The Light Of A Candle

hen Revelation states the end time's system, identified there as Babylon, comes to its well deserved destruction, all sorts of activity will cease. In the most vivid imagery imaginable, the prophet tells us that "Babylon" will be judged, and when this occurs, there will be no presence of God at all in this defiled identity.

"And the light of a candle shall shine no more at all in thee; and the voice of the bridegroom and of the bride shall be heard no more at all in thee...." (Revelation 18:23)

Prophecy figures have identified this "Babylon," which is judged in Revelation, with everything from the literal city, with its ruins in contemporary Iraq, to Rome, New York City, Mecca, and even Jerusalem. Others say it references something called "Ecclessiastical Babylon," which is a scholarly term describing corrupt religion. Many others now identify it with America, or even the present world order; but many recognize three aspects of the metaphorical version of Babylon as Religious, Economic, and Political.

The truth is, all of these (and more) are fair descriptions, for in the language of multi-layered prophetic metaphor, intersecting identities are definitely appropriate. What is important is, each individual must recognize where they exist in the timeline and the Spiritual dimension in relationship to this prophecy. Thus, if your physical life occurred in Europe in the twelth century AD, Rome would then have to be the closest Spiritual corollary to Babylon.

Even more importantly, whatever Babylon is in your place/time, it is either in dominion, is experiencing a deadly wound, or is in the process of ascending as its been empowered through the energy found in the symbolic bottomless pit. This is the Beast that was, is not, and shall ascend cycle which runs throughout prophecy.

In 2011, it is undeniable that America is in the process of enormous decline, as the nation precipitously teeters on the edge of chaos. Since America is definitely on the list of Babylonian candidates, this means we are well into the Deadly Wound cycle. The question then becomes, when we see some of the colorful imagery, such as "the smoke of her burning," does it apply literally, or figuratively? This is where Spiritual discernment separates the allegorical sheep from the goats.

If you routinely get everything wrong, you're a Spiritual goat -- but if you genuinely hear the voice of the LORD, you're a member of His Spiritual fold. I can say this with all authority, because the absolute truth -- the person of Jesus Christ -- already stated that if you are one of His "sheep," you hear His voice:

"I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine. My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me" (John 10:14, 27).

In the Gospels, Jesus tells His Disciples they have become the light of the world, and he repeatedly images that light as the light of a candlestick:

"Ye are the light of the world. No man, when he hath lighted a candle, covers it with a vessel, or putteth it under a bed; but setteth it on a candlestick, that they which enter in may see the light" (Luke 8:16).

Jesus originally stated He was the light of the world while He was in the world, but now His followers are that light. By using the concept of a candle, it can be easily seen He is pointing to the ability of one candle to light another -- and another, and another. Further, this idea of not covering a candle, but allowing that light to shine, eliminates the possibility of being a so-called "closet Christian," for if the "light" of Christ is not shining in the darkness all around you, you've simply deceived yourself.

The symbolism of a candle of God being extinguished, is seen in parabolic form. The tale of the ten virgins, waiting for their betrothed to come for them, says half of them were wise, and maintained allegorical oil to keep their flame burning, while the other five were said to be foolish, and their candles went out. The Rapture Cult has conned millions of believers into the doctrine that says the foolish miss the so-called "Rapture," and are thus left behind to face the trials of the end times, while the wise virgins supposedly go to heaven before the tribulational events occur.

Such would then say that when metaphoric Babylon is "burned," and the "light of a candle shall shine no more at all" in it, this is because that light has supposedly been removed to safety. The only thing they have right about all of this, is the simple fact that there is a point when the foolish are separated from the wise -- i.e. the sheep are separated from the goats -- and at that juncture in the pattern, there is no turning back.

"Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us. But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not." (Matthew 25:10.11)

Since the LORD says to those who miscalculated, I know you not, one might think all believers would take this ominous issue seriously enough to do some exhaustive study, but such is not the case. Indeed, the adjacent parable where a believer thought he was entitled to be at the wedding where the "wise virgins" were to be joined with Christ was said to be so astonished that he was "speechless" when he learned he was rejected (Matthew 22:12).

The "other Gospel" (Galatians 1:8) of the corporate cults of Christianity notwithstanding, the complete expulsion of the "light of a candle" from Babylon does speak of a complete separation, in that true believers have left the harlotry imaged as Babylon, and those who remain will be reach the final stage of leavening -- to the degree that their Spirits are completely transformed into the place that hosts the Spirit of Antichrist, and that place is the Spiritual temple of our bodies, i.e. the temple of God.

"Then shall that wicked be revealed...who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God...." (II Thessalonians 2:4)

Since God will not give his glory to another, and co-reside in any temple with evil (Isaiah 42:8), the "voice of the bridegroom will be heard no more at all" (Revelation 18:23) in Babylon when this occurs, but the Remnant believers will move into a separate sphere of power, for as the Father has promised, He will always preserve a righteous Remnant:

"Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Who hath ears to hear, let him hear" (Matthew 13:43).

For more on the truth of the light of God, and how He will externalize His presence in the Remnant in the last days, see the online video THE SHINING.