Donna,

That link in your letter shows such a dramatic and horrific nightmare, about what the government in Sudan is doing against the Christians!

Similar persecution is happening to Christians, at this same time, in other countries, as well: e.g. Nigeria, North Korea, Iran, China, Somalia, India, Libya, Pakistan, etc.

Amazingly though, Christians in the US can still start churches, evangelize door-to-door, open air preach, and witness the gospel.

The contrast is astounding, yet there appears to also be other type of contrasts, even during the great tribulation.

Clearly, in some places, where people will not take the mark of the beast, they will not be able to buy or sell, and are left with a situation not unlike that in Sudan.

And that, also at a time when pestilences, plagues, wars, droughts, earthquakes, and famines, will be happening in many of the same places.

But, then there is Mystery, Babylon.

So, unless one of the thoughts that Chance had, that possibly her destruction happens either before, at the outset of the tribulation, then there will be a contrast.

In the layout of the book of Revelation, the final thing to happen to the earth, before Jesus returns, is the destruction of Mystery, Babylon.

So, if this does happen chronologically that way, then there will be a major contrast.

That while so many are starving due to plagues, or being starved for refusing the mark, those in Mystery, Babylon are not.

Apparently she lives deliciously right up to the day of her plagues and destruction:

Revelation 18:7 How much she hath glorified herself, and lived deliciously, so much torment and sorrow give her: for she saith in her heart, I sit a queen, and am no widow, and shall see no sorrow.

  8 Therefore shall her plagues come in one day, death, and mourning, and famine; and she shall be utterly burned with fire: for strong is the Lord God who judgeth her.

Kings will have been living deliciously with her, apparently right up to the day of her burning:

Revelation 18:9 And the kings of the earth, who have committed fornication and lived deliciously with her, shall bewail her, and lament for her, when they shall see the smoke of her burning,

  10 Standing afar off for the fear of her torment, saying, Alas, alas, that great city Babylon, that mighty city! for in one hour is thy judgment come.

The world's merchants apparently are still selling to her, and getting rich by her, right up until they fear her torment: 

Revelation 18:11 And the merchants of the earth shall weep and mourn over her; for no man buyeth their merchandise any more:

  15 The merchants of these things, which were made rich by her, shall stand afar off for the fear of her torment, weeping and wailing,

Every shipmaster, and all the company in ships, trade with her, apparently right up until the hour of her desolation:

Revelation 18:17 For in one hour so great riches is come to nought. And every shipmaster, and all the company in ships, and sailors, and as many as trade by sea, stood afar off,

  19 And they cast dust on their heads, and cried, weeping and wailing, saying, Alas, alas, that great city, wherein were made rich all that had ships in the sea by reason of her costliness! for in one hour is she made desolate.

So, if that contrast happens like that in the tribulation, then is it not possible that there could be contrast in the world, right now?

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