09-World Trade Center

Revelation 18:8-13,

8)”Therefore shall her plagues come in one day, death, and mourning, and famine, and she shall be utterly burned with fire; for strong is the Lord who judgeth her. 9) And the kings of the earth, who have committed fornication and lived luxuriously with her, shall bewail her, and lament for her, when they shall see the smoke of her burning, 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. 11)And the merchants of the earth shall weep and mourn over her; for no man buyeth their merchandise any more: 12)The merchandise of gold, and silver, and precious stones, and pearls, and fine linen, and purple, and silk, and scarlet, and all thine wood, and all kinds of vessels of ivory, and all kinds of vessels of most precious wood, and of bronze, and iron, and marble, 13)And cinnamon, and incense, and ointments, and frankincense, and wine, and oil, and fine flour, and wheat, and cattle, and sheep, horses, and chariots, and slaves, and souls of men.

We see again how all the businessmen of the world have used Babylon as their principle market place. Babylon is the end-time nation who buys, manufactures, and consumes the goods or resources of the earth. When God´s judgments destroy and desolate her, the merchants of the earth will cry and mourn. The tears are not because God is revealing Himself and they´re sorry, but because they won´t be able to maintain the flow of money and riches anymore. The “gravy train” is derailed. Babylon, as the glory and pride of all the nations, will be as Sodom and Gomorrah, (Isaiah 13:19). When Babylon falls, so does the idolatrous economy of the world.

America represents about five percent of the world population, but consumes over fifty percent of the world´s wealth. America´s gross national product was 285 billion dollars in 1950, 940 billion in 1972, and is well over 1 trillion dollars today. This phenomenal growth, production, and consumption of the earth´s goods is not a result of being faithful, God-fearing, and generous to the poor. It results from selfishness and greed.

If Jesus were here in the flesh today, walking the streets of this country, visiting the churches that profess His name, I´m convinced that He would react the same as when He entered the Temple with righteous anger. And the religious Pharisees of today would condemn Him because of His indictment of their greed and making merchandise of the people. All of the splendid spectacular buildings and programs won´t cover up the inner sin lust and selfishness.

Its been reported that 80-90% of all religious contributions are spent on buildings and equipment, for the enjoyment of those who made the contributions. That reveals what really fills the hearts of most church members. They spend most of God´s money on themselves, thinking they´re giving to God. They only love themselves and their money.

The political-economic-religious systems of America are caught up in a pleasure seeking, luxury looking lifestyle that is angering a most merciful and long suffering Lord. God is exposing the “world trade center” for what is really is.

Much of what is preached in America should be called the Babylonian Gospel because it has rejected the lowly Nazarene! I´ve heard claims that up to one third of America´s population is “born again”. One who is born from above is taught to pick up his cross and love his enemies. He is taught to bless them who hurt you and despise. Peter said we are “to walk in His steps”. These claims have very little evidence to back them up.

Instead of mercy and sacrifice, there seems to be a rapidly growing spirit of covetousness and greed. Self-denial is to reject the old carnal desires, and then put someone else´s welfare and needs ahead of our own. It means to esteem others as better than ourselves. This is produced and motivated by the Lord Jesus Christ living within us. It is the result of being saved, not something done in our own power to earn salvation. Jesus came to the earth, not to be served, but serve, to give Himself to others. This includes the Russians and all of America´s enemies.

That´s the example we are to follow. Sadly, the reason most American Christians don´t evidence that attitude is because they are not led by the Holy Spirit. I´m not meaning to be hard or harsh by that statement. I know from personal experience what it means to walk in the flesh. The carnal old man that Paul talks about is always trying to get control of us. But, we have a choice; walk in the Spirit or the flesh.