Playlist: Babylon as a Spiritual Entity (topic)
What to Do in Babylon
Feast of Tabernacles Sermon by Charles Whitaker (1944-2021)Babylon, as a spiritual entity, embodies a pervasive system that transcends physical boundaries and societal distinctions. It is an economic framework constructed by human nature, designed to sustain and gratify it, extending its influence into educational, military, governmental, and judicial systems. This system, characterized …
What's So Bad About Babylon? (2013) (Part Three)
Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh (1932-2023)Babylon, as a spiritual entity, emerges as a profound symbol of evil and seduction in opposition to God's purpose. In Revelation 17 and 18, Babylon is named Babylon the Great, represented as a harlot woman with a cup of wine, symbolizing a pervasive and corrupting system. This system, though no longer existing as a physical city …
What's So Bad About Babylon? (2013) (Part One)
Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh (1932-2023)Babylon as a Spiritual Entity In the prophetic warnings of Revelation, Babylon is depicted not merely as a historical city or nation, but as a profound spiritual entity representing a pervasive, anti-God system. Though Babylon as a nation ceased to exist around 539 BC, its cultural and spiritual characteristics endure, …
Communication and Coming Out of Babylon (Part 1)
Feast of Tabernacles Sermon by John W. RitenbaughIn the unfolding of God's purpose, Babylon emerges as a profound spiritual entity, embodying the essence of evil that pervades this present world. As depicted in Revelation 18:2, Babylon the great is fallen and has become the habitation of demons, a hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird, …
What's So Bad About Babylon? (2013) (Part Two)
Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh (1932-2023)Babylon, as a spiritual entity, transcends its historical existence as a nation, embodying a pervasive and enduring cultural and moral influence. Though destroyed in 539 BC by the Medes and Persians, Babylon's spirit survives, as evidenced in Revelation 17 and 18, where God reiterates warnings similar to those in Jeremiah 51, …
What's So Bad About Babylon? (2003) (Part 1)
Feast of Tabernacles Sermon by John W. RitenbaughBabylon is the code name for the world. At the time of the end its dominant powers are the Harlot Woman and the forming Beast. Babylon is a worldwide anti-God system called in Greek the cosmos . Babylon is first and foremost a spiritual entity founded in rebellion against God. It is driven by Satan the Devil and accomplished …
What's So Bad About Babylon? (2003) (Part 2)
Feast of Tabernacles Sermon by John W. RitenbaughBabylon functions as a spiritual entity originating in the revolt of Genesis 11, where leaders driven by overweening pride under Satan's influence rejected God's word and erected a city and tower to assert God-like prerogatives and forge human unity apart from Him. This anti-God system persists worldwide through Satan's ongoing …
What's So Bad About Babylon? (1997)
Feast of Tabernacles Sermon by John W. RitenbaughBabylon as a spiritual entity originates in the events of Genesis 11, where humanity, unified in language and purpose, constructs a city and tower in the land of Shinar to make a name for itself and avoid scattering, in direct defiance of the divine command to fill the earth. This project embodies rebellion, concentration of …
The Spirit of Babylon
Sermonette by David C. GrabbeThe Spirit of Babylon is couched in brazen outlook of the goddess Inanna/Ishtar, the femme fatale who asserted her free will to overcome the influence of Eden.
Communication and Coming Out of Babylon (Part 2)
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughBabylon functions as a worldwide spiritual entity whose influence cannot be escaped through physical separation. Its power operates through the invisible communication of beliefs, values, and practices absorbed from the cultures into which people are born. This absorption occurs without resistance, beginning in childhood, and …
Our High Priest
Sermon by James BeaubelleBabylon appears in the present age as a spiritual entity marked by profound moral decline and corruption that constantly challenges God's covenant people. It presents an alluring image of wealth and reasonableness while lacking any genuine spiritual health or strength to submit to God even in basic lawkeeping and selfless …
Influence of Leavening
Sermonette by James BeaubelleBoth the Old and New Testaments illustrate that sin is subtle, persuasive, and deeply rooted, prompting Almighty God to call His saints to come out of Babylon.
Where the Eagles Are Gathered
Sermonette by David C. GrabbeThe Olivet Prophecy foretells a gathering of eagles or vultures in anticipation of God's judgment. Will they mistake us for the nearly-dead?
Laodiceanism and Being There Next Year
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughBabylon functions as a spiritual entity embodying a deceptive way of life that exerts an ever-present pull on those called by God. Its influence is portrayed through the imagery of wine that initially offers a pleasant and energizing effect yet produces a secondary depression of the spirit, resulting in spiritual drunkenness. …
Prophets and Prophecy (Part Three)
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughBabylon emerged in the sixth century BC as the fountainhead of a new civilization that reshaped the world through simultaneous destruction and creation of nations and cultures. The prophet Daniel identified Babylon as the head of gold in the prophetic image, establishing it as the standard by which subsequent empires measured …
Laodiceanism
Feast of Tabernacles Sermon by John W. RitenbaughBabylon functions as a spiritual entity embodied in the world's prevailing attitudes and values, which Christians must exit through conversion. Its alluring qualities appear as the head of gold and are detailed in Revelation 17 and 18 as idolatry, prostitution, self-sufficiency, self-glorification, pride, complacency, reliance …
Globalism and the Wisdom of Men
Feast of Tabernacles Sermon by John W. RitenbaughThe disintegration of the Catholic Church and the greater church of God have eerie parallels. We must seek the wisdom of God rather than the wisdom of men.
A Disagreement With the Truth
Sermonette by Joseph B. BaityGod alone possesses truth and we must seek this truth as we would seek precious gems. Pride could be described as disagreement with the truth.
Stay in Jerusalem
Feast of Tabernacles Sermon by Charles Whitaker (1944-2021)Those who returned to Jerusalem did not completely fulfill their commission, failing to completely rebuild the walls and failing to totally rebuild the temple.
Knowing God: Formality and Customs (Part Four)
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughHair length and clothing are outward indicators of a person's inner spiritual condition. They serve as a testimony of what we are on the inside.
God Works in Mysterious Ways (Part One)
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughOur carnal nature's desire to satisfy an addictive self-centeredness can eventually overrule the Christian's loyalty to God and His commandments.
Shouting Gleanings and Singing Olives (Part One)
Sermon by Charles Whitaker (1944-2021)Isaiah 24 prophesies that God will preserve a remnant made up of grape gleanings (the His Church) and of olives (national Israelites) who will sing together.
Knowing God
Feast of Tabernacles Sermon by John W. RitenbaughTo fulfill one's purpose, one must be singularly focused on what one wants to accomplish. Divided minds result in no productivity or even devastation.
Building the Wall (Part Two)
Feast of Tabernacles Sermon by John W. RitenbaughBuilding a wall requires standing, holding firm, showing alertness and a readiness for action, even if it requires self-denial and unpleasant dirty work.
Proverbs 31 and the Wife of Christ (Part One)
Sermon by Mark SchindlerRevelation 19 and Proverbs 31 teach that the bride's value, strength, and virtue come entirely from God, yet must be lived out through righteous action.
Symbolism, Types, and Prophecies
Sermonette byWe must be careful about applying a biblical symbol to prophetic events too rigidly. The term 'Zion' may apply to the church, but not all the time.