Babylon

 •  1 min. read  •  grade level: 9
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In the Babylon of Scripture we are presented by God with a great object lesson of the conflict between God, man and Satan for personal glory. We do well to ponder the lesson. Concerning glory, God says, “I am the LORD: that is my name: and my glory will I not give to another, neither my praise to graven images” (Isa 42:88I am the Lord: that is my name: and my glory will I not give to another, neither my praise to graven images. (Isaiah 42:8)).
God has raised up instruments to use for Himself and for the display of His glory. Man with Satan spurring him on then takes the credit for what God has done and claims the glory for himself, thereby seeking to rob God of His glory. God made Job righteous and he claimed the honor of being righteous. God raised up political Babylon through Nebuchadnezzar and he then boasted, “Is not this great Babylon, that I have built for the house of the kingdom by the might of my power, and for the honour of my majesty?” (Dan 4:3030The king spake, and said, Is not this great Babylon, that I have built for the house of the kingdom by the might of my power, and for the honor of my majesty? (Daniel 4:30)). God raised up the church to be His instrument of light and love to the world and for the honor and glory of His Son. Man and Satan striving to have God’s glory for themselves corrupt it for personal glory until Scripture declares of her, the false church, that she “was arrayed in purple and scarlet colour, and decked with gold and precious stones and pearls ... and upon her forehead was a name written, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH” (Rev. 17:4-54And the woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet color, and decked with gold and precious stones and pearls, having a golden cup in her hand full of abominations and filthiness of her fornication: 5And upon her forehead was a name written, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH. (Revelation 17:4‑5)). How does the conflict end? “For of Him, and through Him and to Him, are all things: to whom be glory forever. Amen” (Rom. 11:3535Or who hath first given to him, and it shall be recompensed unto him again? (Romans 11:35)).