Mystery Babylon: Chapter 15A

The Merchant's Merchandise (no longer found)

"And the merchants of the earth shall weep and mourn over her; for no man buyeth their merchandise anymore" (Revelation 18:11)

Scripture tells us that this great city is in fact this woman in the wilderness, Revelation 17:18. Scripture also tells us that this very woman (city) reigns over the kings of the earth. It is Christ and His Church who reigns over the kings of the earth. This woman has fallen into spiritual adultery. Now, in the final years of this earth's existence, she is termed the "Mother of Harlots." This is the manifestation and the unveiling of the abomination of desolation worldwide. In this chapter we will briefly examine the merchandise which rightfully belongs to the true merchant, i.e. Christ and His bride - the Church. It is the lack of this merchandise within the organized and corporate church that provokes the weeping and mourning of the true spiritual merchants. It is the time of Great Tribulation. Satan has shrewdly and cunningly taken his seat within the corporate church, unnoticed by any and all who are spiritually blind to this prophecy. The question is asked, are these literal merchants of the earth? Are they weeping over the loss of material goods that are being destroyed at Judgment Day? Or do we dare suppose that these merchants are spiritual merchants of the true Gospel weeping and mourning over the fact that the true Gospel is no longer heard in the corporate church?

The following is a list of the merchandise belonging to these merchants, of which are no longer to be found in this woman; this great city in the wilderness.

"The merchandise of gold, and silver, and precious stones, and of pearls, and fine linen, and purple, and silk, and scarlet, and all thyine wood, and all manner vessels of ivory, and all manner vessels of most precious wood, and of brass, and iron, and marble,"

"And cinnamon, and odours, and ointments, and frankincense, and wine, and oil, and fine flour, and wheat, and beasts, and sheep, and horses, and chariots, and slaves, and souls of men." (Revelation 18:12-13)

"THE MERCHANT'S MERCHANDISE"

GOLD

The gold of scripture characterizes Christ as our King of kings. Psalm 21:3 speaks of the Saviour wherein we read: "...thou settest a crown of pure gold on his head." Verse one of the same Psalm declares Him to be "The King." This same truth is underscored again in Revelation 14:14, "And I looked, and behold a white cloud, and upon the cloud sat like unto the Son of man, having on his head a golden crown, and in his hand a sharp sickle." God the Father has crowned His son in pure gold, symbolically speaking. Christ is the one true King of kings and LORD of lords. All who come into this new birth in Christ are themselves spiritual kings and priests of Christ's kingdom.

Gold is also a symbol of the trials and faith of the Christian walk. In Revelation 3:18 Christ counsels us to buy of Him "gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich." Notice particularly that Christ invites us to buy this gold. This gold is spiritual merchandise and we are to buy the gospel and sell it not (Proverbs 23:23). As we have already discovered, to "buy" the truth is simply a phrase termed for receiving the gospel. Once we have come into the true faith and have experienced the Christian walk, we are as gold tried in the fire, that we may be rich in faith. Zechariah 13:9 speaks of God's true believers as the "third part." There we read: "And I will bring the third part through the fire, and will refine them as silver is refined, and will try them as gold is tried..." This world is a testing ground, and we indeed are being tried.

We read in Exodus of much gold that was used in the building of the tabernacle in the wilderness. We also read in I Kings of the gold that King Solomon used in constructing the Temple in Jerusalem. Many other places in scripture we find gold being used, not only for construction of both the tabernacle in the wilderness and Solomon's Temple, but for their interior designs as well. Much of everything that was used in the dressings of these temples played a symbolical part in picturing Christ and His elect in the final and eternal spiritual Temple - the body of Christ and His believers.

SILVER

The true believer is also equated to silver in scripture. We are to be tried and refined as silver (Zechariah 13:9). "The words of the LORD pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times," Psalm 12:6. Again we read in Psalm 66:10 "For thou, O God, hast proved us: thou hast tried us, as silver is tried." Ezekiel 16:13 speaks of the bride of Christ, typified by Old Testament Jerusalem. "Thus was thou decked with gold and silver; and thy raiment of fine linen..." Throughout scripture we read of silver being used in the tabernacle in the wilderness as well as in King Solomon's Temple, of which typified believers in the everlasting spiritual Temple - the body of Christ.

PRECIOUS STONES

Jesus Christ is the precious stone of scripture: "Therefore thus saith the Lord God, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner , a sure foundation: he that believeth shall not make haste," Isaiah 28:6. The Hebrew rendering of "precious" carries the meaning of brightness, clear, excellent, or costly.

All true believers are identified with Christ, and typified not only as silver and gold, but as precious stones as well. We are all spiritual stones that make up the whole body of Christ. I Peter 2:5 tells us "Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ."

We read in I Chronicles 29:2 a brief overview of the costly array that was to go into the building of Solomon's Temple: "Now I have prepared with all my might for the house of my God the gold for of gold, and the silver for of silver, and the brass for of brass, the iron for of iron, and wood for of wood; onyx stones, and to be set, glistering stones, and of divers colours, all manner of precious stones, and marble stones in abundance."

Concerning the New Heaven and the New Earth - the eternal Temple - we read: "And the foundations of the wall of the city garnished with all manner of precious stones...," Revelation 21:19.

As Revelation chapter eighteen lists the merchandise that is no longer found in this woman (now fallen harlot), do we attribute this gold, silver, and precious stones to simply being defined as some of the extravagant and expensive material goods of the world? Goods that are no longer to be purchased by the merchants of the earth? Even the worse of sinners will recognize that the end of the world will mean everything literal will be no more. The teaching behind all of the harlot's merchandise is that the corporate church has become universally apostate, therefore the true merchandise she once preserved (which is spiritual) is no longer there for the asking. The true merchandise she once harbored are the precious doctrines of the one true Word of God, and everything affiliated with Christ and His bride. The merchandise are the vessels and instruments of the true and spiritual Temple of God, prefigured by the Old Testament temple furnishings. All is gone from her. None is left. God has judged His outward church. Judgment begins at the house of God, and thus the true Christian merchants weep and mourn over the finality of her spiritual judgment.

PEARLS

We read in Revelation 18:12 that pearls are another cherished merchandise that is no longer found in this great city. Again in verse sixteen it is said that she is decked with pearls. There is no mention of pearls in the Old Testament other than Job chapter twenty-eight, which has only material pearls in view. Matthew chapter thirteen, however, declares that the kingdom of heaven in liken unto a pearl of great price. Aside from the harlot being arrayed with pearls (Rev. 17:4; 18:12,16), we find only one other mention of pearls, and that being in Matthew 7:6, where pearls are being contrasted to "that which is holy." Not until Revelation chapter twenty-one, do we read of pearls.

"And the twelve gates were twelve pearls: every several gate was of one pearl: and the street of the city was pure gold, as it were transparent glass." (Revelation 21:21)

We have a highly symbolical portrait of the eternal New Jerusalem. Pearls make up a portion of the symbolism. It is no surprise that the harlot church is decked with pearls, since Satan is the great imitator os God. This spiritual harlot is the counterfeit church of the end times. Because of the overspreading of abominations within her, God has made her desolate, even until the consummation (fulfillment or completion), and that which is determined shall be poured upon the desolate. See Daniel 9:27. She too, like the true and faithful Church, is spiritually arrayed in purple and scarlet colour, and decked with gold and precious stones and pearls (Rev. 17:4). She is mimicking the true Church in every sense. She is the end-time deception, of which God declares "...if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect," Matthew 24:24.

FINE LINEN

Fine linen ultimately represents the righteousness of the saints. Concerning the bride of Christ, the wife of the Lamb (Rev. 19:8), we read the following:

"And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of the saints."

When Christ returns to judge this earth, it is said that He will come with His armies of saints, all clothed in fine linen, (Rev. 19:14).

The first mention of fine linen in scripture is in Genesis 41:42, there Pharaoh arrayed Joseph in fine linen. Joseph was a magnificent "type" of Christ, therefore he typified the righteousness of Christ the Saviour. As God demanded holy garments to be made for Aaron and his sons, who were to perform the priestly functions in the wilderness, we see that fine linen was a necessary part of the Ephod, (Exodus 28:39). Aaron, as the high priest of the children of Israel while in the wilderness, represented Christ, our high priest (Hebrews 9:11). Aaron's holy garments would therefore be made of substances and figures pointing to the spiritual substances and the attributes of Christ and His holy bride, the one true Church universal.

Christ in many places throughout scripture is typified by King David. Christ is prophesied in Isaiah 9:7 to reign upon the Throne of David. King David was arrayed in fine linen (I Chronicles 15:27).

God's eternal Jerusalem, being typified by Old Testament national Israel, was arrayed in fine linen back in Ezekiel 16:13.

PURPLE

As we mentioned in earlier chapters, the color purple is another figurative picture of Christ and His bride. It is seen in the tabernacle in the wilderness, as well as being a pertinent color of Aaron's holy garments. This color is used in describing the bride of Christ in Proverbs 31:22 and again in Song of Solomon 7:5.

Christ was robed in purple as He stood before His accusers, readied for His crucifixion. Lydia and her household became saved, as we read in Acts chapter sixteen. It is said of Lydia that she was a seller of purple. Spiritually she was a proclaimer of the Gospel of Christ, thus a "seller of purple." See chapters 5-6.

SILK

In Ezekiel chapter sixteen, while describing God's spiritual Jerusalem (Old and New Testament congregations), God uses a considerable amount of symbolical language, of which much of Revelation chapter eighteen is drawn from. In describing His earthly representation of His kingdom, i.e. Church, God says that He clothed her with silk, Ezekiel 16:10,13. Again in Proverbs chapter thirty-one we read of the virtuous woman whose price is far above rubies (v.10), who can only be the bride of Christ, Old and New Testaments. She is said to plead the cause of the poor and needy (v.9), and again she reaches out her hands to the poor and needy (v.20). All of which is picturing her corporately going about Christ's will in seeking God's lost sheep of the House of Israel. The poor and needy being all of God's elect, all who have been broken of their self-will, becoming poor in spirit and needy; not in need of material substances such as food and clothing, but in spiritual need of eternal salvation. This virtuous woman is said to be like merchants ships, in bringing her food (spiritual merchandise) from afar (v.14). This beautiful metaphorical chapter of the one True Church of Christ is dripping with figurative language in describing God's bride, His elect. Yes, she is also clothed in silk (v.22).

SCARLET

The virtuous woman (as mentioned in the above section on "silk") has her clothing (which represents the righteousness of Christ) made of silk. This silk is said to be scarlet in color, Proverbs 31:21. Scarlet usually represents the blood of Christ. Purple is the same in scripture as scarlet. The references pertaining to scarlet are too numerous to mention. Much scarlet was used in the garnishing of not only the tabernacle in the wilderness, but the garment of the High Priest as well. The High Priest being a representation of Christ Jesus, our only authority and High Priest, Hebrews 8:1. Exodus chapters twenty-five through thirty-nine speak of these things.

We read in II Samuel 1:24:
"Ye daughters of Israel, weep over Saul, who clothed you in scarlet, with other delights, who put on ornaments of gold upon your apparel."

God's one true Israel, the spiritual "Israel of God" (Galatians 6:16), is clothed in Christ's righteousness .... of course. This spiritual apparel is represented by many different figures in scripture, scarlet being only one. However, the corporate church consisting of unsaved men and women will always insist that they too are God's elect, yet they have never been "born-again" and therefore cannot inherit the Kingdom of God. These false Christians, the false church, mimics and impersonates the true Church, the only difference being that they leave out portions of God's doctrine, or they add their own beliefs to God's Divine Word, whereby exposing them as a false gospel. Nevertheless, they claim to be clothed in scarlet, as we are discovering in Revelation 17:4.

One final note on the subject of scarlet. Joshua is, in all probability, a picture and type of Christ. In chapter two of Joshua we read that he sent two men to spy out the land of Jericho. These men typified Christ's Church (represented by the number two). We find that they escaped their pursuers only because of the scarlet thread made available to them in which to flee. Again, another dramatic portrait of Christ being our only escape from eternal hell and outer darkness. Scarlet is no longer found in the corporate church, as are any of the real spiritual figures or symbols of the truth.

THYINE WOOD

Among everything that is missing from this religious harlot's merchandise, thyine wood is included (Rev. 18:12). This is the only place in all of scripture where this particular type of wood is mentioned. 32*"Thyine" in the Greek denotes a certain fragrant tree (in the sense of blowing), and is derived from a word meaning "to do sacrifice". We find this word translated as "kill" or "killed" in Matthew 22:4; Mark 14:12; Luke 15:23,27,30; 22:7; Acts 10:13. It is translated as "slay" in Acts 11:7 and as "sacrifice" in Acts 14:13,18; I Cor. 5:7, 10:20. In most of these cases these sacrifices have everything to do with the ultimate sacrifice of the Lord Jesus Christ. He it is of whom the Old Testament sacrifices all ultimately pointed toward.

The fact that this merchandise is listed as wood (thyine wood) may be in keeping with the Old Testament pictures and allegories. Much wood was used in the building of Solomon's Temple. The varieties of wood mentioned all have their place in representing some spiritual aspect of the true spiritual Temple of Christ - His Body - the Church.

VESSELS OF IVORY

When we examine the word "vessel" in the Old Testament, we find that it is associated with many of the references, if not most of the references, to the many varying instruments or "articles" used in both Solomon's Temple and the tabernacle in the wilderness. For example, Exodus 27:19 reads: "All the vessels of the tabernacle in all the service thereof, and all the pins thereof, and all the pins of the court, brass." Again in Exodus 30:26-28 we read:

"And thou shalt anoint the tabernacle of the congregation therewith, and the ark of the testimony."
"And the table and all his vessels, and the candlestick and his vessels, and the altar of incense."
"And the altar of burnt offering with all his vessels, and the laver and his foot."

Every major article of the tabernacle had many vessels which served that particular function. The Levities were given the priesthood. It was their job to perform the priestly functions of the sanctuary. We read in Numbers 1:50:

"But thou shalt appoint the Levities over the tabernacle of testimony, and over all the vessels thereof, and over all things that (BELONG) to it; they shall bear the tabernacle, and all the vessels thereof; and they shall minister unto it, and shall encamp round about the tabernacle."

The vessels belonging to this tabernacle in the wilderness were very important, for without them the priestly functions could not be performed. II Chronicles 5:5 says that these vessels were holy vessels that were in the tabernacle.

When we read the first two verses of Daniel chapter one, we see a dramatic picture of the "abomination of desolation," when Satan takes his seat in the Temple of God (II Thessalonians 2:4). Daniel 1:1 says that Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, besieged Jerusalem in the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim, king of Judah. Nebuchadnezzar typifies Satan (the prince of this world) in scripture, as being king of Babylon. Verse two speaks of the vessels of the House of God (the Temple) being carried away into the land of Shinar, which is the land of Babylon. All of this language typifies Satan overtaking the congregations of the world (Babylon) at the end of time. It is important to note that the vessels of the House of God were taken captive into Babylon. These vessels may represent the false believers who are taken captive by Satan. Because they are in the House of God, they are also characterized as vessels.

When we go to the New Testament we read of vessels in the following verses:

"Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour?" (Romans 9:21)

"What if God, willing to shew his wrath, and to make his power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction."

"And that he might make known the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy, which he had afore prepared unto glory." (Romans 9:22-23)

"But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us." (II Corinthians 4:7)

"That every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honour." (I Thessalonians 4:4)

"If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master's use, and prepared unto every good work." (II Timothy 2:21)

Today's true believer is a vessel of honour in God's eternal kingdom. The non-believers within the church are vessels of wrath. These vessels of honour are also alluded to in Revelation chapter eighteen as merchandise of which are found vessels of ivory. Why?

Song of Solomon chapter five describes Christ in all of His glory as His bride's "beloved." The many wonderful figurative and spiritual depictions are too numerous to detail. Among the many depictions, we read "... his belly is as bright ivory overlaid sapphires." When we go to chapter seven we find Christ's bride, the Church, being described in allegorical terms. Verse four reads: "Thy neck is as a tower of ivory... " As God created a bride for Adam, we the Church of Christ have been created for Christ. We are the vessels of ivory; spiritual merchandise belonging to Christ and His Church, and masqueraded by Satan and his imitation (false) church. What will become of this false church at the end of time? Amos 3:15 says:

"And I will smite the winter house with the summer house; and the houses of ivory shall perish, and the great houses shall have an end, saith the LORD."

The "vessels of Ivory," being listed in Revelation 18:12, is a portion of the merchandise that is no longer found within the religious harlot. It is in no manner simply referring to worldly and costly material goods. This cannot be. These are spiritual descriptions of the things belonging to the true spiritual Temple of God. God's true vessels of ivory can no longer mingle with this spiritual harlot; they must flee from her, for the fear of her torment - her judgment.

Back : Chapter 14 - All Things 'Dainty' and 'Goodly' are Departed From Thee

Next : Chapter 15B - The Merchant's Merchandise: No Longer Found in Her

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