Apocalypse Revealed # 800
800. "Because by your sorcery all the nations were led astray." This symbolizes the nefarious arts and cunning schemes of those higher in the Roman Catholic hierarchy by which they turned the hearts of all away from a reverent worship of the Lord to a profane worship of people, living and dead, and of icons.
The sorcery by which they led all the nations astray symbolizes the nefarious arts and cunning schemes by which those higher in the Roman Catholic hierarchy deluded people and persuaded the people to worship and adore them instead of the Lord, thus as though they were the Lord. And because the Lord is God of heaven and earth, as He Himself teaches in Matthew 28:18, they persuaded the people to worship and adore them as though they were gods. (That these Roman Catholics transferred the Lord's Divine authority to themselves may be seen in no. 798 above.) Moreover, because this is the symbolic meaning of these words, they also symbolically mean that those higher in the Roman Catholic hierarchy used these nefarious arts and cunning schemes to draw the hearts of all away from reverent worship of the Lord to a profane worship of men, living and dead, and of icons.
That they are still going to have this as their end, and will continue to have it as their end in the spiritual world, is something we have said and shown before. It is described in Isaiah in this way:
Stand fast... in your enchantments (O Babylon) and in the multitude of your sorceries, in which you have labored from your youth. Perhaps you will be able to profit, perhaps you will inspire terror. You have become wearied in the multitude of your counsels; let the astrologers, the stargazers, and the monthly prognosticators now stand up and save you... Behold, they have become as stubble. Fire has burnt them. They shall not deliver their souls from the reach of the flame... Such have become... your merchants from your youth; each has wandered off from his quarter. There is no one to save you. (Isaiah 47:12-15)
Revelation 18
1
After these things, I saw another angel coming down out of the sky, having great authority. The earth was illuminated with his glory.
2
He cried with a mighty voice, saying, "Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great, and she has become a habitation of demons, a prison of every unclean spirit, and a prison of every unclean and hateful bird!
3
For all the nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her sexual immorality, the kings of the earth committed sexual immorality with her, and the merchants of the earth grew rich from the abundance of her luxury."
4
I heard another voice from heaven, saying, "Come out of her, my people, that you have no participation in her sins, and that you don't receive of her plagues,
5
for her sins have reached to the sky, and God has remembered her iniquities.
6
Return to her just as she returned, and repay her double as she did, and according to her works. In the cup which she mixed, mix to her double.
7
However much she glorified herself, and grew wanton, so much give her of torment and mourning. For she says in her heart, 'I sit a queen, and am no widow, and will in no way see mourning.'
8
Therefore in one day her plagues will come: death, mourning, and famine; and she will be utterly burned with fire; for the Lord God who has judged her is strong.
9
The kings of the earth, who committed sexual immorality and lived wantonly with her, will weep and wail over her, when they look at the smoke of her burning,
10
standing far away for the fear of her torment, saying, 'Woe, Woe, the great city, Babylon, the strong city! For your judgment has come in one hour.'
11
The merchants of the earth weep and mourn over her, for no one buys their merchandise any more;
12
merchandise of gold, silver, precious stones, pearls, fine linen, purple, silk, scarlet, all expensive wood, every vessel of ivory, every vessel made of most precious wood, and of brass, and iron, and marble;
13
and cinnamon, incense, perfume, frankincense, wine, olive oil, fine flour, wheat, sheep, horses, chariots, and people's bodies and souls.
14
The fruits which your soul lusted after have been lost to you, and all things that were dainty and sumptuous have perished from you, and you will find them no more at all.
15
The merchants of these things, who were made rich by her, will stand far away for the fear of her torment, weeping and mourning;
16
saying, 'Woe, Woe, the great city, she who was dressed in fine linen, purple, and scarlet, and decked with gold and precious stones and pearls!
17
For in an hour such great riches are made desolate.' Every shipmaster, and everyone who sails anywhere, and mariners, and as many as gain their living by sea, stood far away,
18
and cried out as they looked at the smoke of her burning, saying, 'What is like the great city?'
19
They cast dust on their heads, and cried, weeping and mourning, saying, 'Woe, Woe, the great city, in which all who had their ships in the sea were made rich by reason of her great wealth!' For in one hour is she made desolate.
20
"Rejoice over her, O heaven, you saints, apostles, and prophets; for God has judged your judgment on her."
21
A mighty angel took up a stone like a great millstone and cast it into the sea, saying, "Thus with violence will Babylon, the great city, be thrown down, and will be found no more at all.
22
The voice of harpists, minstrels, flute players, and trumpeters will be heard no more at all in you. No craftsman, of whatever craft, will be found any more at all in you. The sound of a mill will be heard no more at all in you.
23
The light of a lamp will shine no more at all in you. The voice of the bridegroom and of the bride will be heard no more at all in you; for your merchants were the princes of the earth; for with your sorcery all the nations were deceived.
24
In her was found the blood of prophets and of saints, and of all who have been slain on the earth."
