Babylon Nature In Man example essay topic

BABYLON THE GREAT IS FALLEN In Revelation chapters 17 and 18 we read about the great whore named Babylon who sits on many waters and is the mother of all harlots. The imagery in which the apostle John uses to describe Babylon has very significant meaning, in particular for the church as she approaches the end of the age. It is of paramount importance to understand who this Babylon is and how she affects the life of every believer. Throughout the ages there have been many attempts to identify Babylon.

Most have agreed that she is the Roman Catholic Church (in particular the Vatican), even to the point of identifying the Pope as the anti-Christ himself. Others have suggested that Babylon is not a religious structure but more likely political, pointing to the EEC (the common European market), or to the United States (in particular New York with Wall Street). Further more, others have gone as far as to suggest that Babylon is geographical, pointing to modern day Iraq from where that former great civilisation originated, and suggesting that one day that civilisation will rise again to become a modern superpower. While it is true that one may find levels of Babylon in all these things, however, none of these things in themselves can fully make up Babylon. In other words, Babylon may, and does exist in these things, but no one can point to any one of these things and say, 'This is Babylon'.

The reality is, that all these (ie. the European Union, United States with its 'big business', the Vatican, and other political and religious institutions) are made up of people, and it is IN THE HEARTS of people you will find Babylon. These entities have been allowed by God to visibly show us Babylon and point to something of the nature of fallen man. ' The heart is deceitful above all things, And desperately wicked; Who can know it? (Jer 17: 9). The origins of Babylon, as far as mankind is concerned, dates right back to the garden of Eden when Adam and Eve were given a choice as to whether they would follow the Lord through a life of obedience and faith, or try to become as Godthrough their own striving.

From the beginning, God's intention was that man would manifest the image of God and grow into full maturity through obedience to the will of the Lord. As we know, Adam and Eve chose to disobey and eat from the tree of knowledge of good and evil. From that time on, man has an inherent nature which attempts to attain to the image of God in his own strength. The so-called 'non-religious' use natural strength to become 'gods' of this world. They build lives for themselves without the reality of the Creator. In their own delusions they believe that they themselves are 'creators'.

They are in charge of their own destinies. They set up moral and ethical standards of life which cannot be violated because of 'personal rights', while at the same time enforcing those rights on the wider community and insisting that everyone 'submit' to those standards. They even go so far as to take it upon themselves to not only decide when to give life, but when and how to take it also. THEY HAVE BECOME " GODS' WHILE AT THE SAME TIME COMPLETELY DISREGARDING THE ONE AND ONLY TRUE GOD! Likewise, many 'religious / spiritual ones' combine spiritual laws to natural ones but with one difference - they become 'gods' not only of this world, but also the next. They actually 'de-throne' God by living independently of the one true Creator.

Their decisions of what is right and wrong is quite often based on what benefits them and not on the 'absolutes' of God. On the surface there is an appearance of piety, but underneath quite often lies the hidden enemy of pride expressing itself through man's un sanctified intellect and emotions. This is the " Babylon nature' in man. It is this same nature resident in fallen man that makes man self-centred. Man will tend to live His life and make his decisions based on how it will benefit him.

Even what appears to be the most sacrificial and compassionate acts can have traces of selfishness in them. Even the church exhibit the characteristics of this nature -from those with carnal lusts, to those who zealously attempt to build God's kingdom with their own strength. This is Babylon in the church. We all have done it. But praise be to God, He understands and is not willing to condemn us, but rather encourage us to see our hearts in order that we may turn to Him who is the author and finisher of our faith (see Hebrews 12: 2). Babylon finds her expression through man as man attempts to unite the natural and spiritual world using both natural and often spiritual principles in independence from God.

The culmination of Babylon throughout the ages finds her full expression in Revelation chapters 17 and 18. This is where God passes final judgement on man's religion plus world commerce and trade. Of more concern tous is how Babylon has her affect on the church as she drives believers to use this world's ways to build God's kingdom. As we read through Scripture, we see the progression of Babylon with the first main sign being found in Genesis 11: 1-9.

Verse 4 reads as follows: 4 And they said, 'Come, let us build ourselves a city, and a tower whose top is in the heavens; let us make a name for ourselves, lest we be scattered abroad over the face of the whole earth. ' Man's attempt to build a city is very significant in that it has always been God's intention to build a city for man. We find the apostle Paul saying of Abraham that '... he waited for the city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God. ' (Hebrews 11: 10). But here in the plain of Shinar we find man trying to build a city for himself in an attempt of self-preservation. Cain, after he was exiled for murdering his brother, '... went out from the presence of the LORD... and built a city... ' (see Gen 4: 16-17).

Adam's fall created many vacuums in the make-up of man. Man's entire being (spirit, soul, and body) began to experience the void left when the life of God diminished and departed from him. Companionship and security, which was meant to be fulfilled by the Creator, was lacking which pushed man to seek this with others instead of God. The building of this city in Babylon, as well as Cain's intention of building a city, was an attempt to fill the vacuum in man's body and soul.

Cities are the centre of business and commerce where every one of man's physical and material needs could be met, thus satisfying the void in man's body. Cities are also the centres of pleasure and culture where all the hungers of the soul can be satisfied. The tower in Babylon is man's attempt to satisfy the void in his spirit. The tower was to reach the heavens.

It was to reach the dwelling place of God. However good the outward appearance, the motives and method here are obviously one of selfishness and self-preservation. Many times we may say, 'Let's build for God " same', but the Spirit of God knows the thoughts and intents of man's heart. Unless the LORD builds the house, They labor in vain who build it; Unless the LORD guards the city, The watchman stays awake in vain. (Psalm 127: 1) The fact remains that this was a religious tower to build a name for man and not for God, and through this tower man was trying to fill the spiritual void created when God's Spirit left Adam leaving him with the realisation that he was naked. The city God intended was to be a spiritual one in the hearts of men, with men themselves being the building materials with which God builds.

Coming to Him as to a living stone, rejected indeed by men, but chosen by God and precious, you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to Godthrough Jesus Christ. (1 Peter 2: 4-5) There are vast differences between the city of God (the New Jerusalem) and the city Nimrod built on the plains of Shinar. Firstly we note that the New Jerusalem is built by God Himself, and although it is true to say that this city (being built in the hearts of men) will be one that glorifies its Builder and Maker, the motive for God to build this city has always been one of love. That is to say, God's intention in building the New Jerusalem is for the benefit of those who will be part of the New Jerusalem. What can man give to God that God doesn't already have? Cayman give Him love?

God IS love (see 1 John 4: 8). Can man give him a body of flesh in which to express Himself? The Lord Jesus Christ still has a body of flesh (see Luke 24: 39). Is God in need of companionship or worship?

He has an innumerable number of angels worshipping, adoring, and obeying Him non-stop. No! God's intention has ALWAYS been one of GIVING! He is the great shepherd (see psalm 23: 1) and He gives His life for His sheep (see John 10: 11). Nimrod, on the other hand, is known as a mighty hunter. He was a mighty hunter before the LORD; therefore it is said, 'Like Nimrod the mighty hunter before the LORD.

' And the beginning of his kingdom was Babel, Erech, Accad, and Calne h, in the land of Shinar. (Genesis 10: 9-10) As opposed to our Shepherd Lord, a hunter is one who will kill in order to gratify himself. For the purpose of provision, preservation, or pleasure, a hunter will not hesitate to take life. The Shepherd will not only provide for His sheep, He will also give His own life for their sakes, even leaving the ninety-nine to go after the one (see Matthew 18: 11-12).

Nimrod's name means 'rebellion' or 'rebel', which indicates the character of this mighty hunter. We find in Scripture, 'For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft... ' (1 Sam 15: 23). It is not surprising to find 'witchcraft' being a main ingredient in the building of Babylon. Witchcraft is the use of emotions rather than the Holy Spirit to manipulate, control, or alter ones behaviour or decisions. Because it is the opposite of God's love which allows freedom of choice, it forces a person (s) to behave a certain way, usually through emotional blackmail.

Extreme forms of witchcraft used by the occult involve black magic. However, subtle forms of manipulation can not only be found in the personal lives of many believers, but also in the everyday running of many of God's churches. Husbands and wives have found that certain emotions will result in receiving a favourable response from their spouse. Likewise, church leaders have found that certain words said in a particular manner, or maybe a tear at the right time, or even a certain physical gesture, is able to move the congregation towards the goal of that leadership. THESIS WITCHCRAFT! This takes away a person's ability to make a free choice to obey by FORCING their emotions to make a favourable response towards the one displaying these emotions.

THIS RUNS CONTRARY TO GOD'S LAW OF LOVE! ... Love commanded is not love at all..