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Where can we turn but to the Word of the Lord for the identification of the ìbloody city.î It was the responsibility of Ezekiel to convey to the city and its inhabitants the feelings of the Lord concerning them. As a prophet he was to rip the cover off of them and expose their wickedness. Eze. 22:2 This is to be repeated centuries later as the Lord exposes the very epitome of sin as revealed in a city called the ìgreat city,î Rev. 17:18 and BABYLON THE GREAT. Rev. 17:5 She is the apex of what the scriptures have termed a ìbloody cityî for she is literally drunken, has gone to great excess, with a spirit of persecution and execution against the saints of the Lord. They get their kicks, by murdering those who confess Christ as savior. Rev. 17:6 Stephen, the first martyr, proclaimed the crucifixion of Christ to be an act of murder. Acts 7:52 He also reminded them that they had a reputation of having persecuted and killing those sent to them by the Lord. From ancient times to the immediate future the attitude and actions of the city do not change.
The name, the nature and character of this harlot religion is clearly spelled out by the tattoo on her forehead. The forehead expresses the attitude, the religious disposition of those who bear a mark in their forehead. The high priest in Israel was to wear a plate of pure gold on his forehead upon which were inscribed the words, HOLINESS TO THE LORD. Ex. 28:36 By virtue of this golden sign their gifts were accepted by the Lord. The message of the Lord is a message of holiness. It is no surprise that we find markings in the forehead an outstanding feature and sign of the end of the age. Perhaps, even the modern day increase in those getting tattooís is an indication of what is coming. There will be a two fold opportunity to receive a mark in the forehead in the very end of the age. We can choose the mark of holiness which will be applied to all those who love the Lord. Rev. 7:3, 9:4, 14:1, 22:4 This seal is the privilege of having His name, the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, applied to our foreheads. Then there is the counterfeit, which will be forced on all who are not committed to Christ. The moment that it is applied that soul is eternally condemned. There is no further place of repentance or forgiveness for them. Rev. 13:16, 14:9, 20:4
The forehead of this city, depicted as a beautiful and stately woman, is that of a whore, refusing to feel the shame of her life style. Jer. 3:3 Because of her complete rejection of any feeling of guilt or remorse she is denied the blessings of the latter rain, i.e. revival and renewal of the Spirit of the Lord. This great harlot city denies having committed sin and iniquity. Prov. 30:20.