13)
The Harlot will be punished double for her sins. Revelation 18:6 reveals to us,
“Render to her just as she rendered to you, and repay her double according to her works; in the cup which she has mixed, mix double for her.” (NKJV). Why should any city be punished double for her sins? WHY? I'll tell you,
Luke 12:47,48 gives some insight on this, Jerusalem was given the most light from God, but rejected it. Not only once, but twice, and she was destroyed twice, in 586 BC and 70 AD. I also believe that receiving double the punishment is also referring the degree of punishment, turmoil, plagues, etc. Lets see how hard it is for find an OT reference, umm, not hard at all,
Isaiah 40:2, speaking of Jerusalem:
“Speak comfort to Jerusalem, and cry out to her,
That her warfare is ended,
That her iniquity is pardoned;
For she has received from the Lord’s hand
Double for all her sins.” (NKJV)
Those in Christ today are those who are comforted. Those in Christ are citizens of the New Jerusalem. Speaking of the restored Jerusalem, In which I believe
Jeremiah 16:14-21 is talking about and
Isaiah 61, the prophetic rendering of the Church. In
Jer. 16:18 speaks directly that old Jerusalem was punished double,
“And first I will repay double for their iniquity and their sin, because they have defiled My land; they have filled My inheritance with the carcasses of their detestable and abominable idols.” (NKJV)
Well, clearly you should see that God proclaimed double punishment upon ancient Jerusalem, and see that it fits
Rev. 18:6 perfectly, regardless of the failure to recognize the coming Church being proclaimed:
Jeremiah 16:19-21
19. O Lord, my strength and my fortress,
My refuge in the day of affliction,
The Gentiles shall come to You
From the ends of the earth and say,
“Surely our fathers have inherited lies,
Worthlessness and unprofitable things.”
20. Will a man make gods for himself,
Which are not gods?
21. “Therefore behold, I will this once cause them to know,
I will cause them to know
My hand and My might;
And they shall know that My name is the Lord.
Isaiah 61:1-3 (parenthesis displays my emphasis added)
1. “The Spirit of the Lord God is upon Me,(Christ)
Because the Lord has anointed Me (Christ)
To preach good tidings to the poor; (Christ)
He has sent Me (Christ)
to heal the brokenhearted,(sinners, us, the church)
To proclaim liberty to the captives,(sinners, us, slaves of sin and in bondage to sin)
And the opening of the prison to those who are bound; (the gentiles, the whole world, bondage to sin)
2. To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord, (His redemptive work on the Cross)
And the day of vengeance of our God; (upon all who reject him, including Israel)
To comfort all who mourn,(those who see their sin and repent wholeheartedly)
3. To console those who mourn in Zion,(those who see their sin and repent wholeheartedly, specifically those in Jerusalem, God's remnant, disciples, apostles, 1st Century Church which consisted mostly of converted Jews, Acts 2-Pentecost)
To give them beauty for ashes,(Christ exchanges our sin and sorrows for his righteousness)
The oil of joy for mourning, (Salvation is bitter sweet, we can't be save until we see our sin and the hurt we caused God. But once we realize that, we receive the Holy Spirit and Joy, the Comforter)
The garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness;(saints are given robes of righteousness because they recognized their sin and believe in Christ's full payment for it, GRACE)
That they may be called trees of righteousness,(we become grafted into the one cultivated olive tree, the vine of the Lord, Jews and gentiles alike, we become brothers of the first born)
The planting of the Lord (the church)
, that He may be glorified.” (NKJV)