“And the merchants of the earth shall weep and mourn over her; for no man buyeth their merchandise any more: 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 18:11-13.
I was reminded of these words when I saw the following headline on a BBC news article.
Charity claims human trafficking ‘huge’ problem in Northern Ireland
The following is found within that article.
“ . . . the women referred to the charity are done so by the Home Office. They are newcomers to Northern Ireland who tend to have been trafficked prior to their arrival here. But some others, she said, are brought to Northern Ireland specifically to be exploited – whether sexually or for domestic servitude. While others include women who are from Northern Ireland and who are exploited by people from here.”
These poor women are made ‘slaves’ for the most depraved reasons. The most severe punishment should be inflicted upon those engaged in this wickedness. That will not be the case of course!
It is a long time ago when I first read the verses quoted above. When I read the reference to trade in slaves I was puzzled how that such could ever be the case. Surely the days of slavery are over! Well, it was not too long afterwards, as I grew in a knowledge of God’s Word, that I learned that as this age advances toward its conclusion, sin and wickedness will greatly increase.
Antichrist’s empire
The rise of the Antichrist’s empire, particularly in the last seven years of this age, will see an empire of the most depraved activities established. The times of previous pagan and heathen practices will be revived and that to a degree above all that ever went before.
In the empires of Babylon, of Greece and of Rome, which was the empire of Antichrist in embryo (Daniel 2 and 7), slavery was a common thing. It was part of every day life. That is seen in the references to it in the days of the apostles. Even Christian homes had slaves. I would think that slavery was practiced in homes and then the gospel came and changed the home wonderfully. I am sure that those who before were slaves were then henceforth treated very differently. It would not have been a simple matter to release one who was a slave. They likely had no family nearby, being taken from some distant region of the Roman Empire. They would have no possessions, no home other than that of their master and likely no skill or trade to provide them with a living.
This was a problem encountered in more modern times, following America’s President Abraham Lincoln issuing the Emancipation Proclamation on January 1, 1863.
In apostolic times, I think it was the case that a slave owner who was converted thought it best for those he had formerly treated as slaves, that he continue to employ them within his own household but now on a voluntary basis and that for wages.
Philemon
Paul’s epistle to his friend Philemon illustrates something of what I have just suggested as taking place under gospel influence.
Philemon was a good friend of Paul’s and highly regarded by him as a man of God. He was Paul’s “dearly beloved, and fellowlabourer,” verse 1. Furthermore, there was a “church” in his house, verse 2. That is, there was an assembling of Christians in his house for worship and fellowship.
Paul rejoiced in the witness and testimony that Philemon had. ““For we have great joy and consolation in thy love, because the bowels of the saints are refreshed by thee, brother,” verse 7.
However, Philemon was a slave owner. He had one at least, Onesimus. Onesimus had run away from his master and had arrived in Rome, where by the providence of God, he met with Paul and was converted.
The epistle of Paul to Philemon was a plea by the apostle to Philemon on behalf of Onesimus. (more…)
