The Disciples of Jesus were discussing the beautiful Temple buildings. Jesus foretold of a day when “not one stone would be left on another.” (Matthew 24:2) Later as Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives, Peter, James, John and Andrew asked Him “when will this happen?” The response of Jesus to their questions is known as the Olivet Discourse. The version found in the Gospel of Matthew includes several examples and parables. The Olivet Discourse is prophecy directly from God in the form of man, Jesus, and illustrates the three facets of Mystery Babylon – Political, Spiritual and Commercial.
One example given by Jesus is that of the Wicked Servant (Matthew 24:45-51) The Master placed a servant in a place of authority over His other servants, just as the Lord has placed persons in authority of us all. The Wicked Servant, a type of Political Babylon, began to abuse the authority given to him, and when the Master returns the Wicked Servant will be punished.
The Parable of the Ten Virgins (Matthew 25:1-13) tells us many stories, but it is also a picture, or type, of Spiritual Babylon. The five foolish virgins are a picture of those who proclaim “spirituality” but are not really looking for the Coming of Jesus. Today, these who claim to be spiritual say, “all roads lead to the Supreme Being.” This is Spiritual Babylon, and the Bridegroom, the Lord Jesus, will say “I know you not.”
The next, the Parable of the Ten Talents (Matthew 25:14-30) gives us a wonderful picture of the rewards the Lord will give to His faithful servants. After being gone for a long time, the Master in the parable returned and rewarded His servants based upon their faithfulness. He said, “Well done, [thou] good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things.” (Matthew 25:21)
This parable also tells us of Commercial Babylon. All people, whether servants of the Lord or not, are given talents or abilities. This parable of Jesus measures the faithfulness in which the abilities are used. In times past, those who became wealthy through commerce built cathedrals, hospitals and alms houses (poor houses). The righteous wealthy had an obligation to care for those not as fortunate.
Today, the commercially wealthy give their wealth to family foundations in order to maintain control of all that they have. Here is a hint: ownership of an asset is not important; control of the asset is essential. The Rockefellers, Fords, Mellons or Carnegies may not own the vast companies and banks that carried their name at one time, but they control them through their foundations.
But the final word is that of the Lord Jesus. The Lord said, “And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” (Matthew 25:30) The prophecy of Jesus found in the Olivet Discourse is about the End Times, the Final Times. And, just as in the Revelation, the Lord does not have good things to say about Mystery Babylon, or its three parts, Political, Spiritual and Commercial Babylon. May the Lord reign forever!