The Christian Journey Out Of Babylon — Part 1

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Yeshayahu (Isaiah) 48:18-20
¹⁸ Ah, if only you had paid attention to My Commandments! Then your well-being would have been like a river, and your Righteousness like the waves of the sea. ¹⁹ Your descendants would have been like the sand, and your offspring like its grains — their name would never be cut off or destroyed from My Presence. ²⁰ Go forth from Babylon! Flee from the Chaldeans! Declare with the sound of joyful shouting. Proclaim this. Send it out to the end of the earth. Say, "YHWH has redeemed His Servant Ya'akov."

The Inescapable Question

When we first heard it, or it just came to our mind, we didn't give it much thought because it sounded like a nonsensical riddle — but it is not. Then, after that, we may have found that if we try to hide from it, we cannot; we cannot because it persistently demands answering. So one day, if we are honest, we have to face it: Are we spiritually, religiously and/or culturally dwelling in Jerusalem or in Babylon?

To many, another question subsequently arises in their mind: Is there a third option? But, as we will see, the answer to this second query is a dismaying 'no'. No, because according to the Hebrew Scriptures, there are only these two options, and since we do not set the "Rules" of this "Game" we cannot extend them to three or more.

During the course of our earthly lives, we cannot escape constantly making all kinds of choices. It is undeniable that in many occasions there are choices which we would much prefer not having to make at all. But reality is that even though we may prefer to stay indifferent or ambivalent in front of a certain subject, thus not having to decide on the matter, we make the decision nonetheless. This is so because most of our choices are made in an unconscious way. On the other hand, we cannot prevent that on many occasions our indifference, ambivalence or indecisiveness in front of an issue is taken by others —to our utmost surprise or anger— as if we had made a decision in a certain direction or another. This may be because they have established a default answer; so if we do not make a conscious decision it would count "for them" as if we had done it anyway. The problem with this is that many times, when we procrastinate, this default issue does not work to our advantage.

These days, most people prefer not having to decide on some spiritual or religious areas, thus practically "gambling" on sheer "luck." But while doing so they get into unexpected problems with the Almighty. He has stated that from His Perspective, to do good has to come out of a good conscious decision; therefore, no decision is always equivalent to a default negative decision. What they tragically ignore is that whether achieved by indifference, indecisiveness or fear, it will squarely set them in a category that might not be so healthy for their souls — at least in the long run. This takes place due to a generally ignored spiritual Law, which says that —spiritually, religiously and culturally speaking— for EVERY human there is ONLY one inescapable choice: Whether we consciously choose to dwell in "Jerusalem" … or, by default, we dwell in "Babylon." Now, what does that mean? How can we live in Babylon if we do not even know what, or even where, Babylon is?

What Babylon Was And Still Is

As we all know, Babylon was the crib of all post-diluvian Gentile civilizations; so, dealing with all the multiple areas of its impact escapes our intent and possibilities in this treatise. Due to the nature and purpose of this study we shall only concentrate in some of the most important cultural, spiritual and religious aspects of the Babylonian history and its legacy.

Located in the land of Sumer or Mesopotamia —currently called Iraq— Babylon, or Babel, was the first emporium of political, religious and cultural power to rise after the Flood of Noach. It was the First World Order that appeared not long after that mega-tragedy which drowned the entire world, with the exception of just a handful of humans and animals. So strong was the hold that this first post-diluvian empire had over its citizens, that even after the traumatic division of languages and nations had occurred as a consequence of the construction of its YHWH-defiant Tower, and despite the many centuries that have passed since then, the effects of its religion and culture still directly affect us to this very day. But we should realize that the distinctive impact that this first civilization caused, although it takes place in a pervasive way, is mostly subtle. It is due to this profound and lasting effect in human history that Babylon became, for millenia to come, the main source of most of all spiritual, religious and cultural experiences among humans. This effect, as we shall see, has been achieved through syncretism.

It might surprise you to know that many ancient cuneiform tablets clearly prove that the early Babylonians (aka Sumerians) received direct visitations from fallen angels. Two of the most well-known of them were Ea (the Greeks called him Oannes) and Enki. They were said to be amphibians and their appearance was that of part man, part fish.

[ Interestingly enough, after that first post-diluvian contact in Sumer, these incursions repeated themselves in other parts of the world. For example in China these part fish-part men are remembered under the names of Can Jing and Fuji. Like in Sumer. they taught people different arts and techniques, as well as Astrology and other forms of Occultism. ]

In the Encyclopaedia Britannica we can read that Ea (i.e. Oannes) was:

"...an amphibious being who taught mankind wisdom. Oannes, as described by the Babylonian priest Berosus, had the form of a fish but with the head of a man under his fish's head and under his fish's tail the feet of a man. In the daytime he came up to the seashore of the Persian Gulf and instructed mankind in writing, the arts, and the sciences."

This amphibious satanic being, part man—part fish, is depicted in all kinds of ancient art work in Babylon, as well as in other subsequent ancient religions of the Middle East that were derived from Babel's. One example of this is the religion of the Philistines who worshiped Dagon (meaning fish) who was depicted as a half fish-half man creature too. On the other hand, the message of the Hebrew prophet Yonah (Jonah) in Nineveh (where his name is recorded a 'Yunas') was at least partly accepted because they saw him being vomited out by a big fish; this event gave the reluctant prophet credence in their ears since they may have related him with their familiar Oannes. This may very well be the reason why YHWH chose Yonah for this task. YHWH, Who knows all things ahead of time, and Who was trying to delay the destruction of Nineveh until after the deportation of Judah in 586 BC, did so in order to temporarily modify the self-destructive behavior of the Ninevites, not to convert them to Judaism. When people or nations are in blatant rebellion against him, like in Nineveh, He uses surprising means to achieve His Purposes, such as sending Yonah partially resembling Oannes, or sending a spirit of deception in order to deceive even more those who are already deceived and unwilling to recognize truth. Consider this scriptural example:

Melech Aleph (1 Kings) 22:19-23
¹⁹ Then Mikayehu (Micaiah) said, "Therefore hear the Word of YHWH: I saw YHWH sitting on His Throne, and all the Host of Heaven standing by on His Right Hand and on His Left. ²⁰ And YHWH said, 'Who will persuade Ahab to go up, that he may fall at Ramoth Gil'ad?' Then one spoke like this, and another spoke like that. 21 And then a spirit came forward and stood before YHWH and said, 'I will persuade him.' ²² And YHWH said to him, 'In what way?' And he said, 'I will go out and be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets.' And YHWH said, 'You shall persuade him, and also prevail. Go out and do so.' ²³ Therefore see that YHWH has put a lying spirit in the mouth of all these prophets of yours, and YHWH has declared disaster against you."

Sumerians said that Oannes ('Odacon' was one of his avatars) would come out of the Persian Gulf to reveal hidden mysteries to the humans of that era, and that at night he would return back to the sea from where he came. It was in this way these fallen angels rebelliously made the leaders and the people of Babel privy into many religious, cultural and technological aspects that were forbidden for humans to know, such as Astrology. As a matter of fact, since the very beginning haSatan —like a cosmic politician he is— has always promised progress and benefits to humans through forbidden occultic or esoteric knowledge with the intent to destroy us later. Do you remember the Temptation of Hawah (Eve) in the Garden of Eden concerning the greatest progress supposedly to be achieved by eating the Fruit of the Tree of 'Knowledge' of Good and Evil?

Even the harrowing divisions of languages and nations that took place at the foot of the Tower of Babel ('babel' means 'division') did not completely exterminate the strength of Babylon's demon-induced culture and religion. One example if this is clearly observed in the linguistic fact that in every language of the world the names of many stars always mean the same. No matter how dissimilar their pronunciation might be in each language their meaning is identical. For instance, the constellation of Virgo —which in Latin means 'Virgin'— is called Bethula in Hebrew. Now, 'Bethula' in Hebrew also means 'Virgin'. And so it goes in all the other languages for the constellation of the 'Virgin'. On the other hand the constellation of Regulus —which is Latin for 'King'— is called HaMelekh in Hebrew. Now, 'HaMelekh' in Hebrew means 'The King', and in all the other languages, this constellation is named the 'King'. The resiliency in the meaning of these names is also due to the fact that the Creator was the One Who named these stars when He created them — an event that took place before the Creation of man.

Tehillim (Psalm) 147:4
⁴ He counts the number of the stars. He gives names to all of them.

I do not know if it is known if it was YHWH Who revealed these names to Adam before the Fall, or if it was the fallen angels who did it when they taught Astrology to humanity before and after the Flood. And it is a fact that the stars had given names in the ancient and unique language spoken by all humanity before the Division at Babel. Consequently, when such a momentous event took place all these names assumed new pronunciations in the new languages, but their meaning stayed the same. What this demonstrates is that not all previous knowledge disappeared when the confusion of languages and the consequential division of nations took place at the foot of the Tower of Babel — it was only the way to express them that changed. Having said all that, it is essential to realize that there are "unknown forces" at work in history which have assured that even after so many centuries these meanings —and other knowledge and practices— have not varied to this day. This is evidence that Babylon still prevails in our midst despite our oblivious ignorance of it.

As stated before, it was the direct intervention of evil angels, and their out-of-this-world disclosure of forbidden secrets, that caused the Sumerian culture to suddenly be propulsed "to the amazement of modern archaeologists and historians" from a practically savage estate into a complex, well developed and highly organized society. The impression left by such a direct human-angelic interaction, and the drastic and all-encompassing societal transformations which it provoked, stamped a satanic "signature" in the collective human psyche, the effects of which are still evident even in our current days at all levels.

Like the many branches of a poisonous tree planted on fertile soil by rebellious angels, all human ideas, philosophies, religions and traditions have directly or indirectly budded out from the common Babylonian trunk. The angelic seeding in Sumer of esoteric revelation was the reason why Babylon was —and still is, even after so many centuries of her physical destruction— the origin of all false religions, doctrines and philosophies in history, all of which oppose the True Religion, Revelations and Intentions of YHWH for mankind. It is in this way that Babylon became the origin of all demon-inspired humanistic philosophies (Hedonism, Humanism, etc.) as opposed to a YHWH-centered philosophy and religion which truly reflects universal Reality. Therefore, Babylon was/is the origin of all earthly sinful human culture, opposite a Culture intended by YHWH for all humanity; this Culture would reflect true Reality (not a perceived one) as well as YHWH's noble personal Values and safe societal Rules. Babylon was and still is the origin of all deceptive notions of truth, humanistic or occultic, which oppose True Reality. This True Reality can only be revealed by YHWH, since He is its Creator. In other words, by the direct action of fallen angels, Babylon became the origin of all subsequent rebellions against the Truth, Instruction (Torah), Person and worship of YHWH. Because of this, and due to the fact that the Babylonian religion and culture were founded on a malefic "enlightenment," the entire Babylonian civilization, with all its deceptive and rebellious tendencies, is utterly rejected and condemned by YHWH. Notwithstanding, humans —always gullible in their greed and thirst for a knowledge, which they think will bring them "progress"— overwhelmingly prefer Babylon over the protective religion and culture that YHWH lovingly offers.

YHWH's religion and culture, despite being loving and protective, is widely perceived as austere and even hard to live by. This is so because we mainly live for the easy enjoyment of our temporary physical senses, rather than for the interest of our eternal spirits. Therefore, we tend to gravitate toward the seemingly "easy" but destructive Way of Babylon. Now add to this the fact that haSatan, and his myriads of evil angels and demons, will constantly try to deceive us, induce us and pull us —by any means— toward the harmful worldview and lifestyle of Babylon. This spiritual equation cannot be more detrimental to our true and eternal Interests. One of his most effective tools of deception and captivation is 'syncretism'. Syncretism is the mixture of different ideas synergyzing into a new one. This will be explained in detail later on; as for now let us recapitulate.

Four generations after the Flood of Noach, the ancient Babylonian (Sumerian) civilization sprang up in the ancient area of Sumer (called Mesopotamia by the Greeks) and in practically one generation it jumped from a very rudimentary society into a complex one. As stated before, this unparalleled progress took place by the direct infusion of forbidden knowledge provided by rebellious angelic entities interacting with the Babylonians (Sumerians). This malevolent action repeated another similar angelic incursion that had taken place a few generations before the Flood — and which ended up causing it. Since the Division of languages and nations at Babel had not taken place yet —and therefore every human being in the planet was still dwelling in that fertile region and speaking the same language— all, or at least part, of that forbidden knowledge was acquired by humanity in general. It is in that way that all mankind was deeply influenced by that first seminal civilization up to our modern times. As we shall later see, the sole exception to this historical fact is the ancient Hebrew civilization.