What is Babylon

As the scripture states, you can not serve God and mammon (money). Thus, an individual must decide to serve God even though they are bound in slavery to money. As a result we must be set free and it is then that Lord Jesus calls to us to come out of her (Rev. 18:4). That is, we are to come away from being bound to money. Thus, Babylon is an economic system that has us enslaved. We serve her whether we like it or not. She was given the her namesake due to the great economic advances of the Babylonian Empire as well as the initial enslavement of Judah at the hand of the Babylonians.

Thus, the destruction of Babylon is the destruction of the world economic system and the redemption of Lord Jesus' people. "Free at last, free at last, thank God we are free at last." We are not free yet but will soon be free of money and I am looking forward to that day.

Thanks for the welcome, Mike, and for the response, boraddic.

Most people think of Babylon as either in the past tense, or the future tense, as in Ancient Babylon where the Jews were held captive [according to them] or as a future kingdom that will eventually come into being that will enslave everyone. And of course, they cannot be one in the same, because Ancient Babylon no longer exists as an empire, so it could not possibly be the same Babylon that Isaiah describes as falling, or as Revelation describes.

As Boraddict pointed out, it can even be thought of as an economic system, which enslaves people. We are enslaved by economics, but I don’t really think that is what the prophets were warning us about, with the use of the term Babylon. Instead, when I look at the roots of Babylon in the Bible, I see the story of Christianity being foretold.

You see, the people of Babylon wanted to build a tower to Heaven, and that upset God, even though God knows that people cannot really build a tower to Heaven. You can build a tower as high as the sky [not sure how high that is] and it still won’t reach Heaven. So why is that story even included in the Bible as a historical event. We know from logical reasoning that it never really happened. There never was a time when everyone on the planet spoke the same language, and there never was a time when people could build towers as tall as we can now, and we still can’t reach Heaven with them. So logic dictates that the story is either totally made up, or is symbolic prophecy, written as history. There should have been a reason to include the story in the Bible, so I lean towards understanding the story as symbolic prophecy. And also as a clue about what the Babylon that falls really is, and how it is used to control, or oppress people.

So I look at the symbolism given to understand what we were being told/warned about. I consider the tower to Heaven as a way to pass into Heaven, and then understand that it is a description of the thing that Christianity promises, passage to Heaven. Christianity claims that it’s the only way to Heaven. So you can easily conclude that the tower to Heaven did get built. Or at least, it is supposed by those who rule over us with religion.

In the same chapter of Isaiah that Babylon is predicted to fall, we find another clue about what Babylon is, following the description of it falling. And that is who falls along with Babylon. And that is none other than Lucifer, the son of dawn, the bright morning star. His identity is given to us by Jesus, who most Christians regard as Christ. But he falls along with Babylon, so we know for sure that he isn’t really Christ, which is another word for Messiah.

Oh yeah, I’m testing the water here, with my rhetoric. Because there’s not much sense in hanging around in here, teaching prophecy, if I’m just going to get kicked out for not being associated with any religion.

It’s important to know what Babylon is, if you ever want to free yourself from its oppression. And the reason I use it as my introduction here is that religion confounds your ability to really understand the prophecies of the Bible. You are not free to draw your own conclusions about anything. You are free to ask your master what this or that means. You therefore can never break free from their control. Well you can, but then they cast you out, and you are no longer guaranteed passage to Heaven. [By the way, don’t worry about threatening me with eternal Hell. You don’t have that power. And did you know that in thinking that anyone who controls who does or does not go to Heaven is taking the God’s name in vain?]

We will never be free of the need for money. It’s how we barter our work for other’s work. Some form of barter will always be around, and we will always have to work. But people will be free of religion, eventually, because everyone will know the truth about it. According to Isaiah, people will no longer teach either other about religion, right from wrong, because everyone will know for themselves right from wrong.

You might be surprised, chrisj that many will agree on this with you.  If I am following what you are saying here it is that the mystery of babylon is the religiousness that man instills into his supposed faith system.  It is where works of the flesh come about to be doctrine, rituals, statues, traditions, holy waters, statements of "Faith" that add to the Gospel of salvation, self-made righteous/pious attitude, exclusion, or inclusion where it is supports a false teaching..stuff like this?

I would agree that all the -isms and- ists we attach to describe the various theological beliefs that come about can limit that person from really Hearing God on a matter.  For example: Fundamentalism, Dispensationalism, Universalism, Pre, Mid or Post Trib-ism, Calvinism, Protestant, baptist, 7th day adventist...  On a personal note I prefer to be called a Christ-follower.  There is no denominational attachment assumed by using this term.

Is this what you are trying to relay?  

As far as the tower building...yes, I can see the metaphorical-ness of it.  Yet, we do have some pretty spectacular Pyramids that defy even the most intricate modern day skyscrapers.  So its not entirely impossible to have had an attempt at a tower.  And those living near each other to build it could certainly have been speaking the same language where God confounded them as a judgement.  Is there a spiritual lesson and justice to go with that story?  absolutely.  Every time I read Genesis there is so much more powerful Spiritual aspects to the scenes we are told happened.  Does it make the whole story not physical?  I believe it was physical with HUGE spiritual undertones that get missed by many.  At what point does one say a story in the OT was merely a metaphor verses actual physical real people?  To see all the spiritual lessons God has in actual events, and real people IS a personal revelation as each one of us as each one seeks Him.  And yes, I can see where religion (babylon) gets in the way.  

You are not out in left field, my friend.  Did you read the Restoration of All Things  thread? The person who taught in that thread laid out some very controversial aspects of endless torment/hell/annihilation..Not all agreed, but he laid out his case scripture upon scripture. Some of what you are saying reminds me of that thread. 

All that is really helpful in communicating here is to remain humble, not insult others who disagree remember Rule #3 "Don't invalidate a fellow member's thoughts. It is ok to express a disagreement, but this shouldn't be done along the lines of "you're just wrong" or "if you believed the Bible than you would agree with me", etc.
"

Yes, rule 1 for this forum defines fundamental Christian core doctrine.  Many have had successful friendly conversations here "mildly" violating this part of rule 1:  Premillennialism, a literal rapture of the Church to Heaven
.  If handled with the respect of Rule 3, these extra-details of scripture can be debated properly and with kindness.


Many lurk here to get teachings or guidance while studying the Word, so there are some things that are not up for debate:  Namely, who Jesus is : God-incarnate, born of a virgin, was crucified, died, was buried, rose from the dead and ascended into Heaven.  And, He, Jesus will return.  And the Trinity of our God is : Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Here is the heart of rule 1:

Unsealed is a pre-millenial website.  Many come here and debate the rapture and what it looks like.  Many debate what the Trib and Wrath look like.  And there is the whole book of Revelation...

so, welcome here!  The more scripture you have to back up your thought process the better.  Humble, gracious attitude always a plus!

and BTW, I do not belong to any denomination, nor have I proclaimed membership into any local church...  But I do attend a local church and do group Bible studies.

AMEN, natalie!

Here it is Isaiah 14;
12How you have fallen from heaven,
morning star, son of the dawn!
You have been cast down to the earth,
you who once laid low the nations!

13You said in your heart,
“I will ascend to the heavens;
I will raise my throne
above the stars of God;
I will sit enthroned on the mount of assembly,
on the utmost heights of Mount Zaphon.b

14I will ascend above the tops of the clouds;
I will make myself like the Most High.”

15But you are brought down to the realm of the dead,
to the depths of the pit.

Jesus was aware of the term he used, when he described himself as the bright morning star. He knew the prophecies of Isaiah better than anyone. He was coming clean, or John had a sick sense of humor. The description of what Nimrod wanted to do shows up again in Isaiah, as quoted. He wanted to rise to the heights of God. And that is what he intended when he said that only through him could anyone enter Heaven and be with God. He said it, and someone wrote it down, so there is no denying it now.

It is important to understand that, if you want to break free of the yoke imposed on you by your religion. If you do that, then you have a chance at surviving the things that lie ahead of all of us in the coming years. The reason I say that is that it is up to each leader to understand what the prophecies are really saying, and then lead their people through what’s coming. That’s what the prophecies are for. Even though there is a real Messiah, he isn’t described as a magical being in the OT. He is described as a humble servant of God, who will lead those who will follow him through the destruction of our planet.

Nimrod, Lucifer, son of the dawn, the morning star, and many more names have been given to the great illusionist, the promiser of salvation. Molek, whose followers made their children walk through fire is another of his identities. That’s what we are doing now. We are making our children walk through the fire, as we ignore Global Warming and our contribution to it. We know beyond a doubt that it is going to get hotter and hotter because of the CO2 and other GHGs we pollute the air with. Yet we do nothing, as if someone else will fix it in time.

It was spelled out clearly enough in the OT for people to understand, that no one can rise to the heightt of God. Perhaps that is why Jesus is thought of as God. If he was truly God in the flesh, then he already is God, and therefore doesn’t have to rise to any height, because he is already there. Thing is, Jesus never thought of himself as God, or even as the Father, who he was seeking and expecting to find. He was clear on this. He was the Son of Man, or Son of Adam. And in the book of Luke, the Son of God. But he never spoke of himself as God.

We will make our children walk through the fires in our future, because we ignore what we are doing to our planet’s climate with our lavish lifestyles. Part of the reason we ignore what we are doing is because we think that we have an Ace in the Hole with Jesus, who will whisk us away in our time of need, and give us a brand new earth to live on. So if Global Warming is the scourge of humanity, bring it on. We’re ready for you. HaHaHa.

Did someone say something about Satanism? I think I just described it.