“Train Wreck”: Theme and Variations
December 4, 2022 3:34 PM
Anno.Domini.144K
A few weeks ago, the Holy Spirit gave me the words, “Train wreck.” I have sat on those words, seeking further revelation. Since I received those words, I’ve noticed multiple events in the news regarding trains.
The first news item I observed included video footage of countless miles of military tanks and vehicles being transported across China to the east, particularly to the area of Beijing. This occurred weeks before the current civil unrest across China protesting the harsh Covid lockdowns.
The second news item also included video footage of many miles of military tanks and vehicles being transported at night across Poland, which borders both Ukraine to the southeast and Russia’s Baltic coastal province of Kaliningrad to the north.
The third news item involved Russian state Duma Deputy Andrey Gurulev’s announcement that “After the destruction of Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, strikes on the logistics facilities will begin.” This includes rail freight logistics.
The fourth news item concerns an impending train strike in the United States in December, which would impede shipments of everything from cattle and corn to chemicals and coal. Should this occur, the supply chain will be affected and many shortages and price hikes will follow.
I asked the Holy Spirit for interpretation of His words to me, and he said, “Trains will be targeted, by the military in wars, and by other parties in undeclared wars.” Then He also pointed out both literally and figuratively that “when one train car derails, the others connected to it in a chain follow suit. One train car will take the others with it.” Then later, He led me to Revelation 16:19: “19 The great city split into three parts, and the cities of the nations collapsed. God remembered Babylon the Great and gave her the cup filled with the wine of the fury of his wrath.” When the “great city” broke into three, the other “cities of the nations” also fell, following suit, just like the train cars connected to the one first one that derailed.
When the Holy Spirit guided me to look up the various definitions of the term “train wreck”, I first saw one provided by the Oxford Languages dictionary. The informal North American definition of a train wreck is “a chaotic or disastrous situation that holds a peculiar fascination for observers.” Continuing with the theme of observation, the Holy Spirit said, “America is like a train that has run off-track. Many nations, both America’s friends and enemies across the world, are watching with both fascination and horror.”
I had never associated the term “train wreck” with a female figure, but as I continued to research the term “train wreck,” I came across Wiktionary’s figurative definition of a train wreck as “Someone (especially a woman) who is unbalanced and considered a mess, a disaster, one who is suffering personal ruin.” In scripture in the Book of Revelation, Babylon the Great is described as a woman. Then the Holy Spirit led me to Revelation 14:8, which states, “A second angel followed and said, ‘Fallen! Fallen is Babylon the Great,’ which made all the nations drink the maddening wine of her adulteries.”
Finally, the Holy Spirit pointed out a 2016 song titled, “Train Wreck” by James Arthur. I don’t usually play the radio in my car or my home, so I am not familiar with much contemporary pop music. But when I read over the lyrics of the song, I saw that they describe the situation of a lost person in a world that is fallen, burning to ash and experiencing devastating chain reactions. I heard the cry of someone reaching out to God and a Savior for hope and healing, on his knees and begging to be pulled out of the train wreck of his inner and outer environment. Though not overtly Christian, the song can be interpreted as a prayer of someone repentant, humbled, and desperate for salvation and renewal. A soul ripe for the Harvest.
As always, brothers and sisters in Christ, take everything to the Lord in prayer.
Scripture:
Isaiah 21:8-9
8 And the lookout shouted,
“Day after day, my lord, I stand on the watchtower;
every night I stay at my post.
9 Look, here comes a man in a chariot
with a team of horses.
And he gives back the answer:
‘Babylon has fallen, has fallen!
All the images of its gods
lie shattered on the ground!’”
Psalm 91 NIV
1 Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High
will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.
2 I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress,
my God, in whom I trust.”
3 Surely he will save you
from the fowler’s snare
and from the deadly pestilence.
4 He will cover you with his feathers,
and under his wings you will find refuge;
his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.
5 You will not fear the terror of night,
nor the arrow that flies by day,
6 nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness,
nor the plague that destroys at midday.
7 A thousand may fall at your side,
ten thousand at your right hand,
but it will not come near you.
8 You will only observe with your eyes
and see the punishment of the wicked.
9 If you say, “The Lord is my refuge,”
and you make the Most High your dwelling,
10 no harm will overtake you,
no disaster will come near your tent.
11 For he will command his angels concerning you
to guard you in all your ways;
12 they will lift you up in their hands,
so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.
13 You will tread on the lion and the cobra;
you will trample the great lion and the serpent.
14 “Because he loves me,” says the Lord, “I will rescue him;
I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name.
15 He will call on me, and I will answer him;
I will be with him in trouble,
I will deliver him and honor him.
16 With long life I will satisfy him
and show him my salvation.”
Revelation 18 NIV
Lament Over Fallen Babylon
1 After this I saw another angel coming down from heaven. He had great authority, and the earth was illuminated by his splendor. 2 With a mighty voice he shouted:
“‘Fallen! Fallen is Babylon the Great!’
She has become a dwelling for demons
and a haunt for every impure spirit,
a haunt for every unclean bird,
a haunt for every unclean and detestable animal.
3 For all the nations have drunk
the maddening wine of her adulteries.
The kings of the earth committed adultery with her,
and the merchants of the earth grew rich from her excessive luxuries.”
Warning to Escape Babylon’s Judgment
4 Then I heard another voice from heaven say:
“‘Come out of her, my people,’
so that you will not share in her sins,
so that you will not receive any of her plagues;
5 for her sins are piled up to heaven,
and God has remembered her crimes.
6 Give back to her as she has given;
pay her back double for what she has done.
Pour her a double portion from her own cup.
7 Give her as much torment and grief
as the glory and luxury she gave herself.
In her heart she boasts,
‘I sit enthroned as queen.
I am not a widow;
I will never mourn.’
8 Therefore in one day her plagues will overtake her:
death, mourning and famine.
She will be consumed by fire,
for mighty is the Lord God who judges her.
Threefold Woe Over Babylon’s Fall
9 “When the kings of the earth who committed adultery with her and shared her luxury see the smoke of her burning, they will weep and mourn over her. 10 Terrified at her torment, they will stand far off and cry:
“‘Woe! Woe to you, great city,
you mighty city of Babylon!
In one hour your doom has come!’
11 “The merchants of the earth will weep and mourn over her because no one buys their cargoes anymore— 12 cargoes of gold, silver, precious stones and pearls; fine linen, purple, silk and scarlet cloth; every sort of citron wood, and articles of every kind made of ivory, costly wood, bronze, iron and marble; 13 cargoes of cinnamon and spice, of incense, myrrh and frankincense, of wine and olive oil, of fine flour and wheat; cattle and sheep; horses and carriages; and human beings sold as slaves.
14 “They will say, ‘The fruit you longed for is gone from you. All your luxury and splendor have vanished, never to be recovered.’ 15 The merchants who sold these things and gained their wealth from her will stand far off, terrified at her torment. They will weep and mourn 16 and cry out:
“‘Woe! Woe to you, great city,
dressed in fine linen, purple and scarlet,
and glittering with gold, precious stones and pearls!
17 In one hour such great wealth has been brought to ruin!’
“Every sea captain, and all who travel by ship, the sailors, and all who earn their living from the sea, will stand far off. 18 When they see the smoke of her burning, they will exclaim, ‘Was there ever a city like this great city?’ 19 They will throw dust on their heads, and with weeping and mourning cry out:
“‘Woe! Woe to you, great city,
where all who had ships on the sea
became rich through her wealth!
In one hour she has been brought to ruin!’
20 “Rejoice over her, you heavens!
Rejoice, you people of God!
Rejoice, apostles and prophets!
For God has judged her
with the judgment she imposed on you.”
The Finality of Babylon’s Doom
21 Then a mighty angel picked up a boulder the size of a large millstone and threw it into the sea, and said:
“With such violence
the great city of Babylon will be thrown down,
never to be found again.
22 The music of harpists and musicians, pipers and trumpeters,
will never be heard in you again.
No worker of any trade
will ever be found in you again.
The sound of a millstone
will never be heard in you again.
23 The light of a lamp
will never shine in you again.
The voice of bridegroom and bride
will never be heard in you again.
Your merchants were the world’s important people.
By your magic spell all the nations were led astray.
24 In her was found the blood of prophets and of God’s holy people,
of all who have been slaughtered on the earth.”
Link to the lyrics of the song “Train Wreck” by James Arthur:
train wreck song lyrics – Google Search
Photos courtesy Depositphotos
