Post by Michael on May 5, 2004 3:39:23 GMT -5
The secret of the Lord is with them that fear Him; and He will show them His covenant. Psalm 25:14.
Contending with the Confusion of Babylon
by Chuck D. Pierce
with Dutch Sheets and Jean Steffenson
web: www.glory-of-zion.org/
Hold your shields of FAITH high! We are in the last days of the prayer focus, “Contending with your Enemy”. This next week is crucial in the war dimension. We received word from some of those that we are praying for in Iraq that much intense warfare will occur in the natural through April 23. The locals there are being intimidated by the insurgents. Pray against outside help from other nations that would come into Iraq for the aid of those who are overtaken by lawlessness. We must hold out shields high for those troops that are there on the land.
We Will Determine the Outcome of the War in Iraq
What we are seeing in the physical in Iraq is a picture of the spiritual. Pastor Dutch Sheets sent the following to me:
“There is no doubt that much of what is happening currently in Iraq is spiritual in nature. Do not focus on the politics and do not expect our military to win this war on their own. We, the prayer army, will determine the outcome. Do not move on in your prayers and thinking. Let’s break through this situation. The outcome will also greatly determine this year’s elections and influence the courts for years, if not decades, to come.”<br>
Revenge Against America
While I was preparing this and listening to the news the following was released: April 15: A new audio tape claims to be the voice of Osama B*n Laden offering a truce to European nations.
CAIRO, Egypt - "In a recording broadcast on Arab satellite networks Thursday, a man who identified himself as Osama b*n Laden offered a ‘truce’ to European countries to withdraw from Muslim countries. Britain, Germany and Italy quickly spurned what appeared to be an attempt to drive a wedge between Europe and America...
"The tape, which ran more than seven minutes, also vowed revenge against America for the Israeli assassination of a militant Palestinian leader and denounced the United States as using the Iraq war for corporate profiteering...'I announce a truce with the European countries that do not attack Muslim countries,’ the taped message said as the stations showed an old, still picture of al-Qaeda leader…'The door to a truce is open for three months.’ This time frame, the voice said, could be extended. ‘The truce will begin when the last soldier leaves our countries,' the speaker said without elaborating.”
The real issue here seems to be that the enemy of God’s covenant plan in the earth is offering a truce if we quit moving forward to liberate and free people and nations from his grip.
Intercessors: The Next 90 Days Are Crucial!
Jean Steffenson, who has worked with Native American leaders for years over broken covenants and land issues in our nation, wrote the following:
“Iraq has not been constantly in my spiritual radar. I have been in intense prayer regarding Iraq. I keep crying out for the Lord's intervention. There are less than 100 days until the time President Bush has said that America will pull out of Iraq. This of course could change; however, I sense a real urgency from God for His army to close some ancient gates and advance on the kingdom of darkness.
"The land of Iraq is soaked with blood and some of it with the blood of the martyrs. I saw hoards of hell coming from the underworld going through a conduit and forming a dark covering over the land. As you well know this is a horrific spiritual battle, and it has been intensifying. I keep thinking that this is the year for secrets and mysteries to be revealed. There are some things that God wants in place and established in this window of time.
"There must be a shift now to create a clear sound. God made it very clear to me that this is a governmental issue. It is not just the government that American wants, the Shiites or any others in Iraq. It is God's intended government for Iraq, which will take the involvement of His Kingdom people.
"Will you please make this a matter of prayer to see if you are to call the Body of Christ to concerted prayer for God's Kingdom purposes to be established in Iraq? It has been a long time since I have seen a national call to prayer for Iraq. Intercessors for America mention it along with other topics of prayer.
"What happens in Iraq over the next 90 days or so will have a definite effect on the elections and the very heart of America with so many families involved. ‘Ask of me and I will make the nations your inheritance, the ends of the earth your possession. You will rule them with an iron scepter’ (Psalm 2:8). Iraq is the inheritance of Christ and we as joint heirs have entered into His inheritance."
BABYLON: A Biblical Understanding
To better understand this issue from a spiritual standpoint, we need to look biblically at Babylon. Babylon, one of the oldest cities in the ancient world, was an ancient city-state in the plain of Shinar. The name is derived by the Hebrews from the root Balal which means "to confound". We can reference this area to the confusion of tongues at the Tower of Babel (Gen 11:9). “God came down to see what they were building and did not like it all.”
Therefore, God does not honor any of the confusion that is there, resisting His purpose. The biblical account ascribes the founding of the ancient prehistoric city of Babylon to the descendants of Cush and the followers of Nimrod (10:8-10). The beginnings of the city of Babylon are unknown to us except for the biblical passage mentioned in Gen 10:10. Babylon was situated along the Euphrates River about 485 kilometers (300 miles) northwest of the Persian Gulf and about 49 kilometers (30 miles) southwest of modern Baghdad in Iraq. According to Babylonian tradition, it was built by the god Marduk.
Babylon's Self-Exalting Power
Daniel 4:30 explains the ancient exalting power that surrounds this area: "Is this not Babylon the great, which I myself have built as a royal residence by the might of my power and for the glory of my majesty?" Everyone that comes into power in this area seems to be overtaken by this ancient root of self exaltation. This is what creates wars. We also find in Luke 21:24 and Rev. 6:16 -- in this area is great "confusion" into which the whole social order of the world has fallen under Gentile world domination.
In Isaiah 11 we find a Divine Order: Israel, in her own land, as the center of divine government of the world and the medium of the divine blessing, and God calling forth a remnant from all other nations. We are contending for that remnant to come forth. Anything else is politically "Babel" (confusion). This area is so deceptive spiritually because it has a political and religious structure that has formed a handshake to attempt to thwart God’s redemptive plan for this age in the earth (Rev 17:5-18, Rev 16:19; 18:2-21). That is why we are contending.
The Church Must Rise to a New Level of Power
We are contending for a major transference of freedom, salvation, wealth, and political liberty. Babylon also means "the gate of god." This area was known as a “holy place of the gods” and ancient etymologists explained it as meaning "place of the seat of life". Some even thought this was “Paradise”. The Garden of Eden was located here. Its great god, Merodach, became the head of the Babylonian pantheon, partly through the influence of Babylon as capital, and partly because the city was the center of his worship.
I believe this is why there is so much confusion in the area. We have not understood the spiritual dynamic that we have come up against. We do not war with flesh and blood; in this are principalities and powers. The Church must rise to a new level of power. Other important passages to read are: Rev 14:8; 16:19; 17:5; and 18:2, 10, 21.
This is a year of mysteries. Babylon is one of the major mysteries to understand in the Bible. The characteristics ascribed to this Babylon can apply to many other places in the earth: (a) as ruling over the kings of the earth (Rev 17:18); (b) as sitting on seven mountains (17:9); (c) as the center of the world's merchandise (3,11-13); (d) as the corrupter of the nations (17:2; 18:3; 19:2); (e) as the persecutor of the saints (17:6). In many areas, Rome and New York are both likened to Babylon. Rome was thought by both Jews and Christians as being antagonistic to the Kingdom of God, and its downfall was confidently expected.
continued part 2
Contending with the Confusion of Babylon
by Chuck D. Pierce
with Dutch Sheets and Jean Steffenson
web: www.glory-of-zion.org/
Hold your shields of FAITH high! We are in the last days of the prayer focus, “Contending with your Enemy”. This next week is crucial in the war dimension. We received word from some of those that we are praying for in Iraq that much intense warfare will occur in the natural through April 23. The locals there are being intimidated by the insurgents. Pray against outside help from other nations that would come into Iraq for the aid of those who are overtaken by lawlessness. We must hold out shields high for those troops that are there on the land.
We Will Determine the Outcome of the War in Iraq
What we are seeing in the physical in Iraq is a picture of the spiritual. Pastor Dutch Sheets sent the following to me:
“There is no doubt that much of what is happening currently in Iraq is spiritual in nature. Do not focus on the politics and do not expect our military to win this war on their own. We, the prayer army, will determine the outcome. Do not move on in your prayers and thinking. Let’s break through this situation. The outcome will also greatly determine this year’s elections and influence the courts for years, if not decades, to come.”<br>
Revenge Against America
While I was preparing this and listening to the news the following was released: April 15: A new audio tape claims to be the voice of Osama B*n Laden offering a truce to European nations.
CAIRO, Egypt - "In a recording broadcast on Arab satellite networks Thursday, a man who identified himself as Osama b*n Laden offered a ‘truce’ to European countries to withdraw from Muslim countries. Britain, Germany and Italy quickly spurned what appeared to be an attempt to drive a wedge between Europe and America...
"The tape, which ran more than seven minutes, also vowed revenge against America for the Israeli assassination of a militant Palestinian leader and denounced the United States as using the Iraq war for corporate profiteering...'I announce a truce with the European countries that do not attack Muslim countries,’ the taped message said as the stations showed an old, still picture of al-Qaeda leader…'The door to a truce is open for three months.’ This time frame, the voice said, could be extended. ‘The truce will begin when the last soldier leaves our countries,' the speaker said without elaborating.”
The real issue here seems to be that the enemy of God’s covenant plan in the earth is offering a truce if we quit moving forward to liberate and free people and nations from his grip.
Intercessors: The Next 90 Days Are Crucial!
Jean Steffenson, who has worked with Native American leaders for years over broken covenants and land issues in our nation, wrote the following:
“Iraq has not been constantly in my spiritual radar. I have been in intense prayer regarding Iraq. I keep crying out for the Lord's intervention. There are less than 100 days until the time President Bush has said that America will pull out of Iraq. This of course could change; however, I sense a real urgency from God for His army to close some ancient gates and advance on the kingdom of darkness.
"The land of Iraq is soaked with blood and some of it with the blood of the martyrs. I saw hoards of hell coming from the underworld going through a conduit and forming a dark covering over the land. As you well know this is a horrific spiritual battle, and it has been intensifying. I keep thinking that this is the year for secrets and mysteries to be revealed. There are some things that God wants in place and established in this window of time.
"There must be a shift now to create a clear sound. God made it very clear to me that this is a governmental issue. It is not just the government that American wants, the Shiites or any others in Iraq. It is God's intended government for Iraq, which will take the involvement of His Kingdom people.
"Will you please make this a matter of prayer to see if you are to call the Body of Christ to concerted prayer for God's Kingdom purposes to be established in Iraq? It has been a long time since I have seen a national call to prayer for Iraq. Intercessors for America mention it along with other topics of prayer.
"What happens in Iraq over the next 90 days or so will have a definite effect on the elections and the very heart of America with so many families involved. ‘Ask of me and I will make the nations your inheritance, the ends of the earth your possession. You will rule them with an iron scepter’ (Psalm 2:8). Iraq is the inheritance of Christ and we as joint heirs have entered into His inheritance."
BABYLON: A Biblical Understanding
To better understand this issue from a spiritual standpoint, we need to look biblically at Babylon. Babylon, one of the oldest cities in the ancient world, was an ancient city-state in the plain of Shinar. The name is derived by the Hebrews from the root Balal which means "to confound". We can reference this area to the confusion of tongues at the Tower of Babel (Gen 11:9). “God came down to see what they were building and did not like it all.”
Therefore, God does not honor any of the confusion that is there, resisting His purpose. The biblical account ascribes the founding of the ancient prehistoric city of Babylon to the descendants of Cush and the followers of Nimrod (10:8-10). The beginnings of the city of Babylon are unknown to us except for the biblical passage mentioned in Gen 10:10. Babylon was situated along the Euphrates River about 485 kilometers (300 miles) northwest of the Persian Gulf and about 49 kilometers (30 miles) southwest of modern Baghdad in Iraq. According to Babylonian tradition, it was built by the god Marduk.
Babylon's Self-Exalting Power
Daniel 4:30 explains the ancient exalting power that surrounds this area: "Is this not Babylon the great, which I myself have built as a royal residence by the might of my power and for the glory of my majesty?" Everyone that comes into power in this area seems to be overtaken by this ancient root of self exaltation. This is what creates wars. We also find in Luke 21:24 and Rev. 6:16 -- in this area is great "confusion" into which the whole social order of the world has fallen under Gentile world domination.
In Isaiah 11 we find a Divine Order: Israel, in her own land, as the center of divine government of the world and the medium of the divine blessing, and God calling forth a remnant from all other nations. We are contending for that remnant to come forth. Anything else is politically "Babel" (confusion). This area is so deceptive spiritually because it has a political and religious structure that has formed a handshake to attempt to thwart God’s redemptive plan for this age in the earth (Rev 17:5-18, Rev 16:19; 18:2-21). That is why we are contending.
The Church Must Rise to a New Level of Power
We are contending for a major transference of freedom, salvation, wealth, and political liberty. Babylon also means "the gate of god." This area was known as a “holy place of the gods” and ancient etymologists explained it as meaning "place of the seat of life". Some even thought this was “Paradise”. The Garden of Eden was located here. Its great god, Merodach, became the head of the Babylonian pantheon, partly through the influence of Babylon as capital, and partly because the city was the center of his worship.
I believe this is why there is so much confusion in the area. We have not understood the spiritual dynamic that we have come up against. We do not war with flesh and blood; in this are principalities and powers. The Church must rise to a new level of power. Other important passages to read are: Rev 14:8; 16:19; 17:5; and 18:2, 10, 21.
This is a year of mysteries. Babylon is one of the major mysteries to understand in the Bible. The characteristics ascribed to this Babylon can apply to many other places in the earth: (a) as ruling over the kings of the earth (Rev 17:18); (b) as sitting on seven mountains (17:9); (c) as the center of the world's merchandise (3,11-13); (d) as the corrupter of the nations (17:2; 18:3; 19:2); (e) as the persecutor of the saints (17:6). In many areas, Rome and New York are both likened to Babylon. Rome was thought by both Jews and Christians as being antagonistic to the Kingdom of God, and its downfall was confidently expected.
continued part 2