Babylon Is Fallen
And he cried mightily with a strong voice, saying, Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and is become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird.
Revelation, 18:2
Babylon is the false churches of the last days. Many think that it is only one church (the Roman church) because of this from Revelation chapter 17, “And here is the mind which hath wisdom. The seven heads are seven mountains, on which the woman sitteth.” And this from Revelation chapter 13, “And I stood upon the sand of the sea, and saw a beast rise up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and upon his horns ten crowns, and upon his heads the name of blasphemy.”
Many think that this must be Rome because of the seven mountains (it is much larger than just Catholicism). Babylon is much larger than that! First of all, it’s the seven hills of Rome, not mountains. Second; the number seven is important here, but lets interpret by the Revelation: In Revelation chapter 1 it is written, “The mystery of the seven stars which thou sawest in my right hand, and the seven golden candlesticks. The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches: and the seven candlesticks which thou sawest are the seven churches.”
The seven candlesticks are the real seven churches of Christ, and they are small in number. They are not seven church buildings that one says, there they are, let us go to them. They are bodies of people that are in the Spirit of Christ and they are spread thin around the earth. So you see that Satan has a counterfeit for everything including the seven churches.
The Seven Mountains are mountains of people, and instead of hearing from the seven angels of the Lord; they have their own heads over them, which are part of the beasts system. They are also spread out in the earth. Some say that because the Word says in Revelation 17:18, “And the woman which thou sawest is that great city, which reigneth over the kings of the earth,” that it must then be an actual city somewhere. Do not be deceived; the same way that the people of Babylon are here in the earth today; so are the people of the Kingdom, the Holy city of God also here:
By this saying from Jesus in Luke 17:20-21, And when he was demanded of the Pharisees, when the kingdom of God should come, he answered them and said, “The kingdom of God cometh not with observation: Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you.” Until the Lord Jesus takes us to the place He has for us; that’s that! The two exist together until the harvest time as Jesus told in a parable; Matthew 13:30 “Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn.”
Foolish virgins: Matthew 25:1-13 “Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom. And five of them were wise, and five were foolish. They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them: But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept. And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him. Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps.
And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out. But the wise answered, saying, Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves. And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut. Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us. But he answered and said, "Verily I say unto you, I know you not. Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.”
An anointing that is bought is not from God. Jesus said in John 2:16 And said unto them that sold doves, “Take these things hence; make not my Father's house a house of merchandise.” Today the many find every excuse to deny the authority of Christ. Some have told me that they are not selling doves and so it is OK. Woe to them; God will not be mocked!
Many churches today are into merchandising everything from special foods, Cds, movies, diamonds, gold, spiritual gifts, real-estate, and the souls of men, women and children. Babylon has the form of Godliness, but denies the authority of Gods Word and yet makes it appear as if they are following it by twisting the truth.
Second Peter chapter 2, “But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of. And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not.” They deny the Lord by ignoring His Word!
The apostle Paul taught that we should not become hirelings when it comes to serving the Lord. If one needs help they should receive it, even as did the first church. But we should not become hirelings. We should not draw a regular salary from the body of the church. The apostles would not find excuses to forsake the Lord. In Matthew chapter ten, it is written... Matthew, 10:8, "Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out demons. You have received freely, freely give." The hirelings of today take scriptures out of context to justify their wages. Here is an example; In the first letter to the Corinthians chapter nine, it is written...
First Corinthians, 9:9-11, "For it is written in the Law of Moses, "You shall not muzzle an ox threshing grain." Does God take care for oxen? Or does He say it altogether for our sakes? It was written for us, so that he who plows should plow in hope, and so that he who threshes in hope should be partaker of his hope. If we have sown to you spiritual things, is it a great thing if we shall reap your carnal things?" The many stop at the above scripture. But the very next scriptures put the apostle into context...
First Corinthians, 9:12-18, "If others have a share of this authority over you, rather should not we? But we have not used this authority, but we endured all things lest we should hinder the gospel of Christ. Do you not know that those who minister about holy things live of the things of the temple? And those attending the altar are partakers with the altar. Even so, the Lord ordained those announcing the gospel to live from the gospel. But I have used none of these things, nor have I written these things that it should be done so to me; for it is good for me rather to die than that anyone nullify my glorying.
For though I preach the gospel, no glory is to me. For necessity is laid on me; yea, woe is to me if I do not preach the gospel! For if I do this thing willingly, I have a reward; but if against my will, I am entrusted with a stewardship. What then is my reward? That when I preach the gospel I may make the gospel of Christ without charge, that I may not abuse my authority in the gospel.” So then, them that preach the gospel are to live by it. For any that would not obey this; Second Thessalonians chapter three, it is written...
"Now we command you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you withdraw yourselves from every brother who walks disorderly, and not after the teaching which he received from us. For you yourselves know how you ought to follow us.
For we did not behave ourselves disorderly among you, neither did we eat any man's bread freely, but we worked with labor and travail night and day, so that we might not be heavy on any of you (not because we do not have authority, but to make ourselves an example to you, to follow us).
For even when we were with you, we commanded you this, that if anyone would not work, neither should he eat. For we hear that there are some who walk disorderly among you, not working at all, but being busybodies.”
I was told that a body of Christians that see everything the same way will not and cannot be found: Get behind me Satan! For it is written in Isaiah 52:1, “Awake, awake; put on thy strength, O Zion; put on thy beautiful garments, O Jerusalem, the holy city: for henceforth there shall no more come into thee the uncircumcised and the unclean. Shake thyself from the dust; arise, and sit down, O Jerusalem: loose thyself from the bands of thy neck, O captive daughter of Zion.
For thus saith the LORD, Ye have sold yourselves for naught; and ye shall be redeemed without money. For thus saith the Lord GOD, My people went down formerly into Egypt to sojourn there; and the Assyrian oppressed them without cause. Now therefore, what have I here, saith the LORD, that my people is taken away for naught? they that rule over them make them to howl, saith the LORD; and my name continually every day is blasphemed. Therefore my people shall know my name: therefore they shall know in that day that I am he that doth speak: behold, it is I. How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace; that bringeth good tidings of good, that publisheth salvation; that saith unto Zion, Thy God reigneth!
Thy watchmen shall lift up the voice; with the voice together shall they sing: for they shall see eye to eye, when the LORD shall bring again Zion. Break forth into joy, sing together, ye waste places of Jerusalem: for the LORD hath comforted his people, he hath redeemed Jerusalem. The LORD hath made bare his holy arm in the eyes of all the nations; and all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our God. Depart ye, depart ye, go ye out from thence, touch no unclean thing; go ye out of the midst of her; be ye clean, that bear the vessels of the LORD.”
God says, come out of her my people. Who hears then? God’s people. Come out and shake off the traditions of men, O’ lord we pray that you reveal these things to us and that we come out of Babylon and shake the dust from off of us; O’ Lord hear our plea.
Peace In Christ;
Michael Cook
By The Scriptures
A Gathering Of Christians
agatheringofchristians.org
