The Day All The Lights Go Out!
Did you know that the Bible predicts that someday (perhaps sooner than we care to think), the lights will all go out? “And the light of a lamp shall shine no more at all in thee . . . ” (Revelation 18:23)
This ominous and sobering prophecy was given as a word of warning to a large and wealthy end-time nation that will come under the sudden judgment of God. The identity of that nation is a mystery but there are over 70 descriptions we need to consider and not ignore. Think for a moment what would happen if the electricity went off all over a modern country such as ours:
1. The entire banking system would fail . . . immediately.
2. You couldn’t buy anything . . . food . . . gasoline . . . medications.
3. You couldn’t contact anyone . . . family members . . . friends . . . emergency services.
4. Communication systems would fail . . . no TV . . . no radio . . . no cell phones.
5. Most people could not heat their homes . . . or cool them.
6. Most people only have enough food in their homes for a couple of days at most . . . and most of them couldn’t cook food if they had it. No coffee . . . YIKES!
7. Water and sewer services would fail very quickly.
8. Desperate people would begin to do unthinkable things . . . and you couldn’t call the police for help. Law and order would break down . . . and most people in city settings couldn’t escape.
Sounds pretty scary doesn’t it!
What could cause such a disaster?
Attempts are being made increasingly by foreign enemies to hack into our computer systems including our electrical power grid. After four weeks of war in Ukraine, the U.S. Government has issued a warning that Russia is preparing to cyber-attack our country and they have urged banks and private businesses to take every precaution to protect their computer systems.
Terrorists could also bring down the system without too much effort by destroying power substations. Even a sizable solar flare has the potential of disrupting the power system. It is also known that a nuclear electromagnetic pulse weapon exploding over the middle of the country would wreak unbelievable havoc to all electrical systems nationwide. Cars would come to a standstill on freeways . . . all communication equipment would immediately fail . . . even home backup generators would suddenly be worthless.
WHY would God allow such a tragedy to happen?
Let’s go back to that prophecy in the Scriptures to more fully understand what is prophesied to happen and why . . . “And the light of a lamp shall shine no more at all in thee . . . for by thy sorceries were all nations deceived.” (Revelation 18:23)
“Sorceries” in this passage is the Greek word “pharmakeia” and is translated “medications” or “poisons” . . . and it is the Greek word from which we get our word “pharmacy.” The fact is, the United States has become the pharmaceutical and drug capitol of the world!
The Colorado Springs Gazette Telegraph has reported that pot shops in the city of Denver now outnumber McDonald’s restaurants at an incredible and growing rate of 12 to 1! (February 16, 2019).
Until recent years, the United States was the major market for illegal drugs produced in South America and other places in the Western Hemisphere. The work of the drug cartels continues to pour drugs into America but they are now facing great competition from right here within the United States. Now, an increasing number of states are legalizing “recreational drugs” such as marijuana and “pot shops” have become a major industry on the main streets of our country.
The prophetic warning about the loss of lights is just part of a series of warnings given to an end-time super power nation that has turned it’s back on God and good. The use and distribution of drugs is only part of the reason for the upcoming judgment of God. Here are a few more reasons why the Righteous and Holy God will allow a polluted society to come under severe judgment:
Isaiah 13:11-13 . . . The prophet Isaiah prophesied about the the same nation as Book of Revelation. In this passage God pronounced terrible judgment upon the nation because of her great pride and arrogant spirit.
Jeremiah 50:14 . . . God also pronounced coming judgment upon this same end-time nation because she has greatly “sinned against the Lord.”
2 Kings 24:3-4 . . . God destroyed the city of Jerusalem because of the sins of a wicked king by the name of Manasseh . . . “he filled Jerusalem with innocent blood, which the LORD would not pardon.” Manasseh promoted the killing of innocent babies at the wicked altars of Baal . . . but the number of children butchered in ancient days is nothing in comparison to the millions of unborn children that have been sacrificed at the altars of convenience all over the world plus the 60 million babies that have been killed in America alone.
2 Peter 2:6 . . . “God turned the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah into ashes and condemned them with an overthrow, making them an example unto those that after should live ungodly.” Modern day perversion is a stench in the nose of our righteous God . . . woe to any people that once knew moral light and have turned away from it in defiance and indifference!
WHAT NATION is facing such a day of calamity?
The Bible speaks of an end-time nation that is referred to as the “daughter of Babylon.” This end-time “daughter of Babylon”, whoever it proves to be, is not any of the following:
1. The “daughter of Babylon” is NOT ancient religious Babylon, the society of Nimrod and the builders of the Tower of Babel. (Genesis chapter 11)
2. The “daughter of Babylon” is NOT ancient historical Babylon, the world-wide empire of King Nebuchadnezzar.
3. The “daughter of Babylon” is NOT “mystery Babylon”, the end-time religious system that has been identified as the Roman church. (Revelation chapter 17)
The “daughter of Babylon” appears to be an end-time political and economic society.
The Biblical Description of the End-Time “Daughter of Babylon”
The Bible describes a powerful end-time nation as “Babylon” and “The Daughter of Babylon”. (The use of the word “daughter” would imply that this nation will be a descendant of the previous Babylon.) According to the Scriptures, end-time Babylon will be the youngest of the great nations, born from a motherland, composed of a mixed multitude, a literal melting pot of all nationalities. Babylon is depicted as the most wealthy of all the nations, the world center of manufacturing, commerce, and agricultural production. Her location is to the west of Jerusalem, “beyond the rivers of Ethiopia.” (Ancient Babylon was located in the opposite direction, to the east of Jerusalem.) This end-time nation will also be a great consumer of the world’s products with merchant ships filling her many harbors. The land will be fully developed and mapped with many cities. Air travel and military security are some of her greatest assets.
According the the Bible, Babylon and her people who once were recognized as the “lady of kingdoms”, will become preoccupied with pleasures, luxuries, higher education . . . and drugs. She will become arrogant in her attitude toward the Lord of heaven. She will give herself to occultic practices and great immorality. Perversion will become an accepted lifestyle. The sins of her national leaders will be exposed for all the world to see. The rumor of coming terrorism will cause multitudes to flee from her cities and seek shelter in their own homelands. The once “glory of kingdoms” will come under the chastening hand of the Lord Who Himself made her great.
Over seventy descriptions have been identified that refer to this powerful and wealthy end-time nation. You can read about them by CLICKING HERE.
Primary Biblical references to the end-time “daughter of Babylon”: Isaiah chapter 13, Isaiah 18:1-3, Isaiah chapter 47, Jeremiah chapters 50 and 51, Revelation chapter 18.
PREPARATIONS for future calamity:
One of the web sites I recently read suggested preparing for the day the lights go off by purchasing FLASH LIGHTS . . . they suggested placing a flashlight in every room of the house including the bathrooms! Great . . . but flash lights will not protect anyone from the total breakdown of society.
Others have suggested having some extra food on hand . . . another temporary measure at best. Get some firewood . . . another temporary measure. I am not suggesting that we should not be prepared for future disruptions and emergencies, whatever form they take . . . but the most important preparation is to be in a right relationship with God through faith in Jesus Christ. He died in payment for all of the sins that we have all committed . . . He alone can give us peace in the midst of any storm. Trust Him today. And meanwhile, pray that there would be a major turning away from the sins and perversions that have thrown our modern world and country into darkness and despair.
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