Chapter 10
Wake Up, Wake Up Sleeping Virgins
We are now living in the time of the most alarming condition that has ever existed in church history. Satan and the powers of darkness are no longer restrained. The hedge is being removed. Never have there been such problems, pressures, divisions, confusion, suspicion, and hate, as exist in the church today. This is the shaking of the last days and this is the day of the Lord. The judgment of God has come to us. The wise virgins and the foolish virgins alike have fallen asleep. A trumpet of warning is now blowing: "Wherefore He saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light. See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools (foolish virgins), but as wise (virgins)" (Eph. 5:14, 15).
Jesus Christ is returning at a time of great spiritual darkness (midnight), while everyone is drowsy and sleeping: "While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept. And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet Him" (Matt. 25:5, 6). Those who have ears to hear will come out to meet the bridegroom. The others will remain asleep. At this time of great spiritual darkness, God is giving great revelation in order that the wise virgins can wake up, come out of darkness, and meet the bridegroom. The wise virgins will have spiritual ears to hear the trumpet warning and will wake up. The reason they will have 167 above ears to hear and eyes to see is because their trust is in the Lord Jesus Christ rather than men and carnal traditions. The foolish virgins will not wake up. Their hearts are trained to receive only messages of peace and safety. Since they have a false security, they will remain asleep and will not listen to the trumpet warning. Since the foolish virgins are not led by the Spirit of God, they have no oil (Spirit)" (Matt. 25:3, 4).
John the Apostle wrote in Revelation: "And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus" (Rev. 12:17). Satan is bringing increasing trials and tribulations against the church today. Everyone whose foundation is not the Word of God will react to these fiery trials and pressures after the flesh and commit lawlessness (sin). Everything God does, Satan attempts to counterfeit. For example, God has a river that flows out of his mouth. (which is the Word of God) that brings life and peace to all those who will receive it. On the other hand, Satan has a river which flows out of his mouth (which are his suggestions coming as thoughts to our flesh nature).
When we receive the words of Satan and act upon them, they cause us to commit lawlessness which brings death. This is how we are carried away and destroyed by the flood of words that come from the mouth of Satan. God's Words bring life and Satan's words bring death: "And the serpent cast out of his mouth water (words) as a flood after the woman that he might cause her to be carried away of the flood (of words). And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony, and they loved not their lives unto the death" (Rev. 12:15, 11).
These are the wise virgins who act upon the Word of God. Satan can get no ground in their lives with his flood of words (temptations) because they lay down their lives and no longer love the flesh. Jesus said, .... Every one that heareth these sayings of Mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: and the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it" (Matt. 7:26, 27). Today is the day of the Lord. God's judgment has come upon the worldly church that is practicing lawlessness. We are now living in the beginning of this great destruction as hordes upon hordes of demons have been unleashed against Babylon, the harlot church today. The One who has restrained them is removing His hedge: "And though they hide themselves in the top of Carmel, I will search and take them out thence; and though they be hid from My sight in the bottom of the sea, thence will I command the serpent, and he shall bite them" (Amos 9:3). God is revealing to us now how the powers of darkness (who are the lawless ones) lead us into lawlessness and destruction. This is the reason the powers of darkness, who are sons of the devil, are called sons of destruction. Their whole purpose is to propagate rebellion to God's laws so they can kill, steal and destroy. For the day of the Lord "shall not come, except there come a falling away first (this has already happened) and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition (destruction). (which is the powers of darkness), who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that HE AS GOD SITTETH IN THE TEMPLE OF GOD (which is our bodies), shewing himself that he is God (by controlling our hearts and lives)" (2 Thess. 2:3, 4).
While a sleeping church waits for a physical temple to be built in Israel, they are blinded to the fact that they are a part of a spiritual falling away. The spiritual is taking place while they are waiting for the physical. The man of lawlessness, the son of destruction, has already led the Church into lawlessness and entered their temples. This is how Babylon is a dwelling place of demons. The powers of darkness are the abomination that enters the temple to make desolation in the last days.
To have understanding about the mystery of lawlessness is simply to understand how the man of lawlessness (the powers of darkness) tempts and leads mankind to rebel against God's laws so he can destroy them. The powers of darkness have used another Gospel, another Jesus, and doctrines of demons to bring about the great falling away and destruction of the church today. "0 God, why hast thou cast us off forever? Why doth thine anger smoke against the sheep of thy pasture? Remember thy CONGREGATION, which thou has purchased of old: the rod of thine inheritance... Lift up thy feet unto the perpetual desolations; even all that the enemy (the powers of darkness) hath done wickedly in the sanctuary. Thine enemies roar in the midst of thy congregations (the lions roar because they have captured the meeting places); they set up their own ensigns for signs (doctrines of demons).
A man was famous according as he had lifted up axes upon the thick trees (the tree cutter, Satan, has cut down the congregation through the powers of darkness). They have cast fire into thy sanctuary, they have defiled the dwelling place of thy name to the ground. THEY HAVE BURNED UP ALL THE SYNAGOGUES OF GOD IN THE LAND.
We see not our signs (stumbling and staggering in spiritual darkness); there is no more any prophet; neither is there among us any that knoweth how long. 0 God, how long shall the adversary reproach? Shall the enemy blaspheme thy name forever?" (Ps. 74:1-5, 7-10). The prophet Obadiah said: "For the day of the Lord is near upon all the heathen: as thou hast done, it shall be done unto thee (blessings or curses of the law): thy reward shall return upon thine own head. But upon Mount Zion shall be deliverance, and there shall be holiness; and the house of Jacob (the church) shall possess their possessions.., and the house of Esau (the house of flesh) for stubble, and they shall kindle in them, and devour them; and there shall not be any remaining of the house of Esau; for the Lord hath spoken it" (Obad. 1:15, 17, 18). Isaiah said "and the hand of the Lord shall be known toward His servants, and HIS INDIGNATION toward His enemies. For behold, the Lord will come with fire.., to render His anger with' fury, and His rebuke with the flames of fire. For by fire and by His sword 'will the Lord plead with all flesh; and the slain of the Lord shall be many" (Isa. 66:14-16). These Scriptures describe what the powers of darkness are doing today.
This is the day of the Lord. "For the day of the Lord is at hand: for the Lord hath prepared a sacrifice, He hath bid His guests" (Zeph. 1:7). His guests are the powers of darkness. He is lowering the hedge on a people who hate and reject His Word. The powers of darkness are executing the anger and indignation of God. These tree cutters have taken over the meeting places with doctrines of demons as they destroy worldly and backslidden congregations. Most of the sleeping church does not even know they are a dwelling place of demons. "And it hath set him on fire round about, yet be knew it not; and it burned him, yet he laid it not to heart" (Isa. 42:25). In the book of Isaiah we read: "I have commanded My sanctified ones (the powers of darkness), I have also called My mighty ones (God's army of vengeance and destruction) for Mine anger" (Isa. 13:3). God's mighty ones are the army of darkness that God has unleashed against the false church. They execute God's wrath in vengeance for the lawlessness of the church. Just as God sent an evil spirit to Saul for transgressing His command, He is doing the same today (1 Sam. 15:22-24; 16:14, 15). Not one demon does any- thing without the permission of God. Isaiah also wrote: "The noise of a multitude in the mountains.., the Lord of hosts mustereth the host of the battle. They come from a far country, from the end of heaven, even the Lord, and THE WEAPONS OF HIS INDIGNATION, TO DESTROY THE WHOLE LAND" (Isa. 13:4,5). This army is already surrounding Jerusalem (the church) today. Isaiah added: "Howl ye: for the day of the Lord is at hand; it shall come as a destruction from the Almighty. And they shall be afraid: pangs and sorrows shall take hold of them; they shall be in pain as a woman that travaileth (in birth pangs): they shall be amazed one at another (because they have been asleep); their faces shall be as flames.
Behold, the day of the Lord cometh, cruel both with with and fierce anger, to lay the land desolate (the powers of darkness are the abomination that makes desolate): and He shall destroy the sinners thereof out of it. And I will punish the world for their evil, and the wicked for their iniquity; and I will cause the arrogancy of the proud to cease, and will lay low the haughtiness of the terrible" (Isa. 13:6, 8, 9, 11). In the book of Matthew we find: "As therefore the tares are gathered and burned in the fire; so shall it be in the end of this world.., the angels shall come forth, and sever the wicked from among the just.., and they shall gather out of His kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity; and shall cast them into a furnace of fire; there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth. Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun In the kingdom of their Father. Who hath (spiritual) ears to hear, let him hear" (Matt. 13:40, 49, 41-43). This day is upon us. The trumpet is blowing loud and clear. Those who have wise hearts will hear this warning. Those with foolish hearts will never wake up until it is too late. "Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is" (Eph. 5:17). "Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter the kingdom of heaven: but he that doeth the will of My Father which is in heaven" (Matt. 7:2 1). The foolish virgins think they are doing the will of God. They don't even know the Lord. Their foundation will not stand in the day of the Lord's destruction. The writer of Hebrews said: "See that ye refuse not him that speaketh.
For if they escaped not who refused Him that spake on earth, much more shall not we escape, if we turn away from Him that speaketh from heaven: whose voice then shook the earth: but now He hath promised, saying, YET ONCE MORE I SHAKE NOT THE EARTH ONLY, BUT ALSO HEAVEN... Yet once more, signifieth the removing of those things that are shaken.., that those things which cannot be shaken may remain" (Heb. 12:25-27).
This shaking is the judgment God has promised in these last days. This judgment is the shaking of every foundation and is the (spiritual) earthquake of the last days. Everyone who is standing on a foundation that is not the Word of God will be removed and destroyed in this shaking. The powers of darkness will be able to destroy everyone whose foundation is sand, because they are transgressors of God's law. Only the wise virgins will survive the day of the Lord. They cannot be shaken because their foundation is the Word of God. They will be protected by God and shine forth as the sun. The Word tells us: "Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of Mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man (a wise virgin)" (Matt. 7:24). "And when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently upon that house, and COULD NOT SHAKE IT, for it was founded upon a rock (Jesus)" (Luke 6:48). A remnant who cannot be shaken will survive this destruction. They will act upon the Word of God, not carnal doctrines. The foolish virgins who have the wrong foundation do not obey God's Word. They are asleep and walking in darkness. The trumpet is blowing but they will not receive any warning about judgment. They will only receive messages of "peace and safety" because of their false security. Listen to the words of Matthew: "But as the days of Noah were, SO SHALL ALSO THE COMING OF THE SON OF MAN BE" (Matt 24:37). In those days they were asleep, just as the church is asleep today. They scoffed about the judgment of God, just as they scoff about the judgment of God today. "And as it was in the days of Noah, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of Man. They did eat, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage until the day that Noah entered into the ark, and the flood came, and destroyed them all.
Even so shall it be in the day when the Son of Man is revealed" (Luke 17:26, 27, 30). The flood of water brought destruction during the days of Noah. The powers of darkness are bringing the flood of words to destroy today. Since the coming of the Son of Man will bring destruction just as in the days of Noah, we need to see why they were destroyed in the days of Noah. "And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually (as it is today). And it repented the Lord that He had made man on the earth, and it grieved Him at His heart. And the Lord said, I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth... but Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord... Noah was a just man and perfect in his generations, and Noah walked with God" (Gen. 6:5-9).
Genesis also tells us: "And God looked upon the earth, and, behold, it was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted his way upon the earth (as it is today). Then God said to Noah, The end of all flesh is come before Me... I will destroy them with the earth... I, even I, do bring a flood of waters upon the earth, to destroy all flesh, .. . (God is destroying with a spiritual flood today)... everything that is in the earth shall die... But with thee will I establish My covenant (since Noah was a just and perfect man, and walked with God), AND THOU SHALT COME INTO THE ARK" (Gen. 6:12,13, 17, 18). We can see that this is also an example and instruction for us today as a sleeping church to wake up and enter the ark. "(And the Lord said unto Noah, COME THOU, AND ALL THY HOUSE INTO THE ARK; FOR THEE HAVE I SEEN RIGHTEOUS BEFORE ME IN THIS GENERATION. And they went in unto Noah into the ark.., as God had commanded.., and the Lord shut him in. And the flood was forty days upon the earth... and the waters prevailed exceedingly upon the earth (as the rain and flood are prevailing today)... And every living substance was destroyed.., and Noah only remained alive, and they that were within minutes THE ARK" (Gen. 7:1,7,16,17,19, 23). Everyone else was destroyed. This is what is happening to us today. It is raining now. Matthew gives an account of how the foolish (virgins) will be swept away in this flood of destruction: "And every one that heareth these sayings of Mine, and DOETH THEM NOT, shall be likened unto a foolish man (foolish virgin) who built his house upon the sand (wrong foundation with carnal doctrines): and the RAIN DESCENDED (the rains of adversity), and the FLOODS CAME (temptations and testings), and the WINDS BLEW (winnowing winds to blow away all chaff), and beat upon the house (of the foolish virgin), and it fell; and great was the fall of it" (Matt. 7:26, 27).
It is raining more and more each day. People were asleep in the days of Noah; they are asleep now. The most terrible time that has ever come upon the earth since the beginning of mankind is upon us today. Just as the flood of waters destroyed the ungodly in the days of Noah, the ungodly will be destroyed by a flood of destruction today. This is the day of the Lord's violence and judgment against a stubborn and obstinate people who refuse to repent and enter the ark, who is the Lord Jesus Christ. The judgment of God is upon every person whose foundation is sand. God is raining judgment, and the fetters are becoming stronger and stronger each passing day. It is a day of destruction and wrath from God. We are now waking up from a nightmare. "If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness, he is proud, knowing nothing" (1 Tim. 6:3, 4). Congregations who follow after doctrines that do not conform them to godliness remain in darkness without understanding. These are the ones in the fortified cities and high corner towers who are swept away by the hordes of darkness, which is the flood: "And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; SO SHALL ALSO THE COMING OF THE SON OF MAN BE" (Matt. 24:39). John in Revelation wrote: "If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee" (Rev. 3:3). Matthew said: "Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken (by the flood of the powers of darkness), and the other left. Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come. But know this, that if the goodman of the house had known in what watch (time of spiritual darkness) the thief (powers of darkness) would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house (temple) to be broken up" (Matt. 24:40-43).
Only those who have spiritual ears to hear will receive this warning. Others will scoff, as they did in the days of Noah. Revelation 19 tells us about two suppers. One supper described is in verses 7-9 and is the marriage supper of the Lamb. This is for the bride of Christ who has made herself ready. She knows the will of God. She is a wise virgin who acts upon the Word of God. She is the Church that has been made holy and blameless. The other supper is described in verses 17 and 18, and God is serving this supper up to the powers of darkness. The birds that fly in mid-heaven are the vultures, the consecrated guests, and the army that God will use to destroy and eat the flesh of the Babylon harlot. Revelation tells us: "Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and is become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit.., how much she hath glorified herself, and lived deliciously (after the lusts of the flesh), so much torment and sorrow give her... And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, My people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues" (Rev. 18:2, 7, 4). Babylon is the residence of the foolish virgins. The wise virgins".., know that, when He shall appear, we shall be like Him.., and every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself' (1 John 3:2,3).
"For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness. He there- fore that despiseth (this word of holiness), despiseth not man, but God" (1 These. 4:7, 8).
Wake Up, Wake Up Sleeping Virgins pg. 178
Jesus Christ is now saying to those who can hear and understand: "Get ready (purify your hearts), come out to meet the Bridegroom." The foolish virgins whose hearts are tied to carnal doctrines will not hear. As this shaking, destruction, and pressure increases, the foolish virgins will come to the wise virgins and want some of their oil (discernment), because they cannot understand what is going on. "And the foolish (virgins) said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out (we can't see what you see, and we are being destroyed)" (Matt. 25:8). Job explains: "Yea, the light of the wicked shall be put out, and the spark of his fire shall not shine. The light shall be dark in his tabernacle, and his candle shall be put out with him (no oil, no Holy Spirit). The steps of his strength shall be straitened (by sickness and disease), and his own counsel (of the flesh) shall cast him down. For he is cast into a net by his own feet... The snare is laid for him in the ground, and a trap for him in the way. Terrors shall make him afraid on every side (powers of darkness), and shall drive him... Destruction shall be ready at his side. It should devour the strength of his skin; even the firstborn of death (Satan) shall devour his strength. His confidence shall be rooted out of his tabernacle, and it shall bring him to the king of terrors (Satan). His roots shall be dried up beneath, and above shall his branch be cutoff. HE SHALL BE DRIVEN FROM LIGHT INTO DARKNESS, AND CHASED OUT OF THE WORLD (DESTROYED). Surely such are the dwellings of the wicked, and this is the place of him that knoweth not God" (Job 18:5-8, 10-14, 16, 18, 21). This is a foolish virgin who asked the wise virgin for oil (Holy Spirit), because she was being destroyed. But she did not understand until it was too late. In Matthew we read: "But the wise answered, saying, Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you; but go ye rather to
The Great falling Away Today pg. 179
them that sell, and buy for yourselves. And while they went to buy, THE BRIDEGROOM CAME, and THEY THAT WERE READY (the wise virgins) went in (THE ARK, JESUS CHRIST) with him to the marriage; AND) THE DOOR WAS SHUT (just as it was in the days of Noah)" (Matt. 25:9, 10). A worldly church has its mind set on earthly things. Its heart is tied to the world and the things in the world; this is the reason it will not come into the ark with Jesus Christ to the wedding feast. "The kingdom of heaven is like unto a certain king, which made a marriage for his son, and sent forth his servants to call them (out of the world) that were bidden to the wedding; and they would not come" (Matt. 22:2,3). "And they all with one consent began to make excuse. The first said unto him, I have bought a piece of ground, and I must reeds go and see it: I pray thee have me excused (God). And another said, I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to prove them: I pray thee have me excused (God). And another said, I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come (God)" (Luke 14:18-20). Matthew added: "Again, he sent forth other servants, saying, Tell them which are bidden, Behold, I have prepared my dinner: my oxen and my fatlings are killed, and all things are ready: come unto the marriage. But they made light of it, and went their ways, one to his farm, another to his merchandise; and the remnant took his servants, and entreated them spitefully and slew them. But when the king (Jesus) heard thereof, he 'was wroth: and HE SENT FORTH HIS ARMIES (the powers of darkness who are no longer restrained), and DESTROYED those murderers, and BURNED UP THEIR CITY (the world and worldly churches). Then saith he to his servants, The wedding s ready, but they which are bidden were not worthy (because they chose to love the world and the nature of Satan)" (Matt. 22:4- 8).
Wake Up, Wake Up Sleeping Virgins pg. 180
Luke added: "For I say unto you, That none of those men which are bidden shall taste of my supper. If any man come to me, and hate not (love less by comparison) his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea his own (fleshly) life also, he cannot be my disciple. And whosoever doth not bear his own cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple" (Luke 14:24, 26,27). Again, Matthew wrote: "Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us. But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not" (Matt. 25:11, 12). These are the same foolish virgins of Matthew 7:21 who were led astray by false prophets. They will say, "Lord, Lord," believing Jesus Christ is their Lord, but they did not do the will of the Father. These are the ones who do not get ready and do not purify their hearts, but bear the fruit of a form of godliness. They will try to get through the strait gate and narrow way, but will not be able because they bear the wrong fruit. Listen again to the words of Luke: "Then said one unto him, Lord, are there few that be saved? and He said unto them, Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, shall seek to enter in, and shall not be able. When once the master of the house is risen up, and hath shut the door (to the ark, Jesus Christ), and ye begin to stand without, and to knock at the door (by praying), saying, Lord, Lord, open unto us; and he shall answer and say unto you, I know you not whence ye are: then shall ye begin to say, We (the foolish virgins) have eaten and drunk in thy presence, and thou hast taught in our streets.
But he shall say, I tell you, I know you not whence ye are; depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity (who bear the wrong fruit)" (Luke 13:23-27). The apostle Paul wrote: "Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, emulations (jealousy), wrath, strife, seditions (divisions), heresies, envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like.., they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God" (Gal. 5:19-21). The body of Christ, the wise virgins, purify their hearts and die to the flesh nature in order to bear the fruit of love, which is in the nature of God. The prophet Amos wrote: "The (foolish) virgin of Israelis fallen; she shall rise no more.., there is none to raise her up. For thus saith the Lord God; The city that went out by a thousand shall leave a hundred, and that which went forth by an hundred shall leave ten, to the house of Israel (the remnant). Seek the Lord, and ye shall live; lest he break out like fire in the house of Joseph (the church), and devour it... Ye who turn judgment to wormwood, and leave off righteousness in the earth. Seek him.., that calleth for the waters of the sea, and poureth them out upon the face of the earth: The Lord is his name" (Amos 5:2, 3, 6-8). Amos also said: "They hate him that rebuketh in the gate, and abhor him that speaketh uprightly. Woe unto you that desire the day of the Lord! to what end is it for you? The day of the Lord is darkness and not light. As if a man did flee from a lion, and a bear met him;... Shall not the day of the Lord be (spiritual) darkness, and not light? Woe to them that are at ease in Zion and trust in the mountains of Samaria,... which are named chief.., to whom the house of Israel came! ... But they are not grieved for the affliction of Joseph (the Church)" (Amos 5:10, 18-20, 1, 6). Jeremiah wrote: "Why then is this people of Jerusalem slidden back by a perpetual backsliding?
They hold fast deceit, they refuse to return (repent). I hearkened and heard, but they spake not aright: no man repented him of his wickedness, saying, What have I done? Every one turned to his course, as the horse rusheth into the battle. How do ye say, We are wise, and the law of the Lord is with us?... they have rejected the word of the Lord; and what wisdom is in them?" (Jer. 8:5, 6, 8, 9). Jeremiah also pointed out:"., . every one is given to covetousness; and from the prophet even unto the priest every one dealeth falsely. They have healed also the hurt of the daughter of my people slightly, saying Peace, peace; when there is no peace. Were they ashamed when they had committed abomination? Nay, they were not at all ashamed, neither could they blush: therefore they shall fall among them that fall; at the time that I visit them they shall be cast down, saith the Lord" (Jer. 6:13- 15). "Thus saith the Lord, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way (covenant), and walk therein, and ye shall find rest (and peace) for your souls. But they said, we will not walk therein.
Also I set watchmen over you, saying, HEARKEN TO THE SOUND OF THE TRUMPET (today)! But they said, We will not hearken. Therefore hear, ye nations, and know, 0 congregation, what is among them... Behold, I will bring evil upon this people, even the fruit of their thoughts, because they have not hearkened unto my words, nor to my law, but rejected it" (Jer 6:16-19). This is the fate of the foolish virgins who preach "peace and safety." God is now giving light and understanding about these last days to the wise virgins. They will respond immediately to the call of God's trumpet:"... brethren (wise virgins), ye have no need that I write unto you. For yourselves (brethren) know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. For when they (foolish virgins) shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon THEM (who preach peace and safety); as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape. But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief" (1 Thess. 5:1-4).
Babylon, The Great Harlot
God's judgment is upon the foolish virgins who are not obeying the Word of God.. In many places the Scriptures refer to these foolish virgins as the harlot. This great whore is also known as Babylon! ... . Come hither; I will shew unto thee the judgement of the great whore, that sitteth upon many waters. For true and righteous are his judgments: for he has judged the great whore, which did corrupt the earth with her fornication" (Rev. 17:1, 19:2). Jeremiah said: "Publish, and conceal not: say, Babylon (the harlot church) is taken... My people hath been lost sheep: their shepherds have caused them to go astray... All (of the powers of darkness) that found them have devoured them: and their adversaries said, We offend not, because they have sinned against the Lord (by breaking God's laws)... For, lo, I will raise and cause to come up against Babylon an assembly of great nations from the north country... and they shall set themselves in array against her; from thence she shall be taken (captive)... Put yourselves in array against Babylon roundabout... for she hath sinned against the Lord" (Jer. 50:2, 5, 6, 9, 14). "The Lord hath opened his armory, and hath brought forth the weapons of his indignation (the powers of darkness)... Call together the archers against Babylon... recompense her according to her work. According to all that she hath done, do unto her: for she hath been proud against the Lord, against the Holy One of Israel. Behold, a people shall come from the north, and a great nation (the powers of darkness), and many kings shall be raised up from the coasts of the earth.., they are cruel, and will not shew mercy: their voice shall roar like the sea. Therefore hear ye the counsel of the Lord, that he hath taken against Babylon; at the noise of the taking of Babylon the earth is moved, and the cry is heard among the nations" (Jer. 51:25,29,41,42,45,46). Jeremiah also wrote: "Thus saith the Lord; Behold, I will raise up against Babylon... a destroying wind: and will send unto Babylon fanners, that shall fan her, and shall empty her land: for in the day of trouble they shall be against her round about.
Flee out of the midst of Babylon, and deliver every man his soul: be not cut off in her iniquity; for this is the time of the Lord's ven- geance; Make bright the arrows; gather the shields;... for his (the Lord's) device is against Babylon, to destroy it because it is the vengeance of the Lord, the vengeance of his temple. The Lord of hosts hath sworn by himself, saying, surely I will fill thee with men, as with caterpillars (locusts); and they shall lift up a shout against thee. Thou (powers of darkness) art my battle ax and weapons for war: for with thee will I break in pieces the nations, and with thee will I destroy kingdoms; I will also break in pieces with thee (the powers of darkness) the shepherd and his flock" (Jer. 51:1, 2, 6, 11, 14, 20, 23). Jeremiah continued: "And the land shall tremble (the powers of darkness come against all foundations that are sand; this is the spiritual earthquake).., for every purpose of the Lord shall be performed against Babylon, to make the land of Babylon a desolation (the powers of darkness are the abomination that makes desolate)... The mighty men of Babylon have forborne to fight... They (the powers of darkness) have burned their dwelling places.., and I will make them drunken (staggering in spiritual darkness), that they may rejoice, and sleep a perpetual sleep, and not wake, saith the Lord. THE SEA (FLOOD) HAS COME UP UPON BABYLON; she is covered with the multitude of the waves thereof.
My people, go ye out of the midst of her, and deliver ye every man his soul from the fierce anger of the Lord... Shame has covered our faces; for STRANGERS (the powers of darkness) ARE COME INTO THE SANCTUARIES (temples) OF THE LORD'S HOUSE. Because the spoiler is come upon her, even upon Babylon, and her mighty men are taken.., for the Lord God of recompenses shall surely requite. And I will make drunk her princes, and her wise men.., and they shall sleep a perpetual sleep, and not wake, saith the King, WHOSE NAME IS THE LORD OF HOSTS" (JER. 51:29, 30, 39, 42, 45, 51, 56, 57).
"And the people shall labor in vain, and the folk in the fire, and they shall be weary. And it shall be when thou hast made an end of reading this book,...that thou shalt say, Thus shall Babylon sink, and shall not rise from the evil that I will bring upon her: and they shall be weary" (Jer. 51:58, 63, 64). Babylon the harlot has become a curse and a stumbling block to almost everyone in the world who has tried to come to God. Instead of teaching God's little ones righteousness and holiness, they have perverted the Word and instructed them falsely in order to fulfill selfish ambition and build a fleshly kingdom for Satan. Satan is the king over Babylon.
The apostle John wrote in Revelation: "Rejoice over her, thou heaven, and ye (true) holy apostles and (true) prophets; for God hath avenged you on her. And a mighty angel took up a stone like a GREAT MILL-STONE and cast it into the sea, saying, Thus with violence shall that great city Babylon be thrown down, and shall be found no more at all. And the light of a candle shall shine no more at all in thee, and the voice of the bridegroom and of the bride shall be heard no more at all in thee.., for by thy sorceries were all nations deceived. And in her was found.., all that were slain upon the earth" (Rev. 18:20, 21, 23, 24). The Psalmist said: "Save me, 0 God; for the waters are come in unto my soul. I sink in deep mire, where there is no standing (no foundation). I am come into deep waters, where the floods overflow me. I am weary of my crying: my throat is dried... They that hate me without a cause are more than the hairs of mine head; they that would destroy me are mighty... Deliver me out of the mire, and let me not sink: let me be delivered from them that hate me, and out of deep waters. Let not the waterflood overflow me, neither let the deep swallow me up, and let not the pit shut her mouth upon me" (Ps. 69:1, 2, 4, 14, 15).
THE TRUMPET IS BLOWING!!!
Jesus warns us, "when ye shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies (we see this today), then know that the desolation thereof is nigh. Then let them which are in Judea flee to the mountains; and let them which are in the midst of it depart out (those who hear the trumpet will leave Babylon and go to Zion), and let not them that are in the countries enter thereunto. For these be days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled. But woe unto them that are with child and to them that give suck, in those days! For there shall be great distress in the land, and wrath upon this people. And they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led away captive into all nations: and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles (lost)" (Luke 2 1:20-24). Jesus also said: "And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity, and the waves roaring; men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken. And then shall they see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; FOR YOUR REDEMPTION DRAWETH NIGH" (Luke 21:25-28).
"And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting (pleasures of this life) and drunkenness (spiritual darkness), and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares. For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth. Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the The Son of Man" (Luke 21:34-36).
The book of Revelation tells us: "Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he THAT WATCHETH (endures to the end) and KEEPETH HIS GARMENTS (of salvation), lest he walk naked, and they see his shame. And there were voices, and thunders and lightnings; and there was a great (spiritual) earthquake, such as was not since men were upon the earth, so mighty an earth- quake, and so great. And the great city was divided into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell, and great Babylon came in remembrance before God, to give unto her the cup of the wine of the fierceness of his wrath" (Rev. 16:15, 18, 19).
THE TRUMPET IS BLOWING!