Prophecy Accomplished

 •  2 min. read  •  grade level: 10
 
We cannot have the accomplishment of prophecy as long as the Church is the platform of God's activity in grace. But when it is taken up to heaven, then God's suspended dealings with Israel and the nations are resumed. The Church—Christ's body and bride—is an election out of both, and is not itself a subject of prophecy, but of New Testament revelation (Matt. 16:16-1816And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. 17And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Bar-jona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven. 18And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. (Matthew 16:16‑18); Eph. 3).
Political and religious events, which are the growth and result of centuries, are transpiring before our eyes. But in the prophetic week of 7 years (Dan. 9:2727And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate. (Daniel 9:27)), changes of the most startling character are witnessed. The whole political government of Europe is then rearranged under Satan's prime minister, the beast of the Revelation—a gigantic confederation of 10 powers.
The old Roman Empire will reappear under new conditions, guided and controlled by its active, blaspheming and persecuting head, the little horn of Dan. 7. His partner in crime and sharer in everlasting ruin is the Antichrist who guides religiously in Christendom, as the beast does politically.
The whore, or the mystical Babylon, is the concentration of everything religiously vile. Her political dethronement in the revived empire is effected instrumentally by the 10 kings (Rev. 17:12, 1612And the ten horns which thou sawest are ten kings, which have received no kingdom as yet; but receive power as kings one hour with the beast. (Revelation 17:12)
16And the ten horns which thou sawest upon the beast, these shall hate the whore, and shall make her desolate and naked, and shall eat her flesh, and burn her with fire. (Revelation 17:16)), who at first upheld her. Her ruin is mourned over by kings, merchants, and peoples outside the Roman earth (ch. 18:9-19), and she is subsequently destroyed by God Himself (vv. 21-24) a short time before the destruction of the beast. This latter is effected by the Lord in Person, and at His coming in power (ch. 19). The destruction of Babylon and the beast are separate events. The former precedes the latter.
There can be no public development of these and other events of a like character so long as the Church is on the earth. Evil at present is a mystery, though actively at work, but it is restrained or kept in check by two powers. What restrains (2 Thess. 2:66And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time. (2 Thessalonians 2:6)) is the Church on earth, and He who restrains (v. 7) is the Holy Spirit. Hence there cannot be the public abandonment of the faith till the Church and the Spirit leave the earth. But the principles are at work which are surely and rapidly undermining the moral foundations of the professing Church and of society in general. W. Scott
I am the LORD: I wilt speak,
and the word that I shall speak
shall come to pass.