“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.
“I beseech thee for my son Onesimus, whom I have begotten in my bonds: which in time past was to thee unprofitable, but now profitable to thee and to me: whom I have sent again: thou therefore receive him, that is, mine own bowels (tender mercies and affections),” verses 10-12.
Onesimus had been ‘unprofitable’ to Philemon, verse 11. He had run away and likely stolen from Philemon in order to escape. “If he hath wronged thee, or oweth thee ought, put that on mine account,” verse 18.
But what is noticeable is that Onesimus wanted to return to the house of Philemon. That can only indicate to us that the runaway knew that he had been well treated and in running away he had acted most foolishly. He wanted to return. Here is how Paul pleads for him. “Not now as a servant, but above a servant, a brother beloved, specially to me, but how much more unto thee, both in the flesh, and in the Lord?” Verse 16. He was not returning merely as a slave but as a brother in Christ and Paul wanted Philemon to receive him as such. Paul had no doubt that Philemon would gladly do as he requested for Onesimus. “Having confidence in thy obedience I wrote unto thee, knowing that thou wilt also do more than I say,” verse 21.
Here then is a divinely inspired record of the impact of the gospel upon slavery in the first century. However, the Bible reveals that in the ‘last century’ of this age, slavery is going to reappear with a vengeance! It never truly went away but it was not approved on wherever the gospel had made an impression. In the last days, because of the world-wide rejection of the Word of God, slavery will not only reappear but will be seen as a legitimate ‘business’ activity for merchants to engage in!
That should not surprise us. After all, the slaughter of the unborn is considered a very acceptable ‘crime’ and is legitimised by governments world-wide. Sodomy, that deemed by the Lord and God-fearing people throughout the ages as an ‘abomination’ is not regarded as such any more. It likewise is legitimised by governments and embraced by society and those who openly flaunt their involvement in such iniquity and celebrated and applauded in virtually every sphere of the general public!
Why then should ‘slavery’ in like manner not be embraced as an ‘approved’ business activity! That is what the verses we have quoted indicate will be case at the end of the age.
What the BBC news report indicates is that slavery is once again becoming a ‘business activity’ but while it is increasing, it is still viewed as an illegal activity. But then sodomy was deemed a crime punishable by imprisonment up until 1969!
As the present ‘anti-christianity’ evolves and matures it will finally emerge in its fulness in the person of the ‘Antichrist’, “that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God,” 2 Thessalonians 2:3-4.
In his short reign, every outlawed practice as defined by the Lord will be ‘legalised’ by him. Slavery will be one of them.
The BBC news report is but an indication of the approach of the dark day of Antichrist!
Rev Ivan Foster (Rtd)
6th November, 2024