IS AUTHENTIC OR COUNTERFEIT?  Though there are many churches and beliefs in the world today. In the end, there will only be two religious’ systems. One is authentic, and the other is counterfeit. How can you tell the difference?

In the context of the three angels’ messages in Revelation 14, we continue to examine Babylon as described in the Book of Revelation and its role today and the future.

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Seeking God’s Help

Holy Father, open our eyes that we might see and our ears that we might hear what you desire for us. And help us to follow your lead. In Jesus’ Name Amen

From the previous lesson, we saw that Revelation 17 describes a city called Babylon. Babylon symbolizes a church or religious system that has deceptively turned away from God but appears to be the church of God. This church redirects the people’s minds from God’s word, the Bible, and replaces them with traditions and the commandments of humans. This false religious system John described in Revelation 17 will exist and become more prevalent as we approach the end of Earth’s history.

Remember that for everything that God has; Satan has a counterfeit. A woman in prophecy represents the church. A pure woman represents God’s true church. The woman dressed in scarlet and red represents the false church, a false religious system.

Here is what Revelation 17:4-6 says about Babylon, this false religious system.

4 The woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet, and adorned with gold and precious stones and pearls, having in her hand a golden cup full of abominations and the filthiness of her fornication. (Split)

5 And on her forehead a name was written: MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND OF THE ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH.

6 I saw the woman, drunk with the blood of the saints and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus. And when I saw her, I marveled with great amazement. (Revelation 17:4-6)

Revelation 17 warns us about this worldwide false religious system called Babylon.

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From Old Testament times even up to today, Babylon has mixed its false teachings with Bible trues. This mixture is called her “wine.” (Split)

Ángel Manuel Rodríguez helps us identify the characteristics of this false religious system.  In his manuscript titled “The Closing of the Cosmic Conflict: Role of the Three Angels’ Messages” He says: 

To search for an understanding of the nature of Babylon, we need to go back to its first reference in the biblical record in Genesis. It all began on the plain of the land of Shinar, a region in the southern part of Mesopotamia, today south Iraq, called Babylonia. It is there that the Tower of Babel was built, a symbol of human self-sufficiency, self-preservation, and independence from God ([Gen.] 11:1–4).”—Ángel Manuel Rodríguez, “The Closing of the Cosmic Conflict: Role of the Three Angels’ Messages” (from an unpublished paper), page 43,

The thing is that after the Flood, the grandchildren of Noah, against God’s command, built Babylon. They built it for their own glory. They built it for bragging rights as a show-off.  They wanted everyone to praise and honor them for their mighty tower.

So, in Genesis 11:9, we find that God caused the builders to get confused. He confused their language. When they talked to each other, no one understood what the other was saying. The Bible says, “Therefore its name is called Babel because there the Lord confused the language of all the earth” (Genesis. 11:9, NKJV).

This false system of religion called Babylon is so evil that John says in Revelation 17:6

6 I saw the woman, drunk with the blood of the saints and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus. And when I saw her, I marveled with great amazement. (Revelation 17:6).

She was drunk with the blood of the saints and the blood of Jesus’s martyrs. This shows just how corrupt Babylon is.

Babylon is so dreadful. It is so corrupt and so oppressive that in Isaiah 49:26, the prophet Isaiah relays a message from God to the people of Israel, promising them deliverance from this oppressive power.

26 I will feed those who oppress you with their own flesh, And they shall be drunk with their own blood as with sweet wine. All flesh shall know That I, the Lord, am your Savior, And your Redeemer, the Mighty One of Jacob.” (Isaiah 49:26)

Here, Isaiah is delivering a message of hope and reassurance from God. He proclaims God’s promise to vindicate His people and punish their oppressors.

This is exactly what God will do for his people who choose not to be a part of this false religious system.

So, this end-time Babylon is symbolic of a worldwide false religious system composed of human traditions and commandments of humans.

Hence, spiritual Babylon represents a religious system based on human teachings, established on human ideas, and supported by human traditions. It is a human-made religion built by seemly brilliant religious leaders. But this religious system rivals the gospel, the Good News about Jesus, and the church He built. Why? Because the foundation of this system is Satan, who wants nothing more than to have all the world worship him.

You see, the book of Revelation describes two churches. The bottom line is that there will be only two churches in the end. One will be a false religious system, and the other will be the true church of God.

The members of the true church of God have total trust in Jesus and depend fully on His written word, the Bible. The false church trusts in human leaders and depends on their teachings and traditions. The true church faith is centered on Christ. Their total dependence is on His grace, His sacrifice, and His atonement for salvation. The false church takes a humanistic approach to faith. It replaces total dependence on Christ and His saving grace with a dependence on human power, human ability, and human traditions passed down from generation to generation.

You see, Babylon’s approach is subtle and deceptive. It is difficult to avoid. This is why it says in Revelation 13:3 “all the world wondered after the beast.” How, then do we avoid falling into this trap of false worship? Watch Part 5: A Call to Commitment

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