TULIP GEMS

THE FIRST COMMANDMENT AND BABEL (PART 1)

 

 

“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.

 

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.”   (Genesis 11:4 & 9)

 

 

The Tower of Babel was erected shortly after the Flood (by the descendants of Noah) under the leadership of Nimrod (Genesis 10:8-10).  The city was a political union.  The tower was religious -- the MEANS of reaching heaven.  Babel was a union of “church” and “state”.

 

 

The tower was an attempt to elevate man to God's level.  The entire human race spoke one language -- virtually all were involved.  This was the first attempt at a one world government and religion -- a New World Order.  Nimrod was the god-king (the Moloch).

 

 

The pagan priests (astrologers, sorcerers, magicians, soothsayers) were the king's close advisors.  Separation of church and state was unknown.  There was union of throne and altar, prince and priest.  The priests were often the hidden influence controlling the kingdom.

 

 

BABYLON AND ROME

 

 

The Tower of Babel was the obsession of the city's people.  It was their purpose of life that both united and enslaved.  Religion dominated the partnership of church and state.  This thread runs from ancient Babylon through pagan empires to both Pagan and Papal Rome.

 

 

The Catholic World stated at the time of Vatican I, “While the state has some rights, she has them only in virtue and by permission of the superior authority [of] the Church....” The Vatican praised totalitarian dictators Hitler and Mussolini as men chosen by God.

 

 

The Vatican signed Concordats with Fascist Italy in 1929 and Nazi Germany in 1933.  Catholics were urged to support these men.  In exchange, the “Church” was granted many favors (vast revenues and influence).  In Italy it once again became the official religion.

 

 

Eusebius, the father of Church History, writing in 303 A.D. stated that “Babylon” was a figurative name for Rome (so close was the spiritual identity of both).[1]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Catholic defender Karl Keating also admits that Rome has long been known by the code name “Babylon”.[2]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Roman Catholic Church itself, in the Confraternity Edition of the New Testament (new edition, New York, 1963, page 337) claims that Rome is Babylon.[3]  Revelation 17 speaks of Mystery Babylon, Mother of Harlots, as sitting on seven mountains (large hills).

 

 

Rome is called “the city of seven hills.”  In the thirteenth century, St. Bonaventure, a Cardinal and General of the Franciscans, said Rome was just like the Harlot of the Apocalypse.[4] Thus, the evidence is overwhelming that Papal Rome is the Mystery Babylon of Revelation.

 

 

YE SHALL BE AS GODS

 

 

Satan had promised Eve that she could become as one of the gods (Genesis 3:5).  This promise became the foundation of pagan religions worldwide.  The rising Tower of Babel seemed to give credence to the delusion that man could reach heaven by his own efforts.

 

 

Paganism has always had mysterious rituals celebrated around ornately carved and decorated altars -- often atop Pyramids -- such as can be found in Babylon, Egypt, Central America and India.   The Bible often refers to “high places” that were constructed in Israel.

 

 

Violating the prohibition against “going up by steps” to God's altar, these “high places” became the centers of Jewish idolatry and apostasy.  In times of repentance and revival, these “high places” with their idols were destroyed (2 Kings 18 & 23).

 

 

NO HUMAN EFFORTS (STEPS)

 

 

“An altar of earth thou shalt make unto me, and shalt sacrifice thereon thy burnt offerings, and thy peace offerings, thy sheep, and thine oxen: in all places where I record my name I will come unto thee, and I will bless thee.

 

And if thou wilt make me an altar of stone, thou shalt not build it of hewn stone: for if thou lift up thy tool upon it, thou hast polluted it.  Neither shalt thou go up by steps unto mine altar, that thy nakedness be not discovered thereon.”   (Exodus 20:24-26)

 

 

The ONLY approach to God in the time of Moses was clearly stated in Exodus 20:24-26.  Animal sacrifices could be offered upon an altar of earth or stones.  But the stones could NOT be carved BY TOOLS.

 

 

The altar could not be elevated.   NO APPROACH BY STEPS WAS ALLOWED.

 

 

No human effort could play any part in man's approach to God.  Salvation is an unearned, undeserved GIFT from GOD.  Good works are the result of salvation, not its cause (Ephesians 2:8-10).  The blood of the Lamb saves from the wrath of God, good works do not.

 

 

CAIN AND ABEL

 

 

Abel offered the blood of the Lamb.  Cain offered the fruit of his human efforts.  God accepted Abel's offering, but rejected Cain's.  In anger, Cain slew his brother Abel (Genesis 4).  And it has been that way ever since.  Paganism hates Biblical Christianity.

 

 

Both pagans and paganized “Christianity” approach God through human efforts (good works, sacraments, yoga, etc.).  Both Pagan Rome and Papal Rome have killed their brother “Abel” who came to God by faith in the shed blood of the Passover Lamb -- Jesus Christ the Lord.

 

But the religion of Cain and Babel is not acceptable to God.  Murdering those who disagree with you is not the way to God.  A religion of human effort (steps) to become as gods violates the First Commandment -- “Thou shalt have NO OTHER GODS before me.”   (Exodus 20:3)

 

 

The First Commandment and Babel (Part 2)

 

 

[1] Dave Hunt, A WOMAN RIDES THE BEAST (Harvest House Publishers:  Eugene, OR, 1994) p. 68.

 

[2] Ibid.

 

[3] Lehman Strauss, REVELATION (Loizeaux Brothers, Neptune, New Jersey, 1964) p. 301.

 

[4] Dave Hunt, A WOMAN RIDES THE BEAST (Harvest House Publishers:  Eugene, OR, 1994) p. 167.