Congregation Book Study, Week of November 8-14, 2021, Chapter 15, Paragraphs 18-23, Answers Underlined.

Congregation Book Study, Nov 8-14, 2021, Chapter 15, Paragraphs 18-23, Answers Underlined.

Congregation Bible Study (30 min.): Rr ch. 15 paras. 18-23.

"She will never be seen again"

18, 19. How are the prostitutes in the book of Ezekiel similar to the prostitutes in Revelation?

Jehovah does not change (James 1:17). From the beginnings of the great prostitute until now, he has felt the same about false religion. Therefore, it is normal that there are so many similarities between his messages of condemnation against prostitutes in the book of Ezekiel and the future that awaits "the great prostitute" of Revelation.

For example, it was not Jehovah directly who punished the prostitutes of Ezekiel's prophecies; They were the same nations with which the unfaithful servants of God had had immoral relationships in a spiritual sense. Likewise, the world empire of false religion has been condemned for having immoral relations with "the kings of the earth." And who will punish this prostitute? The Bible says that it is those political authorities who “will hate the prostitute and leave her in ruins and naked. They will eat her flesh and burn her completely with fire. " Why this sudden change of governments? Because it will be God who puts "in their hearts to carry out the thought of him" (Rev. 17: 1-3, 15-17).

20. What indicates that the judgment of Babylon will be final?

So Jehovah will use the nations of this world to execute his sentence against false religion, including all the religions of Christendom. It will be a final sentence; you will not be forgiven or given any opportunity to change. Revelation says that Babylon "will never be seen again" (Rev. 18:21). The angels of God will be glad that he is gone and exclaim, “Praise Jah! The smoke from it will continue to rise forever and ever ”(Rev. 19: 3). This sentence will last for all eternity. Never again will false religion be allowed to arise and contaminate pure worship. The fiery punishment and destruction of Babylon will leave a symbolic plume of smoke that will never disappear.

ILLUSTRATION

The scarlet red wild beast with seven heads and ten horns attacking the great prostitute.

The nations that Babylon the Great has seduced and manipulated for so long will turn against her and destroy her. (See paragraphs 19-20).

21. What period will begin with the destruction of Babylon the Great? And what will happen at the end of that period?

When governments turn against Babylon the Great, they are actually executing a sentence from God. It will be a great event that will contribute to the fulfillment of Jehovah's purpose. This will usher in the great tribulation, a period of chaos the likes of which has never been seen (Matt. 24:21). The climax of the great tribulation will be Armageddon, Jehovah's war against this wicked world (Rev. 16:14, 16). As we will see in the next chapters of this book, Ezekiel has much to tell us about how that period will unfold. In the meantime, let's look at the helpful lessons Ezekiel chapters 16 and 23 teach us to remember and put into practice.

ILLUSTRATION

Interior of a church that has suffered vandalism. Furniture is smashed, windows and lamps are broken, and there is graffiti on the walls.

When governments turn against Babylon the Great, they will be executing a sentence from God. (See paragraph 21)

22, 23. What effect should all that we have seen about symbolic prostitutes have on our worship of Jehovah?

Satan takes pleasure in corrupting those who practice pure worship. He would love the opportunity to turn us away from worshiping Jehovah to do the same as the prostitutes described in Ezekiel. But we must remember that Jehovah does not tolerate us being unfaithful and worshiping another god (Num. 25:11). We make sure to stay as far away from false religion as possible and have no contact with anything that God deems unclean (Isa. 52:11). For the same reasons, we demonstrate our loyalty by being neutral in the face of political conflicts and upheavals in this deeply divided world (John 15:19). And we completely avoid nationalism because we see it as another kind of false religion that the Devil promotes.

But above all, let us bear in mind that worshiping Jehovah in his clean and pure spiritual temple is a privilege. So let us cherish this system that God has blessed and be more determined than ever to have nothing to do with false religion and its spiritual prostitution.

PURE WORSHIP AND YOU

Why does it make sense to compare false religion to a prostitute?

Everyone wonders why Jehovah compares false religion with a prostitute, this is because in his eyes, both were something detestable. In the end both lead to sin and abandonment of pure worship.

What does Ezekiel 16 and 23's description of symbolic prostitutes teach us about Jehovah's feelings toward false religion?

In these chapters we learn that Satan takes pleasure in corrupting those who practice pure worship. He likes to turn us away from worshiping Jehovah so that we will do the same as the prostitutes described in Ezekiel. But we must remember that Jehovah does not tolerate us being unfaithful and worshiping another god.

What awaits false religion? And what measures should we take?

Jehovah will use the nations of this world to execute his sentence against false religion, including all the religions of Christendom. It will be a final sentence; you will not be forgiven or given any opportunity to change. Never again will false religion be allowed to arise and contaminate pure worship.