un momento desde los dÃas de Nimrod.
¿No podrÃa ser porque "Babilonia" no ha existido mà s durante muchos años, como nación, sino que aparece nuevamente después del "dÃa del Señor" con otro nombre?
Del libro "Perspicacia", bajo el tÃtulo "Babilonia la Grande", leemos ...
CaracterÃsticas de la antigua Babilonia. La fundación de Babilonia en la llanura de Sinar coincidió con el intento de construir la torre de Babel. (Gé 11: 2-9)
La construcción de la ciudad y la torre por parte del pueblo no fue motivada por la intención de exaltar el nombre de Dios, sino por el deseo de "hacer un nombre famoso". El ziqqurat descubierto no solo en las ruinas de la antigua Babilonia sino en toda Mesopotamia parece confirmar la naturaleza esencialmente religiosa de la torre original, cualquiera que sea su forma o estilo. La acción resuelta de Jehová Dios para derrocar esa construcción Templaria es una clara condena de su falso origen religioso. Mientras que el nombre hebreo de la ciudad, Babel, significa "confusión", el nombre sumerio (Ka-dingir-ra) y el nombre acadio (Bab-ilu) significan "la puerta de Dios". Entonces, los habitantes que quedaron en la ciudad alteraron el nombre para evitar el significado original de la condena, pero la nueva forma también revela la naturaleza religiosa de la ciudad.
Como también se ha informado en las publicaciones, la creación de la nación moderna de Israel y el regreso de los judÃos a su tierra natal no fue obra de Dios y, mucho más en serio, no se hizo para dar gloria a Dios. todo esto fue hecho por "el deseo de hacer un nombre famoso".
Además, la religión judÃa todavÃa cree que es "la Puerta de Dios", pero es una mistificación de la realidad. Ella no es una consorte o reina legÃtima pero, con sus alianzas polÃticas y comerciales, ha demostrado ser una prostituta sórdida (bÃblicamente hablando).
En Apocalipsis 16: 16-21 estamos ahora en Armagedón, la gran ciudad está dividida en tres partes, las naciones caen y Babilonia "fue recordada".
Asà que Babilonia está relacionada con la caÃda de otras naciones como si fuera una nación "especial", algo para recordar, pero aún siempre una nación.
¿Cuál de todas las naciones de la tierra podrÃa ser considerada "especial" por Jehová Dios?
¿PodrÃa la copa de oro llena de "cosas repugnantes" llevada a cabo en manos de la gran ramera recordar los utensilios del templo de Dios? - Compara Daniel 5: 1-4
Vamos a tener un par de preguntas al final.
Pregunta uno.
De acuerdo con la explicación del libro "Apocalipsis: su clÃmax", es apropiado que la gran ramera se siente sobre la bestia salvaje de color escarlata porque, la religión falsa, siempre ha tenido poder sobre los reyes de la tierra llegando incluso a nombrarlos y expulsarlos.
Sabemos que la Liga o la Liga de las Naciones tiene como representantes también a las "viejas naciones" mencionadas en la Biblia como Roma, Media-Persia y otros, pero no hubiera sido más lógico ver a la "gran ramera" cabalgar sobre la primera bestia salvaje y la que asciende desde la mar, ya que la religión falsa existe desde los dÃas de Nimrod?
En cambio, la gran prostituta se sienta en esa bestia que "era,+ pero no es, y, no obstante, está para ascender del abismo" - Apocalipsis 17:8
¿Qué cabalgó el imperio mundial de la religión falsa cuando la bestia no era?
Pregunta dos.Como se ha señalado, en la Biblia, Israel se compara con una esposa y Jehová con el propietario conyugal.
Cuando se mostró infiel, aliándose con otras naciones y mezclándose con la falsa adoración, Israel se volvió "infiel" e incluso "prostituta".
El cristianismo dice servir a Dios pero, en realidad, se prostituye con las naciones y con toda falsa doctrina de origen pagano.
Sin embargo, si Babilonia la Grande es el imperio mundial de la religión falsa (y por lo tanto también incluye religiones como el budismo, el sintoÃsmo, el hinduismo, las religiones tribales, etc.), ¿por qué se considera, en su conjunto, una prostituta?
¿Se ha identificado alguna vez Jehová como el "propietario conyugal" de naciones como Ammón, Moab, Egipto u otras?
¿Has leÃdo el artÃculo completo o has llegado al final saltándote las páginas?
¿Has comparado todas las escrituras como los Beraenes o somos "Bereanos" solo cuando tenemos que refutar las doctrinas del cristianismo?
Thanks to the coherence of the Word of God we have arrived at an unprecedented understanding of the Holy Writings.
This understanding, far from complete but constantly growing, would not have flowed freely if we had not approached it with the utmost care of mind and without prejudice - compare Acts 17:11
One of the fundamental concepts that would have prevented the understanding of many things is that related to the identity of modern Israel.
Even today this subject confuses and makes it impossible to understand the Bible to the vast majority of religions as well as to individual scholars.
Y el ángel que hablaba conmigo procedió a regresar y despertarme, como a hombre a quien se despierta de su sueño.+ 2 Entonces me dijo: “¿Qué ves?”.+
¿Reconoceremos los "dos olivos" cuando comienzan a predicar? |
¿Quién es la mujer llamada Maldad que arruina toda la tierra y que es originaria del paÃs de Sinar? |
"The angel who had been speaking with me came back and woke me up, as when waking someone from sleep. 2  Then he said to me: “What do you see?” So I said: “I see, and look! a lampstand entirely of gold,+ with a bowl on top of it. There are seven lamps on it,+ yes, seven, and the lamps, which are at the top of it, have seven pipes. 3  And next to it are two olive trees,+ one on the right of the bowl and one on the left.” - Zechariah 4:1-3
Will we recognize the "two olive trees" when they begin to preach?
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It was inevitable that Zaccaria's study would lead us to the focal point of Revelation.
Revelation 11: 3, 4 says, "And I will prophesy my two witnesses for one thousand two hundred and sixty days clothed with sack". These are [symbolized by] the two olive trees and [from] the two candlesticks and stand before the Lord of the earth. "
We, unlike Zechariah, have the whole Bible so it is very easy for us to connect the scriptures. Zechariah had not under his eyes the scroll of Revelation given to John, so it was only normal that he asked for clarifications - see Zechariah 4: 4, 11
The angel says "" These are the two anointed who stand beside the Lord of the whole earth "- Zechariah 4:14
Before asking specifically about the two olive trees, however, Zechariah asks what "these things" mean - see Zechariah 4: 4
What was Zaccaria referring to?
What's in the vision besides the two olive trees?
Well let's read ... "I saw, and behold, there is a candlestick, all of gold, with a cup on top of it. And its seven lamps are on it, just seven; and the lamps that are on top of it have seven pipes ".
Asking the meaning of "these things" Zacharias was referring to the candlestick?
Yes, because we understand it from the angel's answer.
He then said to me: “This is the word of Jehovah to Ze·rub?ba·bel: ‘“Not by a military force, nor by power,+ but by my spirit,”+ says Jehovah of armies. 7  Who are you, O great mountain? Before Ze·rub?ba·bel+ you will become a level land.*+ And he will bring out the top stone* amid shouts of: “How wonderful! How wonderful!”’” Zechariah 4:6, 7
If the two olive trees represent "the two anointed who stand next to the Lord of the whole earth", the candlestick, or the one next to him, represents the Lord and in particular the message of the Lord (Revelation also mentions two chandeliers indicating that each they are sustained by the Spirit of God) sustained by his spirit, which they are instructed to bring.
That this is correct is also understood by the seven lamps (verse 2) and by the explanation of the angel who says, "These seven are the eyes of Jehovah: they run all over the earth" (verse 10).
And this brings us back again and invariably to the last book of the Bible.
In Revelation 3: 1 Jesus, speaking of himself, says he has "the seven spirits of God".
Previously, addressing the congregation of Tiatira, Jesus said that he had "eyes like a flame of fire and whose feet are like copper to the brim" (Revelation 2:18) and then suggests that He sees everything, deep and everywhere - See also Revelation 1:14
Among other things, it is said that the Lamb has seven eyes and that these "mean the seven spirits of God that have been sent to all the earth" - Revelation 5: 6
Speaking of the conduct and also of the preaching work, Jesus said, turning to his disciples, "You are the light of the world. A city can not be hidden when it is located on a mountain. A lamp is not lit to put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick, and it shines on all those in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your excellent works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven "- compare Revelation 11:13
What do we understand, therefore, by comparing these scriptures?
The two witnesses dressed in sacks have an important task: to carry the message of the Lord.
They will do this not with their strength but with the spirit of God - compare Revelation 10:11
What will be the message of these two "olive trees"?
Will it be the "good news of the Kingdom"?
In the article dedicated to chapter 11 of Revelation we saw that this would not have been consistent with their clothing - compare Genesis 37:34; 2 Samuel 3:31
What does Zaccaria tell us?
Zechariah 4: 7 answers, "Who are you, O great mountain? Before Zerubbabel [I will become] plain, and he will certainly bring forth the headstone, and cry out to it:" How attractive it is!
The great mountain is obviously the "ruinous mountain" of which Jeremiah 51:25 speaks; the writing says that it "ruins the whole earth" - compare Revelation 18: 3
These scriptures have been officially applied to Christianity but Zechariah does nothing but reconfirm what we have already seen - see the article "A Name: A Mystery, Babylon the Great"
So far we have spoken of Jerusalem (and therefore Israel in its natural extension) and expressions such as "rope to measure", "re-debated city" and others bring us back to the literal city / nation.
Zaccaria adds fundamental elements to conclude that the ruinous mountain, that is, what will become "plain", can not be other than the current apostate Israel.
Then it becomes consistent that the two witnesses preach "sack clothes" because the message is of severe condemnation.
When Jesus came to the earth, He preached a message that was indeed a hope but also an ultimatum for that nation - compare Matthew 4:17; 21: 36-44
The scribes and the Pharisees, and in general the whole nation, did not take the opportunity to repent and therefore be saved.
We have seen that the preaching of the two witnesses has much in common with the work and life of Christ.
They preach a message of judgment and are authorized by God himself.
They prove to have the spirit of God.
Several times they try to kill them but without success - compare John 7:30; 8:20
They preach for exactly three and a half years and are eventually killed not directly by their people but by the "wild beast" or "disgusting thing" - compare Luke 21:20
They rise again after three and a half days, and from then on the preaching spreads throughout the inhabited earth - see Revelation 12:17; 14: 6, 13
Do the similarities seem random to you?
The judgments that these two witnesses bring to that country "where even their Lord was put to the stake" is similar to the judgments that brought Moses and Elijah and therefore what we find written in Matthew 17: 1-3
It is not difficult to deduce, therefore, that as soon as these two witnesses make their appearance, they will preach a message of condemnation by announcing the destruction precisely by that God whom they claim to worship - John 8: 42-47; Luke 21:22
"And he will certainly bring out the headstone, and it will cry out to him:" How attractive he is! How attractive he is! "- 4: 7
The stone of the head, or angular, will be taken out and other people will cry "How attractive it is!", That is, other people (the true people of God currently scattered in the world) will enjoy those blessings that they let themselves escape forever.
All those who do not take the opportunity to listen to the message of the two witnesses and urgently make the necessary changes will shatter on this stone - Matthew 21:44
This will certainly include those who over time have been called "Jehovah's Witnesses" but who will not take these people and their message into consideration after the suppression of the ongoing sacrifice.
Let us therefore try to be awake not to despise "the day of little things" because they will have the Spirit and the approval of God.
Zaccaria's study is also fundamental because it is not excluded that when their preaching begins, someone we value and trust we can tell us not to listen to them - Matthew 12:24; John 7:52; 11:45, 46
The next verse assures that Zerubbabel will complete the construction of the temple but he is also called the Sprout (see Zechariah 6:12) and we know that in modern fulfillment it is Christ Jesus.
Again I looked up, and I saw a flying scroll. 2  He asked me: “What do you see?” I replied: “I see a flying scroll, which is 20 cubits* long and 10 cubits wide.” 3  Then he said to me: “This is the curse that is going out over the face of all the earth, because everyone who steals,+ as written on its one side, has gone unpunished; and everyone who makes a sworn oath,+ as written on its other side, has gone unpunished - Zechariah 5:1-3
The CEI translates Zechariah 5: 3 as follows "He added:" This is the curse that spreads over the whole earth: every thief will be cast out of here like that scroll, every perjury will be cast out of here like that scroll " that it is not because of what is written in the scroll to constitute the judgment (among other things, there is only talk of being expelled) but that this happens in a similar way to the roll.
This translation, even if apparently it may seem logical, does not take into account the context and completely changes the sense of vision.
The writing in fact speaks of "everyone who steals" and "everyone who makes an oath" and therefore the natural question we should ask ourselves is ... "Where was the theft and the false oath regulated?"
The answer is: in the Ten Commandments and in the Mosaic Law - compare Exodus 20:15, 16; Leviticus 19:11; Jeremiah 7: 9, 10
So the vision is pointing out that the scroll is a curse because of what is written on both sides.
Probably the most correct translation is that of the New Revised which makes the verse as follows: "This is the curse that spreads over the whole country; because every thief, according to it, will be eradicated from this place, and every perjury, according to it, will be eradicated from this place ".
So the message is as simple as direct: the people who steal and swear falsely will be judged by the clear rules written in that roll.
Should we therefore imagine that witnesses clothed in sacks will bring a new piece of inspiration inspired by them, a sort of list of additional rules to those we already know?
Absolutely not.
The scroll clearly echoes the Mosaic law and although it was for us only a shadow of things to come, it will not be for those who have never understood its meaning and purpose - Colossians 2:17, 18
This is the message that will become a curse for the whole country because none of the inhabitants of modern Babylon will be able to respect the precepts of the Law - Romans 7: 7-9
From what is understood, since they rejected Christ and did not embrace the undeserved kindness of God for the forgiveness of sins, Jehovah will apply the Law to those who say they respect it - Matthew 12:37
In this way no one can say that God has been unjust or too severe because the precepts written in the Law, something that many of them even know by heart, are clear.
Not having accepted the "stone" that could have opened their way to God's undeserved kindness, all that remains is to apply the Law and see how many of them have followed his "norm".
Evidently this is precisely what the Lord meant in Matthew 21:44 "And whoever falls on this stone will be shattered." As for whoever it falls on, it will pulverize it. "
This adds an obvious reason to the anger of the listeners.
They are shamed just according to the norms they say they respect and this also reminds us of Jesus' way of preaching - compare Matthew 15: 3-6; Galatians 4:21
‘I have sent it out,’ declares Jehovah of armies, ‘and it will enter into the house of the thief and into the house of the one who makes a false oath in my name; and it will remain inside that house and consume it and its timbers and its stones.’” - Zechariah 5:4
The message will torment the listeners day and night and they will not be able to get rid of it because every time they read from the Law the words of these two annoying witnesses will come back to him.
The torment will come to the point of devouring the timber and the stones and this well does understand the happiness that they will feel when they manage to get rid of them by killing them - Revelation 11:10
Obviously the time will come when the houses will be literally devoured along with all those who have not listened to God's message - Revelation 18: 4-8
Then the angel who was speaking with me came forward and said to me: “Look up, please, and see what is going out.” 6  So I asked: “What is it?” He replied: “This is the e?phah container* that is going out.” He continued: “This is their appearance in all the earth.” 7  And I saw that the round lid of lead was lifted up, and there was a woman sitting inside the container. 8  So he said: “This is Wickedness.” Then he threw her back into the e?phah container, after which he thrust the lead weight over its mouth. - Zechariah 5:5-8
This spectacular vision offers us other interesting details.
Meanwhile, we must understand that "the efa that comes out" is evidently the container that was used for the efa.
In fact, the efa is a unit of measure for arid (22 liters) while the writing speaks of the lead cover and a woman who sits "in the middle of the efa".
We can deduce, therefore, that in the time of Zechariah a container of specific capacity was used for the measurement of an efa or multiples of an efa.
The container was probably also called efa.
Zechariah therefore sees this container coming out of the country but at a certain point the circular lead cover was raised ...
What do you see, then, Zaccaria?
"A certain woman" that the angel identifies as "Evil".
Do you remember someone?
Of course!
A very wicked woman whom John describes as "dressed in purple and scarlet many years later ... adorned with gold and precious stone and pearls and holding a golden cup full of disgusting things and the unclean things of her fornication" - Revelation 17: 4
After having shown it to Zechariah, the angel closes it inside the container.
Where will this wicked woman be brought?
Who is the woman called Evil that ruins the whole earth and which is native to the country of Sinar?
Then I looked up and saw two women coming forward, and they were soaring in the wind. They had wings like the wings of a stork. And they lifted up the container between the earth and heaven. 10  So I asked the angel who was speaking with me: “Where are they taking the e?phah container?” 11  He replied: “To the land of Shi?nar*+ to build her a house; and when it is prepared, she will be deposited there in her proper place.” - Zechariah 5:9-11
It seems clear that at this point in the vision the woman has already been eliminated from the curse of the scroll it is not by chance that it is within a measure for arid evidently indicating that it will become a pile of ruins - compare Revelation 18: 8
However, the spontaneous question is ... "Why is a place built in the village of Sinar?"
We know that Babylon the Great will be destroyed forever so this writing can not mean it will be rebuilt - compare Revelation 18:21
The only reason why one can or should build a house to it can only be one: to be remembered forever - compare Revelation 19: 3
It's really incredible but also the destination of the efa is useful to identify this woman.
The writing says that it will be deposited "on its own place" (ie it returns to its place of origin, where it must be) or "in the country of Sinar".
Looking at the asterisk reported on Sinar we see ... "Sinar", M; lat. Shinar; LXX, "Babylon"; TSy, "Babel".
Women with stork wings represent Jehovah's provision that after the destruction of Babylon the Great a warning is made of it, something to remember.
Obviously, this woman, even if reduced to dust, must be taken away because she can not remain in the earth chosen by God, or the place where he has chosen to make his Name tame - compare 2 Chronicles 6: 6
It would not be appropriate for this monument (pedestal, house or whatever) to be found right in God's promised land.
It will return to its place of origin, or Babylon, and this "monument" will be an eternal memory so that you will never come back to life.
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What can we say at the end of this article?
We have seen in the previous article that the war that is coming will serve as a discipline for the people of God, especially towards those who take the directive - compare James 3: 1
At the end of this war, when by now the preaching seems completely suppressed, the two witnesses dressed in sacks will make their appearance.
This is a crucial event because it will indicate the restoration of true worship.
The preaching of these two people will constitute a severe judgment for the nation in which they will preach but also for all those who refuse to listen (the opportunity to listen to them, in fact, is addressed to all of us ... which is not at all obvious).
As we have seen the message of judgment that they will bring thanks to the spirit of God will devour houses with their lumber and their stones, initially as a mental and emotional torment.
Their words will come true when, seven years after the beginning of their preaching, Israel will be effectively destroyed by the wild beast which will act by God's will.
Is it not extraordinary to see how Zaccaria completes the Revelation framework by adding interesting and truly significant details?
May each of us be truly alert in recognizing those who, at the end of the period of discipline, will be commissioned by God to restore true worship - Daniel 11:34
We are already learning to ascertain the will of God for us.
It is obvious to point out that the woman called Evil is Babylon the Great.
It is not "the world empire of false religion" but the current nation of Israel.
This evil entity will be destroyed to allow God's people to restore true worship.
But someone has said that the meaning of all this is "that God will not allow wickedness to remain in His people". So we can be calm, no?
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“When you see a cloud rising in the west, at once you say, ‘A storm is coming,Â’ and it happens. And when you see that a south wind is blowing, you say, ‘There will be a heat wave,Â’ and it occurs. Hypocrites, you know how to examine the appearance of earth and sky, but why do you not know how to examine this particular time?” - Luke 12:54-56
The following article will cover part of the Watch Tower of October 2017.
The article is titled "The visions of Zechariah: why do they concern us?"
A vision does not include something more than a command or a need?
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From the beginning we can concentrate on the questions reported in the first paragraph.
Why did Jehovah give such unusual visions to the prophet? In what situation were the Israelites at that time? What do we learn today from those visions?
The questions are certainly profound and detailed, so we isolate some remarkable points to see how we tried to respond.
After a brief and dutiful explanation of the background (paragraph two), "Jehovah assured them of the fact that he would help them restore true worship" (paragraph three).
Let's pause for a moment and reflect on these words.
Taken by themselves, without knowing anything about Zechariah, the book and the time in which it was written, one would think that the theme that will be developed will focus on how Jehovah will restore true worship.
Without making any inquiries about the eventual past or future fulfillment of these words, should not you talk about this?
Among other things, the paragraph confirms that it will be the sixth and seventh vision and this would suggest that these visions will reveal the details on how Jehovah will do this.
On the other hand, a vision should include something more than a command; the same ten commandments and all the Mosaic law did not need a vision to be dictated and so that the Israelites understood the demands of the Almighty God and the moral norms that they would have to respect.
On the contrary, the following paragraphs, although the vision of the flying scroll written before and behind is "very particular", they say that "God will punish anyone who steals and among Christians there is no place for any kind of theft".
Did Zaccaria really need a vision to understand that God does not tolerate theft?
What is the king who is defeated by Michele? The king of the south or the king of the north? - Daniel 11: 40-45
In the Bible there are hundreds of references relating to the destruction of Babylon and unfaithful Israel.
There are also many parallels between Isreal and Babylon (Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel ...).
Being accustomed to making parallels with Christianity and the world empire of false religion, every time we read "Israel will be destroyed!" we read, in effect, "Christianity will be destroyed!" and every time we read "Babylon will be destroyed!" we read "The world empire of false religion will be destroyed!".
Now the question is ... "If in a specific passage the Bible meant that Israel would be destroyed by intending to own Israel ... what would we find written?"
Evidently we would find written "Israel will be destroyed!"
In the end it is a matter of understanding whether, whenever we speak of the destruction of Babylon and / or Israel after the Lord's day, there is at least the possibility of referring to Israel, that is, modern Israel which is a literal nation.
What is the greatest counterfeiting of the people of God today?
Christendom or the modern nation of Israel?
Before 1948 this hypothesis and these questions would have made no sense.
Any hypothesis would have excluded Israel a priori simply because Israel did not exist.
Since May 1948, however, Israel exists and it is basically a matter of understanding three things.
1) See if it is possible that Babylon the Great is a nation
2) If so, see if Israel matches the description that makes the Bible
3) Compare with the current understanding and see which of the two subjects, in the light of the Scriptures and not of personal desires or ideas, are more likely to be.
Question 1
Babylon the Great can be a nation?
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Meanwhile, let us remember that Babylon the Great, throughout history, has been "identified" with many nations and for the most disparate reasons.
Imperial Rome, Papal Rome, USA, UK, USSR etc.
Many different people and religious groups have given different explanations but none of them has ever resisted the test of fire and that is the scrutiny of the Scriptures - I Thessalonians 5:21
What about us?
One of the explanations given in the publications of the Slave according to which Babylon the Great can not be a literal nation is the fact that "he commits fornication with the kings of the earth".
A strengthening of this statement would be the fact that both kings and merchants mourn its destruction.
Finally, it would not be a nation because it is said to mislead the entire inhabited earth through its "spiritual practices".
That's it?
Let's see.
In Isaiah 23: 15-17 we speak of Tire as a "forgotten prostitute" and therefore, as such, "commits prostitution with all the kingdoms of the earth on the surface of the ground".
Tire was a nation, not a religion or a religious system - Romans 15.4
So a nation can be described, in the Bible, in the act of committing prostitution with all the kingdoms of the earth and remaining a nation.
Prostitution may have to do with commercial trade or acts of injustice and bloodshed and not necessarily with religion. - Naum 3: 1-4
In particular, Tire's prostitution has nothing to do with false religion because, if that were so, Jehovah would not have considered “saint” his reward - Isaiah 23:18
"Prostitution" can have to do with the covenant and trust placed in other nations, as reported many times in the Bible when Israel and Judah proved to be unfaithful by allying with pagan nations.
It is clear, therefore, if this nation is compared to a prostitute the loss of this prostitute would have caused pain to her lovers (the nations with which she committed prostitution and the merchants who have enriched herself with it) just like ancient Israel " joy " for Tire's prostitution and this not because Tire was a religion or for the religion of Tire.
A king can "cry" for the loss of a political ally (therefore for the fall of a nation) and a great merchant can cry for the fall of a commercial ally (which can be big or small but certainly rich nation).
So the reasons that "Babylon the Great" can not be a nation because kings and merchants mourn his departure are not valid.
What can we say, however, of the strongest affirmation in reference to Babylon La Grande, that is, that "all nations have been misled by its spiritual practice"?
This statement in particular has led many to think that it was a religious empire (for many sects of Christianity Babylon the Great is Catholicism and for some Catholics it is even the Second Vatican Council).
First of all we must realize that all the empires of the past have resorted to spiritualistic practices and this is also true of modern so-called atheist empires.
Pharaoh opposed his "magic practitioners" to Moses and Nebuchadnezzar was practically surrounded - Exodus 7:11 - Daniel 2: 2
The same can be said of Assyria, Syria, Media Persia etc.
So if the Bible, speaking of a literal nation, said that "uses magic" or "divination practice", it would not say anything exceptional.
We also know from the study of the Scriptures that nations are governed by demons that mislead the entire inhabited earth and that during the wars not only human beings are involved - Daniel 10:13
Can we hypothesize that the demons have given particular power to a nation and that this has, today, "the kingdom over the kings of the earth"? - Revelation 17:18 see also Luke 4: 5-7
By comparing the Scriptures without preconceptions, it is not possible to exclude "Babylon the Great" among the nations.
Question 2
"Does the literal people of modern Israel match the description that the Bible makes of Babylon the Great?"
In Revelation 17: 1, 2 we read that Babylon the Great "sits on many waters".
We know that the waters mean "peoples and crowds and nations and languages"
Israel "sits on many waters" because it is surrounded by many peoples and nations that can not stand it ("to sit on" can also mean against the will of the neighboring peoples). In Isaiah 8: 5-8 one speaks of the powerful Assyrian army as "devastating waters"; therefore the "waters" are not always a symbol of protection - Isaiah 8: 5-8
It was put there by the UN against the will of the many neighboring nations.
It also sits "on many waters" because his position is due to the nations that make up the United Nations (Babylon the Great also sits on the wild beast of scarlet color) that, besides having settled it where it is still, protect it militarily.
The armies of Assyria are compared to "devastating waters", so we can say that they also sit on many armies? - Revelation 17: 3, 16
it is also noteworthy that the nation of Israel is right in the "crossroads" of three continents: Europe, Africa, Asia.
If I wanted to find a literal nation located above "many waters" (ie peoples and nations and tribes and languages) both geographically and politically, no other nation would correspond better than the modern nation of Israel.
The harlot rides a beast.
In Revelation 17: 3 we read "And the angel brought me into the power of the spirit in a wilderness." And I saw a woman seated on a wild scarlet beast that was full of blasphemous names and had seven heads and ten horns. "
The nation of Israel is already in a desert today and rides on the wild beast of scarlet color which, as we know, is the League or League of Nations ascended from the abyss with the name U.N.
Israel exists, thanks to the push of the Anglo-American empire, thanks and through the United Nations, since 1948.
Historical events prior to and following the creation of the state of Israel confirm that the Jewish people have ridden the scarlet-colored wild beast even before returning to being a nation (I invite you to do a research on Balfour and all the historical background before 1948).
Mother of all prostitutes.
Revelation 17: 4-5: "And the woman was clothed in purple and scarlet, and she was adorned with gold and precious stone and pearls, and she had in her hand a golden cup full of disgusting things and the unclean things of her fornication. on his forehead was written a name, a mystery: 'Babylon the Great, the mother of the harlots and of the disgusting things of the earth' ".
If we accept the possibility that a nation is compared to a prostitute (just like Tire), then the nation of Israel is the "mother of all prostitutes" because it has committed greater fornication than any other nation in the world.
How can we say it?
If the prostitute rides the scarlet-colored wild beast, which, as we know, is the League or League of Nations, is supposed to have committed fornication with all the nations adhering to the United Nations.
Indeed, its very existence as a nation is due to his political lovers so, to continue to exist, must commit prostitution in excess and continuously.
No other nation can compare itself to her as acts of prostitution because no other nation has the urgent need to please the UN to continue to exist.
it is also possible that in the Bible it is described as a prostitute because it is not a real "queen" but a forcing. It is an empire carved out of art for a prostitute.
The woman is also "dressed in purple and scarlet and adorned with gold and precious stone ..." so she is simply dressed like a queen but the purple and scarlet colors are still the colors of luxury and royal power and this would strengthen the idea that we are talking about a kingdom, a literal nation.
In the same way the beast that the prostitute rides is scarlet in color and the beast, as we know, is the League or Society of Nations (all members of the United Nations represent literal nations). The scarlet color, color of both the wild beast and the harlot, is significant.
Drunk with the blood of the saints.
The writing continues saying "And I saw that the woman was drunk with the blood of the saints and of the witnesses of Jesus".
Israel has an enormous blood fault and Jesus referred to this very nation when he said: “so that there may come upon you all the righteous blood spilled on earth, from the blood of righteous Abel+ to the blood of Zech·a·ri?ah son of Bar·a·chi?ah, whom you murdered between the sanctuary and the altar” - Matthew 23:35; Luke 11:50, 51
So Jesus himself identifies Israel, not another nation, as responsible for the payment of "all the right blood" (compare also the words of Stephen recorded in Acts 7: 51-53).
The book "Insight", under the heading "Babylon the Great", correctly points out that not all Christians were persecuted by the Pharisees and the Jews themselves have suffered, in turn, a great persecution.
However, even Abel was not killed by a Pharisee or even by any religious minister.
Moreover, the millions of deaths caused by the communist, atheist empire, could hardly be pointed to false religion.
Can we hypothesize that Jehovah and Jesus hold particularly responsible those who have "known God" and, despite this, commit unspeakable crimes?
The nation of Israel fits perfectly in this context. - Hosea 8: 2 - Amos 3: 2
It should also be said that the blood of "all those slaughtered on earth" is referring to the last war (which is yet to come) and therefore is saying that Israel will be the real behind-the-scenes cause of this war.
However, this last parat needs other explanations for which, for the moment, omit it.
Condolence for the end of Babylon.
Revelation 18: 9-14 says: “And the kings of the earth who committed sexual immorality* with her and lived with her in shameless luxury will weep and beat themselves in grief over her when they see the smoke from her burning. 10  They will stand at a distance because of their fear of her torment and say: ‘Too bad, too bad, you great city,+ Babylon you strong city, because in one hour your judgment has arrived!’ 11  “Also, the merchants of the earth are weeping and mourning over her, because there is no one to buy their full cargo anymore, 12  a full cargo of gold, silver, precious stones, pearls, fine linen, purple cloth, silk, and scarlet cloth; and everything made from scented wood; and every sort of object made from ivory, and from precious wood, copper, iron, and marble; 13  also cinnamon, Indian spice, incense, perfumed oil, frankincense, wine, olive oil, fine flour, wheat, cattle, sheep, horses, carriages, slaves, and human lives.* 14  Yes, the fine fruit that you* desired has left you, and all the delicacies and the splendid things have vanished from you, never to be found again”.
As we saw at the beginning, both the kings of the earth and the travelers traders suffer for the demise of their lover.
Unlike any other nation, the destruction of Israel would bring desperation and "misfortune" between rulers and traders all over the world.
Why?
Because the Jewish people are owners of the world's largest banks, almost all of the gold, oil, the largest multinationals and everything that can be imagined.
The largest world powers (including the US, USSR and China) have benefited from copious loans to wage war on other nations and to build massive and colossal structures (such as the Suez Canal).
Just do some research to find out how and how many owners of the world's largest banks have been involved in almost every wars of the last two centuries and probably far back in time.
The words of Revelation 18: 11-14 that speak of 'full of gold and silver and precious stone and pearls and fine linen and purple and silk and scarlet, and each smelling wood and all sorts of ivory objects and all sorts of precious wood and copper and iron and marble, and cinnamon and Indian spice and incense and fragrant oil and olibanum and wine and olive oil and flour and wheat flour and cattle and sheep and horses and carriages and slaves and human souls' are significant.
Imagining the global economic consequences for the collapse of 80% of all the existing banks and therefore the immediate and simultaneous failure of thousands of companies spread all over the world ... one could conclude that a crisis of this size would not be reflected in all the history of man - Matthew 24:21
Really the kings of the earth and travelers traders around the world would be right to beat their chests, to mourn and cry, "Woe!"
"Get out of her, my people".
Revelation 18: 4 says:And I heard another voice out of heaven say: “Get out of her, my people,+ if you do not want to share with her in her sins, and if you do not want to receive part of her plagues”.
If Babylon the Great is the modern nation of Israel then it is easy to understand to whom this urgent appeal is addressed: to our dear brothers present in the nation of Israel who are also "a remnant to be saved".
If they stayed there, they would receive part of his wounds as a result of the United Nations' furious attack.
This possibility is to be evaluated very seriously.
This would also mean that the destruction of Jerusalem, occurred in 537 a.E.V. and then in 70 E.V. would have a further and definitive fulfillment. The third (Revelation 4: 8; 8:13; 16:13, 19 - Ezekiel 21:14).
Question two asked: "Does the literal people of modern Israel match the description that the Bible makes of Babylon the Great?
Whether we like it or not, and as much as it can constitute a "domino effect" on other interpretations, this is in harmony both with the secular history and with the Scriptures.
So the answer is yes.
Question 3
Which of the two subjects, in the light of the Scriptures and not of desires or personal ideas, is more likely to be?
Honestly, the whole description that the Bible makes of Babylon the Great corresponds very well to false religion and so it is very difficult to understand if the Bible wants to point us to a literal nation or the false religion as a whole.
The shameless immorality, extreme violence, the desire for domination, spiritual prostitution, arrogance and presumption ... are all characteristics of the worldwide empire of false religion as well as of present-day Israel.
The clues, however, should be more than enough, if seen without preconceptions, to understand the subject.
Reflections
As written at the beginning of this treatise, hundreds of parallels are found in the Bible between Babylon and unfaithful Israel.
Even the cup "full of disgusting things" from which the harlot gets inebriated recalls the utensils of Jehovah's temple.
The problem is to understand what we must understand when we read these parallels.
All of Jehovah's judgments, reported in the Scriptures, have fallen upon peoples and literal nations and even the wounds sent to the land of Egypt, which served to destroy / humiliate their false gods, however, had to fall upon a specific nation.
In the book "The prophecies of Isaiah" volume 1, page 202 paragraph 28 (Italian edition) reports Isaiah 19: 3 and we read ...
"Likewise, on the day of judgment, the false religion will be unable to save this corrupt system of things".
But if Egypt represents the world as a whole, we are already at Armageddon (in Isaiah 19: 2 Jehovah puts "Egyptian against Egyptian") and the world empire of false religion (if it is Babylon the Great) has already been destroyed .
Now, if the world empire of false religion has already been previously destroyed, in what sense will "people resort to worthless gods, to spellcasters and spirit mediums"?
Only a world still imbued with religion, after the destruction of Babylon the Great, could "resort to worthless gods".
The above could be in harmony with the writing of Zechariah 13: 4-6, which speaks of the "prophet" who will deny ever having been?
The Watchtower of 15 July 2015, under the heading "The beginning of the great tribulation", says ... "It seems therefore that even some members of the clergy will abandon their religious career and deny ever having been part of the false religion".
Yet if for the adherents of Babylon the Great enough to "change coat" to save their lives (which would make the majority of them, not having a true faith), one would not say that it was "torn and completely burned with fire". It is also difficult to imagine this "great mourning" since the majority of the clergy, especially that of Christianity, would still be alive after the destruction of Babylon the Great.
The book "Revelation", in chapter 19 paragraph 29 says ... "Neither the caverns of the literal mountains nor the political-commercial organizations comparable to the mountains will offer economic security or help of another kind".
However, even false worship in the Bible is related to "high places" for example in Ezekiel 6: 1-5 (high places that did not protect unfaithful Israelites from Jehovah's wrath).
Is it possible to hypothesize that on the day of Jehovah's wrath (hence after the Great Tribulation) human beings will seek protection in political, commercial and religious institutions?
If we accept the possibility that Babylon the Great is a literal place (and be modern Israel) we must consider that even the mountains, above which the woman sits, are literal mountains.
There is always talk of the seven world powers of biblical history but we never talk about the seven mountains.
We never talk about the seven mountains because the political powers, they say, are the seven mountains.
Yet the writing of Revelation 17 explains that there are seven kings ... and (joining, in my language, that is "and there are also") seven mountains and this conjunction could suggest that even though the mountains depict powers as we know , there are actually seven mountains as objects of similitude with the number of kings.
It would seem a literal clue useful for identifying Babylon the Great.
Now the question is ... Which and how many mountains are indicated in the Scriptures that were part of the Promised Land?
1) Mount Moria 2) Mount Zion 3) Mount of Olives 4) Gilboa 5) Gerizim 6) Ebal 7) Mount Tabor.
N.B. Mount Nebo and the others, also mentioned in the Scriptures, were part of the territory of Moab and Edom and are therefore excluded.
This parallel is simply impossible to do with the world empire of false religion.
Revelation 3:12 and other scriptures that are fulfilled after the Lord's day, which mention the New Jerusalem, seem to emphasize a distinction with Old Jerusalem.
In chap. 18 of Revelation, Babylon the Great is destroyed.
In chap 19: 7, 8 the marriage of the lamb is prepared, so ...
The prostitute dies as a bride and the marriage can finally begin.
Marriage takes place with the "New Jerusalem"; was the prostitute is maybe the "Old Jerusalem" that is the carnal, impure, disobedient, idolatrous? - I Corinthians 9: 6-8; 10:18 - Galatians 4: 26-29
I would like to point out to you that the book Revelation, besides having the symbols, also has contrasts.
For example you can see that the beast with two horns of lamb is set against the real Lamb.
The mark of the wild beast is set in contrast with the name engraved on the forehead that the 144,000 have - see Revelation 13:11, 16; 14: 1
Now in Revelation you will see that there is a pure woman who is the legitimate bride and then there is a woman who, on the contrary, is a prostitute.
So the question we should ask ourselves is: if Babylon the Great is a nation, which is the only nation in the whole world, that would have the qualifications to pass itself off as "legitimate bride" when, in reality, she prostitutes herself with other nations ? -
Babylon is also called "the great city" and the only biblical reference is Nineveh, the "city of bloodshed".
This seems to be in harmony with the fact that Babylon is drunk with the blood of saints, prophets and everyone.
However, in Jeremiah chap. 22 Jehovah condemns Judah, which is the city of Sallum and Ioiachim, and people call this city "the great city".
Thus, even the city that once belonged to Jehovah is called the "great city".
Of the two clothed witnesses described in chapter 11 of Revelation it is said that, once killed, "their corpses will be on the wide street of the great city which in spiritual sense is called Sodom and Egypt, where also their Lord was put to the stake "- Revelation 11: 8
In which "great city" did the Lord Jesus have been killed?
Finally we could ask ourselves why, the writer of Revelation, after having seen frightful wild beasts, incredible celestial visions both beautiful and terrifying, thundering declarations and many other things, only at the sight of the woman he is "marvels of great wonder" - Revelation 17: 6 , 7
Could it have "marveled of great wonder" for having seen its own people and its own nation (which at the time of the writing of Revelation no longer existed)?
When in 70 E.V. the first Christians received the command to "flee to the mountains" in view of the destruction that would have occurred through the "disgusting thing" (represented at the time by the Roman Empire) they understood it as "separating from Judaism" or this was a consequence natural of the Teacher's teachings? Did not they understand it as literally to get out of the city?
Jeremiah 25:10, 11 and Revelation 18:22, 23 are very similar to each other, yet Jeremiah speaks of Israel while Revelation speaks of Babylon the Great.
In Revelation 18: 5-8 it is said that "God has remembered his acts of injustice".
Why did God "remember"?
False religion has not always done evil, in 6,000 history, without stopping a moment since the days of Nimrod?
Or, if Babylon were "the world", did God forget the actions of the world?
Could it not be because "Babylon" has not existed for many years, as a nation, but appears again after the "Lord's Day" by another name?
In Revelation 16: 16-21 we are now in Armageddon, the great city is divided into three parts, the nations fall and Babylon "was remembered".
So Babylon is related to the fall of other nations as if it were a "special" nation, something to remember, but still a nation.
Which, among all the nations of the earth, could it be considered "special" by Jehovah God?
Could the golden cup full of "disgusting things" held in the hands of the great harlot remember the utensils of the temple of God? - Compare Daniel 5: 1-4
Question one.
According to the explanation of the book "Revelation: its climax" it is appropriate that the great harlot sit on the wild beast of scarlet color because, the false religion, has always had power over the kings of the earth even coming to name and oust them.
We know that the League or League of Nations also has representatives as "old nations" mentioned in the bible as Rome, Media-Persia and others but it would not have been more logical to see the "great whore" ride the first wild beast and that which ascends from the sea, since the false religion exists since the days of Nimrod?
Instead the great harlot sits on that beast that "was, but is not, and is about to ascend from the abyss, and will go into destruction" - Revelation 17: 8a
What rode the world empire of false religion (or Rome, or the world) when the beast was not?
Question two.
As has been pointed out, in the Bible Israel is compared to a wife and Jehovah to the marital owner.
When it showed itself unfaithful, allying itself with other nations and mixing with the false adoration, Israel became "infidel" and even "prostitute".
Christianity claims to serve God but, in reality, prostitutes itself with the nations and with every false doctrine of pagan origin.
However, if Babylon the Great is the world empire of false religion (and therefore also includes religions such as Buddhism, Shintoism, Hinduism, tribal religions, etc.), why is it considered, as a whole, a prostitute?
Jehovah has never identified himself as the "marital owner" of nations like Ammon, Moab, Egypt, or others (not even in Rome or the world).
So if we applied the concept of prostitution exclusively in the spiritual-religious (or politic) sense, it would seem that this infamous prostitute is exclusively Christianity.
Throughout the entire Bible, what is the only nation that Jehovah considers responsible for his prostitution? - Amos 3: 1, 2
La cronologia, lÂ’interpretazione, la speculazione
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Quando si tratta del 1914, siamo davvero come i bereani? O siamo "bereani" solo quando dobbiamo confutare le dottrine della cristianità ?  |
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Cuando se trata de 1914, estamos realmente como los bereanos? O estamos "bereanos" sólo cuando hay que refutar las doctrinas de la cristianidad?
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I did not follow the conversation from the beginning so I'm not sure of the purpose of this discussion.
From personal experience I know that this date is often mentioned to corroborate or invalidate an alleged calculation of the "seven times" of Nebuchadnezzar's dream. If this is the final purpose of this discussion, then I believe that there are much more important questions.
If the purpose of this discussion is a "historical curiosity", then it is interesting.
If I were a historian, then it would be very important to understand how and where to place the events; study the evidence in favor and the contrary evidence.
As for our beliefs, however, I believe that a Christian should ask himself a more profound and important question.
The Bible book of Daniel, when it spoke of the seven times, refers to the establishment of God's Kingdom?
The question is very simple: what is the use of making a thousand discussions on a historical date if the object of the question is another?
If Daniel chapter 4 is not talking about the establishment of the Kingdom of God but of something else, is it really important to find out an exact date for a wrong event?
Twenty years more or less really do a difference if the interpretation of final event is wrong?
Good reflections to everyone
I refrain from the controversy but I write my message in an attempt to get someone to question.
Brother Sanderson during the interview about his visit to Russia said some interesting words.
"The Nazi camps have not stopped us, the communist regime has not healed ... we have the help of Jehovah."
Roughly speaking, this is the meaning (they are not the exact words).
Obviously the only intelligent question we should ask ourselves is: "What is God's will for us at this time?"
If the prophecy of Daniel 8:11, 12 is something past, that is already true, then we must not worry.
If, however, this prophecy is being fulfilled right now (or is still future) then we should stop for a moment and carefully evaluate these words.
It exalted itself even against the Prince of the army, and from him the constant feature* was taken away, and the established place of his sanctuary was thrown down.+ 12 And an army was given over, together with the constant feature,* because of transgression; and it kept throwing truth to the earth, and it acted and had success.
I realize that some of you have "easy polemics" so I'm not going to argue.
The Bible says to pay attention to prophecy and not to believe every inspired expression; it's not true?
So we wait to see what happens.
If it happens that the king of the north is able to "succeed" then maybe someone will ask himself some questions? will you question your absolute certainties?
Perhaps someone will come to understand that MAYBE was better to pay attention to the prophecy BEFORE these come true.
However, all this will not happen because it is unthinkable to call into question an understanding of the "faithful and discreet slave"!
So we can be calm.
Good reflections to everyone
Las palabras de ZacarÃas se aplìcan soltanto al pasado? |
El cuerpo de Moisés podrÃa convertirse en un Ãdolo? |
" Y cuando abrió el quinto sello, vi debajo del altar las almas de los que habÃan sido degollados a causa de la palabra de Dios y a causa de la obra de testimonio que solìan tener. 10  Y clamaban con voz fuerte, y dicìan: "¿Hasta cuándo, Soberano Señor, santo y verdadero, te abstienes de juzgar y de vengar nuestra sangre en los que moran en la tierra?" 11  Y a cada uno de ellos se dio una larga ropa blanca; y se les dijo que descansaran por un poco de tiempo mas, hasta que se completara tambièn el número de sus coensclavos y de sus hermanos que estaban a punto de ser muertos como ellos tambièn lo habÃan sido " (Apocalipsis 6: 9-11)
¿Cuál es el significado de la largas ropa blanca? |
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La generación que no pasará
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