“They said, ‘Come, let us build ourselves a city, and a tower whose top is in the heavens; let us make a name for ourselves, lest we be scattered abroad over the face of the whole earth’” (Genesis 11:4).
The tower of Babel spoken of in Genesis 11 was erected by the people ofShinar in opposition to God’s instructions to “fill the earth” after the Flood The Lord promised there would never be another flood to destroy the world but these rebellious people built a tower reaching to the heavens ini disbelief. The name Babel means “confusion” (v. 9) and refers to God’s intervention by confusing the languages of the people.
The prophet Isaiah uses the king of Babylon as a symbol of Satan, who wasonce a covering cherub in heaven named Lucifer. In describing the downfall of Lucifer, he writes: “How you are fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning. How you are cut down to the ground, you who weakened the nations!” (Isaiah 14:12). The book of Revelation most clearly uses the nation of Babylon as a symbol for Satan’s reign.
The origins of Satan’s kingdom began with his rebellion in heaven, which ended in a war when he was cast out. “War broke out in heaven: Michael and his angels fought with the dragon; and the dragon and his angels fought.… So the great dragon was cast out, that serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was cast to the earth and his angels were cast out with him” (Revelation 12:7, 9). This happened before the tower of Babel story.
Certainly the rebellious spirit of the people of Shinar and the same proud spirit in the king of Babylon capture the essence of Satan’s kingdom. From the beginning of Satan’s sin, he has sought to exalt himself above God. His reign has brought false worship, and his purpose has been to take captive the Lord’s people. Every soul on Earth will finally line up on the side of either Jesus or Babylon. It is a matter of life and death!
Dear Lord, may I heed Jesus’ end-time warning against Babylon and turn to you.
For Further Study: Matthew 7:13, 14; Revelation 14:8; 18:2
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