Sanford Drayton Briggs married Miriam Catherine Willard and they had
a daughter, Alice Ella Briggs who married Clarence Rhett Prince and they had
a son, Franklin Drayton Briggs who married Mary "Mollie" Cynthia Bain and they had
a son, Julian Rhett Prince who married Clara Marie Wilder and they had
a daughter, Peggy Annette Prince who married William "Billy" Clyde Harris and they had
a son, Stan!

Sanford Drayton Briggs was born Abt 1818-1819 in South Carolina. I currently don't know who his parents were. Some have Malinda Briggs as his mother but she was born about 1806 and that would make her 11-13 when Sanford Drayton Briggs was born in 1818-1819. I know it's physically possible but I have found no definitive proof that she's his mother and Robert Potter Briggs (DOB 3/25/1825 in Laurens County, SC; DOD 10/19/1877 in Laurens County, SC) is his brother. They live in the area but I don't have proof they are connected to him. If you know something and have proof, please contact me at Mom25dogs@gmail.com.

Miriam Catherine Willard (aka Marion Willard, Meriam Willard, Mariam Willard) was born 9/1829 in SC to James Willard (DOB: 1790 in Union County, SC; DOD: 1843 in Union County, SC) and Winnifred Woodruff Hill (DOB: About 1798 in Union County, SC; DOD: About 1850 in Union County, SC). She married Sanford Drayton Briggs in 1843 in Union County, SC.

Union County, SC Marriage Records From Early Newspapers: 1851-1912, Marriage Registers, Deed Bks and Probate Records by Tommy J. Vaughn and Michael Becknell, Pg 180, S.D. Briggs, Miriam Willard, REF Estate Box #RE-Pkg #073, Marriage Records from Probate Records of Union, SC, 1835-1868.

1850 U.S. Census of Union County, South Carolina; Roll: M432_859; Page: 10A; Image: 269, Lines 31-36, "Drayton Briggs"
Drayton Briggs, 31 yrs old (DOB 1819), M(ale), W(hite), Overseer, Born in SC
Marion Briggs, 21 yrs old (DOB 1829), F, W, Born in SC
Franklin Briggs, 5 yrs old (DOB 1845), M, W, Born in SC
William Briggs, 3 yrs old (DOB 1847), M, W, Born in SC
Laura Briggs, 2 yrs old (DOB 1848), F, W, Born in SC
Pinckney Briggs, 10/12 mos old (DOB 1849), M, W, Born in SC

The Narrative History of Union County, South Carolina by Allan D. Charles Ph.D Published for Union County Historical Commission and Arthur State Bank by The Reprint Company, Publishers, Spartanburg, SC in 1987 ISBN #0-87152-421-X Library of Congress Card Catalogue #87-316, Pg 175, Notes 91, Union County Historical Newsletter, October 1979, listed 21 post offices for Union District in 1860: Cedar Bluff S.D. Briggs Postmaster. Pg 175, Notes 91, Union County Historical Newsletter, October 1979, listed 21 post offices for Union District in 1860: Cedar Bluff,  S.D. Briggs Postmaster

1860 U.S. Census of Union County,  South Carolina; Roll:  M653_1227; Page:  215; Image:  444; Family History Library Film:  805227, Lines 1-8, "Dirayton Brigo" (sic, Ancestry.com has him badly mangled)
Dirayton Brigo, 41 yrs old (DOB 1819), M(ale), W(hite), Merchant, $1,500 Real Estate Value, $5,000 Personal Estate Value, Born in SC
Marium Brigo (sic), 33 yrs old (DOB 1827), F, W, Born in SC
William Brigo, 12 yrs old (DOB 1848), M, W, Born in SC
Lassarum Brigo (Sic. should be Laura Ann Briggs), 11 yrs old (DOB 1849), F, W, Born in SC
Martha Brigo, 6 yrs old (DOB 1854), F, W, Born in SC
Mary Brigo, 8 yrs old (DOB 1856), F, W, Born in SC
Elly Brigo, 2 yrs old (DOB 1858), F, W, Born in SC
Pinckney Brigo, 10 yrs old (DOB 1850), M, W, Born in SC

Sanford Drayton Briggs served the C.S.A. SC 5th Regiment State Troops, Co. H as a Private.
U.S. Civil War Soldiers, 1861-1865
Name: S. Draton Briggs
Side: Confederate
Regiment State/Origin: South Carolina
Regiment: 5th Regiment, South Carolina State Troops
Company: H
Rank In: Private
Rank Out: Private
Alternate Name: William R./Briggs
Film Number: M381 roll 4

U.S., Civil War Soldier Records and Profiles, 1861-1865
Name: S D Briggs
Rank at enlistment: Private
State Served: South Carolina
Service Record: Enlisted in Company H, South Carolina 9th Infantry Regiment.
Sources: Index to Compiled Confederate Military Service Records

U.S., Register of Civil, Military, and Naval Service, 1863-1959
Name: S. D. Briggs
Residence Date: 30 Sep 1865
Station or Residence Place: Union, South Carolina, USA
Year: 1865
Title: Register of Officers and Agents, Civil, Military, and Naval in the Service of the United States
Volume: Volume 1

U.S., Register of Civil, Military, and Naval Service, 1863-1959
Name: S. D. Briggs
Residence Date: 30 Sep 1863
Station or Residence Place: Union, South Carolina, USA
Year: 1863
Title: Register of Officers and Agents, Civil, Military, and Naval in the Service of the United States
Volume: Volume 1


U.S. IRS Tax Assessment Lists, 1862-1918, Original data: National Archives (NARA) microfilm series: M603, M754-M771, M773-M777, M779-M780, M782, M784, M787-M789, M791-M793, M795, M1631, M1775-M1776, T227, T1208-T1209, 4/1867, Division 28, District 3, Union County, SC, 507, Line 1, "S.D. Briggs", Distiller.
S.D. Briggs, Location: Cedar Bluffs, Occupation: Distiller, # in Abstract: 101, Quantity or Valuation: 15 gallons, Rate $2.00, Amt of Tax $30.00



Yorkville Enquirer, York, SC, 11/12/1868, Pg 2
NEW ADVERTISEMENTS
...
T.W. and J.H. Clawson, Deputy Messenger - In Bankruptcy - In the Matter of James F. Noland, Thos. J. Fitch, Andrew NcNeace, Andrew J. Easters, Sanford D. Briggs, Elisha M. Easters, Carlos L. Allen, Berry W. Lee, David A. Layne, T. and W. Dickson, Benjamin Ferguson, Joseph M. Adams, W.J. Cherry, Isaac C. McFadden, H.W. Wilson, C.P.
 Pruitt, Thomas W. Wingo, James M. Hunnicutt, D.C. Gist, James B. Steele - Applications for Discharge.
...
1870 U.S. Census of Bogansville, Union County,  South Carolina; Roll: M593_1510; Page: 328B; Image: 12; Family History Library Film: 553009, Lines 22-28, "Sanford K. Briggs" sic
Sanford K. Briggs, 52 yrs old (DOB 1818), M(ale), W(hite), Farmer, $275 Real Estate Value, $400 Personal Estate Value, Born in SC, Cannot read or write
Mariam Briggs, 43 yrs old (DOB 1827), F, W, Keeping House, Born in SC
Pinckney W. Briggs, 21 yrs old (DOB 1849), M, W, Farm Laborer, Born in SC
Laura Ann Briggs, 24 yrs old (DOB 1846), F, W, Farm Laborer, Born in SC
Mary F. Briggs, 20 yrs old (DOB 1850), F, W, Farm Laborer, Born in SC
Martha J. Briggs, 18 yrs old (DOB 1852), F, W, Farm Laborer, Born in SC
Ella A. Briggs, 15 yrs old (DOB 1855), F, W, Farm Laborer, Born in SC
Mary Willard, 21 yrs old (DOB 1849), F, W, Keeping House, Born in SC
Mary Ida Willard, 2 yrs old (DOB 1868), F, W, Born in SC
Infant Willard, 3/12 mos old, F, W, Born in SC

1880 U.S. Census of Bogansville, Union County, South Carolina; Roll: 1242; Family History Film: 1255242; Page: 431A; Enumeration District: 151, Lines 6-14, "S. Drayton Briggs"
S. Drayton Briggs, W(hite), M(ale), 61 yrs old (DOB 1819), Head, Married, Genl Disability, Maimed/Crippled/Bedridden/Otherwise disabled, Born in SC, Both parents born in SC
Miriam C. Briggs, W, F, 50 yrs old (DOB 1830), Wife, Married, Keeping House, Born in SC, Both parents born in SC
Mary F. Briggs, W, F, 29 yrs old (DOB 1851), Daughter, At Home, Single, Born in SC, Both parents born in SC
James M. Briggs, W, M, 7 yrs old (DOB 1873), Grandson, Born in SC, Both parents born in SC
Wallace S. Briggs, W, M, 3 yrs old (DOB 1877), Grandson, Born in SC, Both parents born in SC
F. Nance Briggs, W, M, Born in Feby, 1880, 3/12 mos old, Born in SC, Both parents born in SC
Carry B. Willard, W, F, 11 yrs old (DOB 1869), Granddaughter, Born in SC, Both parents born in SC



Union Times, Union, SC, 11/3/1882, Pg 2
The State of South Carolina
County of Union
In the Court of Common Pleas
Robert Macbeth, as Sheriff of Union County,}  Summons
Plantiff............................................................}  for
against.............................................................}  Relief.
S. Drayton Briggs, Moses Lee,......................} (Complaint
Robert Ray, Daniel D. Finley,.........................}  not
John L. Young, James S. Mc-.........................}  Served.)
Daniel, Hiram C. Bronson and........................}
John W. Hardy, trading under..........................}
the firm name of H.C. Bruns-..........................}
wic and Co., E.D. Tailor, Jane.........................}
Cunningham, Edward Fullings........................}
and John Gordon, trading under.......................}
the firm name of E. Fullings and......................}
Co., George W. Goss, James.............................}
Cavenor, Mary P. Dawkins, as..........................}
executrix of Thomas N. Dawkins,....................}
James M. Bunch, as Administra-......................}
tors of Jas. M. Gadberry, and I.G......................}
McKissick, Defendents.....................................}
To the Defendants.
You are hereby Summoned and required to answer the complain in this action, which will be filed in the office of Clerk of Court of Common Pleas, Union County, and to serve a copy of your answer to the said complain on the subscriber at his office at Union, S.C., within twenty days after the service hereof, exclusive of the day of such service; and if you fail to answer the complain within the time aforesaid the plaintiff in this action will apply to the court for the relief demanded in the complaint.
Dated October 17, 1872
D.A. Townsend,
Plaintiff's Attorney
{Seal} James Munro,
............Clerk


Union Times, Union, SC, 3/19/1886, Pg 3
Mortgagee's Sale
By virtue of a power of sale contained in a mortgage executed and delivered to me by J.M. Bobo and W.F. Bobo, on the 13th day of April, 1875, recorded in the office of the Register of Mortgages A., No. 1, pages 489 and 490, I will well to the highest bidder, on Salesday in April next, at the Court House, in Union S.C., the tract of land described in said mortgage, to-wit: "all that certain tract of land, being and situated in said County and State, on the South side of Tyger River, containing two hundred and twenty-three acres, and bounded by lands of Murphy Bobo, Elijah Wilborn, Drayton Briggs (now lands of the estate of Drayton Briggs), Andrew Eastes, and also by Tyger river," less on hundred and three were released from lein of said mortgage 1st Dec, 1876.
Terms, Cash, or land will be resold immdiately. D.H. SHELDON, Mortgagee
March 15, 1886
Mch. 19...............11...............3t

Sanford and Miriam had 7 children:

1) Robert Franklin Briggs (DOB: 8/15/1844 in Union County, SC; DOD: 3/4/1899 in Union County, SC ) who married Mary Ann Holcombe (DOB: 5/1843 in SC : DOD: 3/25/1914 in Union, Union County, SC). They are buried at Union Presbyterian Cemetery, Union County, SC. They had Fannie Eugenia Briggs, William Wallace Briggs, Drayton Walter Briggs (these 3 didn't survive to adulthood) and Annie Berger Briggs who married John Thomas Rose.

2) William Robert Briggs (DOB: 9/4/1847 in Union County, SC; DOD: 7/12/1904 in Union, Union County, SC) who married Sara Texana Norman (DOB: 7/29/1856 in Union County, SC; DOD: 3/31/1938 in Union, Union County, SC) in 1875. He served the C.S.A. 18th SC Rgmt, Co. C, under Capt. J.A. Betsill and Capt W. H. Norman. They are buried at Padgett's Creek Baptist Church, Cross Keys, Union County, SC. They had Mary Virginia Briggs married ? Nunamaker, Eula W. Briggs who married Andrew Stephen Crosby, and John Thomas Briggs who married Margaret "Maggie" Fisher and Bessie Green.

3) Laura Ann Briggs (DOB: Between 1846-1848 in Union County, SC; DOD: After 1878 in ?  ). She was mentioned in Sanford Drayton Briggs Will made in 1878.

4) Pinckney Willard Briggs (DOB: 1849-1850 in Union County, SC; DOD: 1926 in McCurtain County, OK ) married Janie Lillian Rawsen (DOB: 9/22/1852 in TN; DOD: 9/9/1908 in Van Zandt County, TX). They had Robert Frederick Briggs who married Fannie Sullivan, Alice B. Briggs, Sallie E. Briggs married Phenelon E. Lester, Lorena Erin Briggs married R.J. Cates, Hugh Ray Briggs, Rebecca Beckie Briggs, Effie Mae Briggs married John Cleveland McLean, Sr.. Then he married Nora Unknown (DOB: 9/15/1869 in MS; DOD: 11/23/1962 in McCurtain County, OK).

5) Mary Francis Briggs (DOB: 6/5/1851 in Union County, SC; DOD: 12/2/1910 in Union, SC) married ? . She had James M. Briggs, Wallace Simpson Briggs, Arthur Fleming Nance Briggs, Sr. (aka Flemmie Briggs), David Briggs, Luther Raymond Briggs, Johnny Briggs.

6) Martha Jane Briggs (DOB: 4/1852 in Union County, SC; DOD: 1/31/1928 in Union, Union County, SC) never married.

7) Alice Ella Briggs (DOB: 5/22/1858 in Union County, SC; DOD: 1/5/1912 in Union, SC) who married Clarence Rhett Prince (DOB: 1/5/1858 in Union County, SC; DOD: 2/8/1919 in Cross Keys, Union County, SC) on 11/22/1877 in Union County, SC. They are buried at Padgett's Creek Baptist Church, Cross Keys, Union County, SC. The had Martha E. "Mattie" Prince, Franklin Drayton Prince, Victor Clarence Prince. This is my husband's direct ancestors.

Sanford Drayton Briggs died about 1884 in Union County, SC. Miriam Catherine Briggs died between 1900-1910 in Union County, SC. They are both buried at Padgett's Creek Baptist Church, Cross Keys, Union County, SC.



Sources for their children:

1) Robert Franklin Briggs (DOB: 8/15/1844 in Union County, SC; DOD: 3/4/1899 in Union County, SC ) who married Mary Ann Holcombe (DOB: 5/1843 in SC : DOD: 3/25/1914 in Union, Union County, SC). They are buried at Union Presbyterian Cemetery, Union County, SC. They had Fannie Eugenia Briggs, William Wallace Briggs, Drayton Walter Briggs (these 3 didn't survive to adulthood) and Annie Berger Briggs who married John Thomas Rose.

A) Fannie Eugenia Briggs (DOB 10/23/1866 in Union County, SC; DOD 10/3/1870 in Union County, SC
B) William Wallace Briggs (DOB 2/13/1870 in Union, Union County, SC; DOD 10/29/1874 in Union, Union County, SC)
C) Annie Berger Briggs (DOB 10/13/1873 in Union, Union County, SC; DOD 1/26/1961 in Lowndes County, GA) married John Thomas Rose (DOB 3/1865 in Monroe, Union County, NC; DOD 1905 in Union, Union County, SC). They had Delwin Earl Rose, Mary N. Rose, Mary Vivian Rose, Annie Briggs Rose, Lydia Jane Johnson Rose, Robert Franklin Rose.
D) Drayton Walter Briggs (DOB 2/23/1876 in Union County, SC; DOD 2/28/1877 in Union County, SC)

1860 U.S. Census of Union County, South Carolina; Roll: M653_1227; Page: 194; Image: 402; Family History Library Film: 805227, Lines 11-16, "Jasper Lawson", Franklin Briggs is living with Jasper Lawson
Jasper Lawson, 30 yrs old, M(ale), W(hite), Farmer, $655 Real Estate Value, $250 Personal Estate Value, Born in SC
Sarah Lawson, 32 yrs old, F, W, Born in SC
Madra Lawson, 8 yrs old, F, W, Born in SC
Victoria Lawson, 5 yrs old, F, W, Born in SC
Frances Lawson, 1 yrs old, F, W, Born in SC
Franklin Briggs, 14 yrs old (DOB 1856), M, W, Born in SC

U.S. Civil War Soldiers, 1861-1865
Name: R.F. Briggs
Side: Confederate
Regiment State/Origin: South Carolina
Regiment: 15th Regiment, South Carolina Infantry
Company: B
Rank In: Private
Rank Out: Private
Film Number: M381 roll 4

1870 U.S. Census of Jacks, Laurens County, South Carolina; Roll: M593_1501; Page: 96A; Image: 195; Family History Library Film: 553000, Lines 23-26, "Robert F. Briggs"
Robert F. Briggs, 28 yrs old (DOB 1842), M(ale), W(hite), Farmer, $0 Real Estate Value, $250 Personal Estate Value, Born in SC, Cannot read or write
Mary A. Briggs, 27 yrs old (DOB 1843), F, W, Keeping House, born in SC, Cannot read or write
Fannie E. Briggs, 4 yrs old (DOB 1866), F, W, Born in SC
William Briggs, 6/12 mos old (DOB Dec, 1869), M, W, Born in SC

The Narrative History of Union County, South Carolina by Allan D. Charles Ph.D Published for Union County Historical Commission and Arthur State Bank by The Reprint Company, Publishers, Spartanburg, SC in 1987 ISBN #0-87152-421-X Library of Congress Card Catalogue #87-316, Pg 264, Great Fire of 1877 in Union, Union County, SC. Pg 264
"Soon the flames leapt from roof to roof and in a few minutes the wooden houses of Mrs. E.D. Humphries, Philip Dunn, R.F. Briggs (a new one) and Thomas McNally were one sheet of raging howling flame, while there seemed no hope that the brick building below, from Spears and Colton's to Foster and Wilkins and the wooden block below them, could possibly be saved. Thanks to the slate roof and substantial building of Spears and Colton they all escaped...'"

1880 U.S. Census of Union, Union County, South Carolina; Roll: 1242; Family History Film: 1255242; Page: 393C; Enumeration District: 150, Lines 11-13, "R. Frank Briggs"
R. Frank Briggs, W(hite), M(ale), 36 yrs old (DOB 1844), Husband, Married, Grocery operator, Born in SC, Both parents born in SC
Mary Ann Briggs, W, F, 36 yrs old (DOB 1844), Wife, Married, "Huckster", Born in SC, Both parents born in SC
Annie Briggs, W, F, 6 yrs old (DOB 1874), Daughter, Single, At School, Born in SC, Both parents born in SC

1900 U.S. Census of Main St., Union, Union County, South Carolina; Roll: T623_ 1544; Page: 29A; Enumeration District: 78, Lines 1-6, "Mrs. M.A. Briggs"
Mrs. M.A. Briggs, Head, W(hite), F(emale), Born May 1843, 57 yrs old, Widowed, 1 child with 1 still living, Born in SC, Both parents born in SC, Grocer store, Can read and write, Owns free of mortgage
John T. Rose, Son-in-law, W, M, Born March, 1865, 35 yrs old, Married 5 yrs (DOM 1895), Born in SC, Both parents born in SC, (no occupation listed)
Mrs. John T. Rose, Daughter, W, F, Born Dec, 1873, 26 yrs old, Married 5 yrs, 3 children with 3 still living, Born in SC, Both parents born in SC
D.E. Rose, Grandson, W, M, Born Oct, 1895, 4 yrs old, Born in SC, Both parents born in SC
Mary N. Rose, Granddaughter, W, F, Born Jany, 1897, 3 yrs old, Born in SC, Both parents born in SC
Annie B. Rose, Granddaughter, W, F, Born Nov, 1899, 4/12 mos old, Born in SC, Both parents born in SC

1910 U.S. Census of Main St., Union, Union County, South Carolina; Roll: T624_1474; Page: 16A; Enumeration District: 0126; Image: 1205; FHL Number: 1375487, Lines 24-29, "Fannie Rose" sic
Fannie Rose, Head, F(emale), W(hite), 36 yrs old (DOB 1874), Widowed, 6 children with 4 still living, Born in SC, Both parents born in SC, Retail merchant of grocery store, Can read and write, Owns free of mortgage
Delwin Rose, Son, M, W, 14 yrs old (DOB 1896), Born in SC, Both parents born in SC
Mary Rose, Daughter, F, W, 13 yrs old (DOB 1897), Born in SC, Both parents born in SC
Annie B. Rose, Daughter, F, W, 10 yrs old (DOB 1900), Born in SC, Both parents born in SC
Lilli Rose (sic), Daughter, F, W, 7 yrs old (DOB 1903), Born in SC, Both parents born in SC
Mary Briggs, Mother, F, W, 68 yrs old (DOB 1842), Widowed, 5 children with 1 still living, Born in SC, Both parents born in SC, Can read and write

Union County,SC Death Notices From Early Newspapers,1852-1914, compiled by Tommy J. Vaughan, Edited by Dorothy Harris Phifer for Pinckney Dis SC Geneal, Pg 416, Death Notices of The Progress, obituary of Mrs. Mary Ann Briggs.

2) William Robert Briggs (DOB: 9/4/1847 in Union County, SC; DOD: 7/12/1904 in Union, Union County, SC) who married Sara Texana Norman (DOB: 7/29/1856 in Union County, SC; DOD: 3/31/1938 in Union, Union County, SC) in 1875. He served the C.S.A. 18th SC Rgmt, Co. C, under Capt. J.A. Betsill and Capt W. H. Norman. They are buried at Padgett's Creek Baptist Church, Cross Keys, Union County, SC. They had Mary Virginia Briggs married ? Nunamaker, Eula W. Briggs who married Andrew Stephen Crosby, and John Thomas Briggs who married Margaret "Maggie" Fisher and Bessie Green.

A) Eula W. Briggs (DOB 9/9/1876 in Union County, SC; DOD 4/30/1956 in Union County, SC) married Andrew Stephen Crosby (DOB 8/26/1857 in Chesterfield County, SC; DOD 9/4/1926 in Union County, SC). They had John Claude Crosby and Sarah Annette Crosby.
B) John Thomas Briggs (DOB 3/15/1878 in Union County, SC; DOD 11/23/1961 in Greenville County, SC) married Margaret "Maggie" Fisher (DOB 11/19/1874 in SC; DOD 1/31/1955 in NC). They had Thomas Arthur Briggs. Then he married Bessie Green (DOB 4/21/1883 in SC; DOD 10/12/1965 in Gowensville, Greenville County, SC).
C) Mary Virginia  Briggs (DOB 9/17/1886 in Union County, SC; DOD 12/15/1974 in Columbia, Richland County, SC) married a Nunamaker.

1870 U.S. Census of Spartanburg, Spartanburg, South Carolina; Roll: M593_1508; Page: 578A; Image: 556; Family History Library Film: 553007, Lines 1-5, "Dexter Converse"
Dexter Converse, 41 yrs old, M(ale), W(hite), Cotton Manager, $14,500 Real Estate Value, $16,000 Personal Estate Value, Born in VT
Nelly T. Converse, 30 yrs old, F, W, Keeping House, Born in NY
Willie Briggs, 20 yrs old (DOB 1850), M, W, Dry Goods Clerk, Born in SC
Susan Mills, 22 yrs old, F, M(ulatto), Domestic help, Born in SC
Nelly Bomar, 75 yrs old, F, B(lack), Cook, Born in VA

The Narrative History of Union County, South Carolina by Allan D. Charles Ph.D Published for Union County Historical Commission and Arthur State Bank by The Reprint Company, Publishers, Spartanburg, SC in 1987 ISBN #0-87152-421-X Library of Congress Card Catalogue #87-316, Pg 263, Great Fire of 1877 in Union, Union County, SC. Pg 263
"As is often the case in South Carolina, late May was very warm in 1877, and to compound the fire danger, it was very dry as well. On Sunday the 3rd of June the sun rose clear and hot. Somewhat before ten o'clock the bell in the ninety foot high wooden steeple of Unionville Baptist Church began summoning the faithful to 'Sabbath School'..."

"Weekly Union Times editors Stokes told what happened next: 'About half past 12 o'clock, while four-fifths of our white inhabitants were at church, the dreaded alarm of fire was sounded upon Main Street, and by the time many could arrive upon the spot the wooden building occupied by W.R. Briggs and Company, adjoining Hill and Company's large brick building, was one sheet of flame and the boxing under the eaves of the latter building on fire the whole length, and in a quarter of an hour the whole inside of the upper story of that building was one roaring mass of flame and smoke. The wind was hard.'"

1880 U.S. Census of Bogansville, Union County, South Carolina; Roll: 1242; Family History Film: 1255242; Page: 431B; Enumeration District: 151, Lines 12-15, "William R. Briggs"
William R. Briggs, W(hite), M(ale), 33 yrs old (DOB 1847), Head, Married, Farmer, Born in SC, Both parents born in SC
S. Texanna Briggs, W, F, 23 yrs old (DOB 1857), Wife, Married, Keeping House, Born in SC, Both parents born in SC
Ula W. Briggs, W, F, 3 yrs old (DOB 1877), Daughter, At Home, Born in SC, Both parents born in SC
Johnie T. Briggs (sic), W, M, 2 yrs old (DOB 1878), Son, At Home, Born in SC, Both parents born in SC

1900 U.S. Census of Cross Keys, Union County, South Carolina; Roll: T623_ 1544; Page: 1A; Enumeration District: 67, Lines 12-16, "William R. Briggs"
William R. Briggs, Head, W(hite), M(ale), Born Sept, 1846, 53 yrs old, Married 24 yrs (DOM 1876), Born in SC, Both parents born in SC, Farmer, Can read and write, Rents farm
Texana Briggs, Wife, W, F, Born June, 1856, 44 yrs old, Married 24 yrs, 4 children with 3 still living, Born in SC, Both parents born in SC, Can read and write
Eula W. Briggs, Daughter, W, F, Born Sept, 1876, 23 yrs old, Single, Born in SC, Both parents born in SC, Farm Laborer, Can read and write
Mary V. Briggs, Daughter, W, F, Born Sept, 1886, 13 yrs old, Single, Born in SC, Both parents born in SC, Farm Laborer, Can read and write

Union County,SC Death Notices From Early Newspapers, 1852-1914, compiled by Tommy J. Vaughan, Edited by Dorothy Harris Phifer for Pinckney Dis SC Geneal, Pg 266, The Progress, and Pg 143, Union Times, obituary of Wm. R. Briggs. Pg 143, Union Times on 7/15/1904
"William R. Briggs died at his home on Virgin St. Tuesday night [12 Jul] after an illness of several weeks. He was a scar worn veteran of the Confederacy and wore the Southern Cross of Honor..."

Pg 266, The Progress on 7/13/1904, "Wm. R. Briggs died at his home in Union last night [July 12] at 12:30, and the funeral services will be held this PM at Padgett's Creek Bapt. Church, of which he was a member. He was born in Union County4 Sept 1846. In 1875 he was married to Texana Norman, leaves 3 children: John T. Briggs, Mrs. A.S. Crosby, and Miss Virginia Briggs. During the War he served 1 year in Co. C, 18th S.C. Rgmt. under Capt. J.A. Betsill and Capt. W.H. Norman. During the past few years he has been collector for numerous firms in Union."

1920 U.S. Census of Perrin Ave, Union, Union, South Carolina; Roll: T625_1713; Page: 11A; Enumeration District: 145; Image: 964, Lines 3-4, "Mrs. Teranna Briggs" sic Mrs. Texanna Briggs
Mrs. Teranna Briggs, Owns home free of mortgage, F(emale), W(hite), 62 yrs old (DOB 1858), Widowed, Can read and write, Born in SC, Both parents born in SC, Dressmaker in home
Thomas Briggs, Grandson, M, W, 13 yrs old (DOB 1907), Single, Can read and write, Attends school, Born in SC, Both parents born in SC

1930 U.S. Census of Blasingame, Union, Union County, South Carolina; Roll: 2215; Page: 4A; Enumeration District: 21; Image: 253.0, Lines 1-3, "Eula W. Crosby"
Eula W. Crosby, Head, Owns home valued at $10,000, F(emale), W(hite), 53 yrs old (DOB 1877), Widowed, Can read and write, Born in SC, Both parents born in SC, Cloth inspector at cotton mill
Annette Crosby, Daughter, F, W, 23 yrs old (DOB 1907), Single, Can read and write, Born in SC, Both parents born in SC, Cloth inspector at cotton mill
Texanna Briggs, Mother, F, W, 72 yrs old (DOB 1858), Widowed, Can read and write, Born in SC, Both parents born in SC

SC Death Certificate #4604, Registration District #42-A, Registered #38, Mrs. W.B. Briggs (Texana) (sic, Mrs. W.R. Briggs - Texanna), DOD: 3/31/1938 in Blasingame St., Union, Union County, SC
White, Female, Widowed, DOB: 7/29/1856 in SC, 82 yrs old
Occupation: Domestic
Father: Thomas Norman, born in SC
Mother: Mary Dillard, born in SC
Informant: Claud Crosby of Union, SC
DOD: 3/31/1938 at (blank)
Cause of death: Cardiac
Burial: 4/2/1938 in Rosemont, Union, Union County, SC

3) Laura Ann Briggs (DOB: Between 1846-1848 in Union County, SC; DOD: After 1878 in ?  ). She was mentioned in Sanford Drayton Briggs Will made in 1878.

1850 U.S. Census of Union County, South Carolina; Roll: M432_859; Page: 10A; Image: 269, Lines 31-36, "Drayton Briggs"
Drayton Briggs, 31 yrs old (DOB 1819), M(ale), W(hite), Overseer, Born in SC
Marion Briggs, 21 yrs old (DOB 1829), F, W, Born in SC
Franklin Briggs, 5 yrs old (DOB 1845), M, W, Born in SC
William Briggs, 3 yrs old (DOB 1847), M, W, Born in SC
Laura Briggs, 2 yrs old (DOB 1848), F, W, Born in SC
Pinckney Briggs, 10/12 mos old (DOB 1849), M, W, Born in SC

1860 U.S. Census of Union County,  South Carolina; Roll:  M653_1227; Page:  215; Image:  444; Family History Library Film:  805227, Lines 1-8, "Dirayton Brigo" (sic, Ancestry.com has him badly mangled)
Dirayton Brigo, 41 yrs old (DOB 1819), M(ale), W(hite), Merchant, $1,500 Real Estate Value, $5,000 Personal Estate Value, Born in SC
Marium Brigo (sic), 33 yrs old (DOB 1827), F, W, Born in SC
William Brigo, 12 yrs old (DOB 1848), M, W, Born in SC
Lassarum Brigo (Sic. should be Laura Ann Briggs), 11 yrs old (DOB 1849), F, W, Born in SC
Martha Brigo, 6 yrs old (DOB 1854), F, W, Born in SC
Mary Brigo, 8 yrs old (DOB 1856), F, W, Born in SC
Elly Brigo, 2 yrs old (DOB 1858), F, W, Born in SC
Pinckney Brigo, 10 yrs old (DOB 1850), M, W, Born in SC

4) Pinckney Willard Briggs (DOB: 1849-1850 in Union County, SC; DOD: 1926 in McCurtain County, OK ) married Janie Lillian Rawsen (DOB: 9/22/1852 in TN; DOD: 9/9/1908 in Van Zandt County, TX). They had Robert Frederick Briggs who married Fannie Sullivan, Alice B. Briggs, Sallie E. Briggs married Phenelon E. Lester, Lorena Erin Briggs married R.J. Cates, Hugh Ray Briggs, Rebecca Beckie Briggs, Effie Mae Briggs married John Cleveland McLean, Sr.. Then he married Nora Unknown (DOB: 9/15/1869 in MS; DOD: 11/23/1962 in McCurtain County, OK).

A) Robert Fredrick Briggs (DOB 3/1/1875 in MS; DOD 4/15/1930 in Van Zandt County, TX) married Fannie Sullivan (DOB 5/19/1881 in Kaufman County, TX; DOD 9/21/1966 in Harlingen, Cameron County, TX). They had Glen Lamar Briggs and Dorothy Louise Briggs.
B) Alice B. Briggs (DOB Abt. 1879 in MS; DOD 1/21/1897 in Kaufman County, TX).
C) Sallie E. Briggs (DOB 8/1882 in MS; DOD After 1930 in ? ) married Phenelon E. Lester (DOB 9/1879 in AL; DOD ? in ? ). They had Curtis Leon Lester.
Is this Phenelon E. Lester? The Waco News Tribune, Waco, TX, 10/11/1946, Pg 26

D) Lorena Erin Briggs (DOB 12/1884 in MS; DOD ? in ? ) married R.J. Cates (DOB ? in ? ).
E) Rebecca "Beckie" Briggs (DOB 2/1887 in MS; DOD ? in ? )
F) Hugh Ray Briggs (DOB 6/1/1889 in MS; DOD 5/1969 in Phoenix, Maricopa County, AZ)
G) Effie Mae Briggs (DOB 7/29/1891 in TN; DOD 5/20/1977 in Terrell, Kaufman County, TX) married John Cleveland McLean, Sr. (DOB 2/2/1885 in GA; DOD 4/12/1967 in Terrell, Kaufman County, TX)

1880 U.S. Census of Alcorn County, Mississippi; Roll: 640; Family History Film: 1254640; Page: 351B; Enumeration District: 5, Lines 9-15, "Pinckney W. Briggs"
Pinckney W. Briggs, W(hite), M(ale), 30 yrs old (DOB 1850), Married, Laborer, Born in SC, Both parents born in SC
Jinnie L. Briggs (sic), W, F, 28 yrs old (DOB 1852), Wife, Married, Keeping house, Born in TN, Both parents born in TN
Robert F. Briggs, W, M, 5 yrs old (DOB 1875), Son, At Home, Born in MS, Father born in SC, Mother born in TN
Allis B. Briggs, W, F, 1 yrs old (DOB 1879), Daughter, At Home, Born in MS, Father born in SC, Mother born in TN

1900 U.S. Census of Justice Precinct 3, Van Zandt County, Texas; Roll: T623_ 1675; Page: 3B; Enumeration District: 129, Lines 75-81, "Fredie R. Briggs" (sic)
Fredie R. Briggs, Head, W(hite), M(ale), Born March, 1875, 25 yrs old, Single, Born in MS, Father born in SC, Mother born in TN, Farmer, Can read and write, Owns farm free of mortgage
Jamie Briggs (sic, looks like Janie Briggs), Mother, W, F, Born Sept, 1852, 47 yrs old, Widowed, Married 28 yrs, Born in TN, Both parents born in TN, Can read and write
Sallie E. Briggs, Sister, W, F, Born Aug, 1882, 17 yrs old, Single, Born in MS, Father born in SC, Mother born in TN, Farm Laborer, Can read and write
Eron L. Briggs (sic), Sister, W, F, Born Dec, 1884, 15 yrs old, Single, Born in MS, Father born in SC, Mother born in TN, Farm Laborer, Can read and write
Beckie Briggs, Sister, W, F, Born Feb, 1887, 13 yrs old, Single, Born in MS, Father born in SC, Mother born in TN, Farm Laborer, Can read and write
Hugh Briggs, Brother, W, M, Born June, 1888, 11 yrs old, Single, Born in MS, Father born in SC, Mother born in TN, Farm Laborer
Effie Briggs, Sister, W, F, Born July, 1897, 3 yrs old, Single, Born in MS, Father born in SC, Mother born in TN

1910 U.S. Census of 4th St., Idabel Ward 4, McCurtain County, Oklahoma; Roll: T624_1261; Page: 6B; Enumeration District: 0183; Image: 992; FHL Number: 1375274, Lines 68-69, "Pinckney W. Briggs"
Pinckney W. Briggs, Head, M(ale), W(hite), 60 yrs old (DOB 1850), 2nd marriage, Married 15 yrs (DOM 1895), Born in SC, Both parents born in SC, Own income
Nora Briggs, Wife, F, W, 42 yrs old (DOB 1868), 2nd marriage, Married 15 yrs, 2 children with 1 still living, Born in MS, Both parents born in MS

1920 U.S. Census of Main St., White, McCurtain, Oklahoma; Roll: T625_1469; Page: 9B; Enumeration District: 157; Image: 487, Lines 99-100, "Paul W. Briggs" sic, looks like Pink W. Briggs
Paul W. Briggs, Owns free of mortgage, Head, M(ale), W(hite), 70 yrs old (DOB 1850), Married, Can read and write, Born in SC, Both parents born in SC, Hotel proprietor
Nora Briggs, Wife, F, W, 48 yrs old (DOB 1872), Married, Can read and write, Born in TN, Both parents born in TN, Hotel help

5) Mary Francis Briggs (DOB: 6/5/1851 in Union County, SC; DOD: 12/2/1910 in Union, SC) married ? . She had James M. Briggs, Wallace Simpson Briggs, Arthur Fleming Nance Briggs, Sr. (aka Flemmie Briggs), David Briggs, Luther Raymond Briggs, Johnny Briggs.

A) James M. Briggs (DOB 12/1873 in Union County, SC; DOD ? in ? ) married ? . He is in the 1880 and 1900 U.S. Census. In the 1900 U.S. census he is listed as 26 and Single. He is the Head of the Household and working in a cotton mill. Next is his mother and then a list of brothers. All are clearly marked as "Bothers". I find no other record of him.
B) Wallace Simpson Briggs (DOB 5/31/1877 in Union County, SC; DOD 5/2/1946 in Union County, SC) married Lillian Estell Stevens/Stephens (DOB 8/5/1895 in SC; DOD 5/1980 in Union County, SC). They had Wallace Rodney Briggs, William Rheet Briggs, Murray Briggs, Jack Mosley Briggs, Sr., Mary Frances Briggs married Warren Lee Nabors.
C) Arthur Flaming Nance Briggs, Sr. (DOB 2/11/1880 in Union County, SC; DOD 1/30/1969 in Rutherfordton, Ruthford County, NC) married Minnie May Hill (DOB 5/26/1880 in VA; DOD 7/8/1951 in Gaston County, NC). They had Eula Blanche Briggs married Rupert Spencer Eaves, Jr., Leah Mae Briggs married Royal Clyo Eller, Lewis Ray Briggs, Arthur Fleming Briggs, Jr.
D) David Briggs (DOB 11/1882 in Union County, SC; DOD 10/26/1917 in Columbia, Richland County, SC) married Julia ? .
E) Luther Raymond Briggs (DOB 1/27/1889 in Union County, SC; DOD 7/30/1944 in Cobb County, GA) married Cora E. Wilson (DOB 4/13/1893 in SC; DOD 11/24/1972 in Cobb County, GA). They had Mary Gladys Briggs.
F) John Briggs (DOB About 1899 in Union County, SC; DOD ? in ? ).

Mary Francis Briggs may have had these children out of wedlock as she lives with her parents and her sons are with her. When her parents die, she lives with her sons until her death. So who were their father(s)?

Her son, Arthur Fleming Briggs, Sr. lists his parents, on his death certificate, as Drayton Sanford Briggs and Mary Frances Wilburn. Sanford Drayton Briggs was his grandfather. Who did Mary Francis Briggs marry that was a Wilburn? She was a Briggs on her last census in 1910 and was buried later that year as Mary Frances Briggs. So I don't think she was married. That leaves two options:
  a) Arthur Fleming Briggs, Sr.'s death certificate is wrong. Maybe the informer was confused or just didn't know or had been told wrongly. It's easy to get things confused when a death has occurred. Or sometimes the info is embarrassing and people tend to gloss over it with wrong facts.
  b) Incest (father, daughter). But then why "Wilburn"?

Another son, David C. Briggs died in an automobile accident in Richland County, SC at the young age of 33 yrs old. His death certificate lists his parents as James Briggs born in SC and "Don't know". The informant was Mrs. Julia Briggs, his wife. Who is "James Briggs"? And his mother had only been dead 7 yrs, why didn't Julia Briggs know her name? That leaves these options:
  a) David C. Briggs' death certificate is wrong. Maybe the informer was confused or just didn't know or had been told wrongly. It's easy to get things confused when a death has occurred. Or sometimes the info is embarrassing and people tend to gloss over it with wrong facts. Maybe she got his father's name mixed up with the older brother's name, James M. Briggs. Just a simple mix up.
  b) His father was different from Arthur Fleming Briggs, Sr. and therefore the different name given. But who was he? Was he a relative or someone unrelated but with the same last name? Is it possible that his older brother James M. Briggs was named after a father named James Briggs?

I can't find a death certificate for her other sons: Wallace Simpson Briggs (who died in 1946 in SC) or Luther Raymond Briggs (who died 8/1/1944 in Atlanta, GA at 55 yrs old). and I can't find any record of John/Johnny/Johnnie Briggs after the 1900 U.S. Census. There should definitely be a death certificate for Wallace Simpson Briggs on Ancestry.com as SC Death Certificates are on there but there isn't one. I find them all day long on Ancestry.com. Why? Why didn't one get filled out and registered? I have come across this problem before but rarely.

1900 U.S. Census of Cross Anchor, Spartanburg County, South Carolina; Roll: T623_ 1541; Page: 8A; Enumeration District: 86, Lines 49-50 next page Lines 51-54, "James Briggs"
James Briggs, Head, W(hite), M(ale), Born Dec, 1873, 26 yrs old, Single, Born in SC, Both parents born in SC, Cotton weaver in cotton mill, Can read and write, Rents home
Mary Briggs, Mother, W, F, Born July 1851, 48 yrs old, Single, 5 children with 5 still living, Born in SC, Both parents born in SC, Can read and write
Wallace Briggs, Brother, W, M, Born Apr, 1877, 23 yrs old, Single, Born in sC, Both parents born in SC, Card room in cotton mill, Can read and write next page
Flemmie Briggs, Brother, W, M, Born Feby, 1880, 20 yrs old, Single, Born in SC, Both parents born in SC, Card room in cotton mill, Can read and write
David Briggs, Brother, W, M, Born Nov, 1882, 17 yrs old, Single, Born in SC, Both parents born in SC, Card room in cotton mill, Can read and write
Luther Briggs, Brother, W, M, Born Jany, 1889, 11 yrs old, Single, Born in SC, Both parents born in SC, At school
Johnny Briggs, Brother, W, M, Born May, 1899, 1 yrs old, Born in SC, Both parents born in SC

1910 U.S. Census of Cross Keys Road, Cross Keys, Union, South Carolina; Roll: T624_1474; Page: 1A; Enumeration District: 0112; Image: 655; FHL Number: 1375487, Lines 13-14, "Mary Briggs"
Mary Briggs, Head, F(emale), W(hite), 58 yrs old (DOB 1852), Single, 6 children with 5 still living, Born in SC, Both parents born in SC, No occupation, Can read and write
Linher R. Briggs (sic, Luther R. Briggs), Son, M, W, 21 yrs old (DOB 1889), Single, Born in SC, Both parents born in SC, Farm Laborer, working out, Can read and write

FindAGrave.com
Mary Frances Briggs
BIRTH 5 Jun 1851
DEATH 2 Dec 1910 (aged 59)
BURIAL Padgetts Creek Baptist Church Cemetery, Cross Keys, Union County, South Carolina, USA
MEMORIAL ID 12340545

6) Martha Jane Briggs (DOB: 4/1852 in Union County, SC; DOD: 1/31/1928 in Union, Union County, SC) never married.

1900 U.S. Census of Cross Keys, Union County,  South Carolina; Roll:  T623_ 1544; Page:  1B; Enumeration District:  67, Lines 51-57, "Rhett Prince"
Rhett Prince, Head, W(hite), M(ale), Born Jany, 1858, 42 yrs old, Married 21 yrs, Born in SC, Both parents born in SC, Farmer, rents farm, Can read and write
E. Alluse Prince (sic), Wife, W, F, Born May, 1858, 42 yrs old, Married 21 yrs, Born in SC, Both parents born in SC, Can read and write
Mattee E. Prince (sic), Daughter, W, F, Born Aug, 1878, 21 yrs old, Single, Born in SC, Both parents born in SC, Farm Laborer, Can read and write
C.F. Prince (sic), Son, W, M, Born July, 1880, 19 yrs old, Single, Born in SC, Both parents born in SC, Farm Laborer, Can read and write C.
Victor Prince, Son, W, M, Born Dec, 1882, 18 yrs old, Single, Born in SC, Both parents born in SC, Farm Laborer, Can read and write
Meriam Briggs (sic), Mother-in-law, W, F, Born Sept, 1829, Widowed, Born in SC, Both parents born in SC, Can read and write
Martha Briggs, Sister-in-law, W, F, Born April, 1853, 47 yrs old, Single, Born in SC, Both parents born in SC, Can read and write

1910 U.S. Census of Cross Keys, Union County, South Carolina; Roll:  T624_1474; Page:  3A; Enumeration District:  0112; Image:  659; FHL Number:  1375487, Lines 14-18, "Clarence R. Prince" and Lines 19-22, "Frank D. Prince"
Clarence R. Prince, Head, M(ale), W(hite), 52 yrs old (DOB 1858), First marriage, Married 33 yrs (DOM 1877), Born in SC, Both parents born in SC, Miller in grist mill, Can read and write, Rents farm
Alice E. Prince, Wife, F, W, 51 yrs old (DOB 1859), First marriage, Married 33 yrs, 3 children with 3 still living, Born in SC, Both parents born in SC, Can read and write
Victor C. Prince, Son, M, W, 27 yrs old (DOB 1883), Single, Born in SC, Both parents born in SC, Laborer on home farm, Can read and write
Nancy Burnett, Mother, F, W, 74 yrs old (DOB 1836), Widowed, 6 children with 4 still living, Born in SC, Both parents born in SC, Can read and write
Martha Briggs, Sister-in-law, F, W, 57 yrs old (DOB 1853), Single, Born in SC, Both parents born in SC, Can read and write
Frank D. Prince, Head, M(ale), W(hite), 28 yrs old (DOB 1882), First marriage, Married 7 yrs (DOM 1903), Born in SC, Both parents born in SC, Barber for public, Can read and write
Mollie Prince, Wife, F, W, 24 yrs old (DOB 1886), First marriage, Married 7 yrs, 3 children with 3 still living (sic), Born in SC, Both parents born in SC
Julian R. Prince, Son, M, W, 5 yrs old (DOB 1905), Born in SC, Both parents born in SC
Hubert L. Prince, Son, M, W, 3 yrs old (DOB 1907), Born in SC, Both parents born in SC

1920 U.S. Census of Mountain St., Union, Union County, South Carolina; Roll: T625_1713; Page: 21A; Enumeration District: 145; Image: 984, Lines 14-18, "C.C. Sanders" (This is Clarence Cooper Sanders, Sr. who is married to Martha E. "Mattie" Prince. Mattie Prince is the daughter of Clarence Rhett Prince and Alice Ella Briggs. So he was Martha Jane Briggs' niece's husband.)
C.C. Sanders, Head, Owns home free of mortgage, M(ale), W(hite), 41 yrs old (DOB 1879), Married, Can read and write, Born in SC, Both parents born in SC, President of bank
Mattie E. Sanders, Wife, F, W, 40 yrs old (DOB 1880), Married, Can read and write, Born in SC, Both parents born in SC
Cooper Sanders, Son, M, W, 10 yrs old (DOB 1910), Born in SC, Both parents born in SC
Amelia Sanders, Daughter, F, W, 7 yrs old (DOB 1913), Born in SC, Both parents born in SC
Martha Briggs, Aunt, F, W, 66 yrs old (DOB 1854), Single, Born in SC, Both parents born in SC, No occupation

SC Death Certificate #1490, Registration District 40-A, Registered #13, Miss Martha J. Briggs, DOD 1/31/1928 in 454 E. Main St., Union, Union County, SC
Female, White, Single, DOB: 4/1852 in SC, 75 yrs, 9 mos old
Occupation: "Not any"
Father: Drayton Briggs, born in SC
Mother: "Don't know, born in"
Informant: C.C. Sanders of Spartanburg, SC  (This informant is Clarence Cooper Sanders, Sr. who is married to Martha E. "Mattie" Prince. Mattie Prince is the daughter of Clarence Rhett Prince and Alice Ella Briggs. So he was Martha Jane Briggs' niece's husband.)
DOD: 1/31/1928 at (blank)
Cause of death: Cerebral hemorrhage due to arteriosclerosis
Burial: 2/1/1928 in Padgett's Creek

Martha Jane Briggs never married but she lived with family her whole life. It makes me think she might have been well loved.

7) Alice Ella Briggs (DOB: 5/22/1858 in Union County, SC; DOD: 1/5/1912 in Union, SC) who married Clarence Rhett Prince (DOB: 1/5/1858 in Union County, SC; DOD: 2/8/1919 in Cross Keys, Union County, SC) on 11/22/1877 in Union County, SC. They are buried at Padgett's Creek Baptist Church, Cross Keys, Union County, SC. The had Martha E. "Mattie" Prince, Franklin Drayton Prince, Victor Clarence Prince. This is my husband's direct ancestors.

A) Martha "Mattie" E. Prince (DOB 8/23/1878 in Union County, SC; DOD 3/29/1941 in Spartanburg, Spartanburg County, SC) married Clarence Cooper Sanders, Sr. (DOB 2/6/1878 in Union County, SC; DOD 12/4/1955 in Spartanburg, Spartanburg County, SC). They had Clarence Cooper Sanders, Jr., Edith Frances Sanders (1910-1910), Alice Amelia Sanders married Spencer Rice Morgan, Sr.
B) Franklin Drayton Prince (DOB 7/18/1880 in Cross Keys, Union County, SC; DOD 5/13/1940 in Spartanburg, Spartanburg County, SC) married Mary "Mollie" Cynthia Bain (DOB 10/10/1885 in Spartanburg County, SC; DOD 10/31/1974 in Spartanburg, Spartanburg County, SC). They had Julian Rhett Prince married Clara Marie Wilder, Hubert L. Prince, Ralph Dupre Prince, Wilbur Eugene Prince, Franklin Harold Prince, Mary Prince married Lewis R. Ray, Ruth Irene Prince married John Roy Shephard, Marvin Lewis Prince, Vernon C. Prince, Marguerite Prince married Jackson "Jack" Theodore Key, Sr., Mildred Prince married Edward "Ed" Norman Comer, Sr.
C) Victor Clarence Prince (DOB 12/19/1882 in Enoree River, Union County, SC; DOD 4/30/1945 in Union County, SC) never married.

1900 U.S. Census of Cross Keys, Union County,  South Carolina; Roll:  T623_ 1544; Page:  1B; Enumeration District:  67, Lines 51-57, "Rhett Prince"
Rhett Prince, Head, W(hite), M(ale), Born Jany, 1858, 42 yrs old, Married 21 yrs, Born in SC, Both parents born in SC, Farmer, rents farm, Can read and write
E. Alluse Prince (sic), Wife, W, F, Born May, 1858, 42 yrs old, Married 21 yrs, Born in SC, Both parents born in SC, Can read and write
Mattee E. Prince (sic), Daughter, W, F, Born Aug, 1878, 21 yrs old, Single, Born in SC, Both parents born in SC, Farm Laborer, Can read and write
C.F. Prince (sic), Son, W, M, Born July, 1880, 19 yrs old, Single, Born in SC, Both parents born in SC, Farm Laborer, Can read and write C.
Victor Prince, Son, W, M, Born Dec, 1882, 18 yrs old, Single, Born in SC, Both parents born in SC, Farm Laborer, Can read and write
Meriam Briggs (sic), Mother-in-law, W, F, Born Sept, 1829, Widowed, Born in SC, Both parents born in SC, Can read and write
Martha Briggs, Sister-in-law, W, F, Born April, 1853, 47 yrs old, Single, Born in SC, Both parents born in SC, Can read and write

1910 U.S. Census of Cross Keys, Union County, South Carolina; Roll:  T624_1474; Page:  3A; Enumeration District:  0112; Image:  659; FHL Number:  1375487, Lines 14-18, "Clarence R. Prince" and Lines 19-22, "Frank D. Prince"
Clarence R. Prince, Head, M(ale), W(hite), 52 yrs old (DOB 1858), First marriage, Married 33 yrs (DOM 1877), Born in SC, Both parents born in SC, Miller in grist mill, Can read and write, Rents farm
Alice E. Prince, Wife, F, W, 51 yrs old (DOB 1859), First marriage, Married 33 yrs, 3 children with 3 still living, Born in SC, Both parents born in SC, Can read and write
Victor C. Prince, Son, M, W, 27 yrs old (DOB 1883), Single, Born in SC, Both parents born in SC, Laborer on home farm, Can read and write
Nancy Burnett, Mother, F, W, 74 yrs old (DOB 1836), Widowed, 6 children with 4 still living, Born in SC, Both parents born in SC, Can read and write
Martha Briggs, Sister-in-law, F, W, 57 yrs old (DOB 1853), Single, Born in SC, Both parents born in SC, Can read and write
Frank D. Prince, Head, M(ale), W(hite), 28 yrs old (DOB 1882), First marriage, Married 7 yrs (DOM 1903), Born in SC, Both parents born in SC, Barber for public, Can read and write
Mollie Prince, Wife, F, W, 24 yrs old (DOB 1886), First marriage, Married 7 yrs, 3 children with 3 still living (sic), Born in SC, Both parents born in SC
Julian R. Prince, Son, M, W, 5 yrs old (DOB 1905), Born in SC, Both parents born in SC
Hubert L. Prince, Son, M, W, 3 yrs old (DOB 1907), Born in SC, Both parents born in SC

1920 U.S. Census of Mountain St., Union, Union County, South Carolina; Roll: T625_1713; Page: 21A; Enumeration District: 145; Image: 984, Lines 14-18, "C.C. Sanders"
C.C. Sanders, Head, Owns home free of mortgage, M(ale), W(hite), 41 yrs old (DOB 1879), Married, Can read and write, Born in SC, Both parents born in SC, President of bank
Mattie E. Sanders, Wife, F, W, 40 yrs old (DOB 1880), Married, Can read and write, Born in SC, Both parents born in SC
Cooper Sanders, Son, M, W, 10 yrs old (DOB 1910), Born in SC, Both parents born in SC
Amelia Sanders, Daughter, F, W, 7 yrs old (DOB 1913), Born in SC, Both parents born in SC
Martha Briggs, Aunt, F, W, 66 yrs old (DOB 1854), Single, Born in SC, Both parents born in SC, No occupation

Union County,SC Death Notices From Early Newspapers,1852-1914, compiled by Tommy J. Vaughan, Pg 183, Death Notice from Union Times, obituary of Mrs Rhett Prince, Union Times, 1/12/1912
"Mrs. Rhett Prince, who has been ill for 10 months with pellagra, died Fri. Jan 5 at her home at Cross Keys. The interment was at Padgett's Creek Church of which she was a member. She leaves a husband and three children, Mrs. Clarence Sanders of Union, Victor and Frank Prince of Cross Keys and one sister Mrs. Briggs. Mrs. Prince was 53 years of age."

SC Death Certificate #5283, Registration District #4200, Registered #2, Clarence Rhett Prince, DOD: 2/18/1919 in Cross Keys, Union County, SC
Male, White, Widowed, DOB: 1/25/1858 in SC, 61 yrs, 23 days old
Occupation: Ginner
Father: Gist Prince, born in SC
Mother: Nancy Johnson, born in SC
Informant: C.C. Sanders of Union, SC
DOD: 2/18/1919 at 6 am
Cause of death: Bright's Disease
Burial: 2/19/1919 at Padgett's Creek Cemetery

FindAGrave.coom
Alice Briggs Prince
BIRTH 22 May 1858
DEATH 5 Jan 1912 (aged 53)
BURIAL Padgetts Creek Baptist Church Cemetery, Cross Keys, Union County, South Carolina, USA
MEMORIAL ID 12319112

Clarence Rhett Prince
BIRTH 25 Jan 1858
DEATH 18 Feb 1919 (aged 61)
BURIAL Padgetts Creek Baptist Church Cemetery, Cross Keys, Union County, South Carolina, USA
MEMORIAL ID 12319138


If you have any comments, corrections or additonal information, please email me at Mom25dogs@gmail.com.

If you follow my posts, then you know my parents died recently. My Mother died last September and the day of her memorial service was the day Tropical Storm Francis was coming through. Daddy wanted to get his turnip green seeds planted so they would get a good soaking and start with all the rain.

Daddy died unexpectedly in January. We've all been struggling with our grief as we loved them so much.

Last night my sister found this turnip green running up to seed. It had some up from those seeds he planted last Fall and it made her remember how he went out and sprinkled those seeds the afternoon after Mom's Memorial Service.

I made this digital scrapbook page from her picture and her story.

Holden Bogan was born between 1816-1819 in SC to Isaac C. Bogan, Jr. (DOB Abt. 1795 in VA; DOD Aft. 1860 in Spartanburg, Spartanburg County, SC) and Keziah Gulledge (DOB Abt. 1795 in VA; DOD Abt. 1865 in Spartanburg, Spartanburg County, SC). He was the 2nd of their 7 children, 5 girls and 2 boys. His younger brother was Alsa "Alsey" Bogan.

Holden married Lucinda "Cindy""Cynthia" Unknown. She was born Abt. 1828 in SC and died Aft. 1880 in Spartanburg County, SC. They had around 7 or 8 children (I haven't finished my work on this family yet). One of their daughters was Elizabeth Jane "Bettie" Bogan (aka June Bogan, Bettie Jane Bogan, Bettie June Bogan) who was born 3/1861 in Spartanburg County, SC. She married 1st Albert H. Wallace (DOB Abt. 1863 in NC; DOD 2/1/1928 in Spartanburg County, SC). They had Sarah Etta Wallace (DOB 8/14/1885 in Spartanburg County, SC: DOD 11/20/1909 in Spartanburg County, SC) and she married Jerry Landrum Blackwood (DOB 11/11/1881 in Spartanburg County, SC; DOD 11/11/1930 in Spartanburg County, SC). She married 2nd John M. Spencer (DOB Abt. 1853 in Spartanburg County, SC; DOD ? in ? ).

They had two children:

I) Maggie Ellen Spencer (DOB 10/24/1879 in Spartanburg County, SC; DOD 3/6/1948 in Cherokee County, SC) married Robert Austin Phillips (DOB 8/31/1878 in SC; DOD ? in SC).

....1) John Curtis Phillips (DOB 8/1899 in SC; DOD Aft. 1930 in ? ) Married 1st to Kate Mae Reynolds (DOB  5/1901 in White Plains, Cherokee County, SC; DOD 2/15/1929 in Cherokee County, SC) and 2nd Hester ? (DOB Abt. 1911 in ? ; DOD ? in ? ).
........A) Robert Lee Phillips (DOB 7/15/1921 in SC; DOD 12/24/1945 in Cherokee County, SC) married Mary Elizabeth Rubert (DOB 3/22/1926 in Gaffney, Cherokee County, SC; DOD 6/15/1991 in ? ). She married 2nd Howard A. Darby. Robert Lee Phillips and Mary Elizabeth Rubert had Roger Lee Phillips.
........B) Henry William Phillips (DOB 11/14/1923 in SC; DOD 12/24/1945 in Cherokee County, SC) never married.
........C) Eula M. Phillips (DOB Abt. 1924 in SC; DOD ? in ? ) married ?
........D) Leona Phillips (DOB 6/7/1926 in SC; DOD ? in ? ) married Billy Lowell Wood (DOB 1/9/1935 in Scott County, VA; DOD 12/25/2009 in Bristol, Sullivan County, TN).

....2) Cline Gillard Phillips (DOB 6/7/1902 in SC; DOD 7/9/1982 in Gaffney, Cherokee County, SC) married Annie Mae Fowler (DOB 12/13/1901 in SC; DOD 1/10/1982 in ? ).
........A) Curtis Patrick Phillips (DOB 8/23/1919 in Cherokee County, SC; DOD 8/21/1944 in Italy)
........B) Mary Ellen Phillips (DOB 8/11/1920 in Pacolet, Spartanburg County, SC; DOD 6/1/2009 in Gaffney, Cherokee County, SC) married Harvey Patterson Wallace (DOB 10/12/1915 in SC; DOD 4/24/1989 in Gaffney, Cherokee County, SC).
........C) Baby Phillips (DOB 1923 in Spartanburg County, SC; DOD 5/26/1923 in Spartanburg County, SC)
........D) Louis Hunter Phillips (DOB 9/14/1924 in Pacolet, Spartanburg County, SC; DOD 9/19/1976 in ? )
........E) Wallace M. Phillips (DOB 10/2/1926 in Gaffney, Cherokee County, SC; DOD 11/10/2004 in Gaffney, Cherokee County, SC)
........F) Dorothy F. Phillips (DOB Abt. 1929 in Cherokee County, SC; DOD ? in ? )
........G) Elizabeth Phillips (DOB Abt. 1931 in Cherokee County, SC; DOD ? in ? )
........H) Patricia Phillips (DOB Abt. 1934 in Cherokee County, SC; DOD ? in ? ) married ? Ligon
........I) Olin Ray Phillips (DOB 12/25/1934 in Gaffney, Cherokee County, SC; DOD 12/27/2008 in Gaffney, Cherokee County, SC).

....3) Willie James Phillips (DOB Abt. 1905 in SC; DOD 9/2/1978 in ? ) married Florence Phillips (DOB 2/5/1907 in Cherokee County, SC; DOD 2/9/1933 in Cherokee County, SC).
........A) Wofford Patrick Phillips (8/24/1924 in Cherokee County, SC; 5/10/1997 in Gaffney, Cherokee County, SC)
........B) Charles Wesley Phillips (DOB 12/12/1926 in Spartanburg County, SC: DOD 12/25/2003 in Gaffney, Cherokee County, SC)
........C) James Herman Phillips (DOB 2/5/1929 in SC; DOD 11/11/2007 in Gaffney, Cherokee County, SC)

....4) Lillie Freeman Phillips (DOB 4/1/1908 in SC: DOD 11/1986 in Spartanburg County, SC) married Carl Wilson Trantham (DOB 2/19/1908 in Haywood County, NC; DOD 6/24/1993 in Spartanburg, Spartanburg County, SC). She married 2nd Roy Allen.
........A) Lemuel Oscar Trantham (DOB 12/5/1928 in SC; DOD 11/12/1929 in Cherokee County, SC)
........B) Bobbie Elaine Trantham (DOB 4/13/1931 in SC; DOD 1/22/2008 in Glendale, Spartanburg County, SC) married ? Fisher.
........C) Floyd Dillinger Trantham (DOB 3/28/1935 in Gaffney, Cherokee County, SC; DOD 6/15/1991 in Moore, Spartanburg County, SC) married Virginia Mary Joyce (DOB 5/18/1943 in NY; DOD 7/19/1991 in Spartanburg County, SC).

II) James Holden Spencer, Sr. (DOB 12/29/1880 in SC; DOD 9/24/1943 in Cherokee County, SC) married Dora Wyatt (DOB 8/31/1880 in SC; DOD 10/31/1969 in Gaffney, Cherokee County, SC).
....1) Mary Bessie Spencer (DOB 9/22/1903 in SC; DOD 12/4/1958 in Union County, SC) married William Toy Spencer (DOB 9/7/1891 in Cherokee County, SC; DOD 10/23/1981 in Gaffney, Cherokee County, SC).
....2) Lola M. Spencer (DOB 3/24/1906 in SC; DOD 2/26/1975 in Rock Hill, York County, SC) married Claude S. Cook (DOB 8/19/1906 in Cherokee County, SC; DOD 4/30/1962 in SC)
....3) James Holden Spencer, Jr. (DOB 7/27/1908 in Gaffney, Cherokee County, SC; DOD 3/1988 in Brentwood, Prince Georges County, MD)
....4) Winford Spencer (DOB 11/17/1910 in SC; DOD 9/16/1982 in Gaffney, Cherokee County, SC) married Viola Millwood (DOB 5/14/1915 in SC; DOD 6/5/1994 in Gaffney, Cherokee County, SC).
....5) Dora Pauline Spencer (DOB 7/22/1916 in Gaffney, Cherokee County, SC; DOD 3/2/2001 in York, York County, SC) married Zan Davis Montgomery (DOB 2/4/1914 in SC; DOD 9/20/1972 in Clover, York County, SC).
....6) John L. Spencer (DOB 7/25/1919 in SC; DOD 1/20/1987 in Gaffney, Cherokee County, SC) married Minnie Lee Dellinger (DOB 1/19/1920 in Cherokee County, SC; DOD 1/5/1988 in Gaffney, Cherokee County, SC).

For our story, look back over the list of names and find the ones underlined. We will start with the first tragic accident involving Robert Lee Phillips and Henry William Phillips.

These were two ordinary brothers living in the 1930's and 1940's. I found a couple of poignant articles in the local newspaper about the elder brother, Robert Lee Phillips. Here is his letter to Santa Claus when he was about 8 years old.
The Gaffney Ledger, Gaffney, SC, 12/21/1929, Pg 2

He is listed in the softball league for Hamrick Mills in 1940 at the age of about 19 years old.
The Gaffney Ledger, Gaffney, SC, 4/27/1940, Pg 1

They were living in the small town of Gaffney, Cherokee County, SC. I found these old photos of Gaffney about that time period.


World War II started at the end of 1941. I couldn't find any record of Robert Lee Phillips concerning military service. No draft card or enlistment. But then, I didn't find any on his younger brother Henry William Phillips either and I know he served 41 months according to newspaper reports.
The Gaffney Ledger, Gaffney, SC, 9/7/1944, Pg 1


The Gaffney Ledger, Gaffney, SC, 9/9/1944, Pg 1


Robert Lee Phillips had married Mary Elizabeth Rubert and in November, 1944, they had a son. His little brother is released from the U.S. Navy in December, 1945. According to newspaper reports, one of the others involved in the tragedy had also just come home. Maybe a group of old friends were getting together and having a good time. Nowhere in the newspaper articles does it mention any alcohol involved but having 6 young men and 1 woman crammed into a car indicates a fun time of some type. Maybe his wife had stayed behind to take care of their 13 month old son? Fortunately, she wasn't in the car. It was a cold night in December and the windshield of the car were iced up and hard to see through. The newspaper says the driver's window was rolled down as if the driver might have been trying to stick his head out of the window to see due to ice buildup on the windshield.


The Gaffney Ledger, Gaffney, SC, 12/27/1945, Pg 1



The Gaffney Ledger, Gaffney, SC, 12/29/1945, Pg 1

 The Gaffney Ledger, Gaffney, SC, 1/2/1946, Pg 8

About 2 years and 4 months later, tragedy hits this family again and in much the same way. Maggie Ellen Spencer Phillips was killed and her two grandchildren were injured when their car was hit by a train just a few blocks down from where the two young men were killed. According to the 17 year old girl, Bobbie Elaine Trantham, who was driving, the windows were iced up and she had her window rolled down to see. When they got to the railroad crossing, it seems that they did stop and look, even opened the door to check, but didn't see the train. The trainmen said they did blow the whistle.


The Gaffney Ledger, Gaffney, SC, 3/9/1948, Pg 1

The Gaffney Ledger, Gaffney, SC, 3/25/1948, Pg 1

The Gaffney Ledger, Gaffney, SC, 11/12/1949, Pg 1

I haven't forgotten my blog. But I'm working on some big posts so it's been a month. Please check back.

Samuel G. Harris married Tryphenia Harris and they had
a son, Fleming Matthew Harris who married Augusta Ann Harris and they had
a son, Gamewell Calhoun Harris who married Sarah "Sally" Brakefield and they had
a son, Edward Boyd Harris who married Ida Mae Shaw and they had
a son, Clyde Harris who married Mabel Louise Cohen and they had
a son, William "Billy" Clyde Harris who married Peggy Prince and they had
Stan


Fleming Matthew Harris, aka F.M., Mattie, Maddie (erroneously some thought his name was Frances Marion Harris, Francis Matthew Harris or Frances Madison Harris) was born 2/4/1809 in Union County, SC to Samuel G. Harris (DOB: abt 1772 in Virginia ; DOD: Between 1850-1860 in Union County, SC ) and Tryphena Harris (DOB: 12/14/1771 in Virginia; DOD: 8/23/1855 in Union County, SC).

Augusta Ann, aka Gustie Ann, Gusta Ann, Gustiana, Duska, Gusty was born 5/23/1813 in Union County, SC to Fleming Harris aka Flemmin Harris (DOB: ? in ? ; DOD: ? in ? son of Thomas Harris and Sarah Lacy) and Jane Sharp (DOB: ? ; DOD: ? daughter of ? ). They married before 1831 in Union County, SC. Tryphena Harris Harris was the sister of Flemmin Harris so Fleming Matthew Harris and Augusta Ann Harris were 1st cousins.

Fleming Matthew Harris married his first cousin, Augusta Ann Harris, about 1830 in Union County, SC. August Ann Harris was born 5/23/1813 in SC to Fleming Harris (DOB Abt. 1785 in Chesterfield, VA; DOD Abt. 1850 in Copiah County, MS) and Jane Sharp (DOB Abt. 1788 in Union County, SC; DOD Abt. 1850 in Copiah County, MS). Fleming Harris (1785-1850) was the son of Thomas Harris and Sarah Sally Lacy and was the brother of Tryphena Harris. It's a little complicated. Let's look at it.

Union County was formed in 1775 after the Cherokee Indians gifted the land to the Greenville/Spartanburg County lines to the King as a good will gesture. Settlers poured into the new land and Samuel and Fleming Matthew Harris were two of them. Samuel Harris and his family, were one of the first pioneer families in Union County.

1) Frances Cornelia Harris (DOB 12/29/1831 in Union County, SC; DOD Aft. 1880 in Union County, SC) married William Fraser (aka William Frasier) (DOB Abt. 1845 in SC; DOD ? in ? ).

2) James Marion Harris (DOB 1/18/1834 in Union County, SC; DOD 3/29/1865 in Burgess Mill, Petersburg, VA) married Sarah Ann Bevil (DOB 12/30/1835 in Union County, SC to William A.H. Bevel and Sarah Bentley; DOD 10/27/1889 in Union County, SC).

3) Cicely Ann Catharine Harris (DOB 7/25/1836 in Union County, SC; DOD 6/1882 in Union County, SC) married 1st John Floyd (DOB Abt. 1839 in SC; DOD Aft. 1860 in ? ). Married 2nd
Arthur Lipsey (DOB Abt. 1848 in SC; DOD 2/27/1902 in Union County, SC). They had James A. Lipsey, Bunyon Lipsey, Mary A. Lipsey.

4) Sarah Jane Harris (DOB 3/19/1838 in Union County, SC; DOD Bet. 1840-1850 in Union County, SC).

5) Taylor Ann Harris (DOB 11/18/1840 in Union County, SC; DOD 1/12/1908 in Union County, SC) married William Earle Fowler (DOB Abt. 1832 in SC; DOD 1900 in Cherokee County, SC). They had Frances Marion Fowler, Isabella Fowler, Augusta Ann Fowler, William Wallis Fowler, Nancy "Nannie" Ann Fowler.

6) Eugenia Millie Harris (DOB 12/20/1842 in Union County, SC; DOD 3/20/1924 in Union County, SC) married James Gist Farr (DOB 8/12/1836 in SC; DOD 8/23/1899 in Union County, SC). They had Mary Richard Farr, William B. Farr, Walter "Watt" Thomas Farr, Carrie M. Farr, Doretha Farr, John Anderson Farr, Edward Marvin Farr, Aurie Pearl Farr.

7) Patricia "Tricia" Ann Harris (DOB 12/8/1843 in Union County, SC; DOD Aft. 1860 in Union County, SC) mentally handicapped and never married.

8) William Edward Harris (DOB 12/29/1845 in Union County, SC; DOD 7/30/1864 in Petersburg, Dinwiddie County, VA) mentally handicapped. Married ?

9) Anderson Kennedy "A.K." Harris (DOB 4/26/1848 in Union County, SC; DOD 3/24/1928 in York County, SC) married Sarah "Sallie" Austen (DOB Abt. 1847 in SC; DOD Aft. 1920 in ? ). He  had Oliver "Ollie" Ross Harris and William "Willie" Edward Harris. They were twins. They may be the children of A.K. and Sarah Austen. But William "Willie" Edward Harris' SS Application and Claim lists his mother as "Molly Byers". Was A.K. married to a Molly Byers before Sallie Austen? Did she die in childbirth? Or is this a mistake in the records? His death certificate lists no mother and Ollie didn't have a death certificate since he died in 1913. A.K. also had a son with Sarah Ann Bevill named Robert Jackson Harris.

10) Havannah Ann Harris (DOB 9/29/1851 in Union County, SC; DOD 2/16/1911 in Union, Union County, SC) never married.

11) Thomas Harris (DOB Abt. 1852 in Union County, SC; DOD Aft. 1870 in ? ) married ?

12) Gamewell Calhoun Harris (DOB 5/26/1853 in Union County, SC; DOD 10/21/1933 in Union, Union County, SC) married Sarah "Sallie" Clementine Brakefield (aka Sarah "Sallie" Clementine Breakfield) (DOB 4/18/1860 in York County, SC; DOD 3/6/1930 in Union County, SC). They had Edward Boyd Harris, Clara Emma Harris, James Marion Harris, Fannie May Harris, Bernice Lemond Harris, Paul Traywick Harris, Florence Viola Harris, Bessie Harris, Carl Allen Harris, Sr., Wallace Samuel Harris, Sr., Blanche Eugenia Harris.

13) Mary Harris (DOB Abt. 1854 in Union County, SC; DOD ? in ? ) married ?

14) George Harris (DOB Abt. 1855 in Union County, SC; DOD Aft. 1860 in ? ) married ?

I am not sure Thomas, Mary and George Harris are the children of Fleming Matthew Harris and Augusta Ann Harris. In the 1860 and 1870 U.S. Censuses, they are at the bottom of the list of children under Fleming Matthew and Augusta Ann Harris, out of birth order, and there are no relationship notations on the 1860 and 1870 U.S. Censuses. We just know their last names were Harris and they lived within the household. They may be the illegitimate children of their first daughter, Frances Cornelia Harris who never married.

1850 U.S. Census of Union County, SC, Roll M432_859, Pg 108, Image 463, Lines 29-30 "Samuel Harris", Lines 31-35 "S. P. Harris", Lines 36-49 next page Lines 1-6 "James C. Harris", Lines 7-11 "Thomas Harris", Lines 22-32 "Mathew Harris"
Dwelling 299, Family 299, Harris, Samuel, 78 yrs old (DOB would be 1772), M(ale), W(hite), Tenant, Born in SC (?), Can read and write
Harris, Tryvena, 75 yrs old (DOB would be 1775), F, W, Born in SC (?)
Dwelling 300, Family 300, Harris, S.P., 45 yrs old (DOB would be 1805), M, W, Planter, $1500 Real Estate Value, Born in SC, Can read and write
Harris, Sophia, 35 yrs old (DOB would be 1815), Born in SC, Can read & write
Harris, James, 16 yrs old (DOB would be 1834), Born in SC, Labor, Attends school
Harris, Jane, 15 yrs old (DOB would be 1835), Born in SC, Attends school
Harris, William, 11 yrs old (DOB would be 1839), Born in SC, Attends school
Dwelling 301, Family 301, Harris, James C., 37 yrs old (DOB would be 1813), M, W, Planter, $2000 Real Estate Value, Born in SC, Can read and write
Harris, Frances, 35 yrs old (DOB would be 1815), F, W, Born in SC
Harris, Hesterann, 12 yrs old (DOB would be 1838), F, W, Born in SC, Attends school
Harris, Maryann, 10 yrs old (DOB would be 1849), F, W, Born in SC, Attends school
Harris, Both, 6 yrs old, M, W, Born in SC
Harris, Samuel, 4 yrs old, M, W, Born in SC
Harris, Frances, 2 yrs old, F, W, Born in SC
next page
Harris, James, 6/12 mos old, M, W, Born in SC
Shell, Nancy, 62 yrs old, F, W, Born in SC, Can read and write
Floyd, Hyram, 27 yrs old, M, W, Labor, Born in SC, Cannot read or write
Floyd, John, 14 yrs old, M, W, Can read & write
Richard (nln), 10 yrs old, M, (There is a check mark in the box which is different from all the others, indicates black?), Born in SC
Harris, Louvinier (sic), 8 yrs old, F, W, Born in SC
Dwelling 302, Family 302, Harris, Thomas, 60 yrs old, M, W, Planter, $350 Real Estate Value, Born in SC, Can read and write
Harris, Sarahann, 30 yrs old, F, W, Born in SC
Harris, Leticia, 18 yrs old, F, W, Born in SC, Can read & write
Harris, Benjamin, 14 yrs old, M, W, Born in SC, Attends school
Harris, Jefferson, 1 yrs old, M, W, Born in SC
Dwelling 303, Family 303
Dwelling 304, Family 304
Dwelling 305, Family 305 Harris, Matthew, 40 yrs old (DOB would be 1810), M, W, Planter, $125 Real Estate Value, Born in SC, Can read and write
Harris, Gustyann, 37 yrs old (DOB would be 1813), F, W, Born in SC
Harris, Cornelia, 19 yrs old (DOB would be 1831), F, W, Born in SC, Attends school
Harris, James, 17 yrs old (DOB would be 1833), M, W, Born in SC, Labor, Attends school
Harris, Catharine, 15 yrs old (DOB would be 1835), F, W, Born in SC, Attends school
Harris, Taylor, 11 yrs old (DOB would be 1839), F, W, Born in SC, Attends school
Harris, Eugenia, 9 yrs old (DOB would be 1841), F, W, Born in SC, Attends school
Harris, Fisherann (sic, should be Patricia Ann), 7 yrs old (DOB would be 1843), F, W, Born in SC, Attends school
Harris, Edward, 5 yrs old (DOB would be 1845), M, W, Born in SC
Harris, Anderson, 3 yrs old (DOB would be 1847), M, W, Born in SC

1860 U.S. Census of Union County,  South Carolina; Roll:  M653_1227; Page:  219; Image:  451; Family History Library Film:  805227, Lines 1-20, "John Harris" and "F.M. Harris"
John Harris, 61 yrs old (DOB 1799), M(ale), W(hite), Farmer, $1,500 Real Estate Value, $4,000 Personal Estate Value, Born in SC
Tabitha Harris, 62 yrs old (DOB 1798), F, W, Born in SC
Frances Bevel, 30 yrs old (DOB 1830), F, W, Born in SC
Iris Bevel, 6 yrs old (DOB 1854), F, W, Born in SC
John Bevel, 4 yrs old (DOB 1856), M, W, Born in SC
Fincher Harris (sic), 9 yrs old (DOB 1851), M, W, Student, Born in SC
Jahue Harris (sic), 18 yrs old (DOB 1842), M, W, Student, Born in SC
F.M. Harris, 50 yrs old (DOB 1810), M, W, Farmer, $125 Real Estate Value, $150 Personal Estate Value, Born in SC
Grstran Harris (sic, should be Augusta Ann Harris), 47 yrs old (DOB 1813), F, W, Born in SC
Frances Harris, 28 yrs old (DOB 1832), F, W, Born in SC
Taylor Harris, 20 yrs old (DOB 1840), M, W, Born in SC
Wyena Harris (sic), 17 yrs old (DOB 1843), F, W, Born in SC
Tesheran Harris (sic, should be Patricia Ann Harris), 15 yrs old (DOB 1845), F, W, Born in SC
Edward Harris, 13 yrs old (DOB 1847), M, W, born in SC
Anderson Harris, 12 yrs old (DOB 1848), M, W, Born in SC
Havanah Harris, 9 yrs old (DOB 1851), F, W, Born in SC
Gamewell Harris, 7 yrs old (DOB 1853), M, W, Born in SC
George Harris, 5 yrs old (DOB 1855), M, W, Born in SC
Mary Harris, 6 yrs old (DOB 1854), F, W, Born in SC
Thomas Harris, 8 yrs old (DOB 1852), M, W, Born in SC

1870 U.S. Census of Pickney,  Union County,  South Carolina; Roll:  M593_1510; Page:  504B; Image:  364; Family History Library Film:  553009, Lines 34-40, "F.M. Harris"
F.M. Harris, 60 yrs old (DOB 1810), M(ale), W(hite), Farmer, $1,000 Real Estate Value, $400 Personal Estate Value, Born in SC
Gustianna Harris (sic, should be Augusta Ann Harris), 57 yrs old (DOB 1873), F, W, Born in SC
Cornelia Harris, 39 yrs old (DOB 1831), F, W, Born in SC
Eugenia Harris, 24 yrs old (DOB 1846), F, W, Born in SC
Anderson Harris, 21 yrs old (DOB 1869), M, W, Born in SC
Havanna Harris, 17 yrs old (DOB 1853), F, W, Born in SC
Gamewell Harris, 16 yrs old (DOB 1854), M, W, Born in SC
Thomas Harris, 18 yrs old (DOB 1852), M, W, Born in SC
Mary Harris, 16 yrs old (DOB 1854), F, W, Born in SC

1880 U.S. Census of Pinckney,  Union County,  South Carolina; Roll:  1242; Family History Film:  1255242; Page:  599D; Enumeration District:  158, Lines 24-39, "Mattie Harris", "George Harris", "Anderson Harris"
Mattie Harris, W(hite), M(ale), 71 yrs old (DOB 1809), Head, Married, Farmer, Born in SC, Both parents born in SC
Gusta A. Harris, W, F, 67 yrs old (DOB 1813), Wife, Married, Born in SC, Both parents born in SC
Havana Harris, W, F, 29 yrs old (DOB 1851), Daughter, Single, Born in SC, Both parents born in SC
Gamewell C. Harris, W, M, 27 yrs old (DOB 1853), Son, Single, Born in SC, Both parents born in SC
Sallie C. Harris, W, F, 17 yrs old (DOB 1863), Dil, Single, Born in SC, Both parents born in SC
E. Boyd Harris, W, M, 3 yrs old (DOB 1877), Grandson, Born in SC, Both parents born in SC
Emma Harris, W, F, 1 yr old (DOB 1879), Granddaughter, Born in SC, Both parents born in SC
James M. Harris, W, M, 11/12 mos old (DOB 4/1879), Grandson, Born in SC, Both parents born in SC
William Fraser, W, M, 35 yrs old (DOB 1845), Son-in-law, Works in field, Born in SC, Both parents born in SC
Frances Fraser, W, F, 49 yrs old (DOB 1851), Daughter, Works in field, Born in SC, Both parents born in SC
George Harris, W, M, 24 yrs old (DOB 1856), Head, Married, Farmer, Born in SC, Both parents born in SC
Mary A. Harris, W, F, 21 yrs old (DOB 1859), Wife, Married, Born in SC, Both parents born in SC
Anderson Harris, W, M, 32 yrs old (DOB 1848), Head, Married, Farmer, Born in SC, Both parents born in SC
Sallie Harris, W, F, 32 yrs old (DOB 1848), Wife, Married, Born in SC, Both parents born in SC
Oliver R. Harris, W, M, 12 yrs old (DOB 1868), Son, Worsk in field, Born in SC, Both parents born in SC
Willie E. Harris, W, M, 12 yrs old (DOB 1868), Son, Works in field, Born in SC, Both parents born in SC

1900 U.S. Census of Pinckney,  Union County,  South Carolina; Roll:  T623_ 1544; Page:  17A; Enumeration District:  72, Lines 15-27, "Ravenell Harris" (sic)
Ravenell Harris, Head, W(hite), M(ale), Born May, 1853, 47 yrs old, Married 23 yrs, Born in SC, Both parents born in SC, Farmer, Owns farm, mortgage
Sallie Harris, Wife, W, F, Born Apr, 1861, 39 yrs old, Married, 11 children with 9 still living, Born in SC, Both parents born in SC
Boyd Harris, Son, W, M, Born May, 1878, 22 yrs old, Single, Born in SC, Both parents born in SC, Farm Laborer
James Harris, Son, W, M, Born Apr, 1881, 19 yrs old, Single, Born in SC, Both parents born in SC, Farm Laborer
May Harris, Daughter, W, F, Born May, 1883, 17 yrs old, Single, Born in SC, Both parents born in SC, Farm Laborer
Paul Harris, Son, W, M, Born Apr, 1888, 12 yrs old, Single, Born in SC, Both parents born in SC, At school
Florrence Harris (sic), Daughter, W, F, Born May, 1890, 10 yrs old, Born in SC, Both parents born in SC, At school
Essie Harris, Daughter, W, F, Born Apr, 1892, 8 yrs old, Born in SC, Both parents born in SC, At school
Carl Harris, Son, W, M, Born June, 1894, 5 yrs old, Born in SC, Both parents born in SC
Cass Harris (sic, looks like Voss Harris and is actually Wallace Harris but Ancestry.com has him indexed as Cass Harris), Son, W, M, Born Mar, 1898, 2 yrs old, Born in SC, Both parents born in SC
Bernice Wix, Daughter, W, F, Born June, 1884, 15 yrs old, Widowed, Born in SC, Both parents born in SC, Cotton mill weaver
Dusky A. Harris (sic), Mother, W, F, Born May, 1813, 87 yrs old, Widowed, 1 child with 1 still living, Born in SC, Both parents born in SC
Havanah Harris, Sister, W, F, Born Feb, 1851, 49 yrs old, Single, Born in SC, Both parents born in SC


"Union County, SC Clerk of Court Deeds,
Lien
F.M. Harris and A.K. Harris
to J.T. Hill and Co.
State of SC}
Union District}
Know all men by these presents that whereas J.T. Hill and Co. has agreed to advance to the undersigned Flemming M. Harris and Anderson K. Harris residing in Union District - in said State and engaged in the cultivation of the Said in the District of Union Such Supplies as the undersigned may require for the cultivation of share crops to the Limits of One Hundred Dollars - ..."
[Dated 21 April 1868]


They were Methodists and were members of Wesley Chapel United Methodist Church when they died. This is where they are buried. Unfortunately, since he was usually known by his F.M., and their tombstone was erected later by someone who didn't know his name. So Fleming is buried under a tombstone that has Francis Marion Harris on it.



Anderson Kennedy Harris, "Kanislau", "Kannaela", "A.K." Harris (DOB: 4/26/1848 in Union County, SC; DOD: 3/28/1928 in Union County, SC) married Sallie Austin (DOB: 9/1847 in SC; DOD: ? ). They had 2 children: Willie M. Harris, Oliver "Ollie" R. Harris. Anderson also had a child by his deceased brother's widow, Sarah Ann Bevill. This child was Robert Jackson Harris. Anderson's Civil War records list his name as Kennedy. Who ever wrote the names in Gamewell Harris' Family Bible could not spell and had it as Kanislau. Sarah Ann Bevill had knitted the 3 brothers socks and sent them. They were wearing them when they were in Petersburg. Anderson and Edward were there when the explosion occurred and Edward was killed. Anderson was buried up to his neck but he promised a plug of tobacco to a Yankee if he would dig him out so he survived. Anderson saw Edward's feet sticking out of the dirt with the socks from Sarah. That was how he identified him. He said "My brother is under that dirt because I know it by that sock."

"Captain Jacob Q. Carpenter Cp 1344
Sons of Confederate Veterans
'The Victory of a Soldier's Death'
Camp 1344 Sons of Confederate Veterans held it's regular monthly meeting at the home of Mike Bolin near Cherokee Creek Church for a barbecue chicken dinner. Guests of honor were a real son and a real daughter of Confederate soldiers. F.W. Strapp, F. Co. 18 CS Inf. R.B. Ramsey, son of W.D. Ramsey, gave an interesting talk on some of the stories his father, the Confederate soldier, told, when he was very young. There were about 40 people present at the meeting. The flags of the Confederacy and the flag of SC were prominently displayed. Because so many of those present were descendants of men who had been blown up by the great mine at Petersburg, the conversation drifted into a discussion of that incident which took place on the morning of 7/30/1864. From official reports it can be found that Elliott's Brigade, Johnson's Division, Anderson's Corps, held the strong point. It was composed of 17th, 18th, 23rd, 22nd, 26th and Holcomb SC Legion. From the casualty reports it would seem that the 18th was commanded by L-C W.B. Allison and the 22nd by Col. W.G. Burt. Two companies of the 18th were organized in what is now Cherokee County, N. of the Pacolet, one of which was "F" Company. "B" Company of the 22nd seems to have been made up largely of North of the Pacolet men as well. "B" Company must have been right over the charge for nearly half the company including it's captain were lost in the explosion. Part of the "F" Company, 18th SC was also buried in the explosion. Among them was Mike Bolin's, host for the meeting, grandfather, Edward Harris; his brother, Marion. While a second brother, Anderson, was covered by the explosion, he was dug out and captured. Bolin is shown in the accompanying picture in a Confederate General Officer's uniform. Anyone who had an ancestor who was involved in the "Battle of the Crater" mentioned above and who left some interesting stories about it is invited to write the stories down and send them to Lt. Col. David Quinn, 106 Carter Heights Drive, Gaffney, SC." Source: The Gaffney Leger, Wednesday, April 19, {page torn}, Page 8A

He was in the 18th Infantry Regiment. It was assembled during the winter of 1861-1862 with men from Laurens County and other counties in the northwestern part of the state. After serving in the Department of South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida, it was ordered to Virginia. During the war it was assigned to General Evans', Elliott's, and Wallace's Brigade. The 18th fought at Second Manassas, South Mountain, and Sharpsburg, moved to North Carolina, then saw action at Jackson, Mississippi. Returning to South Carolina, it was involved in the operations around Charleston. During the spring of 1864 the unit was sent back to Virginia where it participated in the Petersburg siege north and south of the James River and the Appomattox Campaign. This regiment lost forty-nine percent of the 230 engaged at Second Manassas and had 3 killed and 39 wounded during the Maryland Campaign. In September, 1863, there were 363 present for duty and at the Petersburg mine explosion, 205 were disabled. It sustained many casualties at Sayler's Creek and surrendered 16 officers and 139 men. The field officers were Colonels James M. Gadberry and William H. Wallace, Lieutenant Colonels W.B. Allison and Ferinand Scaife, and Major Rolet J. Betsill.

According to the Union County, SC Death Notices from Early Newspapers 1852-1914, compiled by Tommy Vaughn, pg 12, 9/27/1878 (Union Times), "Henry Smith, son of Newell Smith, was killed by Anderson Harris on a difficulty Wednesday AM last (9/18/1878) on Mount Tabor Rd." In issue of 6/20/1879 Harris was found "not guilty". Some man was threatening one of Anderson's nephews (James Marion's son). Anderson told the man to stop and the man continued so Anderson hit him with a pick ax.

I found these photos online that are supposedly the homeplace of Fleming Matthew Harris. If it is, what a treasure and I'm grateful for whoever shared it! I've since lost the source.







If you have any comments, corrections or additonal information, please email me at Mom25dogs@gmail.com.

James Marion Harris is not my husband's direct ancestor. His youngest brother, Gamewell Calhoun Harris, is Stan's direct ancestor. Gamewell C. Harris was too young to fight in the War of Northern Aggression.


Fleming Matthew Harris (aka, erroneously, Francis Marion Harris or Francis Matthew Harris) was born 2/4/1809 in Union County, SC to Samuel G. Harris and Tryphena Harris. Tryphen Harris was born 12/14/1771 in Chesterfield, VA to Thomas Harris and Sarah "Sally" Lacy and she died 8/23/1855 in Union County, SC. Samuel G. Harris was born About 1772 in VA to James Bailey Harris and Ursula Flournoy and died About 1860 in Union County, SC. Fleming Matthew Harris may have gone by F.M. Harris which gave rise to the wrong name on his gravestone. It was later determined that he was NOT Francis Marion Harris but Fleming Matthew Harris.

Fleming Matthew Harris married his first cousin, Augusta Ann Harris, about 1830 in Union County, SC. August Ann Harris was born 5/23/1813 in SC to Fleming Harris (DOB Abt. 1785 in Chesterfield, VA; DOD Abt. 1850 in Copiah County, MS) and Jane Sharp (DOB Abt. 1788 in Union County, SC; DOD Abt. 1850 in Copiah County, MS). Fleming Harris (1785-1850) was the son of Thomas Harris and Sarah Sally Lacy and was the brother of Tryphena Harris. It's a little complicated. Let's look at it.

Fleming Matthew Harris and Augusta Ann Harris had 11-14 children:

1) Frances Cornelia Harris (DOB 12/29/1831 in Union County, SC; DOD Aft. 1880 in Union County, SC) married William Fraser (aka William Frasier) (DOB Abt. 1845 in SC; DOD ? in ? ).

2) James Marion Harris (DOB 1/18/1834 in Union County, SC; DOD 3/29/1865 in Burgess Mill, Petersburg, VA) married Sarah Ann Bevil (DOB 12/30/1835 in Union County, SC to William A.H. Bevel and Sarah Bentley; DOD 10/27/1889 in Union County, SC).

3) Cicely Ann Catharine Harris (DOB 7/25/1836 in Union County, SC; DOD 6/1882 in Union County, SC) married 1st John Floyd (DOB Abt. 1839 in SC; DOD Aft. 1860 in ? ). Married 2nd
Arthur Lipsey (DOB Abt. 1848 in SC; DOD 2/27/1902 in Union County, SC). They had James A. Lipsey, Bunyon Lipsey, Mary A. Lipsey.

4) Sarah Jane Harris (DOB 3/19/1838 in Union County, SC; DOD Bet. 1840-1850 in Union County, SC).

5) Taylor Ann Harris (DOB 11/18/1840 in Union County, SC; DOD 1/12/1908 in Union County, SC) married William Earle Fowler (DOB Abt. 1832 in SC; DOD 1900 in Cherokee County, SC). They had Frances Marion Fowler, Isabella Fowler, Augusta Ann Fowler, William Wallis Fowler, Nancy "Nannie" Ann Fowler.

6) Eugenia Millie Harris (DOB 12/20/1842 in Union County, SC; DOD 3/20/1924 in Union County, SC) married James Gist Farr (DOB 8/12/1836 in SC; DOD 8/23/1899 in Union County, SC). They had Mary Richard Farr, William B. Farr, Walter "Watt" Thomas Farr, Carrie M. Farr, Doretha Farr, John Anderson Farr, Edward Marvin Farr, Aurie Pearl Farr.

7) Patricia "Tricia" Ann Harris (DOB 12/8/1843 in Union County, SC; DOD Aft. 1860 in Union County, SC) mentally handicapped and never married.

8) William Edward Harris (DOB 12/29/1845 in Union County, SC; DOD 7/30/1864 in Petersburg, Dinwiddie County, VA) mentally handicapped. Married ?

9) Anderson Kennedy "A.K." Harris (DOB 4/26/1848 in Union County, SC; DOD 3/24/1928 in York County, SC) married Sarah "Sallie" Austen (DOB Abt. 1847 in SC; DOD Aft. 1920 in ? ). He  had Oliver "Ollie" Ross Harris and William "Willie" Edward Harris. They were twins. They may be the children of A.K. and Sarah Austen. But William "Willie" Edward Harris' SS Application and Claim lists his mother as "Molly Byers". Was A.K. married to a Molly Byers before Sallie Austen? Did she die in childbirth? Or is this a mistake in the records? His death certificate lists no mother and Ollie didn't have a death certificate since he died in 1913. A.K. also had a son with Sarah Ann Bevill named Robert Jackson Harris.

10) Havannah Ann Harris (DOB 9/29/1851 in Union County, SC; DOD 2/16/1911 in Union, Union County, SC) never married.

11) Thomas Harris (DOB Abt. 1852 in Union County, SC; DOD Aft. 1870 in ? ) married ?

12) Gamewell Calhoun Harris (DOB 5/26/1853 in Union County, SC; DOD 10/21/1933 in Union, Union County, SC) married Sarah "Sallie" Clementine Brakefield (aka Sarah "Sallie" Clementine Breakfield) (DOB 4/18/1860 in York County, SC; DOD 3/6/1930 in Union County, SC). They had Edward Boyd Harris, Clara Emma Harris, James Marion Harris, Fannie May Harris, Bernice Lemond Harris, Paul Traywick Harris, Florence Viola Harris, Bessie Harris, Carl Allen Harris, Sr., Wallace Samuel Harris, Sr., Blanche Eugenia Harris.

13) Mary Harris (DOB Abt. 1854 in Union County, SC; DOD ? in ? ) married ?

14) George Harris (DOB Abt. 1855 in Union County, SC; DOD Aft. 1860 in ? ) married ?

I am not sure Thomas, Mary and George Harris are the children of Fleming Matthew Harris and Augusta Ann Harris. In the 1860 and 1870 U.S. Censuses, they are at the bottom of the list of children under Fleming Matthew and Augusta Ann Harris, out of birth order, and there are no relationship notations on the 1860 and 1870 U.S. Censuses. We just know their last names were Harris and they lived within the household. They may be the illegitimate children of their first daughter, Frances Cornelia Harris who never married.

1850 U.S. Census of Union County, SC, Roll M432_859, Pg 108, Image 463, Lines 29-30 "Samuel Harris", Lines 31-35 "S. P. Harris", Lines 36-49 next page Lines 1-6 "James C. Harris", Lines 7-11 "Thomas Harris", Lines 22-32 "Mathew Harris"
Dwelling 299, Family 299, Harris, Samuel, 78 yrs old (DOB would be 1772), M(ale), W(hite), Tenant, Born in SC (?), Can read and write
Harris, Tryvena (sic Tryphena Harris), 75 yrs old (DOB would be 1775), F, W, Born in SC (?)
Dwelling 300, Family 300, Harris, S.P., 45 yrs old (DOB would be 1805), M, W, Planter, $1500 Real Estate Value, Born in SC, Can read and write
Harris, Sophia, 35 yrs old (DOB would be 1815), Born in SC, Can read and write
Harris, James, 16 yrs old (DOB would be 1834), Born in SC, Labor, Attends school
Harris, Jane, 15 yrs old (DOB would be 1835), Born in SC, Attends school
Harris, William, 11 yrs old (DOB would be 1839), Born in SC, Attends school
Dwelling 301, Family 301, Harris, James C., 37 yrs old (DOB would be 1813), M, W, Planter, $2000 Real Estate Value, Born in SC, Can read and write
Harris, Frances, 35 yrs old (DOB would be 1815), F, W, Born in SC
Harris, Hesterann, 12 yrs old (DOB would be 1838), F, W, Born in SC, Attends school
Harris, Maryann, 10 yrs old (DOB would be 1849), F, W, Born in SC, Attends school
Harris, Both, 6 yrs old, M, W, Born in SC
Harris, Samuel, 4 yrs old, M, W, Born in SC
Harris, Frances, 2 yrs old, F, W, Born in SC
next page
Harris, James, 6/12 mos old, M, W, Born in SC
Shell, Nancy, 62 yrs old, F, W, Born in SC, Can read and write
Floyd, Hyram, 27 yrs old, M, W, Labor, Born in SC, Cannot read or write
Floyd, John, 14 yrs old, M, W, Can read and write
Richard (nln), 10 yrs old, M, (There is a check mark in the box which is different from all the others, indicates black?), Born in SC
Harris, Louvinier (sic), 8 yrs old, F, W, Born in SC
Dwelling 302, Family 302, Harris, Thomas, 60 yrs old, M, W, Planter, $350 Real Estate Value, Born in SC, Can read and write
Harris, Sarahann, 30 yrs old, F, W, Born in SC
Harris, Leticia, 18 yrs old, F, W, Born in SC, Can read and write
Harris, Benjamin, 14 yrs old, M, W, Born in SC, Attends school
Harris, Jefferson, 1 yrs old, M, W, Born in SC
Dwelling 303, Family 303
Dwelling 304, Family 304
Dwelling 305, Family 305 Harris, Matthew, 40 yrs old (DOB would be 1810), M, W, Planter, $125 Real Estate Value, Born in SC, Can read and write
Harris, Gustyann, 37 yrs old (DOB would be 1813), F, W, Born in SC
Harris, Cornelia, 19 yrs old (DOB would be 1831), F, W, Born in SC, Attends school
Harris, James, 17 yrs old (DOB would be 1833), M, W, Born in SC, Labor, Attends school
Harris, Catharine, 15 yrs old (DOB would be 1835), F, W, Born in SC, Attends school
Harris, Taylor, 11 yrs old (DOB would be 1839), F, W, Born in SC, Attends school
Harris, Eugenia, 9 yrs old (DOB would be 1841), F, W, Born in SC, Attends school
Harris, Fisherann (sic, should be Patricia Ann), 7 yrs old (DOB would be 1843), F, W, Born in SC, Attends school, "Insane"
Harris, Edward, 5 yrs old (DOB would be 1845), M, W, Born in SC, "Idiot"
Harris, Anderson, 3 yrs old (DOB would be 1847), M, W, Born in SC

1860 U.S. Census of Union County,  South Carolina; Roll: M653_1227; Page: 219; Image: 451; Family History Library Film: 805227, Lines 1-20, "John Harris" and "F.M. Harris"
John Harris, 61 yrs old (DOB 1799), M(ale), W(hite), Farmer, $1,500 Real Estate Value, $4,000 Personal Estate Value, Born in SC
Tabitha Harris, 62 yrs old (DOB 1798), F, W, Born in SC
Frances Bevel, 30 yrs old (DOB 1830), F, W, Born in SC
Iris Bevel, 6 yrs old (DOB 1854), F, W, Born in SC
John Bevel, 4 yrs old (DOB 1856), M, W, Born in SC
Fincher Harris (sic), 9 yrs old (DOB 1851), M, W, Student, Born in SC
Jahue Harris (sic), 18 yrs old (DOB 1842), M, W, Student, Born in SC
F.M. Harris, 50 yrs old (DOB 1810), M, W, Farmer, $125 Real Estate Value, $150 Personal Estate Value, Born in SC
Grstran Harris (sic, should be Augusta Ann Harris), 47 yrs old (DOB 1813), F, W, Born in SC
Frances Harris, 28 yrs old (DOB 1832), F, W, Born in SC
Taylor Harris, 20 yrs old (DOB 1840), M, W, Born in SC
Wyena Harris (sic), 17 yrs old (DOB 1843), F, W, Born in SC
Tesheran Harris (sic, should be Patricia Ann Harris), 15 yrs old (DOB 1845), F, W, Born in SC
Edward Harris, 13 yrs old (DOB 1847), M, W, born in SC
Anderson Harris, 12 yrs old (DOB 1848), M, W, Born in SC
Havanah Harris, 9 yrs old (DOB 1851), F, W, Born in SC
Gamewell Harris, 7 yrs old (DOB 1853), M, W, Born in SC
George Harris, 5 yrs old (DOB 1855), M, W, Born in SC
Mary Harris, 6 yrs old (DOB 1854), F, W, Born in SC
Thomas Harris, 8 yrs old (DOB 1852), M, W, Born in SC

1860 U.S. Census of Union County, South Carolina; Roll: M653_1227; Page:  218; Image: 450; Family History Library Film: 805227, Lines 13-15, "Union Harris" (sic), Lines 19-21 "W M Bevel"(Sarah Bevell Harris' parents), Lines 30-32 "S.P. Harris", Lines 33-38 "James L. Harris"
Union Harris (should be Marion Harris, looks like it but Ancestry.com has him indexed as Union Harris and Sarah as Sariah Harris), 25 yrs old (DOB 1835), M(ale), W(hite), Farmer, Born in SC
Sarian Harris (sic), 24 yrs old (DOB 1836), F, W, Born in SC
Joseph Harris, 1 yrs old (DOB 1859), M, W, Born in SC
Charles Sharp
Tharina Sharp
Attanla Sharp
M. W. Bevel, 57 yrs old (DOB 1803), M, W, $1,000 Real Estate Value, $500 Personal Estate Value, Farmer, Born in SC
Sarah Bevel, 53 yrs old (DOB 1807), F, W, Born in SC
H. Ceny Bevel (looks like Henry Bevel to me but Ancestry.com has him indexed as H. Ceny), 17 yrs old (DOB 1843), M, W, Student, Born in SC
Samuel Long
Julian Long
Simpson Long
Eldridge Long
Genan Long
Fernandis Long
Franklin Long
Alice Long
S. P. Harris, 53 yrs old (DOB 1807), M, W, Farmer, $2,500 Real Estate Value, $1,500 Personal Estate Value, Born in SC
Sophie Harris, 49 yrs old (DOB 1811), F, W, Born in SC
Jane Harris, 22 yrs old (DOB 1838), F, W, Born in SC
James L. Harris, 26 yrs old (DOB 1834), M, W, Farmer, $0 Real Estate Value, $100 Personal Estate Value, Born in SC
Naneyan Harris (sic), 21 yrs old (DOB 1839), F, W, Born in SC
Martha Harris, 3 yrs old (DOB 1857), F, W, Born in SC
Infant Harris, 1/12 mos old (DOB 1860), F, W, Born in SC
Elizabeth Gallman, 17 yrs old (DOB 1843), F, W, Born in SC

1870 U.S. Census of Pickney (sic, Pinckney), Union County, South Carolina; Roll:  M593_1510; Page: 504B; Image: 364; Family History Library Film: 553009, Lines 34-40, "F.M. Harris"
F.M. Harris, 60 yrs old (DOB 1810), M(ale), W(hite), Farmer, $1,000 Real Estate Value, $400 Personal Estate Value, Born in SC
Gustianna Harris (sic, should be Augusta Ann Harris), 57 yrs old (DOB 1873), F, W, Born in SC
Cornelia Harris, 39 yrs old (DOB 1831), F, W, Born in SC
Eugenia Harris, 24 yrs old (DOB 1846), F, W, Born in SC
Anderson Harris, 21 yrs old (DOB 1869), M, W, Born in SC
Havanna Harris, 17 yrs old (DOB 1853), F, W, Born in SC
Gamewell Harris, 16 yrs old (DOB 1854), M, W, Born in SC
Thomas Harris, 18 yrs old (DOB 1852), M, W, Born in SC
Mary Harris, 16 yrs old (DOB 1854), F, W, Born in SC

1880 U.S. Census of Pinckney, Union County, South Carolina; Roll: 1242; Family History Film: 1255242; Page: 599D; Enumeration District: 158, Lines 24-39, "Mattie Harris", "George Harris", "Anderson Harris"
Mattie Harris, W(hite), M(ale), 71 yrs old (DOB 1809), Head, Married, Farmer, Born in SC, Both parents born in SC
Gusta A. Harris, W, F, 67 yrs old (DOB 1813), Wife, Married, Born in SC, Both parents born in SC
Havana Harris, W, F, 29 yrs old (DOB 1851), Daughter, Single, Born in SC, Both parents born in SC
Gamewell C. Harris, W, M, 27 yrs old (DOB 1853), Son, Single, Born in SC, Both parents born in SC
Sallie C. Harris, W, F, 17 yrs old (DOB 1863), Dil, Single, Born in SC, Both parents born in SC
E. Boyd Harris, W, M, 3 yrs old (DOB 1877), Grandson, Born in SC, Both parents born in SC
Emma Harris, W, F, 1 yr old (DOB 1879), Granddaughter, Born in SC, Both parents born in SC
James M. Harris, W, M, 11/12 mos old (DOB 4/1879), Grandson, Born in SC, Both parents born in SC
William Fraser, W, M, 35 yrs old (DOB 1845), Son-in-law, Works in field, Born in SC, Both parents born in SC
Frances Fraser, W, F, 49 yrs old (DOB 1851), Daughter, Works in field, Born in SC, Both parents born in SC
George Harris, W, M, 24 yrs old (DOB 1856), Head, Married, Farmer, Born in SC, Both parents born in SC
Mary A. Harris, W, F, 21 yrs old (DOB 1859), Wife, Married, Born in SC, Both parents born in SC
Anderson Harris, W, M, 32 yrs old (DOB 1848), Head, Married, Farmer, Born in SC, Both parents born in SC
Sallie Harris, W, F, 32 yrs old (DOB 1848), Wife, Married, Born in SC, Both parents born in SC
Oliver R. Harris, W, M, 12 yrs old (DOB 1868), Son, Works in field, Born in SC, Both parents born in SC
Willie E. Harris, W, M, 12 yrs old (DOB 1868), Son, Works in field, Born in SC, Both parents born in SC


James Marion Harris married Sarah Ann Bevil (aka Sarah Ann Bevill, Sarah Ann Bevel). Sarah Ann Beville was born 12/30/1835 in Union County, SC to William A.H. Bevil and Sarah Bentley. They had 3 children before he was killed in the War of Northern Aggression:

1) Joseph Oscar Harris (DOB 3/11/1859 in Union County, SC; DOD 4/4/1927 in Union County, SC) married 1st Sarah "Sallie" Jane Harris Harris (DOB 10/29/1866 in SC; DOD 4/30/1904 in Union County, SC). They had Edward Washington Harris (Lillie Ann Vaughan), Annie McCain Harris (Wallace Douglas Lawson), Vellie Harris (aka Vallie Harris, Valeria Harris or Valorie Harris) (David Usra Alman or David Usra Allman, Walt Taylor Marsh), and perhaps James Wallace Harris(Nannie Mae Gault), Mahala Harris. He married Abt. 1911 in Union County, SC 2nd Nancy "Nannie" Jane Mitchell (DOB 4/7/1870 in SC to Elias Cornelius Mitchell and Harriet Foster; DOD 8/9/1916 in Union County, SC. They had Ola Permelia Harris (David Usra Alman or David Usra Allman), Ernest Marion "Huck" Harris (Emma J. Batten), Ella Harris (John Thomas Bentley), Bernice Harris, William Jennings Bryan Harris (Lois Gault), Pearl Harris (John Fant Faucett), Joseph Oscar Teague Harris, Jr. (Aurine Eaves and Florence Green), Lula Bell "Babe" Harris(Perno D. Head), Iris Virginia Harris (James "Jack" Clarence Parris).

2) James Riley Harris (DOB Abt. 1861 in Union County, SC; DOD 4/7/1950 in Cherokee County, SC) married Louisa Ann Roberson (aka Louisiana Roberson) (DOB 1/12/1862 in SC; DOD 7/8/1946 in Cherokee County, SC). They had Enzie Jane Harris (Bunyon Lipsy), Annie A. Harris (John Thomas "Tom" McAbee), Marion Boston Harris (Essie Mae Proctor), Henry Hoyle Harris(Ida Elizabeth Poole), Fred Shuford Harris (Chatta Cornelia Freeman), William Roy Harris (Venice "Venie" Crocker), James Lewis Harris, Sr. (Melzie Reynolds).

3) Edna Harris (DOB 6/1863 in Union County, SC; DOD 3/21/1923 in Jonesville, Union County, SC) married John H. Mitchell (DOB 12/1857 in SC; DOD 4/8/1935 in Union County, SC). They had Lorenna Mitchell, Lula Mae Mitchell (Noah C. Turner), Nola Mitchell.


Dr. William Richard Harris was born after James Marion Harris died in 3/29/1865. He was born 12/1865 in Union County, SC and died 5/12/1902 in Waterloo, Laurens County, SC of stroke of paralysis at just 35 yrs old. He married Caroline "Carrie" Wilson Boozer (DOB 4/3/1868 in SC; DOD 11/17/1895 in SC). She died young at the age of 27 yrs old. They had William Wilson Harris (Cornelia Bethea), Lucille Harris (George C. Zeigler). If this is a child of Sarah Ann Bevil Harris, is he possibly the son of James Marion Harris (he was born almost exactly 9 mos after James Marion Harris' death) or was he an illegitimate child of unknown father?
Because both parents died young, that left their two children orphans who were sent to live at the Thornwell Orphanage, South Broad Street, Clinton, Laurens County, SC. You find them there in the 1910 U.S. Census. In the 1920 U.S. Census William Wilson Harris is married and his little sister, Lucille, is living with them.

Thornwell Orphanage opened in Clinton, South Carolina on 10/1/1875, to ten children orphaned by the American Civil War. It was founded by Reverend William Plumer Jacobs and named for noted theologian James Henley Thornwell. Dr. Jacobs went on to found Presbyterian College. Thornwell Home for Children, once known as Thornwell Home and School for Children (formerly Thornwell Orphanage), operates 12 residential cottages with 6-8 children per home. Thornwell is still supported by the Presbyterian Church (USA) Synod of the South Atlantic, congregations within the Synod and without, and private donations. Most of the buildings are made of granite or with granite facings and the campus is notably attractive. It is one of the earliest American child-care facilities that used "cottages" rather than dormitories to house children. Cyrus McCormick, the inventor of the reaper, supported Thornwell and there was once a "McCormick Cottage" on the campus. - Wikipedia



James Marion Harris was in the 18th Infantry Regiment. It was assembled during the winter of 1861-1862 with men from Laurens County and other counties in the northwestern part of the state. After serving in the Department of South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida, it was ordered to Virginia. During the war it was assigned to General Evans', Elliott's, and Wallace's Brigade. The 18th fought at Second Manassas, South Mountain, and Sharpsburg, moved to North Carolina, then saw action at Jackson, Mississippi. Returning to South Carolina, it was involved in the operations around Charleston. During the spring of 1864 the unit was sent back to Virginia where it participated in the Petersburg siege north and south of the James River and the Appomattox Campaign. This regiment lost forty-nine percent of the 230 engaged at Second Manassas and had 3 killed and 39 wounded during the Maryland Campaign. In September, 1863, there were 363 present for duty and at the Petersburg mine explosion, 205 were disabled. It sustained many casualties at Sayler's Creek and surrendered 16 officers and 139 men. The field officers were Colonels James M. Gadberry and William H. Wallace, Lieutenant Colonels W.B. Allison and Ferdinand Scaife, and Major Rolet J. Betsill.

U.S. Civil War Soldiers, 1861-1865
Name: James M. Harris
Side: Confederate
Regiment State/Origin: South Carolina
Regiment: 18th Regiment, South Carolina Infantry
Company: A
Rank In: Private
Rank Out: Private
Film Number: M381 roll 14

U.S., Civil War Soldier Records and Profiles, 1861-1865
Name: James M Harris
Rank at enlistment: Private
State Served: South Carolina
Service Record: Enlisted in Company A, South Carolina 18th Infantry Regiment.
Sources: Index to Compiled Confederate Military Service Records

The Union Times, 5/8/1914, Part II Pages 9 to 16, Page 12, Image 12, "McKissick's Rangers", top of 4th column
Roll Co. A, 18th S.C.V.
Privates:
James L. Harris
J. Marion Harris
R. Nick Harris
Edward Harris
Anderson K. Harris
William H.S. Harris

"Captain Jacob Q. Carpenter Cp 1344
Sons of Confederate Veterans
'The Victory of a Soldier's Death'
Camp 1344 Sons of Confederate Veterans held it's regular monthly meeting at the home of Mike Bolin near Cherokee Creek Church for a barbecue chicken dinner. Guests of honor were a real son and a real daughter of Confederate soldiers. F.W. Strapp, F. Co. 18 CS Inf. R.B. Ramsey, son of W.D. Ramsey, gave an interesting talk on some of the stories his father, the Confederate soldier, told, when he was very young. There were about 40 people present at the meeting. The flags of the Confederacy and the flag of SC were prominently displayed. Because so many of those present were descendants of men who had been blown up by the great mine at Petersburg, the conversation drifted into a discussion of that incident which took place on the morning of 7/30/1864. From official reports it can be found that Elliott's Brigade, Johnson's Division, Anderson's Corps, held the strong point. It was composed of 17th, 18th, 23rd, 22nd, 26th and Holcomb SC Legion. From the casualty reports it would seem that the 18th was commanded by L-C W.B. Allison and the 22nd by Col. W.G. Burt. Two companies of the 18th were organized in what is now Cherokee County, N. of the Pacolet, one of which was "F" Company. "B" Company of the 22nd seems to have been made up largely of North of the Pacolet men as well. "B" Company must have been right over the charge for nearly half the company including it's captain were lost in the explosion. Part of the "F" Company, 18th SC was also buried in the explosion. Among them was Mike Bolin's, host for the meeting, grandfather, Edward Harris; his brother, Marion. While a second brother, Anderson, was covered by the explosion, he was dug out and captured. Bolin is shown in the accompanying picture in a Confederate General Officer's uniform. Anyone who had an ancestor who was involved in the "Battle of the Crater" mentioned above and who left some interesting stories about it is invited to write the stories down and send them to Lt. Col. David Quinn, 106 Carter Heights Drive, Gaffney, SC." Source: The Gaffney Leger, Wednesday, April 19, {page torn}, Page 8A

The United Daughters of the Confederacy put together stories by veterans in "Recollections and Reminiscenses, 1861-1865 Thru WWI", Vol 6, Pg 329, Reminiscences as told by Anderson K. Harris to Mrs. J.W. Mixson
At the last celebration of Memorial Day in Union, SC, I met the bearer of the above name and he told me the following story: "I was behind the breastworks at Petersburg when the explosion of the mine occurred. When I came to myself I was lying on top of a pile of dead men in the crater (Petersburg Crater). I had evidently been left for dead along with the others for there was not a man in sight.
"I was pinned in, and could not move my feet at all, and my gun, or at least a gun, was lying across my neck and left side. After a while a young soldier in blue uniform came in sight; about this time, the gun on my neck began to feel very heavy and I made an effort to free my right arm sufficiently to push the gun off of my shoulders.
"Just then the Yankee raised his gun to fire at me, but almost instantly a big soldier stepped out from under cover and knocked up the young soldier's gun so that he fired into the air. The newcomer reprimanded the first solder for firing at a helpless man -- the boy explained that when he saw me move my hand toward the gun on my shoulder he thought I intended to shoot.
"I thanked the big solder for saving my life and begged him to help me get out of the hole into which I was tightly wedged by the forms of the dead men around me.
"I had nothing left to offer my rescuer but a chew of tobacco, but he seemed to appreciate it. After I got out, I was taken prisoner but requested my captors to allow me to examine the dead carefully to see if I could recognize any of them. Looking closely, I thought the legs of a solder seemed familiar -- the head and body were entirely covered by forms lying jumbled together, but the legs were straight in the air, he evidently having been thrown head foremost into the pit at the time of the explosion. The trousers leg was split, and I verified my suspicions as to the identity of the wearer by seeing the name, or rather the initials, on underclothes of my brother.
"Our mother had made the garments for us and marked them by working our initials in black threads on our 'smalls'. I secured permission to remove and bury my brother -- after which I was again taken into custody, and carried to prison."
Source: William Wallace Chapter, U.D.C., Union, SC

According to a story by Boston Harris, grandson of James Marion Harris, one of the older Harris men told him Sarah Ann Bevill Harris had knitted some socks and sent them to Anderson, Edward and James Marion. When The Union Army blew up the unit in Petersburg and Anderson was not killed he saw Edward's feet sticking out and told them that was his brother because he recognized his socks.

1870 U.S. Census of Pickney (sic, Pinckney or Pinkney), Union County, South Carolina; Roll: M593_1510; Page: 506A; Image: 367; Family History Library Film:  553009, Lines 11-14, "Sarah Ann Harris"
Sarah Ann Harris, 35 yrs old (DOB 1835), F(emale), W(hite), No occupation, Born in SC
Oscar Harris, 11 yrs old (DOB 1859), M, W, Born in SC
James Harris, 9 yrs old (DOB 1861), M, W, Born in SC
Atna Harris (sic, Edna Harris), 7 yrs old (DOB 1863), F, W, Born in SC

1880 U.S. Census of Jonesville, Union County, South Carolina; Roll: 1242; Family History Film: 1255242; Page: 568B; Enumeration District: 157, Lines 50 next pg Lines 1-3, "Ira Lypsey" (sic) , Lines 5-6, "Sarah A. Harris"
Ira Lypsey, W, M, 45 yrs old (DOB 1835), Father, Married, Farm Laborer, Born in SC, Both parents born in SC
Elizabeth Lypsey, W, F, 55 yrs old (DOB 1825), Wife, Married, Keeping house, Born in SC, Both parents born in SC
Riley Lypsey, W, M, 18 yrs old (DOB 1862), Son, Born in SC, Both parents born in SC
Edna Lypsey, W, F, 14 yrs old (DOB 1866), Daughter, Born in SC, Both parents born in SC
Robert Lypsey, W, M, 8 yrs old (DOB 1872), Son, Born in SC, Both parents born in SC
Sarah A. Harris, W(hite), F(emale), 45 yrs old (DOB 1835), Widowed, Farm Laborer, Born in SC, Both parents born in SC
Sallie Beville, W, F, 74 yrs old (DOB 1806), Widowed, Housekeeping, Born in SC, Both parents born in SC

Sarah Ann Harris died 10/27/1889 in Union County, SC and is buried in what is called the Harris Cemetery located on Browns Creek Road on land now owned by Chris Vaughn. It is on the hill directly behind the home of Douglas and Lucille Harris.


1) Joseph Oscar Harris was born 3/11/1859 in Union County, SC to James Marion Harris and Sarah Ann "Sally" Bevil. He married Sarah Ann "Sallie" Harris. She was born 10/29/1866 to James Lemuel "Tink" Harris and Nancy Gallman. She was Joseph Oscar Harris' 2nd cousin. They had Edward W. Harris, Vellie Harris and Annie Harris.

.....A) Edward Washington Harris (DOB 6/18/1882 in Union County, SC; DOD 2/25/1920 in Union County, SC) married Lillie Ann Vaughn (DOB 12/8/1891 in SC to Charles A Vaughn and Nancy Jane Mitchell; DOD 5/15/1950 in Union County, SC). Lillie Ann Vaughn was also married to John Eldridge Harris (DOB 9/3/1894 in Union County, SC; DOD 11/27/1965 in Columbia, Richland County, SC) and they had Clara Belle Harris and Frances W. Harris. Lillie and Edward Washington Harris had Charles Rodger Harris, James Lemuel "Lemmie" Harris, Edward Oscar Harris, Woodrow Wilson Harris.

.....B) Annie McCain Harris (DOB 6/18/1882 in Union County, SC; DOD 1/8/1933 in Mecklenburg County, NC) married Wallace Douglas Lawson (DOB 8/19/1885 in SC; DOD 9/13/1959 in Union County, SC). They had Robert Obrian Lawson (aka Robert Oberon Lawson), Pauline Lawson and Wilmeth Lawson.

.....C) Vellie Harris (aka Vallie Harris, Valeria Harris, Valorie Harris) (DOB 3/16/1887 in Union County, SC; DOD 7/27/1958 in Union County, SC) married 1st Walter Taylor Marsh (DOB 1869-1871 in SC; DOD 9/3/1941 in White Rock, Richland County, SC). He was first married to Alice Ophelia Dowie. Vellie Harris married 2nd David Usra Alman (aka David Usra Allman, David Ursa Alman, David Ursa Allman) (DOB 4/1/1890 in SC; DOD 12/23/1961 in Union County, SC). He married first Vellie's half sister, Ola Permelia Harris. They had Bernice Lucille Allman, Maggie Evelyn Allman, Joseph Everette "Bootsie" Allman, Meredith Elizabeth Allman. Vellie had no children by either man.

.....D) James Wallace Harris (DOB 7/9/1890 in Union County, SC; DOD 1/15/1935 in Union County, SC) married Nannie Mae Gault (DOB 4/29/1893 in SC; DOD 2/22/1974 in Union, Union County, SC). They had Lillian Avenelle Harris, William Douglas Harris, Sr., Ada Elizabeth Harris, James Franklin "Frank" Harris, Everette Leon Harris, Manuel Grady Harris, Rachel Harris, Raymond Curtis Harris, Sara Catherine Harris, Dorothy Harris. James Wallace Harris may, or may not, be Joseph Oscar Harris' biological child as he and his wife separated about this time due to his wife's adultery.

.....E) Mahala Harris (DOB 1898 in Union County, SC; DOD ? in ? ) married ? . In the 1900 U.S. Census, Sarah "Sallie" Ann Harris had a 2 year old child living with her with the relationship as "daughter". She may have died after the 1900 census as I couldn't track her. But, Sarah "Sallie" Ann Harris died in 1904 at 37 years old and Mahala would have been 9. Was she adopted by someone? Who was her father?

In 1889 they separated because Sallie Harris had committed adultery (possibly with her sister’s husband, William Foster Scales). On 7/9/1891, Sallie Harris had a son named James Wallace. The father is unknown but James Wallace claimed his father was Joseph Oscar Harris and he may have been conceived before their estrangement. It is said that when James Wallace Harris was 14 yrs old, he showed up at Joseph Oscar Harris' farm and wanted to work for Joseph Oscar. He lived with Joseph Oscar Harris until J.O. Harris died. In the 1910 Census (see below) Oscar Harris lists James Wallace Harris as his son.

Joseph Oscar Harris met Nancy Jane Mitchell. Nannie Mitchell was born 7/4/1870. She had a daughter named Lilly Ann Vaughn on 12/12/1891. Lillie would marry one of J.O. and Sarah Ann Harris' sons, Edward Wallace Harris! Joseph Oscar Harris' wife, Sarah Harris, didn't die until 4/30/1904 in Union County, SC. They were separated but not divorced. But Joseph Oscar Harris began having children with Nannie Mitchell sometime after her daughter, Lilly, was born. Their first child, Ola, was born in 1893. They lived in separate houses on his farm. He and Nannie had 9 children:
.....A) Ola Permelia Harris (DOB 1/15/1893, DOD 1/25/1944) married David Usra Alman (aka David Usra Allman, David Ursa Alman, David Ursa Allman) (DOB 4/1/1890 in SC; DOD 12/23/1961 in SC). They had:
..........a) Bernice Lucille Allman (DOB 7/24/1914 in Union County, SC; DOD 12/4/2001 in Greenville County, SC) married Ozzie Cooper (DOB 2/17/1911 in Walhalla, Oconee County, SC; DOD 4/2/1976 in Pelzer, Anderson County, SC). They had Sara Cooper, Joretta Cooper, Harris Dean Cooper, Sr., Ozzie Ray Bit Cooper, Ola Jane Cooper, David Gaston Cooper, Cheryl Lynn Cooper, Beth Ann Cooper, Everette Cooper.
..........b) Mattie Evelyn Allman (DOB 7/22/1918 in Union County, SC; DOD 8/20/1919 in Union County, SC).
..........c) Joseph Everette "Bootsie" Allman (DOB 5/30/1920 in Union County, SC; DOD 10/1/1979 in Clinton, Laurens County, SC) married Ann Josephine Campbell (DOB 7/8/1924 in Clinton, Laurens County, SC; DOD 9/10/2004 in Clinton, Laurens County, SC). They had Steve Allman, David Kenneth Allman.
..........d) Meredith Elizabeth Allman (DOB 11/7/1923 in Union County, SC; DOD 1/1/2000 in Charleston County, SC) married J.B. Sylvanus Fortner, Jordan, Shelton, Rampey. They had J.B. Forner, Ann Fortner.

.....B) Ernest Marion "Huck" Harris, Sr. (DOB 2/27/1895 in Union County, SC, DOD 11/23/1977 in Escondido, San Diego County, CA) married Emma J. Batten (DOB 6/21/1901 in Delaware; DOD 11/24/1984 in San Diego, San Diego County, CA). They had
..........a) Ernest Marion Harris, Jr., (DOB 10/4/1920 in San Diego, San Diego County, CA; DOD 8/23/1993 in San Diego, San Diego County, CA) married Leila Utanha Palmer (DOB 9/18/1923 in Jefferson County, ID; DOD 10/22/2008 in Pueblo, Pueblo County, CO).
..........b) Marjorie A. Harris (DOB 4/8/1922 in San Diego, San Diego County, CA; DOD 2/26/2001 in San Diego, San Diego County, CA) married ? .
..........c) Thelma Lucille Harris (DOB 10/8/1925 in San Diego, San Diego County, CA; DOD ? in ? ) married ? .

.....C) Ella Harris (DOB 3/13/1897 in Union County, SC, DOD 10/13/1979, Union County, SC) married John Thomas Bentley (DOB 3/5/1896 in SC; DOD 4/17/1964 in SC).

.....D) Bernice Harris (DOB 6/28/1899 in Union County, SC, DOD 10/25/1901 in Union County, SC)

.....E) William Jennings Bryan Harris (DOB 9/4/1901 in Union County, SC, DOD 7/28/1940 in Union County, SC) married Lois Gault (DOB 10/7/1903 in SC; DOD 5/1981 in Union County, SC). They had:
..........a) Lillie Mae Harris (DOB 6/7/1927 in Union County, SC; DOD 67/3/2015 in Spartanburg County, SC) married 1st George Frost (DOB 4/15/1895 in ? ; DOD 4/2/1961 in Union, Union County, SC). They had Gordon Hilland Frost (DOB 1/21/1937 in Union County, SC; DOD 2/7/1967 in Union, Union County, SC). She married 2nd ? Griffin and they had Stanley Griffin (Pam). She married 3rd Leroy "Hank" Frost (DOB 1931 in ? ; DOD ? in ? ) and they had Sandra Frost (Joe Wade), Brenda Frost (Belue).
..........b) Lewis O'Dell "Bud" Harris (DOB 9/24/1929 in Union County, SC; DOD 9/15/1990 in Union County, SC) married Mable Etrulia "Peggy" Hodge (DOB 6/29/1930 in Union County, SC; DOD 2/4/2001 in Union County, SC).
..........c) Wilhelmina Harris (DOB 6/11/1931 in Union County, SC; DOD 12/4/2014 in Clinton, Laurens County, SC) married Clarence Doyth "Sonny" Gault (DOB 11/5/1930 in Union County, SC; DOD 5/15/1994 in Clinton, Laurens County, SC).
..........d) Hazel Harris (DOB 5/29/1933 in Union County, SC; DOD 11/11/2014 in Union, Union County, SC) married James Ralph "Sonny" Minor (DOB 1/17/1932 in Union County, SC; DOD 11/23/1998 in Union County, SC).
..........e) Roger M. Harris (DOB 1935 in Union County, SC; DOD ? in ? ) married ? .

.....F) Pearl Harris (DOB 7/12/1905 in Union County, SC, DOD 6/26/1996 in Union County, SC) married John Fant Faucett (DOB 6/11/1904 in SC; DOD 3/9/1984 in Union, Union County, SC). They had:
..........a) James Harold Faucett (DOB 1931 in Union County, SC; DOD ? in ? ) married Edith Wilson (DOB ? in ?).
..........b) Patsy Ruth Faucett (DOB 12/7/1938 in Union County, SC; DOD ? in ? ) married Paul Andrew Keisler DOB 1/10/1940 in Union, Union County, SC; DOD 9/25/2012 in Union, Union County, SC)
..........c) Barbara Faucett (DOB ? in ? ; DOD ? in ? ) married Don Davis.

.....G) Joseph Oscar Harris, Jr. (DOB 8/28/1907 in Union County, SC, DOD 8/3/1972 in Columbia, Richland County, SC) married 1st Aurine Eaves (DOB 9/30/1917 in Union County, SC; DOD 9/29/1999 in Union County, SC) They had:
..........a) Denver Joe Harris (DOB 9/21/1946 in Union County, SC; DOD 8/10/1962 in Union County, SC of drowning) never married.
..........b) Melvin G. Harris (DOB 7/21/1948 in Union County, SC; DOD 5/17/2008 in Union, Union County, SC)
He married 2nd Florence Green (DOB 5/18/1903 in ? , DOD 5/1980 in Union County, SC).

.....H) Lula Belle "Babe" Harris (DOB 12/8/1910 in Union County, SC, DOD 1/13/1987 in Union County, SC) married Perno D. Head (DOB 2/22/1912 in Gainesville, Hall County, GA; DOD 4/29/1998 in Lexington County, SC). They had:
..........a) Nancy Head (DOB 11/29/1936 in SC; DOD ? in ? ) married ? Roy.
..........b) Sue Elizabeth Head (DOB 10/16/1938 in Union County, SC; DOD 11/16/2001 in Union County, SC) married James Emmet "Skillet" Morris (DOB 10/11/1927 in Union County, SC; DOD 12/25/2015 in Union County, SC) and they had Charles Edward Morris and Robert M. Morris.

.....I) Iris Virginia Harris (DOB 3/15/1914 in Union County, SC, DOD 1/6/1966 in Spartanburg County, SC) married James Clarence "Jack" Parris, Jr. (DOB 8/27/1913 in Spartanburg County, SC; DOD 8/23/1967 in Spartanburg, Spartanburg County, SC). They had:
..........a) Mary Ann Parris (DOB 2/10/1938 in Boiling Springs, Spartanburg County, SC; DOD 6/1/2004 in Boiling Springs, Spartanburg County, SC) married Bobby Dean Greenway (DOB 1934 in Spartanburg County, SC; DOD 2004 in Spartanburg County, SC). They had Robby Dean Greenway, Libby Ann Greenway, Jeffery Scott Greenway.
..........b) Joseph "Joe" Boyce Parris (DOB 1/19/1940 in Boiling Springs, Spartanburg County, SC; DOD 2/8/1969 in Boiling Springs, Spartanburg County, SC in auto accident) married Nadine Gregory.
..........c) Betty Jean Parris (DOB 3/23/1947 in Spartanburg County, SC; DOD 3/19/2015 in Boiling Springs, Spartanburg County, SC) married 1st Charles Kenneth Price, Sr (DOB 8/15/1946 in ? ; DOD 8/19/1974 in ? ) and they had Charles Kenneth "K.P." Price, Jr. and James Mark Price. She married 2nd Terry W. McJunkin (DOB 1946 in ? ; DOD ? in ? ).
..........d) James Clarence "Buddy" Parris, III (DOB 9/6/1949 in Boiling Springs, Spartanburg County, SC; DOD 8/25/1963 in Boiling Springs, Spartanburg County, SC in auto accident) never married.

For some reason, Joseph Oscar Harris and Nannie Mitchell didn't marry until 1911 even though Sarah Harris died in 1904. This is not unusual in today's world but was a little scandalous back then and their children were the ones that were hurt by it. This family was complicated but no more than what we are used to today.

2) James Riley Harris (DOB Abt. 1861 in Union County, SC; DOD 4/7/1950 in Cherokee County, SC) married Louisiana Roberson (DOB 1/12/1862 in SC; DOD 7/8/1946 in Cherokee County, SC). They had:

.....A) Enzie Jane Harris (DOB 9/5/1881 in Union County, SC; DOD 7/27/1924 in Draytonville, Cherokee County, SC) married Bunyon Lipsy (DOB 8/18/1877 in SC; DOD 1/3/1962 in Draytonville, Cherokee County, SC). They had
..........a) May Lipsey (DOB Abt. 1901 in SC; DOD ? in ? ) married ?
..........b) Sarah Marie Lipsey (DOB 9/18/1902 in SC; DOD 1/21/1992 in Gaffney, Cherokee County, SC) married James "Jim" Arthur Burgess (DOB 8/31/1920 in SC; DOD 1/26/2012 in Gaffney, Cherokee County, SC).
..........c) Neely Ott Lipsey (DOB 7/29/1904 in SC; DOD 11/30/1961 in Cherokee County, SC) married Carynee Harris (DOB 8/16/1905 in SC; DOD 11/20/1992 in Gaffney, Cherokee County, SC). They had Nellie Veree Lipsy, Charles Lipsy, Helen Bernard Lipsy.
..........d) Louise Lipsey (DOB 5/19/1906 in SC; DOD 4/30/1915 in Cherokee County, SC)
..........e) Frank Dewitt Lipsey (DOB 2/28/1908 in Cherokee County, SC; DOD 12/27/2004 in Union County, SC) married Bernice Louise Petty (DOB 6/10/1907 in SC; DOD 6/1979 in Jonesville, Union County, SC) and had Dorothy Ruth Lipsey, Harold G. Lipsey, Frances Louise Lipsey.
..........f) Eddie Dewey Lipsey (DOB 7/8/1910 in Gaffney, Cherokee County, SC; DOD 4/16/1998 in Cherokee County, SC) married ? .
..........g) Elbert Walter Lipsey, Sr. (DOB 7/12/1912 in Union, Union County, SC; DOD 11/1/2000 in Gaffney, Cherokee County, SC) married Mary Janelle Duncan (DOB 10/25/1918 in GA; DOD 8/4/1983 in Gaffney, Cherokee County, SC). They had Billy Wayne Lipsey, Elbert Walter Lipsey, Jr., Frances Lipsey (Sanders).
..........h) Violet Lipsy (DOB 5/30/1915 in SC; DOD 3/26/2016 in Union County, SC) married Coley B. Ivey (DOB 12/15/1911 in ? ; DOD 11/6/1982 in Union, Union County, SC). They had Julian Hames Ivey, Mertice Ivey.
..........i) Kathlee Lipsey (DOB 8/4/1917 in Cherokee County, SC; DOD 10/12/2001 in Union, Union County, SC) married Grady Manly Ouzts (DOB 4/1/1907 in Greenwood County, SC; DOD 5/7/1987 in Union County, SC). They had Grady Carroll Ouzts, Kenneth Bruce Ouzts.
..........j) Margaret Erlene Lipsey (DOB 2/7/1923 in Cherokee County, SC; DOD 2/28/2000 in Gaffney, Cherokee County, SC) married James Victor Bolin (DOB 1/14/1925 in Blacksburg, Cherokee County, SC; DOD 1/5/2002 in Gaffney, Cherokee County, SC).

.....B) Annie A. Harris (DOB 11/30/1888 in SC; DOD 10/11/1975 in Gaffney, Cherokee County, SC) married John Thomas "Tom" McAbee (DOB 10/10/1881 in SC; DOD 7/15/1949 in Cherokee County, SC). They had:

..........a) William Kay McAbee (DOB 12/14/1904 in SC; DOD 8/16/1984 in Ridgeway, Fairfield County, SC) married ?.

..........b) Grace Parker McAbee (DOB 5/13/1908 in SC; DOD 11/11/1994 in Cherryville, Gaston County, NC) married 1st Judson Malcolm Upchurch (DOB 11/1/1904 in SC; DOD 9/22/1982 in Gaffney, Cherokee County, SC). She married 2nd Nicholas Buras (DOB 11/9/1922 in ? ; DOD 9/1968 in ). She and Judson Malcolm Upchurch had:
...............1) Lula Mae Upchurch (DOB 9/2/1928 in SC; DOD 12/22/1984 in Spartanburg, Spartanburg County, SC) married 1st Ezekiel Ramsey (DOB 12/16/1923 in SC; DOD 10/25/1965 in Spartanburg County, SC). She married James Marlow Wilson (DOB 9/29/1928 in Cherokee County, SC; DOD 10/18/2011 in Forest City, Rutherford County, NC). She and Ezekiel Ramsey had:
....................a) Donald Ray Ramsey (DOB 11/9/1944 in Gaffney, Cherokee County, SC; DOD 6/18/1998 in Gaffney, Cherokee County, SC) married Martha Sue Erwin and they had Charles Ray Ramsey, Bradley Ramsey, Darlene Ramsey.
.....................b) Mary Elizabeth Ramsey (DOB 1948 in Cherokee County, SC; DOD 1/27/2006 in Cherokee Falls, Cherokee County, SC) married ? Runyans and Vernon Wilson.
......................c) Michael Joe "Mackey Joe" Ramsey (DOB 1/25/1949 in Gaffney, Cherokee County, SC; DOD 6/22/2015 in Gaffney, Cherokee County, SC) married Diane Stroup. They had Michael Lee Ramsey (1967-1977), Angela Mae Ramsey (1969-2006), Timothy Joe Ramsey.
.......................d) Alfred Dean Ramsey
.......................e) Kathy Sue Ramsey (DOB 3/22/1953 in Cherokee County, SC; DOD 12/20/1992 in Spartanburg, Spartanburg County, SC) married Charles Raymond Childers (DOB 1962-2010)
........................f) Foy Lee Ramsey
........................g) Roy Lee Ramsey (DOB 10/10/1955 in Gaffney, Cherokee County, SC; DOD 10/11/1955 in Cherokee County, SC)
........................h) Judy Ramsey
...............2) Marshall Eugene Upchurch (DOB Abt. 1930 in SC; DOD 8/13/1934 in Spartanburg County, SC). He died at 4 yrs old of meningitis.
...............3) Jack Dean Upchurch (DOB 8/4/1932 in Cherokee County, SC; DOD 6/25/2000 in Gastonia, Gaston County, SC) married and divorced Doris Bolton (DOB 5/2/1940, DOD 3/13/2015 Cleveland County, NC).
...............4) Elsie Upchurch (DOB 10/9/1935 in Gaffney, Cherokee County, SC; DOD 12/30 2009 in Cherokee County, SC) married Leroy Mullinax (DOB 5/31/1926 in ? ; DOD 3/17/2005 in Cherokee County, SC).
...............5) Shirley Ann Upchurch (DOB Abt. 1939 in Cherokee County, SC; DOD 5/13/1950 in Cherokee County, SC) She died saving her little brother from drowning. She drowned.


...............6) Jack Wilbert Upchurch (DOB 6/25/1941 in Cherokee County, SC; DOD 7/25/2008 in Gaffney, Cherokee County, SC).
...............7) Lola Faye Upchurch (DOB 1/31/1944 in Gaffney, Cherokee County, SC; DOD 4/21/2018 in King's Mountain, Cleveland County, NC) married James Donald Biddix (DOB 7/7/1939 in Pickens County, SC; DOD 7/19/1993 in King's Mountain, Cleveland County, NC) and Isaac Bell (DOB ? in ? , DOD ? in ? ).

..........c) Amanda Louisiana McAbee (DOB 6/10/1910 in Cherokee County, SC; DOD 12/17/1991 in Cherokee County, SC) married Jessie Roy Upchurch (aka Jesse Roy Upchurch) (DOB 4/21/1910 in SC; DOD 9/12/1987 in Gaffney, Cherokee County, SC). They had
...............1) Annie Mae Upchurch (DOB 2/24/1930 in Gaffney, Cherokee County, SC; DOD 9/22/2014 in Gaffney, Cherokee County, SC) married Bill Mullinax.
...............2) Lewis Carson Upchurch (DOB 7/31/1931 in SC; DOD 9/12/2014 in Cherokee County, SC) married Patsy Estell Hall.
................3) Thomas Richard Upchurch (DOB 7/4/1935 in SC; DOD 10/12/2006 in Gaffney, Cherokee County, SC).
................4) Walter Edward Upchurch (DOB Abt. 1938 in Cherokee County, SC; DOD 9/5/1989 in Gaffney, Cherokee County, SC).
.................5) Mary Jane Upchurch (DOB 12/4/1938 in SC; DOD 1/18/2009 in Gaffney, Cherokee County, SC) married Marvin Mullinax, Sr. (DOB 5/7/1933 in SC; DOD 7/18/2005 in Gaffney, Cherokee County, SC). They had:
.....................a) Roy Carlyle Mullinax, Sr.
.....................b) Jeffery Lee Mullinax (DOB 6/4/1961 in SC; DOD 11/10/2006 in Gaffney, Cherokee County, SC) married Sandra Lamb and Pam ? .
.....................c) Steven Ray Mullinax (DOB 12/24/1962 in Gaffney, Cherokee County, SC; DOD 6/27/2016 in Gaffney, Cherokee County, SC) married Carol Vicky Smith, Sandra Painter, Darla Kay Upchurch (DOB 10/2/1962; DOD 6/14/2007).
......................d) Lisa Jean Mullinax
......................e) Barbara Ann Mullinax
......................f) Mary Amanda Mullinax
......................g) Marvin Mullinax, Jr.
.................6) Margaret Ann Upchurch (DOB 5/28/1942 in Gaffney, Cherokee County, SC; DOD 7/22/2007 in Greenville County, SC) married Edward "Eddie" Morgan Mullinax (DOB 5/10/1927 in Gaffney, Cherokee County, SC; DOD 6/3/2013 in Gaffney, Cherokee County, SC). They had
.......................a) Sharon Lynn Mullinax
.......................b) Jessie James Mullinax
.......................c) Charles Edward Mullinax
.......................d) Judy Gail Mullinax
.......................e) Scotty Ray Mullinax
.......................f) Gloria Jean Mullinax
.......................g) Ricky Dean Mullinax
.......................h) Eddie Carl Mullinax
.................7) Jessie Roy Upchurch, Jr. (DOB 8/29/1943 in Cherokee County, SC; DOD 12/20/2007 in Gaffney, Cherokee County, SC) married Hazel Lean (DOB 7/29/1934 in Rutherfordton, Rutherford County, NC; DOD Gaffney, Cherokee County, SC).
.................8) Marvin Glenn Upchurch (DOB 1943 in Cherokee County, SC; DOD ? in ? ) married Verlin Gayle Moseley (DOB 10/22/1937 in ? ; DOD 8/10/1960 in Cherokee County, SC).

..........d) Myrtle McAbee (DOB 6/28/1912 in Cherokee County, SC; DOD 4/14/1940 in Cherokee County, SC of interstitial nephritis) married Olin Edward Upchurch (DOB 10/30/1907 in SC; DOD 6/25/1999 in Gaffney, Cherokee County, SC). They had Grady E. Upchurch and Guy L. Upchurch.


..........e) James Roland McAbee (DOB 9/30/1914 in Gaffney, Cherokee County, SC; DOD 6/30/2000 in Gaffney, Cherokee County, SC) married  Bessie Howard (DOB 7/3/1918 in SC; DOD 10/2/2001 in Gaffney, Cherokee County, SC). They had Gladys McAbee, James Earl McAbee, Ralph McAbee.

..........f) Jessie Thomas McAbee (DOB 11/10/1916 in Gaffney, Cherokee County, SC; DOD 11/17/1988 in Gaffney, Cherokee County, SC) married Mary Ethel Mullinax (DOB 3/8/1919 in Cherokee County, SC; DOD 5/9/1989 in Gaffney, Cherokee County, SC). They had Sybil Gene McAbee (1939-1096).

..........g) Roy Lee McAbee (DOB 1/2/1919 in SC; DOD 8/22/1983 in Gaffney, Cherokee County, SC) married Ruby Elizabeth Howard (DOB 12/18/1920 in Cherokee County, SC; DOD 2/21/1998 in Gaffney, Cherokee County, SC). They had Howard Dean McAbee (1937-1994).

..........h) Lola Pearl McAbee (DOB 12/29/1920 in Gaffney, Cherokee County, SC; DOD 4/3/1990 in Cherokee County, SC) married Marion Edward Godbee (DOB 10/4/1913 in SC; DOD 12/16/2005 in Roebuck, Spartanburg County, SC).

..........i) D.B. McAbee (DOB 4/21/1923 in SC; DOD 7/30/2009 in Gaffney, Cherokee County, SC) married Irene Mullinax (DOB 10/21/1925 in Gaffney, Cherokee County, SC; DOD 1/10/1987 in Cherokee County, SC).

..........j) Boyce Jonas McAbee (DOB 9/16/1925 in Cherokee County, SC; DOD 11/7/2009 in Gaffney, Cherokee County, SC) married Ruby Jeanette ? (DOB 3/29/1930 in ? ; DOD 3/17/2002 in Cherokee County, SC).

.........k) Lois Inez McAbee (DOB 9/16/1925 in Gaffney, Cherokee County, SC; DOD 5/10/1989 in Gaffney, Cherokee County, SC) married Labon Curtis Mullinax (DOB 4/14/1916 in Cherokee County, SC; DOD 8/30/1994 in Gaffney, Cherokee County, SC).

.........l) George Dean McAbee (DOB 11/12/1929 in Gaffney, Cherokee County, SC; DOD 2/25/1985 in Cherokee County, SC) married ? .

.....C) Marion Boston Harris (DOB 4/11/1891 in Cherokee County, SC; DOD 1/1974 in Gaffney, Cherokee County, SC) married Essie Mae Proctor (DOB 3/19/1893 in Cherokee County, SC; DOD 1975 in Cherokee County, SC). They had:

..........1) Raymond Harris (DOB 11/21/1914 in Gaffney, Cherokee County, SC; DOD 3/24/1979 in Durham, Durham County, NC) married Halcie Lowe (DOB 7/15/1922 in SC; DOD 7/29/2014 in High Point, Guilford County, NC).

..........2) Glenn Bryan Harris (DOB 10/10/1916 in Cherokee County, SC; DOD 7/22/2003 in Cherokee County, SC) married Shirley Juanita Becknell (DOB 1/29/1921 in Gaffney, Cherokee County, SC; DOD 12/9/2016 in Landrum, Spartanburg County, SC).

.........3) Shirley Lorene Harris (DOB 8/26/1918 in Gaffney, Cherokee County, SC; DOD 8/11/2008 in Gaffney, Cherokee County, SC) married Claude Thomas Bridges (DOB 2/12/1917 in Gaffney, Cherokee County, SC; DOD 2/28/2010 in Gaffney, Cherokee County, SC).

.........4) Ruby Mildred Harris (DOB 4/28/1921 in Gaffney, Cherokee County, SC; DOD 4/26/2012 in Merced County, CA) married Marshall Luther Long (DOB 5/26/1918 in Mecklenburg County, NC; DOD 12/30/1982 in Merced County, CA).

.........5) Ralph Harris (DOB 1923 in Cherokee County, SC; DOD ? in ? ) married Beth Inman.

.....D) Henry Hoyle Harris (DOB 10/29/1893 in Cherokee County, SC; DOD 12/1964 in SC) married Ida Elizabeth Poole (DOB 3/30/1903 in SC; DOD 1/26/1983 in Spartanburg, Spartanburg County, SC). They had:

..........1) Francis Coyle Harris (DOB 9/22/1920 in Cherokee County, SC; DOD 8/18/2009 in Spartanburg, Spartanburg County, SC) married Mary Catherine Wells (DOB 5/11/1922 in Columbia, Richland County, SC; DOD 2/3/1994 in Spartanburg County, SC).

..........2) Edward Hoyle Harris (DOB 9/22/1920 in Cherokee County, SC; DOD 3/31/2001 in Spartanburg, Spartanburg County, SC

..........3) James Oliver Harris (DOB 11/1/1922 in Cherokee County, SC; DOD 2/5/2009 in Spartanburg, Spartanburg County, SC) married Bessie Mae Harris (DOB 5/27/1925 in Liberty, Orangeburg County, SC; DOD 3/8/2013 in Spartanburg, Spartanburg County, SC).

..........4) Rilla Mae "Sister" Harris (DOB 5/20/1925 in Cherokee County, SC; DOD 8/23/2011 in Buford, Gwinnett County, GA) married John Floyd Harris (DOB 5/10/1923 in Liberty, Orangeburg County, SC; DOD 2/3/2009 in Tillman, Jasper County, SC).

..........5) Yvonne Harris (DOB 4/11/1934 in Spartanburg, Spartanburg County, SC; DOD 2/23/2013 in Spartanburg, Spartanburg County, SC) married 1st Wilfred Ray Webb (DOB 3/26/1931 in Liberty, Spartanburg County, SC; DOD 1/8/1999 in Spartanburg, Spartanburg County, SC) and 2nd Charles L. Wright (DOB 5/1/1933 in Spartanburg, Spartanburg County, SC; DOD 4/2/2006 in Spartanburg, Spartanburg County, SC).

.....E) Fred Shuford Harris (DOB 9/11/1896 in Cherokee County, SC; DOD 9/20/1979 in High Point, Guilford County, NC) married Chatta Cornelia Freeman (DOB 3/13/1902 in NC; DOD 1/5/1990 in Winston-Salem, Forsyth County, NC).

.....F) William Roy Harris (DOB 5/11/1899 in Cherokee County, SC; DOD 6/3/1983 in Spartanburg, Spartanburg County, SC) married Venice "Venie" Crocker (DOB 7/29/1904 in SC; DOD 6/18/1977 in Spartanburg, Spartanburg County, SC).

.....G) James Lewis Harris, Sr. (DOB 7/14/1902 in Cherokee County, SC; DOD 10/12/1989 in Gaffney, Cherokee County, SC) married Melzie Reynolds (DOB 7/19/1905 in SC; DOD 6/1996 in Gaffney, Cherokee County, SC). They had:

..........1) Kathleen Ella Harris (DOB 6/23/1923 in Walhalla, Oconee County, SC; DOD 2/16/193 in Baltimore, Baltimore County, MD) married ? Lemmons and they had Randall "Randy" J. Lemmons. She married 2nd Robert A. Swartz, Sr. (DOB 7/11/1924 in ? ; DOD 8/22/2003 in Baltimore, Baltimore County, MD). They had Kathleen Swartz, Robert A. Swartz, Jr.

..........2) James Lewis Harris, Jr. (DOB 1928 in SC; DOD ? in ? ) married ? .

..........3) Mildred Harris (DOB 1930 in SC; DOD ? in ? ) married ? White.

..........4) Lemuel Harris (DOB 1932 in SC; DOD ? in ? ) married ? .

..........5) Guyneda Harris (DOB 1934 in SC; DOD ? in ? ) married Nesbitt C. Jolly (DOB 9/13/1932 in Cherokee County, SC; DOD 2/15/1989 in Gaffney, Cherokee County, SC).

..........6) Albert E. Harris (DOB 1936 in SC; DOD ? in ? ) married ? .

..........7) Gwendolyn Harris (DOB 1939 in SC; DOD ? in ? ) married ? Hancock.


3) Edna Harris (DOB 6/1863 in Union County, SC; DOD 3/21/1923 in Jonesville, Union County, SC) married John H. Mitchell (DOB 12/1857 in SC; DOD 4/8/1935 in Union County, SC). They had

.....A) Lorenna Mitchell (DOB 6/1891 in Union County, SC; DOD Aft. 1900 in ? ) married ? .

.....B) Lula Mae Mitchell (DOB 6/5/1892 in Union County, SC; DOD 5/27/1963 in Union County, SC) married Noah C. Turner (DOB 4/18/1886 in SC; DOD 8/23/1940 in Union County, SC). They had:

..........1) George Washington Turner, Sr. (DOB 1/18/1908 in Union County, SC; DOD 1/9/1986 in Jonesville, Union County, SC) married Bertha Rebecca Patterson (DOB 9/1/1914 in Jonesville, Union County, SC; DOD 1/4/2010 in Jonesville, Union County, SC). They had Myrtle Lee Turner Keith (1/29/1930-11/7/2001), Noah Thomas Turner (3/9/1932-9/17/2011), George Washington Turner, Jr. (6/18/1934-2/27/2015), Harold Dean Turner (7/18/1938-7/15/2006).

..........2) Jay D. Turner, Sr. (DOB 2/15/1910 in Union County, SC; DOD 3/1977 in Jonesville, Union County, SC) married Pauline Fowler (DOB 11/19/1912 in Jonesville, Union County, SC; DOD 8/31/2013 in Union County, SC). They had Helen E. Turner Howell (10/21/1930-11/1/2006), Lulu M. Turner (1933-?), Jay D. Turner, Jr. (7/12/1935-12/24/1980).

..........3) Clarence William Turner (DOB 5/23/1912 in Union County, SC; DOD 6/1974 in Union County, SC) married Martha Ferrell Cudd (DOB 4/25/1914 in Union County, SC; DOD 12/14/1978 in Union County, SC). They had William Henry Turner (12/9/1939-12/19/2003), Sandra Turner ( ? 0? )

..........4) Odell Turner (DOB 5/18/1914 in Union County, SC; DOD 5/14/1992 in Union County, SC) married Charlie Eaves (DOB 3/29/1913 in SC; DOD 10/28/1994 in Spartanburg County, SC). They had Ruby Jeanette Eaves Duckett (10/23/1932-7/27/2015), Catherine Eaves McBride (1935-? ), Avonelle Eaves Pettit ( ? - ? )

..........5) Loyd Turner (DOB Abt. 1916 in Union County, SC; DOD 1/28/1923 in Union County, SC of influenza and pneumonia)

..........6) Millie Turner (DOB 11/11/1918 in Union, Union County, SC; DOD 3/5/1999 in Spartanburg County, SC) married Harold Carter (DOB 5/14/1909 in SC; DOD 3/1976 in Union, Union County, SC). They had Theron Eugene Carter (7/23/1930-1/14/2016), Margie Carter Cannon (1937-? ), Ruth Ann Carter Robinson (1939- ? ), Frances Edgar "Coot" Carter (1939- ? ), Harold Dean Carter (1941-? ), Bobby Wayne Carter (1944-? ), Mary Carter Upton (1945-? ).

..........7) Roy Dean Turner (DOB 3/22/1923 in Union County, SC; DOD 2/20/2009 in Union County, SC) married Minnie Faye Smith (DOB 6/23/1925 in Union County, SC; DOD 8/4/2004 in Union County, SC).

..........8) Dorothy Elizabeth Turner (DOB 4/17/1926 in Union County, SC; DOD 4/5/2010 in Union County, SC) married Fred William Gossett (DOB 7/6/1916 in Union County, SC; DOD 5/18/2000 in Union County, SC). They had Ann Gossett.

..........9) Reford Charles Turner, Sr. (DOB 4/9/1930 in Union County, SC; DOD 2/6/2007 in Union County, SC) married Betty Jo Moore (DOB 7/10/1933 in Union County, SC; DOD 7/22/2013 in Union County, SC). They had Reford Charles Turner, Jr. (12/1/1952-3/18/2011).

........10) Sybil Turner (DOB 1934 in Union County, SC; DOD ? in ? ) married ? Bobo.

.....C) Nola Mitchell (DOB Abt. 1903 in Union County, SC; DOD ? in ? ) married ?

Thriller Thursday is a daily blogging prompt used by many genealogy bloggers to help them post content on their sites. Are there murders, bizarre accidents or other thrilling stories among your family history? Tell us about them through words and pictures during Thriller Thursday.


Fleming Matthew Harris and Augusta Ann Harris had a son named...
...Gamewell Calhoun Harris who married Sarah Breakfield and they had a son named...
......Edward Boyd Harris who married Ida Mae Shaw and they had a son named...
.........Clyde Harris who married Mabel Louise Cohen and they had a son named...
............William Clyde Harris "Billy" who married Peggy Annette Prince and they had a son named...
...............Stan!

Fleming Matthew Harris (aka, erroneously, Francis Marion Harris or Francis Matthew Harris) was born 2/4/1809 in Union County, SC to Samuel G. Harris and Tryphena Harris. Tryphen Harris was born 12/14/1771 in Chesterfield, VA to Thomas Harris and Sarah "Sally" Lacy and she died 8/23/1855 in Union County, SC. Samuel G. Harris was born About 1772 in VA to James Bailey Harris and Ursula Flournoy and died About 1860 in Union County, SC. Fleming Matthew Harris may have gone by F.M. Harris which gave rise to the wrong name on his gravestone. It was later determined that he was NOT Francis Marion Harris but Fleming Matthew Harris.

Fleming Matthew Harris married his first cousin, Augusta Ann Harris, about 1830 in Union County, SC. August Ann Harris was born ;5/23/1813 in SC to Fleming Harris (DOB Abt. 1785 in Chesterfield, VA; DOD Abt. 1850 in Copiah County, MS) and Jane Sharp (DOB Abt. 1788 in Union County, SC; DOD Abt. 1850 in Copiah County, MS). Fleming Harris (1785-1850) was the son of Thomas Harris and Sarah Sally Lacy and was the brother of Tryphena Harris. It's a little complicated. Let's look at it.

Fleming Matthew Harris and Augusta Ann Harris had 11-14 children:

1) Frances Cornelia Harris (DOB 12/29/1831 in Union County, SC; DOD Aft. 1880 in Union County, SC) married William Fraser (aka William Frasier) (DOB Abt. 1845 in SC; DOD ? in ? ).

2) James Marion Harris (DOB 1/18/1834 in Union County, SC; DOD 3/29/1865 in Burgess Mill, Petersburg, VA) married Sarah Ann Bevil (DOB 12/30/1835 in Union County, SC to William A.H. Bevel and Sarah Bentley; DOD 10/27/1889 in Union County, SC).

3) Cicely Ann Catharine Harris (DOB 7/25/1836 in Union County, SC; DOD 6/1882 in Union County, SC) married 1st John Floyd (DOB Abt. 1839 in SC; DOD Aft. 1860 in ? ). Married 2nd
Arthur Lipsey (DOB Abt. 1848 in SC; DOD 2/27/1902 in Union County, SC). They had James A. Lipsey, Bunyon Lipsey, Mary A. Lipsey.

4) Sarah Jane Harris (DOB 3/19/1838 in Union County, SC; DOD Bet. 1840-1850 in Union County, SC).

5) Taylor Ann Harris (DOB 11/18/1840 in Union County, SC; DOD 1/12/1908 in Union County, SC) married William Earle Fowler (DOB Abt. 1832 in SC; DOD 1900 in Cherokee County, SC). They had Frances Marion Fowler, Isabella Fowler, Augusta Ann Fowler, William Wallis Fowler, Nancy "Nannie" Ann Fowler.

6) Eugenia Millie Harris (DOB 12/20/1842 in Union County, SC; DOD 3/20/1924 in Union County, SC) married James Gist Farr (DOB 8/12/1836 in SC; DOD 8/23/1899 in Union County, SC). They had Mary Richard Farr, William B. Farr, Walter "Watt" Thomas Farr, Carrie M. Farr, Doretha Farr, John Anderson Farr, Edward Marvin Farr, Aurie Pearl Farr.

7) Patricia "Tricia" Ann Harris (DOB 12/8/1843 in Union County, SC; DOD Aft. 1860 in Union County, SC) mentally handicapped and never married.

8) William Edward Harris (DOB 12/29/1845 in Union County, SC; DOD 7/30/1864 in Petersburg, Dinwiddie County, VA) mentally handicapped. Married ?

9) Anderson Kennedy "A.K." Harris (DOB 4/26/1848 in Union County, SC; DOD 3/24/1928 in York County, SC) married Sarah "Sallie" Austen (DOB Abt. 1847 in SC; DOD Aft. 1920 in ? ). They had Oliver "Ollie" Ross Harris and William "Willie" Edward Harris. He also had a son with Sarah Ann Bevill named Robert Jackson Harris.

10) Havannah Ann Harris (DOB 9/29/1851 in Union County, SC; DOD 2/16/1911 in Union, Union County, SC) never married.

11) Thomas Harris (DOB Abt. 1852 in Union County, SC; DOD Aft. 1870 in ? ) married ?

12) Gamewell Calhoun Harris (DOB 5/26/1853 in Union County, SC; DOD 10/21/1933 in Union, Union County, SC) married Sarah "Sallie" Clementine Brakefield (aka Sarah "Sallie" Clementine Breakfield) (DOB 4/18/1860 in York County, SC; DOD 3/6/1930 in Union County, SC). They had Edward Boyd Harris, Clara Emma Harris, James Marion Harris, Fannie May Harris, Bernice Lemond Harris, Paul Traywick Harris, Florence Viola Harris, Bessie Harris, Carl Allen Harris, Sr., Wallace Samuel Harris, Sr., Blanche Eugenia Harris.

13) Mary Harris (DOB Abt. 1854 in Union County, SC; DOD ? in ? ) married ?

14) George Harris (DOB Abt. 1855 in Union County, SC; DOD Aft. 1860 in ? ) married ?

I am not sure Thomas, Mary and George Harris are the children of Fleming Matthew Harris and Augusta Ann Harris. In the 1860 and 1870 U.S. Censuses, they are at the bottom of the list of children under Fleming Matthew and Augusta Ann Harris, out of birth order, and there are no relationship notations on the 1860 and 1870 U.S. Censuses. We just know their last names were Harris and they lived within the household. They may be the illegitimate children of their first daughter, Frances Cornelia Harris who never married.

1850 U.S. Census of Union County, SC, Roll M432_859, Pg 108, Image 463, Lines 29-30 "Samuel Harris", Lines 31-35 "S. P. Harris", Lines 36-49 next page Lines 1-6 "James C. Harris", Lines 7-11 "Thomas Harris", Lines 22-32 "Mathew Harris"
Dwelling 299, Family 299, Harris, Samuel, 78 yrs old (DOB would be 1772), M(ale), W(hite), Tenant, Born in SC (?), Can read and write
Harris, Tryvena (sic Tryphena Harris), 75 yrs old (DOB would be 1775), F, W, Born in SC (?)
Dwelling 300, Family 300, Harris, S.P., 45 yrs old (DOB would be 1805), M, W, Planter, $1500 Real Estate Value, Born in SC, Can read and write
Harris, Sophia, 35 yrs old (DOB would be 1815), Born in SC, Can read and write
Harris, James, 16 yrs old (DOB would be 1834), Born in SC, Labor, Attends school
Harris, Jane, 15 yrs old (DOB would be 1835), Born in SC, Attends school
Harris, William, 11 yrs old (DOB would be 1839), Born in SC, Attends school
Dwelling 301, Family 301, Harris, James C., 37 yrs old (DOB would be 1813), M, W, Planter, $2000 Real Estate Value, Born in SC, Can read and write
Harris, Frances, 35 yrs old (DOB would be 1815), F, W, Born in SC
Harris, Hesterann, 12 yrs old (DOB would be 1838), F, W, Born in SC, Attends school
Harris, Maryann, 10 yrs old (DOB would be 1849), F, W, Born in SC, Attends school
Harris, Both, 6 yrs old, M, W, Born in SC
Harris, Samuel, 4 yrs old, M, W, Born in SC
Harris, Frances, 2 yrs old, F, W, Born in SC
next page
Harris, James, 6/12 mos old, M, W, Born in SC
Shell, Nancy, 62 yrs old, F, W, Born in SC, Can read and write
Floyd, Hyram, 27 yrs old, M, W, Labor, Born in SC, Cannot read or write
Floyd, John, 14 yrs old, M, W, Can read and write
Richard (nln), 10 yrs old, M, (There is a check mark in the box which is different from all the others, indicates black?), Born in SC
Harris, Louvinier (sic), 8 yrs old, F, W, Born in SC
Dwelling 302, Family 302, Harris, Thomas, 60 yrs old, M, W, Planter, $350 Real Estate Value, Born in SC, Can read and write
Harris, Sarahann, 30 yrs old, F, W, Born in SC
Harris, Leticia, 18 yrs old, F, W, Born in SC, Can read and write
Harris, Benjamin, 14 yrs old, M, W, Born in SC, Attends school
Harris, Jefferson, 1 yrs old, M, W, Born in SC
Dwelling 303, Family 303
Dwelling 304, Family 304
Dwelling 305, Family 305 Harris, Matthew, 40 yrs old (DOB would be 1810), M, W, Planter, $125 Real Estate Value, Born in SC, Can read and write
Harris, Gustyann, 37 yrs old (DOB would be 1813), F, W, Born in SC
Harris, Cornelia, 19 yrs old (DOB would be 1831), F, W, Born in SC, Attends school
Harris, James, 17 yrs old (DOB would be 1833), M, W, Born in SC, Labor, Attends school
Harris, Catharine, 15 yrs old (DOB would be 1835), F, W, Born in SC, Attends school
Harris, Taylor, 11 yrs old (DOB would be 1839), F, W, Born in SC, Attends school
Harris, Eugenia, 9 yrs old (DOB would be 1841), F, W, Born in SC, Attends school
Harris, Fisherann (sic, should be Patricia Ann), 7 yrs old (DOB would be 1843), F, W, Born in SC, Attends school, "Insane"
Harris, Edward, 5 yrs old (DOB would be 1845), M, W, Born in SC, "Idiot"
Harris, Anderson, 3 yrs old (DOB would be 1847), M, W, Born in SC

1860 U.S. Census of Union County, South Carolina; Roll: M653_1227; Page: 219; Image: 451; Family History Library Film: 805227, Lines 1-20, "John Harris" and "F.M. Harris"
John Harris, 61 yrs old (DOB 1799), M(ale), W(hite), Farmer, $1,500 Real Estate Value, $4,000 Personal Estate Value, Born in SC
Tabitha Harris, 62 yrs old (DOB 1798), F, W, Born in SC
Frances Bevel, 30 yrs old (DOB 1830), F, W, Born in SC
Iris Bevel, 6 yrs old (DOB 1854), F, W, Born in SC
John Bevel, 4 yrs old (DOB 1856), M, W, Born in SC
Fincher Harris (sic), 9 yrs old (DOB 1851), M, W, Student, Born in SC
Jahue Harris (sic), 18 yrs old (DOB 1842), M, W, Student, Born in SC
F.M. Harris, 50 yrs old (DOB 1810), M, W, Farmer, $125 Real Estate Value, $150 Personal Estate Value, Born in SC
Grstran Harris (sic, should be Augusta Ann Harris), 47 yrs old (DOB 1813), F, W, Born in SC
Frances Harris, 28 yrs old (DOB 1832), F, W, Born in SC
Taylor Harris, 20 yrs old (DOB 1840), M, W, Born in SC
Wyena Harris (sic), 17 yrs old (DOB 1843), F, W, Born in SC
Tesheran Harris (sic, should be Patricia Ann Harris), 15 yrs old (DOB 1845), F, W, Born in SC
Edward Harris, 13 yrs old (DOB 1847), M, W, born in SC
Anderson Harris, 12 yrs old (DOB 1848), M, W, Born in SC
Havanah Harris, 9 yrs old (DOB 1851), F, W, Born in SC
Gamewell Harris, 7 yrs old (DOB 1853), M, W, Born in SC
George Harris, 5 yrs old (DOB 1855), M, W, Born in SC
Mary Harris, 6 yrs old (DOB 1854), F, W, Born in SC
Thomas Harris, 8 yrs old (DOB 1852), M, W, Born in SC

But this story is about 3 of the older brothers, James Marion Harris, Anderson Kennedy Harris and William Edward Harris.

James Marion Harris married Sarah Ann Bevil (aka Sarah Ann Bevill, Sarah Ann Bevel). Sarah Ann Beville was born 12/30/1835 in Union County, SC to William A.H. Bevil and Sarah Bentley. They had 3 children before he was killed in the War of Northern Aggression:

1) Joseph Oscar Harris (DOB 3/11/1859 in Union County, SC; DOD 4/4/1927 in Union County, SC) married 1st Sarah "Sallie" Jane Harris Harris (DOB 10/29/1866 in SC; DOD 4/30/1904 in Union County, SC). They had Edward Washington Harris (Lillie Ann Vaughan), Annie McCain Harris (Wallace Douglas Lawson), Vellie Harris (aka Vallie Harris, Valeria Harris or Valorie Harris) (David Usra Alman or David Usra Allman, Walt Taylor Marsh), and perhaps James Wallace Harris(Nannie Mae Gault), Mahala Harris. He married Abt. 1911 in Union County, SC 2nd Nancy "Nannie" Jane Mitchell (DOB 4/7/1870 in SC to Elias Cornelius Mitchell and Harriet Foster; DOD 8/9/1916 in Union County, SC. They had Ola Permelia Harris (David Usra Alman or David Usra Allman), Ernest Marion "Huck" Harris (Emma J. Batten), Ella Harris (John Thomas Bentley), Bernice Harris, William Jennings Bryan Harris (Lois Gault), Pearl Harris (John Fant Faucett), Joseph Oscar Teague Harris, Jr. (Aurine Eaves and Florence Green), Lula Bell "Babe" Harris(Perno D. Head), Iris Virginia Harris (James "Jack" Clarence Parris).

2) James Riley Harris (DOB Abt. 1861 in Union County, SC; DOD 4/7/1950 in Cherokee County, SC) married Louisa Ann Roberson (aka Louisiana Roberson) (DOB 1/12/1862 in SC; DOD 7/8/1946 in Cherokee County, SC). They had Enzie Jane Harris (Bunyon Lipsy), Annie A. Harris (John Thomas "Tom" McAbee), Marion Boston Harris (Essie Mae Proctor), Henry Hoyle Harris(Ida Elizabeth Poole), Fred Shuford Harris (Chatta Cornelia Freeman), William Roy Harris (Venice "Venie" Crocker), James Lewis Harris, Sr. (Melzie Reynolds).

3) Edna Harris (DOB 6/1863 in Union County, SC; DOD 3/21/1923 in Jonesville, Union County, SC) married John H. Mitchell (DOB 12/1857 in SC; DOD 4/8/1935 in Union County, SC). They had Lorenna Mitchell, Lula Mae Mitchell (Noah C. Turner), Nola Mitchell.

Dr. William Richard Harris was born after James Marion Harris died in 3/29/1865. He was born 12/1865 in Union County, SC and died 5/12/1902 in Waterloo, Laurens County, SC of stroke of paralysis at just 35 yrs old. He married Caroline "Carrie" Wilson Boozer (DOB 4/3/1868 in SC; DOD 11/17/1895 in SC). She died young at the age of 27 yrs old. They had William Wilson Harris (Cornelia Bethea), Lucille Harris (George C. Zeigler). If this is a child of Sarah Ann Bevil Harris, is he possibly the son of James Marion Harris (he was born almost exactly 9 mos after James Marion Harris' death) or was he an illegitimate child of unknown father?

James Marion Harris was in the 18th Infantry Regiment. It was assembled during the winter of 1861-1862 with men from Laurens County and other counties in the northwestern part of the state. After serving in the Department of South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida, it was ordered to Virginia. During the war it was assigned to General Evans', Elliott's, and Wallace's Brigade. The 18th fought at Second Manassas, South Mountain, and Sharpsburg, moved to North Carolina, then saw action at Jackson, Mississippi. Returning to South Carolina, it was involved in the operations around Charleston. During the spring of 1864 the unit was sent back to Virginia where it participated in the Petersburg siege north and south of the James River and the Appomattox Campaign. This regiment lost forty-nine percent of the 230 engaged at Second Manassas and had 3 killed and 39 wounded during the Maryland Campaign. In September, 1863, there were 363 present for duty and at the Petersburg mine explosion, 205 were disabled. It sustained many casualties at Sayler's Creek and surrendered 16 officers and 139 men. The field officers were Colonels James M. Gadberry and William H. Wallace, Lieutenant Colonels W.B. Allison and Ferdinand Scaife, and Major Rolet J. Betsill.

U.S. Civil War Soldiers, 1861-1865
Name: James M. Harris
Side: Confederate
Regiment State/Origin: South Carolina
Regiment: 18th Regiment, South Carolina Infantry
Company: A
Rank In: Private
Rank Out: Private
Film Number: M381 roll 14

U.S., Civil War Soldier Records and Profiles, 1861-1865
Name: James M Harris
Rank at enlistment: Private
State Served: South Carolina
Service Record: Enlisted in Company A, South Carolina 18th Infantry Regiment.
Sources: Index to Compiled Confederate Military Service Records


William Edward Harris was born 12/29/1845 in Union County, SC. He never married. In the 1860 Census he is listed as an "Idiot" but he was able to fight in the Civil War so it's debatable as to what that means.

U.S., Confederate Soldiers Compiled Service Records, 1861-1865
Name: W Edward Harris
Enlistment Date: 13 Sep 1861
Enlistment Place: Columbia
Rank: Private
Military Unit: Eighteenth Infantry G-I


Anderson Kennedy Harris was born 4/16/1848 in Union County, SC.

1860 U.S. Census of Union County,  South Carolina; Roll:  M653_1227; Page:  219; Image:  451; Family History Library Film:  805227, Lines 1-20, "John Harris" and "F.M. Harris"
John Harris, 61 yrs old (DOB 1799), M(ale), W(hite), Farmer, $1,500 Real Estate Value, $4,000 Personal Estate Value, Born in SC
Tabitha Harris, 62 yrs old (DOB 1798), F, W, Born in SC
Frances Bevel, 30 yrs old (DOB 1830), F, W, Born in SC
Iris Bevel, 6 yrs old (DOB 1854), F, W, Born in SC
John Bevel, 4 yrs old (DOB 1856), M, W, Born in SC
Fincher Harris (sic), 9 yrs old (DOB 1851), M, W, Student, Born in SC
Jahue Harris (sic), 18 yrs old (DOB 1842), M, W, Student, Born in SC
F.M. Harris, 50 yrs old (DOB 1810), M, W, Farmer, $125 Real Estate Value, $150 Personal Estate Value, Born in SC
Grstran Harris (sic, should be Augusta Ann Harris), 47 yrs old (DOB 1813), F, W, Born in SC
Frances Harris, 28 yrs old (DOB 1832), F, W, Born in SC
Taylor Harris, 20 yrs old (DOB 1840), M, W, Born in SC
Wyena Harris (sic), 17 yrs old (DOB 1843), F, W, Born in SC
Tesheran Harris (sic, should be Patricia Ann Harris), 15 yrs old (DOB 1845), F, W, Born in SC, Insane
Edward Harris, 13 yrs old (DOB 1847), M, W, born in SC, Idiot
Anderson Harris, 12 yrs old (DOB 1848), M, W, Born in SC
Havanah Harris, 9 yrs old (DOB 1851), F, W, Born in SC
Gamewell Harris, 7 yrs old (DOB 1853), M, W, Born in SC
George Harris, 5 yrs old (DOB 1855), M, W, Born in SC
Mary Harris, 6 yrs old (DOB 1854), F, W, Born in SC
Thomas Harris, 8 yrs old (DOB 1852), M, W, Born in SC

Anderson Harris enlisted 4/9/1862 at 14 yrs of age.

U.S. Civil War Soldiers, 1861-1865
Name: Anderson K. Harris
Side: Confederate
Regiment State/Origin: South Carolina
Regiment Name: 18 South Carolina Infantry
Regiment Name Expanded: 18th Regiment, South Carolina Infantry
Company: A
Rank In: Private
Rank In Expanded: Private
Rank Out: Private
Rank Out Expanded: Private
Film Number: M381 roll 14


James Marion, William Edward and Anderson Kennedy Harris joined the C.S.A. 18th SC Infantry Regiment, Co. A. The sad story is about William Edward and A.K. Harris who were at the seige of Petersburg. The Union troops had dug a tunnel beneath their position and set off an explosion that killed most of Co. A. After the explosion there was the Battle of the Crater. The explosion created a crater and the Union soldiers ran into the crater but, in the confusion, they didn't realize they were sitting ducks. Confederates rushed to the edge of the crater and began shooting into the mess. After the battle, A.K. became conscious. He was in a pile of dead bodies with his gun across his shoulders. He can hardly move but as he does, a Union soldier runs up and raises his gun to shoot A.K. but another one stops him from shooting a helpless and unarmed man. A.K. asks them to help him out and they do. Then he begins to look for his brother and saw William Edward's feet sticking out of the bodies. The Union soldier helped him get the body out and bury him and then took A.K. as prisoner. A.K. ends up at City Point Prisoner of War Camp and was transferred to Elmira Prisoner of War Camp in NY on 8/8/1864. He was released from Elmira on 7/7/1865 and he made his way home. He was only 17 years old. He found out that his other brother, James Marion Harris had been killed right before the War ended at Burgess Mill, VA in April, 1865 on Lee's retreat to Appomattox.

According to a story by Boston Harris, grandson of James Marion Harris, one of the older Harris men told him Sarah Ann Bevill Harris had knitted some socks and sent them to Anderson, Edward and James Marion. When The Union Army blew up the unit in Petersburg and Anderson was not killed he saw Edward's feet sticking out and told them that was his brother because he recognized his socks.

The United Daughters of the Confederacy put together stories by veterans in "Recollections and Reminiscenses, 1861-1865 Thru WWI", Vol 6, Pg 329, Reminiscences as told by Anderson K. Harris to Mrs. J.W. Mixson
At the last celebration of Memorial Day in Union, SC, I met the bearer of the above name and he told me the following story: "I was behind the breastworks at Petersburg when the explosion of the mine occurred. When I came to myself I was lying on top of a pile of dead men in the crater (Petersburg Crater). I had evidently been left for dead along with the others for there was not a man in sight.
"I was pinned in, and could not move my feet at all, and my gun, or at least a gun, was lying across my neck and left side. After a while a young soldier in blue uniform came in sight; about this time, the gun on my neck began to feel very heavy and I made an effort to free my right arm sufficiently to push the gun off of my shoulders.
"Just then the Yankee raised his gun to fire at me, but almost instantly a big soldier stepped out from under cover and knocked up the young soldier's gun so that he fired into the air. The newcomer reprimanded the first solder for firing at a helpless man -- the boy explained that when he saw me move my hand toward the gun on my shoulder he thought I intended to shoot.
"I thanked the big solder for saving my life and begged him to help me get out of the hole into which I was tightly wedged by the forms of the dead men around me.
"I had nothing left to offer my rescuer but a chew of tobacco, but he seemed to appreciate it. After I got out, I was taken prisoner but requested my captors to allow me to examine the dead carefully to see if I could recognize any of them. Looking closely, I thought the legs of a solder seemed familiar -- the head and body were entirely covered by forms lying jumbled together, but the legs were straight in the air, he evidently having been thrown head foremost into the pit at the time of the explosion. The trousers leg was split, and I verified my suspicions as to the identity of the wearer by seeing the name, or rather the initials, on underclothes of my brother.
"Our mother had made the garments for us and marked them by working our initials in black threads on our 'smalls'. I secured permission to remove and bury my brother -- after which I was again taken into custody, and carried to prison."
Source: William Wallace Chapter, U.D.C., Union, SC

Civil War Prisoner of War Records, 1861-1865
Name: A K Harris
Side: Confederate
Roll: M598_113
Roll Title: Selected Records of the War Department Relating to Confederate Prisoners of War, 1861-1865

Name: A K Harris
Side: Confederate
Roll: M598_117
Roll Title: Selected Records of the War Department Relating to Confederate Prisoners of War, 1861-1865

Name: A K Harris
Side: Confederate
Roll: M598_65
Roll Title: Selected Records of the War Department Relating to Confederate Prisoners of War, 1861-1865

Name: A K Harris
Side: Confederate
Roll: M598_67
Roll Title: Selected Records of the War Department Relating to Confederate Prisoners of War, 1861-1865




In 1868, A. K. Harris signed a Union County, SC Clerk of Court Deed Lien with his father, F. M. Harris. The lien was “upon Two Mules One Wagon & farming implements and the Ensuing Crop which may be made during the present year...”

1870 U.S. Census of Pickney, Union County, South Carolina; Roll: M593_1510; Page: 504B; Image: 364; Family History Library Film: 553009, Lines 34-40, "F.M. Harris"
F.M. Harris, 60 yrs old (DOB 1810), M(ale), W(hite), Farmer, $1,000 Real Estate Value, $400 Personal Estate Value, Born in SC
Gustianna Harris (sic, should be Augusta Ann Harris), 57 yrs old (DOB 1873), F, W, Born in SC
Cornelia Harris, 39 yrs old (DOB 1831), F, W, Born in SC
Eugenia Harris, 24 yrs old (DOB 1846), F, W, Born in SC
Anderson Harris, 21 yrs old (DOB 1869), M, W, Born in SC
Havanna Harris, 17 yrs old (DOB 1853), F, W, Born in SC
Gamewell Harris, 16 yrs old (DOB 1854), M, W, Born in SC
Thomas Harris, 18 yrs old (DOB 1852), M, W, Born in SC
Mary Harris, 16 yrs old (DOB 1854), F, W, Born in SC

A.K. married Sallie Austin (aka Sarah "Sallie" Austen) (DOB 9/1847 in SC to John and Omie Austin) about 1874 (according to the 1900 U.S. Census). There was a set of twins named Willie and Ollie Harris living with them in the 1880 U.S. Census as his sons. But their births were 3/3/1870. Were they by another woman with A.K. Harris or were they the children of A.K. and Sallie Austin Harris? Did the 1900 census have their marriage year incorrect? I've certainly seen that often enough. Ollie doesn't have a death certificate as he died in 1913. Willie's death certificate lists neither mother or father but Willie's Social Security Application and Claim lists his father as "Anderson C. Harris" and his mother as Molly Byers. Was Molly Byars married to A.K. Harris and perhaps died in childbirth? Or is this a mistake?

1) Oliver Ross "Ollie" Harris (DOB 3/3/1870 in Union County, SC; DOD 1/17/1913 in Union County, SC) married Annie Sinclair (DOB 9/30/1873 in SC; DOD 1/3/1939 in Union County, SC). They had:
.....A) William E. Harris (DOB 10/13/1891 in Union County, SC; DOD 1/8/1950 in Union County, SC) married 1st Emma Lee (Abt. 1897 in SC; DOD 7/29/1920 in Union County, SC of tuberculosis). They had William Daniel Harris (DOB 5/22/1914 in Union County, SC; DOD 3/28/1933 in Union County, SC of acute pyelonephritis due to accidental injury to urinary organs while riding horse). He married 2nd Iris L. Craig (DOB 1/7/1902 in SC; DOD 2/14/1990 in Union County, SC). They had Miriam L. Harris, Bobby Harold Harris and Hugh M. Harris. Iris L. Craig was also married to Lonnie Morris. William E. Harris was a veteran of the Spanish American War according to his death certificate.
.....B) Alba Harris (DOB 6/19/1894 in Union County, SC; DOD 3/26/1968 in Union County, SC) married Lonnie Morris (DOB 8/2/1892 in Union County, SC; DOD 8/23/1983 in Union County, SC). They had Thad H. Morris and Robert Lonnie Morris. Lonnie Morris was also married to Iris L. Craig.
.....C) Anna Irene Harris (DOB 5/30/1896 in Union County, SC; DOD 1/16/1978 in Union County, SC) married Ben Clifford Ivey, Sr. (DOB 12/14/1894 in Union County, SC; DOD 7/1/1984 in Union County, SC). They had Arthur Hope Ivey, Leroy Roosevelt Ivey, Quinton Smith Ivey, Margaret Etrulia Ivey, Anna Lou Ivey, Ned Edsel Ivey, Ben Clifford Ivey, Jr., Rudell Ivey, Goldie Ivey, Barbara Jean Ivey.
.....D) Admiral George Dewey Harris (DOB 6/19/1898 in Union County, SC; DOD 2/16/1942 in Union County, SC) married Ella L. Crowder (DOB 10/24/1904 in SC; DOD 5/18/1930 in Union County, SC). They had Paul Harris, George Calvin Harris, Nancy Aline Harris.
.....E) James Hoyt Harris (DOB 7/8/1900 in Union County, SC; DOD 6/1978 in Union County, SC) married Della ? (DOB 1903 in SC; DOD ? in ? ).
.....F) Lillian Harris (DOB 9/28/1902 in Union County, SC; DOD 3/2/1988 in Union County, SC) married Walter Landrum Hewitt (DOB 1/27/1893 in SC; DOD 6/14/1957 in Union County, SC). They had James W. Hewitt, Roy E. Hewitt, Frank Millus Hewitt, Sr., Annie V. Hewitt, Patricia Dion Hewitt.
.....G) Mary Wallace Harris (DOB 11/4/1905 in Union County, SC; DOD 8/15/1987 in Union County, SC) married Willie Walton (DOB 8/28/1904 in VA; DOD 3/1977 in Union County, SC). They had Mary Elizabeth Walton (DOB 2/25/1927 in Union County, SC; DOD 1/1983 in ? ).


But Anderson had an affair with his brother's widow, Sarah Ann Bevill Harris. She became pregnant and they had:

1) Robert Jackson Harris (DOB 2/10/1872 in Union County, SC; DOD 12/20/1938 in Gaffney, Cherokee County, SC) married Elizabeth "Lizzie" Malicy Goforth (DOB 11/20/1868 in Union County, SC; DOD 3/12/1962 in Cherokee County, SC). Robert Jackson Harris' death certificate lists father as "Anderson C. Harris" and no mother. They had:
.....A) Magnolia "Nola" Harris (DOB 9/24/1893 in Union County, SC; DOD 7/21/1926 in Cherokee County, NC) married Arthur Steadman "Steadley" Mayfield (DOB 11/18/1876 in SC; DOD 4/7/1958 in Cherokee County, SC). They had Loye Wilson Mayfield, Sr., Lounette Mayfield, Robert Arthur Mayfield, Hayes Preston Mayfield.
.....B) Estelle Harris (DOB 10/1/1895 in Union County, SC; DOD 8/23/1913 in Cherokee County, SC) married Charles Arrowood (DOB Abt. 1891 in SC; DOD 7/5/1912 in Union County, SC of tuberculosis).
.....C) John Britten Harris (DOB 7/16/1897 in Cherokee County, SC; DOD 5/30/1963 in Gaffney, Cherokee County, SC) married Sudie Elma Morris (DOB 4/17/1894 in Cherokee County, SC; DOD 1/21/1976 in Cherokee County, SC). They had Azalee Harris, Frances Mary Harris Helen Harris, Wilma Harris Bobby Dean Harris, Corine Harris, Doris Harris.
.....D) William Butler Harris (DOB 8/22/1899 in SC; DOD 10/1/1992 in Cove, Polk County, AR) married Fred Woosley (DOB 10/31/1903 in KY; DOD 4/20/1960 in Louisville, Jefferson County, KY). They had James Robert Harris, William Bruce Harris, Kenneth Elmer Harris, Sr.
.....E) Major Lemon Harris (DOB 7/30/1901 in SC; DOD 2/26/1979 in Pacolet, Spartanburg County, SC) married Lillian Morris (DOB 9/25/1899 in SC; DOD 10/31/1982 in Cherokee County, SC). They had Victor Morris Harris, Lawrence Miller Harris, Herbert Wilkes Harris.
.....F) Carynee Harris (DOB 8/16/1905 in SC; DOD 11/20/1992 in Gaffney, Cherokee County, SC) married Neely Ott Lipsey (DOB 7/29/1904 in SC; DOD 11/30/1961 in Cherokee County, SC). They had Nellie Veree Lipsey, Charles Lipsey, Robert Paul Lipsey, Helen Bernard Lipsey, and Karen Lipsey.
.....G) Robert Boyce Harris (DOB 1/30/1909 in SC; DOD 2/5/1966 in ? ) married Orene Spencer (DOB 8/9/1912 in Gaffney, Cherokee County, SC; DOD 10/18/1999 in Gaffney, Cherokee County, SC). They had Jimmy W. Harris.
.....H) Herbert Paul Harris (DOB 8/30/1911 in SC; DOD 4/6/2002 in Gaffney, Cherokee County, SC) married Leila Hyatt (DOB 6/12/1908 in Union County, SC; DOD 2/8/1995 in Gaffney, Cherokee County, SC). They had Marjorie Paulette Harris.

1880 U.S. Census of Pinckney, Union County, South Carolina; Roll: 1242; Family History Film: 1255242; Page: 599D; Enumeration District: 158, Lines 24-39, "Mattie Harris", "George Harris", "Anderson Harris"
Mattie Harris, W(hite), M(ale), 71 yrs old (DOB 1809), Head, Married, Farmer, Born in SC, Both parents born in SC
Gusta A. Harris, W, F, 67 yrs old (DOB 1813), Wife, Married, Born in SC, Both parents born in SC
Havana Harris, W, F, 29 yrs old (DOB 1851), Daughter, Single, Born in SC, Both parents born in SC
Gamewell C. Harris, W, M, 27 yrs old (DOB 1853), Son, Single, Born in SC, Both parents born in SC
Sallie C. Harris, W, F, 17 yrs old (DOB 1863), Dil, Single, Born in SC, Both parents born in SC
E. Boyd Harris, W, M, 3 yrs old (DOB 1877), Grandson, Born in SC, Both parents born in SC
James M. Harris, W, M, 11/12 mos old (DOB 4/1879), Grandson, Born in SC, Both parents born in SC
William Fraser, W, M, 35 yrs old (DOB 1845), Son-in-law, Works in field, Born in SC, Both parents born in SC
Frances Fraser, W, F, 49 yrs old (DOB 1851), Daughter, Works in field, Born in SC, Both parents born in SC
George Harris, W, M, 24 yrs old (DOB 1856), Head, Married, Farmer, Born in SC, Both parents born in SC
Mary A. Harris, W, F, 21 yrs old (DOB 1859), Wife, Married, Born in SC, Both parents born in SC
Anderson Harris, W, M, 32 yrs old (DOB 1848), Head, Married, Farmer, Born in SC, Both parents born in SC
Sallie Harris, W, F, 32 yrs old (DOB 1848), Wife, Married, Born in SC, Both parents born in SC
Oliver R. Harris, W, M, 12 yrs old (DOB 1868), Son, Worsk in field, Born in SC, Both parents born in SC
Willie E. Harris, W, M, 12 yrs old (DOB 1868), Son, Works in field, Born in SC, Both parents born in SC

According to the Union County, SC Death Notices from Early Newspapers 1852-1914, compiled by Tommy Vaughn, pg 12, 9/27/1878 (Union Times), "Henry Smith, son of Newell Smith, was killed by Anderson Harris on a difficulty Wednesday AM last (9/18/1878) on Mount Tabor Rd." In issue of 6/20/1879Harris was found not guilty.

It seems that Anderson found Henry Smith teasing and making fun of James Marion and Sarah Bevill Harris' son, Joseph Oscar Harris. He demanded the man quit and he wouldn't, so Anderson hit the man with a pick ax killing him.

1900 U.S. Census of Main St, Union, Union County, South Carolina; Roll: T623_ 1544;Page: 30A; Enumeration District: 78, Lines 36-37, "A.K. Anderson"
A.K. Anderson, Head, W(hite), M(ale), Born Apr, 1847, 53 yrs old, Married, 26 yrs, Born in SC, Both parents born in SC, Carpenter, Rents home
Mrs. A.K. Anderson, Wife, W, F, Born Sept, 1847, 52 yrs old, Married, 26 yrs, Born in SC, Both parents born in SC

1910 U.S. Census of Glenn Springs, Spartanburg County, South Carolina; Roll: T624_1472; Page: 5B; Enumeration District: 79; Image: 658, Lines 76-77, "A.K. Harris"
A.K. Harris, Head, M(ale), W(hite), 62 yrs old (DOB 1848), 2nd marriage, Married 63 yrs (?), Born in SC, Both parents born in SC, Farmer of general farm
Sallie Harris, F, W, 63 yrs old (DOB 1849), 1st marriage, Married 63 yrs (?), 4 children with 2 still living, Born in SC, Both parents born in SC

1920 U.S. Census of Gist Bridge and Cidalia Rd, Union, Union County, South Carolina; Roll: T625_1713; Page: 1A; Enumeration District: 143; Image: 902, Lines 14-15, "Anderson C. Harriss" (sic)
Anderson C. Harriss, Head, Rents farm, M(ale), W(hite), 71 yrs old (DOB 1849), Married, Born in SC, Both parents born in SC, Farmer of general farm
Sara Harriss, Wife, F, W, 72 yrs old (DOB 1848), Married, Born in SC, Both parents born in SC

Anderson Kennedy Harris died 3/26/1928 and is buried at Wesley Chapel United Methodist Church, Union County, SC. At this time I don't know when Sallie Austin Harris died. It was after the 1920 U.S. Census but we can find no death certificate for her. I would assume she is buried with Anderson Harris at Wesley Chapel. Their graves are unmarked except by an Southern Iron Cross added later near other family members.

SC Death Certificate #5676, Registration District #4404, Registered #17, A.K. Harris, DOD 3/24/1928 in Catawba, York County, SC
Male, White, Married, DOB 4/1848 in SC, 80 yrs old
Occupation: Retired
Father: Mat Harris born in SC
Mother: (blank) born in (blank)
Informant: W.E. Harris (son), Rock Hill, York County, SC
DOD 3/24/1928 at 4am
Cause of death: Apoplexy
Contributing factors: chronic nephritis and endocarditis
Burial: 3/26/1928 in Wesley's Chapel, Union County, SC

I'm ready to start studying Revelation 17. I've been studying Revelation for about 2 years now. If you've missed any of my previous studies on them, click HERE.



Revelation 17:1-2 1 Then one of the seven angels with the seven bowls came and told me, “Come, I will show you the punishment of the great prostitute, who sits on many waters. 2 The kings of the earth were sexually immoral with her, and those who dwell on the earth were intoxicated with the wine of her immorality.”


Let's look at this verse in different translations:
King James Bible - KJV And there came one of the seven angels which had the seven vials, and talked with me, saying unto me, Come hither; I will shew unto thee the judgment of the great whore that sitteth upon many waters: With whom the kings of the earth have committed fornication, and the inhabitants of the earth have been made drunk with the wine of her fornication.

New Living Translation - NLT One of the seven angels who had poured out the seven bowls came over and spoke to me. "Come with me," he said, "and I will show you the judgment that is going to come on the great prostitute, who rules over many waters. The kings of the world have committed adultery with her, and the people who belong to this world have been made drunk by the wine of her immorality."

English Standard Version - ESV Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls came and said to me, “Come, I will show you the judgment of the great prostitute who is seated on many waters, with whom the kings of the earth have committed sexual immorality, and with the wine of whose sexual immorality the dwellers on earth have become drunk.”

Contemporary English Version - CEV One of the seven angels who had emptied the bowls came over and said to me, "Come on! I will show you how God will punish that shameless prostitute who sits on many oceans. Every king on earth has slept with her, and her shameless ways are like wine that has made everyone on earth drunk."

Good News Translation - GNT Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls came to me and said, "Come, and I will show you how the famous prostitute is to be punished, that great city that is built near many rivers. The kings of the earth practiced sexual immorality with her, and the people of the world became drunk from drinking the wine of her immorality."

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance

punishment = κρίμα (krima) = Noun - Accusative Neuter Singular
Strong's Greek 2917: From krino; a decision ('crime').

prostitute = πόρνης (pornēs) = Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular
Strong's Greek 4204: A prostitute; met: an idolatrous community. Feminine of pornos; a strumpet; figuratively, an idolater.

sits = καθημένης (kathēmenēs) = Verb - Present Participle Middle or Passive - Genitive Feminine Singular
Strong's Greek 2521: To sit, be seated, enthroned; I dwell, reside. From kata; and hemai; to sit down; figuratively, to remain, reside.

waters = ὑδάτων (hydatōn) = Noun - Genitive Neuter Plural
Strong's Greek 5204: Water. And genitive case, hudatos, etc. From the base of huetos; water literally or figuratively.

kings = βασιλεῖς (basileis) = Noun - Nominative Masculine Plural
Strong's Greek 935: A king, ruler, but in some passages clearly to be translated: emperor. Probably from basis; a sovereign.

were sexually immoral = ἐπόρνευσαν (eporneusan) = Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural
Strong's Greek 4203: To fornicate; met: I practice idolatry. From porne; to act the harlot, i.e. indulge unlawful lust, or practise idolatry.

were intoxicated = ἐμεθύσθησαν (emethysthēsan) = Verb - Aorist Indicative Passive - 3rd Person Plural
Strong's Greek 3182: To make drunk; pass: I become drunk. A prolonged form of methuo; to intoxicate.

immorality = πορνείας (porneias) = Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular
Strong's Greek 4202: Fornication, whoredom; met: idolatry. From porneuo; harlotry; figuratively, idolatry.


The Whore of Babylon


The city was built on the Euphrates river and divided in equal parts along its left and right banks, with steep embankments to contain the river's seasonal floods.




The town became part of a small independent city-state with the rise of the First Babylonian dynasty in the 19th century BC. After the Amorite king, Hammurabi, created a short-lived empire in the 18th century BC, he built Babylon up into a major city and declared himself its king, and southern Mesopotamia became known as Babylonia and Babylon eclipsed Nippur as its holy city. It has been estimated that Babylon was the largest city in the world c. 1770 – c. 1670 BC, and again c. 612 – c. 320 BC. It was perhaps the first city to reach a population above 200,000.

From 605 BC - 562 BC, Nebuchadnezzar II is king of Babylon. In 597 BC, King Nebuchadnezar II captures Jerusalem and deports the Jews to Babylonia between 597 BC - 587 BC. Nebuchadnezzar appointed Zedekiah to rule Judah. However, Zedekiah, against the prophet Jeremiah’s counsel, joined the Egyptians in a revolt in 589 BC. This resulted in Nebuchadnezzar’s return. The remaining Jews were deported, Jerusalem was burned, and the temple was destroyed in August of 587 or 586 BC (Jeremiah 52:1-30). It was under Nebuchadnezzar II’s reign that the city was renovated so that it covered 2,200 acres and had the most beautiful and impressive structures in all of Mesopotamia including the famous Hanging Gardens of Babylon.



Babylon is the setting for the ministry of the prophets Ezekiel and Daniel, who were both deportees from Judah. Daniel became a leader and royal advisor to the Babylonian and Persian Empires.

The Neo-Babylonian Empire continued after the death of Nebuchadnezzar II and Babylon continued to play an important role in the region under the rule of Nabonidus and his successor Belshazzar. In 539 BC the empire fell to the Persians under Cyrus the Great. After two hundred years, the Persian Empire fell to Alexander the Great in 331 BC. He ordered his men not to damage the buildings nor molest the inhabitants. After Alexander’s death at Babylon in 323 BC, his successors fought over his empire, carving it up and the residents of the city fled for their safety. By the time the Parthian Empire ruled the region in 141 BC Babylon was deserted and forgotten. The city steadily fell into ruin.

In the ancient times, Babylon was considered one of the most powerful empires of the world. The story of Babylon is woven throughout the Old Testament. She is in Genesis as “Babel”, the city were human beings decided build a tower to the heavens. In their pride and arrogance, they were mimicking satan and Adam/Eve's sin of pride and wanting to be God. They disobeyed God's command in Genesis 1:28 “Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth and subdue it; rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air and every creature that crawls upon the earth.”

Genesis 11:4 And they say, 'Give help, let us build for ourselves a city and tower, and its head in the heavens, and make for ourselves a name, lest we be scattered over the face of all the earth.'

Psalm 49:11-13 Their inward thought is, that their houses shall continue for ever, and their dwelling places to all generations; they call their lands after their own names.

Jeremiah 51:53 Even if Babylon should ascend to the heavens and fortify her lofty stronghold, the destroyers I send will come against her, declares the LORD.

Later Babylon becomes the empire that destroys Jerusalem, burns the Temple and forces the people of God into exile (called the Diaspora).

Babylon is mentioned from Genesis to Revelation, as it rises from its rebellious beginnings to become a symbol of the Antichrist’s evil world system. When God’s people required discipline, God used the Babylonian Empire to accomplish it, but He limited Judah’s captivity to 70 years (Jeremiah 25:11). Then, God promised to “punish the king of Babylon and his nation” (Jeremiah 25:12) “for all the wrong they have done in Zion” (Jeremiah 51:24). Ultimately, all evil will be judged, as symbolized by Babylon’s demise in Revelation 18:21: “The great city of Babylon will be thrown down, never to be found again.” - GotQuestions.org

Let's look at one of the often forgotten stories of pride in the Book of Daniel. King Nebuchadnezzar has a dream that disturbs him:

Daniel 4:4-8 4 I, Nebuchadnezzar, was at ease in my house and flourishing in my palace. 5 I had a dream, and it frightened me; while in my bed, the images and visions in my mind alarmed me. 6 So I issued a decree that all the wise men of Babylon be brought before me to interpret the dream for me. 7 When the magicians, enchanters, astrologers,a and diviners came in, I told them the dream, and they could not interpret it for me. 8 But at last, Daniel came into my presence (his name is Belteshazzar, after the name of my god, and the spirit of the holy gods is in him.) And I told him the dream...

Daniel interprets the dream for King Nebuchadnezzar:

Daniel 4:19-37 19 For a time, Daniel, who was also known as Belteshazzar, was perplexed, and his thoughts alarmed him. So the king said, “Belteshazzar, do not let the dream or its interpretation alarm you.”
“My lord,” replied Belteshazzar, “may the dream apply to those who hate you, and its interpretation to your enemies!
20 The tree you saw, which grew large and strong, whose top reached the sky and was visible to all the earth, 21 whose foliage was beautiful and its fruit abundant, providing food for all, under which the beasts of the field lived, and in whose branches the birds of the air nested— 22 you, O king, are that tree! For you have become great and strong; your greatness has grown to reach the sky, and your dominion extends to the ends of the earth.

23 And you, O king, saw a watcher, a holy one, coming down from heaven and saying:
‘Cut down the tree and destroy it,
but leave the stump with its roots in the ground,
with a band of iron and bronze around it,
in the tender grass of the field.
Let him be drenched with the dew of heaven,
and graze with the beasts of the field
till seven times pass him by.’

24 This is the interpretation, O king, and this is the decree that the Most High has issued against my lord the king: 25 You will be driven away from mankind, and your dwelling will be with the beasts of the field. You will feed on grass like cattle and be drenched with the dew of heaven, and seven times shall pass you by, until you acknowledge that the Most High is ruler over the kingdom of mankind, and He gives it to anyone He wishes.
26 As for the command to leave the stump of the tree with its roots, your kingdom will be restored to you as soon as you acknowledge that Heaven rules. 27 Therefore, may my advice be pleasing to you, O king. Break away from your sins by doing what is right, and from your iniquities by showing mercy to the oppressed. Perhaps there will be an extension of your prosperity.”

28 All this happened to King Nebuchadnezzar. 29 Twelve months later, as he was walking on the roof of the royal palace of Babylon, 30 the king exclaimed, “Is this not Babylon the Great, which I myself have built by the might of my power as a royal residence and for the glory of my majesty?”
31 While the words were still in the king’s mouth, a voice came from heaven: “It is decreed to you, King Nebuchadnezzar, that the kingdom has departed from you. 32 You will be driven away from mankind to live with the beasts of the field, and you will feed on grass like cattle. And seven times will pass you by, until you acknowledge that the Most High is ruler over the kingdom of men, and He gives it to anyone He wishes.”
33 At that moment the sentence against Nebuchadnezzar was fulfilled. He was driven away from mankind. He ate grass like cattle, and his body was drenched with the dew of heaven, until his hair grew like the feathers of an eagle and his nails like the claws of a bird.



34 But at the end of those days, I, Nebuchadnezzar, looked up to heaven, and my sanity was restored to me. Then I praised the Most High, and I honored and glorified Him who lives forever:
“For His dominion is an everlasting dominion,
and His kingdom endures from generation to generation.
35 All the peoples of the earth
are counted as nothing,
and He does as He pleases
with the army of heaven
and the peoples of the earth.
There is no one who can restrain His hand
or say to Him, ‘What have You done?’”
36 At the same time my sanity was restored to me, and my honor and splendor returned to me for the glory of my kingdom. My advisers and nobles sought me out, and I was restored to my throne, and surpassing greatness was added to me. 37 Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and exalt and glorify the King of heaven, for all His works are true, and all His ways are just. And those who walk in pride He is able to humble.

This story of pride and humility is so good that we should pay more attention to it.

Psalm 107:40 He pours contempt on the nobles and makes them wander a pathless wasteland.

Jeremiah 27:5 By My great power and outstretched arm, I made the earth and the men and beasts on the face of it, and I give it to whom I please.

God uses an ungodly kingdom as a tool, an instrument of punishment. He uses ungodly kings to further His cause and His plans. Despite the fact that these rulers are unbelievers, God can use them for His purposes. They may be totally unaware of God's plans and how God uses them to further His work. They may be atheists, or of some un-Christian religion. We must always remember that God is in control no matter who is at the top of the government. Nothing on this earth is out of God's control no matter what it looks like. God is always working to bring about His plans and purposes and it's always to the betterment of His Children. In this case, God used Babylon much as mothers used to use switches or fathers used their hand to spank their child. A loving parent doesn't beat their child out of rage. When that happens, the parents are out of control and nothing is gained but the pain of their children. That's child abuse and not what I'm talking about. A loving parent disciplines their child with a greater objective in mind. They don't spank for spanking's sake. They spank to control their children and teach them a better way.


Disciplining your children is not what you want to do. Nobody likes to sit their child in a corner for timeout, or take away their favorite things or spank them. It's hard on the parents to be consistent in discipline and they don't like being the heavy in the familial dynamics. The child will yell, "I hate you!" and it stabs a parent in the heart. Or the child will scream, "You're not the boss of me! I can do what I want! I can't wait until I can move out and never see you again! I wish you'd die!" and the parent, who has given all for their children, will feel the pain in their heart that is like no other. But, to successfully raise a child into a mature, responsible and emotionally healthy adult, some discipline is needed. It takes someone who is mature and who can control themselves to administer consistent, appropriate discipline to teach their children the correct way to behave, to learn and practice ethics and integrity, honesty and cooperation with others. Too many parents today do not know how to use discipline correctly or just don't want to bother. They are raising children who become dysfunctional adults. They don't have work ethics; they don't know how to have healthy relationships; they feel entitled and cannot function in the real world. It's very sad to see a generation of adults who cannot function in a healthy manner and cannot get along well with others. Those spoiled children will be unable to have a good marriage and healthy family life because they never learned how to share, to cooperate, to be honest and dependable, to work together towards common goals, etc. They are emotionally stunted. As long as someone caters to their every need and strokes their ego, that person is tolerated in a relationship. But as soon as real life intervenes, they can't cope. One day their bride wakes up with a terrific headache and snaps at her husband instead of making him breakfast and filling his bento box with all his favorites for lunch. When he gets home from work, she's still in bed with a sick headache, she looks terrible, there is no supper on the table and all she can do is moan. By now, spoiled rotten husband, is falling out of love with his bride. She's not catering to him, stroking his ego, making his every step easy, and she looks terrible. He's so focused on himself and his needs, that he doesn't do anything to help her and he's not going to put up with it very long. If you've been married very long, you know it's all about helping each other, working together, learning how to cooperate, adjusting your perspective and expectations, being able to adjust to life hits, being willing to give and take, be flexible. But for an emotionally stunted person, they can't do any of that and therefore cannot have a healthy friendship, marriage, father/child relationship, work relationship, etc. It's all about them and they simply see life as their own show.

Back to the Israelites. If you read the Old Testament in it's entirety, you see the beginning of God's relationship with His chosen people, the Jews (aka Hebrews, Israelites). You see their relationship go through ups and downs and how God is always pursuing them, wooing them, desiring a relationship with them. But you also see them running away from God, rebelling, going into idolatry, repenting, trying again, then back into running away from God, rebelling and idolatry. It's a terrible cycle but one we should understand as all human beings do this on an individual basis. It started with Adam and Eve.
We rebel against God. No matter how good He is to us, how much He has provided for us, how often He protects us... we run away from Him, rebel, put our fingers in our ears saying, "I don't want to hear from God...na, na, na, na, na."
Before we know it, we've pursued some idol into misery. If we keep it up, we'll end up eternally living in hell. That's not what God wants. He provided a way to escape Hell and spend eternity in Heaven with Him. But we have to want Him and we have to accept the sacrifice of His Son, Jesus Christ.

So throughout the Old Testament, we see God having to result to discipline and sometimes He had to use drastic discipline to try and rescue His people from the fate they are running to. God used Babylon as a tool of discipline. Now before you think God is too harsh to use an evil empire against Israel, let's remember that God knows every single individual and He knows the future because He lives outside of time. He, Jesus and the Holy Spirit planned every single human being that has, does, or will exist before the world began. He knows each one of us by name. He knows every cell of our body, every hair on our head, every thought we think and every word we say. He knows every experience we go through. He knows our days and the length of them. He also knows which ones will turn to Him and which ones never will. There is not one single person that is a throw away to God. But there are many who throw themselves away. We have free will and many choose to reject God every time He reaches out to them. They have a set number of days and the Holy Spirit works with each person during their days on this earth and tries to get them to repent and turn to God and accept Jesus Christ. God even put a seed of faith in each human being. If that seed is allowed the touch of the Holy Spirit, it will spring into life and faith will begin to grow. But so many, refuse to allow the Holy Spirit to work in their heart, they reject His touch to that seed of faith that would bring it to life. They run from God all their lives and curse Him with their last breath. God also knows those who will one day let the Holy Spirit in. He knows that person who will respond even if it's on their death bed, a last minute conversion. God will not allow a single one of us, who are God responders, to be lost. So, God allowed Babylon to invade Israel, kill and take into captivity the Jews. It seems harsh, but again, God knows each individual person and God knows when it's time to bring His Children home or when it's time, for those who stubbornly refuse Him, to let them go. If a faithful, God-follower was killed by a Babylonian soldier, God knew it was time for that person to come home where he will be greeted by a loving Father who has provided an eternity of bliss for His children. If a hard hearted, rebellious God-hater was killed by a Babylonia soldier, God knew that person was never going to accept Him as His Father and therefore was let go. It certainly wasn't for want of trying on God's part!

I learned that if someone got into an office that I didn't approve of, God was still in control. If my candidate didn't win President, Mayor, Governor, etc, God was still in control. He would work with the office holder but if the office holder rejected and refused God's moving in his personal life, God could still use him/her to do the things that God purposed in this world whether that person realized it or not. But for those in high office, you might re-read this story of King Nebuchadnezzar who tended to think too highly of himself. He basically said, "Look what I have accomplished!" and while the words were yet in his mouth, he lost his ever-lovin' mind (as we say in the South)! When we humans start looking around at our feathered nest and thinking how smart we are and what all we've done, we should remember that nothing comes to us unless it's through the Father so it is God we should be thanking.

It reminds me of an old 1965 movie with Jimmy Stewart called Shenandoah. Charlie Anderson (James Stewart) and his 6 sons Jacob, John, James, Nathan, Henry, and Boy (who is 16) run the family farm, while his daughter Jennie (Rosemary Forsyth) and daughter-in-law Ann (Katharine Ross) take care of the housework. The family has no slaves. Charlie Anderson attends church weekly and considers himself a "God fearing" man but he doesn't give God credit for anything. In his heart he blames God for taking his wife from him.
When they sit down to dinner and say the blessing, Charlie says, "Lord, we cleared this land, we plowed it, sowed it, and harvested. We cooked the harvest, it wouldn’t be here and we wouldn’t be eating it if we hadn’t done it all ourselves. We worked dog bone hard for every crumb and morsel, but we thank you just the same anyway Lord for this food we are about to eat. Amen." During the War of Northern Aggression, terrible times hit and they lose some of the family. By the end of the movie, Charlie has changed his outlook and now acknowledges God and His goodness. His cold heart of pride has turned into a heart of thanksgiving.

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.

Now, to get back to Revelation 17:1-2, who is the great prostitute that is going to be punished? It is Babylon which represents the world empire of evil that will be headed by the anti-Christ who is inspired and influenced by satan.

Revelation 17:1-2 1 Then one of the seven angels with the seven bowls came and told me, “Come, I will show you the punishment of the great prostitute, who sits on many waters. 2 The kings of the earth were sexually immoral with her, and those who dwell on the earth were intoxicated with the wine of her immorality.”

It says here that she "sits on many waters". This may refer to how Babylon actually straddled the Euphrates River. It may refer to a world empire who is strategically placed as a port city from which ships can come and go from and goods are distributed through this great port. If you've read my other studies on Revelation, you know that some believe this "world empire" was Rome. Some believe it refers to the Catholic church. Some believe it is Jerusalem, Israel, the Jews who rejected Christ. And others believe it is a future world empire led by the anti-Christ. This is my belief. I know it could be any, or all, of the above with the final fulfillment as the future one-world government that is coming in the end days. There are perfectly reasonable justifications for each of these views.

Why would this symbol be of a prostitute, a harlot, a whore? In the Old Testament prophetic books, God was married to the nation of Israel. He used marriage as a type of His relationship with His people. But when His people ran after other gods, idolatry, they were being unfaithful to Him and He likened it to a husband and wife and the wife has gone after other men, prostituting herself. God had chosen a people and He had made sure they were provided for and protected. They were treated gently and tenderly and given the best of everything. But instead of loving their God in return, they deserted Him time after time. They forgot God as their intimate first love. God sometimes even directed His prophets to act out, or live out, the relationship that God was experiencing with His chosen people. Let's look at some of the examples of this in the Old Testament.

Hosea
The book of Hosea is one of the twelve minor prophets in the Old Testament. The Talmud claims that he was the greatest prophet of his generation. The period of Hosea's ministry extended some sixty years and he was the only prophet of Israel of his time who left any written prophecy. "Hosea" means "salvation", or "He saves", or "He helps". Hosea had his prophetic ministry in Northern Israel (Samaria) of which he was a native during the 8th century BC. Sometimes he is know as a prophet of doom but he really tells a love story. God sends Hosea to Israel during King Jeroboam II's reign to admonish them of their wrongs in perpetual idol worship and dependence on outside nations. Hosea used his own experience as a symbolic representation of God and Israel. He married a woman named Gomer and had children with her. But she was unfaithful. His children's names represent God’s estrangement from Israel. They are prophetic of the fall of the ruling dynasty and the severed covenant with God. Even though Gomer ran away from Hosea, he loved her anyway and forgave her. Even though the people of Israel worshiped false gods, God continued to love them and did not abandon His covenant with them. He saw their unfaithfulness and it angered Him, but He always went after them to bring them back. He tried loving and wooing them just like a man in love.

Hosea 1:2-11 2 When the LORD first spoke to Hosea, He told him, “Go, take a prostitute as your wife and have children of adultery, because this land is flagrantly prostituting itself by departing from the LORD.” 3 So Hosea went and married Gomer daughter of Diblaim, and she conceived and bore him a son. 4 Then the LORD said to Hosea, “Name him Jezreel, for soon I will bring the bloodshed of Jezreel upon the house of Jehu, and I will put an end to the kingdom of Israel. 5 And on that day I will break the bow of Israel in the Valley of Jezreel.” 6 Gomer again conceived and gave birth to a daughter, and the LORD said to Hosea, “Name her Lo-ruhamah, for I will no longer have compassion on the house of Israel, that I should ever forgive them. 7 Yet I will have compassion on the house of Judah, and I will deliver them—not by bow or sword or war, not by horses and cavalry, but by the LORD their God.” 8 After she had weaned Lo-ruhamah, Gomer conceived and gave birth to a son. 9 And the LORD said, “Name him Lo-ammi, for you are not My people, and I am not your God. 10 Yet the number of the Israelites will be like the sand of the sea, which cannot be measured or numbered. And in the very place where it was said to them, ‘You are not My people,’ they will be called ‘sons of the living God.’ 11 Then the people of Judah and of Israel will be gathered together, and they will appoint for themselves one leader, and will go up out of the land. For great will be the day of Jezreel.

Hosea 2:2-5 2 Rebuke your mother, rebuke her, for she is not My wife, and I am not her husband. Let her remove the adultery from her face and the unfaithfulness from between her breasts. 3 Otherwise, I will strip her naked and expose her like the day of her birth. I will make her like a desert and turn her into a parched land, and I will let her die of thirst. 4 I will have no compassion on her children because they are the children of adultery. 5 For their mother has played the harlot and has conceived them in disgrace. For she thought, ‘I will go after my lovers, who give me bread and water, wool and linen, oil and drink.’

Hosea 2:14-17 (parenthesis mine) 14 “Therefore, behold, I will allure her and lead her to the wilderness, and speak to her tenderly. 15 There I will give back her vineyards and make the Valley of Achord into a gateway of hope. There she will respond as she did in the days of her youth, as in the day she came up out of Egypt. 16 In that day,” declares the LORD, “you will call Me ‘my husband,’ and no longer call Me ‘my Master.’ 17 For I will remove from her lips the names of the Baals (idols); no longer will their names be invoked.


Isaiah 62:4-5 (parenthesis are definitions from Strong's Exhaustive Concordance) 4 No longer will you be called Forsaken, nor your land named Desolate; but you will be called Hephzibah ('my delight is in her'), and your land Beulah (To be master, to marry); for the LORD will take delight in you, and your land will be His bride. 5 For as a young man marries a young woman, so your sons will marry you; and as a groom rejoices over his bride, so your God will rejoice over you.

Psalm 45:10-11 10 Listen, O daughter, observe and incline your ear: Forget your people and your father’s house, 11 and the king will desire your beauty; bow to him, for he is your lord.

Jeremiah 3:14, 19-20 Turn, O backsliding children, saith the LORD; for I am married unto you: and I will take you one of a city, and two of a family, and I will bring you to Zion:... 19 “I myself said,“ ‘How gladly would I treat you like my children and give you a pleasant land,
the most beautiful inheritance of any nation.’
I thought you would call me ‘Father’
and not turn away from following me.
20 But like a woman unfaithful to her husband,
so you, Israel, have been unfaithful to me,”

Ezekiel 16:1-34 1 Then another message came to me from the LORD: 2 “Son of man, confront Jerusalem with her detestable sins. 3 Give her this message from the Sovereign LORD: You are nothing but a Canaanite! Your father was an Amorite and your mother a Hittite. 4 On the day you were born, no one cared about you. Your umbilical cord was not cut, and you were never washed, rubbed with salt, and wrapped in cloth. 5 No one had the slightest interest in you; no one pitied you or cared for you. On the day you were born, you were unwanted, dumped in a field and left to die.
6 “But I came by and saw you there, helplessly kicking about in your own blood. As you lay there, I said, ‘Live!’ 7 And I helped you to thrive like a plant in the field. You grew up and became a beautiful jewel. Your breasts became full, and your body hair grew, but you were still naked. 8 And when I passed by again, I saw that you were old enough for love. So I wrapped my cloak around you to cover your nakedness and declared my marriage vows. I made a covenant with you, says the Sovereign LORD, and you became mine.
9 “Then I bathed you and washed off your blood, and I rubbed fragrant oils into your skin. 10 I gave you expensive clothing of fine linen and silk, beautifully embroidered, and sandals made of fine goatskin leather. 11 I gave you lovely jewelry, bracelets, beautiful necklaces, 12 a ring for your nose, earrings for your ears, and a lovely crown for your head. 13 And so you were adorned with gold and silver. Your clothes were made of fine linen and were beautifully embroidered. You ate the finest foods—choice flour, honey, and olive oil—and became more beautiful than ever. You looked like a queen, and so you were! 14 Your fame soon spread throughout the world because of your beauty. I dressed you in my splendor and perfected your beauty, says the Sovereign LORD.
15 “But you thought your fame and beauty were your own. So you gave yourself as a prostitute to every man who came along. Your beauty was theirs for the asking. 16 You used the lovely things I gave you to make shrines for idols, where you played the prostitute. Unbelievable! How could such a thing ever happen? 17 You took the very jewels and gold and silver ornaments I had given you and made statues of men and worshiped them. This is adultery against me! 18 You used the beautifully embroidered clothes I gave you to dress your idols. Then you used my special oil and my incense to worship them. 19 Imagine it! You set before them as a sacrifice the choice flour, olive oil, and honey I had given you, says the Sovereign LORD.
20 “Then you took your sons and daughters—the children you had borne to me—and sacrificed them to your gods. Was your prostitution not enough? 21 Must you also slaughter my children by sacrificing them to idols? 22 In all your years of adultery and detestable sin, you have not once remembered the days long ago when you lay naked in a field, kicking about in your own blood.
23 “What sorrow awaits you, says the Sovereign LORD. In addition to all your other wickedness, 24 you built a pagan shrine and put altars to idols in every town square. 25 On every street corner you defiled your beauty, offering your body to every passerby in an endless stream of prostitution. 26 Then you added lustful Egypt to your lovers, provoking my anger with your increasing promiscuity. 27 That is why I struck you with my fist and reduced your boundaries. I handed you over to your enemies, the Philistines, and even they were shocked by your lewd conduct. 28 You have prostituted yourself with the Assyrians, too. It seems you can never find enough new lovers! And after your prostitution there, you still were not satisfied. 29 You added to your lovers by embracing Babylonia,a the land of merchants, but you still weren’t satisfied.
30 “What a sick heart you have, says the Sovereign LORD, to do such things as these, acting like a shameless prostitute. 31 You build your pagan shrines on every street corner and your altars to idols in every square. In fact, you have been worse than a prostitute, so eager for sin that you have not even demanded payment. 32 Yes, you are an adulterous wife who takes in strangers instead of her own husband. 33 Prostitutes charge for their services—but not you! You give gifts to your lovers, bribing them to come and have sex with you. 34 So you are the opposite of other prostitutes. You pay your lovers instead of their paying you!

Jeremiah 31:31-32 31 “The day is coming,” says the LORD, “when I will make a new covenant with the people of Israel and Judah. 32 This covenant will not be like the one I made with their ancestors when I took them by the hand and brought them out of the land of Egypt. They broke that covenant, though I loved them as a husband loves his wife,” says the LORD.


The book called the Song of Solomon or Song of Songs is a love poem supposedly written by King Solomon. It celebrates sexual love and intimacy. The two are in harmony, each desiring the other and rejoicing in intimacy. The literal subject of the Song of Songs is love and sexual longing between a man and a woman. The Song is evidence of God's love for his people. The same love and intimacy is what God wants with His people (in the Old Testament they were the Jews, but with the New Testament believing Gentiles, the true Church, were adopted through Jesus Christ and are also God's people). God is the bridegroom who desires His bride (His people) and she is also in love. They can't get enough of each other and they give each other everything they have in love. They desire each other's company and think about each other all the time just like a man and woman in love. This book not only gives us a godly perspective on love between a man and a woman but a type of the relationship between Christ and the church. Although you hear the bridegroom's words and the words of the audience of the women of Jerusalem, the bride's voice is most prominent. It is the woman's voice that begins and ends the book. Song of Solomon 1:2 begins with her desire for her beloved, “Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth!” The poem ends with her calling out to her beloved, “Make haste, my beloved, and be like a gazelle or a young stag on the mountains of spices” (Song of Solomon 8:14). "Divine wisdom makes it plain that a healthy romantic relationship will be one in which the woman’s voice is cultivated, heard, and fully considered". - James L. Harvey III (DMin, Erskine Seminary)

So we've looked a little bit at how God used the institution of marriage to be a type, or example, of our relationship with our God. Let's look at the New Testament where Jesus is described as the Bridegroom and the Church as the Bride of Christ.

Ephesians 5:22-32 25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave Himself up for her 26 to sanctify her, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, 27 and to present her to Himself as a glorious church, without stain or wrinkle or any such blemish, but holy and blameless. 28 In the same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. 29 Indeed, no one ever hated his own body, but he nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ does the church. 30 For we are members of His body. 31 “For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.” 32 This mystery is profound, but I am speaking about Christ and the church.

2 Corinthians 11:2 I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy. For I promised you to one husband, to present you as a pure virgin to Christ.

Jesus was both the Son of God and the Son of Man, both 100% God and 100% man. This is why He is pure, sinless. We are born in sin and live in sin. He was born pure and lived pure. Therefore He was the only human (because He was also God) who could make the sacrifice for our sins. He could take our place and take our punishment setting us free from sin and death! He was the perfect, blameless, spotless Lamb of God, the sacrificial lamb who blood washed us clean from all sin, past, present and future.

Matthew 1:23 Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.

John 1:1,14 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God... 14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

John 10:30 "I and my Father are one."

John 14:9-11 9 Jesus answered: “Don’t you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? 10 Don’t you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me? The words I say to you I do not speak on my own authority. Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work. 11 Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or at least believe on the evidence of the works themselves."

John 1:29 The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.

Matthew 9:14-15 14 One day the disciples of John the Baptist came to Jesus and asked him, “Why don’t your disciples fast like we do and the Pharisees do?” 15 Jesus replied, “Do wedding guests mourn while celebrating with the groom? Of course not. But someday the groom will be taken away from them, and then they will fast."

John 3:27-36 (parenthesis mine) 27 John(John the Baptist) replied, “No one can receive anything unless God gives it from heaven. 28 You yourselves know how plainly I told you, ‘I am not the Messiah. I am only here to prepare the way for him.’ 29 It is the bridegroom who marries the bride, and the best man is simply glad to stand with him and hear his vows. Therefore, I am filled with joy at his success. 30 He must become greater and greater, and I must become less and less. 31 He has come from above and is greater than anyone else. We are of the earth, and we speak of earthly things, but he has come from heaven and is greater than anyone else. 32 He testifies about what he has seen and heard, but how few believe what he tells them! 33 Anyone who accepts his testimony can affirm that God is true. 34 For he is sent by God. He speaks God’s words, for God gives him the Spirit without limit. 35 The Father loves his Son and has put everything into his hands. 36 And anyone who believes in God’s Son has eternal life. Anyone who doesn’t obey the Son will never experience eternal life but remains under God’s angry judgment.”

Jesus Christ was God in the flesh and is also a man. These verses we just read tell us and that Jesus is the Lamb of God and the Bridegroom. To be a Bridegroom, you have to have a Bride and with a Bridegroom and Bride there will be a marriage, a wedding. The trinity is the perfect union and unity of the three God-heads, three in one of Father, Son and Holy Ghost. They are God as one God, but they are also a triune. But they work together in such harmony and unity that One is never less than the other Two. Jesus is the Son but He represented the Father and, in all things, He never deviated from the Father. The Holy Spirit that lives in us now is in such harmony with the Father and Son that what the Spirit teaches and tells us about God is from God. He reveals the Father and Son to us. The trinity is a difficult concept for humans and we won't ever really understand it until we see it worked out in front of our eyes in Heaven. There are three distinct persons of the God-head, yet they are in total agreement and unity so that they are also One. God is the Groom, the people He institutes a covenant with are the bride. The Bride is the people of God. Christians see marriage as a sacred sacrament because human marriage represents God's desired relationship with His people. We aren't just promising (before God and men as witnesses) to marry and stay faithful to this spouse, we are acting out, in real life, what God intends in His relationship with His people. When our marriages end in divorce, we are not only breaking our promise to marry and be faithful to our spouse, but we are messing up the message of God's desired relationship with His people. A covenant is a sacred thing and a marriage is making a covenant just as God made a covenant with us. Thank You Lord, that You don't break the covenant even if we do!

So many brides and bridegrooms see their wedding as "their special day" and it's all about them. If you watch some of the wedding reality shows, it's so full of selfishness, pride, ego, immaturity that it's shameful. If you've been a bride-zilla and made everyone miserable, it doesn't matter how expensive your wedding dress was, what kind of limousine you rode up in, what kind of steak you served at the reception, how much you spent on a "perfect" wedding cake or what kind of engagement and wedding pictures you take... You've ruined the day with your own selfishness and pride. You may look glitzy and glamorous but everyone in the wedding party and family will know that behind the facade it's all rotten and stinks with pettiness, selfishness, arrogance and waste. And, can I be frank? Who would want to marry someone so spoiled rotten and selfish? Whether it's the bride or the bridegroom, who would want to shackle themselves for life to someone who is so hateful and inconsiderate of other people? Who wants to wake up next to someone every day for the rest of their lives when they saw such meanness? If I saw my prospective spouse making fun of guests or anyone in the wedding party I would run for the hills rather than shackle myself to them. If I saw them treat contractors and service people with contempt, rudeness and pettiness, I would walk out on them before they dragged me down the aisle. If I saw my prospective spouse go into hock to buy a wedding dress and put their parents in the poor house with their demands for a perfect wedding, there would be no wedding. If I saw my prospective husband be rude and intolerant of my family, I would keep looking. If a woman demands a diamond ring that is beyond your means, walk away. Because, buddy, if they treat their parents, friends, family, and businesses that bad, you can sure expect them to treat you the same way. You will not be exempt. They will try to control you, manipulate you, make unreasonable demands, have unrealistic expectations, and run you into the poor house to fulfill their every desire and whim. You don't really want to marry a spoiled rotten Mama's boy or a spoiled rotten Daddy's girl. And when your marriage inevitably ends, they will try to take you to the cleaners. Mostly what I've been talking about are those who are spoiled and expect an exorbitant amount of money be spent on them for one day. But the other extreme is possible too. If you are obsessed with saving money, being thrifty to the extreme... you can be just as selfish as those who spent $5,000 on a dress they will never wear again. There was a tv reality show called Extreme Cheapskates that showed the extreme measures some people take to save money. In this case, money is just as much their god as the ones I was talking about who spent exorbitant amounts. They showed several people who were too cheap for their wedding. They ruined what could have been a nice day for their spouse, family and friends by overdoing the thrift and frugality. They humiliated their spouse by embarrassing them. They made their family and friends uncomfortable. They bargained down any service people or contractors and put them on the spot, taking advantage of them. Basically making a lifetime event into a cartoon. They just couldn't stop their self absorbed, selfish, greedy behavior. On one show a woman was so thrifty she made everyone pee in a bottle so she didn't "waste" water by flushing a commode and she timed her boyfriend's showers and turned off the hot water whether he was through or not. Control, greed and selfishness is not an attractive characteristic and I wouldn't want to be married to someone like that. The key to balance is in thinking of others as much as you think of yourself. "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you." The Golden Rule makes life bearable for all involved. Life is not the Sharon-show (me). If it's my wedding, I want to enjoy it and treat it as a lifetime event. But not to either extreme (wasteful spending or extreme thrift) and not to the hurt and discomfort of our guests. On the best day of your life, you don't want to reveal yourself at your worst. In our family, we've had the whole spectrum of frugal to, what I would call, extravagant (although not so much as you see on TV) weddings. But I can honestly say I personally have not seen the brides or grooms act unbecomingly in either case. I'm proud to say we've been balanced, kind and courteous no matter where we fell on the financial spectrum. The ones who had more extravagant weddings didn't demand it that way as far as I know. And they certainly didn't act ugly or selfishly. It just happened that either they, or their parents, had the money to do it. Parents offered it out of love and it was received in love. On the other hand, I was one of those who had to be frugal so we didn't put either sets of parents into financial debt. I waited on a diamond ring until 2 years after we were married. I used my mother's wedding dress and she handmade my cap and veil. My uncle took our pictures. We offered our guests sheet cake, punch, mints and nuts rather than a full meal. Flowers were kept to a minimum. I loved my husband (still do) and couldn't wait to marry him and so we worked within our budget to make it happen. We met and were married within 6 months and the only reason I waited that long was because I wanted to be 18. We were married about 3 weeks after I turned 18 yrs old. I was so in love I didn't want to spend another moment without him! We had a full complement of family and friends and we were very grateful that they joined us. Our vows were said solemnly and were meant. So I think, given our financial constraints, we did a nice wedding, a lifetime event, but carefully and courteously to everyone involved. I didn't want to ruin our day with any hurt feelings, conflict or controversy. Plus, I was very grateful to everyone who could share it with us and had even given us wedding gifts (we asked only for practical gifts, we didn't sign up for a registry and stuff) that we needed to start our new life together. One of our nieces had been in the Miss SC pageant. She had gotten to wear evening gowns and go through all the glamour of something like that. It was good lifetime experience and training for her (it was her first and only beauty pageants so she was not what you would think of as a "pageant girl"). I'm glad she got to have that experience. But when it came to her wedding, she was in love and wanted to get married right away (just like me). They lived away from our hometown while she was in college and he was in the Air Force and his family was large and lived about a 14 hour drive away (i.e. it would be very expensive for all of them to travel that far, I know they would have, but it was kind and courteous not to expect his family to do it). She met him there but she brought him home to meet the family and then notified us that they were just going to the courthouse to get married. We were all excited and waiting for her long distance call to say it was a done deal. So even though her wedding was "frugal" financially, she included us all in the plans and we had a celebratory family shower when they were able to come home next and I think his family did too when they got to go visit them. So, as I said, I can be proud of our family in the wedding department no matter on what scale it was. The girls have all been gracious and generous and the guys have all been responsible and courteous. All of them have exhibited a grateful and thankful heart. In fact, I guess that's why the bachelor and bride-zilla shows shock me so. I just can't imagine being so spoiled, selfish, discourteous, demanding and disrespectful of others in something that is supposed to be a lifetime event.

Now to get back to Christ as the Bridegroom and the church, God's people, as the Bride. God made a covenant with Abraham in Genesis 15.

Genesis 15 1 Some time later, the LORD spoke to Abram in a vision and said to him, “Do not be afraid, Abram, for I will protect you, and your reward will be great.”
2 But Abram replied, “O Sovereign LORD, what good are all your blessings when I don’t even have a son? Since you’ve given me no children, Eliezer of Damascus, a servant in my household, will inherit all my wealth. 3 You have given me no descendants of my own, so one of my servants will be my heir.”
4 Then the LORD said to him, “No, your servant will not be your heir, for you will have a son of your own who will be your heir.” 5 Then the LORD took Abram outside and said to him, “Look up into the sky and count the stars if you can. That’s how many descendants you will have!”
6 And Abram believed the LORD, and the LORD counted him as righteous because of his faith.
7 Then the LORD told him, “I am the LORD who brought you out of Ur of the Chaldeans to give you this land as your possession.”
8 But Abram replied, “O Sovereign LORD, how can I be sure that I will actually possess it?”
9 The LORD told him, “Bring me a three-year-old heifer, a three-year-old female goat, a three-year-old ram, a turtledove, and a young pigeon.” 10 So Abram presented all these to him and killed them. Then he cut each animal down the middle and laid the halves side by side; he did not, however, cut the birds in half. 11 Some vultures swooped down to eat the carcasses, but Abram chased them away.
12 As the sun was going down, Abram fell into a deep sleep, and a terrifying darkness came down over him. 13 Then the LORD said to Abram, “You can be sure that your descendants will be strangers in a foreign land, where they will be oppressed as slaves for 400 years. 14 But I will punish the nation that enslaves them, and in the end they will come away with great wealth. 15 (As for you, you will die in peace and be buried at a ripe old age.) 16 After four generations your descendants will return here to this land, for the sins of the Amorites do not yet warrant their destruction.”
17 After the sun went down and darkness fell, Abram saw a smoking firepot and a flaming torch pass between the halves of the carcasses. 18 So the LORD made a covenant with Abram that day and said, “I have given this land to your descendants, all the way from the border of Egypta to the great Euphrates River— 19 the land now occupied by the Kenites, Kenizzites, Kadmonites, 20 Hittites, Perizzites, Rephaites, 21 Amorites, Canaanites, Girgashites, and Jebusites.”

Notice I didn't say Abraham made the covenant but God initiated and made the covenant. It was God who initiated, instructed and fulfilled the covenant. In Genesis 15, God instructed Abram (later renamed Abraham) to sacrifice a three-year-old heifer, a three-year-old female goat, a three-year-old ram, a turtledove, and a young pigeon. After Abraham killed them, he was to cut them in half. Then it says Abram fell into a deep sleep. God appeared to him and made the covenant. In the covenant God promised Abram that he would have a son and from this son would come as many descendants as stars in the sky. He also promised to give the land to his descendants. There was nothing Abram did other than follow God's instructions. Man cannot approach God, cannot please God, because of our sin and our inability to cleanse ourselves of our sin. So God takes the initiative and does what we cannot do in order to have a relationship with His beloved people. This Old Testament covenant was a marriage between God and His chosen people, the Israelites. And it was a blood covenant. This was a type, and shadow, of the New Testament blood covenant, implemented by Jesus Christ. But in the New Covenant, Jesus is the lamb without spot or blemish. Did God nullify His covenant with the Jewish people in order to create the New Covenant? No. Israel was an unfaithful wife, running after idols again and again. But God was always faithful and always brought her back. There is always a remnant of the Jewish nation that will desire God and love Him. And it is those who repent and seek God whom God loves, forgives and will make sure they are included in the New Covenant. They must accept Jesus as the only Messiah and way to salvation. God knows who will and will not. Jesus came to fulfill the Old Covenant and God's Law and commandments. He was successful in this. He followed God's Law in spirit and truth. The only way He could do this, as a human, was to also be divine, Son of God and Son of Man. So we've completed the circle. The Old Covenant was the first marriage and was to a natural people. The New Covenant was made to a spiritual people. The first to a natural Nation and the last to a spiritual Nation.

Learning about how God uses marriage to portray the type of intimate relationship He wants with His people helps you understand why Christians consider marriage a sacrament. We should not be taking marriage lightly. Marriage was suppose to be a very solemn vow with witnesses. It's not just a piece of paper or a temporary situation, a contract that is easily broken in a divorce court. It's why Catholics don't approve of divorce and why Christians took it so seriously in the old days. Now, I realize not all marriages are healthy or safe. Unfortunately, we humans, and our sinful human natures, can make a marriage a living hell. But making it so easy to separate and divorce is the opposite extreme. We need a more balanced approach.

First, couples should realize how serious marriage is. It isn't just a big romantic wedding and flying off into La-La Land to be happy ever after. Too many young people seem to focus on the wedding and not the life afterwards. Serious counseling before the wedding is a very good idea. Not to ruin the romance but to make sure both are looking at things objectively and with a good understanding of required adjustments. Another thing is to be very careful about who you choose to marry. It shouldn't just be about attraction and romance. That's necessary but it's also about where they come from and what baggage they bring when they move in. By that I mean, how different are you from each other and those differences will have a lot to do with your marriage and family dynamics. I know perfectly well there are those who can overcome cultural differences, racial differences, religious differences, financial differences, philosophical differences. But those are the exceptions to the rule. The closer you are in your raising, the more common ground you will have. For instance, a Catholic marrying a Protestant. You have the same God but there are differences in how you approach religion in your life and it's very significant in how you will raise your children or what church you will attend. And if you marry outside your religion, it's even harder. For instance, if you are Jewish and you marry a Christian or a Hindu or a Muslim or an Atheist. Religion usually goes deeper than you realize and expecting the spouse to change to match your religion may be an unrealistic expectation and vice versa. Do NOT underestimate how religious differences can affect your marriage. Being from different races can affect your marriage. I know many people marry outside their race and it's worked. But many more do and it ended up in divorce court. You usually have a different outlook and mindset based on race that affects how you think and feel. Something that is offensive to one is not to another or vice versa. You may be setting yourself up for a fall. It's not because you don't love each other, it's just because, once the newness wears off and the rubber meets the road, you see things in a totally different way and you can't really understand each other. Same with cultural differences. For instance, I'm Southern American. If I met and fell in love with a Norwegian, although we are both white European extract we still come from totally different cultures. The culture shock for both might be too much to overcome. I don't think I could ever live in such cold and they probably would never be comfortable in a hot, humid environment like I'm used to. It's not just the environmental temperature. But, I never buy a sweater and they never buy a tank top. I never eat herring and they never eat salt and pepper catfish. I would be looking for a house with air conditioning and they would looking at a house with heat. It would be like that for every day decisions. It just might be too much to overcome. Then there are those with very different agendas. One may be very ambitious, on the go, loving adrenaline rushes or risking more than the other is comfortable with. Or maybe one is a workaholic and loves making money while the other is into simplifying and being laid back. How you look at money in your life could be a stumbling block. Does he know how to live within their budget or does he tend to overspend? Does she want to stay home with their children but he can't understand her sacrificing a good paying job to do something as worthless as raise the children? Does he like to save and plan for the future but she likes to spend from paycheck to paycheck? Did he come from a privileged and financially secure family and she comes from a modest background? Does he expect to have two incomes, two checking accounts and everything split down the middle but she looks at it as combined income to be spent in combined ways? Look carefully at how compatible you are in your approach to life. Again, I repeat, there are many examples of marriages that successfully overcome financial, racial, cultural and philosophical differences. I'm very aware of it. But I'm also very aware that there are many more that don't make it because of the overwhelming differences. So choose wisely. My husband and I have a lot in common and a lot of differences. The differences caused friction in our married life. I know everyone is different. You were raised one way and he was raised another, you lived one life and he lived another. But the more you have in common, the better chances you have. That being said, once you are married, learn to adjust and enjoy your own family dynamics. What works for you and your husband may not work for someone else. My parents never slept separately. They were married almost 62 years before Mother died and they slept together. But for us, we enjoy not only having separate beds but separate bedrooms. He snores and likes to watch TV programs that bore the hound out of me. I like my adjustable bed raised when I sleep so I can breath but he says it hurts his neck. I like to watch TV programs and work on my laptop and he doesn't like what I like to watch. He has to get up early to go to work and I'm usually up late tapping on my computer and watching TV. He couldn't get enough rest if he slept in the same room. Then I sleep late because I was up late. So he doesn't want to wake me up as he gets ready for work. I like having the dogs and cats sleeping with me, him not so much. So for many reasons, it works better for us to have separate rooms. That was something we eventually came to an agreement about. So what worked for my parents is one thing and what worked for us is another. Neither couple is right or wrong. It's what works. Some couples the wife has the better paying career and she wants to pursue it whereas the husband really enjoys being a professional parent. If they are happy with that and it works in their family, that's wonderful! For us it was the opposite. Stan had the better paying career and he loved the challenges and has a high work ethic that drives him. Me? All I ever wanted to be was a housewife, a good one. He didn't understand me and I didn't understand him. But we adjusted, compromised and shifted our expectations and now we value each other's contributions to our working marriage. We've finally come to the general agreement where each of us shines in our area of expertise and we appreciate each other.

If I could give any young couple advice, it's to be aware of your differences and be sure you can handle them before you walk down the aisle. If you aren't sure, wait. That doesn't mean you should wait and sleep together, live together as though you were married. God very specifically tells us that sexual intimacy should only be between husband and wife. My Mother used to tell me, "Why buy the cow when you can get the milk free?" Young people today are bombarded with sex and are told constantly that sex outside of marriage is fine. But it's really very stupid. If you give it out (and that's BOYS and GIRLS) you have devalued yourself. You are a treasure that should be treated with utmost respect. If the opposite sex is pressuring you, and you capitulate, you have let THEM dictate to you and thus have devalued yourself to yourself and others. You have allowed someone else to tell you what to do with your own body. You have allowed yourself to be used. And young men today seem to see girls as a public toilet to be used and flushed. They expect girls to satisfy them and then drop them and move on. And girls let the boys do it. That's what I don't understand. Girls, be real, you don't have to let men use you. You don't have to cater to a guy's worst perversion. You don't have to do anything that makes you uncomfortable. You can walk away. It doesn't matter what others may say as long as you still have your integrity and sense of value. You are a gem, a hidden treasure, a child of God. No one has the right to make you feel any less than that. Treat yourself as the valuable treasure you are. Don't let someone else disrespect you and treat you as a piece of garbage. And today, girls can be just as disrespectful of guys as guys are of girls. They put on the big come-on and then laugh at you when you don't respond to them. Let them laugh. They don't determine who you are or how you feel about yourself. Don't give in to them and don't let them rob you of your value. If you put out easily, then why should they take on any responsibilities? If a fellow can get what he wants from you for nothing, why should he take on the responsibility of a wife? If a girl can get what she wants from a guy, why should she take on the responsibility of a husband? You become just a cheap trinket that lasts only as long as they see glitter and then they toss you aside. God's way is the best way and brings a better chance of they kind of love and relationship that we all long for deep inside.

Sometimes I think if you made a list of all the things that can ruin someone's life, some people go down the list like it's a "bucket list", checking things off. They are making themselves miserable with their own two hands. Life has enough lemons without us growing our own lemon trees. I can't help it if a tornado destroys my house. But I don't have to destroy my house with my own two hands. Let's look at some of the things I'm talking about.

When you do these things you are setting yourself up for life failures not life success. You don't have to do any of these things. God warns us not to. Not because He is a killjoy, but because you are hurting yourself and those who love you and are within your sphere of influence.

So God's idea of marriage is far better for all involved and we should strive to do what He prescribes as best. If you've already messed up, He forgives and you can start over with His help. There is nothing you can do that He can't forgive. Just ask Him and be set free!

So we know God loves His people and wants an intimate, loving relationship with us. He wants to be involved in our lives. We also know that no matter how many times we mess up, He loves us and comes after us to rescue us and draw us back into right relationship with Him. He forgives as soon as we realize and repent. We have only to call.

But the wife who leaves her loving and attentive husband for other men is unfaithful. She is not satisfied with her husband no matter what he does to prove his love for her. He provides for her, protects her, showers her with gifts and good things, he gives her his attention and treats her lovingly and tenderly. But it's never enough. She's leaving their bed to look out the window to see who is outside. She calls to the men in the street, catches their eye, waves at them. She leaves her husband and goes out to meet other men who make her excited for a short while. She likes feeling illicit and enticing. But it never lasts long so she goes looking for someone else. Before long life catches up to her. She has to have money to take care of herself and her needs and she has to prostitute herself. She has to have more money to make herself look good so men will want her. She has to buy high heels, diaphanous gowns or short skirts, heavy makeup, wigs. Before long even that isn't enough. She will be standing almost naked in the streets and men won't hardly glance at her. As she gets older and her lifestyle takes it's toll, she needs to spend more to try and keep her looks. She also finds that more and more she has to resort to perversions to keep men interested and coming back. The first time she pole dances may be exhilarating but the 50th time she's losing her luster and the 500th time she's just a hag humping a pole. She has no future and no money for a future. No man will be interested because she's given herself freely to any man. She's a used-up throwaway and she did it to herself. Please understand that I realize some girls, boys, young women/men are kidnapped, given drugs and used in human trafficking. They didn't have any choices. It was forced upon them. It's a sickening slavery that is evil to the core and it's not the victim's fault. I'm just following the analogy of the whore of Babylon.

So when we follow this thought, we see God's desire for a pure and holy marriage with His Bride. We also see that the "Bride" has often, through her own choices, run around on her Husband. The Husband goes searching for His Bride and tries to bring her back to safety and love. When she continually refuses, He must discipline her or risk her eternal loss. Eventually she repents and goes home. But she does it over and over again. Thank God, He is one who is ever faithful, there is no shadow of turning with Him. He is always there for us to cry out to and run to His arms. He loves us even though we are unfaithful. He forgives us every time we turn back to Him.

Therefore, in the Bible, when we see this whore of Babylon, this prostitute or harlot, we can begin to understand how the symbolism of marriage, and then of harlotry,  relates to God and His people. This Babylonian Empire was the largest world empire of the time. It had great riches and power. God used that empire as a tool to drive His people back to Him. But Babylon, as a whole, did not worship and serve the only true God, Jehovah. They had idols and idolatrous practices. Because they were so rich, powerful and impressive, all the world's leaders cozied up to Babylon to receive her favors (just like the prostitute). They became the crowd around the throne, the hangers-on, the posse. They were always trying to get something from the King of Babylon. They were making the power plays and politicking around the throne. Always jockeying for position and favors. Does that sound familiar? It should. Human beings have been doing it around kings, presidents, dictators, heads of state, religious leaders, rock stars, movie stars, tycoons and the rich since Adam and Eve left the garden. In fact, you can go all the way down to the lowest rungs and still find someone jockeying around trying to get noticed and climbing the ladder on the backs of others. So Babylon is symbolized as a prostitute because she is rich, attractive, impressive, powerful, influential. At her height, everyone wanted her and wanted to be like her. But she faded and now is a ruin in the desert. Because she symbolizes the world empire of Babylon, a godless and pagan nation of great wealth and power, she also symbolizes any grand world power that tries to bully their way onstage without God. Especially the last one, the one-world government of the anti-Christ and his idolatrous one-world religion. While he's at his height, everyone left in the world (except for those who are saved during the Great Tribulation) will desire what he offers. They will leave all thoughts of God and Christianity behind and lust after this powerful leader and his false prophet. They will find out too late that the whore of Babylon is really a pit of hell. They have invested everything, even their eternal spirits, into this harlot and been led by the nose into idolatry. As the old saying goes, "They sold their souls to the devil."

Lamentations 1:8-9 8 Jerusalem has sinned greatly and so has become unclean. All who honored her despise her, for they have all seen her naked; she herself groans and turns away. 9 Her uncleanness stains her skirts; she did not consider her end. Her downfall was astounding; there was no one to comfort her. Look, O LORD, on my affliction, for the enemy has triumphed!

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Revelation 17:3-4 3 So the angel took me in the Spirit into the wilderness. There I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast that had seven heads and ten horns, and blasphemies against God were written all over it. 4 The woman wore purple and scarlet clothing and beautiful jewelry made of gold and precious gems and pearls. In her hand she held a gold goblet full of obscenities and the impurities of her immorality.

In our past study of Revelation chapters we found a beast like this mentioned before. You can go back and look at my studies on these chapters.

Revelation 12:3 Then another sign appeared in heaven: a huge red dragon with seven heads, ten horns, and seven royal crowns on his heads.

Revelation 13:1-2 1 Then I saw a beast with ten horns and seven heads rising out of the sea. There were ten royal crowns on its horns and blasphemous names on its heads. 2 The beast I saw was like a leopard, with the feet of a bear and the mouth of a lion. And the dragon gave the beast his power and throne and great authority.

Suffice it to say that the beast probably represents a bunch of nations being subsumed by one more powerful nation and the final fulfillment is the government of the anti-Christ and his false prophet, influenced and led by satan. The woman may represent the one-world religion that the anti-Christ and his false prophet institute. She rides on the back of the Beast, the world empire of the anti-Christ. She may represent a "religion" but is not a religion of the one true God. She has aligned herself with the anti-Christ and gives him and his government a spiritual "thumbs up". She has sold out her soul and merely pretends to be spiritual and religious. She only has the pomp and circumstance of religion but no true relationship with God.

The description of the woman has her:

• Wearing purple and scarlet clothing
• Wearing beautiful jewelry made of gold and precious gems and pearls
• Holding a gold goblet full of obscenities and the impurities of her immorality

For a little difference, let's look at Verse 4 in different translations:

Revelation 17:4 (New International Version - NIV) The woman was dressed in purple and scarlet, and was glittering with gold, precious stones and pearls. She held a golden cup in her hand, filled with abominable things and the filth of her adulteries.

(King James Version - KJV) And the woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet colour, and decked with gold and precious stones and pearls, having a golden cup in her hand full of abominations and filthiness of her fornication:

(English Standard Version - ESV) The woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet, and adorned with gold and jewels and pearls, holding in her hand a golden cup full of abominations and the impurities of her sexual immorality.

(Berean Literal Bible - BLB) And the woman was clothed in purple and scarlet, and adorned with gold and precious stone and pearls, holding a golden cup in her hand, being full of abominations and the impurity of her sexual immorality.

(Christian Standard Bible - CSB) The woman was dressed in purple and scarlet, adorned with gold, jewels, and pearls. She had a golden cup in her hand filled with everything detestable and with the impurities of her prostitution.

(Contemporary English Version - CEV) The woman was dressed in purple and scarlet robes, and she wore jewelry made of gold, precious stones, and pearls. In her hand she held a gold cup filled with the filthy and nasty things she had done.

(Jubilee Bible 2000 - JB2000) And the woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet colour and decked with gold and precious stones and pearls, having a golden cup in her hand full of abominations and of the filthiness of her fornication;

(Young's Literal Translation - YLT) and the woman was arrayed with purple and scarlet-colour, and gilded with gold, and precious stone, and pearls, having a golden cup in her hand full of abominations and uncleanness of her whoredom,

(New Living Translation - NLB) The woman wore purple and scarlet clothing and beautiful jewelry made of gold and precious gems and pearls. In her hand she held a gold goblet full of obscenities and the impurities of her immorality.

In Strong's Exhaustive Concordance:

adorned = κεχρυσωμένη (kechrysōmenē) = Verb - Perfect Participle Middle or Passive - Nominative Feminine Singular Strong's Greek 5558: To gild, adorn with gold. From chrusos; to gild, i.e. Bespangle with golden ornaments.
In the different translations, it's been translated as "arrayed", "dressed", "decked", "adorned", "wore", "gilded".

with gold = χρυσίῳ (chrysiō) = Noun - Dative Neuter Singular
Strong's Greek 5553: A piece of gold, golden ornament. Diminutive of chrusos; a golden article, i.e. Gold plating, ornament, or coin.
In the different translations, it's been translated as "gold", "jewelry made of gold".

of abominations = βδελυγμάτων (bdelygmatōn) = Noun - Genitive Neuter Plural
Strong's Greek 946: An abominable thing, an accursed thing. From bdelusso; a detestation, i.e. idolatry.
In the different translations, it's been translated as "abominations", "abominable things", "everything detestable", "filthy and nasty things" and "obscenities".

impurities = ἀκάθαρτα (akatharta) = Adjective - Accusative Neuter Plural
Strong's Greek 169: Unclean, impure. Impure (lewd) or specially, (demonic).
In the different translations, it's been translated as "impurities", "filth" and "filthiness", "uncleanness".

sexual immorality = πορνείας (porneias) = Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular
Strong's Greek 4202: Fornication, whoredom; met: idolatry. From porneuo; harlotry; figuratively, idolatry.
In the different translations, it's been translated as "sexual immorality", "adulteries", "fornication", "prostitution", "whoredom".

Jeremiah 51:6-7 6 Flee from Babylon; escape with your lives! Do not be destroyed in her punishment. For this is the time of the LORD’s vengeance; He will pay her what she deserves. 7 Babylon was a gold cup in the hand of the LORD, making the whole earth drunk. The nations drank her wine; therefore the nations have gone mad.

"Prosperity, pomp, and splendour, feed the pride and lusts of the human heart, but are no security against the Divine vengeance. The golden cup represents the allurements, and delusions, by which this mystical Babylon has obtained and kept her influence, and seduced others to join her abominations. She is named, from her infamous practices, a mother of harlots; training them up to idolatry and all sorts of wickedness. She filled herself with the blood of the saints and martyrs of Jesus. She intoxicated herself with it; and it was so pleasant to her, that she never was satisfied." - Matthew Henry Commentary

Ezra 9:10-12 10 “And now, O our God, what shall we say after this? For we have forsaken your commandments, 11 which you commanded by your servants the prophets, saying, ‘The land that you are entering, to take possession of it, is a land impure with the impurity of the peoples of the lands, with their abominations that have filled it from end to end with their uncleanness. 12 Therefore do not give your daughters to their sons, neither take their daughters for your sons, and never seek their peace or prosperity, that you may be strong and eat the good of the land and leave it for an inheritance to your children forever.’

When God brought the Israelites out of their slavery in Egypt, and after they wandered for 40 years in the wilderness, God leads them to the Promised Land. He tells them to go in and take the land which meant killing and displacing thousands of natives. Does that sound harsh to you? It did to me. It seemed to parallel the European colonists and explorers coming to the Americas and taking the land from the Native Americans. But when you look at Ezra 9, a reason is given: it "is a land impure with the impurity of the peoples of the lands, with their abominations that have filled it from end to end with their uncleanness."

The Canaanites were descendants of Noah's son Ham through Ham's son Canaan born after the Flood. Canaan was cursed because of his and his father’s sin against Noah (Genesis 9:20–25). In some passages, Canaanites specifically refers to the people of the lowlands and plains of Canaan (Joshua 11:3); in other passages, Canaanites is used more broadly to refer to all the inhabitants of the land, including the Hivites, Girgashites, Jebusites, Amorites, Hittites, and Perizzites. They were a wicked, idolatrous people. When Moses and the Israelites came to the Promised Land, he sent in 12 spies. Let's take a quick look at that story because it is fascinating!

Numbers 13:21-33, 25-32 21 So they went up and spied out the land from the wilderness of Zin as far as Rehob, toward Lebo-hamath. 22 They went up through the Negev and came to Hebron, where Ahiman, Sheshai, and Talmai, the descendants of Anak, dwelled. It had been built seven years before Zoan in Egypt.
23 When they came to the Valley of Eshcol, they cut down a branch with a single cluster of grapes, which they carried on a pole between two men. They also took some pomegranates and figs. 24 Because of the cluster of grapes the Israelites cut there, that place was called the Valley of Eshcol.
...
25 After forty days the men returned from spying out the land, 26 and they went back to Moses, Aaron, and the whole congregation of Israel in the Wilderness of Paran at Kadesh. They brought back a report for all the congregation and showed them the fruit of the land.
27 And they gave this account to Moses: “We went into the land to which you sent us, and indeed, it is flowing with milk and honey. Here is some of its fruit! 28 Nevertheless, the people living in the land are strong, and the cities are large and fortified. We even saw the descendants of Anak there. 29 The Amalekites live in the land of the Negev; the Hittites, Jebusites, and Amorites live in the hill country; and the Canaanites live by the sea and along the Jordan.”
30 Then Caleb quieted the people before Moses and said, “We must go up and take possession of the land, for we can certainly conquer it!”
31 But the men who had gone up with him replied, “We cannot go up against the people, for they are stronger than we are!”
32 So they gave the Israelites a bad report about the land they had spied out: “The land we explored devours its inhabitants, and all the people we saw there are great in stature. 33 We even saw the Nephilim there—the descendants of Anak that come from the Nephilim! We seemed like grasshoppers in our own sight, and we must have seemed the same to them!”


The Canaanites were giants and fierce warriors. The last verse has the spies saying there were "Nephilim", sons of "Anak" there. These were giants in the Bible. For my study of them on my blog go to Giants In The Bible. These were no innocent, peaceful tribes. The Nephilim were the result of human women and demons. The land was inhabited by the “Canaanites,” who were comprised of several different groups, one of which was “the Canaanites,” “Amorites”, “Hittites” and many others also mentioned. In the Bible, “Canaan” was one of the names used for the land; the inhabitants by default, were “Canaanites.”

Genesis 10:15-19 Canaan became the father of Sidon his firstborn, and Heth, and the Jebusites, the Amorites, the Girgashites, the Hivites, the Arkites, the Sinites, the Arvadites, the Zemarites, and the Hamathites. Afterward the families of the Canaanites spread abroad. And the territory of the Canaanites extended from Sidon, in the direction of Gerar, as far as Gaza, and in the direction of Sodom, Gomorrah, Admah, and Zeboiim, as far as Lasha

Genesis 15:18-21 On that day the Lord made a covenant with Abram, saying: To your descendants I give this land, from the river of Egypt to the great river, the river Euphrates; the land of the Kenites, the Kenizzites, the Kadmonites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Rephaim, the Amorites, the Canaanites, the Girgashites, and the Jebusites”

“Canaan” was the term for the land that became “the Land of Israel” while “the Amorites” was a term for the main group that inhabited the land before the conquest. “Amurru” literally means “west”. The peoples of Mesopotamia, called Amorites, are the people west of the Euphrates River all the way to the borders of Egypt. In religion, they worshiped many gods. The principal god was El. The jurisdiction over rainfall and fertility was delegated to Baal, or Hadad. Other important deities included Resheph, lord of plague and the nether world; Kothar, the divine craftsman; Asherah, consort of El; and Astarte, goddess of fertility. They committed human sacrifices, including child sacrifice. Women could serve as priestesses and fertility gods included "worshiping" with Temple prostitutes. The customs of the Canaanites in their idolatry, violence and immorality are why God would command the Israelites to go in and take the land and destroy it's inhabitants. He also commanded them not to intermarry with the land's prior inhabitants because, after marriage, they would then likely follow into their spouse's religion and begin worshiping idols and participating in the despicable practices of those idolatrous religions.

Deuteronomy 7:1-8 1 When the LORD your God brings you into the land you are entering to possess, and He drives out before you many nations—the Hittites, Girgashites, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites, seven nations larger and stronger than you— 2 and when the LORD your God has delivered them over to you to defeat them, then you must devote them to complete destruction.a Make no treaty with them and show them no mercy.
3 Do not intermarry with them. Do not give your daughters to their sons or take their daughters for your sons, 4 because they will turn your sons away from following Me to serve other gods. Then the anger of the LORD will burn against you, and He will swiftly destroy you.
5 Instead, this is what you are to do to them: tear down their altars, smash their sacred pillars, cut down their Asherah poles, and burn their idols in the fire. 6 For you are a people holy to the LORD your God. The LORD your God has chosen you to be a people for His prized possession, above all peoples on the face of the earth.
7 The LORD did not set His affection on you and choose you because you were more numerous than the other peoples, for you were the fewest of all peoples. 8 But because the LORD loved you and kept the oath He swore to your fathers, He brought you out with a mighty hand and redeemed you from the house of slavery, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt.

Deuteronomy 20:1-4, 10-18 When you go out to war against your enemies and see horses, chariots, and an army larger than yours, do not be afraid of them; for the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, is with you. 2 When you are about to go into battle, the priest is to come forward and address the army, 3 saying to them, “Hear, O Israel, today you are going into battle with your enemies. Do not be fainthearted or afraid; do not be alarmed or terrified because of them. 4 For the LORD your God is He who goes with you to fight for you against your enemies, to give you the victory.”...
10 When you approach a city to fight against it, you are to make an offer of peace. 11 If they accept your offer of peace and open their gates, all the people there will become forced laborers to serve you.
12 But if they refuse to make peace with you and wage war against you, lay siege to that city. 13 When the LORD your God has delivered it into your hands, you must strike down every male with the sword. 14 But the women, children, livestock, and whatever else is in the city—all its spoil—you may take as plunder, and you shall use the spoil of your enemies that the LORD your God gives you. 15 This is how you are to treat all the cities that are far away from you and do not belong to the nations nearby.
16 However, in the cities of the nations that the LORD your God is giving you as an inheritance, you must not leave alive anything that breathes. 17 For you must devote them to complete destructiona —the Hittites, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites—as the LORD your God has commanded you, 18 so that they cannot teach you to do all the detestable things they do for their gods and cause you to sin against the LORD your God.

The New Living Bible - NLB - paraphrases verses 15-16 15 “But these instructions apply only to distant towns, not to the towns of the nations in the land you will enter. 16 In those towns that the LORD your God is giving you as a special possession, destroy every living thing."

Did Joshua and the Israelites drive out or kill every inhabitant of the land? NO! They disobeyed God's commandment:

Judges 2:1-3 1 The angel of the LORD went up from Gilgal to Bokim and said to the Israelites, “I brought you out of Egypt into this land that I swore to give your ancestors, and I said I would never break my covenant with you. 2 For your part, you were not to make any covenants with the people living in this land; instead, you were to destroy their altars. But you disobeyed my command. Why did you do this? 3 So now I declare that I will no longer drive out the people living in your land. They will be thorns in your sides,a and their gods will be a constant temptation to you.”

Judges 3:1-6,10-18 1 These are the nations the LORD left to test all the Israelites who had not known any of the wars in Canaan, 2 if only to teach warfare to the subsequent generations of Israel, especially to those who had not known it formerly: 3 the five rulers of the Philistines, all the Canaanites, the Sidonians, and the Hivites who lived in the mountains of Lebanon from Mount Baal-hermon to Lebo-hamath. 4 These nations were left to test the Israelites, to find out whether they would keep the commandments of the LORD, which He had given their fathers through Moses. 5 Thus the Israelites continued to live among the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites. 6 And they took the daughters of these people in marriage, gave their own daughters to their sons, and served their gods.

Let's stop and look at an important issue here. Some people look at God's command to kill every inhabitant of the land of Canaan as mass genocide and because of this they can't trust a God who orders genocide and murder. What kind of God commands the Israelites to kill every man, woman, and child in order to take their land? In today's environment, many are promoting guilt over how the Europeans came and took the land from the Native Americans and killed them for it. My comment on that is sin. The Native Americans were sinners as were the Europeans. We all are and conquest, war, death, destruction are the results of sin. Mankind has made war and conquest since Cain murdered Abel. There are no human beings, clans, tribes, nations, empires that aren't built without war, death and destruction. And someone always loses. When they had the chance, the Native Americans also killed, made war, destroyed, kidnapped, scalped, and some had religions based on mass human sacrifices and genocide. The Native Americans were no more peaceful than any other human group. They are no more innocent than the Europeans. They were human beings with a sin problem just like the Europeans, Asians, Blacks, Indians, etc. We are all sinners. As far as the diseases? Disease is no respecter of persons. The same plagues and diseases that had wiped out millions of people in Europe, came over with the explorers and had it's way. That's all there was to it. There were those who died and those who survived just like in Europe. They didn't know anything about germs, viruses, bacteria, medical and scientific things so it wasn't like they planned on using a plague to kill the Native Americans. They didn't know they carried it with them. And whoever showed up on the far shore, even if they had come to bring peace and light, could have carried the diseases with them.

But let's get back to God ordering the Israelites to commit genocide. If you don't know the entire Bible and you don't know God, then this seems harsh and unforgivable. I know God and I know how loving and merciful He is because He sent His own Son, Jesus Christ, to save me even though I was just as much a despicable sinner as everyone else. I was a "deplorable" in the literal sense. I'm no more special than Joe Blow or Jane Doe. Knowing we were sinners and rightly deserved an eternity of Hell, God still loved us and sent His Son to die for us so we could be saved. Every sinner has the chance to accept Jesus Christ and be forgiven and go to Heaven. It's just a matter of accepting Jesus.

So you can't tell me that God is cruel, vicious, or evil when He has done everything to bring us safely to Him in love. Why then did He order the mass murder of the inhabitants of the Promised Land?

If you read the entire Bible you begin to see how loving, merciful and just God is. He didn't have to save anyone; He didn't have to bless anyone; He had no obligation to protect and provide for anyone. But He did. From Adam to the last man on earth, God has done the reaching out. He has been the one initiating a reconciliation in love. He's the one who has warned and wooed to try and draw all to Him. He sent prophets to warn, He's given His Word so that we may know. If people choose not to read His Word, not to listen to those whom He sends, including His Son, then it's their fault and not His.

All mankind descended from Adam and Eve and God had an intimate, loving relationship with them before they sinned. They knew God, communed with Him. They weren't ignorant of what a relationship with God could be like because they had experienced it. After they sinned, God provided a blood sacrifice for them. He killed animals in order to "cover" them with animal skins. So when Cain and Abel worshiped God by bringing gifts, they both knew that a blood sacrifice was the correct way to approach God because of their sin. But Cain disobeyed God and tried to approach God with what he wanted to bring, not what was required. I.e., he was doing just what satan and his parents did. They tried to do things their way instead of God's way, they wanted to be in charge, in control. They wanted to be god. But even though Cain knowingly and willingly made this mistake, God patiently and lovingly corrected him and warned him.

Genesis 4:3-7 3 In the course of time Cain brought some of the fruits of the soil as an offering to the Lord. 4 And Abel also brought an offering—fat portions from some of the firstborn of his flock. The Lord looked with favor on Abel and his offering, 5 but on Cain and his offering he did not look with favor. So Cain was very angry, and his face was downcast. 6 Then the Lord said to Cain, “Why are you angry? Why is your face downcast? 7 If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must rule over it.”

Cain did not accept God's instruction and refused to take the warning. Sound familiar? We all do it. We want to be god and we want to do everything our way and be in control. We want to be not only our own god, but we want to be god over everyone else too. If everyone would only do what we tell them to do, everything would be hunky dory. We want everyone to do what we say. They should have the same hairstyle we have, wear the same clothes we do, vote the way we vote, join the same political party, sing the same songs, etc. If they aren't mini-mes, there is something wrong with them.

God wants us to realize and live in the truth. The truth is we cannot be god. We weren't created to be god and do not have the capacities to do the job of God. For instance, we can't read someone's unspoken thoughts nor do we know the secrets of their hearts. In fact, there is so much information that we don't have, our decisions and choices could be detrimental and deadly. We can't trust ourselves or anyone else because we don't have all the information and, if we did, our brains couldn't process all the information to make the right decision. It's an impossibility. I believe if all God's wisdom, knowledge and information suddenly flooded into my physical brain, it would probably just explode. I cannot physically or emotionally handle it and wouldn't want the responsibility that comes with the job. So why do I still want to be god?

So God is doing me a favor in teaching me this truth. He's not busting my balloon, He's just keeping me real. If I can't do the job, who can? Of course, God can. And He's telling me to trust Him to do it and do it correctly and in the right time. The greatest thing I can learn is to let go and let God. God is uniquely qualified and has the power to do all things. And He does all things in love. He doesn't do something to torture someone or for any evil purpose. He does all things in love. We can trust Him. He's not out to get us. Now, bad things do happen to His people. Does that mean He's deliberately torturing us or trying to rain on our parade? No. Sin is in the world and it is in the world due to choices Adam and Eve made. Because of sin, we all are born in sin and have the desire to sin. So illness and death come from sin. When God created the world and the first man and woman, there was no illness or death. Sinful people do sinful things that affect us. God didn't want anyone to kill, rape, abuse, molest, torture, kidnap... those are choices that sinful people made. But, if we trust God, He can take all things and use them to make us better rather than worse. And the worst case scenario for a Christian is that we die and what does that mean? We go to Heaven to spend eternity in bliss! We will never again experience pain, death, sorrow, separation, etc.

So why did God command the Israelites to kill the Canaanites? Those people did know the real God. They could have chosen God at any point in their personal histories or their national histories. They could have chosen God and His ways but they, as a nation, didn't. Now, let's say one family in Canaan did desire the true God, were drawn to Him and reached out to trust Him. God would not let that family down. He would have sent them on a trip or led them to move from that land so they were protected. Or He would have led them into the camp of the Israelites to ask them for protection and to convert from the religion of their people. And, worst case scenario again, if they were killed, God would take them to Heaven. God never abandons His true People! But, as a nation, these groups of people rejected God and pursued idols that justified their worst inclinations. They committed human sacrifice (murder) even to child sacrifices. Yes, they would sacrifice their innocent children in order to get something from their gods. They believed their life was ruined if they didn't sacrifice their children. Sounds a little selfish doesn't it. Godly parents would sacrifice for their children, not sacrifice their children for themselves. It also reminds me of abortion. Women sacrificing their children to make their own lives easier. They think a child will ruin their lives so they sacrifice that unborn baby in order to save themselves any inconvenience, pain, suffering, etc. Moloch is the biblical name of a Canaanite god associated with child sacrifice. The name of this deity is also sometimes spelled Molech, Milcom, or Malcam. Molech worship was practiced by the Ammonites and Canaanites, who revered Molech as a protecting father figure. Images of Molech were made of bronze, and their outstretched arms were heated red-hot. Living children were then placed into the idol’s hands and died there or were rolled into a fire pit below. Some sources indicate a child might also be “passed through the fire” prior to the actual sacrifice in order to purify or baptize the child.

Leviticus 18:21 “‘Do not give any of your children to be sacrificed to Molek, for you must not profane the name of your God. I am the Lord.'"

Leviticus 20:1-5 1 The LORD said to Moses, 2 “Give the people of Israel these instructions, which apply both to native Israelites and to the foreigners living in Israel.
“If any of them offer their children as a sacrifice to Molech, they must be put to death. The people of the community must stone them to death. 3 I myself will turn against them and cut them off from the community, because they have defiled my sanctuary and brought shame on my holy name by offering their children to Molech. 4 And if the people of the community ignore those who offer their children to Molech and refuse to execute them, 5 I myself will turn against them and their families and will cut them off from the community. This will happen to all who commit spiritual prostitution by worshiping Molech."

Unfortunately, because the Israelites did not obey God in completely wiping out these people, they did exactly what God knew they would do. They would fall into the same idolatrous practices. Some of the Kings, later, would sacrifice their own child in the worship of Molech!

King Solomon, the wisest man in the world, was the son of King David who was "a man after God's own heart". He had been raised right. When he became king, he wisely asked God for the wisdom to rule God's People well. God answered this unselfish request by making him the wisest man in the world but he still fell into idolatry in his later years. Due to his marrying multiple wives and having multiple concubines, he also fell into worshiping the old pagan idols.

1 Kings 11:4-11, “As Solomon grew old, his wives turned his heart after other gods, and his heart was not fully devoted to the LORD his God, as the heart of David his father had been. He followed Ashtoreth the goddess of the Sidonians, and Molek the detestable god of the Ammonites. So Solomon did evil in the eyes of the LORD. . . . On a hill east of Jerusalem, Solomon built a high place for Chemosh the detestable god of Moab, and for Molek the detestable god of the Ammonites. . . . The LORD became angry with Solomon because his heart had turned away from the LORD, the God of Israel, who had appeared to him twice. Although he had forbidden Solomon to follow other gods, Solomon did not keep the LORD’s command.”

Later, the King Manassah offered his own son as a sacrifice (2 Kings 21:6), as did King Ahaz (2 Chronicles 28:1-4). The people of Judah participated in this crime against their own sons—a sin so “detestable” that God said it had never even crossed His mind

Jeremiah 32:32-35 32 “The sins of Israel and Judah—the sins of the people of Jerusalem, the kings, the officials, the priests, and the prophets—have stirred up my anger. 33 My people have turned their backs on me and have refused to return. Even though I diligently taught them, they would not receive instruction or obey. 34 They have set up their abominable idols right in my own Temple, defiling it. 35 They have built pagan shrines to Baal in the valley of Ben-Hinnom, and there they sacrifice their sons and daughters to Molech. I have never commanded such a horrible deed; it never even crossed my mind to command such a thing. What an incredible evil, causing Judah to sin so greatly!"

God didn't do this to one people and show favoritism to Israel/Judah (Israel eventually divided into 2 countries called Israel and Judah). Yes, He chose Israel to His People. But He also warned them that if they fell into the same practices they would face punishment too. And they did. Babylon was used as a tool of punishment for the Israelites.

These people also saw the god Baal and his sexual partner, Ashtoreth, as key to the fertility of their land. If they wanted their land to produce, then Baal and Ashtoreth had to copulate. In order to stimulate their copulation, men would have sex with temple prostitutes or priestesses.

And that's not all of their sinful practices.

Leviticus 18:24-30 “Do not make yourselves unclean by any of these things, for by all these the nations I am driving out before you have become unclean, and the land became unclean, so that I punished its iniquity, and the land vomited out its inhabitants. But you shall keep my statutes and my rules and do none of these abominations, either the native or the stranger who sojourns among you (for the people of the land, who were before you, did all of these abominations, so that the land became unclean), lest the land vomit you out when you make it unclean, as it vomited out the nation that was before you. For everyone who does any of these abominations, the persons who do them shall be cut off from among their people. So keep my charge never to practice any of these abominable customs that were practiced before you, and never to make yourselves unclean by them: I am the LORD your God”

God did command Abraham to sacrifice his son, Isaac, on the altar. But God was testing Abraham's faith. God stopped Abraham from actually doing it and provided Abraham with a lamb instead. Just as God provided the Lamb of God, Jesus, to be sacrificed on our behalf.

God had given the people in Canaan centuries to repent! He was patient and merciful to wait and give them opportunities to come back to Him. They did not. We tend to think, "Oh how mean is God to let a disaster hit!?!" when maybe we should be thinking, "How merciful is God that not all humankind was wiped out!" We are all sinners and deserve eternal hell! But God has provided a rescue. We deserve punishment but He took the punishment on Himself so we could be saved! Instead of being shocked by punishment, maybe we should be shocked by His mercy!

Jeremiah 18:7-10 7 If I announce that a certain nation or kingdom is to be uprooted, torn down, and destroyed, 8 but then that nation renounces its evil ways, I will not destroy it as I had planned. 9 And if I announce that I will plant and build up a certain nation or kingdom, 10 but then that nation turns to evil and refuses to obey me, I will not bless it as I said I would.

God knows every single individual and knows how to take care of anyone who would turn to Him. Not one single innocent person died as the result of God's command to wipe out these violent and idolatrous nations. God is sovereign and He knows all things. He is also the Creator. Life is in His Hands. He knows the beginning and the end. Life is not ours to give and take away. But it is God's. As Creator, Sustainer and Savior, He is the only one who has the right and sovereignty. And His choices are made using His wisdom and knowledge and always motivated with love and mercy. But when love and mercy aren't working to turn someone away from destruction, He uses a rod.

"I don't want no whoopin' from the Lawd!"

Anyone, even the worst of sinners, can turn to Jesus Christ and be saved! We are offered a way of escape. I deserve punishment, but in His mercy, He did not give me what I deserved. He put that punishment upon His Son. He has been merciful to me, a sinner! He is merciful to anyone who chooses Jesus Christ!  Don't be like the Canaanites, stubborn and hard hearted. Choose Jesus!

We have looked carefully at the Canaanites because in Revelation, we are looking at Babylon and it's prostitution to idols. Just like the early Canaanites were punished by Israel, so Babylon would be punished and now the end-time Babylon will be punished. They are not punished by a vicious, capricious God, but by a long suffering, patient and merciful God.

Are we not doing the same things? Are not human beings still the same? Don't we still run after idols and practice idolatry? Don't we, even today, sacrifice human beings, even children, for all kinds of different reasons, all of them selfish?

If someone rapes and molests another person, they are doing so because they want to and they have no empathy or concern for the other person. It's selfishness. They will sacrifice another person's life and well being in order to meet their own selfish needs. If someone steals, they are doing so to feather their own nest. Selfishness. If they mistreat their children, it's because their children get in the way of their own lusts and desires. We worship at the feet of drugs, money, alcohol, sex. We would sell our souls to be famous or to get anything we want. We become so chained to our own lusts that it's all we think of, day and night. We become totally bound to them. I think of those who get so addicted to drugs and sex that everything they do is for that addiction. They can't think of anything else. They can't expend energy on anything else. When they aren't doing it, they are planning on the next time they will do it.

Society, without God, is lost. Our only way out is through Jesus Christ. We are filthy, full of impurities. We follow after sin and we bow to it's idols. And NOTHING can save us but Jesus Christ. Not riches, not gold, not fame, not power! This Whore of Babylon was wearing scarlet and purple. Those are colors of blood and royalty. I.e. she was violent and had little value for human life and she had power in government. She was covered in gold and precious stones and pearls. She was rich! People think being rich and powerful will bring you happiness. But it doesn't.

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Revelation 17:5 On her forehead a mysterious name was written:
BABYLON THE GREAT,
THE MOTHER OF PROSTITUTES
AND OF THE ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH.

In the Old Testament, the city of Babylon gave birth to an empire that ruled the known world and imposed a worldview upon all of the conquered peoples. Babylon was cruel, brutish, violent, and proud. They believed they would rule forever and were secure, stable. In their pride, Babylon assumed a god-like role in the lives of their citizenry and the ruler of Babylon was often worshiped. Their religion was idolatrous. with many gods. Babylons destruction is prophesied in Isaiah 47 in response to her wickedness, pride, self-indulgence, and brutality.

Isaiah 47
1 “Go down, sit in the dust,
Virgin Daughter Babylon;
sit on the ground without a throne,
queen city of the Babylonians.
No more will you be called
tender or delicate.
2 Take millstones and grind flour;
take off your veil.
Lift up your skirts, bare your legs,
and wade through the streams.
3Y our nakedness will be exposed
and your shame uncovered.
I will take vengeance;
I will spare no one.”
4 Our Redeemer—the Lord Almighty is his name—
is the Holy One of Israel.
5 “Sit in silence, go into darkness,
queen city of the Babylonians;
no more will you be called
queen of kingdoms.
6 I was angry with my people
and desecrated my inheritance;
I gave them into your hand,
and you showed them no mercy.
Even on the aged
you laid a very heavy yoke.
7 You said, ‘I am forever—
the eternal queen!’
But you did not consider these things
or reflect on what might happen.
8 “Now then, listen, you lover of pleasure,
lounging in your security
and saying to yourself,
‘I am, and there is none besides me.
I will never be a widow
or suffer the loss of children.’
9 Both of these will overtake you
in a moment, on a single day:
loss of children and widowhood.
They will come upon you in full measure,
in spite of your many sorceries
and all your potent spells.
10 You have trusted in your wickedness
and have said, ‘No one sees me.’
Your wisdom and knowledge mislead you
when you say to yourself,
‘I am, and there is none besides me.’
11 Disaster will come upon you,
and you will not know how to conjure it away.
A calamity will fall upon you
that you cannot ward off with a ransom;
a catastrophe you cannot foresee
will suddenly come upon you.
12 “Keep on, then, with your magic spells
and with your many sorceries,
which you have labored at since childhood.
Perhaps you will succeed,
perhaps you will cause terror.
13 All the counsel you have received has only worn you out!
Let your astrologers come forward,
those stargazers who make predictions month by month,
let them save you from what is coming upon you.
14 Surely they are like stubble;
the fire will burn them up.
They cannot even save themselves
from the power of the flame.
These are not coals for warmth;
this is not a fire to sit by.
15 That is all they are to you—
these you have dealt with
and labored with since childhood.
All of them go on in their error;
there is not one that can save you.

The Babylonian Empire fell to the Persians under Cyrus The Great in 539 B.C. Later the Babylonians revolted unsuccessfully when Darius was King. They experienced the same brutalities they had inflicted on the Jews. The Babylonians strangled their own wives and children to keep them from starving to death during the siege of the capital city. When the city fell, Herodotus says 3000 of the leaders were impaled on the walls. The Queen of the world was defeated and destroyed. It became a village surrounded by a sea of sand.

How many ruling empires have there been since Babylon and Babylonia? The Medes and Persian, Greek, Roman, Roman Catholicism, Christian Protestantist denominations, Muslim/Islam, England, Spain, America, Russia, China, Japan... All will go through the same cycle of being successful, becoming full of pride, becoming brutal, idolatrous and violent, then falling. When a government, or religious, empire rises up, humans seem to fall into the same traps laid by satan as all those who went before. Pride, desire to control, the desire to be god, greed, arrogance mixed with brutality and force to make people obey and follow the demands of the leaders. Purges, to kill off the undesirables who stand in the way and are considered obstructionists, will follow. The more brutal and cruel the purges are, it is thought, will scare others into following the "party line". Propaganda is seen as the first tool to change the minds from individual thought to group thoughts controlled by whoever is in control, punishment will force compliance and executions will deter others from revolting.

The Whore of Babylon is the spirit of seductive culture that keeps rising from the dead in different forms but with the same agenda and the same characteristics. The whore personifies the city that exerts an oppressive yet seductive power on the earth. The city represents a form of influence that has existed in various times and places.

In this verse, the woman is named:

"BABYLON THE GREAT,
"THE MOTHER OF PROSTITUTES
"AND OF THE ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH."


God describes the meaning of a spiritual prostitute in Ezekiel 16 (see above) and again in Ezekiel 23:
Ezekiel 23:1-49 1 The LORD said:
2 Ezekiel, son of man, listen to this story about two sisters. 3 While they were young and living in Egypt, they became prostitutes. 4 The older one was named Oholah, which stands for Samaria; the younger one was Oholibah, which stands for Jerusalem. They became my wives and gave birth to my children.
5 Even though Oholah was my wife, she continued to be a prostitute and chased after Assyrian lovers. 6 She offered herself to soldiers in purple uniforms: handsome, high-ranking officers and cavalry troops. 7 She had sex with all the important Assyrian officials and even worshiped their disgusting idols. 8 Once she started doing these things in Egypt, she never stopped. Men slept with her, and she was always ready for sex.
9 So I gave Oholah to the Assyrian lovers she wanted so badly. 10 They ripped off her clothes, then captured her children and killed her. Women everywhere talked about what had happened to Oholah.
1 1Oholibah saw all this, but she was more sinful and wanted sex more than her sister Oholah ever did. 12 Oholibah also chased after good-looking Assyrian officers, uniformed soldiers, and cavalry troops. 13 Just like her sister, she did vulgar things.
14 But Oholibah behaved worse than her sister. Oholibah saw images of Babylonian men carved into walls and painted red. 15 They had belts around their waists and large turbans on their heads, and they reminded her of Babylonian cavalry officers. 16 As soon as she looked at them, she wanted to have sex with them. And so, she sent messengers to bring them to her. 17 Men from Babylonia came and had sex with her so many times that she got disgusted with them. 18 She let everyone see her naked body and didn't care if they knew she was a prostitute. That's why I turned my back on her, just as I had done with her older sister.
19 Oholibah didn't stop there, but became even more immoral and acted as she had back in Egypt. 20 She eagerly wanted to go to bed with Egyptian men, who were famous for their sexual powers. 21 And she longed for the days when she was a young prostitute, when men enjoyed caressing her body.
22 The LORD God said:
Oholibah, though you no longer want to be around your lovers, they will surround you like enemies, when I turn them against you. 23 I will gather all the handsome young officials and the high-ranking cavalry officers from Babylonia and Assyria, as well as from the Chaldean tribes of Pekod, Shoa, and Koa. 24 Their large armies will come from the north with chariots and wagons carrying weapons. They will wear shields and helmets and will surround you, and I will let them judge and sentence you according to their own laws. 25 I am angry with you, so I will let them be very cruel. They will cut off your nose and ears; they will kill your children and burn alive anyone in your family who survives. 26 Your clothes and jewelry will be torn off. 27 I will stop your wickedness and the prostitution you started back in Egypt. You will never want to think about those days again.
28 I, the LORD God, am ready to hand you over to those hateful enemies that you find so disgusting. 29 They will cruelly take away everything you have worked for and strip you naked. Then everyone will see you for the prostitute you really are. Your own vulgar sins 30 have led to this. You were the one determined to have sex with men from other nations and to worship their idols. 31 You have turned out no better than your older sister, and now you must drink from the cup filled with my anger.
32 I, the LORD God, gave your sister a large, deep cup filled with my anger. And when you drink from that cup, you will be mocked and insulted. 33 You will end up drunk and devastated, because that cup is filled with horror and ruin. 34 But you must drink every drop! Then smash the cup and chew on its broken pieces. Use them to cut your breasts in sorrow. I, the LORD God, have spoken.
35 You have completely rejected me, and so I promise that you will be punished for the disgusting things you did as a prostitute.
36 The LORD said:
Ezekiel, son of man, it's time for you to tell Oholah and Oholibah that they are guilty. Remind them of their evil ways! 37 They have been unfaithful by worshiping idols, and they have committed murder by sacrificing my own children as offerings to idols. 38-39 They came into my temple that same day, and that made it unfit as a place to worship me. They have even stopped respecting the Sabbath.
40 They sent messengers to attract men from far away. When those men arrived, the two sisters bathed themselves and put on eye shadow and jewelry. 41 They sat on a fancy couch, and in front of them was a table for the olive oil and incense that had belonged to me. 42 Their room was always filled with a noisy crowd of drunkards brought in from the desert. These men gave the women bracelets and beautiful crowns, 43 and I noticed that the men were eager to have sex with these women, though they were exhausted from being prostitutes. 44 In fact, the men had sex over and over with Oholah and Oholibah, the two sinful sisters. 45 But honest judges will someday accuse those two of murder and of being unfaithful, because they are certainly guilty.
46 So I, the LORD God, now say to these sisters:
I will call together an angry mob that will abuse and rob you. 47 They will stone you to death and cut you to pieces; they will kill your children and burn down your houses. 48 I will get rid of sinful prostitution in this country, so that women everywhere will be warned not to act as you have. 49 You will be punished for becoming prostitutes and for worshiping idols. Then you will know that I am the LORD God.

This text has been misused by non-believers to mock God and His Word. In verse 20, God gets pretty specific on what these prostitutes want. He uses lewd and vulgar language to shock the reader into realizing how very ugly the sin of pride and idolatry are. Considering the age we live in, where almost every movie, TV show, book, etc are full of sexual innuendos, filthy language, explicit and focused sexual acts are either performed or talked about openly... and vulgar things such as peeing, pooping and vomiting. We get to see people's heads blown off, arms amputated, torture performed, sex in every way, shape and perverted form and a constant stream of filthy language. And who decided that every movie and most TV shows have to show men and women peeing and vomiting? It's a natural act but not one we should have to see for entertainment. And why would an actor or actress agree to do that? It certainly doesn't showcase them in an attractive light. And, no one can use the N* word or a vulgar term for a homosexual but they let it flow when it comes to demeaning and insulting women. Half the population is made up of girls and women and so every time they use these vulgar terms for the feminine, it's offensive, degrading, insulting and demeaning to half the world's population. In fact, people couldn't curse if it weren't for using a vulgar term for the feminine. They call anyone who is seen as weak, vulnerable, incapable as p****s, c***s, b****s, whores, etc. And the term M**F** is another way to degrade someone with the feminine. It's bad enough that we've allowed men to use these terms as put downs. But women will use these same terms! Don't you realize what you are doing? Women are just as valuable and worthy of respect as men are. God created us and loves us just as much as He does men. In fact, God says there is no difference between men and women when it comes to His love. If you tend to use those terms to indicate someone who is weak and of no value... STOP IT! If you are concerned about offending someone because of race, then think what you are doing when you offend someone because of gender! Please be just as sensitive! We cannot control our gender, skin color, beauty, size, shape, hair color, etc.

It's hard to believe anyone would be shocked at God being specific in this day and time. But let's get this over with. He does say some blunt things in Ezekiel 23:20. But people, taking it out of context, are using it to mock and make fun of the Bible and Christians. So let's put this on a pedestal, walk around it and study it:

Ezekiel 23:19-21 (Contemporary English Version - CEV) 19 Oholibah didn't stop there, but became even more immoral and acted as she had back in Egypt. 20 She eagerly wanted to go to bed with Egyptian men, who were famous for their sexual powers. 21 And she longed for the days when she was a young prostitute, when men enjoyed caressing her body.

Ezekiel 23:19-21 (King James Version - KJV) 19 Yet she multiplied her whoredoms, in calling to remembrance the days of her youth, wherein she had played the harlot in the land of Egypt. 20 For she doted upon their paramours, whose flesh is as the flesh of asses, and whose issue is like the issue of horses. 21 Thus thou calledst to remembrance the lewdness of thy youth, in bruising thy teats by the Egyptians for the paps of thy youth.

Ezekiel 23:19-21 (New International Version - NIV) 19 Yet she became more and more promiscuous as she recalled the days of her youth, when she was a prostitute in Egypt. 20 There she lusted after her lovers, whose genitals were like those of donkeys and whose emission was like that of horses. 21 So you longed for the lewdness of your youth, when in Egypt your bosom was caressed and your young breasts fondled.

Ezekiel 23:19-21 (NET Bible - NET) 19 Yet she increased her prostitution, remembering the days of her youth when she engaged in prostitution in the land of Egypt. 20 She lusted after their genitals – as large as those of donkeys, and their seminal emission was as strong as that of stallions. 21 This is how you assessed the obscene conduct of your youth, when the Egyptians fondled your nipples and squeezed your young breasts.

Ezekiel 23:19-21 (New Living Translation - NLT) 19 Yet she turned to even greater prostitution, remembering her youth when she was a prostitute in Egypt. 20 She lusted after lovers with genitals as large as a donkey’s and emissions like those of a horse. 21 And so, Oholibah, you relived your former days as a young girl in Egypt, when you first allowed your breasts to be fondled.

Ezekiel 23:19-21 (Easy To Read Version - ERV) 19 Yet she turned to even greater prostitution, remembering her youth when she was a prostitute in Egypt. 20 She lusted after lovers with genitals as large as a donkey’s and emissions like those of a horse. 21 And so, Oholibah, you relived your former days as a young girl in Egypt, when you first allowed your breasts to be fondled.

I think I've given you a good roundabout look at these scriptures. It isn't something I would want to explain to a child who hasn't had The Talk yet. But, as adults, we know what is being intimated here. And it's not God being lewd to be lewd. It's God trying to show people what spiritual prostitution, the utter spiritual degradation, is like. God has told us that when a man and woman become husband and wife and have sex, the two become one. Within a godly marriage where the husband and wife have experienced sexual intimacy with each other, and no other, it's a beautiful welding of our relationship and they share a oneness like no other relationship can have. But when one, or the other, goes outside the marriage and has sex with someone else, it's a particularly devastating betrayal. You have literally torn your oneness apart. It's a destruction of a unique relationship of intimacy. Your betrayal is peculiarly cruel to your spouse. It's not like breaking up with a good friend, being hurt by a co-worker, being sabotaged by a someone you thought was a friend, or even losing a familial relationship (although those are extremely painful too). The two of you chose each other, made vows of fidelity to each other, then consummated the marriage and became one. As you build upon that marriage and oneness, each of you depends on the other to be faithful. But infidelity rips the heart right out of the marriage and the distrust and loss are devastating. God was trying to use the example of a marriage to show how beautiful a oneness with Him could be. We can be reconciled to God through Jesus Christ and have a relationship with Him that makes us one with Him. We commune with Him in love. We share an intimacy and bond that is incredible. But when we walk away from Him to follow after idols, it's like a wife leaving her husband for other men. God is our ever faithful husband who loves us no matter what. But we, as His people and as individuals, often break his heart by going after idols and running away from Him, pushing Him away. In the Old Testament, Israel eventually broke up into two countries, Israel and Judah. Ezekiel refers to Oholah and Oholibah and identifies them as Samaria (the capital of Israel) and Jerusalem (the capital of Judah). Judah and Israel had sought fulfillment and security by aligning themselves with idolatrous Assyria, Babylon, and Egypt. Israel was conquered and her people deported to Assyria in 722 BC (2 Kings 17). Judah eagerly turned to Egypt's hollow promises of aid. Zedekiah's final revolt against Babylon in 588 B.C. came with Egypt's promise of assistance (2 Kings 25:1; Jeremiah 37:5-8; Ezekiel 29:6-7). But Judah finally fell to Babylon in 586 BC. They reaped what they sowed.

o-hol'-i-ba, o-ho'-li-ba ('oholibhah, "tent in her," or "my tent is in her"):
An opprobrious and symbolical name given by Ezekiel to Jerusalem, representing the kingdom of Judah, because of her intrigues and base alliances with Egypt, Assyria and Babylonia, just as the name OHOLAH (which see) was given to Samaria or the Northern Kingdom, because of her alliances with Egypt and Assyria. There is a play upon the words in the Hebrew which cannot be reproduced in English Both Oholah and Oholibah, or Samaria and Jerusalem, are the daughters of one mother, and wives of Yahweh, and both are guilty of religious and political alliance with heathen nations. Idolatry is constantly compared by the Hebrew prophets to marital unfaithfulness or adultery. - W. W. Davies, "International Standard Bible Encyclopedia". 1915.

In Ezekiel 23, God is comparing the two countries with the two sister prostitutes, Oholah and Oholibah. First one, and then the other, leave their husband for other men. Why? That's what God is asking Israel and Judah. Why would Israel and Judah leave God for other gods? The sisters had the real thing. They were loved, provided for, protected, blessed... they had it all. But they left the real thing to go after what? They were following illusions, pie-in-the-sky. Israel and Judah also ran after illusions. Satan can make something look good but behind the mask it's a nightmare. They were trading in the real thing for smoke and mirrors! Oholah and Oholibah were just examples of someone who would trade in the real thing for something that just looks good but, in reality, is a horror. Someone may look good, be handsome/beautiful, promise a lot of thrills but reality will hit you smack in the face and you are living a nightmare before you know it. Those beautiful blue eyes can turn ugly with hate. Those muscled biceps used for an embrace can be used to knock your teeth out. That gorgeous smile can change into a leer. Those caressing hands can wrap around your throat and choke you to death. God is trying to warn Israel and Judah (and all of us) that running after satan will lead to our destruction. We have the real thing! Through Jesus Christ, we have God! We are loved, provided for, protected, blessed and we will spend an eternity with Him in Heaven! We can never experience anything more wonderful! It's what we were made for! But satan will waggle fake and false things in our faces and tempt us away from God and we soon find ourselves in misery and bondage. We see it everyday. Even in our own lives, because we all fall to temptation at times. God is warning us not to fall for it.

The Black Obelisk of Shalmaneser III illustrates Jehu prostrating himself before the Assyrian king (the date would be about 840 BC, at the beginning of Jehu's reign) and offering gifts, possibly with a view to buying support against Hazael of Damascus.

The glamour of Babylon tempted Oholibah to make alliances with Babylon. Their faithlessness cost them the only protection they ever had. Yet instead of repenting they sought additional human help, becoming more and more promiscuous. Their sin of idolatry and foreign alliances would reap a cup of judgement. Their punishment was not only due to their sins, but to turn them away from sin and back to God. Their cycle of sin brought them enslavement. Their punishment ("They will cut off your noses and your ears, and those. . . who are left will fall by the sword") would render them so grotesque that no one would want them and their shame would be noticeable to everyone. God's punishment would cure their lust so that they no longer looked at other countries for help. They made choices and ruined themselves. They bear the consequences of their own sin. They knew what they were doing and did it anyway. They had been warned over and over again about the results and consequences that come with sin. God had tried to cleanse His people from their sins but they resisted every effort. Therefore they would experience the purifying work of God's wrath. God's patience had run out; the time had come for Him to judge. God's mercy prompts Him to withhold judgment as long as possible to enable people to repent (2 Peter 3:8-10), but He does not wait indefinitely. A time comes when God punishes wickedness.

We are back to the Whore of Babylon. Just like Oholah and Oholibah, God has warned. He has been patient. He has mercifully held back righteous judgement and tried the gentle, loving approach. But when all attempts to woo us are for naught, judgement comes. We accumulate a cup of judgment based on our sin, evil, wickedness. Therefore, we have to drink it. With our own hands we sin and add to the cup and we continue sinning, adding to the cup of wrath. We have one difference between us today and the Oholah and Oholibahs of Ezekiel's time. Jesus Christ! He drank the cup of wrath for us so that we don't have to drink it ourselves. If we accept Jesus Christ, we are set free and no longer have to drink from the cup of God's wrath. Thank You Jesus!!!!!

But many will refuse and they will continue their idolatry and sin. They will follow after satan. They will align themselves with satan against God and thus will have to drink the cup of God's Wrath.


*******************************************************

Revelation 17:6 I could see that the woman was drunk with the blood of the saints and of the witnesses for Jesus. And I was utterly amazed at the sight of her.

"Prosperity, pomp, and splendour, feed the pride and lusts of the human heart, but are no security against the Divine vengeance. The golden cup represents the allurements, and delusions, by which this mystical Babylon has obtained and kept her influence, and seduced others to join her abominations. She is named, from her infamous practices, a mother of harlots; training them up to idolatry and all sorts of wickedness. She filled herself with the blood of the saints and martyrs of Jesus. She intoxicated herself with it; and it was so pleasant to her, that she never was satisfied". - Matthew Henry Commentary

Two groups of people will be on earth in the tribulation: those who worship the beast and those who worship the Lord (Revelation 13:16–18; Revelation 20:4). Those who worship the Lord are described as "saints." False religion, through the ages, has been guilty of the sin of persecuting and killing God's people. Jesus was crucified because religious leaders begged for His crucifixion. The same kind of religious hatred will lead to martyring Christians during the Tribulation. The false religion that becomes the one world religion under the anti-Christ will martyr true believers. This false religion may even call themselves Christians. We don't know what form it will take. Whatever satan, the anti-Christ and the False Prophet conjure up as a new worldwide religion will be open to "all peoples of faith". But it will probably take the structure, organization and network of a religion and then use it as it's own. For instance, they could take Catholicism and use the organization, the buildings throughout the world, the finances and administration as a venue for their new world religion. Same could be said of the Jewish religion, any of the protestant denominations, Orthodox, Hindu, Buddhist, etc. Whatever has the best chance of them establishing a one-world religion using a setup that is already in place. They will basically walk in and take over the organization and use it's assets to their advantage. Remember, the first half of the Great Tribulation sees people flocking to this new religion because of it's inclusivity of all religions and promises of peace, prosperity and stability in a world out of control. But halfway through, after re-building the Jewish Temple in Jerusalem, the anti-Christ will walk into that Temple and demand to be worshiped as god. It's the abomination of desolation. After that, many eyes will be opened and they will see what they've done and be horrified. But fear will keep many in bondage to the anti-Christ. Afraid of being martyred if they don't do what he says. But those who refuse to worship the anti-Christ for Jesus' sake, will be killed.

Matthew 23:27-28 27 Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside, but on the inside are full of dead men’s bones and every impurity. 28 In the same way, on the outside you appear to be righteous, but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness.

Have there been religious groups in the past that persecuted and put to death those who professed faith in the Lord Jesus Christ? Yes. Over the centuries Christians have been persecuted by governments who see them as obstructionists. They've also been persecuted by other religions like Islam and Hindu. But Christians of one "denomination" have been persecuted by Christians of other "denominations" such as the Catholic/Protestant controversy in Ireland.

"The schisms of the Middle Ages and especially the Protestant Reformation, sometimes provoked severe conflicts between Christian denominations to the point of persecuting each other." - Wikipedia

Catholics versus Orthodox, Catholics versus Anglican/Church of England, Catholics versus Huguenots, Catholic versus Reformists and Protestants, Baptist versus Anabaptists, Methodists versus Baptist and Presbyterians, etc. In the Middle Ages, the beginnings of the different break offs from Catholicism were often violent. The inquisition was established by Pope Gregory IX c. 1232 for the suppression of heresy. It was active chiefly in northern Italy and southern France, becoming notorious for the use of torture. In 1542 the papal Inquisition was re-established to combat Protestantism, eventually becoming an organ of papal government.

Even in today's world, Christians are being martyred for their faith.

According to OpenDoorsUSA.org
Every month, on average:
345 Christians are killed for faith-related reasons
105 Churches and Christian buildings are burned or attacked
219 Christians are detained without trial, arrested, sentenced and imprisoned

Of the top 50 countries where Christians are the most persecuted, “Islamic extremism remains the global, dominant driver of persecution, responsible for initiating oppression and conflict in 35 of the 50 countries on the list,” Open Doors stated, The Islamist movement is “the part of Islam which embraces a clear political agenda for bringing nations under Muslim domination and shari‘ah law,”

Christians are the most persecuted religious group in the world, according to a Christian think-tank. The Center for the Study of Global Christianity (CSGC) says 900,000 Christians have been 'martyred' in the last decade, equating to 90,000 a year and one every six minutes. Let's say you don't believe it's that high. Is 9,000 acceptable? 90,000? How many are acceptable as Christian martyrs? One person put to death for their belief in Jesus Christ is unacceptable to God and should be to us. They are our brothers and sisters in Christ. The first Christians were persecuted and martyred by the Jews and Romans. In the 20th century AD there were more Christians killed because of their faith in the Jewish Messiah than in all the centuries of Christian persecution combined.

But we have seen nothing yet. It will increase and during the Great Tribulation it will be beyond compare.

Matthew 5:10-11 (Jesus speaking) "Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me"

Matthew 10:16-33 16 “I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves. 17 Be on your guard; you will be handed over to the local councils and be flogged in the synagogues. 18 On my account you will be brought before governors and kings as witnesses to them and to the Gentiles. 19 But when they arrest you, do not worry about what to say or how to say it. At that time you will be given what to say, 20 for it will not be you speaking, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.
21 “Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child; children will rebel against their parents and have them put to death. 22 You will be hated by everyone because of me, but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved. 23 When you are persecuted in one place, flee to another. Truly I tell you, you will not finish going through the towns of Israel before the Son of Man comes.
24 “The student is not above the teacher, nor a servant above his master. 25 It is enough for students to be like their teachers, and servants like their masters. If the head of the house has been called Beelzebul, how much more the members of his household!
26 “So do not be afraid of them, for there is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, or hidden that will not be made known. 27 What I tell you in the dark, speak in the daylight; what is whispered in your ear, proclaim from the roofs. 28 Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell. 29 Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground outside your Father’s care. b 30 And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. 31 So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.
32 “Whoever acknowledges me before others, I will also acknowledge before my Father in heaven. 33 But whoever disowns me before others, I will disown before my Father in heaven.

John 15:18-25 (Jesus speaking) "18 If the world hates you, understand that it hated Me first. 19 If you were of the world, it would love you as its own. Instead, the world hates you, because you are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world.
20 Remember the word that I spoke to you: ‘No servant is greater than his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will persecute you as well; if they kept My word, they will keep yours as well. 21 But they will treat you like this on account of My name, because they do not know the One who sent Me. 22 If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not be guilty of sin. Now, however, they have no excuse for their sin.
23 Whoever hates Me hates My Father as well. 24 If I had not done among them the works that no one else did, they would not be guilty of sin; but now they have seen and hated both Me and My Father. 25 But this is to fulfill what is written in their Law: ‘They hated Me without reason.’"

Luke 21:8-19 8 Jesus replied: “Watch out that you are not deceived. For many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am he,’ and, ‘The time is near.’ Do not follow them. 9 When you hear of wars and uprisings, do not be frightened. These things must happen first, but the end will not come right away.”
10 Then he said to them: “Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. 11 There will be great earthquakes, famines and pestilences in various places, and fearful events and great signs from heaven.
12 “But before all this, they will seize you and persecute you. They will hand you over to synagogues and put you in prison, and you will be brought before kings and governors, and all on account of my name. 13 And so you will bear testimony to me. 14 But make up your mind not to worry beforehand how you will defend yourselves. 15 For I will give you words and wisdom that none of your adversaries will be able to resist or contradict. 16 You will be betrayed even by parents, brothers and sisters, relatives and friends, and they will put some of you to death. 17 Everyone will hate you because of me. 18 But not a hair of your head will perish. 19 Stand firm, and you will win life.

John 16:1-4 (Jesus speaking) "1 I have told you these things so that you will not fall away. 2 They will put you out of the synagogues. In fact, a time is coming when anyone who kills you will think he is offering a service to God. 3 They will do these things because they have not known the Father or Me. 4 But I have told you these things so that when their hour comes, you will remember that I told you about them. I did not tell you these things from the beginning, because I was with you."

"The normal condition for Christians is that we should suffer persecution. Are you willing to face persecution and death for Christ’s sake?" - Billy Graham

2 Timothy 3:12 Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted,

1 Peter 3:17 For it is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God's will, than for doing evil.

1 Peter 4:12-14 Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice insofar as you share Christ's sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed. If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you.

We are told that we will be persecuted just because of our faith and our love for our Savior, Jesus Christ. If we are true converts, true disciples, true followers, we will be targets because those of the world, whether they call themselves christians or  something else, hate us because they hate our Savior. How does Jesus tell us to react to this hatred? Are we suppose to hate them? Give an eye for an eye? Despise them? Take them to court? Demand justice? Fight back with any weapon at hand? Crucify them on a door or in the press? First, we are to trust God. Nothing can tear us away from Him and His love. He is in all things and to us, His children, He can use all things to our best interest and to His purpose. Submit your rights to Him and trust Him for the outcome. We can trust His love. We can lean on Him and let Him do the work. Let Him take up our cause. Trust and obey. Second, we are to love and pray for our enemies. Yes, those who would excoriate you, kill you, torture you, imprison you, ruin you... we are to trust ourselves and our cause to Christ and then love and pray for our enemies. This sets us apart and proves we are true converts, true Christians, children of the only God.

Romans 8:35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?

2 Corinthians 12:9-10 9 Each time he said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me. 10 That’s why I take pleasure in my weaknesses, and in the insults, hardships, persecutions, and troubles that I suffer for Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

Matthew 5:44 (Jesus speaking) "But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you."

Romans 12:14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse.

Daniel 3:16-18 16 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego replied, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you. 17 If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God whom we serve is able to save us. He will rescue us from your power, Your Majesty. 18 But even if he doesn’t, we want to make it clear to you, Your Majesty, that we will never serve your gods or worship the gold statue you have set up.”


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Revelation 17:7-8 7 “Why are you so amazed?” said the angel. “I will tell you the mystery of the woman and of the beast that carries her, which has the seven heads and ten horns.
8 The beast that you saw—it was, and now is no more, but is about to come up out of the Abyss and go to its destruction. And those who dwell on the earth whose names were not written in the book of life from the foundation of the world will marvel when they see the beast that was, and is not, and yet will be.

Revelation 17:8 (New Living Translation - NLT) The beast you saw was once alive but isn’t now. And yet he will soon come up out of the bottomless pit and go to eternal destruction. And the people who belong to this world, whose names were not written in the Book of Life before the world was made, will be amazed at the reappearance of this beast who had died.

Abyss- ἀβύσσου (abyssou) - Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular
Strong's Greek 12: The abyss, unfathomable depth, an especially Jewish conception, the home of the dead and of evil spirits. Depthless, i.e. 'abyss'.

destruction - ἀπώλειαν (apōleian) - Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular
Strong's Greek 684: Destruction, ruin, loss, perishing; eternal ruin. From a presumed derivative of apollumi; ruin or loss.

"In verse 1 the harlot is said to sit on the waters; here the beast carries her. The two statements are really identical; both the beast and the waters represent the worldly power found among "peoples, multitudes, nations, and tongues" (ver. 14)." - Pulpit Commentary

"The first period describes the condition of things before the sacrifice of Christ. Then it was that Satan ruled supreme in the world; that the power of the world - the beast - was. But Christ overcame the world (John 16:33); henceforth to all true believers there is "peace," although they may 'have tribulation' in the world (John 16:33); for the faithful Christian the power of the world - the beast - is not. Yet, though for the true servant of God there is a sense in which it may be said that this power has no existence, it nevertheless exists in the abyss, that is, in its natural abiding place in the world, among the worldly minded, and thus may cause 'tribulation' to the faithful. A further downfall is, therefore, prepared for it - that which will take place at the last day, when it 'will ascend from the abyss to go into perdition.'" - Pulpit Commentary

The Beast's power seems to come from the Abyss itself but was not permanent and will end up in completely destroyed in perdition. The beast, or anti-Christian world power, returns worse than ever, with satanic powers from hell.

The anti-Christ and his false prophet will have the backing of satan and they will dazzle the world. The world will marvel and admire, astonished. But it's only a facade. That reminds me of the military parades that Germany and the Soviet Union used to do. They trotted out all their best equipment and their masses of soldiers in their best uniforms and for hours they would stamp and march around to the cries and adulation of the civilian audience.



Some countries still do these military parades such as N. Korea, Russia, China, India, etc.

Yesterday I was watching a documentary about Hitler and how he got to power and they actually showed his speech videos while experts would explain what he was doing to garner the admiration of the crowds, even the experts on body language and speeches. And, after all these years, they marveled and admired his ability to capture the masses. They weren't admiring him and his evil but at his abilities and skills that made him rise to power. Of course, every human who has that power (which ultimately comes from the Abyss, satan) begins to lose it in the end. It's temporary, destructive and leads to perdition, eternal damnation. Those we saw rise to the peak, will always descend.

And before we leave this subject, Hitler is by no means the only one to build himself up. Every politician now hires a consultant on how to look the part and how to play to the crowds. They have professional speech writers and PR consultants. Same with actors and music stars. They generally do well for awhile but they can't keep up the pace. Eventually they disintegrate and some into madness like Hitler.

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Revelation 17:9-10 This calls for a mind that has wisdom. The seven heads are seven mountains on which the woman sits. 10 There are also seven kings. Five have fallen, one is, and the other has not yet come; but when he does come, he must remain for only a little while.

"The woman rides on the seven-headed beast; even so Rome dwells on her seven hills, and so also the world-city, seen in vision, sits among the various empires which have risen, like great mountains, in the history of the world." - Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

Seven hills of Rome:

1. Aventine Hill
2. Caelian Hill
3. Capitoline Hill
4. Esquiline Hill
5. Palatine Hill
6. Quirinal Hill
7. Viminal Hill

The Vatican Hill is outside the Servian Wall and the 8th hill.


"Tradition holds that Romulus and Remus founded the original city on the Palatine Hill on April 21st, 753 BC, and that the seven hills were first occupied by small settlements that were not grouped nor recognized as a city called Rome. The seven hills' denizens began to interact, which began to bond the groups. The city of Rome, thus, came into being as these separate settlements acted as a group, draining the marshy valleys between them and turning them into markets. Later, in the early 4th century BC, the Servian Walls were constructed to protect the seven hills." - Wikipedia

"A mountain is a symbol of power (see on Revelation 8:8); seven is the number significant of universality. The plain meaning of the passage, therefore, is that the woman relies upon a visibly universal power." - Pulpit Commentary

So this harlot rides upon the beast of government, the empire. Rome is known as the seven hilled city and was the empire of John's time. But it also symbolizes the world empire at the end that rises up and is powered by satan. The religion established as the state religion by the anti-Christ is the harlot that rides on the coat tails of the anti-Christ.

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Revelation 17:10-13 10 There are also seven kings. Five have fallen, one is, and the other has not yet come; but when he does come, he must remain for only a little while. 11 The beast that was, and now is not, is an eighth king, who belongs to the other seven and is going into destruction. 12 The ten horns you saw are ten kings who have not yet received a kingdom, but will receive one hour of authority as kings, along with the beast. 13 These kings have one purpose: to yield their power and authority to the beast.

• In verse 10, who are the 7 kings?
• Five have fallen
• One is
• The other has not yet come, but when he does come, he must remain for only a little while.
• In verse 11, "The beast that was, and now is not" is the 8th king "who belongs to the other seven and is going into destruction".
• In verse 12, 10 kings "who have not yet received a kingdom, but will receive one hour of authority as kings, along with the beast".
• All of the kings have one purpose: "to yield their power and authority to the beast".

"The first beast comes "out of the sea" and is given authority and power by the dragon. This first beast is initially mentioned in Revelation 11:7 as coming out of the abyss. His appearance is described in detail in Revelation 13:1-10, and some of the mystery behind his appearance is revealed in Revelation 17:7-18.

"The second beast comes "out of the earth" and directs all peoples of the earth to worship the first beast. The second beast is described in Revelation 13:11-18 and is also referred to as the false prophet.

"The two beasts are aligned with the dragon in opposition to God. They persecute the "saints" and those who do "not worship the image of the beast [of the sea]" and influence the kings of the earth to gather for the battle of Armageddon. The two beasts are defeated by Christ and are thrown into the lake of fire mentioned in Revelation 19:18-20." - Wikipedia

Let's remember who is talking to who. One of the angels of the seven bowls (Revelation 17:1) is talking to the youngest of Jesus' disciples, John. After Jesus' death and resurrection the "disciples" became "apostles" and were leaders in the new church. What is the difference between a disciple and an apostle?

Disciple - a follower or student of a teacher, leader; someone who adheres to the teachings of another; a follower and learner; someone who believes and tries to adhere to teachings from someone they see as a leader.
Apostle - from Greek ἀπόστολος (apóstolos), literally "one who is sent off"; one sent on a mission; a commissioned representative; the purpose of such sending off is usually to convey a message thus a messenger, ambassador or envoy.

John the Apostle, the Evangelist, the Divine, the Presbyter, the Revelator, the Elder, the Beloved Disciple was the youngest of Jesus' disciples. He was not Jesus' cousin, John the Baptist. That is a different John.

John was the son of Zebedee, a Galilean fisherman, and Salome. He was born c. 6 AD Bethsaida, Galilee, Roman Empire. Jesus was probably born between 6 BC and 1 AD (scholars differ again) which would make John maybe a teenager when he was called? According to Luke 3:23, Jesus began His ministry at about 30 yrs old. John and his brother St. James were among the first disciples called by Jesus. Since they were referred to as "James and John", John was probably the younger brother. Jesus called them the "Sons of Thunder" probably due to their zeal which got a little out of hand once when they wanted to call down fire from heaven to punish a Samaritan town. Peter, James and John formed the inner circle of the Twelve Disciples. James was the first Apostle to be martyred and John was the last one to die. John describes himself in the Gospel in the third person as "the one whom Jesus loved". Imagine having the confidence to say that! Of course, we all can say that as Jesus loved us enough to die for us to save us. But we also have a hard time, as humans, believing God really loves us despite all our sins. We must remember that God hates sin but He loves the sinner. In fact, He loves us more than we can fathom! So I can say, "Sharon, the one whom Jesus loves"! And you can too if you are saved!

While Jesus was on the cross, John was at the foot with Jesus' Mother Mary. Jesus gave the guardianship of His Mother to John! John was one of the "pillars" of the Jerusalem church after Jesus' death. He taught and mentored men who would become bishops over regions of the early church. It is believed by most scholars that he was the only one of the original Apostles to die of old age (although there are some who think he was killed by the Jews). He was an eyewitness of Jesus teachings, ministry and His death and resurrection. He wrote the Gospel of John, giving a broad range due to different opinions, between 55-. He wrote the gospel and the letters in Ephesus and wrote Revelation while exiled on the Isle of Patmos. Some scholars think that John who wrote the Gospel of John is not the same as John the Revelator who wrote Revelation but most think they are the same man. He also wrote the letters 1 John, 2 John, 3 John. He was exiled to the Isle of Patmos probably during the reign of Domitian who reigned as Emperor from 81-96 AD. Domitian firmly believed in the traditional Roman religion. 4th century writings by Eusebius say Jews and Christians were heavily persecuted toward the end of his reign. According to Tertullian John was banished when he wasn't unhurt by being plunged into boiling oil in Rome. The audience of Colosseum were converted to Christianity when they witnessed this miracle. The island of Patmos is small Greek island in the Aegean Sea, a place of pagan worship to Greeks and Romans. It was converted by the Romans into a prison island. I always had an idea that the Isle of Patmos was a tiny, uninhabited island where John laid on the sand and had his vision.


But Patmos is situated off the west coast of Turkey and the continent of Asia. I had it all wrong.

It is one of the northernmost islands of the Dodecanese complex (literally "twelve islands" but which are a group of 15 larger plus 150 smaller Greek islands off the coast of Asia Minor - Turkey - of which 26 are inhabited. Patmos is about 13 square miles. It includes the cave that is traditionally thought where John had his revelation. It's been preserved and turned into a shrine.


He was released in 96 AD when Nerva succeeded the assassinated Domitian. He went to Ephesus in Turkey and pastored a church until his death. John died 98-100 AD and traditionally it is assumed he died in Ephesus of old age. Imagine what John lived through in his long life!?! He personally knew Jesus and the other 11 disciples/apostles, saw and participated in the growth of the first church, saw miracles, read the writings of other apostles, wrote his own writings, saw the persecution of the early church, exiled and experienced the revelatory visions while on the Isle of Patmos! He saw tremendous religious and historical moments!

So the angel is talking to John at this point, revealing understanding concerning a vision John has been having while on the Isle of Patmos.

Tenses can be confusing. Are these past, present or future events? Some fulfillment may have been in the past for John. For us, nearly 2,000 years later, a lot has happened in the past, but for John, at the time, it was future. For me, I think there have been past fulfillments. But I also believe those things that happened in the past are only shadows of a future fulfillment in the end times. Double fulfillment. As we cycle through history, we've seen things that could have been fulfillments. But they are shadows of the end time fulfillment. I mean, the world didn't end and judgment didn't come when the Roman empire ended or the Roman Catholic church reached it's height of power or Hitler and Stalin killed tens of millions of people. So I have to think those were only warnings and examples of how bad it can be in the end. Rumbles, tremors, if you will, of the future and final fulfillment. I think I've made my position clear throughout my study of Revelation. I'm no degreed scholar so I can be wrong. That's why I like to present a good rounding of other positions. Each position has perfectly good arguments. God wanted us to study Revelation. In fact, He says those who read it, hear it and "take to heart what is written" are BLESSED! He also warns us not to add to, or take away, any word from this Revelation. The warning is specific: "God will take away from that person any share in the tree of life and in the Holy City".

Revelation 1:1 The revelation from Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show his servants what must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John, 2 who testifies to everything he saw—that is, the word of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ. 3 Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear it and take to heart what is written in it, because the time is near.

Revelation 22:18-19 18 I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this scroll: If anyone adds anything to them, God will add to that person the plagues described in this scroll. 19 And if anyone takes words away from this scroll of prophecy, God will take away from that person any share in the tree of life and in the Holy City, which are described in this scroll.

God is saying that balance is very important. Be careful to study it, but not to embellish or add to it or diminish and subtract from it. I want to read and study it but not to obsess on it or add to it. Some people seem to obsess on it and begin to embellish it with their imagination, making things fit, or coming up with new theories. On the opposite extreme are those who are too "scared" to read and study Revelation. They think it's too confusing and they avoid it. And then there are those who mock or ridicule it, diminishing it.

Let's look at it again in context:

Revelation 17:7-10 7 “Why are you so amazed?” the angel asked. “I will tell you the mystery of this woman and of the beast with seven heads and ten horns on which she sits. 8 The beast you saw was once alive but isn’t now. And yet he will soon come up out of the bottomless pit and go to eternal destruction. And the people who belong to this world, whose names were not written in the Book of Life before the world was made, will be amazed at the reappearance of this beast who had died. 9 This calls for a mind with understanding: The seven heads of the beast represent the seven hills where the woman rules. They also represent seven kings. 10 Five kings have already fallen, the sixth now reigns, and the seventh is yet to come, but his reign will be brief".
So who are the seven kings?

Now let's dissect it according to tenses:
So the angel is telling John about the Harlot of Babylon sitting on the beast with 7 heads, 10 horns and it "once was alive" (past tense) and yet it "will soon come up out of the bottomless pit" to eternal destruction (future tense). The people will be amazed "at the reappearance" (indicating a past AND future tense) of the beast "who had died" (past tense). Then the seven heads of the beast are described by the angel as, "seven hills where the woman rules" (indicating present tense). The seven kings are "five have fallen, one is and one is yet to come". This seems to indicate that, right then in John's time, 5 of the kings spoken of have already fallen (past tense), one is current (present tense) and one is yet to come (future tense).

As you can see the tenses are all over the place and is another reason why I believe in past fulfillments but also a future, final fulfillment.

The reference to Rome as the city built on seven hills was widely used during the first century. It would have been familiar to John’s audience. So could indicate that they would have understood the reference immediately. (But what about us 2,000 years later?) If the city of the seven hills is Rome (and it could certainly by any other city, empire or nation that is known for seven hills or mountains) then who would have been the past 5 kings in John's time? This would depend on when the book of Revelation was written and is why I included the Apostle John's history above!

Scholars can't seem to agree on the seven Roman Emperors that the angel meant (if they were actually Roman Emperors). The Emperors that would be during the lifetime of John are narrowed down to when the book of Revelation was written but then up or down the list, the rest of the descriptions don't seem to match. The timeline adjusts up or down with the Roman Emperors according to scholars who think the book of Revelation was written at other times.


So maybe it's not actual Roman Emperors but kingdoms. The five that have fallen by John's time are Egypt, Assyria, Neo-Babylonia, Persia, and Greece. The one that is, the sixth kingdom, is Rome, the seventh kingdom may be seen as a revived Roman empire and the eighth kingdom as the kingdom of the Antichrist. We need the next part of the chapter to continue.

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Revelation 17:11-14 11 The beast who once was, and now is not, is an eighth king. He belongs to the seven and is going to his destruction. 12 “The ten horns you saw are ten kings who have not yet received a kingdom, but who for one hour will receive authority as kings along with the beast. 13 They have one purpose and will give their power and authority to the beast. 14 They will wage war against the Lamb, but the Lamb will triumph over them because he is Lord of lords and King of kings—and with him will be his called, chosen and faithful followers.”


Counting back five empires that had fallen by John's time they would have been Egypt, Assyria, Babylonia, Medo-Persia, and Greece. The sixth kingdom would be Rome and the seventh kingdom may be seen as a revived Roman empire with the eighth kingdom as the kingdom of the Antichrist. Could it be the five fallen kingdoms as stretching back beyond Egypt to the time of the construction of the first major city recorded in Scripture: Babel (Genesis 10:8-12 and Genesis 11:1-9). If so, the second empire would have been Egypt, or Assyria and then Egypt. The argument for Babel being the first was the spirit of the anti-Christ was evident when the people of Babel tried to build the Tower of Babel into the heavens, trying to rival God. In the Prophet Daniel's dream about the statue and his vision about the beasts we see these empires:

Prophet Daniel's dream about the statue in Daniel 7 and the vision in Daniel 2 when we studied Revelation 13.

Daniel 7:37-45 37 Your Majesty, you are the king of kings. The God of heaven has given you dominion and power and might and glory; 38 in your hands he has placed all mankind and the beasts of the field and the birds in the sky. Wherever they live, he has made you ruler over them all. You are that head of gold.
39 “After you, another kingdom will arise, inferior to yours. Next, a third kingdom, one of bronze, will rule over the whole earth. 40 Finally, there will be a fourth kingdom, strong as iron—for iron breaks and smashes everything—and as iron breaks things to pieces, so it will crush and break all the others. 41 Just as you saw that the feet and toes were partly of baked clay and partly of iron, so this will be a divided kingdom; yet it will have some of the strength of iron in it, even as you saw iron mixed with clay. 42 As the toes were partly iron and partly clay, so this kingdom will be partly strong and partly brittle. 43 And just as you saw the iron mixed with baked clay, so the people will be a mixture and will not remain united, any more than iron mixes with clay.
44 “In the time of those kings, the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that will never be destroyed, nor will it be left to another people. It will crush all those kingdoms and bring them to an end, but it will itself endure forever. 45 This is the meaning of the vision of the rock cut out of a mountain, but not by human hands—a rock that broke the iron, the bronze, the clay, the silver and the gold to pieces.



Rome fell to ruin in 486 AD. Is the Roman Catholic church the revived Roman Empire as some think? The very capital of the Roman Empire became the capital of the Christian empire. In other words, Pagan Rome (The Dragon) gave it’s power to Papal Rome (The Beast). The Papacy ended in 1798, 1260 years after the Justinian decree in 538 AD. Pope Pius VI was taken captive by France. The destruction of the Papacy was thought to be sure because more than 1000 priests were murdered on that day.


Is America in there as some think? America became a nation in 1781. Was it the next empire? Or was the next one Islamic? Many see the spirit of the anti-Christ in the Islam religion with it's determination to force a one-world religion of Islam. The Muslim history of violence and hate, especially of Christians, goes along with this theory.



So, who are these kings? There seem to be many ideas. And all seem to have valid support.



I refuse to get bogged down and confused. I'm suppose to study this book and it's a blessing to study this book. It's His promise. But I'm also not suppose to get confused as He is not the author of confusion. So I take it as an interesting study but it's evidently not necessary for me to understand all details in order to continue loving Him and trusting that HE knows all things. Jesus Himself said that no one knows but the Father, when the end comes. If we were able to untangle all the prophetic tangles, would we be in danger of trying to determine the date and time of the end? He reveals enough for us to know it's coming and it will be bad and He provided the way of escape. I will continue to read and study this important book of the Bible. I'm not daunted. Rather, I love the One who cares for me and is my Ark of Salvation, Jesus!

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Revelation 17:15-18 15 Then the angel said to me, “The waters you saw, where the prostitute sits, are peoples, multitudes, nations and languages. 16 The beast and the ten horns you saw will hate the prostitute. They will bring her to ruin and leave her naked; they will eat her flesh and burn her with fire. 17 For God has put it into their hearts to accomplish his purpose by agreeing to hand over to the beast their royal authority, until God’s words are fulfilled. 18 The woman you saw is the great city that rules over the kings of the earth.”

The final fulfillment will be the empire of the anti-Christ and his one world religion headed by his False Prophet. They are guided, influenced and empowered by satan. The waters that the Beast and Harlot rises from are empires, nations, governments, kingdoms, peoples, multitudes of human beings. The angel explains is right there. The waters are humanity, the rolling waves of humanity that are tossed to and fro by every direction of wind. With modern technology we have the ability to catch photos to seem to show seas of people! Whether it's for a political cause, religious cause, music concert, festival and no matter where in the world it is - people can come together into such a huge crowd it looks like a sea of people! These photos are almost unbelievable showing huge crowds.











But stop and think for a moment... God planned and created every human being in these photos. You and I cannot even fathom it! He loves each person and desires each person to be reconciled to Him through Jesus Christ. There is not one human being who ever was, is or will be born that are throwaways. You may throw yourself away. Others may think you are disposable. But God planned you, created you, is intimately aware of everything in your life, your mind and your body. He loves you so much that He sent His only Son, Jesus Christ to save you! He wanted a relationship with every single human being. It is us who refuse such love. It is us that rejects Him and despises what He has done for us. But, at any point, as long as we are still breathing, we have the option of changing our mind and reaching out to God. We can repent and turn to Jesus and ask forgiveness. It is that easy and once you do change your thinking about God and reach out to Him, all is forgiven and you are saved and reconciled to Him. It is His desire and when it becomes your desire, then Jesus is there to forgive and cleanse you. Oh, I humble myself before You Father God and thank You! I thank You Jesus for saving me!


Now we are told that the Beast turns on the harlot. She came in riding on the Beast as though she were in control but now the Beast turns on her. If the Harlot is the one world religion, a false religious system, a false church, it is probably at the time that the anti-Christ, who started a one-world religion with the promise of religious peace, equality, prosperity, turns and demands to be worshiped. Leader worship has been trotted out by egomaniacs for centuries. They begin to think they are god and demand their followers to worship them as divinity. The Harlot helped the Beast to power and thought they were partners in ruling the world. She is enjoying the ride, rich, drunk with power, thinking she has control. Whoever it is, the Beast will toss her off.

The Prostitute of Babylon is betrayed by the Beast. Betrayal is an act of betraying someone; violation of a person's trust or confidence; the breaking or violation of a presumptive contract, trust, or confidence that produces moral and psychological conflict within a relationship amongst individuals, between organizations or between individuals and organizations; "Institutional Betrayal" refers to wrongdoings perpetrated by an institution upon individual's dependent on that institution.


Betrayal blindness is the unawareness, not-knowing, and forgetting exhibited by people towards betrayal.

But how can we be betrayed by a viper? We know a viper is vicious, quick, completely amoral and has no guilt. So how can we handle one without realizing we have no control over it? Knowing it's a viper, when I reach out to it, pick it up and hold it close to my face, I have no one to blame when it bites my nose and I die of venom poisoning! What kind of idiot allows their children to play with snakes?

There is nothing in a snake that stops it from biting, killing, on will and whim. It has no ability to love or think or be logical. You can't predict it's behavior and it feels no guilt.

Satan, the snake and dragon, also is evil to the core. There is no guilt or shame for him. The only predictable thing about him is that he is evil and wants to destroy you. Why would anyone put their trust in satan or those he inspires, influences and controls? People tend to think that they can manipulate and control something to get some benefit for themselves... power, riches, fame, love, acceptance, etc. Satan loves to toy with people too. He draws them into his web and then turns on them, betrays them. So if you think you are getting something from him and he lets you feel in control for a short time, don't be fooled. He will turn on you and destroy you. Once you get out on that limb, he'll cut you off.


Have you ever felt like God betrayed you? Maybe you think that's a rhetorical question on my part and you are suppose to say, "Of course not!" but deep inside you have felt betrayed by God.

Why did God let something like that happen to me, mine, them? There are so many ways to answer this question and it certainly depends upon the person and the situation. And then there is the hardest answer of all, "I can't give you an answer right now." God says that sometimes. There is an answer and we will know it one day, even if it's when we get to Heaven. But sometimes we aren't at a point where we can hear, understand or accept His answer.

But let me tell you, I only have 2 choices: trust God or trust satan. And there is no trusting satan. the outcome of trusting him is a known quantity - death, destruction, misery, betrayal and eternal damnation!

I have decided to trust and follow God. He promises me, that no matter what is happening to me or around me, He is there and will never leave me or forsake me. He promises that He loves me and will bring me to be with Him forever in Heaven. I have chosen to believe and trust in His promises.

I have been in times when I didn't understand and I cried and demanded some kind of answer. I guess, like Job, I thought I deserved to know as though it were all about me. In God's eyes, it is all about me and all about John and all about Sally and an all about Suzie... There is no limit to His personal love and devotion to each one of us. He lives outside of time and has power we can't imagine. When we are having tea with a friend, we can't be with our spouse, our children, our parents. We are limited to only being able to be one place at a time. There is no limit like that on God. So when He's with me, it doesn't diminish His ability to be with John, Sally, Suzie! His attention and focus doesn't waver. I lose sight of Him but He never loses sight of me. And He allows some hard things to happen to me in this life but there are evidently benefits that will bless me, and others, in the long run and it will be worth it. When I get to Heaven and He begins to show me the full story, I'll have tears running down my eyes and fall at His feet and say, "You were right! It was worth it!"

If you are in the middle of a traumatic situation, you might not can hear, "It will be worth it". You may not be able to understand that the death of a loved one was worth it in the end. You may not understand how trauma that makes you feel destroyed, can be worth it. I have said to God, "You are destroying me. I'm weaker, not stronger. How can this benefit me or others? I can't take any more!" But one thing here is the secret, I talked it out WITH Him. I poured out my frustrations, anger, fears, arguments to Him. I didn't run from Him (although, I don't take credit for it, all of us can run from Him at times) but to Him. He is certainly big enough to handle my questions, ragings, fears and doubts.  Sort of like Lt. Dan in Forrest Gump. He holds all this bitterness and unforgiveness for years until he finally has it out with God in the crows nest in the middle of a storm. And, somehow, it soothed him and released him. But, if he had continued running from God, he would have continued to disintegrate. I can have a temper tantrum or a meltdown or a nervous breakdown as long as I'm in His Presence. He will then use it to bring healing and release. It may happen a lot for awhile and then less often. But we are maturing in Christ as we work it out with Him! Job went through this too. He was a righteous man and yet he lost everything. How could God do this to him?
His 3 friends kept insisting that it had to be punishment for some sin but God rejected that. Sometimes things happen as a consequence of our sins. But sometimes it's deeper. God had His purposes and it wasn't up to Job to question Him. God let him rage, cry and question. The main thing was that, in all his grief, he didn't turn away from God but to Him. Finally, it was time for God to set him down and give him a little reality check. And, sure enough, that was what cleared the air! And God gives back to Job twice more than was taken away. Job says,

Job 42:2-6 (New International Version - NIV)
2 “I know that You can do all things
and that no plan of Yours can be thwarted.
3 You asked, ‘Who is this
who conceals My counsel without knowledge?’
Surely I spoke of things I did not understand,
things too wonderful for me to know.
4 You said, ‘Listen now, and I will speak.
I will question you, and you shall answer Me.’
5 My ears had heard of You,
but now my eyes have seen You,
6 Therefore I retract my words,
and I repent in dust and ashes.”

Job 42:2-6 (New Living Translation - NLT)
2 “I know that you can do anything,
and no one can stop you.
3 You asked, ‘Who is this that questions my wisdom with such ignorance?’
It is I—and I was talking about things I knew nothing about,
things far too wonderful for me.
4 You said, ‘Listen and I will speak!
I have some questions for you,
and you must answer them.’
5 I had only heard about you before,
but now I have seen you with my own eyes.
6 I take back everything I said,
and I sit in dust and ashes to show my repentance.”

Satan will betray anyone who trusts in him. God will never betray anyone who trusts in Him.

As we read and study Revelation, let us see that God is warning us about what is coming if we trust in satan. Why give us the book of Revelation? It's not so we can obsess and live in fear! It's so that we can recognize and be warned! God isn't pulling the rug out from under our feet all of a sudden with no warning! He has warned us in every way possible and been patient for thousands of years now. We are given enough information that we can make an intelligent choice and we have no excuses. Please, take the warnings and turn your heart to God. Call out to Jesus! He loves you!

Job 10:10-12 10 You guided my conception
and formed me in the womb.
11 You clothed me with skin and flesh,
and you knit my bones and sinews together.
12 You gave me life and showed me your unfailing love.
My life was preserved by your care.

Our niece, Jenny, is having fun decorating their newest home. She and Kyle and their 4 children were transferred from California to Columbia, SC for his next 4 year stint in the U.S. Air Force. They rented a big house as they have 4 children. She's been nesting since they got unloaded and she's doing a good job. We are so happy to have them back on our side of the nation and close enough to visit! Here is my digital scrapbook page about this stage in her life.

Schools are sponsoring Father Daughter Dances and it's so sweet! I would have loved to gone with my Dad to something like this when I was little. Hannah took Savannah to their hairdresser and she did a fantastic job giving her a special hairdo for the event. She had her new dress on and off she and Luke went to the dance. Meanwhile, Hannah took their son, Will, to his baseball game. Here is the digital scrapbook page of the Father Daughter Dance.

I loved this special close up photograph of Savannah, our grandniece. This is the digital scrapbook page I made of it.

Hannah chaperoned their son, Will, and his kindergarden class on a trip to Columbia, SC's Riverbanks Zoo. She took photos and I made these digital scrapbook pages using her pictures and the brochure map.

Jenny and Kyle brought the kids up for our big Harris Easter dinner at Stan's brother's house, Kenny and Anna. Each of us usually take a holiday and have the whole family over and Easter is Kenny and Anna's turn. They have such a nice home and perfect yard for Easter egg hunts. This is Ryan, Brooke and Natalie's first time to spend Easter with our family as they've always lived far away. Brooke was all dressed up and very proud of her "high heels". This is my digital scrapbook page of her Easter outfit.

I've been very sick this past week with either pneumonia or bronchitis (two different doctors). I've been resting. I can tell I've turned the corner because I'm on my laptop. I'm taking my vitamins and lots of antibiotics and prednisone (shots and pills). I should be back to normal soon. I will try to use my time wisely and keep working on my interests which will result in future posts. Check back.

Back in the very old days, people didn't have a lot of clothing and shoes. Why? Because it took so much trouble and expense to have clothes at all. For instance, before the Industrial Revolution, clothes had to be made by hand. Heck, cloth and thread had to be made by hand, as well as, buttons. Just having a pair of scissors and needles were an expense and sometimes too hard to come by. Then washing clothes and drying them was a very labor intensive job for the women in the house. Let's look at it a little bit.

How did women get cloth and thread to make clothes? You grew cotton. That meant you had to have land somewhere, seed, back breaking work from the time you plowed up the ground until you finally had a spool of thread! Wool was from sheep. You had to have the land, purchase the first sheep, feed it and take care of it before you ever put a shearer to work in clipping it. Silk was made from silkworms. None of this was easy!


The cotton grows in the bowl and when it's ready, the boll pops open. But the sections of the cotton boll that pop open are hard and very sharp. My Dad picked cotton as a boy and told me how awful those cotton bolls were on your hands. He said your hands would be bleeding until you developed hard calluses. I believe it's why a lot of women wore gloves when they went out in public. It hid the hard working hands and the calluses they had.
Once it was picked, cotton had to be cleaned, combed out.
It had seeds in it and you had to got those seeds out. In the Industrial Revolution, Eli Whitney developed the cotton gin which separated the cotton fiber from the seeds.

Then came the spinning cotton into thread using spinning wheels.
And, finally, weaving the thread into cloth.

Wool was the fur of sheep. After the wool gets long enough and it's the right time of year, then men would use special scissors to shear the sheep down to the skin. The wool had to be cleaned and combed also before it went on to the spinning wheel. You could spin thicker thread for yarn which could be knitted into sweaters and socks or you could spin it thinner where it also could be woven into woolen cloth.


That's just to get cloth and thread. Buttons were often made of horn, sliced walnut shell, wood, bone and even thread wrapped wire. Metal buttons were more expensive and were made of copper, brass or pewter. Only the wealthy could afford ivory, silver or gold buttons.

So when someone finally got the cloth, thread, buttons and the tools such as scissors and needles, they could cut out and sew clothing. In America today we have no understanding of how much work and expense went into making clothes.

Then there was leather for shoes or coats. Leather comes from animal skins. That means you have to have an animal and you have to slaughter the animal to get the skin and then you processed the skin to make the leather. The leather then could be cut out and made into shoes by a cobbler or someone with cobbler training.

Once you have a complete set of clothes (including socks, underwear, coat, hat, gloves) and a pair of shoes, it meant a lot for you to take care of them. You knew how much work went into getting that one outfit and one pair of shoes so you tried to take care of them so they would last for a long time. Many people went barefoot to save their shoes (although the poorest didn't have any shoes, winter or summer) whenever they could. Once it was warm enough, shoes came off and people went barefoot around the house and farm. They would only wear their shoes to church or the store. As children grew out of clothes and shoes, they were saved for the younger children and were called hand-me-downs. As children grow fast, a mother would always try to make the clothes a little big to start with. Then you rolled up the pant legs or sleeves and let them down as the child grew. If a child got a hole in the knee of the pants or elbows of a shirt, the mother carefully repaired these, even putting patches on them. Once an item of clothing was beyond repair or use, the mother would carefully deconstruct the item and save the thread by rewinding it on an old spool. She would save any buttons in button jars. If there was any piece of the cloth left, she would try to re-use it in some way. Maybe she could make it into handkerchiefs (before disposable tissues), menstrual rags (before disposable feminine products), sweat shields (padded cotton that was pinned under the arms to catch sweat so it wouldn't ruin a new shirt or dress), cleaning rags, baby clothes, quilt squares and, finally, rag rugs. Everything was re-used. I remember my Grandmothers deconstructing clothes and saving the thread and buttons and re-using the material so it's only been the last 50 years that everything has become so disposable.

Then there was the washing of clothes. It was an all day ordeal to wash. Water had to be drawn, wood brought up, fires started, cast iron tubs brought out, lye soap to be made to use for washing. Women would have to scrub using scrub boards. Their hands were in that lye soap and hot water. This, and washing dishes, gave women dishwasher hands (another reason why many wore gloves when they went out in public). Then the soapy water was wrung out and the clothes dipped in clear rinsing water, wrung and dipped until they weren't soapy any more. Then they were hung out to dry. Byt the time the last load was washed, the first load was dry. Then the ladies had to heat irons on the woodstoves and they starched and ironed the clothing. Finally put away, the clothes were ready for wear again.

Are you getting the picture? There were no closets full of clothes unless you were very wealthy. Your regular citizens didn't have a lot to choose from and it took a lot to make and care for clothing and shoes. So most old houses didn't even have closets. You have some pegs or a small wardrobe.




Wardrobes were furniture pieces made to hold your clothes much like a closet today.
This oak wardrobe had a small hanging section on the right. The small cabinet door on the left is for a hat. The drawers would have held pants, shirts, underwear. You can imagine that not many clothes fit in it.



This little wardrobe was for 2 people. Each side had a small hanging area for a dress or suit. the deep drawers for hats, the smaller drawers for underwear and shirts. This one had the luxury of a mirror with a tray for rings or cufflinks (used rather than buttons on shirt sleeves).

Today we have easy access to clothes, washing machines and dryers and more disposable income to buy clothing and shoes. We are very spoiled to our many shoes and clothes. As our wardrobes grew bigger we needed bigger closets. In our split level house built in 1967, each bedroom had a 6 foot closet with bifold doors. The master bedroom for my parents had a "walk in closet"! That was thought to be such a luxury! The master bedroom also had a small ensuite bathroom along with the larger bathroom for my sisters and I. That meant there was not only running water and indoor toilet but TWO bathrooms inside one house! Whoo hoo! We were moving up in the world! Bathrooms were not even in the older homes. They had to be added which is why you often saw back porch bathrooms or a bedroom turned into a bathroom.

So today, we have very different outlooks on life. Some for the good and some for the bad. I certainly don't want to go back to handwashing my clothes or outhouses in the backyard. But we've become so spoiled that we don't value or take care of what we do have. We don't see our clothes and shoes as valuable so we treat them as so much trash. If you, or your children, have rooms and closets full of stuff like this, you might be in trouble.








When you see clothes laying on the floor and people walking on them, they are considered trash. If you see clothes stuffed up under beds and laying all over furniture, they are considered trash. Sorry, but that's the way it is. If you have enough money to spend on clothes and shoes but trash them, you have more money than sense. Children who are allowed to trash clothes, shoes and toys should not be given clothes, shoes and toys. You are doing them a disservice to allow them to do this. They need to understand the value of what they have and be thankful or they shouldn't have the things to start with. I had an uncle one time with a stepdaughter who trashed her room. At 9 yrs old she had no concept of the real cost of the things she was abusing. So he removed everything from her room but one outfit of clothes and her bed. If she kept that clean one day, then she was allowed to pick something from her stuff. If she played with it and put it up, she was allowed something else. She had to earn her stuff back.

That takes discipline and consistent parenting. Both parents have to agree and stick to their guns or it doesn't work. The child will only manipulate you and she's learned a worse lesson. If you don't mind the mess, the wasted money, the chaos in your home or the bad lessons your children are learning, keep it up. Keep giving them what they want, when they want it and let them trash it.

Maybe you are one of those adults who didn't learn how to take care of your things or keep your room neat. Maybe you need some self-imposed austerity. I think that's what the whole "tiny house" movement is about. People are tired of having a house of chaos and mess and spending their money on stuff they throw away or think of as worthless. I think the whole simplification movement is because of the waste and consumerism that most fall into. I'm no different than any other human being. I see, I like, I want to buy. Then I have to put it up, maintain it, store it, etc. It's a constant tension between desires and commonsense. Instead of looking for a bigger house with bigger closets, maybe downsize until what you have fits your house. You don't have to have 15 prs of tennis shoes or 25 white tshirts! You don't have to keep the pants with the holes in them and you don't have to buy the same pants in 3 different sizes because of your yo-yo diets. It's time, as an adult, to make some hard decisions. Save your money and don't buy as much. Clean out and organize what you do really need. Keep up the program. It doesn't do bit of good to clean, give away and organize if, within a year, everything is back to laying on the floor and you just spent hundreds of dollars on new clothes and shoes that you didn't have room for. All you did was cull out, donate and then replaced. Another waste of money.

Make some hard choices and stick with it. How many pairs of underwear can you possibly use between washes? I'd say, for me, 3-4 pairs and then I'm doing laundry. So why do I have 18 prs of underwear? Same with bras, gowns, dresses, slacks, bluejeans, etc. I do have a nice sized walk in closet. But I do not have clothes anywhere else. I don't have a chest of drawers, lingerie cabinet, shoe closet, etc. All my clothes and shoes from socks to sweaters and jackets are in my one closet. There are no clothes laying on my floor or my furniture and certainly none stuffed under the bed. When I get up, I go in my closet and hang my gown on the hook on the closet door (or put in the hamper), and put my clothes on. When I go to bed at night, I put my clothes back in the closet on their hangers, place my shoes on the shelf and put on my gown. The hamper is just outside the closet and dirty clothes go in the hamper until laundry time. When my clothes are washed, I fold and put them away. I do not leave stacks of my clothes in the laundry room or sitting on the bed. They are hung up or folded and put away. It's all in the attitude and the maintenance. If you have the attitude that clothes are trash you won't take care of them. If you are thankful for the blessing of the clothes and shoes you have, you will take care of them. God has provided a way for me to have a nice home and good clothes and shoes. I try to keep in balance what I spend on things and what I have to take care of. Not too much, not too little.

The famous organizer, Marie Kondo, wants you to touch each item and take the moment to be thankful for your home and your blessings such as the clothes you are putting in your closet. This helps you develop the right attitude. For me, I see God as the provider. He has made sure my husband has a good job, that I have a home with a closet, that I have clothes and shoes. How ungrateful I would be to trash what God has given me. So learning to develop the right attitude of gratitude is essential in cleaning up your act. Do you want to continue on in selfish, greedy, spoiled attitudes? Or do you want to be wise, thankful and generous? If you have excess, don't be greedy but generous. Give it away. Release it to someone who needs or wants it.

Remember, if you can't keep up with your household chores, you may have too many things to keep up with. Too many clothes to keep washed, dried and put away. Too big of a kitchen for you to keep clean and functional. Too big of a house to where you don't have the energy or time to keep it clean. Too many bathrooms for you to keep clean. Sometimes it's not about needing a bigger house but needing a smaller one, or less things, so you can keep up.

Now let's look at closets.

Do you long for a nice big closet all organized like this?
If you can't keep a small closet organized and nice, then you don't need a bigger one. There is a lot of money in closet organizers. This takes up valuable real estate in a house (one that could be a bedroom for someone) just for a closet and you spent money on organizers. But you will still be in the same mess if you don't already know how to keep a closet clean and organized.

My little closet in our family's split level ranch was a 6 ft closet. I was a little girl. But I kept my clothes and toys in my closet.

When my husband and I got married we had a 6 ft closet with bifold doors for both of our wardrobes. I managed to keep it clean and organized although my clothes were somewhat smushed due to overcrowding. But we always put our clothes away and kept our shoes in the closet.

My next house had 2 6 ft closets in the Master bedroom with a dressing area. I used one for winter clothes and the other for summer clothes. When I proved I could take care of my closets and clothes, God gave me another house (our current house) that has a walk in closet with dressing area and a separate closet (which I don't use for clothes or shoes) in the Master bedroom. I am so thankful to have the room I have now but I was thankful back as a little girl to have the smaller closet. It's all in the attitude! If you show ingratitude to God by groaning, complaining, whining then don't expect any nicer gifts. If you trash everything God gives you, why should He bless you with anything else?

If you want a closet like this, be ready with the time and energy and money it takes to have a nice closet like this. This is real estate, floor space. It may be a closet but it still has to be vacuumed, mopped, the shelves have to be dusted, the light fixture has to be cleaned, the mirrors polished, etc. Just like any other room and furniture.

Some people are liking the open closet concept.


I realize closet doors take up too much space (if you are building a house, think of pocket doors). But I think I'd rather have them for two reasons. 1) Even though I keep my clothes in good condition, put away and clean, the visual clutter might really bother me. 2) Unless you are real minimalist, dust is going to be a problem on your clothing, shoes, accessories. Bedrooms are dusty places because of the lint in the air from materials like your bed linens, towels, clothes, carpets/rugs, pillows, etc. I just don't want to have to fight dust on my clothes constantly. If I only have a few outfits and a couple of pairs of shoes, that's not going to be a problem but otherwise, it's a problem.

This person literally lives in their closet. But then everything is extremely controlled. You have glass doors and matching storage boxes to ward off dust and there is a minimal of stuff despite all the room he has.

If you are having a problem with closet doors, floor to ceiling curtains might be the answer. I've done this before.









I like the wallpaper in the closet. I've done that before too.


This beautiful closet is a bit much. I wouldn't go to the expense and maintenance nightmare of a crystal chandelier in my closet. Nor do I want to sit and read a bood in my closet. So the windowseat is kind of a waste of space and money. I do not have carpets anywhere in my house. But if I did, I do love this sculpted pattern. I also love the smooth painted ceiling. Very pretty, dressy but doesn't cost a lot of money to do.

This closet is good in many ways. I like that there isn't a lot of unused floor space. The flooring is practical. The smooth ceiling, the nice finish molding and the wedgewood blue ceiling color is a definite bonus. I like the glass doors that keep things from getting dusty. I would have preferred more of the glass doors for the shelving. There is room for two hampers (whites and colors). I like the hanging hook. You need one for your gown or your purse, etc. The builtin chest of drawers is nice but you can probably buy a real chest of drawers at a thrift store or yard sale, paint and use. then you would have real wood. I would do without the chandelier so I wouldn't have to keep it clean. A cheap ceiling fixture is all you need in a closet. I did change mine out to a big flourescent one. It was cheap to buy, the bulbs last forever and it's enclosed so it doesn't need a lot of cleaning. Gives off a lot of light too.

Jenny got a new hairdo and posted these photos on Facebook. She looked so good that I couldn't wait to create a page for her. I used looped string to hint at the wavy curl she has. So this is my digital scrapbook page on her new hairstyle.

I have been studying the book of Revelation chapter by chapter and posting it here on my blog. If you need to go look at all of studies on Revelation click HERE.

Revelation 18:1-3 1 After this I saw another angel descending from heaven with great authority, and the earth was illuminated by his glory. 2 And he cried out in a mighty voice:
“Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great!
She has become a lair for demons
and a haunt for every unclean spirit,
every unclean bird, and every detestable beast.
3 All the nations have drunk the wine
of the passion of her immorality.
The kings of the earth were immoral with her,
and the merchants of the earth have grown wealthy
from the extravagance of her luxury.”

In Revelation 17, an angel comes to the Apostle John and explains a vision he has seen which includes the introduction to the Whore of Babylon, the Harlot, the spiritual Prostitute. For my study on Revelation 17, click HERE.

This is not the same angel that was standing by John and explaining the vision. The "mystery" of the beast and the harlot was declared in Chapter 17, this angel now describes the doom that awaits them. This angel is sent from heaven with judgment from God. Some say this angel is actually Jesus Christ bringing judgment. Others say it is one of the archangels. I tend to think this is an angel, not Jesus, but one who is commissioned and reflects God's glory as he brings judgment. The Whore of Babylon was idolatrous, wicked, greedy and a lure to men (and women). They were lured away from God by this tawdry, tacky Harlot and her worldly riches.

"The downfall and destruction of the mystical Babylon are determined in the counsels of God. Another angel comes from heaven. This seems to be Christ himself, coming to destroy his enemies, and to shed abroad the light of his gospel through all nations. The wickedness of this Babylon was very great; she had forsaken the true God, and set up idols, and had drawn all sorts of men into spiritual adultery, and by her wealth and luxury kept them in her interest. The spiritual merchandise, by which multitudes have wickedly lived in wealth, by the sins and follies of mankind, seems principally intended. Fair warning is given to all that expect mercy from God, that they should not only come out of this Babylon, but assist in her destruction. God may have a people even in Babylon. But God's people shall be called out of Babylon, and called effectually, while those that partake with wicked men in their sins, must receive of their plagues." - Matthew Henry's Commentary

Revelation 18:2 She has become a lair for demons
and a haunt for every unclean spirit,
every unclean bird, and every detestable beast.

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
a lair - κατοικητήριον (katoikētērion) - Noun - Nominative Neuter Singular
Strong's Greek 2732: A habitation, dwelling-place, abode. From a derivative of katoikeo; a dwelling-place.
It indicates a place where residents settle down with the idea of a protracted residence.

for demons - δαιμονίων (daimoniōn) - Noun - Genitive Neuter Plural
Strong's Greek 1140: An evil-spirit, demon; a heathen deity. Neuter of a derivative of daimon; a demonic being; by extension a deity.

a haunt - φυλακὴ (phylakē) - Noun - Nominative Feminine Singular
Strong's Greek 5438: From phulasso; a guarding or, the act, the person; figuratively, the place, the condition, or, the time, literally or figuratively.
This indicates it's not just a home but a prison, a place of involuntary confinement. During the thousand years Satan is bound in the abyss, he is unable to escape from his location. The same term describes the prison which Satan is released from at the end of the Millennial Kingdom (Revelation 20:7)

for every - παντὸς (pantos) - Adjective - Genitive Neuter Singular
Strong's Greek 3956: All, the whole, every kind of. Including all the forms of declension; apparently a primary word; all, any, every, the whole.

unclean - ἀκαθάρτου (akathartou) - Adjective - Genitive Neuter Singular
Strong's Greek 169: Unclean, impure. Impure (lewd) or specially, (demonic).

spirit, - πνεύματος (pneumatos) - Noun - Genitive Neuter Singular
Strong's Greek 4151: Wind, breath, spirit.

As we look across our world, we can see cities that seem to be "lairs for demons". Every evil and filthy thing imaginable comes crawling out of the sewers of most of the cities in this world. Idolatry, greed, addictions, sexual immorality of every description, rapes, murder, theft, corruption, lies/deceit, abuse of any vulnerable person (unborn babies, children, elderly, handicapped, women, mentally handicapped, widows and orphans, etc). It's truly hideous what human beings can do to one another. Rioting in the streets, brazen theft, car jackings, home invasions, drug wars, human trafficking, vandalism, bullying... satan and his demons run rampant in the lives of people. Yes, most cities and towns are "lairs of demons" and "haunts" of the unclean.

What are unclean animals, birds and bugs? In Leviticus 11 and Deuteronomy 14, God instructs the Israelites not to eat certain animals, birds or bugs.

Leviticus 11:1-25 1 Then the LORD said to Moses and Aaron, 2 “Give the following instructions to the people of Israel.
“Of all the land animals, these are the ones you may use for food. 3 You may eat any animal that has completely split hooves and chews the cud. 4 You may not, however, eat the following animals that have split hooves or that chew the cud, but not both. The camel chews the cud but does not have split hooves, so it is ceremonially unclean for you. 5 The hyrax chews the cud but does not have split hooves, so it is unclean. 6 The hare chews the cud but does not have split hooves, so it is unclean. 7 The pig has evenly split hooves but does not chew the cud, so it is unclean. 8 You may not eat the meat of these animals or even touch their carcasses. They are ceremonially unclean for you.
9 “Of all the marine animals, these are ones you may use for food. You may eat anything from the water if it has both fins and scales, whether taken from salt water or from streams. 10 But you must never eat animals from the sea or from rivers that do not have both fins and scales. They are detestable to you. This applies both to little creatures that live in shallow water and to all creatures that live in deep water. 11 They will always be detestable to you. You must never eat their meat or even touch their dead bodies. 12 Any marine animal that does not have both fins and scales is detestable to you.
13 “These are the birds that are detestable to you. You must never eat them: the griffon vulture, the bearded vulture, the black vulture, 14 the kite, falcons of all kinds, 15 ravens of all kinds, 16 the eagle owl, the short-eared owl, the seagull, hawks of all kinds, 17 the little owl, the cormorant, the great owl, 18 the barn owl, the desert owl, the Egyptian vulture, 19the stork, herons of all kinds, the hoopoe, and the bat.
20 “You must not eat winged insects that walk along the ground; they are detestable to you. 21 You may, however, eat winged insects that walk along the ground and have jointed legs so they can jump. 22 The insects you are permitted to eat include all kinds of locusts, bald locusts, crickets, and grasshoppers. 23 All other winged insects that walk along the ground are detestable to you.
24 “The following creatures will make you ceremonially unclean. If any of you touch their carcasses, you will be defiled until evening. 25 If you pick up their carcasses, you must wash your clothes, and you will remain defiled until evening.

God didn’t give laws to be arbitrary and controlling. He gave His laws “that it might be well” with those who obey Him. Some of the laws are for sanitation reasons, hygiene reasons, health reasons and mental health reasons. Remember, the Jews lived centuries ago in a hot, desert type environment and they had no idea about germs, bacteria, viruses, or how diseases spread. There was no refrigeration or electricity for them to process and store food safely. There was no indoor plumbing, running water, sewage treatment centers, bathrooms, etc. When you read through the laws, most of them make good sense if you keep that in mind. God was trying to keep them healthy whether they understood it or not. Today, we know how dirty water can be and what kind of diseases it can carry but they didn't. So taking a little wine or adding wine to water, helped purify water with the alcohol killing some of the germs. We also know how fast meat can go bad in a hot environment. That was why our ancestors had hog killing time in the late Fall. It wasn't so cold that you couldn't do it, but it was cold enough so that you could process the meat and have it hanging before it went bad because the cold air refrigerated it through those hours between kill and cure. They didn't even have that luxury in the Middle East as it doesn't get cold enough to be able to process pork. Then there are the "garbage guts". Many of the forbidden animals and birds were garbage collectors such as vultures, hawks, pigs, shellfish (such as shrimp, oysters, crabs) that feed off of decaying flesh or organic material that falls to the sea floor like sewage. Lions, wolves, dogs, cats, etc. kill by going after the weakest, and perhaps they are weak because they are sick. These animals can ingest decaying flesh without it killing them. But it goes through their system and could pass on things to us if we ate them.

“Could it be that God, in His wisdom, created certain creatures whose sole purpose is to clean up after the others? Their entire ‘calling’ may be to act exclusively as the sanitation workers of our ecology. God may simply be telling us that it’s better for us believers not to consume the meat of these trash collectors”. David Meinz, Nutritionist, Eating by the Book, 1999, p. 225

God had His reasons whether we understand them or not and it is not for us to pick and choose what commands we will obey. And Jews were suppose to follow these laws to the best of their ability because God said so. Much like your Mom and Dad used to say, "I don't care if you understand or not. You will do what I say because I said so!" Children are often not mature enough to understand why Mom and Dad say so. Or maybe there isn't enough time for questions, just obey! If a child is playing in the  middle of the road and Mom sees a car coming, she will shout, "GET OUT OF THE ROAD!" If the child stands there, looks at Mom and asks, "Why?",  the child could get run over by the time he understood the danger. There isn't enough time for an explanation and reason, just get out of the road! If you trust your Mom and/or Dad love you enough to take care of you to the best of their ability, then get a move on and obey them. They most likely aren't telling you to do something just to boss you around. There are reasons and good ones at that. I might tell my child to take out the trash. The child gets mad and stomps around and can't understand why they have to do the chore. But Mom knows it's important to teach them responsibility, cooperation, teamwork, sanitation and good manners. If the child never has to throw out the garbage, they may grow up to throw garbage on the ground or floor, live in a pigsty and respect for themselves, their possessions (blessings from God) and others in their household or in their immediate vicinity. If there is one pet peeve I have, it's seeing trash just thrown in other people's yards, on the roadside, in public places, etc. Heck, I can't stand having trash lying around my house! It's slovenly and lazy not to take your trash to your trashcan and to regularly take the trash out. I don't want to be tripping over someone's trash, smelling it, circumnavigating it. It's a filthy, disrespectful habit that shows laziness and discourtesy to those around you. When a child is 7 yrs old, they don't understand all these reasons, but Mom and Dad should and they are right to teach and train their child to take the trash out. It will benefit them in the long run. When I'm watching movies, I get so aggravated at people who refuse to move when someone is telling them to get out! They just stand there and demand explanations. Meanwhile whatever booger, or disaster, is getting nearer. Some even resist and fight the well meaning hero/heroine just to demand a step-by-step explanation! I want to shout with the hero, "THERE'S NO TIME FOR ALL THAT YOU STUPID TWIT! GET MOVING!" They endanger themselves and their rescuers because they demand an explanation! I bet God gets that all the time. He sees a disaster on the horizon and is giving us all the warnings but we stand with our arms folded refusing to budge until God explains everything to OUR satisfaction. It's to our own best benefit to heed God and obey whether we understand or not. It's what sets us apart from the rest of the world. When we trust Him and obey Him, with or without explanation, we are showing to the world that we trust in His love for us. So the Jews, by obeying God's Laws, were supposedly a witness to the world that they trusted in God's love for them. They were set apart. This didn't preclude anyone. Gentiles could become Jews or join the Jewish nation by trusting in Jehovah and following His commands. There is a definite link between a relationship with a God we love and obedience to His commands out of love and devotion to Him. When we have a relationship with God, we learn to trust in Him and to believe in His utter love for us. Then it's not hard to obey His commands.

But we also know, from reading the Old and New Testament in it's entirety, that the Jews struggled with loving God enough to trust and obey. In fact, the nation seesawed back and forth when it came loving and trusting in God. Over and over again, they chose to trust in other gods, idols, and other nations, rather than in God. They were no better than the Gentile world. And so it is with all humans.

The Jews refer to unclean animals, birds and insects as non-Kosher. Everything they are allowed to eat, according to God's Laws, are called Kosher. My husband works for a food manufacturer and they have to meet certain guidelines for Jewish Law if they put "Kosher" on the packaging. A Jewish food expert will come in and inspect, make suggestions, consult, etc. to make sure they are following Jewish Law in preparing food so that it can be considered "Kosher". There are extensive dietary laws for Jews to follow even down to what pot to boil in and what plate to serve on and when to eat something and the ingredients, etc. Not all of that is in Leviticus and Deuteronomy. You can read for yourself. Beyond what is in the Holy Bible, it means that some human(s) have decided on all the other details. I'm sure they had their reasons for the additions, at least at the time they were added.

Orthodox Jews try to follow the laws strictly (all of them) despite the change in knowledge, technology and science in the last 100 years. I can understand that they believe if God said it, then they should obey it. God does not change and we should not decide for ourselves if a law should, or should not, be obeyed. On the other hand, many of their dietary laws are outside of the Hebrew Bible (or Tanakh), the collection of ancient religious writings by the Israelites that Christians call the Old Testament. Also God has given us great gifts in science and technology in the last 100 years that have made some of the dietary laws seem unnecessary.

When it comes to Christians and the New Testament, we find these were heavy questions to the first church Christians. Once they accept Jesus as their Savior, do they have to follow the Old Testament Jewish laws? The Apostles addressed the issue by teaching if you are convicted by God to follow, or stop following, Jewish law, follow God's direction. But don't impose one way or the other on anyone else. Having grown up following those laws, it came naturally to the Messianic Jews (those who were Jews but accepted Jesus as the Messiah and Savior) to continue eating as they had been. For instance, if you had never eaten pork, you probably weren't tempted to eat a ham sandwich, it wouldn't appeal to you. On the other hand, it wouldn't be right to insist all Christians refuse to eat pork or to insist all Christians must eat pork. It's between them and God and not something to be commanded or dictated. It's not a sin one way or the other as long as you are following God's leading in your own heart. They were to remember that God chose Abraham and his descendants to be His People before there was the Law. So it wasn't following the Law that brought salvation, but faith in God. We are back to having a relationship with God based on love and faith. He loves us and we love Him. We can obey Him because He loves us and we can trust in that love.

Romans 4:13,16 13 Clearly, God’s promise to give the whole earth to Abraham and his descendants was based not on his obedience to God’s law, but on a right relationship with God that comes by faith... 16 So the promise is received by faith. It is given as a free gift. And we are all certain to receive it, whether or not we live according to the law of Moses, if we have faith like Abraham’s. For Abraham is the father of all who believe.

Acts 10:9-16 9 The next day as Cornelius’s messengers were nearing the town, Peter went up on the flat roof to pray. It was about noon, 10 and he was hungry. But while a meal was being prepared, he fell into a trance. 11 He saw the sky open, and something like a large sheet was let down by its four corners. 12 In the sheet were all sorts of animals, reptiles, and birds. 13 Then a voice said to him, “Get up, Peter; kill and eat them.”
14 “No, Lord,” Peter declared. “I have never eaten anything that our Jewish laws have declared impure and unclean.”
15 But the voice spoke again: “Do not call something unclean if God has made it clean.” 16 The same vision was repeated three times. Then the sheet was suddenly pulled up to heaven.

Matthew 15:17-20 (Jesus speaking) 17 “Anything you eat passes through the stomach and then goes into the sewer. 18 But the words you speak come from the heart—that’s what defiles you. 19 For from the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, all sexual immorality, theft, lying, and slander. 20 These are what defile you. Eating with unwashed hands will never defile you.”

1 Timothy 4:3-5 They will say it is wrong to be married and wrong to eat certain foods. But God created those foods to be eaten with thanks by faithful people who know the truth. 4 Since everything God created is good, we should not reject any of it but receive it with thanks. 5 For we know it is made acceptable by the word of God and prayer.

1 Corinthians 8:7-13 7 However, not all believers know this. Some are accustomed to thinking of idols as being real, so when they eat food that has been offered to idols, they think of it as the worship of real gods, and their weak consciences are violated. 8 It’s true that we can’t win God’s approval by what we eat. We don’t lose anything if we don’t eat it, and we don’t gain anything if we do.9But you must be careful so that your freedom does not cause others with a weaker conscience to stumble. 10 For if others see you—with your “superior knowledge”—eating in the temple of an idol, won’t they be encouraged to violate their conscience by eating food that has been offered to an idol? 11 So because of your superior knowledge, a weak believer for whom Christ died will be destroyed. 12 And when you sin against other believers by encouraging them to do something they believe is wrong, you are sinning against Christ. 13 So if what I eat causes another believer to sin, I will never eat meat again as long as I live—for I don’t want to cause another believer to stumble.

Note - we are not to fall into gluttony where food becomes our god and we become addicted to food. There is sin in that.


Back to Revelation 18:2, we have learned what unclean animals and birds are but why is God mentioning it in this verse?




I talked about how God used Babylon as a tool to try to bring the Israelites back to God. A tool of direction, then a tool of correction and, finally, a tool of judgment. There have been other nations like Babylon. Tyre, in Ezekiel 26-28, and Babylon, Revelation 18, are called out by God on their pride. They were known for their empires, commercial successes, shipping, and idolatrous influence upon other nations. The destruction of Tyre did happen. Nebuchadnezzar indeed laid siege to Tyre from 585–573 B.C., a thirteen-year siege in all. Tyre was situated so there was a mainland city on the coast and an island part of the city.


Here are some excerpts from Ezekiel's prophecies of Tyre:
Ezekiel 26:1-2 1 On February 3, during the twelfth year of King Jehoiachin’s captivity,a this message came to me from the LORD: 2 “Son of man, Tyre has rejoiced over the fall of Jerusalem, saying, ‘Ha! She who was the gateway to the rich trade routes to the east has been broken, and I am the heir! Because she has been made desolate, I will become wealthy!’

Ezekiel 26:7a 7 “This is what the Sovereign LORD says: From the north I will bring King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon against Tyre..."

Ezekiel 26:19-21 “This is what the Sovereign LORD says: I will make Tyre an uninhabited ruin, like many others. I will bury you beneath the terrible waves of enemy attack. Great seas will swallow you. 20 I will send you to the pit to join those who descended there long ago. Your city will lie in ruins, buried beneath the earth, like those in the pit who have entered the world of the dead. You will have no place of respect here in the land of the living. 21 I will bring you to a terrible end, and you will exist no more. You will be looked for, but you will never again be found. I, the Sovereign LORD, have spoken!”

Ezekiel 28:1-2 1 Then this message came to me from the LORD: 2 “Son of man, give the prince of Tyre this message from the Sovereign LORD:
“In your great pride you claim, ‘I am a god!
I sit on a divine throne in the heart of the sea.’
But you are only a man and not a god,
though you boast that you are a god.

In fact, most scholars see the "prince of Tyre" as satan himself. They see Ezekiel 28 as a description of him and his fall from heaven. Another dual fulfillment, as Tyre was actually a city and was destroyed by King Nebuchadnezzar and "many nations". But originally, satan is described and his end prophesied here as well.

Have you ever read Tom Wolfe's Bonfire of the Vanities? The story is a drama about ambition, racism, social class, politics, and greed in 1980s New York City. It describes Sherman McCoy, a bonds trader in New York, who has become wealthy. He has everything, including a svelt, upper tone wife and a beautiful little daughter. But he attributes his success to himself and calls himself one of the "Masters of the Universe" and looks down on EVERYONE else, including his wife and daughter! Of course, the rest of the story humbles him painfully. I mean, where do we get off thinking we are god?!?

"He was of that breed whose natural destiny it was…to have what they wanted!" - Tom Wolfe's The Bonfire of the Vanities, Chapter 4, page 77

In his story (which is not a Christian book, by the way), Wolfe describes how Sherman McCoy is debased from his lofty height of pride. Wolfe used various ways to pull him down and he falls hard. God used tools to punish Jerusalem to bring them back to Him. But, even the "tools" became so full of pride that God went after them next. Jerusalem, His true people, were never forgotten and He always took care of the remnant, the true believers.

"The Achaemenid Empire of King Cyrus the Great conquered the city in 539 BC and kept it under its rule until 332 BC. The Persians then divided Phoenicia into four vassal kingdoms: Sidon, Tyre, Arwad, and Byblos. They prospered, furnishing fleets for Persian kings. Phoenician influence declined after this.
"After his conquest of Persia, Alexander the Great moved his armies south towards Lebanon, eventually sieging and sacking the City of Tyre. Alexander the Great connected the island to the mainland by constructing a causeway during his siege of the city in 332 BC, demolishing the old city to reuse its cut stone. In 315 BC, Alexander's former general Antigonus began his own siege of Tyre, taking the city a year later. In 126 BC, Tyre regained its independence from the Seleucid Empire." - Wikipedia

Hiram, king of Tyre, played a major role in the building materials for important structures such as the Israelite kings’ palaces and the first temple of King David and King Solomon (circa 1000 B.C.). In numerous bible verses, the text states that Hiram sent cedar trees, carpenters, masons, and builders to Israel (2 Samuel 5:11) because of their skill in timber cutting (1 Kings 5:1-18) and shipping But eventually, Tyre exulted over Jerusalem's punishments. Their slave trade even enslaved Jews to sell to their Greeks.

Alexander's conquest brought a permanent end to the Phoenician Empire. He even scraped the city and pushed the debris to form a land bridge to the island of Tyre. Tyre has been conquered or ruled over by the Greeks, the Persians, the Romans, the Crusaders and the Arabs, who destroyed the city, in 1291. The original island city is now under water. The rest of the island is still there with the land bridge. A small modern city called Tyre or Sur, now stands near the ruins of the ancient mainland city. It is the fourth largest city in Lebanon after Beirut, Tripoli, Aley and Sidon, and houses one of the nation's major ports. So the prophecy did come true.

You will notice between the two stories of Tyre and Babylon, their principal sins were pride and idolatry. God uses them as tools, as weapons to punish pride, greed, idolatry. But their time is coming when they will be judged. In history, Tyre and Babylon, have been destroyed.

Jeremiah 51:1 This is what the LORD says: “I will stir up a destroyer against Babylon and the people of Babylonia."
Jeremiah 51:6-7 6 Flee from Babylon! Save yourselves!
Don’t get trapped in her punishment!
It is the LORD’s time for vengeance;
he will repay her in full.
7 Babylon has been a gold cup in the LORD’s hands,
a cup that made the whole earth drunk.
The nations drank Babylon’s wine,
and it drove them all mad.

Jeremiah 51:20 “You are my battle-ax and sword,” says the LORD, “With you I will shatter nations and destroy many kingdoms.

Jeremiah 51:25-26 25 “Look, O mighty mountain, destroyer of the earth!
I am your enemy,” says the LORD.
“I will raise my fist against you,
to knock you down from the heights.
When I am finished,
you will be nothing but a heap of burnt rubble.
26 You will be desolate forever.
Even your stones will never again be used for building.
You will be completely wiped out,” says the LORD.

It would behoove us to watch ourselves and not let the same thing happen to us or to our country. America can choose to be on God's side or satan's side and we keep choosing pride, commercialism, idolatry and rejecting the only true God. We have been a help to Israel in the past but some of our leaders don't even want to do that any more. We have cut our ties to Jehovah God. We have pridefully shouted that we don't need "God" any more and there should be "separation between church and state" as though that were somehow written in scripture! It wasn't, and it's not even in the U.S. Constitution. It was in a letter written by Thomas Jefferson to Baptists in 1802. But those who hate God love to run out this statement in some kind of self righteous frenzy so they can continue to delete God from American life, government, society and culture. We now teach our children in state supported schools that there is no God or all gods are the same. We cannot worship any god in any government funded institution. We cannot read His Word in school; we cannot carry His Word in school libraries; we cannot have religious speakers or prayers read in school; we cannot teach the Ten Commandments, the Golden Rule, the Lord's Prayer, the Twenty Third Psalm or John 3:16 in school (like we did when I went to school in the 1960-1970's). I have no idea what atheists are so afraid their children will learn if we teach those fundamentals? Treat everyone with the respect they want to be treated with; love their enemies; don't kill, steal or lie; and there is someone who loves them and provided a way of salvation for them. I mean, honestly, even if I wasn't a believer, I would still want my child taught those basic principles that make life better for everyone. But Americans have allowed these things to be railroaded out of our public institutions as though they were despicable and we've been flooded with social experiments ever since. We now teach them sex education which isn't just how babies are made but how to prevent unwanted pregnancies and STDs in graphic detail and all the different ways someone can have sex in all it's most perverted manners. And if it weren't enough to teach that to children using my tax dollars in public schools, they get to see it in constant vivid color and stereo surround sound in every TV program, movie and music. I had one black person pull up beside me with their stereo on so loud that it was causing my SUV to rattle and my heart to jump in my chest. She was laid back on the steering wheel damaging her ears but that wasn't what concerned me. The words to the song, which I couldn't avoid hearing even with my windows up, were so disgusting that I wanted to vomit. It was pornographic and I'll leave it at that. Those words were being blasted into her head, and the heads of everyone around her in traffic. And it's what is being blasted into our children. But heaven forbid, someone should say a Bible verse in a classroom. That might offend someone's tender ear! It's so ludicrous, with not one shred of logic behind it, that it must be satanically inspired.

But America, better wake up or we will find ourselves in these scriptures of utter destruction! It happened with Hitler, the USSR, etc. All the "empires" influenced and empowered by satan have come to utter destruction and the end time empire of the anti-Christ will also be utterly destroyed, along with whatever props it up. There are so many ways of total annihilation now that it doesn't take a lot of imagination to see this world as a smoldering rock of ruin.

But, praise be to God, He is aware of everyone who are truly His children, converts and disciples of Jesus Christ. Not one of us are forgotten. He has provided a way of salvation so that our eternity is assured. In the end times, there will others who will finally accept Jesus Christ. They may be martyred and persecuted but God does not forget them. His remnant will be saved in the Ark of Christ! They will join all those who went before, and we will worship the only true God in spirit and in truth!

We really have nothing to fear if we are true believers and followers of Christ. Man may harm our bodies and kill us, but God rescues every one of us to bring us into His ultimate Kingdom! The true theocratic kingdom that will last forever and ever! Our time here on earth is but a blink of an eye in comparison to eternity. "When we've been there ten thousand years, bright shining as the sun, we've no less days to sing God's praise, than when we first begun" (Amazing Grace, last verse)

So, do I put off accepting the salvation of my soul through Jesus Christ? May it never be! Maybe I have painted a scary picture that Christians, in the last days, will be persecuted and martyred. But let me tell you, the whole of the warnings of God are to spare you the worse judgment of those who refuse to accept Jesus Christ as Savior. If you refuse and go into eternity with rejection on your lips, you are lost in eternal damnation. He doesn't want to lose you and you don't have to be lost. Things may look rosy for awhile in the world but our sins will make us miserable here and damn us in eternity.


Another kingdom is a tool used by God. Edom, or Edam (Hebrew for "red"), was an ancient kingdom which lies in today's Israel and Jordan. Bozrah was it's capital city. According to Genesis (the story of the twin brothers, Jacob and Esau), Esau's descendants settled in this land after displacing the Horites. It was also called the land of Seir; Mount Seir appears to have been strongly identified with them and may have been a cultic site. The southern area of Edom was called Idumea. The Edomites were considered as Israel’s kin, and the term “brother” is used in relation to the Edomites or the descendants of Esau in several places (Numbers 20:14; Deuteronomy 2:4-5; Amos 1:11; Obadiah 1:10). But like the twin brothers, the relationship was conflicted. Jealousy, as far back as Esau's time, plagued the Edomites. Moses and the Israelite people twice appealed to the Edomites for safe passage through their land along the "King's Highway" to Canaan. Both times, the King of Edom refused permission. So the wandering Israelite detoured around the country. The King of Edom did not attack the Israelites, though he was prepared in case of aggression. They were defeated by King Saul of Israel in the late 11th century BC. Forty years later King David and his general Joab defeated the Edomites in the "Valley of Salt", (probably near the Dead Sea). Edom remained a vassal of Israel. David placed Israelite governors over the Edomites and this continued under Solomon. When Israel divided into two kingdoms, Edom became a part of the Kingdom of Judah, aka Judea. Edom, Ammon and Moab invaded Judea but the invaders turned against one another and were all destroyed. Edom revolted against Jehoram and elected a king of its own. King Amaziah attacked and defeated the Edomites but the Israelites never completely subdued Edom. The Edomites joined the Babylonian King, Nebuchadnezzar II, and helped slaughter and plunder Jerusalem and the Judaeans. Herod the Great was an Idumean from Edom and he was the one who wanted the Wise Men to tell him where the child Jesus was. When they evaded him, he ordered all boy babies 2 yrs old and younger to be killed in Bethlehem. It was called the Killing of the Innocents. Why do I bring up Edom?

Isaiah 34:1-15 1 Come near, you nations, and listen;
pay attention, you peoples!
Let the earth hear, and all that is in it,
the world, and all that comes out of it!
2 The Lord is angry with all nations;
his wrath is on all their armies.
He will totally destroy them,
he will give them over to slaughter.
3 Their slain will be thrown out,
their dead bodies will stink;
the mountains will be soaked with their blood.
4 All the stars in the sky will be dissolved
and the heavens rolled up like a scroll;
all the starry host will fall
like withered leaves from the vine,
like shriveled figs from the fig tree.
5 My sword has drunk its fill in the heavens;
see, it descends in judgment on Edom,
the people I have totally destroyed.
6 The sword of the Lord is bathed in blood,
it is covered with fat—
the blood of lambs and goats,
fat from the kidneys of rams.
For the Lord has a sacrifice in Bozrah
and a great slaughter in the land of Edom.
7 And the wild oxen will fall with them,
the bull calves and the great bulls.
Their land will be drenched with blood,
and the dust will be soaked with fat.
8 For the Lord has a day of vengeance,
a year of retribution, to uphold Zion’s cause.
9 Edom’s streams will be turned into pitch,
her dust into burning sulfur;
her land will become blazing pitch!
10 It will not be quenched night or day;
its smoke will rise forever.
From generation to generation it will lie desolate;
no one will ever pass through it again.
11 The desert owl and screech owl will possess it;
the great owl and the raven will nest there.
God will stretch out over Edom
the measuring line of chaos
and the plumb line of desolation.
12 Her nobles will have nothing there to be called a kingdom,
all her princes will vanish away.
13 Thorns will overrun her citadels,
nettles and brambles her strongholds.
She will become a haunt for jackals,
a home for owls.
14 Desert creatures will meet with hyenas,
and wild goats will bleat to each other;
there the night creatures will also lie down
and find for themselves places of rest.
15 The owl will nest there and lay eggs,
she will hatch them, and care for her young
under the shadow of her wings;
there also the falcons will gather,
each with its mate.

The enemies of God's people will know God's wrath and experience His punishing judgments. Another warning for the end time empire of the anti-Christ! Again there are dual interpretations. It has already happened to the physical Edom and it will happen again in the end times when God brings judgment against the anti-Christ and his kingdom.

"The judgments against Sodom and Gomorrah and that of Babylon are both typical of the Final Day; and for that reason, the comparison suggested here enables us to classify the judgment against Edom in the same way. Like Babylon, Edom will be nothing but a waste land generation after generation. This, of course, has already happened." - Coffman's Commentaries of the Bible

The blood, fatness, kidneys are God's portion of the animal sacrifices in the Jewish Law. Isaiah tells us that this is payment for the penalty of sin. The Sword of the Lord will be bathed in blood and engorged with the fat. The wild animals were not used for sacrifice. Edom will be desolate and filled with burning sulfur and pitch so no real birds or animals will live there. It appears that both Babylon and Edom will be dwelling places for demons. God is separating the sheep from the goats. There are no humans here. These wild animals and birds are mentioned:

• Wild male oxen (sometimes translated unicorns, rhinoceros or buffalo/bison)
• Desert owl (sometimes translated pelican)
• Screech owl (sometimes translated porcupine)
• Great owl
• Raven
• Falcon
• Ostriches
• Desert creatures
• Wild male goats
• Night creatures (lilith, night demon)
• Arrow snake
• Jackals
• Hyenas

These represent demonic spirits. Satan is often seen as a male goat with horns or a wild he goat and as a snake and dragon. These are wild, scavengers, destructive, carnivorous, decayed-flesh-eaters. They are spiritual beings in the service of the devil. That's what will be inhabiting the burning wastes of Edom, imprisoned there. Now we are seeing how places and events have dual fulfillments, double meanings. We've seen Tyre and Edom and now studying Babylon. It helps to study their history but to also realize that they are speaking of something in the future as well. The prophecies have been literally fulfilled on this earth in the past. But there is a future fulfillment in the end times.


***********************************************************

Revelation 18:4-8 4 Then I heard another voice calling from heaven,
“Come away from her, my people.
Do not take part in her sins,
or you will be punished with her.
5 For her sins are piled as high as heaven,
and God remembers her evil deeds.
6 Do to her as she has done to others.
Double her penalty for all her evil deeds.
She brewed a cup of terror for others,
so brew twice as much for her.
7 She glorified herself and lived in luxury,
so match it now with torment and sorrow.
She boasted in her heart,
‘I am queen on my throne.
I am no helpless widow,
and I have no reason to mourn.’
8 Therefore, these plagues will overtake her in a single day—
death and mourning and famine.
She will be completely consumed by fire,
for the Lord God who judges her is mighty.”

The Beast System is everything in the world that is against God, the one and only, true God. Whether it is blatantly hostile towards God or religious institutions and systems who have eroded until they are now just as much a hindrance between people and God as those who openly hate God. Many of Christian denominations started with the desire to be closer to God and follow His Word. But, over years and generations, with power, money and influence they become corrupted and not much better than what they broke off from. They are human institutions. Soon these leaders begin to think they are a "Master of the Universe". There are Popes and Preachers, Evangelists and Bishops, Cardinals and Deacons, Prophets, District Superiors and Church Managers who creep in and take over to make the "church" run better but God is not on their radar except to cloak their ambition and lust with respectability. God usually uses something to bring them down.

How do they get there? They are mere men/women who are just like us. Give us a little praise and attention and we get prideful and it goes from there. I'm all for giving our pastors respect and love. They are shepherds that we need and God anoints them to teach and encourage us. But when we begin to treat our leadership as gods... we are on the road to ruin. When we become body slaves to a pastor or Pope and run around getting them water, holding their coats for them, rushing them to important appointments and providing for their every whim and desire... we've set them up for failure and a terrible fall. Not many of us human beings can resist all that adulation and attention, power and money. No simple Deacon, Pastor, Bishop, Pope, etc should be treated such a way for then they are tempted to fall into pride. And from pride go all the sins of greed, lust, desire for ungodly things, etc. They will begin to feel it is due them and they should be able to indulge in any kind of lust because, after all, they are doing God's work and it's a perk. They think they deserve it. We've seen little pastors of little country churches to big time money-making evangelists to mega church pastors to the top of the food chain in denominations... and they all fall like dominoes because they begin to get too big for their britches. We aren't made to be God. We cannot do His job. We are NOT God. We are not even His best buddy. We are His child and He will discipline us in order to save our souls. If we refuse His discipline and His warnings, our fall will be even greater, etc. God doesn't do this to destroy, but to save!. He disciplines to save the sinner, to rescue the one who is rushing headlong into bondage and misery. He knows how bad things can get for us if we refuse to repent and humble ourselves. Too many ignore His warnings and his lighter disciplines to finally fall far. Its humiliating, utter disgrace before they realize what God was trying to tell them all along. And sometimes, even that doesn't work. They lose their public standing, their families, their friends, their livelihood, but they still refuse to repent and humble themselves before their God. Instead they blame God as though He were the one who led them down the path of pride, lust and greed. For those, they only thought they had fallen far. God will not let a true child of His get away with it. They have farther to fall still. If they are saved and they are God's child, He will work on them until they finally quit, give up to Him and find themselves released from the bondage they created. If they never were a child of His, He may let them go on their merry way straight to hell. Now, God doesn't want anyone to go to hell. I'm not saying that. He implanted a seed of faith in everyone. He sent the Holy Spirit during this Church Age to attempt to breath life on that seed of faith. He woos and works to try to get through to the hard hearts. But we have a life or death decision to make. We want Him or we reject Him. That determines whether we got to Heaven or Hell in eternity. He gave us the way to salvation, the only way. We don't get to pick and choose how we save ourselves. So He has done everything to keep us out of hell. He gave us His Son who died on the cross to save us. He gave us the seed of faith and the inborn knowledge that there is a god. He gave us the Holy Spirit to work and prepare our hardened hearts. He gave us His Word. He gives us Christians commanded to tell us the gospel (whether it's the preacher at church, the evangelist on the corner, the Christian speaker on the radio, or the Christian neighbor next door). He loves us that much! But we have to accept it, want Him, desire Him above all else. But, each time we reject His calling to our heart, our heart becomes a little more hardened, callused. It's our own fault. His call is still there, but it gets fainter and fainter because we keep rejecting Him. We can get to a point where we don't hear it at all because we've hardened our hearts by our constant rejection. That's a dangerous place to be because you could end up in eternity without God and that's Hell. You've risked your eternal soul and are on your way to hell in a handbasket. You chose it. God knows what your choice will be, He knows all things. But it was still your choice.

God will discipline to save our souls, to try and save us from our stupid choices and sins. But He will also discipline to bring integrity back to His church. If you are an egomaniac but you sell widgets, God is concerned for your soul and your own integrity. But if you are an egomaniac and you are preaching His Word, doing work in His Name... you are doing damage to His kingdom and you will not stand. You are hurting others in His Name and you will not get away with it.

Please don't think that I set myself above anyone else. I also know that I'm a mere woman who can fall into sin if I'm not very careful. We must remain humble and I don't mean like Charles Dickens' character, Uriah Heep, in David Copperfield. He was such a hideous character of pride and ambition but all the while he talked about how 'umble he was. He aspired and plotted to take everything from his boss, even his daughter, while telling everyone he met that he was just an 'umble man. He even gets to the point that, because he is humble, he deserves to take everything away from someone else! Boy, does satan have us twisted up or what!?!

Knowing how insidious pride is, sometimes I think I should go out in public wearing a black sheet (like the Muslim hejab) so no one will notice me and say anything good to me. But, if you do that, you can soon become self righteous and prideful about how righteous you are.  In reading The Brothers Karamazov by Fyodor Dostoevsky, one of the characters comes to mind, Father Ferapont. Although the good monk, Zosima, is a part of the same order of monks and their leader, Father Ferapont takes his ascetism to extremes. He fasts so much it's unhealthy and it does him little good because his heart is full of self righteous pride and envy. He had only fed his inner demons. In his little spot in the world, he thinks he should be the monastery leader because he fasts more than the others. He's so full of the devil but thinks he's God's right hand man! It's the nature of mankind to be prideful. A poor person is proud because he's "been poor all his life" and a rich man is proud because he's worth more in dollars than others. An uneducated, illiterate person is proud because he "ain't got no book larnin'" and a college professor is proud because he's "been educated in the highest fashion". No matter what circumstances we find ourselves in, we tend to be ever so proud of ourselves and looking down on someone else. If you had a good family, you were proud that you "came from good stock". If you had a non-existent, or bad, family life, you were proud that you weren't "stuck up like those big whigs". Our self conceit seems to know no bounds. We can turn anything into something to brag about, good or bad. Criminals love to brag on how they got away with thieving and murderers love to brag on how smart they are in killing. God forgive us! Have you ever heard of someone boasting about how bad they are? I have. It becomes like a sign of honor to tell all the stories of the way you broke the law, got drunk, and abused someone! Lest you think it's all in the lower orders, it's also a sign of honor for the rich to tell all the stories of how they conned someone or built a pyramid scheme as though they were so smart. There is no difference in thieving whether it's stealing a flower pot off someone's front porch or stealing people's retirement income in pyramid schemes. Theft is theft and shouldn't be something to be proud of. I may not have been a thief but if I'm prideful in my virtue, I'm just as rotten with pride as the thief bragging on his illicit loot! Pride is so hard to combat! We have to see it first and then repent.

When God shows us a flaw, we should be quick to repent and try and cooperate with the Holy Spirit's work in our hearts. That's our best chance.

Revelation 18:4 Come away from her, my people.
Do not take part in her sins,
or you will be punished with her.

I don't want to be a Babylonian, entrenched in the sinful, ungodly "system" of the world. I must come away from that world in my spirit, mind, and sometimes my body. Physically removing myself from a place of temptation. Remember the story of Joseph and his master's wife? She wanted to start an affair with this goodlooking Hebrew who ran her husband's household. At first she evidently admired him but then her lust caused her to make sexual advances. He turned her down but she persisted. Finally she grabbed his coat to pull him to her and he literally had to come out of his coat and run away. This time she got mad and tried to make him pay by accusing him of being the aggressor and trying to rape her. He went to jail for it. As a slave, Joseph could not leave the household. He couldn't just move away or change jobs. But he refused her advances even to running away from her. He was thrown in jail but he was the good guy. God made sure he was physically out of that household. You would think jail worse than the household with the lusty wife but it wasn't because eventually he was trusted and did so well in jail he became the second highest in the land beneath the Pharaoh. If he had not been out of that household, the Pharaoh would probably never have known Joseph. God knew what He was doing. Joseph was careful and conscientious, dependable, honest and hard working. God did the rest. I'm sure Joseph was down, afraid, depressed at times and he couldn't see the future. But God was always working on his behalf and on the behalf of millions of little people who would have starved but for Joseph's administration during a famine. Joseph managed to keep his head up and keep working and doing his best despite how bleak things looked for him. Joseph was not a superman. He would have felt the same feelings we would feel in his situation. But he overcame them with God and made the choice to be a person of integrity before God no matter what his outward circumstances were. If he was going to be a slave, he would be a good and honest slave. If he was going to be in jail, he would be a good and honest convict.


Revelation 18:5 For her sins are piled as high as heaven,
and God remembers her evil deeds.

Hebrews 8:12 For I will forgive their iniquities and will remember their sins no more.

Psalm 103:12 As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us.

What are the differences between these verses? In one, God remembers the world's sins, they are piled high as the heaven (much like that Tower of Babel in Genesis). But in Psalm and Hebrews (and many other places) God forgives and remembers sin no more. Isn't that contradictory?

NO! God does not want to hold our sins against us. He doesn't want to have to bring judgment or for anyone to go to hell. It's why He gave His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, to save us! It's why He has sent the Holy Spirit to work in us and given us His Word. But sin is sin and it cannot be allowed to stand. And there is nothing we can do about. Human beings are born in sin and we live in sin. If it were up to us to save ourselves, we would ALL be on our way to hell in a merry handbasket. But humans brought sin into the world and we were all infected from Adam and Eve. We inherited sin from them. There is no way out for us. But where there is no way, God provided a way. God sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to pay the price for sin and rescue us from the consequences of eternal damnation! Jesus voluntarily took on the job and obeyed His Father to the tiniest detail to insure salvation for all who would receive it! We have a way out! But the catch is, we have to acknowledge our sin and ask for Jesus Christ to forgive us. We have to trust in God's provision for salvation. We can't pick and choose how we will be saved. That puts us in the catbird seat where we dictate to God and that will not happen. God has provided a way and there is no other way. So we must do it His Way. He is God and we are not.

So God has sent His Word to communicate with us. He sent His Son to do the work. He has sent the Holy Spirit to prepare our hearts and teach us about salvation through faith in Christ. Once we see our sins and repent and ask for Jesus, we are saved and the Holy Spirit actually moves into our heart to begin training and empowering our newly born spirit. What else could God do to save us from ourselves?!? Jesus freely forgives. He requires nothing but to seek, ask and accept. Then our sins are removed and we are no longer under judgment! They are removed as far as the east is from the west. Our sins are remembered no longer! But if we reject Christ and we stick to the evil system of the world, our sins will be remembered and we will pay the price for them in eternal damnation.

Isaiah 44:22 I have swept away your offenses like a cloud, your sins like the morning mist. Return to me, for I have redeemed you.

1 Peter 1:18-19 For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life you inherited from your forefathers, 19 but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or spot.


Revelation 18:6 Do to her as she has done to others.
Double her penalty for all her evil deeds.
She brewed a cup of terror for others,
so brew twice as much for her.

I learned the Golden Rule in school. We would say the Pledge of Allegiance, repeat the Golden Rule and the Lord's Prayer every morning.

Matthew 7:12 So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.

This means if you want to be treated with kindness and respect, then treat others with kindness and respect. If you want someone to love you, then you begin by loving others. If you want to be treated generously, then treat others generously. But the opposite is true as well. If you treat someone badly, you will probably receive bad treatment in return. If you steal from someone, someone will steal from you. You sow and you reap what you sow. What goes around comes around. Cause and effect. Those are sayings that are based on the Golden Rule. The type of seed you plant determines the type of plant that grows and is harvested. This is the principle of duplication or multiplication. If you want good things, then you sow good things in others. Although you sow one seed you will reap much more than one seed. For instance, you sow a seed of corn but reap a stalk that produces several ears of corn and each ear is filled with corn kernels. But if you sow bad seed, then you will reap weeds and not just a weed but a whirlwind.

Hosea 8:7a For they sow the wind, and they shall reap the whirlwind.

You will reap not only a single consequence to your sin but a whole lot more than you bargain for. In Hosea, the Israelites didn't sow seed, they sowed "the wind". Wind is nothing. You are blowing hot air. You are sowing nothing but expecting a good harvest? Instead you will reap a powerfully destructive force that harms not only you but those around you. Babylon sowed evil and reaps double the misery.


Revelation 18:7 She glorified herself and lived in luxury,
so match it now with torment and sorrow.
She boasted in her heart,
‘I am queen on my throne.
I am no helpless widow,
and I have no reason to mourn.’

Psalm 10: 2-14
2 The wicked arrogantly hunt down the poor.
Let them be caught in the evil they plan for others.
3 For they brag about their evil desires;
they praise the greedy and curse the LORD.
4 The wicked are too proud to seek God.
They seem to think that God is dead.
5 Yet they succeed in everything they do.
They do not see your punishment awaiting them.
They sneer at all their enemies.
6 They think, “Nothing bad will ever happen to us!
We will be free of trouble forever!”
7 Their mouths are full of cursing, lies, and threats.
Trouble and evil are on the tips of their tongues.
8 They lurk in ambush in the villages,
waiting to murder innocent people.
They are always searching for helpless victims.
9 Like lions crouched in hiding,
they wait to pounce on the helpless.
Like hunters they capture the helpless
and drag them away in nets.
10 Their helpless victims are crushed;
they fall beneath the strength of the wicked.
11The wicked think, “God isn’t watching us!
He has closed his eyes and won’t even see what we do!”
12 Arise, O LORD!
Punish the wicked, O God!
Do not ignore the helpless!
13 Why do the wicked get away with despising God?
They think, “God will never call us to account.”
14 But you see the trouble and grief they cause.
You take note of it and punish them.
The helpless put their trust in you.
You defend the orphans.

Remember, as low down on the totem pole as you may be, there is always someone lower and thus more vulnerable than you. Are you going to help them or hurt them? Do you bully them and take advantage of them or do you protect and help them?

Let's say you are a normal 10 year old child. Who could be more vulnerable than you? What about that child in class with the glasses or the old clothes? What about those children who are younger than you? What about babies and the unborn? Are they not all more vulnerable than you?

What about a teenage girl. Who is more vulnerable than you? What about the unborn child you may be carrying? What about the geek girls? What about the janitor in your school? What about the handicapped boy in the wheelchair? Are they not all more vulnerable than you?

What about a male nurse working for low wages in a nursing home? Who is more vulnerable than you? Isn't it that old lady who can't speak or move any more? Is it the nurse's aide who only makes minimum wage? Is it the family of a patient who can't afford to lose the room for their loved one by complaining about your shoddy work?

What I'm trying to say is there is always someone below you to abuse or help. If you are a bully at school then you are taking advantage of, and abusing, those more vulnerable than you are. If you choose abortion then you've murdered a vulnerable human being. You had the power to do good but you chose to do evil to someone who was vulnerable, who didn't have protection. If you steal from a patient in your nursing home or rape an old lady who can't report you, you are abusing a trust. On the other hand, you could choose to do good to those who need your help. You can be their help, their advocate, their champion, their strength.

So how do you respond to those who need help? Do you brush them off, use them, avoid them, or, heaven forbid, actually do physical and psychological harm to them? You may think you are getting away with it, but think again! God always knows what you have done. There is no way to hide it from Him. Even if you just think it, but don't do it, God knows the thought was in your heart.

In Revelation 18 and Psalm 10, people think they can get away with evil. They think God is not watching and does not catch all the mean little things they do. Before long, they are not only thinking and doing evil but bragging about the evil they get away with. God, in His mercy, will give you correction time but it won't go on for long. You will be held responsible for the evil you do unless you repent and ask for Jesus Christ's forgiveness. That is true, sincere repentance, not just lip service. Too many people think, if they add the gloss of confession, they can still get away with doing the sin. That's not repentance. Repentance is a change of mind. You see your sin for how ugly it is and you are sickened by it. You desperately don't want to be that kind of person and you go to Jesus in true repentance.

So the choice is repentance and forgiveness through Jesus Christ or continue on in your sins, tell yourself the lies and walk into eternal damnation? Sin damns but Jesus saves. It doesn't matter what we tell ourselves, it's all a bunch of lies. God does know what you are doing. God will judge you and the end result is eternity in utter torment. Your little running patter is just so much hot air sown.

"I am queen on my throne. I am no helpless widow, and I have no reason to mourn. Nothing bad will ever happen to us! We will be free of trouble forever! God isn’t watching us! He has closed his eyes and won’t even see what we do! God will never call us to account."

All of it is lies and we tell ourselves this so we don't feel any guilt or shame. But it's hot air that reaps the whirlwind of destruction.


Revelation 18:8a Therefore, these plagues will overtake her in a single day—
death and mourning and famine.
She will be completely consumed by fire,
for the Lord God who judges her is mighty.”

Here is the truth. Sin will bring about a harvest of "death and mourning and famine".

Isaiah 47:8-10 8 So now hear this, O lover of luxury, who sits securely, who says to herself, ‘I am, and there is none besides me. I will never be a widow or know the loss of children.’ 9 These two things will overtake you in a moment, in a single day: loss of children, and widowhood. They will come upon you in full measure, in spite of your many sorceries and the potency of your spells. 10 You were secure in your wickedness; you said, ‘No one sees me.’ Your wisdom and knowledge led you astray; you told yourself, ‘I am, and there is none besides me.’

Psalm 73:18-19 18 Surely You set them on slick ground; You cast them down into ruin. 19 How suddenly they are laid waste, completely swept away by terrors!

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
plagues - πληγαὶ (plēgai) - Noun - Nominative Feminine Plural
Strong's Greek 4127: A blow, stripe, wound; an affliction, plague. From plesso; a stroke; by implication, a wound; figuratively, a calamity.

death - θάνατος (thanatos) - Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's Greek 2288: Death, physical or spiritual. From thnesko; death.

misery - πένθος (penthos) - Noun - Nominative Neuter Singular
Strong's Greek 3997: Mourning, sorrow, sadness, grief. Strengthened from the alternate of pascho; grief.

famine - λιμός (limos) - Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's Greek 3042: A famine, hunger. Probably from leipo; a scarcity of food.

fire - πυρὶ (pyri) - Noun - Dative Neuter Singular
Strong's Greek 4442: Fire; the heat of the sun, lightning; fig: strife, trials; the eternal fire. A primary word; 'fire'.

"Her plagues are four-fold, as though from every quarter her trouble came: 'death for her scorn of the prospect of widowhood; mourning, for her inordinate revelling; famine, for her abundance;' and fire, the punishment of her fornication." - Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers


***********************************************************

Revelation 18:9-10 9 Then the kings of the earth who committed sexual immorality and lived in luxury with her will weep and wail at the sight of the smoke rising from the fire that consumes her. 10 In fear of her torment, they will stand at a distance and cry out:
“Woe, woe to the great city,
the mighty city of Babylon!
For in a single hour
your judgment has come.”

The "kings of the earth" weep and wail, not in repentance or in sadness for the judgment of God. They weep and wail in lament because of what it means to THEM! They see it as losing their golden goose! They had lived off of her and were more worried about themselves. What did it mean for them?!?

"The mourners had shared Babylon's sensual pleasures, and gained by her wealth and trade. The kings of the earth, whom she flattered into idolatry, allowing them to be tyrannical over their subjects, while obedient to her; and the merchants, those who trafficked for her indulgences, pardons, and honours; these mourn. Babylon's friends partook her sinful pleasures and profits, but are not willing to share her plagues. The spirit of antichrist is a worldly spirit, and that sorrow is a mere worldly sorrow; they do not lament for the anger of God, but for the loss of outward comforts. The magnificence and riches of the ungodly will avail them nothing, but will render the vengeance harder to be borne." - Matthew Henry's Commentary

Jeremiah 51 (To see the context, read verses 59-64 first.) 1 This is what the LORD says:
“Behold, I will stir up against Babylon
and against the people of Leb-kamaia (Berean Study Bible "Leb-kamai is a code name for Chaldea, that is, Babylonia")
the spirit of a destroyer.
2 I will send strangers to Babylon
to winnow her and empty her land;
for they will come against her from every side
in the day of her disaster.
3 Do not let the archer bend his bow
or put on his armor.
Do not spare her young men;
devote all her army to destruction!
4 And they will fall slain in the land of the Chaldeans (Wikipedia - Chaldea was a country that existed between the late 10th or early 9th and mid-6th centuries BC, after which the country and its people were absorbed and assimilated into Babylonia.),
and pierced through in her streets.
5 For Israel and Judah have not been abandoned
by their God, the LORD of Hosts,
though their land is full of guilt
before the Holy One of Israel.”
6 Flee from Babylon; escape with your lives!
Do not be destroyed in her punishment.
For this is the time of the LORD’s vengeance;
He will pay her what she deserves.
7 Babylon was a gold cup in the hand of the LORD,
making the whole earth drunk.
The nations drank her wine;
therefore the nations have gone mad.
8 Suddenly Babylon has fallen and been shattered.
Wail for her; get her balm for her pain;
perhaps she can be healed.
9 “We tried to heal Babylon,
but she could not be healed.
Abandon her!
Let each of us go to his own land,
for her judgment extends to the sky
and reaches to the clouds.”
10 The LORD has brought forth our vindication;
come, let us tell in Zion
what the LORD our God has accomplished.
11 Sharpen the arrows!
Take up the shields!
The LORD has aroused the spirit
of the kings of the Medes,
because His plan is aimed at Babylon
to destroy her,
for it is the vengeance of the LORD—
vengeance for His temple.
12 Raise a banner against the walls of Babylon;
post the guard;
station the watchmen;
prepare the ambush.
For the LORD has both devised and accomplished
what He spoke against the people of Babylon.
13 You who dwell by many waters,
rich in treasures,
your end has come,
the thread of your life is cut.
14 The LORD of Hosts has sworn by Himself:
“Surely I will fill you up with men like locusts,
and they will shout in triumph over you.”
A Song of Praise
15 He made the earth by His power;
He established the world by His wisdom
and stretched out the heavens by His understanding.
16 When He thunders,
the waters in the heavens roar,
and He causes the clouds to rise
from the ends of the earth.
He makes lightning for the rain
and brings forth the wind from His storehouses.
17 Every man is senseless and devoid of knowledge.
Every goldsmith is put to shame by his idols,
for his molten images are a lie,
and there is no breath in them.
18 They are worthless, a work to be mocked.
In the time of their punishment they will perish.
19 Jacob’s Portion is not like these,
for He is the Maker of all things,
and of the tribe of His inheritance—
the LORD of Hosts is His name.
Babylon's Punishment
20 “You are My war club,
My weapon for battle.
With you I shatter nations;
with you I bring kingdoms to ruin.
21 With you I shatter the horse and rider;
with you I shatter the chariot and driver.
22 With you I shatter man and woman;
with you I shatter the old man and the youth;
with you I shatter the young man and the maiden.
23 With you I shatter the shepherd and his flock;
with you I shatter the farmer and his oxen;
with you I shatter the governors and officials.
24 Before your very eyes I will repay
Babylon and all the residents of Chaldea
for all the evil they have done in Zion,”
declares the LORD.
25“Behold, I am against you,
O destroying mountain,
you who devastate the whole earth,
declares the LORD.
I will stretch out My hand against you;
I will roll you over the cliffs,
and turn you into a charred mountain.
26 No one shall retrieve from you a cornerstone
or a foundation stone,
because you will become desolate forever,”
declares the LORD.
27 “Raise a banner in the land!
Blow the trumpet among the nations!
Prepare the nations against her.
Summon the kingdoms against her—
Ararat, Minni, and Ashkenaz.
Appoint a captain against her;
bring up horses like swarming locusts.
28 Prepare the nations for battle against her—
the kings of the Medes,
their governors and all their officials,
and all the lands they rule.
29 The earth quakes and writhes
because the LORD’s intentions against Babylon stand:
to make the land of Babylon a desolation,
without an inhabitant.
30 The warriors of Babylon have stopped fighting;
they sit in their strongholds.
Their strength is exhausted;
they have become like women.
Babylon’s homes have been set ablaze,
the bars of her gates are broken.
31 One courier races to meet another,
and messenger follows messenger,
to announce to the king of Babylon
that his city has been captured from end to end.
32 The fords have been seized,
the marshes set on fire,
and the soldiers are terrified.”
33 For this is what the LORD of Hosts, the God of Israel, says:
“The Daughter Babylon is like a threshing floor
at the time it is trampled.
In just a little while
her harvest time will come.”
34 “Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon has devoured me;
he has crushed me.
He has set me aside like an empty vessel;
he has swallowed me like a monster;
he filled his belly with my delicacies
and vomited me out.
35 May the violence done to me
and to my flesh
be upon Babylon,”
says the inhabitant of Zion.
“May my blood be on the inhabitants of Chaldea,”
says Jerusalem.
36 Therefore, this is what the LORD says:
“Behold, I will plead your case
and take vengeance on your behalf;
I will dry up her sea
and make her springs run dry.
37 Babylon will become a heap of rubble,
a haunt of jackals,
an object of horror and scorn,
without inhabitant.
38 They will roar together like young lions;
they will growl like lion cubs.
39 While they are flushed with heat,
I will serve them a feast,
and I will make them drunk
so that they may revel;
then they will fall asleep forever and never wake up,
declares the LORD.
40 I will bring them down like lambs to the slaughter,
like rams with male goats.”
41 How Sheshach (Berean Study Bible - "Sheshach is a code name for Babylon"; THE LITERALISM ELEMENTS OF PROPHETICAL INTERPRETATION, By Rev. J.W. Brooks, Orrin Rogers, 67 S. Second St., Philadelphia, PA, E. 0. Doner, Printer, 1841 - "Sesach was the name of one of the Babylonian deities, in honour of whom there was a feast which lasted five days, called Saccea")
The praise of all the earth has been seized.
What a horror Babylon has become
among the nations!
42 The sea has come up over Babylon;
she is covered in turbulent waves.
43 Her cities have become a desolation,
a dry and arid land,
a land where no one lives,
where no son of man passes through.
44 I will punish Bel (Wikipedia - Bel signifying "lord" or "master", is a title rather than a genuine name, applied to various gods in the Mesopotamian religion of Akkad, Assyria and Babylonia. Bel became especially used for the Babylonian god Marduk. The feminine form usually referred to Marduk's spouse, Sarpanit, or his mother, Ninhursag. Baal was a title and honorific meaning "owner,""lord" in the Northwest Semitic languages during antiquity. From its use among people, it came to be applied to gods. It seems to have been a title used for different idols as the human landscape evolved in the mid-east.) in Babylon.
I will make him spew out what he swallowed.
The nations will no longer stream to him;
even the wall of Babylon will fall.
45 Come out from among her, My people!
Save your lives, each of you,
from the fierce anger of the LORD.
46 Do not let your heart grow faint, and do not be afraid
when the rumor is heard in the land;
for a rumor will come one year,
and then another the next year
of violence in the land
and ruler against ruler.
47 Therefore, behold, the days are coming
when I will punish the idols of Babylon.
Her entire land will suffer shame,
and all her slain will lie fallen within her.
48 Then heaven and earth and all that is in them
will shout for joy over Babylon
because the destroyers from the north
will come against her,”
declares the LORD.
49 Babylon must fall
on account of the slain of Israel,
just as the slain of all the earth
have fallen because of Babylon.
50 You who have escaped the sword,
depart and do not linger!
Remember the LORD from far away,
and let Jerusalem come to mind.
51 “We are ashamed because we have heard reproach;
disgrace has covered our faces,
because foreigners have entered
the holy places of the LORD’s house.”
52 “Therefore, behold, the days are coming,”
declares the LORD,
“when I will punish her idols,
and throughout her land the wounded will groan.
53 Even if Babylon should ascend to the heavens
and fortify her lofty stronghold,
the destroyers I send will come against her,
declares the LORD.
54 The sound of a cry
comes from Babylon,
the sound of great destruction
from the land of the Chaldeans!
55 For the LORD will destroy Babylon;
He will silence her mighty voice.
The waves will roar like great waters;
the tumult of their voice will resound.
56 For a destroyer is coming against her—
against Babylon.
Her warriors will be captured,
and their bows will be broken,
for the LORD is a God of retribution;
He will repay in full.
57 I will make her princes and wise men drunk,
along with her governors, officials, and warriors.
Then they will fall asleep forever
and not wake up,”
declares the King,
whose name is the LORD of Hosts.
58 This is what the LORD of Hosts says:
“Babylon’s thick walls will be leveled,
and her high gates consumed by fire.
So the labor of the people will be for nothing;
the nations will exhaust themselves to fuel the flames.”

Jeremiah's Prophecy to Seraiah
59 This is the command that Jeremiah the prophet gave to the quartermaster Seraiah son of Neriah, the son of Mahseiah, when he went to Babylon with King Zedekiah of Judah in the fourth year of Zedekiah’s reign. 60 Jeremiah had written on a single scroll about all the disaster that would come upon Babylon—all these words that had been written concerning Babylon.
61 And Jeremiah said to Seraiah, “When you get to Babylon, see that you read all these words aloud, 62 and say, ‘O LORD, You have promised to cut off this place so that no one will remain—neither man nor beast. Indeed, it will be desolate forever.’
63 When you finish reading this scroll, tie a stone to it and cast it into the Euphrates. 64 Then you are to say, ‘In the same way, Babylon will sink and never rise again, because of the disaster I will bring upon her. And her people will grow weary.’”
Here end the words of Jeremiah.


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Revelation 18: 11 And the merchants of the earth will weep and mourn over her, because there is no one left to buy their cargo— 12 cargo of gold, silver, precious stones, and pearls; of fine linen, purple, silk, and scarlet; of all kinds of citron wood and every article of ivory, precious wood, bronze, iron, and marble; 13 of cinnamon, spice, incense, myrrh, and frankincense; of wine, olive oil, fine flour, and wheat; of cattle, sheep, horses, and chariots; of slaves and souls of men:
14 “The fruit of your soul’s desire
has departed from you;
all your luxury and splendor have vanished,
never to be seen again.”



Treasures (These were, and still are, investment items that would sell anywhere and in any economy):

• Gold
• Silver
• Precious stones
• Pearls
• Fine linen, purple, silk and scarlet (expensive fabrics and dyes that were normally used for the wealthy, nobles, ruling classes)

Dubai is known for it's over the top and rich lifestyle.





Materials used in building and furnishing mansions, impressive temples and businesses:

• Citron wood (Biblestudytools.com - Thyine wood called citron wood by the Romans, is derived from the Greek word thuein , "to sacrifice," and it was so called because it was burnt in sacrifices due to it's fragrance. It's very valuable, and was for doors, panels, and ceilings; its rich brown hue was often relieved by inlaid ivory, also for making articles of furniture by the Greeks and Romans. Like the cedars of Lebanon, it is disappearing from the forests of Palestine.)
• Ivory used in various ways
• Precious wood
• Bronze
• Iron
• Marble

Ointments and Incense (for vanity much like our makeup and toiletries and scenting the home or temples):

• Cinnamon (may not be the same as our modern cinnamon but was used for scent)
• Amomum, a kind of sweet-scented shrub, yielding an ointment much used for the hair (not used in the English translations but authority is in favour of its insertion) Spice
• Myrrh
• Frankincense

Americans Spent More than $16.5 Billion on Cosmetic Plastic Surgery in 2018. Socialite Jocelyn Wildenstein earned a reputation as "Catwoman" for her extensive plastic surgeries, which left her looking, well, like a hybrid of a human and a feline. The Mirror reported that she's admitted to spending more than $6.7 million on plastic surgeries.


Food articles (these were also the best food):

• Wine
• Olive oil
• Fine flour
• Wheat
• Cattle
• Sheep

Costing $25,000 this taco contains langoustine, Kobe beef, Almas Beluga caviar, and black truffle brie cheese. Even the salsa is extreme, made with dried Morita chili peppers, Ley.925 ultra-premium anejo tequila, and civet coffee.


Equipage (this would be like our cars, trucks, trains, airplanes today):

• Horses
• Chariots

The world's most expensive car is this $14.4 million dollar Bugatti La Voiture Noire

Here is the $9.9 million dollar Rolls Royce Sweptail

This Mercedes is studded with 300,000 real diamonds.


Human traffic, the number of slaves in Rome was enormous.:

• Slaves
• Souls of men (Referring to the rich masters treating their slaves as though they owned them body and soul. Their slaves were just other furniture or tools in the household to be used for their own pleasure at will. They didn't see them as human beings but only as conveniences for their own enjoyment. The height of worldliness, indolence, selfishness and inner corruption. Slavery is not inherently bad. It's when the master so abuses his slaves and refuses to treat them with the respect due another human being made in the likeness of God that it becomes sinful. The nature of slavery, purchasing and owning another human being, is a temptation to so abuse them and therefore is not ideal. The temptation is too strong for most men, especially the unsaved. When slavery is stealing men from their homes and families, conquest and brutality, this is wrong. When slavery includes abusing, mistreating, molesting, starving - these are evils whether it was done in slavery, marriage, by corporations or governments. It's being cruel to a fellow human being that is the sin. Many slaveowners did not mistreat their slaves and treated them as co-workers and friends, even as part of the family. But this was more the exception than the rule so it is good to outlaw slavery altogether. Today we don't have slaves, per se, but human trafficking continues to worsen and these human beings are the slaves of today. Most to the sex trade. Human beings are used as so much disposable property to use to make money and then discarded, even killed, when they are of no more use. But let us not forget workers. They are paid a wage and benefits but are they being mistreated by the companies they work for. Fast food restaurants who deliberately arrange hours to deny workers benefits is an abuse of power. Corporations who make financial decisions without counting the enormous cost on their workers are abusive. Bosses who cut the payroll by firing workers and then expecting the workers left to fill in and do multiple jobs for the same pay or risk losing their own jobs, is mistreatment. When CEO's make huge salaries and bonuses but do so closing plants laying off human beings who need the wages and benefits are making their money on the backs of those who need their little wages. Governments who keep people in virtual poverty is another form of slavery. The government gives them enough to keep them dependent and aquiescent. They are not encouraged or helped out of poverty by government "programs" but kept dependent. This is the way politicians keep their vote and keep them under control. The people are too afraid to lose their benefits and the money trickle from the government.  They lose their dignity as human beings, their worth and value as God's image bearers. They are treated as just a vote so the politician can keep his place and make his fortune. It has nothing to do with wanting to help, encourage, lift up, or enable a fellow human being no matter what the politician or political party says. Yes, individuals are out there that really do want to help the poor and vulnerable, but as a whole, politics and politicians, do what they do for votes so they can keep their power and continue to make money. Whatever party is in the ascendance is doing the same as all those before them and changing a party or politician will usually not result in much change because there is too much to be made in the current system.)

I deliberately chose photos of modern day excess. I mean, someone who has enough money to waste by pouring expensive champagne on the floor, people who have closets the size of small houses just to hold their expensive and excessive wardrobes, bathrooms built like palaces... all of it is just a little much. Do you know where the term, "Gotta go to the can" comes from? In the days before indoor plumbing and indoor bathrooms, people had to use a chamber pot during then night. Then someone had to empty the chamberpot in the outhouse the next morning. That person would be the lowest on the totem pole! But if you were too poor to "have a pot to piss in" then you used a large coffee can and from that comes the term, "Gotta go to the can." But today, we have the luxury (thank God!) of running water and indoor bathrooms to take care of our most basic needs. But a bathroom is a necessary room. When did our outhouse become a palace? Today's market has created the need to have multiple bathrooms and separate shower and soaking tubs. We just can't imagine having to share a bathroom and heaven forbid we should have to settle for a shower or a tub and not both! Excess, decadence, hedonism, extravagance, greed, selfishness is still happening and will until the end.

The commercial system of the nations depended on the Beast and Babylon, who rode the Beast. Not just their needs, but their luxuries. Markets had opened for so many to make fortunes based on the evil system. Like parasites, they had sucked up to Babylon and were sucking her blood for their livelihoods and fortunes. It's a disgusting picture. But one we see today. A government may change but people will adjust and then begin to figure out the system in a way so they can make money and even become rich. They learn to navigate the system, find the loopholes and manipulate their way to make money. It's seen in every single human being and in every single human institution whether it's religious institutions, government institutions, corporations, educational institutions, etc. They hire marketers and consultants who are trained to psychologically change people and create needs so the institution or corporation can fill those needs and make money. For instance, last summer the fashionable color might have been orange and platform sandals were in all the magazines and commercials. They filled every clothing store. But, the very next summer, the color changes to apricot orange and ultra flat sandals are the fashion. So that's what's found in every store from Walmart to Macy's, in every magazine and ad on Facebook. And like sheep, people replace perfectly good orange clothes from last summer and their platform sandals by buying (they get your money!) the new apricot orange and flat sandals. We are conditioned by experts who laugh up their sleeves at how they can lead us by the nose! Just 75 years ago, most of the American population didn't have a high school diploma. When they reached an age to be able to work, a lot of family dropped out of school to get a job. Families needed the income. Before that, they were lucky to have even a 6th grade education. Before that, as soon as a child could read, write their name, add/subtract/multiple/divide simple numbers, they were pulled out of school to work on the farm or get a job. To get a full high school education was a luxury and a college education was only dreamed of! Today, every single child is expected to attend high school AND college. They, and their parents, have been totally brainwashed to think that a high school diploma and college degree are owed to them by the government. Taxpayers should foot the bill so that every young person gets a free education from kindergarden thru college. That would be ideal but the money has to come from somewhere to pay the exorbitant college and university tuitions which include ungodly amounts for textbooks and kids think they deserve to live on campus or partying in fraternities. Where did those thoughts even come from? Parents going into hock, kids taking on student loans, maxing out credit cards to pay for these outrageous college/universities. Universities allowing predatory lenders on campus to talk students/parents into loans that double, triple and quadruple over the years. I personally know of a young woman who worked her entire time in college, made good grades and yet still had to get student loans to get her through a SMALL Southern college. Twelve years later, she hasn't made a dent in the principle but the amount has tripled. They are making their interest off her every month and the interest continues to rise. She's been securely married for twelve years to a husband with a good job, she worked full time except during maternity leaves and they have children. These are not deadbeats, dropouts, welshers, etc. They pay their bills, pay their taxes, contribute to society and raise their children. I.e. if it can happen to her, it will happen to any kid. I blame the college first and foremost. They get their money so they are not concerned how they get it. They don't care if you maxed out a credit card to do it. They don't care if your children are saddled with student loans for the rest of their lives. They don't care if the government taxpayers are paying the bill in grants. All they want are more and more students so more and more money is coming in. They have consultants and specialists who have created the need, the demand, for the highest education! As I said, every high school senior graduates high school thinking that they deserve to go to college with their friends and every parent thinks their children will be failures in life working minimum wage if they don't go to college. It's a created need. Your child wants to go to college because of the parties, the girls/boys, the drinking, the college football games, etc. They've seen it in movies, on TV and you've taken them to football games. All they can see is party, good times and being with their friends. But that's not what college is about and if they aren't interested enough by working hard in high school to get good grades, then maybe they shouldn't go to college, at least not at first. I didn't. My husband didn't. None of my sisters did. I got married right out of high school to a man five years older than me. We couldn't afford pots to pee in much less going to college. My parents didn't offer to pay for me to go either and it would never have occurred to us to ask them. It was our responsibility. When we got to a little breathing space, I went to the local technical college and got an Assoc. Degree in Accounting. I worked part time so Stan could go to technical college to get his Assoc. Degree in Engineering. He went on for another year at a local college in Business Management but then his company changed their policy. They had been willing to pay for his classes and books up front but now they wanted to wait until the end of the semester after he showed he had passed the course. We had a choice. He either had to quit or we would be putting it on a credit card and paying interest until he passed his classes. We couldn't afford the credit card interest so he had to stop. But he's made a good living in his life and we did it all on our own. It was not owed us. We barely made minimum wage but it was still considered too much for us to qualify for assistance. We would not have asked our parents to cosign for us. So we made choices and did what we had to do. Today, kids coming from a low income family can apply for college assistance and the government pays for the entire tuition, textbooks, lab fees and dorms. I know 2 young men who went through one of the best colleges without paying a dime and neither did their parents. They lived in dorms, never paid for a book or a class and graduated. They had not applied for any scholarships so it wasn't on scholarship. They never worked a day in high school or college. To their credit, they made good grades and are doing well. But my point being someone had to pay for it and why did they deserve it more than the young lady above strapped with loans for the rest of her life, or me, my husband or anybody else? There was nothing special, no reason, other than their parents didn't work and the healthy young men wouldn't work to put themselves through college. The college/university got their money. This time it was from taxpayers. But don't even think that a nice college/university wouldn't do anything to get money even if it means letting predatory lenders use their office space in order to offer student loans to kids who shouldn't be going to college if they don't have the money. I spoke to a local Chancellor of a big college here and he was just as smooth talking as they come. They are doing all kinds of things to appeal to more and more students and a better educated workforce will draw more businesses to the area, blah, blah, blah. But he's only doing what he's paid to do - bring in money! The bottom line is the more students, the more money. So how do they draw students, more and more students? All kinds of ways. They dumb down classes, they change testing procedures, they build this and that, they remodel here and there, they open coffee houses and add big fountains. But the biggest thing they do is create the need in people's minds.

The educational system is not the only thing that does it. So do churches. Stan and I attended a church for 25 years. We were deeply involved and had weathered many storms. We thought of it as home and we fully expected to be there the rest of our lives. Until a pastor came who got the idea that the church should become a mega church, or at least a lot larger than it currently was. Where did he get this idea? A demand was created whether it was in his own heart (mid life crisis perhaps?), or whether it was by denominational supervisors and district superintendents, or whether it was by leadership in the church? We don't know. All we know was he suddenly began espousing corporate strategies in order to draw people to our church with numbers and money. I'm not making this up. MANY churches hire consultants to give them new ideas and programs to try and draw people in. Now it's all carefully covered by saying we are trying to reach the lost with Jesus. But that's usually a thin veneer. He insisted the church spend $6,000 on several "water features", he added tables and chairs with a coffee bar in the lobby, he hired a consultant to teach the Praise and Worship team how to entertain the audience rather than lead in worship. When these things were not working, he became more frantic and his decisions were hurting people. The last straw for me was when he got the church ByLaws changed. He wanted the Deacons to meet with him once a quarter instead of once a month (less oversight) and he threatened someone on the church staff because he didn't want to follow policies and procedures on spending. In the business meeting, I knew he had moved numbers around to make them less conspicuous and when he was able to get the majority to agree in voting for his changes, we walked out the door and we didn't go back. It was devastating. To lose a church and all your friends was very hurtful. Not one single person, besides family, reached out to us. The pastor, the associate pastor, the district superintendent, none of the deacons or our friends. We tried other churches looking for one that had the same beliefs we do and freedom of worship but one that wasn't into corporate, money-making schemes and fads. We were sorely disappointed. There is not one sinful thing about having a coffee bar in the lobby (one of the "fads" I happened to like) or painting the church interior black and having strobe lights or adding water features. It wasn't that it was sinful. And I'm certainly not against new people coming to church and the lost being saved and finding a church home! I wouldn't want to exclude anyone to keep my comfort. It was what was behind it. Why are the churches doing these things? Is it to draw in the unsaved or is it really to draw in people who bring in money. Spending so much money on water features when we were financially struggling was a silly fad. I'd rather have sent that $6,000 to missions than spend it on water features. We hadn't been making our missions budget but he spent $6,000 on water features! Even if our church was doing well financially, I think multiple water features was silly. But those are things you can agree to disagree about because it wasn't essentially sinful. This pastor tried to get the Praise and Worship team to wear matching outfits; only raise their hands if the Minister of Music directed them to; look heavenward on cue. It was like they were supposed to be faking it for entertainment purposes. I'm sorry, but if it isn't sincere, then it's entertainment and that's not why I go to church. I didn't like it but we might could have stuck it out, praying for a change. But it was about him not wanting oversight and not wanting to be accountable for money being spent and how he was shifting numbers around. I worked in the Financial Office and I know what I'm looking at so he didn't fool me, but he fooled a lot of other people. No one was going to listen to commonsense, they voted the party line, so we had to leave. Churches are led, and filled, with people. They are at all different kinds of spiritual levels and they make mistakes and get off the right track. It happens to all of us. But what we have felt is that it's a definite, and desperate, trend in churches to do whatever they can think of to build numbers back up. The unfortunate fact is less and less people are going to church because our society is so secularized and hostile to God. Young people are growing up without any attachment to church. Families don't go, they don't come in contact with it through other families (their friends), they aren't encouraged at school. They have no affinity or comfort in the thought of church. And then there are those, like us, who have been hurt by the different and sundry situations but people leave church altogether rather than find another. We were tempted. After 2 years of trying different churches we gave up for a few years. But, thank God, we kept praying for another church and found it! I don't know what the real solution is. But fake church isn't it; diluted feel-good pep talks aren't it; entertainment isn't it. It's partly our government's fault for allowing God to be deleted from our society and public institutions. It's partly the church's fault for following in the footsteps of the world to appeal and attract rather than give the simple truth and offer free worship. It's partly parents fault for not taking their children to church to start with (those that didn't). It's partly the fault of denomination leaders who pressure pastors and churches to "succeed" by having numbers in the pews and dollars in the bank. It's partly the fault of society who now has unrealistic expectations about church and God. They expect something impossible - perfect people and a God who does everything they want Him to do. Church is full of imperfect people and hypocrits, it's the human plight. You are not perfect and you don't want others to expect you to be. But you tend to turn your magnifying glass on others and expect them to be perfect and meet your expectations. You don't offer them any grace or room to wiggle. I feel for pastors in church. It's even difficult to get people to be pastors because of the unrealistic expectations and the hurt and pressure they undergo. They deserve our support, love and prayers. But we also need to hold them accountable so they don't go off the deep end however they are tempted. For some it's sexually, for some it's greed, for some it's a mid life crises, for some it's beating their wife or children, for some it's downright heretical teachings, etc. This ought not to be and should be confronted. It's one thing to disagree on the color of carpet or the size of the parking lot. We should be open, able to discuss, take input but when the decision is made, sometimes we have to agree to disagree and be graceful about it. But some things cannot be allowed. It's important to make a stand on things before they get out of hand if possible. Do it the right way. Then, if there is nothing more you can do, shake the dust off your feet and move on. But keep looking for a church because it is important to be a part of a church family. Jesus encouraged it and so did the Apostles. Who knows, maybe your commonsense will direct someone in the right direction for a change!

My last thoughts. How are we, regular people, falling into the same traps? How are we sucking up to the pig of Babylon?

Are you a contractor? Do you pad your estimates, do you choose inferior products to increase your profits? Do you give kickbacks to acquire contracts? Do you treat your employees fairly with decent wages and benefits?

Are you a teacher? Do you do a good job as a teacher or have you lost your desire to teach and are just there filling a spot and collecting your wages? Do you treat your students as human beings and fairly? Do you live in anger because you've been mistreated by students, parents, administration so you no longer try? Are you part of the problem or the solution in your realm of influence.

Are you a doctor? Do you treat your patients and staff with respect? Do you gouge the insurance companies by adding charges for services never rendered? Do you justify it by saying, "I don't get paid enough from Medicare so I'll charge extra for something I didn't do to make up for it"? Do you really care about your patients or are they numbers to make you the money you think you deserve? Is it a ministry or just a job? Do you steal drugs? Do you overprescribe medications? Do you withhold necessary treatment because the patient can't pay?

Are you in insurance? Do you sell people policies that you know they can't afford or don't need just to make money? Do you sell a good product or is it a poor product but you are making money on it? Do you look for ways to cancel policies and deny coverage because the insurance companies don't want money going out? Even if it's legitimate claim, you and your company would deny it to try to avoid paying out.

Are you a salesman? Do you really believe in your product or are you selling something that you wouldn't buy yourself? Are you filling a real need or creating a need? Do your products help people are harm people? If you sell illegal drugs, you are doing harm. If you are selling drugs for a pharmaceutical company but you know they haven't revealed everything or have done inadequate testing... then you are doing harm. Can a human being get hurt or killed as in a defective product or just plain dangerous products? Are you laughing at your customers or clients behind their backs because you know you've sold them a bill of goods? Do you make fun of how gullible your customers are? Are you pushing people to go beyond their means to buy the product? A realtor who sells a house to a couple they know can't really afford it, could care less. They get their commissions right off the top.

Are you a banker, you collect mortgage loan fees and interest over the months/years someone has made their payments. But you take the first chance to foreclose on them. That's unethical. Banks who loan money to people they know can't afford to pay it back, are doing it to make their loan fees and interest. Then they foreclose on the hapless people and take their home to re-sell it. Face it, if the economy is good, the bank WANTS to foreclose. They can make even more, and faster, by foreclosing and putting the house up for sale. If someone is the least bit late, they will begin the process of foreclosing because they want the house. It's a whole lot quicker way to make money than waiting over the 30 yr mortgage so you better believe they will come after it (unless your house is in really bad shape or in a really bad neighborhood). During the Great Depression, my Grandfather owed $300 on his farm. He was not late on a payment. But the bank was in difficulty and called in his load. They wanted his farm. He didn't have the $300 and the bank was going to get his land. Fortunately a neighbor went with him to the bank and forced the bank to take the $300 and Papa paid his neighbor back. He never borrowed money again!

Are you a production worker? Do you steal time from your employer? Do you steal office supplies or tools or widgets from the company for your own use? Do you fill up your car with stolen stuff from your employer and take it to a flea market to sell? Do you justify it by thinking, "They don't pay me enough, so this is payment rendered"? Do you put in a good job or do you deliberately keep your production levels low because you think they will expect it from you every day? Do you follow company rules and policies? Do you come in late or leave early but you are paid for that lost time? Do you bully or abuse co-workers? Do you make fun of co-workers?

Are you a manager? Do you hold your employees to impossible standards? Do you try to look good by asking your departments to slash their budgets? They are able to do it but then you expect them to continue to run on a shoestring or even slash it more just to increase the profit margins more and more? Then you expect them to increase production but you've slashed their budgets? Are you making impossible demands on employees and dept heads? Have you demanded that they slash their budgets, increase production and do it without any overtime? Do you have unrealistic expectations? Do you back your employees and dept heads or do you throw them under the bus? Do you make a good salary, benefits and bonuses but you expect your employees to cut out their overtime or lose a benefit, raise their health insurance premiums? Do you drive a company car, new every two years, only to make your employees use their own cars/trucks to make pickups, deliveries, and run company errands? Do you reimburse them fairly for the use? Do you take expensive company trips in first class but lay off your third shift employees when the orders are down? Do you use temps to avoid paying payroll taxes and worker's comp insurance? The temps work with the hope of being hired fulltime by your company but you keep stringing them along knowing you won't really hire them.

Ask yourself if God is happy with where you are and how you make a living. Do you ethics and integrity in whatever you do? Do you treat others well? What would Jesus do in your situation? Would He say, "Well done my good and faithful servant?" If you are a Christian, He loves you, but He may not be best pleased with the way you're conducting business. He will help you change. If you need to run from a job to avoid temptation to do evil, He will honor that. He will help you find gainful employment to meet your needs. It may not make you rich, may mean hard work. But if you are grateful and do well, God will promote you. Remember Joseph who was a slave then in prison but eventually second only to the Pharoah. Trust in God's promotion for it is better to have Him working on your behalf and to have a soul at peace with what you do everyday.


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Revelation 18:15-20 15 The merchants who sold these things and grew their wealth from her will stand at a distance, in fear of her torment. They will weep and mourn, 16 saying:
“Woe, woe to the great city,
clothed in fine linen and purple and scarlet,
adorned with gold and precious stones and pearls!
17 For in a single hour
such fabulous wealth has been destroyed!”
Every shipmaster, passenger, and sailor, and all who make their living from the sea, will stand at a distance 18 and cry out at the sight of the smoke rising from the fire that consumes her, saying, ‘What city was ever like this great city?’
19 Then they will throw dust on their heads as they weep and mourn and cry out:
“Woe, woe to the great city,
where all who had ships on the sea
were enriched by her wealth!
For in a single hour she has been destroyed.”
20 “Rejoice over her, O heaven,
O saints and apostles and prophets,
because for you God has pronounced
His judgment against her.”

Hosea 12:7 A merchant loves to defraud with dishonest scales in his hands.

Proverbs 11:1 Dishonest scales are an abomination to the LORD, but an accurate weight is His delight.

Micah 6:11 "Can I excuse dishonest scales or bags of false weights?"

Proverbs 16:11 A just weight and balance are the LORD'S: all the weights of the bag are his work.

Ezekiel 22:1-15, Proverbs 22:25-29 1 Now this message came to me from the LORD: 2 “Son of man, are you ready to judge Jerusalem? Are you ready to judge this city of murderers? Publicly denounce her detestable sins, 3 and give her this message from the Sovereign LORD: O city of murderers, doomed and damned—city of idols,a filthy and foul— 4 you are guilty because of the blood you have shed. You are defiled because of the idols you have made. Your day of destruction has come! You have reached the end of your years. I will make you an object of mockery throughout the world. 5 O infamous city, filled with confusion, you will be mocked by people far and near.
6 “Every leader in Israel who lives within your walls is bent on murder. 7 Fathers and mothers are treated with contempt. Foreigners are forced to pay for protection. Orphans and widows are wronged and oppressed among you. 8 You despise my holy things and violate my Sabbath days of rest. 9 People accuse others falsely and send them to their death. You are filled with idol worshipers and people who do obscene things. 10 Men sleep with their fathers’ wives and force themselves on women who are menstruating. 11 Within your walls live men who commit adultery with their neighbors’ wives, who defile their daughters-in-law, or who rape their own sisters. 12 There are hired murderers, loan racketeers, and extortioners everywhere. They never even think of me and my commands, says the Sovereign LORD.
13 “But now I clap my hands in indignation over your dishonest gain and bloodshed. 14 How strong and courageous will you be in my day of reckoning? I, the LORD, have spoken, and I will do what I said. 15 I will scatter you among the nations and purge you of your wickedness...
25 Your princes plot conspiracies just as lions stalk their prey. They devour innocent people, seizing treasures and extorting wealth. They make many widows in the land. 26 Your priests have violated my instructions and defiled my holy things. They make no distinction between what is holy and what is not. And they do not teach my people the difference between what is ceremonially clean and unclean. They disregard my Sabbath days so that I am dishonored among them. 27 Your leaders are like wolves who tear apart their victims. They actually destroy people’s lives for money! 28 And your prophets cover up for them by announcing false visions and making lying predictions. They say, ‘My message is from the Sovereign LORD,’ when the LORD hasn’t spoken a single word to them. 29 Even common people oppress the poor, rob the needy, and deprive foreigners of justice.

***********************************************************



Revelation 18: 21-24 21 Then a mighty angel picked up a boulder the size of a huge millstone. He threw it into the ocean and shouted,
“Just like this, the great city Babylon
will be thrown down with violence
and will never be found again.
22 The sound of harps, singers, flutes, and trumpets
will never be heard in you again.
No craftsmen and no trades
will ever be found in you again.
The sound of the mill
will never be heard in you again.
23 The light of a lamp
will never shine in you again.
The happy voices of brides and grooms
will never be heard in you again.
For your merchants were the greatest in the world,
and you deceived the nations with your sorceries.
24 In your streets flowed the blood of the prophets and of God’s holy people
and the blood of people slaughtered all over the world.”

Remember we read Jeremiah 51 earlier in this post. The last words of Jeremiah 51 are:

Jeremiah 51:61-64 61 And Jeremiah said to Seraiah, “When you get to Babylon, see that you read all these words aloud, 62 and say, ‘O LORD, You have promised to cut off this place so that no one will remain—neither man nor beast. Indeed, it will be desolate forever.’ 63 When you finish reading this scroll, tie a stone to it and cast it into the Euphrates. 64 Then you are to say, ‘In the same way, Babylon will sink and never rise again, because of the disaster I will bring upon her. And her people will grow weary.’”

"The taking up of the stone and casting it into the waters is a symbol drawn from Jeremiah (Jeremiah 51). Jeremiah enjoined Seraiah to bind the prophetic roll to a great stone, and cast them together into the Euphrates. The meaning of the act was explained--"Thus shall Babylon sink and shall not rise," etc. (Jeremiah 51:63-64)." - Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

Revelation 17:1 One of the seven angels who had the seven bowls came and said to me, “Come, I will show you the punishment of the great prostitute, who sits by many waters.

We saw the Whore of Babylon sitting over many waters and now she sinks beneath the water. When we studied Revelation 17, we saw that the waters represent humanity, nations. Constantly seething, roiling, moving. But now the law of gravity will see the harlot sink like a stone. The sea is typical of the nations of the earth (see Revelation 13:1). Empires and nations rise and fall. The last one, the one of the anti-Christ, will also fall and disappear. Something similar was said about Tyre in Ezekiel 26. We studied about Tyre in my blog post on Revelation 17.

Ezekiel 26:21 I will make you an object of horror, and you will be no more. You will be sought, but will never be found, declares the Lord GOD.’”

It will happen very quickly! The angel throws the stone "with such violence" or "violently". The word in Greek means A rushing on, impulse, violence, quickly, suddenly, with great haste. Back in verse 19:

Revelation 18:19 19 Then they will throw dust on their heads as they weep and mourn and cry out:
“Woe, woe to the great city,
where all who had ships on the sea
were enriched by her wealth!
For in a single hour she has been destroyed.”

These things will cease:

The musical sounds of parties, fun.

• Harps
• Singers
• Flutes
• Trumpets

Today we would be thinking of all the music that we associate with partying such as dance songs, drinking songs, etc. Whether it's rock and roll, rap, country pop, disco, country, pop, etc. If it makes you want to do sinful things, then it's music of the world. Do certain songs make you want to drink? Dance vulgarly? Have sex (outside of your marriage)? Take drugs? Fight? Those are indicators that you should avoid them. They are songs and music of this world, flesh. Whether it's the words or the beat, satan can use music (which God originally created) to influence people to do sinful things. Bars and parties that have such loud pulsing music that you can't distinguish the words of the songs and you can't even have a conversation with someone sitting right next to you... they are using music to control you and make you do things you wouldn't ordinarily do. They want you to spend money to buy what they are selling - drugs, alcohol, prostitution. There is no other reason for music to be so loud. It's a mind control thing. They brainwash you to think you are having fun and spend money! There are many other ways people use music to control people, but in those bars and parties, they just want your money.

Music and song can be used for God and godly purposes. God created music and music is enjoyed in Heaven. It can help us learn scripture by tying a verse to a song. We can teach good lessons by tying them to a song such as "Jesus loves the little children, all the children of the world..." We can praise and worship God with music and song.

1 Chronicles 16:23-24 23 Sing to the LORD, all the earth; proclaim his salvation day after day. 24 Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous deeds among all peoples.

Psalm 96:1 Sing to the LORD a new song; Sing to the LORD, all the earth.

Exodus 15:2 The LORD is my strength and song, And He has become my salvation; This is my God, and I will praise Him; My father's God, and I will extol Him.

Psalm 43:4 Then I will go to the altar of God, To God my exceeding joy; And upon the lyre I shall praise You, O God, my God.

Psalm 101:1 I will sing of lovingkindness and justice, To You, O LORD, I will sing praises.

Psalm 33:1-3 Sing for joy in the LORD, O you righteous ones; Praise is becoming to the upright. Give thanks to the LORD with the lyre; Sing praises to Him with a harp of ten strings. Sing to Him a new song; Play skillfully with a shout of joy.

Psalm 98:4-5 Shout joyfully to the LORD, all the earth; Break forth and sing for joy and sing praises. Sing praises to the LORD with the lyre, With the lyre and the sound of melody.

Psalm 149:1-3 Hallelujah!
Sing to the LORD a new song—
His praise in the assembly of the godly.
2Let Israel rejoice in their Maker;
let the children of Zion rejoice in their King.
3Let them praise His name with dancing,
and make music to Him with tambourine and harp.

Psalm 150:3-6 3 Praise Him with the sound of the trumpet;
praise Him with the harp and lyre.
4 Praise Him with tambourine and dancing;
praise Him with strings and flute.
5Praise Him with clashing cymbals;
praise Him with resounding cymbals.
6 Let everything that has breath praise the LORD!
Hallelujah!

Acts 16:25-26 But about midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns of praise to God, and the prisoners were listening to them; and suddenly there came a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison house were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened and everyone's chains were unfastened.

Colossians 3:16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.

What else ceases to be found in Babylon?

• Craftsmen
• Trade
• Mills

These represent industry and commerce. The cha-ching sound of making money. In verse 23, it says their merchants were the greatest in the world. But they will sink with the stone. Industrial giants, mega corporations, shell corporations, con games, pyramid schemes, technological companies, manufacturers, all will sink and disappear.

And, finally are these:

• Light of lamp
• Happy voices during weddings

Celebrations, holidays, parties. There will be no more. Marketers have again brainwashed us all and created needs we didn't have 50 years ago. Now weddings have to be super expensive affairs with DJs, choreographed dances (which requires all the wedding party, family and friends take dance lessons which is another expense), cakes that cost hundreds or thousands of dollars, full bars, expensive catering, wedding venues that cost tons to rent, wedding dresses worn one day and yet they cost thousands of dollars, bridesmaid dresses and groomsmen tuxedos, flowers and arrangements, showers and parties before, rehearsal dinners, spa days for the entire wedding party, specialists and consultants for hair, makeup, directing the wedding, music, etc, etc, etc. If a bride and groom decided to take even a part of their wedding plan budget and gave it to the charity of their choice (their church, missions, animal rescue, pregnancy centers, etc) how much could be done with it. Or if they tried to save their parents money by making smarter choices, how courteous and unselfish that would be. Or maybe they should pay for their own wedding, since it is their wedding. When it's done on someone else's dime it's easier to be extravagant. Selfishness and greed wins many times. Even tasteful weddings are so expensive because of what is expected. We have been brainwashed into thinking this is all necessary or we will be made fun of, sneered at, embarrassed. We are too worried about what others think. Balance is key!

And it's not just weddings and bridezillas! Every holiday now has become some type of major event that we have to spend a lot of money on. Halloween used to be simple kid fun. We either wore a sheet over us, dressed funny as "hobos" or added Mom's necklaces to be "gypsies". I never got a store bought costume (although I would have loved some of the costumes kids have today). We carried a paper bag. We went to our neighbors house and got some candy. That was it! We didn't have Halloween parties at school, church, carnivals or festivals. No one in the neighborhood bought enough candy for 100 kids, nor did we get fistfuls of candy. One or two pieces was all we expected. And once you reached 10 yrs old, you didn't want to "be a baby" and dress up and get candy for Halloween. Certainly as an adult, you didn't dress up. I'm all for having some fun and dressing up is fun. But balance is the key. If you are spending too much money and expecting too much, then get a grip and realize it's just a little holiday.

Same with Christmas. Christmas has grown into such a big deal that everyone is exhausted and ready for it to be over by the time it gets here! Stores start creating the hype in early Fall. You are pushed to buy tons of decorations that exhaust you to put them all out, much less put them back up and store them until next year! When we were little, we got a live tree and decorated it. We had a little box of decorations and we supplemented with ornaments we made at school (thrown away after we took the tree down), cranberry strings, sometimes popcorn strands and fruit. Mom put up stockings that she had made for us. And we had a little nativity and some Christmas candles. That was it. No door wreaths on every door, candles in every window, decorations on every surface, Christmas sheets on the bed and towels on the towel rack, Christmas dishes, etc. It was simple and easy. Gifts were the same. Kids today expect hundreds and even thousands of dollars in gifts and that's ridiculous. We think someone is poor and pitiful if their parents can't spend hundreds of dollars on Christmas gifts so we put their names on trees at church and beg for more gifts for "poor children". Charitable organizations have toy drives for poor children. Please understand, I'm a generous person and I do spoil my grandnieces and grandnephews. I also love to give to people in need and I certainly don't want a single child to go without a Christmas gift or two. But the expectations children and families have are way beyond what is needed and what is wise. I would rather give people food, basic clothes (don't ask me to donate $100 for a pair of sneakers or a fancy pair of bluejeans), and items they need because they are in crisis not because their kids don't have rooms full of toys. That's not a real need, it's a created need. My toys and clothes fit in my 6' closet. We didn't have toy boxes, toy closets, shelves full of toys, play rooms full of toys, garages and attics full of toys. And we were blessed! My parents got one toy at Christmas and some fruit. Their parents before them got a penny and some candy and fruit. So don't try to sell me on kids having to have pickup trucks full of toys in order to be happy, healthy and well adjusted! We are raising generations who feel entitled and who demand. They think they are pitiful and poor if they don't get the latest iPhone for Christmas or $500 in designer clothes. Other kids might make fun of them or they might feel unloved or embarrassed because they didn't get an American Girl doll (which is very expensive for a doll) and all the clothes and accessories to match. The boys think they must get the latest video games and gaming technology or they feel disappointed, even mad at their parents. When they get to be teenagers, it gets even more expensive. It's really not good parenting to meet their every whim and desire and flood them with stuff. It's a waste of money and a waste of teaching them real life lessons. I just love to hear of children who ask friends and families not to buy them something for their birthday or Christmas but to donate to their favorite charity. Now those children have learned something and their parents have taught them well. If you are new parents, think carefully about the best way to teach your children when it comes to gifts. Don't start out by getting them everything you can think of. A few well thought out gifts are much better than bags full. And you might ask family members to help you. If they want to give, maybe a small gift and a donation to their college fund. As they grow, regularly show them their savings so they see it's building up. You don't want your kids expecting too much and it's essential to start early because when they get to school, others will influence them and you need to be ready to combat that. Your kids aren't suffering if they have a nice home (shelter), good food, good clothes and shoes and some toys to play with. All the rest is fluff and can even damage their outlook on life by making them spoiled, dependent and demanding.

It's every holiday and celebration! Memorial day is coming up and people are thinking they have to have the cookouts, the boats for rides on the lake, the camper for a weekend of camping, breaking in the pool for summer, parties and parades. All costing money and making retailers happy. How about grilling some hamburgers, sitting in lawnchairs watching the kids play in the sprinkler. Top it off with some watermelon or ice cream and then chasing fireflies. Be sure to remember what Memorial Day is really about. Those who gave their lives for our country.

Proms, oh my goodness! Expensive dresses, renting tuxedos, renting limousines, going out to eat at the most expensive restaurants, professional photo shoots, mani/pedis, hairstyling, spa days to get ready, hotel rooms and after parties. It's too much!

Graduations are coming up. When I graduated from high school, I spared my family from having to go sit during a lloonngg ceremony where 700 students would be handed high school diplomas (that was how big my graduating class was). That also saved them having to buy the hat and gown, invitations and announcements. I didn't get a gift from them. I only got a couple of small gifts from others. I didn't expect anything else. I knew my parents and family loved me so I was not disappointed or mad because graduation wasn't a big deal. My parents raised me right. Today, everybody is expected to give graduation gifts and have parties for the graduate. And a few good snapshots with the family camera is old school. Now it's got to be professional photographers with props and going to places for the perfect backdrop. New outfits and matching shoes. Then hundreds of dollars for the photos printed and they must be framed. Parents get in a flurry of spending throughout the summer because little Jane or Johnny is going to go to college and they must have a comfortable mattress, matching bedding and towels, a microwave, their own flat screen TV, organizers, laptops, tablets, etc, etc.

And let's go to birthdays. Every child must have a birthday party with everyone they come in contact with invited. It has to be a big deal with lots of presents and a theme. Parents have to spend a lot of money for parties and once you have a party, every child you invited to your party will have a birthday party of their own and you are obligated to go and take a gift because they came and brought a gift to your children's party. It becomes a vicious cycle that takes up time, energy, gas and gift money. The kids that attend the party have to get gifts. I never saw anything like it. The birthday child gets the gifts, but now every attendee (including the siblings) also gets gifts so "they won't feel left out". When I was a child, we got one gift and a birthday cake. Most of the time we had family over for hot dogs or something. I only had one birthday party where my friends could be invited and that was my 16th. The next party I had for my birthday was my 40th. I do expect my husband to do something in honor of my birthday and I do for him. A gift, going out to dinner, just time alone with him is all it takes. Sometimes he gets me flowers and a card and that's my gift. Sometimes it's more. But the main thing is that he remembers and shows he loves me. I don't expect a huge deal. If I get to have special time with family and/or friends, that's a bonus. Sometimes we combine birthdays and all of the family gets together or goes out to celebrate everyone's birthday in May (or whatever the month is) and that's fun but it's not demanded or expected and we certainly don't feel disappointed for having to "share" a birthday with others. It really adds to the enjoyment.

According to Revelation 18, all these things will go because they are just so much worthless, self-indulgent, greedy demands and desires. God wants us to enjoy life as long as it includes Him and is in balance. A family picnic, a ride in the country, picking flowers or blackberries on a country lane, enjoying a good book, playing games, learning together, playing basketball on the driveway, etc. There are so many ways to enjoy life and enjoy each other.

Revelation 18:24 In your streets flowed the blood of the prophets and of God’s holy people and the blood of people slaughtered all over the world.”
There is not a lot of difference between the entertainment of Romans 2,000 years ago and our forms of entertainment today. Modern movies with all the violence and sex in high def sound and special effects brings it right to our living rooms every day.

Don't think that Christians are no longer persecuted and martyred. In fact thousands, tens of thousands are martyred every year in the world TODAY!


Late February to middle March (3 weeks) of THIS year (2019), 120 Christians were killed, 140 homes destroyed, thousands displaced as villages were over run by Fulani militants (West Africa from Senegal to northern Nigeria and Cameroon. They are traditionally nomadic cattle herders of Muslim faith).



The blood of Christians already flows down streets. It will increase and be far worse in the end times. Be ready.

James B. McIntosh was married to Myrtle Irene McGee, the daughter of Eliza Jane Cassada and James Linville McIntosh. The Cassada line is in my Conner line. So he is not a blood relation, his wife was my 2nd cousin 3 times removed. It goes like this:

William Cassada and Jane Harrison had Rachel Pauline Cassada and Nathaniel VanBuren Cassada (brother and sister). My direct line would come through Rachel Pauline Cassada who married Samuel Bruce Ensley. Myrtle Irene McGee was descended from Nathaniel Van Buren Cassada and Ailsey Mahala Brown. They had Eliza Jane Cassada.

Nathaniel Van Buren Cassada was born 6/24/1838 in Buncombe County, NC to William Cassada and Jane Harrison and died 9/30/1868 in Buncombe County, NC. He married Ailsey Mahala Brown (DOB 8/1/1841 in Buncombe County, NC; DOD 9/29/1927 in Leicester, Buncombe County, NC). They had Laura Kate Cassada, Eliza Jane Cassada, William Van Cassada, Anna Vianna Cassada and Sarah V. Cassada.

Eliza Jane Cassada was born 6/30/1864 in Buncombe County, NC and died 3/22/1932 in Buncombe County, NC. She married James Linville McGee (DOB 3/20/1860 in NC; DOD 12/18/1939 in Buncombe County, NC). They had Grady McGee, Myrtle Irene McGee, Van Ward McGhee, Denver Wilson McGee, Annie May McGee, William Dewey McGee, James Conrad McGee.


Myrtle Irene McGee was born 6/28/1892 in Buncombe County, NC; DOD 3/18/1982 in Asheville, Buncombe County, NC). She married James Bennie McIntosh (DOB 8/23/1891 in Madison County, NC; DOD 11/17/1968 in Oteen, Buncombe County, NC). They had:

1) Hurley Myrtle McIntosh (DOB 6/5/1920 in Asheville, Buncombe County, NC; DOD 7/1984 in Asheville, Buncombe County, NC) married Charles Nelson Baumann (DOB 3/30/1904 in TN; DOD 1/24/1986 in Asheville, Buncombe County, NC). They had a son with a story, James Nelson Baumann. James Nelson Baumann was born 10/11/1945 in Buncombe County, NC. I found marriage license announcements in the newspaper in 1968 to Carol Ann Gillis (DOB Abt. 1946) and in 1971 to Gay Marlia Turner (DOB Abt. 1937). James Nelson Baumann was killed by Michael Allen Hoyle at Buzzard Rock off Elk Mountain Scenic Hwy. The newspaper reports that it was sort of a duel. The two men got into an argument at an Asheville Bar and agreed to meet to "settle it". Hoyle was given 20 years for voluntary manslaughter.

Asheville Citizen Times, Asheville, NC, 1/31/1976, Pg 16
James N. Baumann
James Nelson Baumann, 30, of 16 Oak Park Road, died Friday in an Asheville hospital from gunshot wounds.
Born in Buncombe County, he was a 1965 graduate of Lee Edwards High School and a member of the First Baptist Church. He lived in Hendersonville during 1975 and was a land surveyor.
Surviving are a son, James T. Baumann of Asheville, the parents, Charles and Hurley McIntosh Baumann of Asheville; three brothers, David Baumann of Asheville, Charles S. Baumann of Fairfax, Va. and Robert C. Baumann of Seabrook, Md.; three sisters, Miss Su Baumann of Montpellier, France, Mrs. Carol Lewis of Greensboro and Mrs. Jeanne Gilmore of Asheville; and the maternal Grandmother, Mrs. J.B. McIntosh of Asheville.
Services will be held at 2 p.m. Sunday in the Asheville Chapel of Penland and Sons Funeral Home. The Rev. George Patterson will officiate. Burial will be in Lewis Memorial Park...

NC Death Certificate #374, Registration District #011.95, James Nelson Baumann, DOD 1/30/1976 in "DOA Memorial Mission Hospital, Asheville, Buncombe county, NC"
Male, White, Divorced, DOB 10/11/1945 in NC, 30 yrs old
Occupation: Land surveyor, self employed
Father: Charles Baumann, Mother: Hurley McIntosh, Informant: Charles Baumann, 16 Oak Park Rd, Asheville, NC
DOD 1/30/1976 at 3:30am
Cause of death: Massive brain destruction due to gunshot wound to head
Autopsy? Yes
Homicide, a shoot out with another man Elk Mountain Scenic Hwy, Asheville, NC
Buried: 2/1/1976 in Lewis Memorial Park, Asheville, NC

Asheville Citizen Times, Asheville, NC, 1/31/1976, Pg 11
Murder Charge Filed In Wake Of Shooting
James Nelson Baumann, 30, of 16 Oak Park Road was shot to death early Friday at Buzzard Rock off Elk Mountain Scenic Highway, the Buncombe County Sheriff's Department reported.
According to Chief Investigator Donald R. Whitaker, the shooting occurred around 2:20 a.m. in the aftermath of an argument which began earlier at an Asheville bar. Baumann was arguing with Michael Allen Hoyle, 25, of 10 Deva Glenn Road, and the two men agreed to drive up to Buzzard Rock and "settle it," Whitaker said.
He said Baumann was first to arrive at the agreed upon spot and fired one shot at Hoyle with a 410 shotgun while Hoyle was still in his car. Baumann's shot missed. Whitaker said, and Hoyle then fired three shots with a .38-caliber revolver. All three shots struck Baumann, who was dead at the scene, Whitaker said.
Whitaker said Hoyle drove back toward town and called the sheriff's department and told them what had happened, then returned to the scene to meet the deputies. The shooting was also reported at approximately the same time by witnesses who stopped an Asheville Police Department patrolman on Merrimon Avenue, Whitaker said.
He said two witnesses were questioned Friday morning, and the investigation is continuing.
Whitaker said Hoyle has been charged with first degree murder and is being held in Buncombe County Jail. No bond had been set as of Friday afternoon.


Asheville Citizen Times, Asheville, NC, 2/4/1976, Pg 21
Defender Appointed In Slaying Charge
Michael Allen Hoyle, charge with first degree murder in the Friday shooting death of James Nelson Baumann, remained in the Buncombe County jail without bond Tuesday after a public defender was appointed for him
A hearing in Buncombe County District Court is set for Feb. 13.
Meanwhile, said Donald R. Whitaker, chief investigator of the county Sheriff's Department, witnesses to the argument that erupted between Hoyle and Baumann at a local bar are being interviewed.
"I think there are only two people involved, the victim and the accused," Whitaker said Tuesday.
According to Whitaker's account following the incident at 2:20 a.m. last Friday, the two men decided to drive to Buzzard Rock on Elk Mountain Scenic Highway and settle the argument that had begun in the bar.
Whitaker said that Hoyle told him Baumann, 30, of 16 Oak Park Road was first to arrive at the scene and the first to shoot. Hoyle then fired three shots, two of which, Whitaker said, could have been fatal by themselves.
Hoyle then drove toward Asheville, called the sheriff's Department, and met deputies at the scene.
Hoyle, 25, of 10 Deva Glenn Road, had a .38 caliber pistol. Baumann had a 410 shotgun-.22 caliber rifle over-and-under combination. Whitaker said that the .22 charge was still in the chamber when the gun was found.


Asheville Citizen Times, Asheville, NC, 3/5/1976, Pg 17
Duelling Charge Dropped, But Duelist Is Jailed
A 20-year sentence, the maximum for voluntary manslaughter, was ordered Thursday for Michael Allen Hoyle, 25, of Deva Glen Road by Buncombe Superior Court Judge Harry C. Martin.
Hoyle had been indicted on the extremely rare charge of fighting a duel, in consequence of a challenge sent and received, in which James Nelson Baumann, 30, of Oak Park Road was killed and Hoyle survived.
The state dismissed the dwelling charge after Hoyle pleaded guilty to the manslaughter count.
The shooting occurred around 2:20 a.m. Jan. 30 at Buzzard Rock off Elk Mountain Scenic Highway, sheriff's deputies said. The two men had argued earlier at an Asheville bar.
Baumann was allegedly armed with a 410 shotgun, and Hoyle with a .38-caliber revolver.
A District Court judge said when the duelling law was passed in North Carolina in the 1870s, with the threat of life imprisonment for seconds as well as participators, duelling except over state lines virtually ceased.
Judge Martin examined some case books and said the only dueling charge appealed to the N.C. Supreme Court took place in 1902. In this verdict was overturned because the duel challengers had fought with their fists under common law, Judge Martin said, this offense was "affray", with a maximum 30-day sentence.
Judge Martin said the wording of the statute on duelling was vague, and had never been tested by the Supreme Court. So there is no way to say whether life imprisonment is mandatory or maximum punishment, or whether self-defense could be pleaded by a survivor, Judge Martin said.


Asheville Citizen Times, Asheville, NC, 5/15/1989, Pg 13

I believe Michael Allen Hoyle died on 2/7/2016 in Asheville, Buncombe County, NC and is buried in the same cemetery as James Nelson Baumann.









2) James Florio McIntosh (DOB 7/17/1922 in Buncombe County, NC; DOD 8/16/2012 in Greenville, Greenville County, SC) married Lois Lorilla Wallace (DOB 8/8/1914; DOD 3/2 2008 in Carrollton, Denton County, TX).

3) Madeline Gayle McIntosh (DOB 8/14/1927 in Buncombe County, NC; DOD 10/16/2018 in Greer, Greenville County, SC) married Clyde Edward Kincaid (DOB 3/25/1929 in Lenoir, Caldwell County, NC; DOD 1/14/1981 in Hickory, Catawba County, NC)

4) John L. McIntosh (DOB Abt. 1931 in Buncombe County, NC)


Let's look more closely at James Bennie McIntosh (aka "Big Mac"). He was a very interesting man to read about in newspaper accounts.

James B. McIntosh was born 8/23/1891 in Paint Fork, Madison County, NC to John Wesley McIntosh and Jane Anderson.



1900 U.S. Census of Middle Fork of Ivy, Madison County, North Carolina; Page: 4; Enumeration District: 0076; FHL microfilm: 1241205, "John McIntosh"
John McIntosh, Head, W(hite), M(ale), Born Apr, 1861, 39 yrs old, Married 17 yrs, Born in NC, Both parents born in NC, Farmer, Can read and write, Owns farm free of mortgage
Jane McIntosh, Wife, W, F, Born Dec, 1865, 35 yrs old, Married 17 yrs, 4 children with 3 still living, Born in NC, Both parents born in NC
Bud McIntosh, Son, W, M, Born Aug, 1891, 8 yrs old, Born in NC, Both parents born in NC
Eller McIntosh, Daughter, W, F, Born July 1886, 13 yrs old, Single, Born in NC, Both parents born in NC
Trissie McIntosh, Daughter, W, F, Born June, 1898, 1 yrs old, Born in NC, Both parents born in NC
Asheville Citizen Times, Asheville, NC, 8/18/1916, Pg 3
Asheville Citizen Times, Asheville, NC, 9/19/1917, Pg 8

Asheville Citizen Times, Asheville, NC, 11/3/1917, Pg 10

U.S. WWI Draft Registration Cards, Registration State: North Carolina; Registration County: Buncombe; Roll: 1765622; Draft Board: 2, Fold 1 1175, No. 163
James Bennie McIntosh, 25
56 Penland, Asheville, (Buncombe County), NC
DOB 8/23/1891 in Paint Fork, NC
Occupation: Police officer for City of Asheville
Single
32-1-7-A
Tall, Stout, Blue eyes, Black hair
Disabled? No, but has rheumatism contracted in flood of July 1916
Signed by him 6/5/1917 in Asheville, NC






Asheville Citizen Times, Asheville, NC, 10/25/1959, Pg 13



North Carolina, Marriage Records, 1741-2011
Name: James B McIntosh
Gender: Male
Race: White
Age: 26
Birth Year: abt 1892
Marriage Date: 25 May 1918
Marriage Place: Henderson, North Carolina, USA
Spouse: Myrtle Irene McGee
Spouse Gender: Female
Spouse Race: White
Spouse Age: 25
Event Type: Marriage
Asheville Citizen Times, Asheville, NC, 7/8/1918, Pg 3

 Asheville Citizen Times, Asheville, NC, 7/24/1919, Pg 6

1920 U.S. Census of Asheville Ward 2, Buncombe County, North Carolina; Roll: T625_1286; Page: 9B; Enumeration District: 9, "J.B. McIntosh"
J.B. McIntosh, Head, M(ale), W(hite), 28 yrs old, Married, Can read and write, Born in NC, both parents born in NC, Policeman City
Myrtle McIntosh, Wife, F, W, 37 yrs old, Married, Can read and write, Born in NC, Both parents born in NC
Dewey McGee, Lodger (Myrtle's brother), M, W, 18 yrs old, Single, Can read and write, Born in NC, Both parents born in NC, Salesman typewriter
J.C. Magie, Lodger, M, W, 70 yrs old, Widowed, Born in Scotland, Both parents born in Scotland, Retired

1930 U.S. Census of Asheville, Buncombe County, North Carolina; Page: 17B; Enumeration District: 0006; FHL microfilm: 2341409, "James B. McIntosh"
James B. McIntosh, Lodger, M(ale), W(hite), 38 yrs old, Can read and write, Born in NC, Both parents born in NC, Real Estate Agent
Myrtle McIntosh, Lodger, F, W, 37 yrs old, Married, Can read and write, Born in NC, Both parents born in NC

1940 U.S. Census of Asheville, Buncombe County, North Carolina; Roll: m-t0627-02877; Page: 4A; Enumeration District: 11-10A, "James McIntosh"
James McIntosh, Head, M(ale), W(hite), 48 yrs old, Married, Attended school thru 8th grade, Born in NC, Lived in same place in 1935, Salesman retail auto
Myrtle McIntosh, Wife, F, W, 47 yrs old, Married, Attended college 2 yrs, Born in NC
Hurley McIntosh, Daughter, F, W, 19 yrs old, Single, Attended college 2 yrs, Born in NC
James McIintosh, Jr., Son, M, W, 17 yrs old, Single, Attended high school 4 yrs, Born in NC
Gayle McIntosh, Daughter, 13 yrs old, Single, Attending school, Born in NC
John McIntosh, Son, M, W, 8 yrs old, Single, Attending school, Born in NC

Asheville Citizen Times, Asheville, NC, 12/27/1953, pg 39
Big Mack Took A Back Seat To No One In Days When Wrestling Was For Men
By Karl Fleming, Citizen Times Sports Writer
Show Above Is James B. McIntosh of 25 Orchard Street, Asheville, a former topflight wrestler. Left photo shows McIntosh as he appeared when he was wrestling in the Army during World War 1. Right photo is him as he is today, 62 years old and healthy and happy
In the lusty, happy rolicking Twenties when professional wrestlers were tough as nails and happy to prove it, Big Mack McIntosh of Asheville could whip his weight (220 pounds) in wildcats.
Big Mack was a wrestling man.
He came down out of the hills of Paint Fork with fuzz on his chin and joined the Army and when he wasn't shooting at Germans from the trenches of France he passed the time of day by pinning strong men to a piece of canvas in a wrestling ring until they cried "Uncle."
Now this was in the sad-departed era when wrestlers were wrestlers in the true sense of the word.
All the actors were performing on the legitimate stage then. Nowadays, all the thespians who can't get a job in Hollywood put on lace trunks, frazzle their hair and perfume it up real good and call themselves wrestlers. With tongue in cheek.
Most of them couldn't beat their way out of a wet paper sack.
But that wasn't the situation happily, when Big Mack was wrestling. You had to be a man and you had to be smart and the fans didn't care whether you could scowl real mean and cry or not. All they wanted you to do was wrestle.
That appealed to Big Mack. That and a rather quirkish incident, is what got him interested in wrestling in the first place.
He finished school at Mars Hill "common school" as it was known in those days, and moved to Asheville when he was 16. He got a job with the Old Asheville Street Railway and around 1916 found out that a big bruiser of a man named Farmer Burns was training for the World's Championship-wrestling.
Burns and his trainer, Frank Gotch, had set up headquarters at the old YMCA and big Mack used to go down there every afternoon after work and watch proceedings.
He hung around so much, and seemed such an affable young man, that Gotch got to liking him and it wasn't long before Big Mack was conscripted as Burn's guinea pig.
Big Mack suffered in this period. But he learned-the hard way. Burns would get him down on the mat and twist him up like a pretzel and afterwards when Big Mack lurched home in the dark he felt like a piece of meat two dogs had been fighting over.
But he loved it.
In 1917, Big Mack heard the guns roaring and saw the boys marching proudly off to war so he up and got in the Army. Pretty son he was shipped off to France.
He was in the 321st Infantry "Wildcats" and a wildcat he was.
After awhile the shooting stopped and the Germans loped off down the road, thoroughly whipped-for awhile.
The Army was seeking entertainment for the troops and called on Big Mack to tour Europe to meet wrestling champions of other divisions.
He fought, and beat, 34 of them and never lost but one match. And all this without the aid of a trainer or medical advisor. In those days you could get hurt wrestling.
Big Mack wrestled in the principal cities of England, France, Belgium, Germany, Switzerland, Spain. One night in Monte Carlo 7,000 people saw him wrestle and the gambling people at the casions suffered more than somewhat.
Then Big Mack came home.
And when he got here a big tough railroad man named Bearcat Parker was training too, for the World's Championship.
Well, everybody knew Big Mack was a wrestling man.
So it wasn't long before the talk started. Why not a match between McIntosh and Parker? Why not indeed?
Parker was willing. Big Mack was willing. And the plans were made, a match of the best-two-of-three falls with winner take all.
The men started training and you would have thought Dempsey and Tunney were going to fight in Asheville. Excitement-and betting-mounted.
The day of the grapple you couldn't have gotten within 100 yards of the old City Auditorium where the battle was to take place. The papers had played it up big and, actually, it was at that time the biggest sports event ever to be held in the city.
Then came the match. Down into the tense, smoke-filled arena came the combatants. There was Big Mack, 220 pounds of muscle and smart. And there was Parker, built as sleek as a tiger and just about as fast. He weighed 190.
They got in the ring and surveyed each other and started a monumental battle of strength, stamina and cunning.
Big Mack won the first fall but it took him 28 minutes to do it and both the men were dead tired after the half-hour struggle. But the tremendous strain had worn on Parker and Big Mack lumbered out and took the second fall-and the match-in three minutes. That was his last big match.
He had married young and the kids were coming. He has found grown children now.
Since he quit wrestling, Big Mack has been in the real estate business, has been chieft guard at Oteen and has held several law enforcement jobs.
But wrestling was his first love.
He doesn't love it any more, or doesn't care for the stuff promoters laughingly refer to as wrestling these days.
"I went to a couple of matches recently", Big Mack said.
"But it does something to a straight shooter to watch this stuff they call wrestling today. It's pretty good exhibition but it's all fake."
"What they do isn't wrestling", he said.
Today, at 62, Big Mack is healthy and robust and his handshake is firm and he has a zest for living.
"I hunt and fish a lot with my friends," he said.
"A man has to do something active. It's the only way to stay alive."

NC Death Certificate #36728, Registration District #11.00, James B. McIntosh, DOD 11/17/1968 in V.A. Hospital, Oteen, Buncombe County, NC
Usual residence: 25 Orchard St, Asheville, Buncombe County, NC
Male, White, Married to Myrtle McGee, DOB 8/23/1891 in NC, 77 yrs old
Father: John W. McIntosh - dec., Mother: Jane Anderson - dec., Informant: Hospital records of V.A. Hospital, Oteen, NC
DOD 11/17/1968 at 10:40am
Cause of death: Coronary insufficiency due to arteriosclerosis
Other condition was lipid pneumonia
Buried: 11/19/1968 in Lewis Memorial Park, Asheville, Buncombe County, NC

Asheville Citizen Times, Asheville, NC, 11/18/1968, Pg 5
J.B. McIntosh, Former Fireman, Policeman, Dies
Former Asheville policeman James B. McIntosh of 25 Orchard St. died Sunday afternoon in a local hospital after a long illness. He was 77.
McIntosh's varied professional career included service as a city fireman and a number of years as a professional wrestler.
Known as "Big Mac" to many friends, McIntosh was honored in 1959 for serving 50 years as a member of the First Baptist Church choir.
McIntosh joined the choir in 1910 and held the record for the longest period of choir membership in the church. He was also a long-time member of the church's quartet.
He was a veteran of World War I and served with the infantry in France, where he once served as top sergeant for a company of Cherokee Indians.
McIntosh was a personal friends of author Thomas Wolfe and worked out on wrestling mats with the novelist a number of times while Wolfe was a student at the University of North Carolina.
He was a member of the American Legion and Mt. Herman Masonic Lodge No. 118.
Surviving are the widow, Mrs. Myrtle McGee McIntosh; two sons, Lt. Co. James McIntosh of Ft. Leavenworth, Kan., and John McIntosh of Washington, D.C.; two daughters, Mrs. Hurley Baumann and Mrs. Clyde Kincaid of Asheville; and a sister, Miss Mae McIntosh of Marshall.
Services will be held Tuesday at 1 p.m. in the First Baptist Church.
Dr. Cecil Sherman and the Rev. Henry Finch will officiate. Burial will be in Lewis Memorial Park. Masons of Mt. Herman Lodge will be pallbearers.
The family will receive friends at Berryman-Hall funeral home from 7 to 9 p.m. Monday.


Asheville Citizen Times, Asheville, NC, 3/20/1982, Pg 11
Myrtle McIntosh
Myrtle McGee McIntosh, 89, formerly of 25 Orchard St., Asheville, died Thursday in an Asheville hospital.
A native of Buncombe County, she was the daughter of the late James Linville and Eliza Cassada McGee and the wife of the late James B. "Big Mac" McIntosh, who died in 1968. She was a retired schoolteacher and a member and Sunday School teacher of the First Baptist Church.
Surviving are two daughters, Mrs. C.N. Baumann of Asheville and Gayle Kincaid of Hickory; two sons, James F. McIntosh of Dallas, Texas, and John L. McIntosh of Washington, D.C.; and six grandchildren.
Services will be held at 2:30 p.m. Sunday in the Asheville chapel of Penland and Sons Funeral Home. The Rev. George Patterson will officiate. Burial will be in Lewis Memorial Park.
the family will receive friends from 7 to 9 p.m. Saturday at the funeral home...