Intoxicated Spirits - Rumor notes 137

 

Revelation 14

8 Another, a second angel, followed, saying, "Babylon the great has fallen, which has made all the nations to drink of the wine of the wrath of her sexual immorality."

made all nations to drink

He exercises all the authority of the first beast in his presence. He makes the earth and those who dwell in it to worship the first beast, whose fatal wound was healed. He performs great signs, even making fire come down out of the sky to the earth in the sight of people. He deceives my own people who dwell on the earth because of the signs he was granted to do in front of the beast; saying to those who dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast who had the sword wound and lived. It was given to him to give breath to it, to the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause as many as wouldn't worship the image of the beast to be killed. He causes all, the small and the great, the rich and the poor, and the free and the slave, to be given marks on their right hands, or on their foreheads; and that no one would be able to buy or to sell, unless he has that mark, the name of the beast or the number of his name. (Revelation 13:12-17)

One of the seven angels who had the seven bowls came and spoke with me, saying, "Come here. I will show you the judgment of the great prostitute who sits on many waters, with whom the kings of the earth committed sexual immorality, and those who dwell in the earth were made drunken with the wine of her sexual immorality." (Revelation 17:1-2)

He cried with a mighty voice, saying, "Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great, and she has become a habitation of demons, a prison of every unclean spirit, and a prison of every unclean and hateful bird! For all the nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her sexual immorality, the kings of the earth committed sexual immorality with her, and the merchants of the earth grew rich from the abundance of her luxury." (Revelation 18:2-3)

For thus says Yahweh, the God of Israel, to me: take this cup of the wine of wrath at my hand, and cause all the nations, to whom I send you, to drink it. They shall drink, and reel back and forth, and be mad, because of the sword that I will send among them. Then took I the cup at Yahweh's hand, and made all the nations to drink, to whom Yahweh had sent me: (Jeremiah 25:15-17)

Woe to him who gives his neighbor drink, pouring your inflaming wine until they are drunk, so that you may gaze at their naked bodies! You are filled with shame, and not glory. You will also drink, and be exposed! The cup of Yahweh's right hand will come around to you, and disgrace will cover your glory. (Habakkuk 2:15-16)

wine of the wrath

The winepress was trodden outside of the city, and blood came out from the winepress, even to the bridles of the horses, as far as one thousand six hundred stadia. (Revelation 14:20)

The woman was dressed in purple and scarlet, and decked with gold and precious stones and pearls, having in her hand a golden cup full of abominations and the impurities of the sexual immorality of the earth. (Revelation 17:4)

I saw the woman drunken with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus. When I saw her, I wondered with great amazement. (Revelation 17:6)

For all the nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her sexual immorality, the kings of the earth committed sexual immorality with her, and the merchants of the earth grew rich from the abundance of her luxury. (Revelation 18:3)

Woe to those who are mighty to drink wine, and champions at mixing strong drink; who acquit the guilty for a bribe, but deny justice for the innocent! (Isaiah 5:22-23)

Prostitution, wine, and new wine take away understanding. My people consult with their wooden idol, and answer to a stick of wood. Indeed the spirit of prostitution has led them astray, and they have been unfaithful to their God. (Hosea 4:11-12)

For Israel is not forsaken, nor Judah, of his God, of Yahweh of Armies; though their land is full of guilt against the Holy One of Israel. Flee out of the midst of Babylon, and save every man his life; don't be cut off in her iniquity: for it is the time of Yahweh's vengeance; he will render to her a recompense. Babylon has been a golden cup in Yahweh's hand, who made all the earth drunken: the nations have drunk of her wine; therefore the nations are mad. Babylon is suddenly fallen and destroyed: wail for her; take balm for her pain, if so be she may be healed. We would have healed Babylon, but she is not healed: forsake her, and let us go everyone into his own country; for her judgment reaches to heaven, and is lifted up even to the skies. Yahweh has brought forth our righteousness: come, and let us declare in Zion the work of Yahweh our God. (Jeremiah 51:5-10)

Note carefully what part each one plays in this scenario. Babylon was a golden cup in the hand of Yahweh, yet the contents of that cup are not in harmony with Yahweh's ways. It is Babylon's wine that makes the nations mad, not Yahweh's. The time of captivity in Babylon could have become an opportunity for Babylon to be healed, yet it could not happen without their cooperation. Once it was clear that Babylon refused the healing remedy offered, it was and is again, time to completely distance from it and return to our own country to clearly reflect the righteousness of Yahweh.

This is a good place to start unpacking this word wrath as it is very easy to misunderstand given how much this word has been exploited to misrepresent the disposition of God towards His wayward children. Part of the confusion is the mix and match way English translations use this and other words related to wrath or passion, along with the poor choice of the word itself. This has led untold millions to imagine God's disposition is little different from the great whore of Babylon detailed in chapter 17.

I find it helpful to examine how Greek words are used throughout Scripture so as to distill a more accurate appreciation of what a passage like this might be seeking to convey. The word used here translated wrath comes from the Greek word thumos that literally means passion, and most of the time it is associated with negative emotions when displayed by anyone other than God.

Thumos – shows up 18 times in the New Testament. Here is where it is used:

wrath, as in fierce anger (Luke 4:28; Acts 19:28; 2 Corinthians 12:20; Galatians 5:20; Ephesians 4:31; Colossians 3:8; Hebrews 11:27)

...the devil has gone down to you, having great wrath, knowing that he has but a short time." (Revelation 12:12)

indignation (Romans 2:8)

These are clearly negative, dark emotions very familiar to us and what Scripture calls on us to put away from our lives.

The other references refer to God's wrath which requires more careful discernment to appreciate how God's wrath is different from man's version of wrath.

he also will drink of the wine of the wrath (thumos) of God, which is prepared unmixed in the cup of his anger [indignation](Gr. orge). He will be tormented with fire and sulfur in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb. (Revelation 14:10) (see also wrath in Revelation 14:19; 15:1,7; 16:1)

Fierceness (thumos) of wrath (orge) (Revelation 16:19; 19:15)

As you can see here and in other places, the English word wrath is derived from several different Greek words, while several English words are used to translate the same Greek word from the original. But one thing needs to become clear in our thinking, and that is that the wrath of God cannot be defined by our assumptions about the word and how we act and feel when angry.

So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath; for the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God. (James 1:19-20 NKJV)

While strong negative emotion is the typical definition of this word as used in reference to humans under Satan's influence, wrath as demonstrated by God must never be assessed by human standards by solely through revelation of His heart and disposition in His Son Jesus Christ, known most notably in this book as the Lamb violently slaughtered from the foundation of the world. Only as we give preference to the Lamb's definition of how God feels and acts towards us can be begin to unmask the horrible distortions and deceptions the enemy has cast over God's reputation.

This will be covered in more detail when we study verse 10 coming up soon.

her sexual immorality

Here it is important to keep in mind this is a metaphor, not to be viewed as literal sexual perversion but rather involving a much more serious condition infecting people's spirit.

But I have a few things against you, because you have there some who hold the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to throw a stumbling block before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed to idols, and to commit sexual immorality. (Revelation 2:14)

But I have this against you, that you tolerate your woman, Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess. She teaches and seduces my servants to commit sexual immorality, and to eat things sacrificed to idols. I gave her time to repent, but she refuses to repent of her sexual immorality. (Revelation 2:20-21)

One of the seven angels who had the seven bowls came and spoke with me, saying, "Come here. I will show you the judgment of the great prostitute who sits on many waters, with whom the kings of the earth committed sexual immorality, and those who dwell in the earth were made drunken with the wine of her sexual immorality."

He carried me away in the Spirit into a wilderness. I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet-colored animal, full of blasphemous names, having seven heads and ten horns. The woman was dressed in purple and scarlet, and decked with gold and precious stones and pearls, having in her hand a golden cup full of abominations and the impurities of the sexual immorality of the earth. And on her forehead a name was written, "MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF THE PROSTITUTES AND OF THE ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH." I saw the woman drunken with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus. When I saw her, I wondered with great amazement. (Revelation 17:1-6)

After these things, I saw another angel coming down out of the sky, having great authority. The earth was illuminated with his glory. He cried with a mighty voice, saying, "Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great, and she has become a habitation of demons, a prison of every unclean spirit, and a prison of every unclean and hateful bird! For all the nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her sexual immorality, the kings of the earth committed sexual immorality with her, and the merchants of the earth grew rich from the abundance of her luxury." (Revelation 18:1-3)

The kings of the earth, who committed sexual immorality and lived wantonly with her, will weep and wail over her, when they look at the smoke of her burning, (Revelation 18:9)

for true and righteous are his judgments. For he has judged the great prostitute, who corrupted the earth with her sexual immorality, and he has avenged the blood of his servants at her hand." (Revelation 19:2)

We see how this issue shows up repeatedly in this symbolic book. We do well to allow the Spirit to give us better understanding so we can discern how we also may be deceived by this seductive spirit in ways we never imagined. Yet in doing so we can come to live in freedom from the power of sin.

Don't make a covenant with the inhabitants of the land, lest they play the prostitute after their gods, and sacrifice to their gods, and one call you and you eat of his sacrifice; (Exodus 34:15)

Israel abode in Shittim; and the people began to play the prostitute with the daughters of Moab: for they called the people to the sacrifices of their gods; and the people ate, and bowed down to their gods. Israel joined himself to Baal Peor: and the anger of Yahweh was kindled against Israel. (Numbers 25:1-3)

The noise of the whip, the noise of the rattling of wheels, prancing horses, and bounding chariots, the horseman mounting, and the flashing sword, the glittering spear, and a multitude of slain, and a great heap of corpses, and there is no end of the bodies. They stumble on their bodies, because of the multitude of the prostitution of the alluring prostitute, the mistress of witchcraft, who sells nations through her prostitution, and families through her witchcraft. "Behold, I am against you," says Yahweh of Armies, "and I will lift your skirts over your face. I will show the nations your nakedness, and the kingdoms your shame. I will throw abominable filth on you, and make you vile, and will set you a spectacle. (Nahum 3:2-6)

Therefore God also gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to uncleanness, that their bodies should be dishonored among themselves, who exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen. For this reason, God gave them up to vile passions. For their women changed the natural function into that which is against nature. Likewise also the men, leaving the natural function of the woman, burned in their lust toward one another, men doing what is inappropriate with men, and receiving in themselves the due penalty of their error. Even as they refused to have God in their knowledge, God gave them up to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not fitting; being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil habits, secret slanderers, (Romans 1:24-29)

But, because of sexual immoralities, let each man have his own wife, and let each woman have her own husband. (1 Corinthians 7:2)

Put to death therefore your members which are on the earth: sexual immorality, uncleanness, depraved passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry; for which things' sake the wrath of God comes on the children of disobedience. (Colossians 3:5-6)

For this is the will of God: your sanctification, that you abstain from sexual immorality, that each one of you know how to possess himself of his own vessel in sanctification and honor,

(1 Thessalonians 4:3-4)

Follow after peace with all men, and the sanctification without which no man will see the Lord, looking carefully lest there be any man who falls short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and many be defiled by it; lest there be any sexually immoral person, or profane person, like Esau, who sold his birthright for one meal. (Hebrews 12:14-16)

Angels who didn't keep their first domain, but deserted their own dwelling place, he has kept in everlasting bonds under darkness for the judgment of the great day. Even as Sodom and Gomorrah, and the cities around them, having, in the same way as these, given themselves over to sexual immorality and gone after strange flesh, are set forth as an example, suffering the punishment of eternal fire. (Jude 1:6-7)

This next passage is a bit lengthy but I find it helpful for unpacking the underlying meaning of this symbol that can be so elusive because we are so prone to deny being affected by it.

1 Again the word of Yahweh came to me, saying, 2 Son of man, cause Jerusalem to know her abominations; 3 and say, Thus says the Lord Yahweh to Jerusalem: Your birth and your birth is of the land of the Canaanite; the Amorite was your father, and your mother was a Hittite. 4 As for your birth, in the day you were born your navel was not cut, neither were you washed in water to cleanse you; you weren't salted at all, nor swaddled at all. 5 No eye pitied you, to do any of these things to you, to have compassion on you; but you were cast out in the open field, for that your person was abhorred, in the day that you were born.

6 When I passed by you, and saw you weltering in your blood, I said to you, Though you are in your blood, live; yes, I said to you, Though you are in your blood, live. 7 I caused you to multiply as that which grows in the field, and you increased and grew great, and you attained to excellent ornament; your breasts were fashioned, and your hair was grown; yet you were naked and bare.

8 Now when I passed by you, and looked at you, behold, your time was the time of love; and I spread my skirt over you, and covered your nakedness: yes, I swore to you, and entered into a covenant with you, says the Lord Yahweh, and you became mine.

9 Then washed I you with water; yes, I thoroughly washed away your blood from you, and I anointed you with oil. 10 I clothed you also with embroidered work, and shod you with sealskin, and I girded you about with fine linen, and covered you with silk. 11 I decked you with ornaments, and I put bracelets on your hands, and a chain on your neck. 12 I put a ring on your nose, and earrings in your ears, and a beautiful crown on your head. 13 Thus you were decked with gold and silver; and your clothing was of fine linen, and silk, and embroidered work; you ate fine flour, and honey, and oil; and you were exceeding beautiful, and you prospered to royal estate. 14 Your renown went forth among the nations for your beauty; for it was perfect, through my majesty which I had put on you, says the Lord Yahweh. [Contemplate everything up to this point in the passage carefully before reading the next part, pondering deeply the amazing kindness and graciousness of God towards us with no hint of shaming or disgust.]

15 But you did trust in your beauty, and played the prostitute because of your renown, and poured out your prostitution on everyone who passed by; his it was. 16 You took of your garments, and made for yourselves high places decked with various colors, and played the prostitute on them: the like things shall not come, neither shall it be so. 17 You also took your beautiful jewels of my gold and of my silver, which I had given you, and made for yourself images of men, and played the prostitute with them; 18 and you took your embroidered garments, and covered them, and did set my oil and my incense before them. 19 My bread also which I gave you, fine flour, and oil, and honey, with which I fed you, you did even set it before them for a sweet savor; and thus it was, says the Lord Yahweh.

20 Moreover you have taken your sons and your daughters, whom you have borne to me, and these have you sacrificed to them to be devoured. Were your prostitution a small matter, 21 that you have slain my children, and delivered them up, in causing them to pass through the fire to them?

22 In all your abominations and your prostitution you have not remembered the days of your youth, when you were naked and bare, and was weltering in your blood. 23 It is happen after all your wickedness, (woe, woe to you! says the Lord Yahweh), 24 that you have built to you a vaulted place, and have made you a lofty place in every street. 25 You have built your lofty place at the head of every way, and have made your beauty an abomination, and have opened your feet to everyone who passed by, and multiplied your prostitution. 26 You have also committed sexual immorality with the Egyptians, your neighbors, great of flesh; and have multiplied your prostitution, to provoke me to anger.

27 See therefore, I have stretched out my hand over you, and have diminished your ordinary food, and delivered you to the will of those who hate you, the daughters of the Philistines, who are ashamed of your lewd way. 28 You have played the prostitute also with the Assyrians, because you were insatiable; yes, you have played the prostitute with them, and yet you weren't satisfied. 29 You have moreover multiplied your prostitution to the land of merchants, to Chaldea; and yet you weren't satisfied with this.

30 How weak is your heart, says the Lord Yahweh, seeing you do all these things, the work of an impudent prostitute; 31 in that you build your vaulted place at the head of every way, and make your lofty place in every street, and have not been as a prostitute, in that you scorn pay. 32 A wife who commits adultery! who takes strangers instead of her husband! 33 They give gifts to all prostitutes; but you give your gifts to all your lovers, and bribe them, that they may come to you on every side for your prostitution. 34 You are different from other women in your prostitution, in that none follows you to play the prostitute; and whereas you give hire, and no hire is given to you, therefore you are different. (Ezekiel 16:1-34)

While these graphic descriptions of sexual immorality can feel disconcerting, remember that God is talking to a nation of people about their disposition in relation to Himself, not about physical activities described here. So we need to think deeper to appreciate the symbolism used by God so we may become aware of how we might be caught up in sexual immorality and seduced in ways we never imagined before. This describes a condition of the heart much more than a compromising of our bodies. That is merely an external symptom of a spiritually empty condition of the soul.

Yes, the dogs are greedy, they can never have enough; and these are shepherds who can't understand: they have all turned to their own way, each one to his gain, from every quarter. Come you, say they, I will get wine, and we will fill ourselves with strong drink; and tomorrow shall be as this day, a day great beyond measure. (Isaiah 56:11-12)

In the New Testament outside Revelation, references to sexual immorality apply to the literal, physical problem. Yet as with all symbols in Revelation, we must come to discern the underlying elements involved so as to appreciate what is being conveyed in the context of our study.

It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and such sexual immorality as is not even named among the Gentiles, that one has his father's wife. (1 Corinthians 5:1)

Don't you know that your bodies are members of Christ? Shall I then take the members of Christ, and make them members of a prostitute? May it never be! Or don't you know that he who is joined to a prostitute is one body? For, "The two," says he, "will become one flesh." But he who is joined to the Lord is one spirit. Flee sexual immorality! "Every sin that a man does is outside the body," but he who commits sexual immorality sins against his own body. Or don't you know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit which is in you, which you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. Therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God's.

(1 Corinthians 6:15-20)

Now the works of the flesh are obvious, which are: adultery, sexual immorality, uncleanness, lustfulness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, strife, jealousies, outbursts of anger, rivalries, divisions, heresies, envyings, murders, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these; of which I forewarn you, even as I also forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the Kingdom of God. (Galatians 5:19-21)

Walk in love, even as Christ also loved you, and gave himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling fragrance. But sexual immorality, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not even be mentioned among you, as becomes saints; nor filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not appropriate; but rather giving of thanks. Know this for sure, that no sexually immoral person, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, has any inheritance in the Kingdom of Christ and God. (Ephesians 5:2-5)

But for the cowardly, unbelieving, sinners, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their part is in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death. (Revelation 21:8)

Analysis of the Great Collapse - Rumor notes 136

 Revelation 14

8 Another, a second angel, followed, saying, "Babylon the great has fallen, which has made all the nations to drink of the wine of the wrath of her sexual immorality."

Babylon the great has fallen

There is a specific background to this declaration that can help us to appreciate the importance of the symbolism of this prophecy. The literal Babylon at the height of its glory days, was governed by the great king Nebuchadnezzar who at first was unknowingly being used of God to release consequences on His rebelling chosen nation as well as other wicked nations. This took place by Babylon being allowed to defeat and plunder powerful nations because of their great wickedness. Nebuchadnezzar was astute man, smart, successful and well educated in philosophy, law and pagan religion.

Babylon was actually the outgrowth of the previous failed attempt to establish a worldwide system of total domination by means of a famous tower that later came to be known as Babel, not too long after the flood. Later the city of Babylon became established at or near the same location, and over time became the origin of what is now known as western civilization. This is where the concept of artificial law was refined and where mystery religions cultivated in Egypt found further development. Babylon became the symbol of the entire system invented by Satan that through history has shaped how societies are organized relying on the principles of trade involving reward and punishment. It also became the symbol of the epitome of pride.

Babylon represents trust in the power of hierarchy, wealth and worldly wisdom integrated and guided by pagan beliefs inherited from demonic inspiration passed down through generations of rebellion, particularly highlighted in the disposition described during the building of the tower of Babel.

Then they said, "Come, let us build ourselves a city, and a tower with its top in the heavens, and let us make a name for ourselves; otherwise we shall be scattered abroad upon the face of the whole earth." (Genesis 11:4 NRSV)

This is the roots of what today is known as modern civilization. This spirit, later refined and enshrined in a complex system of law and pagan philosophies, came to define how the world governs. It originates from Satan's counterfeit design of government experimented with first and urged in heaven to be an improvement for social order before this world was created. The spirit of rebellion, pride, control and independence from God reflects the disposition of the king of pride.

[Leviathan] sees everything that is high. He is king over all the sons of pride. (Job 41:34)

The principles involved in trading and commerce, artificial law and its enforcement by means of threatened punishments and enticements of reward, and organization of society by means of top-down hierarchical control, compose the three pillars of Satan's design for social cohesion. Yet these are often assumed to be how God relates us in His use of authority. The truth is that all these principles and practices are out of harmony with the principles of agape love involving selfless service and other-centered living. Agape love is what was originally enjoyed and practiced by all the inhabitants of heaven before the confusion brought about by the rebellion of Lucifer that introduced sin when he chose to launch a grand social experiment to challenge the very design of creation itself and that distorted perceptions of the disposition and motives of God's heart.

Being aware of what is behind this symbol of Babylon makes it easier to see how this announcement fits into the flow of history, not just of this world but the narrative of the spiritual war that was intensifying before humans even came on the scene. This is the context from which we may better appreciate the intensity of this warning in the backdrop for all the surrounding messages by these angels. What is involved here are God's final warnings meant to alert as many as possible that the time of Satan's grand experiment is soon to come to a frightful end, and it is time to take decisive action before it is too late.

The great king Nebuchadnezzar had a fascinating life that is an illustration of how powerful the grace of God can be to reach even some of the most deeply entrenched victims of Satan's deceptions. This king was both brilliant and wise and was on the cutting edge of the development of civilization as well as a formidable and feared military leader. He was the one who destroyed Jerusalem, leveled and burned the temple of Yahweh and demolished the walls of the city of Zion while either killing or dispersing the chosen people of God, effectively bringing to an end their independence and making many of them prisoners in his own kingdom. God's prophets had warned His people of this for many years, but their own intransigence, pride and unwillingness to submit and trust God by obedience to His instructions, led to a violent end that would have been far less tragic if they had not clung to rebellion. Even the armies of Babylon was at times surprised at the intransigence of thus people who imagined their identity as God's chosen people and a temple dedicated to the God of heaven somehow would insulate them from experiencing consequences of their sins. In contrast to the offered mercies of Nebuchadnezzar's government, the people of God were even more wicked as they misrepresented Him. Yet all was not yet lost.

Nebuchadnezzar believed in humanism and believed that by extending mercy to his enemies he could gain access to resources of knowledge from around the world. He brought into his government the brightest minds from nations he conquered. This proved positive, giving him advantages to reduce resentment that could fuel rebellion in his subjects. Thus when Judah and Jerusalem were overthrown and destroyed by Nebuchadnezzar, on one of his campaigns he captured a number of princes and wise men to add to his kingdom in his plan to bring together wisdom of the world into one location in order to stabilize his kingdom and secure his rule over the world. His disposition and plans reflect to some extent how Lucifer originally began his attempted takeover of heaven through reliance on wisdom, widespread trading and the development of law in order to elevate his power to compete with the Almighty and draw attention to himself as highest authority.

Daniel and his three associates were among this group of elite princes taken as prisoners to Babylon. However, these four men had a different spirit and perspective than most others, for they had grown up in the days of Jeremiah the prophet who had warned for years the very things that were now happening. God had been pleading with His people for them to repent and turn away from their evil ways and go back to life under His protective shield by obedience to His instructions. These warnings had not gone unnoticed in the family of Daniel. The character of Daniel and his three friends had been shaped by parents who had received the teachings given through the prophets, yet still the vast majority of those living in Jerusalem and Judah rejected God's ways and had given themselves over to self-indulgence, arrogant independence and determined resistance to the warnings from God's prophets, and especially Jeremiah, God then could not prevent the tragedies from coming to fruition because the leaders of His people had rejected His authority, leaving them vulnerable to the enemies of God to exploit and destroy them and their place of worship.

The book of Daniel reveals fascinating encounters between God's faithful witnesses in Babylon and the progression of God's work to win the heart of the king of Babylon himself. Because of the implicit trust in God by Daniel and his friends, Nebuchadnezzar was introduced to the God of heaven who was strikingly different from any god he had every known. Yet it took years and a number of confrontations with the will of this proud king before the truth began to take deeper root in Nebuchadnezzar's heart. Yet through persistent and faithful reflection of God's kindness and graciousness through Daniel and the others, God was able to soften and draw out the heart of the most powerful king on earth with a higher wisdom and a different kind of power than anything he had ever encountered anywhere on earth.

Near the end of the story of Nebuchadnezzar came a showdown between the truth of God growing in his awareness, and his pride and lust for power that had motivated his life. Nebuchadnezzar is in some respects like many of us, for he reflected the spirit of Lucifer in his desire to exalt himself to the highest position of authority, drawing attention and worship to himself for his great wisdom, cunning and superior capabilities above others. Yet God was consistently gracious, and Lucifer was exposed to the full extent of God's kindness and compassion and might have repented and been restored if he had not chosen instead to permanently harden his heart and seal his spirit in rebellion and resistance, denying that love alone is the only safe way for the universe to function.

The same appeal to repent was encountered in the heart of Nebuchadnezzar as the Spirit in his heart conflicted with the lusts of the eyes, the lust of the flesh and the pride of life that had long motivated him. As is true with each person, a point in time was reached when Nebuchadnezzar was warned that he needed to submit his will to the ways and heart of God and let go of trusting himself. This is the same identity crisis we face, for we too must choose who will be our source who defines us, our worth, our purpose for existence and who shapes our character and perspective of truth. Nebuchadnezzar was brought to this point through a dream that was so vivid he knew he had to know what it meant. By this time he knew Daniel was the only one that had the connection with heaven's wisdom who could accurately interpret his dream. We pick up the narrative part way into Daniel's explanation of what this dream meant, and we get a sense of the friendship that had developed between these two men. Daniel understands well what Nebuchadnezzar struggles against, but he also understands this is a crisis point each person faces when their carnal spirit is exposed and the will must to choose who will be Lord in their life.

This dream was heaven's warning to Nebuchadnezzar of the inevitable outcome of continuing resistance to God's drawing love in his heart. Because all true authority must be released by free choice of people themselves (not arbitrarily imposed as in hierarchy), when the will resists alignment with God's will, authority is given over to Satan, and dire consequences will ensue.

The tree that you saw, which grew, and was strong, whose height reached to the sky, and the sight of it to all the earth; whose leaves were beautiful, and the fruit of it much, and in it was food for all; under which the animals of the field lived, and on whose branches the birds of the sky had their habitation: it is you, O king, that are grown and become strong; for your greatness is grown, and reaches to the sky, and your dominion to the end of the earth.

Whereas the king saw a watcher and a holy one coming down from the sky, and saying, Hew down the tree, and destroy it; nevertheless leave the stump of the roots of it in the earth, even with a band of iron and brass, in the tender grass of the field, and let it be wet with the dew of the sky: and let his portion be with the animals of the field, until seven times pass over him; this is the interpretation, O king, and it is the decree of the Most High, which is come on my lord the king: that you shall be driven from men, and your dwelling shall be with the animals of the field, and you shall be made to eat grass as oxen, and shall be wet with the dew of the sky, and seven times shall pass over you; until you know that the Most High rules in the kingdom of men, and gives it to whoever he will. Whereas they commanded to leave the stump of the roots of the tree; your kingdom shall be sure to you, after that you shall have known that the heavens do rule. Therefore, O king, let my counsel be acceptable to you, and break off your sins by righteousness, and your iniquities by showing mercy to the poor; if there may be a lengthening of your tranquility.

All this came on the king Nebuchadnezzar. At the end of twelve months he was walking in the royal palace of Babylon. The king spoke and said, Is not this great Babylon, which I have built for the royal dwelling place, by the might of my power and for the glory of my majesty?

While the word was in the king's mouth, there fell a voice from the sky, saying, O king Nebuchadnezzar, to you it is spoken: The kingdom is departed from you: and you shall be driven from men; and they dwelling shall be with the animals of the field; you shall be made to eat grass as oxen; and seven times shall pass over you; until you know that the Most High rules in the kingdom of men, and gives it to whoever he will.

The same hour was the thing fulfilled on Nebuchadnezzar: and he was driven from men, and ate grass as oxen, and his body was wet with the dew of the sky, until his hair was grown like eagles' feathers, and his nails like birds' claws.

At the end of the days I, Nebuchadnezzar, lifted up my eyes to heaven, and my understanding returned to me, and I blessed the Most High, and I praised and honored him who lives forever; for his dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom from generation to generation. All the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing; and he does according to his will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth; and none can stay his hand, or tell him, What do you? At the same time my understanding returned to me; and for the glory of my kingdom, my majesty and brightness returned to me; and my counselors and my lords sought to me; and I was established in my kingdom, and excellent greatness was added to me. Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and extol and honor the King of heaven; for all his works are truth, and his ways justice; and those who walk in pride he is able to abase. (Daniel 4:20-37)

Now let us tie this back into our study and how Babylon figures so prominently in Revelation.

There were lightnings, sounds, and thunders; and there was a great earthquake, such as was not since there were men on the earth, so great an earthquake, so mighty. The great city was divided into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell. Babylon the great was remembered in the sight of God, to give to her the cup of the wine of the fierceness of his wrath. (Revelation 16:18-19)

After these things, I saw another angel coming down out of the sky, having great authority. The earth was illuminated with his glory. He cried with a mighty voice, saying, "Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great, and she has become a habitation of demons, a prison of every unclean spirit, and a prison of every unclean and hateful bird! (Revelation 18:1-2)

It is helpful to be aware that in John's day this label of Babylon was understood by Christians to represent old Jerusalem. The fierce resistance to the gospel of Jesus Christ, the One claimed to be the Messiah promised to Israel for centuries, was the greatest obstacle of faith, particularly for Jewish converts. Jerusalem represented the deeply entrenched religious system of traditions enforced by religious leaders who held some political power over the Jewish nation in Christ's day. This amalgamation of religion and political power is intoxicating and leads to abuse and exploitation often in the name of God. The thirst for power at all cost in any generation has often led to gross misrepresentations of God's kind of authority, yet this is the very disposition of those who arranged for the crucifixion of the Messiah primarily because He refused to use His supernatural access to power to achieve their agenda. This pattern can be witnessed throughout history repeated over and over.

He carried me away in the Spirit into a wilderness. I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet-colored animal, full of blasphemous names, having seven heads and ten horns. The woman was dressed in purple and scarlet, and decked with gold and precious stones and pearls, having in her hand a golden cup full of abominations and the impurities of the sexual immorality of the earth. And on her forehead a name was written, "MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF THE PROSTITUTES AND OF THE ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH." (Revelation 17:3-5)

The influence in Babylon of the development and refinement of law, legal traditions and perspective had an enormous effect on the thinking and logic of those exiled there for 70 years after the fall of old Jerusalem to Babylon's armies. Spending that long in the very center of law (and in many respects the birthplace of legal systems throughout the world for the rest of history), the Jews returned to their own country after the exile, bringing with them the disposition and legal orientation inculcated into them by Babylon. In Babylon they absorbed a form of religion and legal orientation very different from the family design God intended His people to model under His loving parentage. Perceiving God and His instructions through the lens of the world's mindset and governance model had become so enmeshed into their way of reasoning, that upon their return to Jerusalem their highest priority became meticulous law enforcement regardless of how much it destroyed relationships.

One of the examples of this over-emphasis on legal compliance and rigid law-enforcement at the cost of covenant relationships was the way Ezra dealt with the issue of foreign wives among those returned from Babylon. Rather than turning to God to learn how to resolve this problem in His way, they made the law of Moses their supreme standard while assuming God was furious with them and eager to punish them severely should they fail to keep those laws meticulously.

Shecaniah the son of Jehiel, one of the sons of Elam, answered Ezra, We have trespassed against our God, and have married foreign women of the peoples of the land: yet now there is hope for Israel concerning this thing. Now therefore let us make a covenant with our God to put away all the wives, and such as are born of them, according to the counsel of my lord, and of those who tremble at the commandment of our God; and let it be done according to the law. Arise; for the matter belongs to you, and we are with you: be of good courage, and do it.

Ezra the priest stood up, and said to them, You have trespassed, and have married foreign women, to increase the guilt of Israel. Now therefore make confession to Yahweh, the God of your fathers, and do his pleasure; and separate yourselves from the peoples of the land, and from the foreign women. Then all the assembly answered with a loud voice, As you have said concerning us, so must we do. But the people are many, and it is a time of much rain, and we are not able to stand outside: neither is this a work of one day or two; for we have greatly transgressed in this matter. Let now our princes be appointed for all the assembly, and let all those who are in our cities who have married foreign women come at appointed times, and with them the elders of every city, and the judges of it, until the fierce wrath of our God be turned from us, until this matter be dispatched.

Among the sons of the priests there were found who had married foreign women: namely, of the sons of Jeshua, the son of Jozadak, and his brothers, Maaseiah, and Eliezer, and Jarib, and Gedaliah. They gave their hand that they would put away their wives; and being guilty, they offered a ram of the flock for their guilt. (Ezra 10:2-4, 10-14, 18-19)

In contrast, we find in Malachi God's viewpoint regarding how Ezra attempted to appease His presumed wrath by ripping families apart already settled in marriage covenant relationships.

This again you do: you cover the altar of Yahweh with tears, with weeping, and with sighing, because he doesn't regard the offering any more, neither receives it with good will at your hand. Yet you say, 'Why?' Because Yahweh has been witness between you and the wife of your youth, against whom you have dealt treacherously, though she is your companion, and the wife of your covenant. Did he not make one, although he had the residue of the Spirit? Why one? He sought a godly seed. Therefore take heed to your spirit, and let none deal treacherously against the wife of his youth. For I hate divorce," says Yahweh, the God of Israel, "and him who covers his garment with violence!" says Yahweh of Armies. "Therefore take heed to your spirit, that you don't deal treacherously. (Malachi 2:13-16)

The history of relating to God primarily through a legal framework began at Mount Sinai when the people presumed God's words were demands to be blindly obeyed. This was later exacerbated by Israel when they demanded to have a king over them so they could be like all the other nations around them. Samuel protested against this demand, yet God's respect for free will compelled Him to leave them open to choose that path despite knowing where it would lead. Evil must to be allowed to develop and mature until its sinister fruit becomes so obvious that it loses its appeal. Their choice to turn away from God's design to follow the hierarchical ways of the world are allowed to mature until it can be seen that Satan's counterfeit designs do not result in improved conditions but always tend towards death.

There is a way which seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death. (Proverbs 14:12)

Hierarchy and artificial law originated with Satan. This is highlighted in this key passage.

Shall the throne of wickedness have fellowship with you, which brings about mischief by statute? (Psalms 94:20)

After generations of kings often corrupt and exploitive as Samuel predicted, the Israelites largely lost sight of God's design for them as a special and chosen people to be a demonstration to the world of what it looks like to live in harmony with God's principles and rejoice in His favor by reflecting His selfless character. What developed instead was lust for power, pomp and pleasure that led to prostituting the advantages given by God, using them to use their power to exploit the disadvantaged and cultivate a class system of wealthy versus slaves. Rejecting God as their leader, kings increasingly exploited their power for selfish agendas. Over time God's chosen people came more and more to align with the social design developed in Babylon rather than reflecting the beauty of God's original plan for them to reveal His beauty as an attraction for other nations to desire to come within His care.

The kings of the earth, who committed sexual immorality and lived wantonly with her, will weep and wail over her, when they look at the smoke of her burning, standing far away for the fear of her torment, saying, 'Woe, woe, the great city, Babylon, the strong city! For your judgment has come in one hour.' (Revelation 18:9-10)

In Revelation, Babylon represents the world's system of power and fear-based civilization. It is in sharp contrast to the city called the New Jerusalem. The earthly Jerusalem had become so infected by Babylonian thinking that its leaders relied more on its law design over the true principles given to Moses. Early Christians could see this, so Babylon became the code term used to represent the legal mentality of Jewish leaders in sharp contrast to how Christianity was birthed at Pentecost when commerce, artificial law and hierarchy literally disappeared so long as the Holy Spirit was allowed to govern the minds of each believer.

Tell me, you that desire to be under the law, don't you listen to the law? For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by the handmaid, and one by the free woman. However, the son by the handmaid was born according to the flesh, but the son by the free woman was born through promise.

These things contain an allegory, for these are two covenants. One is from Mount Sinai, bearing children to bondage, which is Hagar. For this Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia, and answers to the Jerusalem that exists now, for she is in bondage with her children. But the Jerusalem that is above is free, which is the mother of us all. (Galatians 4:21-26)

Babylon represents all religions that rely on law and enforcement of law to define identity and worth and the social structures we rely on to regulate and control all our relationships. This whole system is how all the kingdoms of this world operate and is summed up in this metaphor of Babylon. This mindset shaped the Jerusalem of Paul's day and reflects the legal, power-based system of control that continues unabated to our time. Paul explains that the legal relationship that originated with the fear-based reaction of the children of Israel at Mount Sinai defined the disposition of Jerusalem in his day. In contrast to this legal view of God and social construct, the movement launched by the Spirit at Pentecost that is based on love rather than law, has its basis and identity in the Jerusalem that is above. By stating that this is our true Mother, Paul is linking the perspective and self-awareness of all who embrace the true gospel with the Spirit who holds the body of Christ together in unity.

But do not miss the most important part of Paul's explanation here, for the pivotal issue of freedom of will lies at the very heart of the design of how we are to live and relate to each other in His kingdom. This unwavering respect for freedom from fear, freedom to choose whom we will serve absent any threat from God for not choosing to follow Him, is what discriminates between those who follow the true God of heaven and those who live according to the flesh and are motivated by its lusts.

The symbol of Babylon reflects the disposition of those who controlled earthly Jerusalem and was shaped by trading, law and hierarchy all initiated by Lucifer at the very beginning of the war. Self-enrichment was first modeled by that mighty angel who came to view his worth and identity as founded on external criteria rather than his dependent relationship with his Maker.

Behold, you are wiser than Daniel; there is no secret that is hidden from you; by your wisdom and by your understanding you have gotten you riches, and have gotten gold and silver into your treasures; by your great wisdom and by your traffic have you increased your riches, and your heart is lifted up because of your riches-- (Ezekiel 28:3-5)

This same pattern of living for self and seeking after recognition and power through domination over others, was cultivated and developed in Babylon until it found its most vivid expression in the killing of the Son of God on a cross in earthly Jerusalem. This was primarily because the leaders responsible for this followed the principles acquired in Babylon rather than embracing the principles and example of the Lamb who had come to save them from their sins.

In Revelation 18 we find described the ultimate outcome of this system of trading that is reflected in all aspects of this world. Commerce as carried on in this world is foreign to the ways of heaven as witnessed in the early days of the believers after Pentecost. The origins of this design are laid out in Ezekiel 27 and summarized in 28 and constitute the first bookend to this tragic experiment of commercial supply and demand in contrast to God's design for relational dependence on His goodness. The corresponding bookend is found in the collapse of that same system of trading and exploitation recorded in Revelation 18 that parallels Ezekiel 27-28.

For in an hour such great riches are made desolate.' Every shipmaster, and everyone who sails anywhere, and mariners, and as many as gain their living by sea, stood far away, and cried out as they looked at the smoke of her burning, saying, 'What is like the great city?' They cast dust on their heads, and cried, weeping and mourning, saying, 'Woe, woe, the great city, in which all who had their ships in the sea were made rich by reason of her great wealth!' For in one hour is she made desolate. "Rejoice over her, O heaven, you saints, apostles, and prophets; for God has judged your judgment on her." A mighty angel took up a stone like a great millstone and cast it into the sea, saying, "Thus with violence will Babylon, the great city, be thrown down, and will be found no more at all. (Revelation 18:17-21)

Rather than pinning down the symbol of Babylon to one specific time or organization, we must see that it represents a principle, a mindset, an entire system of social order that is earthly and rooted in principles developed in the first city of Babylon that is the root of most civilization ever since. This announcement from heaven that Babylon has fallen is not just about a physical demise and collapse, but rather the bankruptcy of its very nature and design and how it is impossible to sustain because its principles ultimately produce ruin and destruction.

Let's revisit the earliest history of this great city to discover the underlying problems associated with it in contrast to the ways God's people live who make up the New Jerusalem.

They said, "Come, let's build ourselves a city, and a tower whose top reaches to the sky, and let's make ourselves a name, lest we be scattered abroad on the surface of the whole earth."

Yahweh came down to see the city and the tower, which the children of men built. Yahweh said, "Behold, they are one people, and they have all one language, and this is what they begin to do. Now nothing will be withheld from them, which they intend to do. Come, let's go down, and there confuse their language, that they may not understand one another's speech."

So Yahweh scattered them abroad from there on the surface of all the earth. They stopped building the city. Therefore the name of it was called Babel, because there Yahweh confused the language of all the earth. From there, Yahweh scattered them abroad on the surface of all the earth. (Genesis 11:4-9)

It will happen that he who flees from the noise of the fear will fall into the pit; and he who comes up out of the midst of the pit will be taken in the snare; for the windows on high are opened, and the foundations of the earth tremble. The earth is utterly broken. The earth is torn apart. The earth is shaken violently. The earth will stagger like a drunken man, and will sway back and forth like a hammock. Its disobedience will be heavy on it, and it will fall and not rise again. (Isaiah 24:18-20)

You king, the Most High God gave Nebuchadnezzar your father the kingdom, and greatness, and glory, and majesty: and because of the greatness that he gave him, all the peoples, nations, and languages trembled and feared before him: whom he would he killed, and whom he would he kept alive; and whom he would he raised up, and whom he would he put down. But when his heart was lifted up, and his spirit was hardened so that he dealt proudly, he was deposed from his kingly throne, and they took his glory from him: and he was driven from the sons of men, and his heart was made like the animals', and his dwelling was with the wild donkeys; he was fed with grass like oxen, and his body was wet with the dew of the sky; until he knew that the Most High God rules in the kingdom of men, and that he sets up over it whoever he will.

You his son, Belshazzar, have not humbled your heart, though you knew all this, but have lifted up yourself against the Lord of heaven; and they have brought the vessels of his house before you, and you and your lords, your wives and your concubines, have drunk wine from them; and you have praised the gods of silver and gold, of brass, iron, wood, and stone, which don't see, nor hear, nor know; and the God in whose hand your breath is, and whose are all your ways, you have not glorified. Then was the part of the hand sent from before him, and this writing was inscribed. This is the writing that was inscribed: MENE, MENE, TEKEL, UPHARSIN. This is the interpretation of the thing: MENE; God has numbered your kingdom, and brought it to an end; TEKEL; you are weighed in the balances, and are found wanting. PERES; your kingdom is divided, and given to the Medes and Persians. (Daniel 5:18-28)

Babylon, the glory of kingdoms, the beauty of the Chaldeans' pride, will be like when God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah. It will never be inhabited, neither will it be lived in from generation to generation. The Arabian will not pitch a tent there, neither will shepherds make their flocks lie down there. But wild animals of the desert will lie there, and their houses will be full of jackals. Ostriches will dwell there, and wild goats will frolic there. Wolves will cry in their castles, and jackals in the pleasant palaces. Her time is near to come, and her days will not be prolonged. (Isaiah 13:19-22)

It will happen in the day that Yahweh will give you rest from your sorrow, from your trouble, and from the hard service in which you were made to serve, that you will take up this parable against the king of Babylon, and say, "How the oppressor has ceased! The golden city has ceased!" Yahweh has broken the staff of the wicked, the scepter of the rulers, who struck the peoples in wrath with a continual stroke, who ruled the nations in anger, with a persecution that none restrained.

The whole earth is at rest, and is quiet. They break out song. Yes, the fir trees rejoice with you, with the cedars of Lebanon, saying, "Since you are humbled, no lumberjack has come up against us." Sheol from beneath has moved for you to meet you at your coming. It stirs up the dead for you, even all the rulers of the earth. It has raised up from their thrones all the kings of the nations. They all will answer and ask you, "Have you also become as weak as we are? Have you become like us?"

Your pomp is brought down to Sheol, with the sound of your stringed instruments. Maggots are spread out under you, and worms cover you. How you have fallen from heaven, morning star, son of the dawn! How you are cut down to the ground, who laid the nations low! You said in your heart, "I will ascend into heaven! I will exalt my throne above the stars of God! I will sit on the mountain of assembly, in the far north! I will ascend above the heights of the clouds! I will make myself like the Most High!"

Yet you shall be brought down to Sheol, to the depths of the pit. Those who see you will stare at you. They will ponder you, saying, "Is this the man who made the earth to tremble, who shook kingdoms; who made the world like a wilderness, and overthrew its cities; who didn't release his prisoners to their home?" All the kings of the nations, sleep in glory, everyone in his own house. But you are cast away from your tomb like an abominable branch, clothed with the slain, who are thrust through with the sword, who go down to the stones of the pit; like a dead body trodden under foot. You will not join them in burial, because you have destroyed your land. You have killed your people. The seed of evil-doers will not be named forever. (Isaiah 14:3-20)

For the Lord said to me, "Go, set a watchman. Let him declare what he sees. When he sees a troop, horsemen in pairs, a troop of donkeys, a troop of camels, he shall listen diligently with great attentiveness." He cried like a lion: "Lord, I stand continually on the watchtower in the daytime, and every night I stay at my post. Behold, here comes a troop of men, horsemen in pairs." He answered, "Fallen, fallen is Babylon; and all the engraved images of her gods are broken to the ground. You are my threshing, and the grain of my floor!" That which I have heard from Yahweh of Armies, the God of Israel, I have declared to you. (Isaiah 21:6-10)

It shall happen, when seventy years are accomplished, that I will punish the king of Babylon, and that nation, says Yahweh, for their iniquity, and the land of the Chaldeans; and I will make it desolate forever. I will bring on that land all my words which I have pronounced against it, even all that is written in this book, which Jeremiah has prophesied against all the nations. For many nations and great kings shall make bondservants of them, even of them; and I will recompense them according to their deeds, and according to the work of their hands. (Jeremiah 25:12-14)

Glorious things are spoken about you, city of God. Selah. I will record Rahab and Babylon among those who acknowledge me. Behold, Philistia, Tyre, and also Ethiopia: "This one was born there." Yes, of Zion it will be said, "This one and that one was born in her;" the Most High himself will establish her. Yahweh will count, when he writes up the peoples, "This one was born there." Selah. Those who sing as well as those who dance say, "All my springs are in you." (Psalms 87:3-7)

The word that Yahweh spoke concerning Babylon, concerning the land of the Chaldeans, by Jeremiah the prophet. Declare you among the nations and publish, and set up a standard; publish, and don't conceal: say, Babylon is taken, Bel is disappointed, Merodach is dismayed; her images are disappointed, her idols are dismayed. For out of the north there comes up a nation against her, which shall make her land desolate, and none shall dwell therein: they are fled, they are gone, both man and animal. In those days, and in that time, says Yahweh, the children of Israel shall come, they and the children of Judah together; they shall go on their way weeping, and shall seek Yahweh their God. They shall inquire concerning Zion with their faces turned toward it, saying, Come you, and join yourselves to Yahweh in an everlasting covenant that shall not be forgotten. My people have been lost sheep: their shepherds have caused them to go astray; they have turned them away on the mountains; they have gone from mountain to hill; they have forgotten their resting place. All who found them have devoured them; and their adversaries said, We are not guilty, because they have sinned against Yahweh, the habitation of righteousness, even Yahweh, the hope of their fathers.

Flee out of the midst of Babylon, and go forth out of the land of the Chaldeans, and be as the male goats before the flocks. For, behold, I will stir up and cause to come up against Babylon a company of great nations from the north country; and they shall set themselves in array against her; from there she shall be taken: their arrows shall be as of an expert mighty man; none shall return in vain. Chaldea shall be a prey: all who prey on her shall be satisfied, says Yahweh. (Jeremiah 50:1-10)

Because of the wrath of Yahweh she shall not be inhabited, but she shall be wholly desolate: everyone who goes by Babylon shall be astonished, and hiss at all her plagues. Set yourselves in array against Babylon round about, all you who bend the bow; shoot at her, spare no arrows: for she has sinned against Yahweh. Shout against her round about: she has submitted herself; her bulwarks are fallen, her walls are thrown down; for it is the vengeance of Yahweh: take vengeance on her; as she has done, do to her. Cut off the sower from Babylon, and him who handles the sickle in the time of harvest: for fear of the oppressing sword they shall turn everyone to his people, and they shall flee everyone to his own land. (Jeremiah 50:13-16)

Set up a standard against the walls of Babylon, make the watch strong, set the watchmen, prepare the ambushes; for Yahweh has both purposed and done that which he spoke concerning the inhabitants of Babylon. You who dwell on many waters, abundant in treasures, your end is come, the measure of your covetousness. (Jeremiah 51:12-13)

I will render to Babylon and to all the inhabitants of Chaldea all their evil that they have done in Zion in your sight, says Yahweh. Behold, I am against you, destroying mountain, says Yahweh, which destroys all the earth; and I will stretch out my hand on you, and roll you down from the rocks, and will make you a burnt mountain. They shall not take of you a stone for a corner, nor a stone for foundations; but you shall be desolate for ever, says Yahweh. (Jeremiah 51:24-26)

Author Worship - Rumor notes 135

Revelation 14

6 I saw an angel flying in mid heaven, having an eternal Good News to proclaim to those who dwell on the earth, and to every nation, tribe, language, and people. 7 He said with a loud voice, "Fear the Lord, and give him glory; for the hour of his judgment has come. Worship him who made the heaven, the earth, the sea, and the springs of waters!"

Worship him who made the heaven, the earth, the sea

Before we plunge into this beautiful reminder that our God alone created all things wonderfully, I want us to be reminded of the context of this alert in its relation to what we studied in chapter 13.

Then I stood [or the dragon stood] on the sand of the sea. I saw a beast coming up out of the sea, having ten horns and seven heads. On his horns were ten crowns, and on his heads, blasphemous names. The beast which I saw was like a leopard, and his feet were like those of a bear, and his mouth like the mouth of a lion. The dragon gave him his power, his throne, and great authority.

One of his heads looked like it had been wounded fatally. His fatal wound was healed, and the whole earth marveled at the beast. They worshiped the dragon, because he gave his authority to the beast, and they worshiped the beast, saying, "Who is like the beast? Who is able to make war with him?"

A mouth speaking great things and blasphemy was given to him. Authority to make war for forty-two months was given to him. He opened his mouth for blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name, and his dwelling, those who dwell in heaven. It was given to him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them. Authority over every tribe, people, language, and nation was given to him. All who dwell on the earth will worship him, everyone whose name has not been written from the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb who has been killed. If anyone has an ear, let him hear. (Revelation 13:1-9)

Here in these contrasting chapters we see a clear and sharp divide that will soon separate everyone living on this planet before the coming of the Lamb to receive His own who remain loyal to His Father. This passage from chapter 13 summarizes the character and disposition of the dragon and all who receive their identity and power from him. What we have been examining for some time now in chapter 14 is the very opposite – people who choose to rather die than not follow the Lamb wherever He leads them, people who insist on identifying only with the character and disposition of the Lamb, who in turn is the exact reflection and likeness of the Father of love who sits on the throne.

Worship is all about giving authority to someone to define our identity and who we allow to show us how to act like ourselves. Circumstances today are fast coalescing to compel everyone to choose one source to conform to or the other – the dragon/beast coalition or the Creator and Father of all.

"Worthy are you, our Lord and God, the Holy One, to receive the glory, the honor, and the power, for you created all things, and because of your desire they existed, and were created!" (Revelation 4:11)

The angel who I saw standing on the sea and on the land lifted up his right hand to the sky, and swore by him who lives forever and ever, who created heaven and the things that are in it, the earth and the things that are in it, and the sea and the things that are in it, that there will no longer be delay, (Revelation 10:5-6)

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. (Genesis 1:1)

The heavens and the earth were finished, and all their vast array. On the seventh day God finished his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made. (Genesis 2:1-2)

for in six days Yahweh made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested the seventh day; therefore Yahweh blessed the Sabbath day, and made it holy. (Exodus 20:11)

Speak also to the children of Israel, saying, "Most certainly you shall keep my Sabbaths: for it is a sign between me and you throughout your generations; that you may know that I am Yahweh who sanctifies you." (Exodus 31:13)

Therefore the children of Israel shall keep the Sabbath, to observe the Sabbath throughout their generations, for a perpetual covenant. It is a sign between me and the children of Israel forever; for in six days Yahweh made heaven and earth, and on the seventh day he rested, and was refreshed. (Exodus 31:16-17)

You are Yahweh, even you alone; you have made heaven, the heaven of heavens, with all their army, the earth and all things that are thereon, the seas and all that is in them, and you preserve them all; and the army of heaven worships you. (Nehemiah 9:6)

Of old, you laid the foundation of the earth. The heavens are the work of your hands. They will perish, but you will endure. Yes, all of them will wear out like a garment. You will change them like a cloak, and they will be changed. But you are the same. Your years will have no end. (Psalms 102:25-27)

Happy is he who has the God of Jacob for his help, whose hope is in Yahweh, his God: who made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them; who keeps truth forever; (Psalms 146:5-6)

Thus says God Yahweh, he who created the heavens and stretched them out, he who spread out the earth and that which comes out of it, he who gives breath to its people and spirit to those who walk in it. (Isaiah 42:5)

Thus says Yahweh, your Redeemer, and he who formed you from the womb: "I am Yahweh, who makes all things; who alone stretches out the heavens; who spreads out the earth by myself; (Isaiah 44:24)

Ah Lord Yahweh! behold, you have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and by your outstretched arm; there is nothing too hard for you, (Jeremiah 32:17)

All things were made through him. Without him was not anything made that has been made. (John 1:3)

When they heard it, they lifted up their voice to God with one accord, and said, "O Lord, you are God, who made the heaven, the earth, the sea, and all that is in them; ...Now, Lord, look at their threats, and grant to your servants to speak your word with all boldness, while you stretch out your hand to heal; and that signs and wonders may be done through the name of your holy Servant Jesus."

When they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were gathered together. They were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the word of God with boldness. (Acts 4:24, 29-31)

What distills from viewing all these references collectively? What we see here relates to who authored us and why all creation came into existence.

Worship (get our identity and sense of purpose from) Him who made or created

It is the God of heaven who created everything because He desired to (opposite evolution)

The 7^th day Sabbath rest is involved in the issue of where we came from and who we worship

The 7^th day Sabbath memorial of creation is a pivotal sign of who we reflect and transforms us

The true Creator cares and preserves what He created (in contrast to the bustling beasts)

What is created is not self-sustaining, while the Author endures forever

The One who made everything keeps truth forever (in contrast to the father of lies)

Those who rely on and hope in Yahweh experience happiness (in contrast to intimidation)

The Creator is the sole source of all breath, spirit, life for everything that moves in creation

The Creator who formed and sustains all creation personally formed us from the womb

Nothing is too hard for the true Creator

Identifying with the Creator of all things releases power to speak boldly into the face of fear

and the springs of waters

Springs of life-giving water are also symbolic of what we must receive in order to live spiritually.

They traveled from Marah, and came to Elim: and in Elim were twelve springs of water, and seventy palm trees; and they encamped there. (Numbers 33:9)

For Yahweh your God brings you into a good land, a land of brooks of water, of springs, and underground water flowing into valleys and hills; (Deuteronomy 8:7)

The men of the city said to Elisha, Behold, we pray you, the situation of this city is pleasant, as my lord sees: but the water is bad, and the land miscarries. He said, Bring me a new jar, and put salt therein. They brought it to him. He went forth to the spring of the waters, and cast salt therein, and said, Thus says Yahweh, I have healed these waters; there shall not be from there any more death or miscarrying. So the waters were healed to this day, according to the word of Elisha which he spoke. (2 Kings 2:19-22)

He sends forth springs into the valleys. They run among the mountains. They give drink to every animal of the field. The wild donkeys quench their thirst. The birds of the sky nest by them. They sing among the branches. He waters the mountains from his chambers. The earth is filled with the fruit of your works. (Psalms 104:10-13)

He turns a desert into a pool of water, and a dry land into water springs. There he makes the hungry live, that they may prepare a city to live in, sow fields, plant vineyards, and reap the fruits of increase. (Psalms 107:35-37)

Then the lame man will leap like a deer, and the tongue of the mute will sing; for waters will break out in the wilderness, and streams in the desert. The burning sand will become a pool, and the thirsty ground springs of water. Grass with reeds and rushes will be in the habitation of jackals, where they lay. (Isaiah 35:6-7)

Behold, all those who are incensed against you will be disappointed and confounded. Those who strive with you will be like nothing, and shall perish. You will seek them, and won't find them, even those who contend with you. Those who war against you will be as nothing, as a non-existent thing. For I, Yahweh your God, will hold your right hand, saying to you, 'Don't be afraid. I will help you.' Don't be afraid, you worm Jacob, and you men of Israel. I will help you," says Yahweh, "and your Redeemer is the Holy One of Israel. Behold, I have made you into a new sharp threshing instrument with teeth. You will thresh the mountains, and beat them small, and will make the hills like chaff. You will winnow them, and the wind will carry them away, and the whirlwind will scatter them.

You will rejoice in Yahweh. You will glory in the Holy One of Israel. The poor and needy seek water, and there is none. Their tongue fails for thirst. I, Yahweh, will answer them. I, the God of Israel, will not forsake them. I will open rivers on the bare heights, and springs in the midst of the valleys. I will make the wilderness a pool of water, and the dry land springs of water. (Isaiah 41:11-18)

This passage actually highlights the nature of the power experienced in the lives of those who learn to live in the New Song environment. This is the most potent weapon against evil in the universe, and the Lamb's special ops agents practice and learn it until they reflect the disposition the Lamb displayed when He lived here among us on earth. We shall see in later chapters that this is the true ring of power that alone can bring down the empire of evil, for darkness and evil cannot withstand the power of praise, love, truth and joy in the lives of those synchronizing with the heart of the Father.

They shall not hunger nor thirst; neither shall the heat nor sun strike them: for he who has mercy on them will lead them, even by springs of water he will guide them. (Isaiah 49:10)

For with you is the spring of life. In your light shall we see light. (Psalms 36:9)

For my people have committed two evils: they have forsaken me, the spring of living waters, and hewed them out cisterns, broken cisterns, that can hold no water. (Jeremiah 2:13)

Yahweh, the hope of Israel, all who forsake you shall be disappointed. Those who depart from me shall be written in the earth, because they have forsaken Yahweh, the spring of living waters. (Jeremiah 17:13)

It will happen in that day, that the mountains will drop down sweet wine, the hills will flow with milk, all the brooks of Judah will flow with waters, and a fountain will come forth from the house of Yahweh, and will water the valley of Shittim. (Joel 3:18)

Jesus answered her, "Everyone who drinks of this water will thirst again, but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never thirst again; but the water that I will give him will become in him a well of water springing up to eternal life." (John 4:13-14)

Now on the last and greatest day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, "If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink! He who believes in me, as the Scripture has said, from within him will flow rivers of living water." But he said this about the Spirit, which those believing in him were to receive. For the Holy Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus wasn't yet glorified. (John 7:37-39)

What the careful observer will see in this message of the first angel is the significance of worshipping the Creator out of admiration and appreciation that He is the only Source of life, of identity and of true power. This is in contrast to worshipping the beast and his image which means also worshipping the dragon, all of whom rely on force, fear and intimidation to gain compliance. Because the truth about our origin of existence is linked so tightly with the symbol of the 7^th day Sabbath rest, what is strongly inferred is that the dragon and beasts coalition likewise have a parallel symbol of their authority and a theory of origin involving force that denies the freedom for which we were created.

What is important not to overlook in this is that it is not safe to assume that merely knowing what day represents the truth about God as creator will guarantee us a place in God's kingdom. Too many put their hopes in knowing and 'keeping' the right day as Sabbath, yet fail to take seriously their need to embrace the disposition and rely only on the methods and motives of the Lord of the Sabbath. A tenacious head knowledge of what is true does not protect us from being infected with the spirit of the dragon or succumbing to intense compulsion by the beast powers.

The issues of contention described in these 2 chapters involves who we emulate, who we allow to influence, direct and control the way we think and how we view God's disposition as well as beliefs about our origin. The Sabbath, like nearly every other symbol or teaching of the gospel, can be just as easily subverted and distorted by doggedly clinging to 'the truth' while being transformed into acting and thinking like the beast rather than the Lamb. Our heart is where this battle is being waged, and the great deceiver distracts us by imagining the war is over who is right or wrong about the externals. The reality is that this war is over whose disposition and methods we will allow to shape our character and feelings about God. By design, our perceptions of God are what we inevitably reflect, and that is determined by whose version of Him we choose to embrace.

The message of this angel centers on worship, on judgment, but also alerts us to a sign or mark indicating to the world which version of God we reflect. The outward sign will in the end be in sync with the inward disposition, and many will be shocked to discover that all their efforts to be saved, along with all their hopes and plans to live in heaven have been thwarted because they failed to receive a love of the truth into their heart and allow it to sanctify them to reflect the image of the Lamb.

There remains therefore a Sabbath rest for the people of God. For he who has entered into his rest has himself also rested from his works, as God did from his. (Hebrews 4:9-10)