Revelation Chapter 16

Samson and the Temple of Dagon

The story of Samson, in regard to the destruction of the Temple of Dagon (a typical representation of mystical Babylon), illustrates how the religious systems uphold the social and civil order. When Samson pulled down the pillars, the religious structure fell, killing the Philistine leadership or lords and many others (Judg. 16:21–30). The destruction of the house of worship precipitated the downfall of the Philistine nation, which had harassed the Jewish nation for many years. The two pillars, upon which the temple rested, represent Papacy and Protestantism, and sightless Samson portrays the blinded masses. As Delilah lulled Samson to sleep in her lap, so Roman Catholicism has kept the people in ignorance of the whole Word of God and made them captive to her will (Judg. 16:19–21).

It is purported that Karl Marx spoke of religion as “the opiate of the people.” Although, of course, the nominal religious systems did not have the evil intent he ascribed to them, there is, nevertheless, considerable truth in his statement that religious devotees have been drugged in some instances with erroneous concepts of right and wrong. The masses have been lulled into a religious stupor to believe that the present order is of God—in the sense that He sanctions it as His representative.

For example, until recently “In God we trust” appeared for decades on coins, but is this true? The title “Christendom” (Christ’s Kingdom) is misleading. The educational system has so badly influenced the populace and changed public opinion that many question why they ever accepted religion and its mores in the first place.

“Who instructs us about morals, and who sets the standard by which we live?” they ask.

Leaders of orthodoxy have long taught God as the author of literal hellfire and eternal torment to those who do not accept their interpretation of the Word of God, so grossly misrepresented (Jer. 19:5; 32:35). Today the public’s lack of understanding of the true teachings of the Bible has led many to go to the opposite extreme of not wanting to recognize any authority, whereas previously, in the Dark Ages, the people were slavishly in bondage to tyranny and the Inquisition.

When, in the near future, the masses realize that the nominal Church is not the true Church, they will angrily pull down the pillars of the false religious order. This action will, in turn, lead unhappily to anarchy. The Lord has foreseen and foretold these events and allows them to transpire in this way—not because He wants to destroy the people (Luke 9:55,56) but because He wants to replace the decadent kingdoms of this world with His own Kingdom.

Communists know that Christendom is supported by Catholicism and Protestantism; they have long thought that by abolishing religion, they would be able to establish their own order in the wake of revolution. Violence has been preached not because they want to continue disorder forever—a condition perhaps preferred by nihilists and anarchists—but because they hope the confusion will help to bring down present arrangements, thus clearing the way for them to establish their own order worldwide. The Samson illustration represents the fall of the religious house: Christendom. The masses are beginning more and more, even now, to realize the vast potential power they possess even without armaments of warfare. The pulling down of the pillars of the temple will cause the subsequent downfall of all governments.

Strong Message

The message to be given to Babylon by a class known only to the Lord is peculiarly the Elijah message or, in another type, the John the Baptist message. Jesus did not testify at his trial but was meek and lamb-like at that time. Although he freely admitted he was the Messiah, he submitted to the experience, allowing himself to be put to death. It was earlier—prior to his trial and during the days of his freedom—that Jesus spoke so sternly. He called the temple a “den of thieves” and said the religious leaders, the scribes and Pharisees, were “whited sepulchers,” etc. (Matt. 21:13; 23:27). In the future when the nominal Church speaks harshly against true Christians while still in the days of freedom, the latter will also speak in a strong manner. John the Baptist is a good illustration; he denounced the illicit relationship of Herodias (Church) and Herod (State) before his imprisonment, and this denouncement led to his imprisonment.

In the future the truth will receive greater publicity; then the lid of authority will clamp down, resulting in the imprisonment and death of the saints. As an afterthought, the persecution of these humble Christians will cause public resentment, turning the masses against orthodoxy.

Continued with next post.