Consider the Clouds - #5 Babylon's Folly.

Babylon’s Folly

The Bible is a book about two cities. The spirit of either one is incompatible with the other and there is constant war between them. The first mentioned is Babylon, founded by Nimrod. (Genesis 10:8-11) He led the movement which has dominated the spiritual world with its darkness, the occult. (Genesis 11:1-9) Babylon is both a literal place and a spiritual force.

The other city is Jerusalem. (Genesis 14:17-24) Here we find King Melchizedek. He went out to Abram with bread and wine (a picture of Communion) and blessed Abram in the Name of God Most High, maker of heaven and earth. Jerusalem is also a literal place and a spiritual reality.

What has that to do with clouds? In Isaiah 14:12-23 the spirit of Babylon is described in graphic detail. Behind the king of Babylon is the one known as Lucifer. What was the great arrogance of Babylon? ‘You said in your heart, “I will ascend to heaven; I will raise my throne above the throne of God…I will ascend to the tops of the clouds, I will make myself like the Most High”.’

Remember the clouds are expressive of God’s environment. In the passage quoted you can see that the spirit of Babylon wanted to be greater than the Creator God. Babylon is a usurper, corrupter and destroyer of the things of the Almighty and Everlasting Holy God.

The sad thing is we are all born into the realm of Babylon. There is also the human weakness which imagines 'I am a god.' The sin which caused Adam and Eve's downfall is still strong. Consider the rulers of North Korea who erect statues of themselves and  desire worship. (Yet they are content to trample on the lives of their people). The reality is the human heart is enslaved by the principles of Babylon.

Unless the Lord God had established Jerusalem we would share Babylon’s fate. However God has invited people to enter its gates with thanksgiving. How?  Because Christ Jesus has conquered the power of Babylon in His death on the cross and His resurrection! We make the decision to leave the realm of Babylon to enter the realm of Jerusalem when we hear the message about Jesus Christ. To cast arrogance aside and seek the Lord God's mercy is the key to escaping the city doomed to judgement.

Read Revelation 18-19 to see the ultimate doom of this city whose arrogance wanted it to rise above the clouds. It will be brought down into the dust. That is why the call of God goes out loud and strong, ‘Come out of Babylon and don’t share in her plagues or destruction.’

Next. The clouds  which took Jesus home.

Ray (in the realm of Jerusalem) Hawkins.