This article was written by Tony Kettle my dear friend and brother in Christ who has given me permission to publish it.
The New Holy Jerusalem verses "Babylon" - The Great Harlot.
These two cities are spoken of in the Book of Revelation in an End Times scenario.
Dear Readers, it is imperative that we as born again Christian's, God's Church; know and recognize the difference between the two!
Babylon - The Great Harlot, the center of Satan's deception!
The New Jerusalem - God's Holy City
Do not be deceived by false prophets and teachers!
KNOW WHAT THE BIBLE SAYS!
Revelation 13:11-14 (ESV)
Then I saw another beast rising out of the earth. It had two horns like a lamb and it spoke like a dragon. It…makes the earth and its inhabitants worship the first beast, whose mortal wound was healed. It performs great signs,…and by the signs that it is allowed to work in the presence of the beast it deceives those who dwell on earth...”
So, the deception of Satan continues relentlessly - a beast that appears to be Jesus or a follower of Jesus (“like a lamb”) but, in reality, speaks lies (“spoke like a dragon” - see Revelation 12:9, 15), thereby proving to be counterfeit - the false prophet.
Revelation 12:9, 15 (ESV)
And the great dragon was thrown down, that ancient serpent, who is called the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world—he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him.
15 The serpent poured water like a river out of his mouth after the woman, to sweep her away with a flood.
Because of the sheer charisma of the words and actions of this deceiver, countless numbers of people are led into error.
I have often stated in my previous articles that we, as Christians, need to be thoroughly discerning in everything that purports to be spiritually true. Satan’s deception abounds and there is even a counterfeit to the true church:
Revelation 18:16 (KJV)
”…that great city, that was clothed in fine linen, and purple, and scarlet, and decked with gold, and precious stones, and pearls!"
Revelation 21:10, 18 21 (KJV)
10 And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain, and shewed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God,
18 And the building of the wall of it was of jasper: and the city was pure gold, like unto clear glass.
19 And the foundations of the wall of the city were garnished with all manner of precious stones. The first foundation was jasper; the second, sapphire; the third, a chalcedony; the fourth, an emerald;
20 The fifth, sardonyx; the sixth, sardius; the seventh, chrysolyte; the eighth, beryl; the ninth, a topaz; the tenth, a chrysoprasus; the eleventh, a jacinth; the twelfth, an amethyst.
21 And the twelve gates were twelve pearls: every several gate was of one pearl: and the street of the city was pure gold, as it were transparent glass.
The first one seems to be constructed from, inter alia, "gold", "precious stones" and "pearls." But, look again! The scripture tells us that it is "clothed" in "fine linen, and purple, and scarlet..." It appears to 'wear' all the qualities of righteousness.
Job 29:14 (ESV)
I put on righteousness, and it clothed me;
my justice was like a robe and a turban.
Psalm 132:9 (ESV)
Let your priests be clothed with righteousness,
and let your saints shout for joy.
Isaiah 61:10 (ESV)
I will greatly rejoice in the Lord;
my soul shall exult in my God,
for he has clothed me with the garments of salvation;
he has covered me with the robe of righteousness,
as a bridegroom decks himself like a priest with a beautiful headdress,
and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.
Zechariah 3:4 (AMP)
He spoke to those who stood before Him, saying, “Remove the filthy garments from him.” And He said to Joshua, “See, I have caused your wickedness to be taken away from you, and I will clothe and beautify you with rich robes [of forgiveness].”
The "fine linen" reveals the presence of some genuine Christians in the "city", but clothing, generally, is something that is worn on the outside - in other words, it is superficial.
Revelation 19:7-8 (ESV)
7 Let us rejoice and exult
and give him the glory,
for the marriage of the Lamb has come,
and his Bride has made herself ready;
8 it was granted her to clothe herself
with fine linen, bright and pure”—
for the fine linen is the righteous deeds of the saints.
Furthermore, some of this 'clothing' is that of ritualistic 'religion' ("purple, and scarlet") certain religious orders, today, wear garments that are purple and scarlet in colour.
Moreover, this "city" is "decked" with "gold, and precious stones, and pearls." The original Greek word translated as "decked" literally means gilded. According to Pear's Cyclopaedia, to gild means, "to coat with gold or gold-like substance." In other words, it is a superficial covering of "gold" or imitation "gold!"
Therefore, the clear implication is that this "city" has all the appearance of being made from "gold", "precious stones" and "pearls", but these represent either a 'thin coating', only, of true Christians over its real character, or the "gold", "precious stones" and "pearls" are not genuine - they are imitation 'paste' - 'costume jewelry' - and are worthless.
The so-called 'gold' and 'precious stones' have not been formed by 'fire', 'heat' and 'pressure' - they have not been through the "refiner's fire".
Malachi 3:2-3 (AMP)
2 But who can endure the day of His coming? And who can stand when He appears? For He is like a refiner’s fire and like launderer’s soap [which removes impurities and uncleanness]. 3 He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver, and He will purify the sons of Levi [the priests], and refine them like gold and silver, so that they may present to the Lord [grain] offerings in righteousness.
What appears to be "pearls" have not really passed through the process that leads to the production of genuine pearls (the oyster is irritated by a piece of sand or grit and it secretes a liquid which becomes the pearl - compare this with the persecution that the genuine Christian receives from the 'sand' - the 'grit' - the 'earth' - the 'WORLD')!
This "city" displays "...a form of godliness but denying its power."
2 Timothy 3:5 (AMP)
5 holding to a form of [outward] godliness (religion), although they have denied its power [for their conduct nullifies their claim of faith]. Avoid such people and keep far away from them.
This "city" is alluring, it is enticing, it has a tremendous, seductive power of attraction over people. With its emphasis on financial and material 'prosperity' and its exciting, ‘entertaining’ programmes, it leads many people (of various denominations and/or groups) to believe that the 'streets' - the 'buildings' - that make up the "city" are the way to, and places for, genuine Christianity. However, this "city" is ”BABYLON" - THE GREAT HARLOT!”
Now look at the second "city.” The scripture makes it clear that, unlike "Babylon", this "city" IS constructed from "pure gold” and is "garnished" with "precious stones" and "pearls." The original Greek word translated as "garnished" literally means to put in proper order. It also means to snuff or trim a wick.
The "precious stones" and "pearls" that form part of this "city" are placed there in a proper, orderly manner - they are set in place according to God's Divine 'building plan' - not in terms of man-made, denominational or group plans (1 Corinthians 12:18, 28; Ephesians 2:19-22 KJV).
1 Corinthians 12:18, 28 (ESV)
18 But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose.
28 And God has appointed in the church first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, helping, administrating, and various kinds of tongues.
Ephesians 2:19-22 (KJV)
19 Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints, and of the household of God;
20 And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;
21 In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord:
22 In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.
Notice that "garnished" also means to snuff or trim a wick. This highlights the work of the high priest in the tabernacle in the wilderness under the Old Covenant. Twice a day, the high priest would trim the wicks of the "Menorah" - the seven-branched candelabrum - to ensure that the light burned brightly and continually.
Exodus 25:37-38 (ESV)
37 You shall make seven lamps for it. And the lamps shall be set up so as to give light on the space in front of it. 38 Its tongs and their trays shall be of pure gold.
Leviticus 24:2 (ESV)
“Command the people of Israel to bring you pure oil from beaten olives for the lamp, that a light may be kept burning regularly.
This typified the "pruning" process that we, as "branches" of the "True Vine", have to undergo to ensure that we 'reflect', strongly, the "light" of the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ (read 2 Corinthians 4:1-18).
John 15:2 (AMP)
Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit, He takes away; and every branch that continues to bear fruit, He [repeatedly] prunes, so that it will bear more fruit [even richer and finer fruit].
2 Corinthians 4:6 (ESV)
For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
The "pruning" process is also manifested in the "refiner's fire" (Malachi 3:2-3) and this, in turn, illustrates the fact that the "pure gold" and the "precious stones" that comprise this "city" are genuine, because they have been formed by 'fire', 'heat' and 'pressure' (persecution and tribulation). Therefore, if the "gold" and "precious stones" in this "city" are genuine, the "pearls" must also be genuine.
Malachi 3:2-3 (ESV)
2 But who can endure the day of His coming? And who can stand when He appears? For He is like a refiner’s fire and like launderer’s soap [which removes impurities and uncleanness]. 3 He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver, and He will purify the sons of Levi [the priests], and refine them like gold and silver, so that they may present to the Lord [grain] offerings in righteousness.
Observe, also, that the "pure gold" of this "city" is like "clear glass.” The word "clear", in the original Greek, means clean, while the word "glass" literally means transparent (like rain). Therefore, we are given a strong impression of Christians who are spiritually clean and transparent! In other words, they are 'open', with no guile (deceitfulness) and they call a 'spade a spade'. They are not 'two-faced' ("double minded") or deceitful.
John 1:46-47 (ESV)
46 Nathanael said to him, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” Philip said to him, “Come and see.” 47 Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him and said of him, “Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom there is no deceit!”
James 1:8 (KJV)
I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels.
Revelation 14:5 (KJV)
And in their mouth was found no guile: for they are without fault before the throne of God.
The verse above describes the "city" of true Christianity - the ”NEW JERUSALEM" - THE "BRIDE OF CHRIST".
Isaiah 61:10 (KJV)
I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels.
So, we see that there are two "great cities" - and in certain respects they look so much alike that vast multitudes of believers are deceived into thinking that they are one and the same. However, one is a counterfeit, while the other is genuine. The one is as opposite to the other as east is to west, or as cold is to hot.
It is vitally important that we, as members of the Body of Christ, understand, completely, the implications of this truth:
”BABYLON" - "THE HARLOT" describes the structured, man-controlled 'churchianity' that we see in many of today's churches, big and small - this is the the ungodly "mystery".
Revelation 17:5 (KJV)
And upon her forehead was a name written, Mystery, Babylon The Great, The Mother Of Harlots And Abominations Of The Earth.
Ephesians 5:32 (KJV)
This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church.
Therefore, let us be on guard and alert to God’s warning:
1 Peter 5:8 (ESV)
”Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.”
Dear Heavenly Father
In Jesus name I pray that you would give me wisdom and discernment to tell the difference between the truth and the deception of the evil one. Help me, Lord, to recognize false teachers and false prophets in these end times. Let me not be deceived and follow false doctrines. I pray that you would give me a hunger and a thirst to read, study and know the Bible so that I will know in my heart the truth and light of Jesus as opposed to the lies and deception of the wolf in sheep’s clothing. Grant me favour Lord and teach me your ways that I may not sin against you!
Amen.
To Jesus belongs all glory, honour and praise!
Jesus, the Name above all names!
Remember: Reading this article is no substitute for reading and studying the Bible for yourself! I am flawed the Bible is not!
