Casino plans and the Whore of Babylon

Statement from Gospel Mission regarding the proposed new Casino on False Creek.

Gospel Mission welcomes the prospect of an expanded casino on False Creek. The casino will definitely generate new business for us: new people finding themselves caught in their addictions, broke and in debt; and we will welcome them to our rescue mission to hear the Word of God, share a hot meal, and re-connect with Hope that goes beyond the empty promise of easy money through gambling. We find that when people have their backs against the wall and hit rock bottom at the same time, they inevitably turn to Jesus. We have seen that with drug addicts and alcoholics who have come through our doors over the past 82 years, and now we look forward to this new crop for harvest. Further, since we do not ourselves receive money from gambling operations -- including the relatively tiny pot reserved for charities in BC's gaming revenue -- but place our confidence in Jehovah Jireh, the Lord Who Provides, we know we will be there to catch whoever falls. We are, after all, just a stone's throw away from the casino: a six-sided stone, if you catch our drift.

Hands up, all those who caught a bit of sarcasm there ......

In one of its weekly collections of news clips (at least, this was the case the last time I read the magazine), Sports Illustrated would have a kicker called "This Week's Sign That The Apocalypse Is Upon Us"; some weird, usually funny, statement or event that suggests that things are not as they should be.

There are plenty of those around right now, and nowhere near amusing -- the earthquake and tsunami in Japan, for example, is the latest. Add it up with the fires, flooding and tornadoes in Australia, earthquakes in diverse places, vicious and short-notice (if not unpredictable) weather events and all the issues surrounding the Gulf of Mexico oil blowout last year, and an inescapable reality emerges: the signs Jesus foretold of His return are coming to pass.

As the song says, People Get Ready.

But the end-times prophecies are not all bad news -- after all, Jesus' return, and God taking over His Creation, bringing the New Jerusalem and coming to live among His people is good news and to be embraced and welcomed as well as prepared-for. And the Book of Revelation has lots of cause to celebrate.

Take, for example, the current controversy in Vancouver over plans to build a "destination casino" next to BC Place Stadium. There already is a high-end casino there: this would expand it and include a resort hotel and seven restaurants. And the opposition has been swift and loud. Opponents don't want Vancouver to turn into a northern version of Las Vegas and they're not swayed by the proponents' arguments. Health officials have waded into the debate -- coming out against the casino, saying problem gambling is already an epidemic in BC and this will make it worse.

I've blogged before about my views on gambling in general, but I'm noticing something else here, tied to end-times talk. In the past, arguments about the amount of money being generated for health care and community charities have won the day for the gaming proponents; but this time, those points -- along with the repeated assertion that it will "revitalize the area" and "boost Vancouver tourism" -- seem hollow and desperate.

("Boost Vancouver tourism"? In case anyone has missed the past 100 years, Vancouver already has a good tourism industry, with wonderful restaurants, entertainment -- Grammy-award-winning symphony, the Arts Club, the Playhouse, the Jazz Festival, the Yale, Gastown; not to mention natural beauty which you can still see from downtown despite the forest of high-rises. If any place does not need a casino to suck people inside and suck their pockets empty, it's Vancouver.)

You'll find that "something else" in Revelation 17-18, which refers to The Whore of Babylon. I see that as a description of the world economy, where kings and merchants worship and bow down to this gorgeous, jewel-bedecked woman, but when God steps in and exposes her for what she is, the kings and merchants cut and run and try to stay as far away from her burning as possible -- all the while bemoaning her demise.

What I'm seeing with the casino debate is the failure of the "money argument" to sway people in favor of the project, and the increasingly desperate tone that argument is taking. Is the Whore going down? Are people starting to back away? Are merchants starting to wail for her?

For her sins have reached unto heaven, and God hath remembered her iniquities.

Reward her even as she rewarded you, and double unto her double according to her works:

in the cup which she hath filled, fill her to the double.

-- Rev. 18:5-6

And the Word of God encourages us to realize that this world economy has oppressed and ignored the people and that we are to ignore and oppress that Whore right back. Could we be seeing this now?

Of course, to close the loop back to the statement at the beginning here, we'll be there to help people: but there are times we kinda wish we didn't have to.

NEWS RELEASE: Weston again supports Gospel Mission

Vancouver church, showers project is again “President’s Choice”

(Vancouver, Dec. 8, 2010) -- For the second year in a row, Gospel Mission and The Lord’s Rain are receiving a timely infusion of support from a major Canadian philanthropic organization. The W. Garfield Weston Foundation has made a donation of $3,000.00 to help the Mission. This grant, presented to the Mission by Trustee Mark W. Mitchell, follows a $15,000.00 donation received in 2009 as part of a one-time, special initiative to assist charities in surviving the global economic downturn, when support from “usual sources” might be expected to decline.

Founded in 1929, Gospel Mission is a combined church and street outreach. Since the 1940s, it has been housed in an 1888 brick building that was originally a saloon. In 2007, the Mission took over a ground-floor space in the same building to construct The Lord’s Rain, which provides showers for people in the area who need them. A letter from Trustee Wendy Rebanks, who put forward this 2010 grant, notes that since The Lord’s Rain opened in April 2008, it has become “a community gathering place, where people can escape from the street and find friendly conversation”.


“To say we’re grateful is an understatement,” says Assistant Pastor Drew Snider. “Gospel Mission and The Lord’s Rain have been built over the years by a variety of people bringing a variety of ‘offerings to the storehouse’ – what they can, as they can. Contributions like these from The W. Garfield Weston Foundation, combined with those from individuals and churches, let our friends here know that a lot of people from a lot of different walks of life are right behind them in their struggle.”


The W. Garfield Weston Foundation is a private Canadian family foundation, established in the 1950’s by Willard Garfield Weston and his wife Reta. In 1924 Garfield inherited his father’s company and during his life established bakeries and other successful enterprises throughout Canada and in many parts of the world. Today, these businesses include the George Weston Limited and Loblaw Companies Limited, companies in food retailing, processing and distribution. The founders believed that as the funds are generated through the hard work and success of these Canadian companies, grants should be given in Canada for the benefit of Canadians. For three generations, The W. Garfield Weston Foundation has maintained a family tradition of supporting charitable organizations across Canada. Today the Foundation directs the majority of its funds to projects in the fields of land conservation, education, and science in Canada’s North.


Gospel Mission is an all-volunteer organization covered by the Apostolic Church of Pentecost of Canada. It is cross-denominational in its approach: a church for those uncomfortable going to church. The Lord’s Rain offers what senior pastor Barry Babcook calls “Jesus with the skin on”. Gospel Mission services are Sunday afternoons and Monday, Tuesday, Friday and Saturday evenings with meals served after each. Wednesday is Bible study and Thursday night is movie night. Services are also shown via closed-circuit TV in The Lord’s Rain, to accommodate people with disabilities.


The Lord’s Rain is currently open early Tuesday and Saturday mornings, Monday and Friday in the early afternoon, with a goal of opening six days a week in the early morning to give people a place to go when the shelters turn them out: this depends on volunteers stepping forward. Anyone interested in volunteering may contact the Mission via the website or by phone (604-684-3097).

Contact Drew Snider 604-803-3199

-30-