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"MYSTERY BABYLON: ABOMINATION OF DESOLATION?"
Spring 1994, Updated 1998

CHAPTER-FIFTEEN (B)

"The Merchant's Merchandise" (Continued)

PRECIOUS WOOD

Precious wood also falls under the heading of "vessels," as we read from Revelation 18:12: "and all manner vessels of most precious wood." The children of God are indeed vessels of wood in God's eyes. The Greek word translated as "wood" (xoo'-lon) in the King James is also the same Greek word translated as "tree" in Revelation 2:7: "... to him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree [wood] of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God." Again this same word is found in Revelation 22:2: "In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, the tree [wood] of life..." A picture of our eternal heavenly home. Christ Himself is pictured as an apple tree in Song of Solomon 2:3. Believers are clearly liken in scripture to trees, wood, and also a forest. The word "wood" in the Old Testament comes mainly from two Hebrew words, 33*"ates" and 34*"yah'-ar." Wood in the Old Testament is also translated as "tree" or "forest."

"She is a tree ["ates"] of life to them that lay hold upon her: and happy is every one that retaineth her." (Proverbs 3:18)

"The fruit of the righteous is a tree ["ates"] of life; and he that winneth souls is wise." (Proverbs 11:30)

"Let the field be joyful, and all that is therein: then shall all the trees ["ates"] of the wood rejoice." (Psalm 96:12)

"Until the spirit be poured upon us from on high, and the wilderness be a fruitful field, and the fruitful field be counted for a forest ["yah'-ar"]." (Isaiah 32:15)

"Is it yet a little while, and Lebanon shall be turned into a fruitful field, and the fruitful field shall be esteemed as a forest ["yah'-ar"]."
"And in that day shall be deaf hear the words of the book, and the eyes of the blind shall see out of obscurity, and out of darkness." (Isaiah 29:17-18)

"Then shall the trees ["ates"] of the wood sing out at the presence of the LORD, because he cometh to judge the earth." (I Chronicles 16:33)

"Sing, O ye heavens; for the LORD hath done it: shout, ye lower parts of the earth: break forth into singing, ye mountains, O forest ["yah'-ar"], and every tree [wood], therein: for the LORD hath redeemed Jacob, and glorified himself in Israel." (Isaiah 44:23)

"Feed thy people with thy rod, the flock of thine heritage, which dwell solitarily in the wood ["yah'-ar"], in the midst of Carmel: let them feed in Bashan and Gilead, as in the days of old." (Micah 7:14)

It is this "wood," among other terms, symbolizing followers of the one true Gospel that is no longer found within the harlot church. We must remember that God uses wood numerous times - over and over again - in showing what He meticulously chose to use in the building of His Holy Temple and the tabernacle in the wilderness. Wood is only one of numerous materials used in His careful building. Everything that went into the building of God's wilderness temple and His Temple in Jerusalem represented some spiritual aspect of the New Testament Church of Christ, God's final Temple.

We read in Revelation 18:12 that not only is this wood precious, but it is most precious. By examining the Greek word 35*precious, we find that it must ultimately be associated with the atonement of Christ on the cross. Every person elect of God was purchased with the shed blood of Christ, causing them to become precious in His sight. The word "Tim'-ee-os" (precious) is listed in the following verses:

"But the precious [tim'-ee-os] blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:" (1 Peter 1:19)

"That the trial of your faith, being much more precious [tim'-ee-os] than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ." (1 Peter 1:17)

"Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious [tim'-ee-os] promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust." (II Peter 1:4)

"Marriage is honourable [tim'-ee-os] in all, and the bed undefiled; but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge." (Hebrews 13:4)

"Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandmen waiteth for the precious [tim'-ee-os] fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain."

"... and all manner vessels of most precious [tim'-ee-os] wood..." (Revelation 18:12)

Having compared scripture with scripture, and having examined the Greek and Hebrew words from which "precious wood" is derived from, can we now say in all honesty that this "precious wood," as viewed from Revelation chapter eighteen, is nothing more than worldly merchandise? Is it material goods, costly and precious to the businessmen of the world who trade in these commodities? The destruction of Mystery Babylon is described in spiritual and parabolic terms, and therefore cannot be correctly understood from a superficial reading of the chapter. Why do most, who have spent time studying this chapter, unanimously agree that "Babylon" of the great tribulation era is a "symbol" of some sort representing the kingdom of Satan, and yet interpret the entire eighteenth chapter of Revelation in a most literal manner?

BRASS

"But all the silver, and gold, and vessels of brass and iron, are consecrated unto the LORD: they shall come into the treasury of the LORD." (Joshua 6:19)

God says that these vessels of brass, iron, silver, and gold are to be consecrated (made holy) unto the LORD. Joshua chapter six gives an account of the fall of Jericho. The word "Joshua," which means "salvation," is the Hebrew equivalent to the name of Jesus. Acts 7:45 and Hebrews 4:8 translate "Jesus" as "Joshua" in the Greek. Joshua led the Israelites in circling the city of Jericho once a day for seven day. On the seventh day they circled the city seven times for a total of thirteen encompassments. At that time the priests blew the rams horns and Joshua and the Israelites gave a great shout and the walls of Jericho fell. All of this being a dramatic miniature picture of Judgment Day, when all true believers will be raptured at the sound of the last trumpet and at the shout of God. Jericho being a picture of the unsaved world. The only thing that was saved out of Jericho were the vessels of brass, iron, silver, and gold. Of course Rahab the harlot and her household were saved, being a type of the Church, because she hid the two messengers of God. She would spiritually be a vessel of brass, iron, silver, and gold. These vessels were taken and put into the treasury of the house of the LORD, which signifies the true Christian being taken into God's heavenly house or treasury for eternity.

Christ is described throughout scripture in many symbolical ways. His feet are like unto "fine brass" in Revelation 1:15 and 2:18. It is Christ with feet of fine brass who is the stone cut out without hands (Daniel 2:24), who smote Satan (typified by Nebuchadnezzar, Daniel chapter two). Christ smote Satan at the cross. Satan in scripture is pictured as a MAN: his head of fine gold, his breast and his arms of silver, his belly and his thighs of brass, his legs of iron, and his feet of iron and clay, Daniel 2:32-33. We must not confuse ourselves when we read of gold, silver, iron, and brass throughout scripture. Many are in the negative sense while other passages plainly refer to Christ. All negative passages of these vessels are most probably in reference to Christ's adversary, who is the anti-Christ - Satan - depicted as a man in scripture. He is the great imitator of Christ, no wonder he and his harlot church are symbolically adorned in much identical apparel to Christ and His bride!

Zechariah saw in a vision the four spirits of the heavens which went forth from standing before the Lord of the earth (Zech. 6:5). These spirits of God were in the form of four chariots which came out from between the mountains of brass. Mountains are usually in reference to the kingdom of God.

Micah 4:13 speaks of all believers as "O daughter of Zion":
"Arise and thresh, O daughter of Zion: for I will make thy horn iron, and will make thine hoofs brass; and thou shalt beat in pieces many people: and I will consecrate their gain unto the LORD, and their substance unto the Lord of the whole earth."

King Solomon's plans for building God's Temple in Jerusalem called for:
"...of gold five thousand talents and ten thousand drams, and of silver ten thousand talents, and of brass eighteen thousand talents, and one hundred thousand talents of iron." ( 1 Chronicles 29:7)

Most, if not everything that God used in the literal sense to build and furnish His Old Testament Temple ultimately is describing and paralleling (with physical material) the spirituality of His completed Temple, the Church of Jesus Christ. There are none (perhaps few) of these symbolic and spiritual riches remaining in the corporate church, as we arrive at the conclusion of the history of unregenerate man.

MARBLE

In the New Testament Greek the word 37*"marble" (mar'-mar-os) is defined as "to glisten"; "sparkling white"; "marble." We know that Christ is spoken of in many passages as being white or white as snow. Daniel 12:10 declares that "many shall be purified and made white, and tried..." This Greek word is rooted from "mar'-toos," which is defined as "a witness; by analogy a marty." It is also used as "record."

"But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses ["mar'-toos": root to "mar'-mar-os" - to glisten, sparkle white, marble] ..." (Acts 1:8)

"And I will give power unto my two witnesses ["mar'-toos"]..." (Revelation 11:3)

"And when the blood of thy martyr ["mar'-toos"] Stephen was shed, I also was standing by, and consenting unto his death, and kept the raiment of them that slew him." (Acts 22:20)

"And I saw the woman drunken with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the martyrs ["mar'-toos"] of Jesus..." (Revelation 17:6)

"For God is my record ["mar'-toos"; the base of "mar'-mar-os": to sparkle white; to glisten; to be a witness, martyr, or record for Christ; the base of marble], how greatly I long after you all in the bowels of Jesus Christ." (Philippians 1:8)

When we go to the Hebrew Old Testament we find the word marble 38*("shah'-yish") meaning to whiten; white linen; silk; to bleach stuff; or marble. For example, we read in 1 Chronicles 29:2 of King David's plans for God's Temple:

"Now I have prepared with all my might for the house of my God the gold for things to be made of gold, and the silver for things of silver, and the brass for things of brass, the iron for things of iron, wood for things of wood; onyx stones, and stones to be set, glistering [remember marble meant to glisten?] stones, and of divers colours, and all manner of precious stones, and marble ["shay'-yish": bleach; white linen; silk] stones in abundance."

As we mentioned earlier, Proverbs chapter thirty-one speaks of the bride of Christ as the virtuous woman (Proverbs 31:10). In verse eighteen we are told that she perceiveth that her merchandise is good. Clearly, this chapter is not speaking of merchants trafficking in precious cargo across the seas as in Revelation chapter eighteen. Yet, this virtuous woman's merchandise is essentially the same as that of Revelation chapter eighteen. Why? Because her merchandise is spiritual in nature. Her merchandise is symbolic; it represents all believers in Christ. It is characteristic of the spiritual traits of the Gospel of Christ and His Church. And again, her merchandise represents the many varying portraits of which God has meticulously painted throughout scripture in picturing Christ and His bride in pictures and symbols.

"She maketh herself coverings of tapestry; her clothing is silk ["shah'-ish": to bleach, whiten, silk, by analogy marble] and purple." (Proverbs 31:22)

Song of Solomon chapter five speaks of "my beloved" (verse ten), who is the bridegroom - Christ Himself. This entire chapter provides beautiful and metaphorical depictions of the Saviour.

"His legs are as pillars of marble ["shah'-yins], set upon sockets of fine gold: his countenance is as Lebannon, excellent as the cedars."

Every believer is an inheritor of the kingdom of God, for Christ has given us this eternal promise. We inherit the righteousness of Christ and everything that goes along with it. We too are clothed with Christ' clothing. Ezekiel chapter sixteen displays much of this spiritual clothing belonging to Christ's bride:

"I clothed thee also with broidered work, and shod thee with badgers' skin, and I girded thee about with fine linen, and I covered thee with silk ["Shah'-yish": to bleach as white linen; marble]. (Ezekiel 16:10)

"Thus wast thou decked with gold and silver; and thy raiment was of fine linen, and silk ["Shah'-yish": to bleach, whiten, silk; by analogy marble], and broidered work; thou didst eat fine flour, and honey, and oil: and thou wast exceeding beautiful, and thou didst prosper into a kingdom." (Ezekiel 16:13)

Marble, like the rest of the merchandise that is no longer to be found in Mystery Babylon, is expressed throughout scripture as being only one of many different "picture symbols" spiritually signifying Christ and all of His elect. God speaks in symbolic and perhaps poetic language often in speaking of His beloved Son and His bride. Once again, we must conclude that the merchandise of which this mystery harlot no longer possesses can only be Christ and His bride, revealed in highly figurative language. As we study the harlot's merchandise (of which she no longer possesses), it becomes evident that this merchandise is described in word pictures and figures, all of which are affiliated in one way or another to Christ and His true Church.

CINNAMON"

Other than in Revelation chapter eighteen, the word "cinnamon" is used in only three other verses, all of which are Old Testament references. 38*"Cinnamon" was a substance or an ingredient used in holy oil for anointing. We find this word used in Exodus 30:23, where God commands Moses to make a holy anointing oil, that he should anoint the following: the tabernacle of the congregation; with the ark of the testimony, the table and its vessels, the candlestick, the altar of incense, the altar of burnt offering with all its vessels, the laver (wash bowl) and its foot (stand), and Aaron and his sons. This was done as God requested. "This shall be a holy anointing oil unto me throughout your generations," (Exodus 30:31). To be anointed with holy anointing oil is surely depicting the baptism of the Holy Ghost upon all of God's elect within His completed Temple - the body of Christ.

Proverbs chapter seven teaches the shrewdness and craftiness of the religious harlot; "... a woman the attire of an harlot, and subtil of heart," (verse 10). This is not simply any non-Christ centered religion. This harlot is taught to be disguised and masquerading as the one true religion. Neither is she presumptuously bringing some bizarre but recognizable false gospel. No, she is a harlot; spiritually defiled, and yet is successfully deceiving multitudes with her imitation of Christ. She has "cast many down wounded: yea, many strong have been slain by her, (Proverbs 7:26). Her house is the way to hell, verse twenty-seven. She is suggesting that her virtues and traits are true, and indistinguishable from that of God's true Church. Her resting place, by analogy her bed (Proverbs 7:16), is decked with coverings of tapestry. In comparison, we read of the true Church of God in Proverbs 31:22 "She maketh herself coverings of tapestry..." Everything about this religious harlot is only mimicking God's true Church. She continues: "I have perfumed my bed with myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon, (Proverbs 7:17). Christ's true Church possesses, among many allegorical figures, "cinnamon, myrrh, and aloes," Song of Solomon 4:14.

ODOURS

"Odours" is yet another segment of God's merchandise that has been taken away from this religious harlot of Revelation chapter eighteen. Strong's Greek defines 40*"odours" as "an aroma, i.e. to offer aromatic fumes; burnt incense."

"And when he had taken the book, the four beasts and four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of saints," (Revelation 5:8).

We know from the above verse alone that "odours" are representative of the prayers of the saints. The word "odour" is also translated as "incense" in Revelation chapter eight, and again is associated with the prayers of the saints.

"And another angel came and stood at the altar, having a golden censer; and there was given unto him much incense [same word as "odour"], that he should offer it with the prayers of all saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne."

"And the smoke of the incense [odour], which came with the prayers of the saints, ascended up before God out of the angel's hand," (Revelation 8:3-4).

Our prayers to God are indeed a pertinent part of our spiritual sacrifices (odours).

"By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name." (Hebrews 13:15)

Christ Himself was given as the ultimate sacrifice, of which was symbolically pictured as a sweet-smelling savour.

"And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling savour." (Ephesians 5:2)

As "odours" is defined as to offer burnt incense, we saw that it represents (in addition to Old Testament burnt offerings), the prayers of the saints. Odours are seen in the Old Testament being affiliated with the tabernacle of the congregation and also Solomon's Temple.

"According to the custom of the priest's office, his lot [duty] was to burn incense [odours] when he went into the Temple of the Lord." (Luke 1:9)

Someday Satan and all of fallen man will acknowledge that Christ is LORD of LORDS. As Daniel typified Christ in the Old Testament, so King Nebuchadnezzar was a type of Satan, no doubt. All of creation, saved and unsaved will bow to Christ at His second coming:

"Then the king Nebuchadnezzar fell upon his face, and worshipped Daniel, and commanded that they should offer an oblation and sweet odours unto him." (Daniel 2:46)

The Old Testament Hebrew word for 41*odours carries the meaning of "spices," "fragrance," and even "restful," "pleasant," or "delight." The LORD commanded Moses to speak to the congregation of the children of Israel. In doing so, Moses said: "...whosoever is of a willing heart, let him bring it, an offering of the LORD..." (Exodus 35:5). Among the many offerings for the tabernacle in the wilderness was "...oil for the light, and spices [odours] for anointing oil, and for the sweet incense," (Exodus 35:8). Spices (odours) was just one of many ingredients used for the service in the Old Testament tabernacle. When we go back to Song of Solomon we find the Hebrew word for "odour" is also used as "spices." Chapter four and verse ten has the bride of Christ in view:

"How fair is thy love, my sister, my spouse [bride in Hebrew]! How much better is thy love than wine! and the smell of thine ointments than all spices!"

The Church of Jesus Christ is no doubt a sweet smelling fragrance to Christ, figuratively speaking. When the Apostle Paul wrote to the saints at Philippi (Philippians chapter four) he expressed his gratitude and thankfulness that even when he was in Thessalonica the saints at Philippi "sent once again unto my necessity," Philippians 4:16. Whatever the gift was, Paul continues in verse seventeen by saying "Not because I desire a gift, but I desire fruit that may abound [be added] to your account." Finally in verse eighteen Paul states: "But I have all, and abound: I am full, having received of Epaphroditus the things from you, an odour of sweet smell, a sacrifice well-pleasing to God."

Because Paul was loved by many saints in the churches he helped to establish, he was, no doubt, given physical substance by some, like those at Philippi. In the above verse Paul states that he received from Epaphroditus the "things" which were sent from Philippi. Immediately he reflects upon them: an odour of sweet smell, a sacrifice acceptable and well-pleasing to God. Is it reasonable to assume that the saints at Philippi, in attempting to help Paul in his travels, would determine and conclude that he needed some type of odors or "incense" to help him reach his next destination? Of course not. Paul is not disclosing what the gift was, he simply refers to it as "the things ." Whatever the gift (no doubt a collection from the church; perhaps money and food), Paul says of it that he desires not a gift, but he desires Christian fruit, that may abound to your account. The gift to Paul was not perfume or anything of that nature, but it was material goods to help him in his journeys. This was done by the brethren to demonstrate the fruits of the Spirit; Christian love to Paul and to God. This then is precisely why Paul says of it: "...an odour of sweet smell, a sacrifice acceptable, well-pleasing to God." As small as it may have been, it indeed was a sacrifice to God. "... inasmuch as ye have done unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done unto me ...," (Matthew 25:40). Hebrews 13:16 absolutely confirms this: "But to do good and to communicate forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased." Our good works, once we are saved, are performed not as any type of work to get us into heaven, but our good works (whatever they may be) are done as a spiritual sacrifice unto our Heavenly Father. Faithful prayer (the odour of the saints, Rev. 5:8, 8:4) is a good work and a spiritual sacrifice, well-pleasing unto God.

When we look back to Song of Solomon chapter five we see a beautiful metaphorical portrait of Christ, the bridegroom. "His cheeks as a bed of spices [odours], sweet flowers: his lips lilies, dropping sweet smelling myrrh," (Song of Solomon 5:13). In addition to Christ and His bride both being referenced as "sweet spices," Song of Solomon tells us in chapter eight and verse fourteen that the kingdom of God is as the "mountains of spices." Throughout scripture the Kingdom of God is typified as a mountain or mountains. For example, "mountain of his holiness," Psalm 48:1. "Mountain of myrrh," Song of Solomon 4:6. "Hill of frankincense," Song of Solomon 4:6. "Mountains of brass," Zechariah 6:1. Notice particularly that spices, myrrh, frankincense, and brass and all included in Mystery Babylon's list of merchandise that has been taken from her, as God's righteous judgment upon her. Of course these are all spiritual word pictures (symbols) of God and His magnificent plan of salvation.

Neither will odours and spices (saintly prayers and good works?) be found in Mystery Babylon. This is one more indicator that the apostate church (the religious harlot) of the tribulation period is mimicking the true Church of God, while lacking the true power of Christ. She is strictly representative of the apostate church after the abomination of desolation has set in, and Satan has taken his seat in the Temple (Church) of God, II Thessalonians 2:4.

FOOTNOTES:

35* "Yah'-ar" #3293 Strong's Hebrew. From unused root probably meaning to thicken with verdure; a copse of bushes; hence honey in the comb (as hived in trees): - [honey] comb, forest, wood.

36* "tim'-ee-os" #5093 Strong's Greek. From #5092; valuable, i.e. (obj.) costly, or (subj.) honored, esteemed, or (fig.) beloved:-dear, honourable, (more, most) precious, had in reputation.

37* "mar'-mar-os" #3139 Strong's Greek. From "mar'-mai-ro" (to glisten); marble (as sparkling white).

38* "shah'-yish" #7893 Strong's Hebrew. From an unused root meaning to bleach, i.s. whiten; white, i.e. marble. See #8336

#8336 Hebrew "shesh-ee'"; for #7893; bleached stuff, i.e. white linen or (by anal.) marble:- blue, fine [twined] linen, marble, silk.

39* "kin-naw-mone'" #7076 Strong's Hebrew. From unused root (mean. to erect); cinnamon bark (as in upright rolls):__ cinnamon.

40* "thoo-mee'-am-ah" #2368 Strong's Greek. From #2370; an aroma, i.e. fragrant powder burnt in religious services; by impl. the burning itself: - incense, odour.

#2370 "thoo-mee-ah'-o": From a der. of #2380 (in the sense of smoking); to fumigate, i.e. offer aromatic fumes: - burnt incense.

41* "Bo'-sem" #1314 in Strong's Hebrew. Fragrance; by impl. spicery; also the balsam plant: - smell, spice, sweet (odour).

"Nee-kho'-akh" #5207; restful, i.e. pleasant; abstr. delight: - sweet (odour).