"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 the New Testament Congregation as she has wandered in the world (wilderness) with Gospel, Revelation 17:18. Scripture also tells us that this very woman (city) reigns over the kings of the earth [More on "kings of the earth" later on different thread]. It is Christ and His Church who reigns over the kings of the earth. However, 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 found in the church worldwide. In this post, we will briefly examine the two merchandises you asked me to explain, 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, Elect. 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 (or can't be buy and sold) 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).
Now we will examine two items you asked me to explain:
Cinnamon
Other than in Revelation chapter eighteen, the word "cinnamon" is used in only three other verses, all of which are Old Testament references. "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 [Spices]
"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 "odours" as "an aroma, for example, 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 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!" (Song of Solomon 4:10)
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
which the spices represent. 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. Not literal things.
In the time of her judgment, 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. Thus is why the acceptable sacrifice (spice) will not be found in her because of the false doctrines of the false prophets and christs therein.