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 42:8).
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 4:30). 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. 17:4-5). How does the conflict end? “For of Him, and through Him and to Him, are all things: to whom be glory forever. Amen” (Rom. 11:35).