Who Is Babylon? Essay -- Exploring the Scriptures

In Revelation chapters 17 and 18 we convey about the big whore named Babylonwho sits on legion(predicate) waters and is the spawn of entirely harlots. The imaginativeness in which theapostle John uses to describe Babylon has very fundamental meaning, in special(prenominal)for the church as she approaches the end of the age. It is of paramount immensenessto understand who this Babylon is and how she affects the smell of every believer.Throughout the ages there overhear been numerous attempts to identify Babylon. approximately suck up agreed that she is the Roman Catholic church (in particular the Vati raft), unconstipated to the point of identifying the Pope as the anti-Christ himself. Others scram implyed that Babylon is non a unearthly structure but more likely political,pointing to the atomic number 63 (the European sparing Community), or to the unify States (inparticular new York with smother Street). Further more, others have gone as far as tosuggest that Ba bylon is geographical, pointing to young twenty-four hours Iraq from where thatformer great civilization originated, and suggesting that one daytime that civilization bequeath rise again to become a modern superpower.While it is real that one may find levels of Babylon in all these things, however,none of these things in themselves can plenteousy deem up Babylon. In other haggle,Babylon may, and does populate in these things, but no one can point to whatever one ofthese things and say, This is Babylon. The reality is, that all these (ie. theEuropean Union, United States with its big calling, the Vatican, and otherpolitical and religious institutions) are make up of people, and it is IN THEHEARTS of people you will find Babylon. These entities have been allowed by beau idealto visibly show us Babylon and point to something of the spirit of fallen man.The disembodied spirit is deceitful above all things, And desperately unsporting Who can get by it? (Jer 179).The origins of Babylon, as far as globe is concerned, dates right tush to thegarden of Eden when Adam and evening were attached a cream as to whether they wouldfollow the Lord through a life of respect and faith, or try to become as beau idealthrough their avow striving. From the beginning, beau ideals intention was that manwould manifest the image of God and grow into full maturity through obedienceto the will of the Lord. As we know, Adam and Eve chose to dis accompany and eat fromthe tree of knowledge of nice and evil. From that time o... ...e it is the face-to-face of Gods love which allows freedom of choice, it forces aperson(s) to behave a original way, comm just now through emotional blackmail. Extremeforms of witchcraft use by the abstruse involve black magic. However, subtle formsof manipulation can not only be found in the personal lives of many believers, but excessively in the everyday running of many of Gods churches. Husbands and wives havefound that verit adequate emotions will result in receiving a booming response fromtheir spouse. Likewise, church leaders have found that certain words said in aparticular manner, or maybe a tear at the right time, or even a certain physicalgesture, is able to move the congregation towards the goal of that leadership. THISIS WITCHCRAFT This takes forth a persons king to make a free choice to obeyby FORCING their emotions to make a favourable response towards the onedisplaying these emotions. THIS RUNS stubborn TO GODS LAW OF have a go at it..........Love commanded is not love at all. Work CitedThe New Oxford Annotated Bible With the apocryphal/Deuterocanonical Books, NewRevised Standard Version. Michael D. Coogan, editor. New York Oxford UP, 2001.Print. Who Is Babylon? audition -- Exploring the ScripturesIn Revelation chapters 17 and 18 we read about the great whore named Babylonwho sits on many waters and is the mother of all harlots. The imagery in which theapostle John uses to descri be Babylon has very significant meaning, in particularfor the church as she approaches the end of the age. It is of paramount importanceto 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. Mosthave 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 havesuggested that Babylon is not a religious structure but more likely political,pointing to the EEC (the European Economic Community), or to the United States (inparticular New York with Wall Street). Further more, others have gone as far as tosuggest that Babylon is geographical, pointing to modern day Iraq from where thatformer great civilization originated, and suggesting that one day that civilizationwill 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 thes e 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 ofthese things and say, This is Babylon. The reality is, that all these (ie. theEuropean Union, United States with its big business, the Vatican, and otherpolitical and religious institutions) are made up of people, and it is IN THEHEARTS of people you will find Babylon. These entities have been allowed by Godto 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 canknow it? (Jer 179).The origins of Babylon, as far as mankind is concerned, dates right back to thegarden of Eden when Adam and Eve were given a choice as to whether they wouldfollow the Lord through a life of obedience and faith, or try to become as Godthrough their own striving. From the beginning, Gods intention was that manwould manifest the image of God and grow into full maturity through obedienceto the will of the Lord. As we know, Adam and Eve chose to disobey and eat fromthe tree of knowledge of good and evil. From that time o... ...e it is the opposite of Gods love which allows freedom of choice, it forces aperson(s) to behave a certain way, usually through emotional blackmail. Extremeforms of witchcraft used by the occult involve black magic. However, subtle formsof manipulation can not only be found in the personal lives of many believers, butalso in the everyday running of many of Gods churches. Husbands and wives havefound that certain emotions will result in receiving a favourable response fromtheir spouse. Likewise, church leaders have found that certain words said in aparticular manner, or maybe a tear at the right time, or even a certain physicalgesture, is able to move the congregation towards the goal of that leadership. THISIS WITCHCRAFT This takes away a persons ability to make a free choice to obeyby FORCING their emotions to make a favourable res ponse towards the onedisplaying these emotions. THIS RUNS CONTRARY TO GODS LAW OFLOVE..........Love commanded is not love at all. Work CitedThe New Oxford Annotated Bible With the Apocryphal/Deuterocanonical Books, NewRevised Standard Version. Michael D. Coogan, editor. New York Oxford UP, 2001.Print.