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Just
Forget It
Quoted
By: Ostis Wilson
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If
you’ve not been treated right,
Just forget it. Don’t get ready for a fight, But forget it. Life’s too short to hold a grudge, 'Twill your happiness besmudge, Anyway, you’re not the judge, So forget it. If you've been misunderstood, Just forget it. Say, "I did the best I could." Then forget it. If you can't have your own way, Don't be small enough to say, "Well, I guess I just won't play." But forget it. If somebody slanders you, Just forget it. Say, "I'm glad it isn't true." Then forget it. Even if you lose a friend, And the breach you cannot mend It will pay you in the end, To just forget it.
-author
unknown
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Tuesday, May 13, 2014
Forget It
Songs of Zion
I have found the joy
of God,
In His sacred, blest abode,
Oh, the comfort of the peace that fills my soul!
And a day His courts within,
Far exceedeth all in sin,
In His secret presence I’m abiding.
Refrain:
I shall see Him, I shall see Him,
I shall see Him in His beauty over there;
In His likeness I’ll behold Him,I have found the joy of God,
In His sacred, blest abode,
Oh, the comfort of the peace that fills my soul!
And a day His courts within,
Far exceedeth all in sin,
In His secret presence I’m abiding.
Refrain:
I shall see Him, I shall see Him,
I shall see Him in His beauty over there;
In His likeness I’ll behold Him,I have found the joy of God,
In His sacred,
blest abode,
Oh, the comfort of the peace that fills my soul!
And a day His courts within,
Far exceedeth all in sin,
In His secret presence I’m abiding.
Refrain:
I shall see Him, I shall see Him,
I shall see Him in His beauty over there;
In His likeness I’ll behold Him,
He is waiting for me at the portals.
Of my life the fountain spring,
Now my all to Thee I bring,
Thou, O Lord, art all my heart’s supreme delight!
Whom have I in heav’n but Thee?
None on earth so dear to me,
Thou alone art altogether lovely.
How the heav’nly chorus rings,
While my heart in rapture sings
Sweetest anthems of my Savior’s joyful praise;
He’s the fairest of the fair,
Nothing can with Him compare,
He’s to me the chief among ten thousand.
Take the world, for Christ is mine,
In His kingdom I would shine,
Let me labor all my days and years for Him:
Perfect love and bliss abound
In His presence, I have found,
Life is joy supreme and full of glory.
Oh, the comfort of the peace that fills my soul!
And a day His courts within,
Far exceedeth all in sin,
In His secret presence I’m abiding.
Refrain:
I shall see Him, I shall see Him,
I shall see Him in His beauty over there;
In His likeness I’ll behold Him,
He is waiting for me at the portals.
Of my life the fountain spring,
Now my all to Thee I bring,
Thou, O Lord, art all my heart’s supreme delight!
Whom have I in heav’n but Thee?
None on earth so dear to me,
Thou alone art altogether lovely.
How the heav’nly chorus rings,
While my heart in rapture sings
Sweetest anthems of my Savior’s joyful praise;
He’s the fairest of the fair,
Nothing can with Him compare,
He’s to me the chief among ten thousand.
Take the world, for Christ is mine,
In His kingdom I would shine,
Let me labor all my days and years for Him:
Perfect love and bliss abound
In His presence, I have found,
Life is joy supreme and full of glory.
He is waiting for me at the portals.
Of my life the fountain spring,
Now my all to Thee I bring,
Thou, O Lord, art all my heart’s supreme delight!
Whom have I in heav’n but Thee?
None on earth so dear to me,
Thou alone art altogether lovely.
How the heav’nly chorus rings,
While my heart in rapture sings
Sweetest anthems of my Savior’s joyful praise;
He’s the fairest of the fair,
Nothing can with Him compare,
He’s to me the chief among ten thousand.
Take the world, for Christ is mine,
In His kingdom I would shine,
Let me labor all my days and years for Him:
Perfect love and bliss abound
In His presence, I have found,
Life is joy supreme and full of glory.
Of my life the fountain spring,
Now my all to Thee I bring,
Thou, O Lord, art all my heart’s supreme delight!
Whom have I in heav’n but Thee?
None on earth so dear to me,
Thou alone art altogether lovely.
How the heav’nly chorus rings,
While my heart in rapture sings
Sweetest anthems of my Savior’s joyful praise;
He’s the fairest of the fair,
Nothing can with Him compare,
He’s to me the chief among ten thousand.
Take the world, for Christ is mine,
In His kingdom I would shine,
Let me labor all my days and years for Him:
Perfect love and bliss abound
In His presence, I have found,
Life is joy supreme and full of glory.
Monday, May 12, 2014
Wednesday, April 2, 2014
Songs of Zion
Long ago the prophets
told
Of the time we now behold,
When the glorious church or city of our God
Would upon a mountain stand,
As a light to all the land,
And to it the nations all would flow together. Refrain:
Together, together,
We were raised up together from the miry clay of sin,
And we dwell now together, every heart to heart akin;
We in heav’nly places sit,
For we’re framed and joined and knit,
In the love of Christ our Savior together.
Of the time we now behold,
When the glorious church or city of our God
Would upon a mountain stand,
As a light to all the land,
And to it the nations all would flow together. Refrain:
Together, together,
We were raised up together from the miry clay of sin,
And we dwell now together, every heart to heart akin;
We in heav’nly places sit,
For we’re framed and joined and knit,
In the love of Christ our Savior together.
From the loathsome
plains of sin,
Where our suff’ring souls had been
Held in bondage under Satan’s tyrant sway,
To the mount of holiness,
High above unrighteousness,
Jesus’ love has gathered all of us together.
We’re the temple of the Lord,
Built together on His word,
And our Father in His temple ever dwells;
We will walk together here,
In His love and godly fear,
And our voices shall exalt His name together.
In this temple of our God
We’re admitted through the blood
Which the Savior shed to cleanse and make us whole,
Then we’re “lively stones” indeed,
Conqu’rors through the holy seed,
And are pillars in the church of God forever.
Of the church of God alone
Jesus is the “Corner stone,”
And the standard is the plumbline of His word;
With His Spirit as our guide
Who has come with us to ’bide—
Sanctified, the light, the truth we see together.
There are many souls in sin,
Jesus seeks to bring them in;
Let us work together with the Lord today:
Then when all the work is done,
And He comes to claim His own,
We’ll be caught up in the clouds with Him together.
Where our suff’ring souls had been
Held in bondage under Satan’s tyrant sway,
To the mount of holiness,
High above unrighteousness,
Jesus’ love has gathered all of us together.
We’re the temple of the Lord,
Built together on His word,
And our Father in His temple ever dwells;
We will walk together here,
In His love and godly fear,
And our voices shall exalt His name together.
In this temple of our God
We’re admitted through the blood
Which the Savior shed to cleanse and make us whole,
Then we’re “lively stones” indeed,
Conqu’rors through the holy seed,
And are pillars in the church of God forever.
Of the church of God alone
Jesus is the “Corner stone,”
And the standard is the plumbline of His word;
With His Spirit as our guide
Who has come with us to ’bide—
Sanctified, the light, the truth we see together.
There are many souls in sin,
Jesus seeks to bring them in;
Let us work together with the Lord today:
Then when all the work is done,
And He comes to claim His own,
We’ll be caught up in the clouds with Him together.
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Holy is the church of
God,
And holy is her Lord;
Her children all are born of God,
They stand upon His word. Refrain:
Holy is the church of God,
Pure in Jesus’ blood;
Holy is the bride of Christ,
Holy is her Lord.
Holy, holy, holy,
Christ, the Father’s Son;
Holy is His bride the church,
Blest holy two made one.
And holy is her Lord;
Her children all are born of God,
They stand upon His word. Refrain:
Holy is the church of God,
Pure in Jesus’ blood;
Holy is the bride of Christ,
Holy is her Lord.
Holy, holy, holy,
Christ, the Father’s Son;
Holy is His bride the church,
Blest holy two made one.
Holy is the church of
God:
If you would enter in,
You must be cleansed in Jesus’ blood
From every stain of sin.
Holy is the church of God,
And holy we must be,
If we would share her blessings here,
Her final glory see.
Holy is the church of God;
It is her Master’s will;
And while the endless ages roll,
She shall be holy still.
If you would enter in,
You must be cleansed in Jesus’ blood
From every stain of sin.
Holy is the church of God,
And holy we must be,
If we would share her blessings here,
Her final glory see.
Holy is the church of God;
It is her Master’s will;
And while the endless ages roll,
She shall be holy still.
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Now to the holy city
The faithful gather home;
To Zion’s mount of glory
With songs of joy they come.
Jerusalem the golden,
Jerusalem the free,
With joyful hearts and voices
The ransomed come to thee.
Now eye to eye beholding
The way-marks on the road,
All bound in love together,
They’re coming home to God:
One mind and mouth possessing,
They speak with one accord,
And in the heights of Zion
They shout and praise the Lord.
Sing glory to the Savior,
High over all the world;
On Zion’s heights forever
His banner is unfurled.
God’s church can be no longer
Obscured from human sight;
For see, on yonder mountain,
A city filled with light!
No longer Babel’s bondage
The bride of Christ can hold;
God’s children now are holy,
And free from Babel’s fold:
For it is fallen, fallen,
And it shall rise no more;
We cling alone to Jesus,
As did the saints of yore.
The faithful gather home;
To Zion’s mount of glory
With songs of joy they come.
Jerusalem the golden,
Jerusalem the free,
With joyful hearts and voices
The ransomed come to thee.
Now eye to eye beholding
The way-marks on the road,
All bound in love together,
They’re coming home to God:
One mind and mouth possessing,
They speak with one accord,
And in the heights of Zion
They shout and praise the Lord.
Sing glory to the Savior,
High over all the world;
On Zion’s heights forever
His banner is unfurled.
God’s church can be no longer
Obscured from human sight;
For see, on yonder mountain,
A city filled with light!
No longer Babel’s bondage
The bride of Christ can hold;
God’s children now are holy,
And free from Babel’s fold:
For it is fallen, fallen,
And it shall rise no more;
We cling alone to Jesus,
As did the saints of yore.
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Church of the Living
God,
The pillar of the truth,
Thou dost enclose within thy walls
The aged and the youth;
Here in thy light of love,
Both saints and angels meet;
Here every tribe and kindred come
In fellowship so sweet.
Church of the Living God,
Thou light of this dark vale,
Against thy onward march divine
All hell cannot prevail;
For thee a price was paid,
The blessed Savior’s blood;
By His own hand He’ll hold thee up,
And bring thee home to God.
Church of the Living God,
We wait no future time,
But now on earth with joy we dwell
Within thy courts sublime;
Oh, thou dost triumph now,
And shalt at any cost;
And if thy glory be unseen,
’Tis hid but to the lost.
Church of the Living God,
So peaceful is thy rest,
For God has placed thy members all
As pleaseth Him the best;
No envy breaks thy peace;
The Father gave His Son
To cleanse thee from each vain desire,
And mold thee all in one.
Church of the Living God,
Thou lovely one so pure,
No strangers come within thy gates,
For Jesus is the door;
By Him if any come,
They must from sin be free;
He guardeth well the only door,
And holds the only key.
Church of the Living God,
Thy sons are born of love;
In Heaven’s golden book of life
Their names are kept above;
And God shall count His saints,
Preserve them by His grace,
And naught but sin against His Word
Shall e’er their names erase.
The pillar of the truth,
Thou dost enclose within thy walls
The aged and the youth;
Here in thy light of love,
Both saints and angels meet;
Here every tribe and kindred come
In fellowship so sweet.
Church of the Living God,
Thou light of this dark vale,
Against thy onward march divine
All hell cannot prevail;
For thee a price was paid,
The blessed Savior’s blood;
By His own hand He’ll hold thee up,
And bring thee home to God.
Church of the Living God,
We wait no future time,
But now on earth with joy we dwell
Within thy courts sublime;
Oh, thou dost triumph now,
And shalt at any cost;
And if thy glory be unseen,
’Tis hid but to the lost.
Church of the Living God,
So peaceful is thy rest,
For God has placed thy members all
As pleaseth Him the best;
No envy breaks thy peace;
The Father gave His Son
To cleanse thee from each vain desire,
And mold thee all in one.
Church of the Living God,
Thou lovely one so pure,
No strangers come within thy gates,
For Jesus is the door;
By Him if any come,
They must from sin be free;
He guardeth well the only door,
And holds the only key.
Church of the Living God,
Thy sons are born of love;
In Heaven’s golden book of life
Their names are kept above;
And God shall count His saints,
Preserve them by His grace,
And naught but sin against His Word
Shall e’er their names erase.
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Church of God, thou
spotless virgin,
Church of Christ, for whom He died,
Thou hast known no human founder,
Jesus bought thee for His bride.
Sanctified by God the Father,
Built by Jesus Christ the Son,
Tempered by the Holy Spirit,
Like the Holy Three in One.
God Himself has set the members
In His body all complete,
Organized by Jesus only,
Oh, the union, pure and sweet!
Church of God, the angels marvel
At the music of thy song;
Earth and hell in terror tremble,
As thy army moves along.
Church of God, “beloved city,”
Thou art of celestial mold;
Lo, from God, and out of heaven,
Came the city of pure gold.
Stones of jasper, clear as crystal,
Is the building of thy wall;
And the Lamb, thy light forever,
Jesus, Jesus, all in all.
God’s own holiness within thee,
His own beauty on thy brow;
Glorified in His own image,
This thy wondrous portion now.
In thee dwells the triune fullness,
Blessing all thy pilgrim days;
All around thee His salvation,
And before thee gates of praise.
Church of God, in heaven written,
Thine the risen life of Christ,
And the treasures to thee given,
Never, never can be priced.
Far above this world’s confusion,
Walking close by Jesus’ side,
Leaning on His loving bosom,
Is the church, His chosen bride.
Church of Christ, for whom He died,
Thou hast known no human founder,
Jesus bought thee for His bride.
Sanctified by God the Father,
Built by Jesus Christ the Son,
Tempered by the Holy Spirit,
Like the Holy Three in One.
God Himself has set the members
In His body all complete,
Organized by Jesus only,
Oh, the union, pure and sweet!
Church of God, the angels marvel
At the music of thy song;
Earth and hell in terror tremble,
As thy army moves along.
Church of God, “beloved city,”
Thou art of celestial mold;
Lo, from God, and out of heaven,
Came the city of pure gold.
Stones of jasper, clear as crystal,
Is the building of thy wall;
And the Lamb, thy light forever,
Jesus, Jesus, all in all.
God’s own holiness within thee,
His own beauty on thy brow;
Glorified in His own image,
This thy wondrous portion now.
In thee dwells the triune fullness,
Blessing all thy pilgrim days;
All around thee His salvation,
And before thee gates of praise.
Church of God, in heaven written,
Thine the risen life of Christ,
And the treasures to thee given,
Never, never can be priced.
Far above this world’s confusion,
Walking close by Jesus’ side,
Leaning on His loving bosom,
Is the church, His chosen bride.
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“Called unto holiness,”
church of our God,
Purchase of Jesus, redeemed by His blood;
Called from the world and its idols to flee,
Called from the bondage of sin to be free. Refrain:
“Holiness unto the Lord” is our watchword and song,
“Holiness unto the Lord” as we’re marching along;
Sing it, shout it, loud and long,
“Holiness unto the Lord,” now and forever.
Purchase of Jesus, redeemed by His blood;
Called from the world and its idols to flee,
Called from the bondage of sin to be free. Refrain:
“Holiness unto the Lord” is our watchword and song,
“Holiness unto the Lord” as we’re marching along;
Sing it, shout it, loud and long,
“Holiness unto the Lord,” now and forever.
“Called unto
holiness,” children of light,
Walking with Jesus in garments of white;
Raiment unsullied, nor tarnished with sin;
God’s Holy Spirit abiding within.
“Called unto holiness,” praise His dear Name!
This blessed secret to faith now made plain:
Not our own righteousness, but Christ within,
Living, and reigning, and saving from sin.
“Called unto holiness,” glorious thought!
Up from the wilderness wanderings brought,
Out from the shadows and darkness of night,
Into the Canaan of perfect delight.
“Called unto holiness,” bride of the Lamb,
Waiting the Bridegroom’s returning again!
Lift up your heads, for the day draweth near
When in His beauty the King shall appear.
Walking with Jesus in garments of white;
Raiment unsullied, nor tarnished with sin;
God’s Holy Spirit abiding within.
“Called unto holiness,” praise His dear Name!
This blessed secret to faith now made plain:
Not our own righteousness, but Christ within,
Living, and reigning, and saving from sin.
“Called unto holiness,” glorious thought!
Up from the wilderness wanderings brought,
Out from the shadows and darkness of night,
Into the Canaan of perfect delight.
“Called unto holiness,” bride of the Lamb,
Waiting the Bridegroom’s returning again!
Lift up your heads, for the day draweth near
When in His beauty the King shall appear.
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The church of the
morning bright,
Like crystal so clear her light,
Triumphant, she knew no fears;
In finest white linen dressed;
Pure holiness she possessed,
Two hundred and sev’nty years. Refrain:
Hell never can destroy the church,
Built by the Savior’s hands;
Upon the Rock, the solid Rock,
Christ Jesus, still she stands;
Despite of persecution’s flood,
And gates of hell forsooth;
She’s still the kingdom of the Lord,
The pillar of the truth.
Like crystal so clear her light,
Triumphant, she knew no fears;
In finest white linen dressed;
Pure holiness she possessed,
Two hundred and sev’nty years. Refrain:
Hell never can destroy the church,
Built by the Savior’s hands;
Upon the Rock, the solid Rock,
Christ Jesus, still she stands;
Despite of persecution’s flood,
And gates of hell forsooth;
She’s still the kingdom of the Lord,
The pillar of the truth.
The sun went down ere
his time,
The moon also ceased to shine,
Left Zion in bitter tears;
No star then appeared in sight,
Oh, long dreary papal night!
Twelve hundred and sixty years.
A rising the sun of day,
Disperses the night away
While popery quakes with fears;
Shone dimly the gospel ray,
There followed a cloudy day—
Three hundred and fifty years.
We welcome the evening light;
The gospel so clear and bright
Breaks forth as in days of yore;
The mists are all cleared away,
All hail the supernal day!
The sun shall go down no more.
The moon also ceased to shine,
Left Zion in bitter tears;
No star then appeared in sight,
Oh, long dreary papal night!
Twelve hundred and sixty years.
A rising the sun of day,
Disperses the night away
While popery quakes with fears;
Shone dimly the gospel ray,
There followed a cloudy day—
Three hundred and fifty years.
We welcome the evening light;
The gospel so clear and bright
Breaks forth as in days of yore;
The mists are all cleared away,
All hail the supernal day!
The sun shall go down no more.
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O church of God, in
Christ a new creation
Wrought by His great salvation,
Thy golden glory now breaks forth upon our sight!
Sitting aloft in the top of the mountains,
Now we behold her—the city of light! Refrain:
Beautiful for situation is Mount Zion,
The joy of the earth, the mountain of love!
Up to her summit all nations now flow—
All souls who are born from above.
Wrought by His great salvation,
Thy golden glory now breaks forth upon our sight!
Sitting aloft in the top of the mountains,
Now we behold her—the city of light! Refrain:
Beautiful for situation is Mount Zion,
The joy of the earth, the mountain of love!
Up to her summit all nations now flow—
All souls who are born from above.
O church of God, the
city of the holy,
The dwelling of the lowly,
What bliss to dwell where we may e’er her blessings share!
Surely the “springs of the Lord” are within her,
Sparkling with graces so rich and so rare.
O church of God, what fold have we beside thee?
What man-made creed can hide thee?
Thy light and glory shall shine forth forevermore!
“Come, all ye people,” her sweet voice is calling,
“Enter through Jesus, for He is the door.”
O church of God, thou art a “holy nation,”
A “chosen generation,”
Which hast found mercy through God’s dear, beloved Son;
Out from all schisms and classes of people
Thou He hast purchased and molded in one.
O church of God, the place of God’s own dwelling—
All darkness here dispelling—
The Lord of glory walks and talks in holy men;
He is their God and they are His people;
He has redeemed them from all of their sin.
The dwelling of the lowly,
What bliss to dwell where we may e’er her blessings share!
Surely the “springs of the Lord” are within her,
Sparkling with graces so rich and so rare.
O church of God, what fold have we beside thee?
What man-made creed can hide thee?
Thy light and glory shall shine forth forevermore!
“Come, all ye people,” her sweet voice is calling,
“Enter through Jesus, for He is the door.”
O church of God, thou art a “holy nation,”
A “chosen generation,”
Which hast found mercy through God’s dear, beloved Son;
Out from all schisms and classes of people
Thou He hast purchased and molded in one.
O church of God, the place of God’s own dwelling—
All darkness here dispelling—
The Lord of glory walks and talks in holy men;
He is their God and they are His people;
He has redeemed them from all of their sin.
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The gates of hell
cannot prevail
Against the church divine;
Though sword and fire and unbelief
And hate and scorn combine
To trample her beneath their tread,
She shall arise and shine. Refrain:
Jerusalem, Mount Zion fair,
Thou city of the free!
Thy matchless walls, thy palaces,
Thy strong high tow’rs we see!
Thou mother of each holy one—
Our hearts exult in thee!
Against the church divine;
Though sword and fire and unbelief
And hate and scorn combine
To trample her beneath their tread,
She shall arise and shine. Refrain:
Jerusalem, Mount Zion fair,
Thou city of the free!
Thy matchless walls, thy palaces,
Thy strong high tow’rs we see!
Thou mother of each holy one—
Our hearts exult in thee!
The gates of hell
cannot prevail,
The right shall triumph still;
High over all, in spite of foes,
Shall reign God’s sov’reign will;
As waters overspread the seas,
His glory earth shall fill.
The gates of hell cannot prevail;
To holy war arise!
Lift high the banners of the Lord
And shout to earth and skies!
Our King Immanuel marches on,
And hosts of hell defies.
The gates of hell cannot prevail;
Infernal legions strong
Must cower ’neath the mighty tread
Of victors over wrong!
Oh, lift thy voice, thou church of God,
In joyous battle song.
The right shall triumph still;
High over all, in spite of foes,
Shall reign God’s sov’reign will;
As waters overspread the seas,
His glory earth shall fill.
The gates of hell cannot prevail;
To holy war arise!
Lift high the banners of the Lord
And shout to earth and skies!
Our King Immanuel marches on,
And hosts of hell defies.
The gates of hell cannot prevail;
Infernal legions strong
Must cower ’neath the mighty tread
Of victors over wrong!
Oh, lift thy voice, thou church of God,
In joyous battle song.
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Do you hear them
coming, brother?—
Thronging up the steeps of light,
Clad in glorious shining garments,
Blood-washed garments, pure and white! Refrain:
’Tis a glorious church without spot or wrinkle,
Washed in the blood of the Lamb;
’Tis a glorious church without spot or wrinkle,
Washed in the blood of the Lamb.
Thronging up the steeps of light,
Clad in glorious shining garments,
Blood-washed garments, pure and white! Refrain:
’Tis a glorious church without spot or wrinkle,
Washed in the blood of the Lamb;
’Tis a glorious church without spot or wrinkle,
Washed in the blood of the Lamb.
Do you hear the
stirring anthems,
Filling all the earth and sky?
’Tis a grand, victorious army;
Lift its banner up on high!
Never fear the clouds of sorrow,
Never fear the storms of sin:
We shall triumph on the morrow—
Even now our joys begin.
Wave the banner, shout His praises,
For our victory is nigh!
Following our conqu’ring Savior,
We shall reign with Him on high!
Filling all the earth and sky?
’Tis a grand, victorious army;
Lift its banner up on high!
Never fear the clouds of sorrow,
Never fear the storms of sin:
We shall triumph on the morrow—
Even now our joys begin.
Wave the banner, shout His praises,
For our victory is nigh!
Following our conqu’ring Savior,
We shall reign with Him on high!
Friday, March 7, 2014
Monday, March 3, 2014
Mystery Babylon the Great
I wish to do a little write up on this topic, hoping that a sincere soul might be helped by my effort. I strongly believe that the ultimate purpose of exposing spiritual truth is to set a sin-sick soul free from bondage. It is important, therefore, for the reader to be earnest about this freedom, disregarding any perceived error on my part and holding back doubtful questioning that may stand in the way of this noble goal.
The first mention of "Babylon" in the Holy Bible is in the book of Genesis chapter 10, verse 10. In the Hebrew language, it is called Babel. In English, it is called "CONFUSION". Since the New Testament was mainly written in Greek, it will make sense to leave it in the Greek name, "Babylon", throughout this discourse. The next mention of it is in Genesis 11:9.
"Therefore is the name of it called Babel; because the LORD did there confound the language of all the earth: and from thence did the LORD scatter them abroad upon the face of all the earth." {Babel: that is, Confusion}
In coming out of Babylon, you need not wander lost in the wilderness, oh saint. Search for your brethren and return to the unity and purity of the one body of Christ.
Re 22:17 And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.
(KJV)
The first mention of "Babylon" in the Holy Bible is in the book of Genesis chapter 10, verse 10. In the Hebrew language, it is called Babel. In English, it is called "CONFUSION". Since the New Testament was mainly written in Greek, it will make sense to leave it in the Greek name, "Babylon", throughout this discourse. The next mention of it is in Genesis 11:9.
"Therefore is the name of it called Babel; because the LORD did there confound the language of all the earth: and from thence did the LORD scatter them abroad upon the face of all the earth." {Babel: that is, Confusion}
In the first mention of it, we learn it was the first kingdom founded by Nimrod, who "began to be a mighty one in the earth" and "a mighty hunter before the LORD". From the little recorded about this man, we can deduce that he started something new in his days. His contemporaries held him in high esteem. He was a king, in fact, the first one in history, and a tyrant for that matter. He invented a new way of life and influenced his generation to follow him. He changed the norms of the society he met, turning men away from God who was previously feared as the only Magistrate over mankind, thus introducing idolatry. He organized men into a sort of forms and order. At the climax of these enterprises, God overruled his preeminence and dispersed his whole company by confusing their language, which was the pillar of their connectedness.
In subsequent mention of this kingdom, which also goes by the name Asshur or Assyria, we find them great enough to swallow other kingdoms of the earth. Its most important conquest was the visible people of God on earth then, who were the offsprings of Jacob, a grandson of Abraham. The holy nation became scattered as slaves in foreign lands.
The last mention of Babylon, which had become extinct, is in the apokalupsis or the book of Revelation in the New Testament. This is the part that concerns us most, so, we will just quote them below, and treat them later. Here they are:
Re 14:8 And there followed another angel, saying, Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication.
Re 16:19 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.
Re 17:5 And upon her forehead was a name written, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH. {harlots: or, fornications}
Re 18:2 And he cried mightily with a strong voice, saying, Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and is become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird.
Re 18:10 Standing afar off for the fear of her torment, saying, Alas, alas, that great city Babylon, that mighty city! for in one hour is thy judgment come.
Re 18:21 And a mighty angel took up a stone like a great millstone, 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.
(KJV)
At the time of the writing of The Apokalupsis, the Babylonian Empire had already expired. The reigning world power then was Rome. In 1Peter 5:13, where the apostle mentioned a church that was at Babylon, bible commentators are divided as to the exact location referred. I suppose the purpose of this article is not to settle that contention. The salient question that comes to mind is why issues about an expired kingdom are brought to the fore in the book of Revelation. When you open the book the first words you read are:
¶ The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to shew unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John...
The highlighted word: "signified" denotes the use of symbols or figures in a coded manner to convey a message. Since we are sure that the Babylonian kingdom had already expired before a warning is given to readers to flee from her, it is clear that something else is intended by its use here. How do we know what it is? We only have to go back to its usage in the ancient texts to ascertain its present meaning. From the earlier passages of this article we are told how Nimrod had turned the descendants of Noah away from God's rule to "man-rule"in the form of kingdom government (Babylon). We also saw that it had to do with confusion. God did not give up entirely on mankind. He sought a nation out of Abraham, his friend. But that nation was soon led into captivity under the great kingdom of Babylon.
Therefore, apart from Babylon being a synonym for confusion, we can also say it stands for any form or order that detracts from God's right to govern his children; or any system that causes them to lose their freedom or their right to govern themselves. Being the creator of mankind and life, itself, He alone knows how best to "run things". At the time of the writing of the Revelation, God's children were the redeemed souls, who were saved from sin by the shed blood of Jesus Christ, from all over the world.
Romans 2:28
For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh:
Romans 2:29
But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God.
At the inception of the church of God, all the disciples were of one mind. They saw eye to eye and settled disputes in matters of variance concerning the faith. They had one Lord, who is Christ Jesus. They were all brethren, not esteeming one brother above another. This was about to change, as the apostles warned the whole church of a coming disaster, where "grievous wolves" would enter the sheepfold to disrupt the unity and purity of the body. We see an example of this warning in Brother Paul's address to the Ephesian elders in
Acts 20:29
For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock.
Acts 20:30
Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them.
Acts 20:31
Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears.
In another place he stated that this event must precede the coming of the Lord. There he explained that this the mystery of iniquity was already working. Indeed, Babylon is a great mystery. Although it was expired as a physical government yet successive government took up its regalia. It only changed its form. It was a religio-politico system from the very beginning. Even the Roman Empire had inherited most of its paraphernalia. The symbols of the apokalupsis depict the Roman Empire that persecuted the early church of God as Satan the dragon. The dragon handed its power over to the beast, which is the popery Rome or Roman catholic church in the dark ages. When Brother Paul the beloved showed the Thessalonian Christians that there was a power restraining the mystery of iniquity, which we may identify as mystery Babylon, he was unwilling to mention the restraining power for obvious reasons. According to 2Thes 2:5,6, he had already mentioned who this power was, but he was unwilling to commit this same information into writing for obvious reasons. It could endanger the Christians in those days. Tradition has it that the apostle taught them that it was the Roman Empire that restrained "that man of sin" or "son of perdition" from being revealed then. It will turn out from the lessons of history that the "man of sin" was the pope himself, who took over the reins and became so power as to be declared ruler of the ancient Roman world. He overthrew the church of God, in fulfilment of prophecy, and put the people of God under subjection, lording it over them. Subsequent denominations that were formed after the fall of the popery government over the whole Christian world, took after the patterns of the catholic church, hence they are rightly referred to as harlots, being daughters of the mother church: MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH. We can safely conclude that Mystery Babylon is a false representation of the body of Christ on earth. Therefore, people of God, if you caught in the religio-politics of christendom, hear the voice of the Spirit and the Bride, calling you out of this confusion of vain religion.
"...Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues."
"...Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues."
In coming out of Babylon, you need not wander lost in the wilderness, oh saint. Search for your brethren and return to the unity and purity of the one body of Christ.
Re 22:17 And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.
(KJV)
Isa 51:11 Therefore the redeemed of the LORD shall return, and come with singing unto Zion; and everlasting joy shall be upon their head: they shall obtain gladness and joy; and sorrow and mourning shall flee away.
(KJV)
Isa 35:10 And the ransomed of the LORD shall return, and come to Zion with songs and everlasting joy upon their heads: they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.
(KJV)
(I hope to continue this article when questions are raised. Please, feel free to comment).
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