At this time I want to focus on the subjects of global government and global religion. My basic view about what is happening today in the realms of politics and religion is that Babel is being reconstructed. The world is being told that we must all unify in a new spirituality and embrace a new world order. (If the term, "new world order," sounds too conspiratorial, please hold on for a few more posts. There is plenty of evidence that this system has been developing for quite some time, and this exact term is now being used openly by world leaders.) Consider these prophetic facts from the Bible:
1. There will be an attempt by Satan to rule the entire world through the person of the "son of perdition" or Antichrist.2. He will institute an economic system in which "no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name."3. People will worship him and the dragon (Satan) who gives him power, and he will oppose and exalt himself "above all that is called God, or that is worshiped."4. The "kings of the earth" will unite and take their stand against the Lord and against His Messiah.5. They will gather together at Armageddon to make war against Jesus Christ.
These statements are profoundly fantastic and difficult to fully grasp. I realize that there is a growing segment of Christianity that believes most or all of this has already taken place. Preterists, as they are called, would claim that I am wasting my time by looking for these events to take place in the future. I have studied this viewpoint in some detail and have considered it, but I must reject it for many reasons. I don't have time now, but if the Lord allows, perhaps I will come back to this subject and offer my reasons. For now I will present my views with the understanding that I see the advent of Antichrist, his political and economic systems, his worship by people worldwide, and his eventual destruction by the visible returning Messiah, etc. as events that have yet to take place.
The First Attempt at World Government
The Bible has been called a tale of two cities: Jerusalem and Babylon. This is a theme that is found throughout Scripture. Jerusalem is the regal city of Israel, the city where the kings were enthroned. It is the site of the temple which Solomon built as a "house for the name of the LORD God of Israel" (1 Kings 8:20). It is the city outside of whose gate our Lord was crucified (Heb. 13:12). And it is the location from which Christ will one day be seated on David's throne (Isaiah 9:6-7) and reign over the earth (Isaiah 24:23). Babylon, in contrast, is the oppressive city (Isaiah 14). It was the city of captivity for the kingdom of Judah, an instrument of God's judgment. It was full of idolatry and magic arts and the worship of the heavenly host. (And let's not forget that there were times when Jerusalem looked more like Babylon than a city which housed "the name of the LORD God of Israel.") There are almost 300 references to it in the Bible, and it has a very prominent role in the book of Revelation. It is obviously very significant for many reasons, not the least of which is that it was at the center of the first organized rebellion against God and attempt at a united nations. Babylon is the site of the tower of Babel, so let's examine its account in the Bible.
Genesis 11:1-4 And the whole earth was of one language, and of one speech. (2) And it came to pass, as they journeyed from the east, that they found a plain in the land of Shinar; and they dwelt there. (3) And they said one to another, Go to, let us make brick, and burn them throughly. And they had brick for stone, and slime had they for morter. (4) And they said, Go to, let us build us a city and a tower, whose top may reach unto heaven; and let us make us a name, lest we be scattered abroad upon the face of the whole earth.
We always talk about the tower of Babel, but we often miss the fact that there was both a city and a tower. This is the first attempt at a combined global government and religion. Note that the people spoke one language and were also "of one speech." Does this mean that they were unified by a common idea? I don't know, but it is certainly clear from the next several verses that the people were unified and that this act greatly displeased God.
Genesis 11:5-9 And the LORD came down to see the city and the tower, which the children of men builded. (6) And the LORD said, Behold, the people is one, and they have all one language; and this they begin to do: and now nothing will be restrained from them, which they have imagined to do. (7) Go to, let us go down, and there confound their language, that they may not understand one another's speech. (8) So the LORD scattered them abroad from thence upon the face of all the earth: and they left off to build the city. (9) Therefore is the name of it called Babel; because the LORD did there confound the language of all the earth: and from thence did the LORD scatter them abroad upon the face of all the earth.
This account describes a unified rebellion against Yahweh. The founder of the city Babel was Nimrod (Gen. 10:8-10). His legacy includes many colorful myths which were incorporated in the Babylonian mysteries that have been passed down to the present day among various secret societies and religious orders. Nimrod seems to be a prototype for the Antichrist in that he was the first recorded world dictator who tried to unify the people against God. The Talmud says he was called Nimrod "because in those days the people were beginning to rebel again against the Lord's command, and Nimrod signifies rebellion." It goes on to say, "When Nimrod had thus established his power he decided to build a city, a walled town, which should be the capital of his country. And he selected a certain plain and built a large city thereon, and called it Shinar. And Nimrod dwelt in Shinar in safety, and gradually became ruler over all the world; and at that time all the people of the earth were of one language and of one speech." Eventually the people promoted the idea of building the tower and the Talmud elaborates that "while they were building rebellion budded in their hearts, rebellion against God, and they imagined that they could scale the heavens and war with him."1 While this is extrabiblical commentary, it does give us an idea of how the account of Babel was interpreted by the Jews.
The Jewish historian, Flavius Josephus, also comments on the account of the events at Babel. In his work, Antiquities of the Jews, he said God had commanded the people some time after the flood to "send colonies abroad, for the thorough peopling of the earth, that they might not raise seditions among themselves, but might cultivate a great part of the earth, and enjoy its fruits after a plentiful manner."2 He said the people disobeyed God's command because they suspected God was trying to divide them in order to more easily suppress them. He blames Nimrod for this attitude among the people.
"Now it was Nimrod who excited them to such an affront and contempt of God… He persuaded them not to ascribe it to God, as if it was through his means they were happy, but to believe that it was their own courage which procured that happiness. He also gradually changed the government into tyranny, seeing no other way of turning men from the fear of God, but to bring them into a constant dependence on his power. He also said he would be revenged on God, if he should have a mind to drown the world again; for that he would build a tower too high for the waters to be able to reach! and that he would avenge himself on God for destroying their forefathers!"
This is beginning to sound increasingly like Psalm 2 and Rev. 19:19 in which the leaders of the nations conspire against God and gather to make war on Him.
("Constant dependence on his power." That sounds familiar. We like to accuse those on the left of being too dependent on the government with cries of "nanny state," but the "religious right" is guilty of the same thing. While we should be responsible to put godly men in office, we should never put our hope in the government. Our dependence should always rest in our Provider, specifically in His provision of the way of reconciliation between God and man, the Lord Jesus Christ.)
Mystery Babylon
The way I understand it presently is that Nimrod was into some very wicked things when he stirred up the people against God. A religious system was devised that involved very real supernatural powers. This system is now known simply as the Babylonian mysteries. After the confusion of languages, the people separated, and parts of this mystery were dispersed across the earth. This is why there are so many ancient civilizations that seem to rely on very similar and sometimes identical notions in their religious beliefs. (One of these is the worship of the serpent...Genesis 3, maybe?) The more I discover about different religious orders and organizations, the more I can see they come from the same original source. It is only logical that these groups might join together and begin to appear to be the same having discarded their differences. I think we are seeing this process actively taking place right now. I saw a local pastor on the news a few days ago who said we should focus on what we have in common instead of dwelling on our differences. The problem with that for the Christian is that we are commanded not to be "unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?" (2 Cor. 6:14). The non-Christian also has a problem. The Bible tells of two paths, one that leads to life and another that leads to destruction. It won't matter how much a person focuses on similarities if everyone is on the broad way that leads to destruction (Matt. 7:13-14). The biggest difference between Christianity and every other religion is that God became a man in order to "taste death for every man" (Heb. 2:9) and "reconcile both [Jews and Gentiles] unto God in one body by the cross" (Eph. 2:16). If we set aside that difference, we no longer have Christianity. We have a system of morality without a way to atone for sin. Essentially we would be saying that "Christ is dead in vain" (Gal. 2:21). Sadly this is exactly what many churches are doing today.
Back to the Babylonian mysteries. It is also reasonable to assume that the keepers of these mysteries would want either to be in positions of power or be able to influence those in power in order to achieve their purposes. I think of Jannes and Jambres who served Pharaoh (2 Tim. 3:8, Exodus 7:10-12) and Elymas the sorcerer who tried to prevent Sergius Paulus from believing the Gospel (Acts 13:6-12). Also this Babylonian system is probably related to the "mystery of iniquity" that Paul wrote about in 2 Thessalonians. In addition the apostle John foretells a religious system that works in tandem with the antichrist government.
Revelation 17:3-6 So he carried me away in the spirit into the wilderness: and I saw a woman sit upon a scarlet coloured beast, full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns. (4) And the woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet colour, and decked with gold and precious stones and pearls, having a golden cup in her hand full of abominations and filthiness of her fornication: (5) And upon her forehead was a name written, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH. (6) And I saw the woman drunken with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus: and when I saw her, I wondered with great admiration.
This woman is called "the mother of harlots" which means she has children. The children may appear to be different, but they share a common mother. Perhaps today we are witnessing the children coming together to return to their mother.
Of course we cannot ignore the fact that the woman is riding the beast. The religious structure is in control of the political structure, at least for a time until the beast turns on the woman (Rev. 17:16). The point is that this "Mystery Babylon" will be active among the apocalyptic political system. But this system will not just appear out of nowhere. I believe there is sufficient evidence to suggest that these mysterious demonic powers have been influencing and even controlling world politics for quite some time now.
2 Corinthians 6:17-18 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, (18) And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.
Revelation 18:4 And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.
1. Polano, H. The Talmud: Selections, "Biblical History," Chapter I. 1876. http://www.sacred-texts.com/jud/pol/pol04.htm, accessed Sep. 12, 2010.
2. Josephus. Antiquities of the Jews, Book 1, Chapter 4.
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