Podcasts about Babylon

Friday Bible Study (10/31/25) // Ezra 2:1-40- (ESV) // The Exiles Return Now these were the people of the province who came up out of the captivity of those exiles whom Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon had carried captive to Babylonia. They returned to Jerusalem and Judah, each to his own town. 2 They came with Zerubbabel, Jeshua, Nehemiah, Seraiah, Reelaiah, Mordecai, Bilshan, Mispar, Bigvai, Rehum, and Baanah.The number of the men of the people of Israel: 3 the sons of Parosh, 2,172. 4 The sons of Shephatiah, 372. 5 The sons of Arah, 775. 6 The sons of Pahath-moab, namely the sons of Jeshua and Joab, 2,812. 7 The sons of Elam, 1,254. 8 The sons of Zattu, 945. 9 The sons of Zaccai, 760. 10 The sons of Bani, 642. 11 The sons of Bebai, 623. 12 The sons of Azgad, 1,222. 13 The sons of Adonikam, 666. 14 The sons of Bigvai, 2,056. 15 The sons of Adin, 454. 16 The sons of Ater, namely of Hezekiah, 98. 17 The sons of Bezai, 323. 18 The sons of Jorah, 112. 19 The sons of Hashum, 223. 20 The sons of Gibbar, 95. 21 The sons of Bethlehem, 123. 22 The men of Netophah, 56. 23 The men of Anathoth, 128. 24 The sons of Azmaveth, 42. 25 The sons of Kiriath-arim, Chephirah, and Beeroth, 743. 26 The sons of Ramah and Geba, 621. 27 The men of Michmas, 122. 28 The men of Bethel and Ai, 223. 29 The sons of Nebo, 52. 30 The sons of Magbish, 156. 31 The sons of the other Elam, 1,254. 32 The sons of Harim, 320. 33 The sons of Lod, Hadid, and Ono, 725. 34 The sons of Jericho, 345. 35 The sons of Senaah, 3,630.36 The priests: the sons of Jedaiah, of the house of Jeshua, 973. 37 The sons of Immer, 1,052. 38 The sons of Pashhur, 1,247. 39 The sons of Harim, 1,017.40 The Levites: the sons of Jeshua and Kadmiel, of the sons of Hodaviah, 74.Website: https://mbchicago.org FOLLOW US Facebook:   / mbc.chicago   Instagram:   / mbc.chicago   TikTok:   / mbc.chicago   Podcasts: Listen on Apple, Spotify & others TO SUPPORT US Zelle to: info@mbchicago.org Website: https://mbchicago.org/give Venmo: https://venmo.com/mbchurch DAF Donations: https://every.org/mbc.chicago PayPal: https://paypal.com/donate/?hosted_but... #Ezra #DanielBatarseh #BibleStudy #mbchicago #mbcchicago #Bible #versebyverse #church #chicago #livechurch #churchlive #chicagochurch #chicagochurches #sermon #bibleexplained #bibleproject #bibleverse #bookbybook #oldtestament #explained

Jon and Blaine are back for the third season of Babylon 5, looking at the introduction of Marcus Cole and the mysterious new ships that have been seen.

2 Chronicles 36 tells of the rapid disintegration of Judah after the death of Josiah. Jehoahaz, the son of Josiah becomes king at the age of 23 and rules for 3 months until he is deposed and taken to Egypt by Pharaoh Neco. Pharaoh Neco takes Jehoiakim (Jehoahaz's brother) and makes him king and changes his name to Eliakim. Eliakim is 25 years old when he becomes king and he reigns for 11 evil years practising wickedness in defiance of his God. The year is now about BC 607 and Nebuchadnezzar has just come to the throne of Babylon. The Babylonian king makes an incursion into Judah taking Jerusalem and carrying away many captives and several of Judah's princes including Daniel and his three friends. Additionally, the Chaldeans take away the vessels of the temple. Nebuchadnezzar has three further incursions into Judah until the final overthrow of Jerusalem in BC 587. Jehoiachin the son of Eliakim is placed upon the vassal throne. He is 18 years of age and rules for only three months and ten days until he, too, is taken to Babylon with the most precious vessels from the temple. And on this occasion another evil king is deposed. Zedekiah, the brother of Jehoahaz ascends the throne at the age of 21 and rules for 11 evil years. This last king of Judah is a vacillating, covenant breaking king who earns the wrath of Nebuchadnezzar. Ezekiel 21verses25-27 spoke of this final overthrowing of Judah's kingdom and saying that the throne would remain vacant until "he comes whose right it is" - because he is God's Son and David's righteous heir - and God will then establish Christ's throne forever. The book concludes with two significant events - one negative, one positive - the burning and destruction of Jerusalem; and the decree of Cyrus in BC 537 that sees the return of the exiles.Acts 20 records that after the riot Paul calls for and encourages the ecclesia before departing into Macedonian. Six brethren accompany him as the representatives of their ecclesias. These delegates are carrying relief funds for the poor believers in Judea who are suffering the effects of a great famine. The chapter says Paul stops at Miletus and asks the elders of Ephesus join him there where Paul gives the ecclesia final encouraging words and warning them of dangers which would arise after his demise. The Apostle gives a very long talk, and because of the poor ventilation in the room a young man named Eutychus falls asleep in the window and he falls three storeys to the ground and is pronounced dead.Paul miraculously raises Eutychus and continues preaching until sunrise. Paul's intentions of departing into Macedonia appear not to have been achieved and he is now hurrying to Jerusalem to arrive before the feast of Pentecost. The Apostle's speech to the Ephesian elders is recorded from verses 18-35. In summary he tells them of their solemn responsibilities, warning them of a decline due to those who would seek leadership for their own advantage. On the positive side, Paul, in verse 32, commends them to God and the Word of His grace - read aloud, pause and ponder. The Apostle also quotes some unrecorded words of our Lord Jesus Christ - "It is more blessed to give than to receive" (v35). The assembled group pray together on the beach and then an old prophet warns Paul of what would comeupon him from the time of his arriving in Jerusalem. They greatly sorrow that they will see his face no more, but they respect Paul's resolute courage.

2 Chronicles 36 tells of the rapid disintegration of Judah after the death of Josiah. Jehoahaz, the son of Josiah becomes king at the age of 23 and rules for 3 months until he is deposed and taken to Egypt by Pharaoh Neco. Pharaoh Neco takes Jehoiakim (Jehoahaz's brother) and makes him king and changes his name to Eliakim. Eliakim is 25 years old when he becomes king and he reigns for 11 evil years practising wickedness in defiance of his God. The year is now about BC 607 and Nebuchadnezzar has just come to the throne of Babylon. The Babylonian king makes an incursion into Judah taking Jerusalem and carrying away many captives and several of Judah's princes including Daniel and his three friends. Additionally, the Chaldeans take away the vessels of the temple. Nebuchadnezzar has three further incursions into Judah until the final overthrow of Jerusalem in BC 587. Jehoiachin the son of Eliakim is placed upon the vassal throne. He is 18 years of age and rules for only three months and ten days until he, too, is taken to Babylon with the most precious vessels from the temple. And on this occasion another evil king is deposed. Zedekiah, the brother of Jehoahaz ascends the throne at the age of 21 and rules for 11 evil years. This last king of Judah is a vacillating, covenant breaking king who earns the wrath of Nebuchadnezzar. Ezekiel 21verses25-27 spoke of this final overthrowing of Judah's kingdom and saying that the throne would remain vacant until "he comes whose right it is" - because he is God's Son and David's righteous heir - and God will then establish Christ's throne forever. The book concludes with two significant events - one negative, one positive - the burning and destruction of Jerusalem; and the decree of Cyrus in BC 537 that sees the return of the exiles. Hosea 4 presents a courtroom scene where Yahweh accuses Israel of their unfaithfulness to Him. All parts of nature and every creature is affected. The chapter's key verse is verse 6 - it should be read aloud and pondered. What a lesson for us! Never let us make light of the understanding of God's Word - for if we treat Yahweh's word with contempt the consequences will be disastrous to ourselves and to our families. Greed and covetousness were the measure of Judah's worship - if there was no profit to be made they weren't interested. But the time would come when they are captive in Babylon when they would rethink their ways and repent. Acts 20 records that after the riot Paul calls for and encourages the ecclesia before departing into Macedonian. Six brethren accompany him as the representatives of their ecclesias. These delegates are carrying relief funds for the poor believers in Judea who are suffering the effects of a great famine. The chapter says Paul stops at Miletus and asks the elders of Ephesus join him there where Paul gives the ecclesia final encouraging words and warning them of dangers which would arise after his demise. The Apostle gives a very long talk, and because of the poor ventilation in the room a young man named Eutychus falls asleep in the window and he falls three storeys to the ground and is pronounced dead. Paul miraculously raises Eutychus and continues preaching until sunrise. Paul's intentions of departing into Macedonia appear not to have been achieved and he is now hurrying to Jerusalem to arrive before the feast of Pentecost. The Apostle's speech to the Ephesian elders is recorded from verses 18-35. In summary he tells them of their solemn responsibilities, warning them of a decline due to those who would seek leadership for their own advantage. On the positive side, Paul, in verse 32, commends them to God and the Word of His grace - read aloud, pause and ponder. The Apostle also quotes some unrecorded words of our Lord Jesus Christ - "It is more blessed to give than to receive" (v35). The assembled group pray together on the beach and then an old prophet warns Paul of what would come   upon him from the time of his arriving in Jerusalem. They greatly sorrow that they will see his face no more, but they respect Paul's resolute courage. Thanks for joining us - we pray you found these comments helpful in your appreciation of God's words, join again tomorrow 

It's been well said that "Those who fail to learn anything from history are doomed to repeat it." That was the case with King Belshazzar of Babylon. Failing to learn from the mistakes of his grandfather Nebuchadnezzar, he repeated them. So in dramatic fashion, God sent him a divine message of doom, written by the finger of God on a banquet wall! Let's looks deeper into this fascinating story from Daniel 5.

In this powerful message with Pastor Marcus, we dive deep into the ancient battle between Babylon and Jerusalem—the City of Man versus the City of God. Drawing from Daniel 1:1-5, we reveal how the Babylonian spirit still works in the world today, attacking families, morals, and freedom. Discover:- Why God will bless those who bless Israel- The true meaning of Babylon and its relentless agenda- How Babylon hates family and seeks to control the next generation- What it means to stand with GodEven if the world sees you as broken or rejected, God sees your value. Learn how to live with the mind of Christ, resist cultural pressure, and stand firm in your faith with humility, love, and truth.Babylon may try to silence you, but God has already given you a voice. This message is a call to action—pray, serve, and love like never before. Be part of the solution, not the problem.

Presented by Julie Busteed I'm looking at some strategies to help grow and build relationships—principles that apply at work, home, church—with everyone. The first two strategies I looked at were loving others and communication skills. I think integrity is also an important component in healthy relationships. Integrity really covers several qualities. It's being honest, having strong moral principles, and being trustworthy and reliable. A great example of integrity in the Old Testament is Daniel. He was taken into captivity from Israel to Babylon, and he became an adviser to the Babylonian kings because of his integrity and trust in God. For many, it's a familiar story but to recap: Daniel refuses to bow down and worship a man-made idol. He worships and prays to God. As a result, he is thrown into a literal lion's den. The next morning, he testifies that my God sent his angel, and he shut the mouths of the lions. They have not hurt me, because I was found innocent in his sight (Daniel 6:22a). Not only did God protect and preserve Daniel, but King Darius also decrees everyone in his kingdom must fear and revere the God of Daniel. Daniel's integrity and courage not only effected his own life, but the entire kingdom was now to fear God. He trusted and honored God in his actions, and his integrity was evident to his employer, resulting in a testimony to the entire kingdom. Integrity can also be something significant done privately, not for public recognition. A friend of mine recently showed a great example of integrity. She just published a book through a traditional publisher. Normally, when you work with a publisher, you receive an advance against future royalties—meaning you don't earn additional royalties until the book's sales cover that advance. And if the book doesn't sell enough to cover it, the author doesn't have to pay it back. That's completely normal. But my friend told me she wants to make sure her book's sales do reach that advance amount. She's putting in extra effort to promote and market her book because she doesn't want to be a burden to the publisher. She isn't required to do this—it's not part of her contract—but she feels it's the right thing to do. Quiet integrity. In both of these examples, integrity was a vital characteristic in dealing with others. Integrity directed how they should act in certain situations—be it life or death—or something that's not really seen by others. With faith in God and belief he is faithful, they lived out their lives in honor to him. Whoever walks in integrity walks securely, but whoever takes crooked paths will be found out (Proverbs 10:9). When we live our lives with integrity, we can walk securely—quietly resting upon God's favor and gracious providence.

In 727 BCE, the death of Tiglath-Pileser III—one of Assyria's greatest reformers and conquerors—brought to the throne his son Ululayu, known to history by his regnal name Shalmaneser V. This episode of Oldest Stories examines the short, poorly documented, yet pivotal reign of Shalmaneser the Least, exploring the troubled transition between the age of Tiglath-Pileser's reform and the rise of Sargon II. Drawing on fragmentary Assyrian records, biblical sources, and archaeological evidence, the episode reconstructs the domestic policies, fiscal reforms, and failed campaigns that defined his rule.Listeners will learn how Shalmaneser attempted to standardize taxation and weights across the empire—introducing the controversial “Mina of the King”—and how these bureaucratic experiments may have destabilized the nobility and provoked internal dissent. His reign also saw major events in the wider Near East: the rebellion of King Hoshea of Israel, the long siege of Samaria described in the Book of Kings, and the abortive Assyrian assault on Tyre. Despite ruling over the largest empire yet known, Shalmaneser's administrative mediocrity and ill-fated reforms undermined Assyria's stability, paving the way for Sargon's coup and the beginning of the Sargonid dynasty.This episode situates Shalmaneser V within the broader arc of Neo-Assyrian history, from the administrative innovations of Tiglath-Pileser III to the ideological and military transformations of Sargon II. It explores key themes in ancient Near Eastern politics, including royal succession, imperial bureaucracy, taxation, and the interaction between Assyria and Israel. Ideal for students of Assyriology, biblical studies, and ancient history, “Shalmaneser the Least” offers a detailed look at one of the empire's most obscure yet consequential rulers.Keywords: Shalmaneser V, Tiglath-Pileser III, Neo-Assyrian Empire, Assyria, Babylon, Sargon II, Samaria, Hoshea, Israel, Tyre, Assyrian kings, Near Eastern history, biblical archaeology, Assyrian reforms, ancient Mesopotamia.I am also doing daily history facts again, at least until I run out of time again. You can find Oldest Stories daily on Tiktok and Youtube Shorts.If you like the show, consider sharing with your friends, leaving a like, subscribing, or even supporting financially:Buy the Oldest Stories books: https://a.co/d/7Wn4jhSDonate here: https://oldeststories.net/or on patreon: https://patreon.com/JamesBleckleyor on youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCCG2tPxnHNNvMd0VrInekaA/joinYoutube and Patreon members get access to bonus content about Egyptian culture and myths.

In our last reading, some of the elders of Israel had gathered around Ezekiel to inquire of the Lord, but God denied them counsel and began to recount the history of Israel's rebellion and idolatry. Time and again, the Lord would have been justified in exhausting His wrath against Israel, but over and over He relented from disaster so that His name wouldn't be profaned among the nations. The Lord will not answer them, but one day, God's people will humble themselves and return to him. Later, Ezekiel prophesies of the impending judgment that is coming against Jerusalem. The sword of Babylon will come, bringing devastation and destruction. All of this will serve as righteous judgment against God's people for their rampant sinfulness.Ezekiel  20:32-49 - 1:10 . Ezekiel 21 - 4:54 . Ezekiel 22 - 13:28 . Proverbs 21:17-31 - 20:18 .  :::Christian Standard Bible translation.All music written and produced by John Burgess Ross.Co-produced by the Christian Standard Bible.facebook.com/commuterbibleinstagram.com/commuter_bibletwitter.com/CommuterPodpatreon.com/commuterbibleadmin@commuterbible.org

I have been reading and re-reading the Prophet Habakkuk. Some brief background. Israel had fallen once again into idolatry. In God's great mercy, He would send Prophets to warn the people to stop the pagan worship and to return to God. We know that at Jonah's preaching in Nineveh, the entire place repented. They fasted and prayed that God would relent from His judgment and anger. God did relent and the people were spared. Israel and Judah continually repeated this pattern of disobeying God, finding themselves in trouble, calling out to God for help, God helping them and then rinse and repeat. There were times where the people refused to listen to God or His Holy Prophets. In this case, God has let Habakkuk know that the Chaldeans will be coming and will destroy Israel. It is like watching something in slow motion for Habakkuk. He knows God's judgment is right. God has given them warnings, red flags and tried to get their attention. The people are not responding to the prophet's rebukes. Babylon was going to decimate Judah. They are a merciless and exceptionally cruel nation. They were coming to bring God's judgment against His people.

In this episode, I sit down with Michael Joseph and Phil Mederi from the Sacred Honor Educational Fellowship for a deep dive into the principles of self-governance, natural law, and the spiritual foundations of sovereignty.We explore the invisible contracts that bind us to a corporate fiction, the difference between natural rights and state-granted privileges, and why true freedom begins with self-responsibility and principle. Together, we break down the public versus private divide, the role of contracts in our daily lives, and how to live with greater awareness inside—or entirely outside—the system.If you've ever sensed that the world's “rules” aren't natural law but manmade constructs designed to keep you small, this conversation will open new doors of understanding. It's not about fighting the system—it's about remembering who you are, reclaiming your inherent sovereignty, and learning to live in alignment with divine order. Visit lukestorey.com/fellowship to activate your membership in the Sacred Honor Fellowship.Visit lukestorey.com/equitypassage to receive the complimentary ebook "Equity Unveiled" and join the Equity Passage private course. Now through December 19, use code EQPASSLS250 to receive $250 off enrollment.DISCLAIMER: This podcast is for educational purposes only and not intended for diagnosing or treating illnesses. The hosts disclaim responsibility for any adverse effects from using the information presented. Consult your healthcare provider before using referenced products. This podcast may include paid endorsements.THIS SHOW IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY:LITTLE SAINTS | Visit littlesaints.com/luke and use code LUKE to get 20% off your first order.BIOPTIMIZERS | You can use the code LUKE15 for 15% off at bioptimizers.com/lukeBON CHARGE | Use the code LIFESTYLIST for 15% off at boncharge.com/lifestylistLEELA QUANTUM TECH | Go to lukestorey.com/leelaq and use the code LUKE10 for 10% off their product line.MORE ABOUT THIS EPISODE:(00:00:00) The Awakening of Sovereignty(00:24:53) Public vs. Private: Reclaiming Authority by Principle(00:52:04) Equity vs. “Status Correction”: Foundations, Not Factions(01:12:45) Debtor vs. Creditor: Flipping the Script(01:25:23) Cooperation vs. Silos—and What Equity Actually Is(01:41:47) Building in the Private: The Fellowship & Foundation for Self-GovernanceResources:• Website: sacredhonoref.com • Website: libertishorizon.com • Instagram: instagram.com/sacredhonorfellowship • Shop all our merch designs at lukestoreymerch.com• Check out Gilded...

Joe Sudbay guests hosts while John is on his California cruise trip. Joe discusses Trump's Halloween glitzy Great Gatsby party - flouting lavishness while millions panic over SNAP benefits being constrained. He also talks about the major elections happening in New Jersey, Virginia, California, and New York. Then, he speaks with Jessica Mackler who is the president of EMILYs list. EMILYs List is backing both Democratic governor candidates (Mikie Sherrill in New Jersey and Abigail Spanberger in Virginia), as well as women candidates in every top red-to-blue flip opportunity in Virginia's House of Delegates races. In the last Southern state without an abortion ban, this year, Virginia's House will determine if voters can protect reproductive freedom through a constitutional amendment. And then finally, Joe interviews Alejandro Varela. His debut novel, The Town of Babylon was a finalist for the National Book Award. His latest novel, Middle Spoon, was published by Viking on September 9, 2025. His novels and stories take public health topics — from systemic racism to gentrification to sexuality — and make them accessible and memorable. Varela is an editor-at-large of Apogee Journal, and holds a masters degree in public health from the University of Washington.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

What is the book of Revelation really about? For ages, it has been the source of sensationalism, idolatry, confusion, and end-times predictions. But at its root, it is about the power and worship of the Lamb who was slain. Biblical scholar Michael J. Gorman joins Mark Labberton to explore how Christians can read the book of Revelation with wisdom, faith, and hope rather than fear or sensationalism. Drawing from his book Reading Revelation Responsibly: Uncivil Worship and Witness—Following the Lamb into the New Creation, Gorman offers a reorientation to Revelation's central vision: worshipping the Lamb, resisting idolatrous power, and embodying faithful discipleship in the world. Together they discuss Revelation's misuses in popular culture, its critique of empire and nationalism, and its invitation to follow the crucified and risen Christ into the new creation. Episode Highlights "The book of Revelation is about lamb power—not hyper-religious or political power. It's about absorbing rather than inflicting evil." "This book is for those who are confused by, afraid of, and or preoccupied with the book of Revelation." "We shouldn't look for predictions but for parallels and analogies." "Worship, discipleship, and new creation—that's where Revelation hangs its hat." "At its root, Christian nationalism is a form of idolatry." "The only way to come out of Babylon is to go back into Babylon with new values and new practices." Helpful Links and Resources Reading Revelation Responsibly – https://www.amazon.com/Reading-Revelation-Responsibly-Following-Creation/dp/1606085603/ Reverse Thunder by Eugene Peterson – https://www.amazon.com/Reversed-Thunder-Revelation-Praying-Imagination/dp/0060665033 St. Mary's Seminary & University, Baltimore – https://www.stmarys.edu About Michael J. Gorman Michael J. Gorman is the Raymond E. Brown Professor of Biblical Studies and Theology at St. Mary's Seminary & University in Baltimore, Maryland. A leading New Testament scholar, he is the author of numerous books on Pauline theology and Revelation, including Reading Revelation Responsibly, Cruciformity, and Participating in Christ. Gorman's teaching and writing emphasize Scripture as a call to cruciform discipleship, faithful worship, and the hope of new creation. Show Notes Introducing Reading Revelation Responsibly "This book is for those who are confused by, afraid of, and or preoccupied with the Book of Revelation." "Apocalypse" means revelation, not destruction. Emerging from twenty-five years of study and teaching, aimed at rescuing Revelation from misinterpretation or neglect Growing up amid 1970s end-times obsession—Hal Lindsey's The Late Great Planet Earth and fearful youth-group predictions of the world's end Fear of the book of Revelation until he studied it with Bruce Metzger at Princeton Seminary Why he wrote the book: for people who have been scared or confused by Revelation's misuse Interpretation and misreading the book of Revelation Early questions: Does Revelation predict particular events or people? No predictions, but symbolic speaking into every age "Our task is not to find predictions but to discern parallels and analogies." Warning against mapping Revelation onto modern crises or personalities "When those predictions fail, the book gets sidelined or scoffed at." Keep one foot in the first-century context and one in the present Worship and discipleship The heart of Revelation is worship. "This is a book about worship—and about the object of our worship." Explaining the subtitle: Uncivil Worship and Witness—Following the Lamb into the New Creation "Uncivil worship" contrasts with "civil religion"—worship that refuses to idolize political power Influence from Eugene Peterson's Reverse Thunder and his own teaching at St. Mary's, where Peterson once taught Revelation Worship leads to discipleship: "Those who follow the Lamb wherever he goes." True discipleship mirrors the Lamb's humility and non-violence. The lamb and the meaning of power Interpreting Revelation's vision of the slain and standing Lamb as the key to understanding divine power "The crucified Messiah is the risen Lord—but he remains the crucified one." The Lamb appears twenty-eight times, a symbol of universality and completeness. "Revelation is about lamb power—absorbing rather than inflicting evil." Discipleship is cruciform: following the Lamb's way of self-giving love. The unholy trinity and the danger of idolatry Chapters 12–13 depict the dragon and two beasts—the "unholy trinity" of satanic, imperial, and religious power. "Power gone amok": political, military, and spiritual domination that mimic divinity How true worship resists empire and exposes idolatry Warning against reading these beasts as predictions of the UN or the pope; rather, they reveal recurring alliances of religion and politics "At its root, Christian nationalism is idolatry." When political identity eclipses discipleship, "political power always wins, and faith loses." Faith, politics, and worship today Christian nationalism as a modern form of "civil religion," conflating patriotism with divine will "It's only Christian in name—it lacks Christian substance." Idolatry is not limited to one side: "It permeates the left, the right, and probably the centre." Labberton agrees: false worship is endemic wherever self-interest and fear shape our loves. Both stress that Revelation calls the church to worship the Lamb, not the state. "Revelation critiques all human systems of false worship." Revelation's goal: Not destruction, but new creation "Destruction is penultimate—cleansing the way for renewal." Believers already live as citizens of that new creation. "The only way to come out of Babylon is to go back into Babylon with new values and new practices." Communal, not merely individual, discipleship: "Revelation is written to churches, not just believers." Reinterpreting Revelation 3:20: Jesus knocking isn't an altar call to unbelievers but Christ seeking re-entry into his own church. "Jesus always wants to come back in." Living revelation today Spirituality of hope, not fear or withdrawal "Reading Revelation responsibly means engaging the world through worship and witness." How true worship is dangerous because it transforms our allegiance. "Following the Lamb into the new creation is the church's act of resistance." Conclusion: "Worthy is the Lamb." Production Credits Conversing is produced and distributed in partnership with Comment magazine and Fuller Seminary.  

Show NotesScripture Referenced1 Corinthians 15:58 Galatians 6:7-10 James 5:10-11 Romans 5:3-4 1 Peter 2:20-21 2 Corinthians 1:6-7 Hebrews 10:36 James 1:2-4 Jeremiah 29:4-7Books ReferencedThe Dangerous Journey: The Story of Pilgrim's Progress https://www.amazon.com/Dangerous-Journey-Story-Pilgrims-Progress/dp/0802836194/ The Pilgrim's Progress by John Bunyan https://www.amazon.com/Pilgrims-Progress-Modern-Day-easy-read-ebook/dp/B088DFC84N/ The Pilgrim's Progress - Original Unabridged, Audiobook read by Robert Whitfield. https://www.audible.com/pd/The-Pilgrims-Progress-Audiobook/B002UZN2Y4 (Reid's Recommendation)Link ReferencedSunflowers in Babylon by Joshua Luke Smith https://youtu.be/fsiB9uCMZ68

In this message, Pastor Neal Nolan is continuing the series from the book of Daniel entitled "Beyond Babylon". This sermon was recorded on November 2nd, 2025 at our main campus in Florence, SC Support the show

Life In Babylon Week #6 11/02/2025 by Mission Life Church Ionia

My notes:Two stories and how they relate to the final events: the worship of the golden image (Daniel 3) and Peter's arrest and deliverance (Acts 12:1-17).Both stories remind us that we don't need to fear all the threats, tribulations, or even death that we may face at the very end. God is in complete control of all that is happening. Presented at the General Conference Office Worship on June 17, 2025.Questions to consider: Should they not have been more flexible? Wouldn't that lack of flexibility be a sign of radicalism, fanaticism, or extremism? They could have pretended to worship the image while praying to God in their hearts… But they knew that genuine internal acquiescence would always be revealed externally.What is fanaticism? The book of Deuteronomy (6:2) teaches us that to fear the Lord implies keeping ALL His statutes and His commandments, even those that may be considered minor ones, whose disregard may be considered as socially acceptable today.Rev 13:15 -  What is THE IMAGE of the beast (1st beast): When will the image of the beast be formed? When the church and state will be united, and religious observances will be enforced by civil and political power.The social and religious background:Social and spiritual values are extremely eroded, and many Christians are tired of how politics have supported and even promoted wicked values. Therefore, they will support a government that is perceived as promoting a return to ancient moral and spiritual values to protect the family and society.There will be miracles and revivals as a result of this movement. They will resemble, in almost all aspects, the true revivals, except in one detail. They will not lead to complete obedience to God's law, namely, the day of worship.What does worshipping the image of the beast mean?Then another question is crucial:But is that detail about which day should be kept pertinent if all are seeking the restoration of spiritual and social values? Will dissenters not be found working against a common good? When will the Image of the Beast be formed?“When the leading churches of the United States, uniting upon such points of doctrine as are held by them in common, shall influence the state to enforce their decrees and to sustain their institutions. Protestant America will have formed an image of the Roman hierarchy, and the infliction of civil penalties upon dissenters will inevitably result.” GC379 (446).THE IMAGE:If you worship itIf you don't worship it, Acts 12:1-17 (James' death and Peter's arrest) - There was in force a death penalty against Christians.Peter was delivered, but James (John's brother) was killed. Why were some believers spared while others were not?Revelation 2:10-11Should we expect death or deliverance? Modern Babylon seduces its worshipers by offering them material prosperity with one hand. Tithes and offerings now are a much-needed preparation for this moment. It removes some money from us, making us more vulnerable and leading us to pray more and learn how to trust God and live by faith.Those who love money now and have not learned to live by faith will be easily trapped by Babylon. When will people receive “the mark of the beast?”See - The Great Controversy, p. 449. What is this mark?THE MARKHow to trust God more, how to increase our faith, and be prepared for the final events?

Join John Carter as he explores biblical prophecy and the next millennium in a thought-provoking lecture. Discover insights on ancient cities like Babylon and Petra, the identity of the Antichrist, and the fate of humanity. Understand the significance of the first and second resurrections, the binding of Satan, and the ultimate recreation of Earth. Prepare for a transformative experience that challenges your understanding of faith and prophecy.

PB2_IF - El imperio y el no-imperio Audiolibro creado a partir de El Imperio de la Ficción de Pedro Bustamante. Se publica sin obtener beneficio económico por lo que ruego que siga asi.

Join John Carter as he explores biblical prophecy and the next millennium in a thought-provoking lecture. Discover insights on ancient cities like Babylon and Petra, the identity of the Antichrist, and the fate of humanity. Understand the significance of the first and second resurrections, the binding of Satan, and the ultimate recreation of Earth. Prepare for a transformative experience that challenges your understanding of faith and prophecy.

Send us a textJoin veteran Star Trek, and now Babylon 5 podcasters, Brent Allen and Jeff Akin as they dive into Babylon 5 for a second time! They revisit each episode with fresh insights and deeper analysis, reflecting on their first-time reactions. Perfect for First Ones and people new to the series, this journey offers a deeper connection to the world of Babylon 5!Evil Talia really hits different on a second watch!         For the First Time EpisodeThis show is produced in association with the Akin Collective, Mulberry Entertainment, and Framed Games. Find out how you can support the show and get great bonus content like access to notes, a Discord server, unedited reaction videos, and more: https://www.patreon.com/babylon5firstSpecial Thanks to all who support our show through Patreon, including: Executive Producers:AddrycAndrewAnthony PowellBecky SparksCalinicusColin 3of5Colin BlairDaniel AlvesDavidDeb L.DundradalFabio KaseckerJack KitchenJames OkeefeJeffrey HayeskatKaterina KalinevichKenny A KaryadiKrystle WrightMartin SvendsenMatt IonMattie GarciaMitsy MarcellaMr KrosisNeil MooreNia is framedPaul WalcherPeter SchullerRob BentRon HSarah LScott HelsbySnatcher42Starfury 5470Stuart98Suzanne EggTexas Anla'ShokTom OcchipintiTrekkieTreyTheTrekkerProducers:David BlauGuy KovelJohn Koniges Follow us:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/badnerdsftft/Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/badnerds.bsky.socialhttps://www.babylon5first.com/All rights belong to the Prime Time Entertainment Network, WBTV, and TNT. No copyright infringement intended.Copyright Disclaimer, Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for 'fair use' for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. Non-profit, educational or personal use tips the balance in favor of fair use.Visit https://www.patreon.com/babylon5first to join the Babylon 5 For the First Time Patreon. Support the show

Daniel, conscripted to serve in the court of Babylon, was given a choice about whose standards he wanted to live up to in his life. He chose God's, and we can too.

In part two of A Clear and Present Danger, Pastor Jay Tyler sounds the alarm on the danger of moral compromise, the slow erosion of conviction that leads to spiritual decay. Drawing from Daniel's faith in Babylon and Jesus' warning to the church at Pergamos, Pastor Jay exposes how compromise begins when conviction weakens, grows when culture becomes our standard, and spreads when sin is tolerated instead of confronted. Yet there is hope, compromise ends when believers choose courage over comfort. This message is a powerful call to wake up, stand firm, and live with bold conviction in a compromising world.

El Imperio de la Ficción. Prefacio Audiolibro creado a partir de El Imperio de la Ficción de Pedro Bustamante. Se publica sin obtener beneficio económico por lo que ruego que siga asi.

Why do Christians have to go through hardship? Well, trials are like God’s gym. In them, we're broken down so we can be built up. Pastor Greg Laurie shares more in his message focused on Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. Notes: Focus verse - Daniel 3 / James 1 Jesus walking with Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego through the fiery furnace. Do not despair! You are not alone in your hardship! 1 Peter 4:12Dear friends, don't be surprised at the fiery trials you are going through,as if something strange were happening to you. 1 Peter 4:14Be happy if you are insulted for being a Christian, for then the glorious Spirit of God will come upon you. There are different kinds of trials and testings in the life of the Christian.The devil tempts us to destroy our faith, but God tests us to develop our faith. A faith that cannot be tested is a faith that cannot be trusted.This is clearly shown in the story before us of Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-Nego. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego stood up for what was right, even at the risk of losing their own lives. The stand you make today will determine what kind of stand you will make tomorrow. The most important time of our life is the time of our youth.It is when we set our course and habits are developed. The evening of our life is determined by the morning of it,the end from the beginning. Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-Nego made a stand in a small area.This is why they had the character and strength to make their stand in a larger one. Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-Nego were captured along with Daniel and placed as counselors to the king. One night King Nebuchadnezzar had a troubling dream.When he awoke, he called in all the astrologers and magicians. The prophet, Daniel, humbly gave glory to God, and told the king he had dreamed of a giant statue. Daniel 2:47 (NLT)The King said to Daniel, "Truly, your God is the God of gods, the Lord over kings, a revealer of mysteries, for you have been able to reveal this secret." As chapter 3 opens, around 16–20 years have passed.King Nebuchadnezzar has a 90-foot-tall statue erected, covered in gold of himself! The King ordered that everyone gather for a big celebration.They had an orchestra in place and when they played you better bow, or else! The Lord was very clear about that in the Ten Commandments. Exodus 20:4–5"Do not make idols of any kind; you must never worship or bow down to them, for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God who will not share your affection with any.” Thousands of Israelites apparently bowed, but not these three.Someone estimated 300,000 people were present. Read Daniel 3:14–18 King Nebuchadnezzar was choosing off God, when he asks,“What god will be able to rescue you?” Nebuchadnezzar had quickly forgotten the God who gave him a dream. Because of his pride, Nebuchadnezzar would soon be brought to his knees. Everybody is a worshipper. The question is not if we worship or not.It’s who we worship. Because Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego worshipped God, they could not worship the statue. You will end up serving who you worship. Daniel 3:18”Your Majesty can be sure that we will never serve your gods or worship the gold statue you have set up." A moment at the altar of sexual experimentation can lead to a lifetime of regret. Moments spent worshipping God can lead to a lifetime of service. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego were adamant, they were not going to bow. This will happen in the life of every Christian.Sooner or later, you too will be asked to bow before some idol. These boys were facing peer pressure on an epic scale. Despite the fact that everyone in Babylon bowed,Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego stood up straight. They figured, "Better to burn on earth and bow in Heaven, than to bow on earth, and burn in Hell!” One day, the Disciples came to Jesus, excited that they could cast out demons. Luke 10:20 (NLT)“But don't rejoice because evil spirits obey you; rejoice because your names are registered in heaven." Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego were not sure they would survive this, but they were sure of God’s promises.Daniel 3:17–18 Either God would preserve them, or He would be waiting on the other side. Upon hearing of this insubordination on the part of these three teens, the King flies into a rage. Read Daniel 3:19–25 Nebuchadnezzar said the fourth man looked “like the Son of God!” In this Christophany, Jesus walked with Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego through this fiery furnace. Isaiah 43:2 (NIV)When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. Jesus is there with you, each step of the way. Jesus said, "Lo, I am with you, even until the end of the world." James 1:2–4When all kinds of trials and temptations crowd into your lives, my brothers, don't treat them as intruders but friends! Realize that they come to test your faith and to produce in you the quality of endurance. But let the process go on, until that endurance is fully developed, and you will find you have become men of mature character, men of integrity with no weak spots. Staying cool, when things get hot. How do you do that? It’s similar to going to the gym and working out. A lot of folks find themselves getting tired and lethargic and say, “I’m just getting old!”Yes, and it maybe you are just out of shape too. Maybe you need to get busy and do something with your faith. Jesus said, “Give and it shall be given unto you.” Trials take our faith from the realm of theory to reality. James 1:3 (NKJV)Knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. Perseverance! (Greek: Hypomonē) We know about the suffering of Joseph. Psalm 105:18 (NLT)They bruised his feet with fetters and placed his neck in an iron collar. “As he was laid in iron, iron entered his soul.” The very thing you want out of your life may be the thing you need in your life. If you want to grow spiritually, iron must enter your soul. James 1:4 (NKJV)Let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. We may pray, “Lord, use me for Your glory! Bless me, Lord!”Then a trial comes. James 1:2 (NKJV)My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials,No two experiences are alike. How did they do this?By the decisions and commitments they made years earlier. An idol is anyone or anything that takes God’s place in our life. 1 John 5:21 (NKJV)Little children, keep yourselves from idols. One day another world leader will come along and demand worship.The bible calls him Antichrist. He too will erect an image and demand worship, placing the image in the temple. Jesus promises to deliver us from this time of tribulation. Revelation 3:10 (NKJV)"Because you have kept My command to persevere, I also will keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth.” Revelation 3:11 (NKJV)"Behold, I am coming quickly! Jesus says, ”Behold, I am coming quickly!”Revelation 3:11 Nebuchadnezzar saw God work. Maybe God is trying to get your attention today! Jesus died on the cross for your sin so you could know God. Looking for hope or know someone who is? Join Greg Laurie at the Harvest Crusade: Hope for America on November 16! Get event information here. — Become a Harvest Partner today and join us in knowing God and making Him known through media and large-scale evangelism, our mission of over 30 years. Explore more resources from Pastor Greg Laurie, including daily devotionals and blogs, designed to answer your spiritual questions and equip you to walk closely with Christ.Support the show: https://bit.ly/anbsupportSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The year is 539 BC. The greatest city of the ancient world has fallen. Babylon has opened it's gates to a new conqueror: the mighty Persian king Cyrus the Great.In this episode of The Ancients, Tristan Hughes is joined once again by friend of the show Professor Lloyd Llewellyn-Jones to uncover the dramatic fall of Babylon and the ascent of Persia's Achaemenid empire. From the final decades of Babylonian rule to Cyrus' blood-stained triumph and the city's remarkable survival under a new regime, they discover how one of history's most iconic capitals lost its crown - a seismic chapter in the tumultuous story of the Ancient Near East.Watch this episode on our NEW YouTube channel: @TheAncientsPodcastMORE:The Walls of BabylonCyrus the GreatPresented by Tristan Hughes. Audio editor is Aidan Lonergan, the producer is Joseph Knight. The senior producer is Anne-Marie Luff.All music courtesy of Epidemic SoundsThe Ancients is a History Hit podcast.Sign up to History Hit for hundreds of hours of original documentaries, with a new release every week and ad-free podcasts. Sign up at https://www.historyhit.com/subscribe. You can take part in our listener survey here: https://insights.historyhit.com/history-hit-podcast-always-on Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

FAITH IS… with Pastor Rick Stevens – Revelation unfolds God's grand design of salvation and judgment. Babylon the Great falls, symbolizing the downfall of worldly idolatry and excess. In the midst of destruction, God's people rejoice as a new beginning dawns. Through divine justice, God makes all things new, revealing His ultimate victory over evil and the promise of eternal renewal...

Why do Christians have to go through hardship? Well, trials are like God’s gym. In them, we're broken down so we can be built up. Pastor Greg Laurie shares more in his message focused on Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. Notes: Focus verse - Daniel 3 / James 1 Jesus walking with Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego through the fiery furnace. Do not despair! You are not alone in your hardship! 1 Peter 4:12Dear friends, don't be surprised at the fiery trials you are going through,as if something strange were happening to you. 1 Peter 4:14Be happy if you are insulted for being a Christian, for then the glorious Spirit of God will come upon you. There are different kinds of trials and testings in the life of the Christian.The devil tempts us to destroy our faith, but God tests us to develop our faith. A faith that cannot be tested is a faith that cannot be trusted.This is clearly shown in the story before us of Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-Nego. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego stood up for what was right, even at the risk of losing their own lives. The stand you make today will determine what kind of stand you will make tomorrow. The most important time of our life is the time of our youth.It is when we set our course and habits are developed. The evening of our life is determined by the morning of it,the end from the beginning. Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-Nego made a stand in a small area.This is why they had the character and strength to make their stand in a larger one. Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-Nego were captured along with Daniel and placed as counselors to the king. One night King Nebuchadnezzar had a troubling dream.When he awoke, he called in all the astrologers and magicians. The prophet, Daniel, humbly gave glory to God, and told the king he had dreamed of a giant statue. Daniel 2:47 (NLT)The King said to Daniel, "Truly, your God is the God of gods, the Lord over kings, a revealer of mysteries, for you have been able to reveal this secret." As chapter 3 opens, around 16–20 years have passed.King Nebuchadnezzar has a 90-foot-tall statue erected, covered in gold of himself! The King ordered that everyone gather for a big celebration.They had an orchestra in place and when they played you better bow, or else! The Lord was very clear about that in the Ten Commandments. Exodus 20:4–5"Do not make idols of any kind; you must never worship or bow down to them, for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God who will not share your affection with any.” Thousands of Israelites apparently bowed, but not these three.Someone estimated 300,000 people were present. Read Daniel 3:14–18 King Nebuchadnezzar was choosing off God, when he asks,“What god will be able to rescue you?” Nebuchadnezzar had quickly forgotten the God who gave him a dream. Because of his pride, Nebuchadnezzar would soon be brought to his knees. Everybody is a worshipper. The question is not if we worship or not.It’s who we worship. Because Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego worshipped God, they could not worship the statue. You will end up serving who you worship. Daniel 3:18”Your Majesty can be sure that we will never serve your gods or worship the gold statue you have set up." A moment at the altar of sexual experimentation can lead to a lifetime of regret. Moments spent worshipping God can lead to a lifetime of service. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego were adamant, they were not going to bow. This will happen in the life of every Christian.Sooner or later, you too will be asked to bow before some idol. These boys were facing peer pressure on an epic scale. Despite the fact that everyone in Babylon bowed,Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego stood up straight. They figured, "Better to burn on earth and bow in Heaven, than to bow on earth, and burn in Hell!” One day, the Disciples came to Jesus, excited that they could cast out demons. Luke 10:20 (NLT)“But don't rejoice because evil spirits obey you; rejoice because your names are registered in heaven." Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego were not sure they would survive this, but they were sure of God’s promises.Daniel 3:17–18 Either God would preserve them, or He would be waiting on the other side. Upon hearing of this insubordination on the part of these three teens, the King flies into a rage. Read Daniel 3:19–25 Nebuchadnezzar said the fourth man looked “like the Son of God!” In this Christophany, Jesus walked with Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego through this fiery furnace. Isaiah 43:2 (NIV)When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. Jesus is there with you, each step of the way. Jesus said, "Lo, I am with you, even until the end of the world." James 1:2–4When all kinds of trials and temptations crowd into your lives, my brothers, don't treat them as intruders but friends! Realize that they come to test your faith and to produce in you the quality of endurance. But let the process go on, until that endurance is fully developed, and you will find you have become men of mature character, men of integrity with no weak spots. Staying cool, when things get hot. How do you do that? It’s similar to going to the gym and working out. A lot of folks find themselves getting tired and lethargic and say, “I’m just getting old!”Yes, and it maybe you are just out of shape too. Maybe you need to get busy and do something with your faith. Jesus said, “Give and it shall be given unto you.” Trials take our faith from the realm of theory to reality. James 1:3 (NKJV)Knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. Perseverance! (Greek: Hypomonē) We know about the suffering of Joseph. Psalm 105:18 (NLT)They bruised his feet with fetters and placed his neck in an iron collar. “As he was laid in iron, iron entered his soul.” The very thing you want out of your life may be the thing you need in your life. If you want to grow spiritually, iron must enter your soul. James 1:4 (NKJV)Let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. We may pray, “Lord, use me for Your glory! Bless me, Lord!”Then a trial comes. James 1:2 (NKJV)My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials,No two experiences are alike. How did they do this?By the decisions and commitments they made years earlier. An idol is anyone or anything that takes God’s place in our life. 1 John 5:21 (NKJV)Little children, keep yourselves from idols. One day another world leader will come along and demand worship.The bible calls him Antichrist. He too will erect an image and demand worship, placing the image in the temple. Jesus promises to deliver us from this time of tribulation. Revelation 3:10 (NKJV)"Because you have kept My command to persevere, I also will keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth.” Revelation 3:11 (NKJV)"Behold, I am coming quickly! Jesus says, ”Behold, I am coming quickly!”Revelation 3:11 Nebuchadnezzar saw God work. Maybe God is trying to get your attention today! Jesus died on the cross for your sin so you could know God. Looking for hope or know someone who is? Join Greg Laurie at the Harvest Crusade: Hope for America on November 16! Get event information here. — Become a Harvest Partner today and join us in knowing God and making Him known through media and large-scale evangelism, our mission of over 30 years. Explore more resources from Pastor Greg Laurie, including daily devotionals and blogs, designed to answer your spiritual questions and equip you to walk closely with Christ.Support the show: https://bit.ly/anbsupportSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

John the Elder tells us that the world under the sway of the evil one is driven by pride, greed, and lust. (Think of how much advertising appeals to pride, greed, or lust.) This world (prophetically called Babylon) cannot be harnessed for good—even though religious ambition for political power imagines it can. The task of the church is not to reappropriate the engines of pride, greed, and lust, but to be something altogether different—the kingdom of Jesus Christ energized by faith, hope, and love.

Prayer. We are called to be consistently, and constantly, praying. The Most High God over all the universe desires to be in connection with us, and to hear from us. I DON’T UNDERSTAND WHY!!! I know how inconsistent I am, how full of complaint and selfish requests, and how unworthy I am to be in connection with Him. Why would He want to hear from me?! The simple answer: He loves us. God made us to be in relationship with Him, and gives us the opportunity to be brought into his family through faith in Jesus. He pursues as a father pursues his child, and invites us to enter His throne room with boldness. There are some great examples of people who consistently prayed in the Bible. One of them is Daniel, who fervently prayed throughout Israel’s exile in Babylon. Daniel prayed so consistently that his enemies were able to use it against him. They manipulated the law to their benefit and made it illegal for Daniel to continue with his regular pattern of prayer. When Daniel saw this he went up to his room and prayed, just like he always did. He knew the risks, but he also knew the one to whom he was praying. Daniel’s radical faith powerfully held him to trust in God even in the midst of dangerous times. Join us Sunday for our worship service where we will dive in to how we can be more radical in our prayer life. - Pastor Ben Key Verse: Daniel 6:10 (NIV) - "Now when Daniel learned that the decree had been published, he went home to his upstairs room where the windows opened toward Jerusalem. Three times a day he got down on his knees and prayed, giving thanks to his God, just as he had done before." For this week's Scripture and notes: http://bible.com/events/49496620

Introduction Nebuchadnezzar was known as a great builder (the hanging gardens of Babylon, for example) and a fierce conqueror. Jeremiah 52:…

2 Chronicles 32 tells of Sennacherib's attack upon Israel and Judah. The year is BC 709. God has made provision for the defence of Jerusalem during a siege by its geography and the water course from outside the city to be secreted and channelled beneath the city emerging from the Gihon (the "Virgins' Fountain") to the Pool of Siloam. Hezekiah completes this magnificent engineering feat (one can walk its length today beneath Jerusalem). King Hezekiah has armed the people well, but more importantly he has fortified the faith of the nation. Sennacherib comes and blasphemes Yahweh, the living God. The general of the Assyrians seeks to undermine the courage of the defenders by speaking directly in Hebrew to the soldiers and people on the wall. Hezekiah makes it a matter of prayer to the Almighty. So, the invaders are doomed for it is not Judah who they will fight but their Almighty Sovereign. They fall in the siege not to shoot a single arrow. Overnight 185,000 Assyrians are slain. An added complication is that at this time king Hezekiah is fatally stricken with leprosy. God heals the faithful king and adds 15 years to Hezekiah's life (his prayer in Isaiah 38 should be read to appreciate his desperation and his gratitude). Many nations bring gifts on Hezekiah's recovery including ambassadors from Babylon. Sadly, king Hezekiah becomes lifted up in pride and shows the ambassadors what was to become Babylon's lure to destroy Jerusalem in about 100 years (see 2 Kings 20verses12-19 and meditate on the lessons Paul draws from this in 1 Timothy 6verses17-19.Daniel 12 explains to us of the time of the end when Michael (one like God) - the Lord Jesus Christ - stands up. It will be a 'time of trouble such as has never been'. But God's people will be delivered and the wise will shine as the stars (cp Matthew 13verses43). The understanding of the signs of the times would be concealed until the end time. From verses 5-12 Daniel is given a sequence of time periods which culminate in our era. Daniel himself is assured personally that at that time he would receive eternal life (cp Philippians 3verses7-11).We are told of the selection of Barnabas and Paul by God to undertake preaching as representatives of the ecclesia in Antioch in Syria. This chapter speaks of Saul's name being changed to Paul - meaning "little"; since he now saw himself in that way (see 1 Corinthians 15verses9). We see that Barnabas and Saul were chosen from a very select group of believers. Barnabas and Paul first sail to Cyprus - quite possibly where Barnabas has connections (he sold his land and business). It was here that the Apostles were aided by God in the face of a powerful enemy. From verses 13-52 we read of the Apostles' journeys to Perga and to Antioch in Pisidia. Antioch was in the mountainous region of Turkey. Paul appears to have been sick at this time. Ramsay speculates that it was perhaps malaria. Paul's address in the synagogue at Antioch is masterful and contains many echoes from Stephen's defence in Acts 7. In addition to bringing salient points from Israel's history to the fore - especially those which focus on the coming Messiah - Paul shows how the Scriptures (in particular Psalm 2; Psalm 16 and Isaiah 55) reveal that Christ would die and be raised to eternal life. Through the Lord Jesus Christ forgiveness of sins would be granted to those believing and accepting God's offer. The next Sabbath the entire city comes to hear Paul's message. The Jews stir up opposition and are denounced by Paul, who declares that from now on Paul and Barnabas would preach to the Gentiles. The Apostles left Antioch shaking the dust from their feet as the Lord Jesus had commanded his disciples to do in Matthew 10verses14).Thanks for joining us - we pray you found these comments helpful in your appreciation of God's words, join again tomorrow

All Saints' Day Old Testament Daniel 7:1-3,15-18 In the first year of King Belshazzar of Babylon, Daniel had a dream and visions of his head as he lay in bed. Then he wrote down the dream: I, Daniel, saw in my vision by night the four winds of heaven stirring up the great sea, and four great beasts came up out of the sea, different from one another. As for me, Daniel, my spirit was troubled within me, and the visions of my head terrified me. I approached one of the attendants to ask him the truth concerning all this. So he said that he would disclose to me the interpretation of the matter: "As for these four great beasts, four kings shall arise out of the earth. But the holy ones of the Most High shall receive the kingdom and possess the kingdom for ever—for ever and ever." The Psalm Psalm 149 Cantate Domino 1 Hallelujah! Sing to the Lord a new song; * sing his praise in the congregation of the faithful. 2 Let Israel rejoice in his Maker; * let the children of Zion be joyful in their King. 3 Let them praise his Name in the dance; * let them sing praise to him with timbrel and harp. 4 For the Lord takes pleasure in his people * and adorns the poor with victory. 5 Let the faithful rejoice in triumph; * let them be joyful on their beds. 6 Let the praises of God be in their throat * and a two-edged sword in their hand; 7 To wreak vengeance on the nations * and punishment on the peoples; 8 To bind their kings in chains * and their nobles with links of iron; 9 To inflict on them the judgment decreed; * this is glory for all his faithful people. Hallelujah! The Epistle Ephesians 1:11-23 In Christ we have also obtained an inheritance, having been destined according to the purpose of him who accomplishes all things according to his counsel and will, so that we, who were the first to set our hope on Christ, might live for the praise of his glory. In him you also, when you had heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and had believed in him, were marked with the seal of the promised Holy Spirit; this is the pledge of our inheritance toward redemption as God's own people, to the praise of his glory. I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love toward all the saints, and for this reason I do not cease to give thanks for you as I remember you in my prayers. I pray that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation as you come to know him, so that, with the eyes of your heart enlightened, you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance among the saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power for us who believe, according to the working of his great power. God put this power to work in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the age to come. And he has put all things under his feet and has made him the head over all things for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all. The Gospel Luke 6:20-31 Jesus looked up at his disciples and said: "Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God. "Blessed are you who are hungry now, for you will be filled. "Blessed are you who weep now, for you will laugh. "Blessed are you when people hate you, and when they exclude you, revile you, and defame you on account of the Son of Man. Rejoice in that day and leap for joy, for surely your reward is great in heaven; for that is what their ancestors did to the prophets." "But woe to you who are rich, for you have received your consolation. "Woe to you who are full now, for you will be hungry. "Woe to you who are laughing now, for you will mourn and weep. "Woe to you when all speak well of you, for that is what their ancestors did to the false prophets. "But I say to you that listen, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you. If anyone strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also; and from anyone who takes away your coat do not withhold even your shirt. Give to everyone who begs from you; and if anyone takes away your goods, do not ask for them again. Do to others as you would have them do to you.

This powerful exploration of Revelation 18 confronts us with an uncomfortable truth: the spirit of Babylon isn't just a future reality—it's alive in our hearts today. The passage presents Babylon as more than a geographical location; it represents a way of life that pursues pleasure, power, prestige, and prosperity at the expense of pursuing God. We're challenged to examine how easily we can become 'Babylonians' ourselves, orienting our lives around material possessions, luxury, and self-gratification rather than godliness. The devastating judgment that falls upon Babylon serves as a sobering reminder that everything we build apart from God will ultimately crumble. Yet there's profound hope in this message: while our sins are 'heaped as high as heaven,' God's mercy through Christ is higher still. The call is clear—we must neither abandon the world nor assimilate to it. Instead, we're to live distinct, godly lives that demonstrate Jesus is better than anything this world offers. Like the exiles in ancient Babylon, we're called to build houses, plant gardens, and seek the welfare of our communities while remaining unstained by worldly values. This isn't about physical removal from society but about pursuing holiness, generosity, and contentment in a culture obsessed with accumulation and self-promotion.

This profound exploration of Jeremiah 31:31-34 invites us to discover that God's faithfulness isn't just a theological conceptit's a living pattern woven throughout history. We journey from ancient campfires in Babylonian exile to the upper room where Jesus spoke of a new covenant, discovering that God's rescue mission has never changed. The exiles who sat in darkness heard a promise that seemed impossible: God would write His law on their hearts, forgive their sins, and restore their relationship with Him. What makes this message so compelling is realizing we're part of this same story. The new covenant isn't merely about Jesus fulfilling ancient prophecy; it's about God doing what He has always donerescuing people who cannot save themselves. We see shadows and echoes of God's redemptive work in the Exodus, in the return from exile, in Christ's sacrifice, and ultimately in the future restoration described in Revelation. The four promises Jeremiah proclaimedinternal transformation, intimate relationship, universal knowledge of God, and complete forgivenessare simultaneously fulfilled and still unfolding. We live in the 'already but not yet,' experiencing the Holy Spirit writing on our hearts while anticipating the day when God will fully dwell among us. This isn't just history; it's our story of grace, hope, and divine rescue. In what ways do you currently feel 'in exile' or distant from God, and how might Jeremiah's promise of a new covenant speak hope into that situation? How does understanding that God's rescue pattern repeats throughout historyfrom Egypt to Babylon to Jesuschange the way you view your current struggles? What does it mean practically for God's law to be 'written on your heart' rather than simply following external rules, and how have you experienced this transformation? The sermon mentions that Israel broke the covenant almost immediately after receiving it at Sinai. Why do you think we repeatedly fail to keep our commitments to God, and what does God's repeated forgiveness reveal about His character? How does recognizing that 'our future is determined not by who we are, but whose we are' shift your perspective on personal identity and security? Jeremiah was told to proclaim a message even though God warned him the people wouldn't listen. When have you felt called to faithfulness despite knowing the outcome might be discouraging? The sermon suggests we're living between the 'already' and 'not yet' fulfillment of God's promises. How does this tension affect the way you live today and hope for tomorrow? What does it mean that we still need to teach our neighbors about God if Jeremiah prophesied a day when everyone would know Him? How do we reconcile partial fulfillment with complete promise? How does the practice of communion help you remember and participate in God's ongoing story of rescue and covenant relationship? The exiles in Babylon told stories around campfires to remember who they were as God's people. What spiritual practices help you remember God's faithfulness when you feel captive or hopeless?

Faithful in Babylon: Covenantal PrayingScripture Ref: Daniel 9:1-19Speaker: Johnny Carson

Daniel 1 Sorry for the poor audio quality.

Join Matt and Jake on Sabbath Lounge as they reflect on what happened at their Sukkot celebration — sharing family gatherings, meaningful new traditions, and timeless lessons from the Feast of Tabernacles. Together they explore the Gospel story behind the feast, uncovering deep spiritual truths found in Scripture and how they connect to the joy and meaning of Sukkot today. Watch to discover how faith, family, and biblical truth come together in this season of rejoicing.     #SabbathLounge #Sukkot #FeastOfTabernacles #BiblicalFeasts #TheGospelStory #FaithAndFamily #TorahLife     Find us on iTunes, Spotify, TikTok, and Podbean.   Gen 33:17 And Jacob journeyed to Succoth, and built him an house, and made booths for his cattle: therefore the name of the place is called Succoth. Root Word Suka The KJV translates Strong's H5521 in the following manner: tabernacle (12x), booth (11x), pavilion (5x), cottage (1x), covert (1x), tents (1x). thicket, covert, booth, thicket, booth (rude or temporary shelter) Plural Suka (Succoth) סוכות (succoth) broken down by letter: Samech, The root סכך (sakak) or שכך (sakak) speaks of the creation of a hedge of sorts from interwoven strands of sorts. It commonly describes how prickly branches interweave to create a defensive hedge to hide behind and to look intently out from     Jeremiah 35:5-10 5 Then I set cups and pitchers filled with wine in front of the family of Rechab. I said to them, “Drink some wine.”6 They answered, “We don't drink wine, because our ancestor Jonadab, Rechab's son, gave us this order: ‘You and your descendants must never drink wine. 7 Never build any houses or plant any fields or vineyards. You must never have any of these things. You must always live in tents so that you may live for a long time in the land where you are staying.' 8 We, along with our wives, sons, and daughters, have obeyed our ancestor Jonadab, Rechab's son, in everything he ordered us to do. We have never drunk wine, 9 built houses to live in, or owned vineyards, pastures, or grainfields. 10 We live in tents, and we have obeyed everything our ancestor Jonadab ordered us to do. 11 But when King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon invaded this land, we said, ‘Let's go to Jerusalem to escape the Babylonian and Aramean armies.' That's why we are living in Jerusalem.” -Sucathites- A hedged in people From the root סכך(sakak), to weave a protection. Job 1:10 Names of God Bible 10 Haven't you put a protective fence around him, his home, and everything he has. You have blessed everything he does. His cattle have spread out over the land. Hosea 2:8 Names of God Bible 8 “She doesn't believe that I gave her grain, new wine, and olive oil.   I gave her plenty of silver and gold,  but she used it to make statues of Baal.   Ruth 3 Naomi, Ruth's mother-in-law, said to her, “My daughter, shouldn't I try to look for a home that would be good for you? 2 Isn't Boaz, whose young women you've been working with, our relative? He will be separating the barley from its husks on the threshing floor[a] tonight. 3 Freshen up, put on some perfume, dress up, and go down to the threshing floor. Don't let him know that you're there until he's finished eating and drinking. 4 When he lies down, notice the place where he is lying. Then uncover his feet, and lie down there. He will make it clear what you must do.” 5 Ruth answered her, “I will do whatever you say.”   שוכתים- Verb סוך(suk) or סיך (syk) describes the administration of oil — apparently in the expectation that this would protect the recipient, since this two-faced verb may also be used to mean to hedge Noun אסוך ('asuk) means [oil-] flask. Noun מסכה (mesuka) means hedge and is obviously similar to משכה (mesukka) meaning hedge Ohel-The KJV translates Strong's H168 in the following manner: tabernacle(s) (198x), tent(s) (141x), dwelling (2x), place(s) (2x), covering (1x), home (1x). tent, nomad's tent, and thus symbolic of wilderness life, transience, dwelling, home, habitation, the sacred tent of Jehovah (the tabernacle) סוּךְ Transliteration sûḵ -Pronunciation-sook to anoint, pour in anointing (Qal) to anoint to anoint oneself to anoint (another) to be poured (Hiphil) to anoint   https://jacksontrailfarm.com/2025/10/05/gospelstoryofthefeast/   At Sabbath Lounge we are dedicated to eating clean, keeping the Feast, Sabbath, following Torah, and leading as many people out of Babylon as possible.   Find more information below:   www.sabbathlounge.com    https://linktr.ee/Sabbathlounge  

As evidenced by the pyramids that remain standing today, the treasures of the pharaohs, along with abundant of historical records, Egypt was once a major world power that ruled mightily for centuries. Bible readers will recall that Joseph helped Egypt thrive early in their history and that Egypt held the nation of Israel in bondage for 400 years. This proud nation defied the Lord God and proved to be an unreliable ally to the surrounding nations, a splintered, reed staff that injured those who leaned on it. In today's text, God proclaims that he will once again use Babylon as the sword of his wrath. Unlike some other nations, the exiled Egyptians will be allowed to return to their land, but as a nation they will never again achieve their former status.Ezekiel 29 - 1:10 . Ezekiel 30 - 6:02 . Ezekiel 31 - 12:05 . Ezekiel 32 - 17:41 . Psalm 134 - 25:17 . Psalm 135 - 25:44 .  :::Christian Standard Bible translation.All music written and produced by John Burgess Ross.Co-produced by Bobby Brown, Katelyn Pridgen, Eric Williamson & the Christian Standard Biblefacebook.com/commuterbibleinstagram.com/commuter_bibletwitter.com/CommuterPodpatreon.com/commuterbibleadmin@commuterbible.org

In this episode, Camden Bucey speaks with Danny Olinger, General Secretary of the OPC Committee on Christian Education, about his new book Christ and His Church-Bride: Meredith G. Kline's Biblical-Theological Reading of Revelation (Reformed Forum). Olinger traces how Kline's covenantal and redemptive-historical reading of Revelation portrays the church's transformation into the radiant Bride of Christ, moving from imperfection and suffering in the present age to consummate glory in the new creation. The discussion unfolds key themes of recapitulation, the conflict between Babylon and the Bride, and the covenantal drama of creation to consummation. Through rich historical and exegetical reflection, Olinger shows how Kline weaves together Genesis, Daniel, Zechariah, and Revelation to present a unified vision of redemptive history centered on Christ's victory and the Spirit's work in the church. The conversation is both theologically rigorous and pastorally hopeful—reminding listeners that Christ reigns now, the church's pilgrim identity is secure, and the gospel's progress continues unthwarted by the powers of this world. Watch on YouTube Chapters 00:00 Introduction and Book Announcement 06:27 Origins of the Book and Rediscovery of Kline's Revelation Paper 11:19 Kline's Covenant Drama: Creation to Consummation 20:55 Understanding Recapitulation in Revelation 26:24 The Deeper Conflict: The Woman, the Dragon, and the Church 31:18 The Church Imperfect and Perfected in Glory 34:25 The Armageddon Paradigm and Covenant Mount 37:51 Christ and His Church-Bride: Theological and Pastoral Heart 48:13 The New Jerusalem and the Covenant of Grace 53:09 Suffering, Sanctification, and the Bride's Purification 57:07 Babylon vs. the Bride: The Church's Pilgrim Calling 01:01:02 Christ Reigns Now: Hope for the Pilgrim Church 01:04:29 Closing, Resources, and Final Reflections

Pastors' Point of View Ep. 380 with Dr. Andy Woods“Prophecy Update”Topics covered:BabylonSocietal sinsPersecutionApostasyWhile the world celebrates Halloween, let's remember this is Reformation Day - the day Martin Luther took his stand on Scripture alone over 500 years ago. Today, we need that same commitment to God's Word more than ever.Bible prophecy isn't just about the future - it's unfolding right now. From Babylon's economic revival in Iraq to persecution rising globally, from California's assault on parental rights to the church's growing biblical illiteracy, we're witnessing Jesus' predictions coming to life.Did you know Iraq just launched "Vision 2050" to position Babylon as a hub for 20% of Asia-Europe commerce? Or that new laws now allow strangers to make medical decisions for your children without parental consent? These aren't random events - they're prophetic markers.Jesus warned that the last days would mirror Sodom and Gomorrah's depravity. Paul predicted the church would turn from sound doctrine. We're watching both unfold simultaneously.But here's the hope: these signs point to Christ's imminent return. We have the blessed hope of the rapture before the tribulation begins. The question is - are you ready? Have you placed your personal faith in Jesus Christ for salvation?Don't be discouraged. Be discerning. Stand on Scripture alone. The darker it gets, the brighter our light should shine.Looking for the blessed hope and appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ. - Titus 2:13

In this episode of The Reformed Brotherhood, Jesse Schwamb explores Jesus' parable of the mustard seed from Matthew 13. The seemingly insignificant mustard seed grows into a mighty tree, providing a profound metaphor for God's kingdom—beginning in humble, ordinary ways yet expanding to glorious fulfillment. Jesse unpacks how this parable challenges our expectations of power and glory, revealing that God intentionally works through what appears small and insignificant to manifest His mighty power. This episode offers a meditation on God's kingdom, which operates contrary to human expectations, growing unstoppably between Christ's first and second comings despite opposition, and ultimately providing shelter for all nations. Key Takeaways The kingdom of God begins with something small and seemingly insignificant (a mustard seed) yet grows to become greater than all garden plants Jesus deliberately uses ordinary, humble elements to describe God's kingdom, contrasting with human expectations of power and glory The theology of the cross consistently looks to normal, ordinary means rather than what people perceive as great and powerful There is significant growth of God's kingdom between Christ's first advent and His eventual return God's kingdom cannot be stopped by opposition; attempts to destroy it actually facilitate its growth Biblical meditation on Jesus' parables is essential for deeper understanding and application The parable connects to Old Testament imagery (particularly in Daniel and Ezekiel) where trees represent kingdoms The Theology of Ordinary Means The parable of the mustard seed demonstrates what Jesse refers to as "the theology of the cross" versus "the theology of glory." God consistently chooses to work through what appears weak, small, and insignificant rather than through impressive displays of worldly power. As Jesse explains, "The theology of Cross is always looking to these normal, ordinary insignificant things. It's God's stacking the deck against himself to show his great power that he works not... in the circumstance of what people perceive to be great and powerful, but the exact opposite." This approach reveals God's sovereignty—He needs no human advantage, political power, or military might to accomplish His purposes. The kingdom that began with Jesus' seemingly humble first advent will culminate in His glorious return, showing that God's power is made perfect in weakness. The Unstoppable Growth of God's Kingdom One of the most encouraging aspects of this parable is how it portrays the inevitability of the kingdom's growth. Just as a mustard seed inevitably grows into a tree according to its nature, God's kingdom advances despite opposition. Jesse notes how throughout history, attempts to destroy Christianity have always failed: "History is replete with those... who have tried in their own way to silence God, to destroy the scriptures or to somehow eradicate Christianity. And of course, history will be filled up with all of their failures." Even the martyrdom of Stephen in the early church, which seemed like a defeat, actually caused the gospel to spread beyond Jerusalem as believers were scattered. This illustrates Jesus' promise that "the gates of hell will not prevail against his church" (Matthew 16:18). The kingdom continues to grow by God's power until its final consummation when Christ returns. Memorable Quotes "The humble inauguration was not a mistake. This is planned by God and it is for his great purpose. It shows His great power, his love for his people, and the ordinary way in which he brings about all of these things." - Jesse Schwamb "This unassuming seed, which God plants, continues to grow by his power, his volition, his sustenance, until it takes over all things." - Jesse Schwamb "The one who took on flesh and was born in a humble state will return in splendor and judgment to consummate this kingdom." - Jesse Schwamb Full Transcript the theology of Cross is always looking to these. Normal, ordinary insignificant things. It's, God's stacking the deck against himself to show his great power that he works not with great po, not in the circumstance of what people perceive us to be. Great and powerful, but the exact opposite. Welcome to episode 467 of The Reformed Brotherhood. I'm Jesse, and this is the podcast with ears to hear. Hey, brothers and sisters. Well, we're back at it again. [00:00:48] Exploring the Kingdom of God Through Parables On this episode, we're talking about seeds and leave. In what other ways would Jesus describe the kingdom of God? And we're gonna get to all of that, but in a slightly different format. Something special for everybody on this episode. It may have noticed that. Right at the top. Tony is missing, but fear not. He's still here. We're doing something different on this episode and that is we're gonna speak about the kingdom of God as Jesus describes it in parable form with the mustard seed and the leave. And so what we decided to do is I'm gonna give a quick little primer, my thoughts, my observations. On the mustard soup parable, and then Tony will be right behind me to talk about the leaven. And then in the next episode, we're coming together and we're gonna see how all of our different explanations kind of come, came together and coalesced around single themes. So this is a fun little game where you're gonna hear from. You're gonna hear from Tony, and we're gonna see how all of this comes together in the end, because neither of us is having the conversation in real time, but I'm sure that we're gonna have a lot of the similar things to say and it'll be a fun little game of seeing how all of this comes together. So if you wanna play along. And you definitely should come hang out with us in Matthew chapter 13. [00:02:04] The Mustard Seed Parable So we've gone through a couple parables already and the beauty of looking at these parables, of course, one of the many beauties, I guess I should say, is that we're getting some direct teaching from Jesus, which is always great, and we're getting it directly about the Kingdom of God. The God perspective on salvation. Clear, concise, in parable form. And so we found ourselves looking at fields, looking at planting, looking at weeds, looking at tears, looking at wheats. And now after all of that, we're coming back. To in some ways, at least for me, a familiar form. And that is we're back to seeds again. And this time it's a particular type of seed. It's the mustard seed, and Tony's gonna handle something new, a total change in direction, a totally different comparison. He's gonna get into lemon and bread making and all that kinda good stuff. But in either case, what we're finding is Jesus is specifically coming to us once again. With these finely tuned stories to help explain to us the kingdom of God. And of course, like this is clear because in all of Jesus' teaching, the kingdom of God holds this like high and lifted up this prominent position. It gets hegemony in all the other topics. And as he goes about his earthly ministry, wherever gospel you look, you're gonna find that he's proclaiming his coming to earth and that this coming meant that the kingdom of God was at hand. Now, I can only imagine, and you ought to as well, that if you were in that time, if you were listening to Jesus. What an incredible thing that would be that you're trying to understand and really discern what the he means about this kingdom of God. And perhaps like you, I would have my own perceptions of what that was, and if he's inaugurating it, I'm waiting for that thing to happen. And a kingdom is a powerful representation of ownership. Power in hierarchy in a place that's clearly manifested. And so as Jesus is in the midst of all these hears, these disciples that are gathering around the throngs of people that are trying to understand what he has to say. If he's coming and saying, I am here to inaugurate the kingdom of God, then my first question would be. Where is it? Tell us what it's gonna look like. Show me what you mean when you say that the kingdom of God is here, that you're ushering it in. And so how strange and unusual then for Jesus to say something like the kingdom of God is like a mustard seed, or the kingdom of God is like lemon in bread. So it seems altogether fitting that Jesus would want to and would have to explain what exactly he means. It's a little bit though mysterious that he uses these elements. To bring about that kind of explanation. I find that endlessly fascinating. [00:04:32] Meditation on Jesus' Teachings Speaking of which, I think one of the reasons why Tony and I are discovering that we're loving these parables so much is that it forces us to do something that sometimes is Modern Christians we're honestly just not that good at it, not skilled and often not practiced because our lives are filled with many things. And we prefer not to do this, and that is to actually meditate on what he's saying, to actually like turn it over in our minds to think about it. Like personally, practically, seriously, and earnestly to understand how the truth of God's words should look in life. And it just dawned on me this week that really the parable forces us into that rubric, whether we want to or not, because the whole purpose is to take what he's saying and to dwell on it to such degree that we receive something of the promises that are therein. By chewing on them. And it's just too easy to read the scriptures, of course, and to take with you as you pass by those words, something of a little bit of the knowledge that's contained within something about the phraseology or about the facts of it. But really what God's after here is this idea that we would spend time meditating on the words of Jesus, so that we might truly understand what he means by the kingdom of God. And then we might take that kingdom into our own realm, as it were, into our own sphere of influence to manifest it. And to worship him through it and to be obedient in it. Be not because of works on the righteousness, of course, but because we already have been saved by a great savior for this kingdom. And now we know something about what it's actually like by way of these beautiful metaphors. And of course, like the metaphors, even if they're straightforward. As we're about to find in this one, still force us into them to really say, well, what? What does it mean? We're gonna talk about seeds and mustard plants, and where else we find trees in the scriptures. Without meditation, we lose so much of this without meditation. Truths are maybe devoured, but they're never digested. I like what the great Puritan Watson wrote. He said, it's better to meditate on one sermon than to hear. Five sermons. Many complain that they do not profit from sermons. This may be the chief reason, because they do not chew the cud. They do not meditate on what they have heard. And I think one of the great goals that Tony have in this series is that even as we're thinking about this before we have conversation with each other and present it all to you, that we really wanna spend time truly meditating on it, thinking practically, deeply for a long period of time. On what is being said here, what Jesus means by it, that it is for us, that it is a gift that he gives to us. And so I really totally resonate with what Watson is saying here, that when a Christian enters into meditation through the scriptures, that they receive healing, they receive power from God, that receive insights and wisdom, that receive his comforts, that receive his direction for life, and that all of that is, or most of that. Rather is lost if we move too quickly by it. We tend to gather a lot of knowledge, but maybe not a lot of the wisdom that's contained in there. So even if this sounds simple, this little parable that's before us, it's just a couple of verses. Loved ones that there is so much in it for us to understand and to chew on. I don't think we can expect to get all the understanding in one go and that's okay. We keep coming back to it. Certainly. I'm not gonna cover it all here. This is definitely not going to be, though. You might expect it, the definitive episode. On the parable of the mustard seed in the lemon. It can't be really, and that's because there's just so much for us to understand here and to receive from God. So that is the longest intro ever. So let me cut it there and let's just go right to the scripture, which of course is the best part of this podcast. Always. So this is Matthew chapter 13, beginning in verse 31, just a couple of verses. Jesus put another parable before them saying The kingdom of heaven is like a grain of mustard seed than a man took and sowed in his field. It is the smallest of all seeds, but when it has grown, it is larger than all the garden plants and becomes a tree. So that the birds of the air come and make nests in its branches. Lovely. Right. It's wild because it's such quick language there. It's so brief and already I wanted to go further, but I would be into Tony's verses, which he's gonna hit with us in just a second for. But it's really compact statement of just a couple of things. One, can we just agree that I love the way that this particular little passage begins? It just starts by saying, Jesus put another parable before them. What beautiful language that he's really throwing before his disciples placing for them to evaluate again, to meditate on these beautiful words of his that express what the kingdom of heaven is like. It's of course, well within God's purview. To not have given us any kind of direct revelation here, or direct expression or even metaphorical or comparative expression of his kingdom. How kind that he does this. And then I think there is something for us to study in this, again, to chew the cut, as Watson would say, on what it means for us to think about heaven as this grain of mustard seed and that a man took it. And he sewed it in his field. It's very small, yet it grew larger than all of the other garden plants that would probably be in that field. It became a tree, and then as a result of that, the birds of the air come and make its nest in its branches. So you can see that there's all this interesting, logical pro progression throughout this passage. And we're talking about really just two verses, really, just that many sentences. It's really exceptional thing, you know. [00:09:52] The Growth of God's Kingdom I find it interesting that this illustration progresses this idea of the kingdom of God between its inauguration and consummation. There's something built in there, and like I said, I think it's realistic to assume that so many who are hearing these words we're really, truly trying to understand. Where was this kingdom, Jesus, that you're bringing in as the Son of David, show us this kingdom and its power and my own expectation. I still don't mean to put this on. Those who would've been there would've been that this kingdom would've come in power. I was waiting for it to be manifested with this sense that it would be very clear that Jesus was in. That all things, all realities both here and now in spiritual principalities will be clearly under his foot. We were looking for, we want to see the serpent crusher, the head crusher the better. David, the one that comes inlays Goliath Finally. Where is that pump and where is that power? And interestingly, Jesus says, no, actually, it's more like a mustard seed. And of course, I mean, you don't need to know much about seeds, but if you haven't looked up a mustard seed at this point, you definitely should because it's very tiny. That's obviously implied from the text, but it is very tiny, like crazy tiny, like almost so tiny that when I look at a mustard seed, whether you're like, you're looking at your. From your like spice rack or you go and Google one, it almost seems inconceivable that any size plant could come forth from that very, very tiny seed. It's so mundane and insignificant that the idea that Jesus would say, this is what this glorious kingdom of God is like, is almost mind boggling. Like even now it's mind boggling. And if it's not, it's because you have not looked at a mustard seed. Go check that bad boy out. It's so small. And so of course like Mustard would've been a common agricultural product that grew quite prolifically in that particular area. You know, the variety of mustard seed growth in PA in Palestine is probably similar, I imagine to like maybe most of like the northern hemisphere. There's various. Kind of varieties, of course of mustard seed. What I've learned since trying to chew on this text, and they grow in very all kinds of varieties, but this idea that this small seed can become something that you put in your garden, that grows to such a great extent that it dwarfs all of the other things. And of course it starts. In the most, I don't wanna say humble, that's like, that's almost too much. The most insignificant way is incredible. So the fact that, again, we have, I think in this something that Tony and I have come back to quite often, and that is the difference between the theology of glory and the theology of the cross. That the theology of Cross is always looking to these. Normal, ordinary means these insignificant things. It's, as we've said before, God's stacking the deck constantly against himself to show his great power that he works not with great po, not in the circumstance of what people perceive us to be. Great and powerful, but the exact opposite. And I think not just as the Bible communicates, not just to display his mighty power, but also to shore forth his great glory that he needs no other thing. And because he needs no other thing, he doesn't need things to go right for him. He doesn't need the right political leaders to be involved. He does not need armies. He does not need kingdoms. He inaugurates his own. And his own is so great and so powerful that it became, it can begin in the most insignificant way because the power is not itself in the planting of that thing, but in the thing that makes it grow. And so here we have this clean and clear delineation when it comes to trees that God, again, is doing the planting and this tree is gonna grow to such a great extent that dwarfs all the others besides it. And that not just that, it becomes a resting place. It becomes a living place, a place that provides shelter. And so. It's, that is a common theme that we find, like throughout all of the scriptures. In fact, I, I often think like God has a thing for, for a couple of different items. One is tense. God loves tense, loves sojourning jam. Then the third would be trees. I mean, look throughout the scripture and see where God is either using trees directly or using, this becomes like a grand metaphor explanation for so many of other great spiritual and theological principles. That's whether we go back all the way to the beginning in the guided and we see the tree of good evil, tree of knowledge of good and evil. Tree of Life rather. In addition to that, then we have all these other references, especially in the Old Testament, but I mean, whether it's Abraham and he's souring and he's, we're getting way points by way of trees, for instance, or whether we are in the New Testament and we're talking about fig trees. There are all these references to trees. They're embedded and impounded in the lifeblood of God's work and the story that he's telling, the grand narrative of salvation of his people. [00:14:35] Historical and Biblical Context And nowhere is this, I'd say more true than in places in the Old Testament, especially when we're speaking about like the book of Daniel Daniel, chapter four. So for instance, if you go back there, you're gonna find that this description here in some ways. Has it. I think parallel is probably not strong enough a word. There's like this direct connection between what God talks about and through the power of the Holy Spirit in the book of Daniel and what he Jesus' son is saying here. And in that book we see the descriptions harkening back to King Nebuchadnezzar, Babylon. He had a dream about a tree that had grown so large that the birds of the air rested in it. However, that tree was chopped down an instant. And Daniel's interpretation revealed that all the kingdoms a man will collapse, even this mighty nebuchadnezzar's kingdom. But God's kingdom that Jesus draws a parallel here to here is different. Although the inauguration of his kingdom was unimpressive, it's going to grow until it reaches final glorious form, until the birds of the heavens common nest and its branches, which by the way, is basically exactly out of Ezekiel 36, 31, chapter six. All the birds of the heavens made their nest in its bows under its branches. All the beasts of the field gave birth to the young and under its shadow, lived all the great nations. So lest is hearers miss this message here. You know, Jesus is saying very clearly, listen, there is growth of God's kingdom. Between his first and second advents and in them, Jesus showing the manner in which he's ushering in this kingdom of God and need not sow any doubts concerning the power and legitimacy of his Messianic office and of this kingdom that he's bringing in. The humble inauguration was not a mistake. You know, this is planned by God and it is for his great purpose. It shows. His great power, his love for his people, and the ordinary way in which he brings about all of these things. And we can see this in fact, some. One of the great blessings is that we sit in this place where we can interrogate, examine, have these parables read us, and we see that since Jesus uttered these parables, the mustard seed has in fact taken root and blossomed, you know? Those who oppose Jesus and his followers after his ascension tried to squelch this infant church to chop down this tree. I love, you've heard me say before, loved ones. I love this description of job that we get from the scriptures, that even in our, let's say, the most miserable times, even when it seems like all hope has been cut off from us. Even if it seems though it's never the case, even if it seems that we've been forgotten or forsaken, the scripture tells us of job. There's hope for job, like a cut down tree. There again, we have a tree and this, this idea that even though it was removed, it, new life springs forth from it again. New unassuming life, the kind of life that can only come from the creator, the one who restores all things, redeems, all things, loves his children, and for whom. We find the exact truth manifested in from Romans 8 28, that for those who love God and are called according to his purpose, all things, all things, all things work for good. And so this infant church, while in its time it was trying to be. There was so many attempts to crush it, to destroy it, that it went far beyond Jerusalem. All the attempts to do this were exactly futile. In fact, the more that God's enemies came both in the present day and in the previous day, the more they come where their AEs and try to chop at this tree, the more the tree grows. You know, a really wild example of this in the first century is the martyrdom of of Stephen, which I think is illustrative to this end because it precipitated a dispersion that carried the gospel beyond Jerusalem, into Judea, into Samaria, and to the ends of the earth, literally. That's Acts eight. You know, the history of the church is truly the fulfillment of Jesus' promise right here in this text that not even the gates of hell would prevail against his church. That's from Matthew 1618, and I know I've said before, but man, does it bear repeating. That gates don't attack anybody. Gates don't go out to battle. It's so for the Christian here, for what Jesus is saying, it's not that we have to worry that the gates of hell are coming after us, but that the normative position of the church is to grow in such a powerful and unassuming and mysterious way that even these gates, which will try to defend against the light, will not overcome it. And so because of that, we find that. It now houses the birds of heaven, that it feeds the nations that is lifeblood and it provides fruit for all who are there? The kingdom that Jesus inaugurated awaits his return for its full and final consummation. And so in the interim, we walk by faith and not by sight. We're citizens of that kingdom and we know it cannot be shaken. We know it's growing. You know, this is one of the things that I find incredible. I think you could have chosen. Any number of course of metaphors to explain what God's kingdom is like, and sometimes we choose our own and that's fun. We're trying to explain it in a particular way or maybe to express some kind of nuance of that kingdom. But my bet is that we would not use the words that Jesus has given us here if it were left to us to try to explain it without any kind of great insight. And again, the reason why is because this is too humble. It's too unassuming. It doesn't seem like it contains within enough power, but that's because we have in this, again, this super intending will of God that he's so great, so majestic, that his thoughts are so incredibly deep that even what we have to do here is let our consciousness and reason bow down to who God is and to what he says his kingdom is like, because he always. Brings it forth in every generation. He always brings it forth and it cannot be stopped. And of course, history is replete with those both individual leaders and cultures, movements and political heroes who have tried in their own way to silence God, to destroy the scriptures or to somehow eradicate Christianity. And of course, history will be filled up with all of their failures because this unassuming seed, which God plants. Continues to grow by his power, his volition, his sustenance, until it takes over all things. And in that final consummation, it absolutely will loved ones. And so we find, I think so much encouragement in that when Christ returns to consummate the kingdom of God, no one will be able to deny its glory then. And while many of us now where we look for that glory, we obtain that glory by faith and not by sight. And in the same way here that Jesus challenges us to say, look, this is how it works. And wow, do I wanna speak so much about the 11, but I've gotta save that for Tony. You know, the one who took on flesh and was born in a humble state will return in splendor and judgment to consummate this kingdom. And so in some ways this is a warning. That what started as this humble means of Jesus in the first advent coming speaking peace to his people that will will ultimately be bookended with this kind of final judgment that reflects his full unvarnished glory. And then finally. Finally the dwelling place of God will be with man. And in that way, the birds of heaven will nest in this tree, in this lovely coming together of a new heaven and a new earth of God with his people and us finally having that beautific vision of Jesus. So there's so much here. I think that's. We can spend a little bit of time chewing on, even if we just mull over in our mind, what does it mean again? That this kingdom of heaven is like, like a grain of a mustard seed, that it gets sewn. That's the small must of seeds, but that when it's grown, it's larger than all the garden plants, and then it becomes a tree. And because it is a tree and is this great and glorious tree, all the birds of the air come and make its nests and its branches. What are the birds? What are the, what are the nests? What are these branches? And of course, I think. There's so much there for all of us to really consider as we continue to ponder what it means for us to really follow the Lord Jesus Christ closely. So that is your little quick. Conversation about the mustard seed and the leaven. [00:23:00] Conclusion and Community Engagement Now, before I turn everybody over to Tony, I wanna remind you that you all probably have thoughts on this, and as you meditate on it, you'll certainly have thoughts on it. And the best place to come and hang out and share some of those thoughts is by joining our Telegram Chat Telegram. It's just a messaging app and we have a little. A little closed off corner of that world for you to come and hang out and meet and interact with other lovely brothers and sisters who are hanging out, listening to the podcast and hopefully doing a little meditating of their own. So the way that you find that, it's super easy. If you don't know by now, then you gotta know. You just go to T or t, me slash reform Brotherhood t me slash reform brotherhood, and that will take you a link to there. So loved ones. Go think about this Kingdom of heaven. It's like the grain of a mustard seed, but you know what else? It's also like the in bread. And for that, I'm gonna turn you over to.

2 Chronicles 29 says that Hezekiah was 25 when he began to rule and reigned for 29 years. Hezekiah walks in the ways of David (his spiritual father). Hezekiah was Judah's greatest ever king - read the testimony in 2 Kings 18 verse 5. This king cleanses the temple from the filth of his father, Ahaz. The Levites had to assist the priests with the task. Note the power of the words of verse 17 - the dedicated work began on the first day of his first month. They prepare for the Passover massive sacrifices and the offerings began as the music of praise and worship began. Seventy bulls were offered representing the 70 nations (Deuteronomy 32:8). Despite the suddenness of what the king did the people rejoiced and supported the Feast.Daniel 9 tells of the prophet's sadness when he realises that the exiles would be in Babylon for 70 years as spoken by Jeremiah in chapter 25. From verses 3-19 Daniel in his prayer confesses his sin and that of the nation expressing that they deserve what had befallen them. From the time he commences praying the angel Gabriel is sent to the beloved prophet to give him understanding of what is termed "the 70 weeks prophecy". That prophecy concerns the work of the Lord Jesus Christ - Messiah the Prince to bring in a "righteousness of the ages". The work is completed between AD30 with the crucifixion and the 70 weeks ending in AD32 with the stoning of Stephen. Each of the segments mentioned can be precisely dated from the archaeological records which exist. Because of the great sin of the nation in crucifying the Lord of glory and refusing the short period provided for repentance Rome would come and destroy Jerusalem. The year was AD33 when we read in Acts 9 of the conversion of Saul of Tarsus. Saul is seeking to destroy the believers in Christ who dwelt in Damascus. Saul presses on as the fierce Syrian sun burns brightly in the sky. Saul is blinded by a light stronger than the sun and he is stirred by a voice that he may well have known, "Saul, Saul why are you persecuting me?" The Syriac Pashito, whose phrase, "It is hard for you to kick against the goads" is added to the English KJV. Saul's response is, "Who are you Lord?" With his eyes blinded and his mind in total turmoil and his entire world view turned upside down (as would be said of him in Acts 17:6) he is led by the hand into the city to await instructions. For three days Saul neither ate nor drank. Ananias is told to go to Saul to lay hands on him to recover Saul's sight. Ananias is further told of Saul's mission which Almighty God has marked out for him. Saul is a chosen vessel to take Christ's message before kings. Ananias goes to the street which ironically named "Straight". Ramsay says in his book that it was the most crooked street in all Damascus. Ananias courageously lays his hands on Saul and restores his sight and imparts to Saul the Holy Spirit. Saul preaches Jesus in the Damascene synagogues to the astonishment of all. From there Saul goes to Jerusalem and seeks association with the believers, who shun him believing that Saul is using a ruse to get among them. Respite from persecution is granted to the ecclesias. Peter heals Aeneas at Lydda slightly inland from Joppa; then at Joppa he is shown the clothes that Dorcas had made for the widows and orphans before her decease. Peter raises her to life to continue her work and from there Peter he goes to the house of Simon the tanner. We might pose a question: Did Peter go to the house of a tanner to prepare himself to accept that ceremonial uncleanness was no longer relevant as we will see in our reading tomorrow from Acts 10?Thanks for joining us - we pray you found these comments helpful in your appreciation of God's words, join again tomorrow

Patreon.com/IlluminatiWatcher UNLOCK FULL EPISODE HERE! (Tier 2 gets video version)On today's episode of the Occult Symbolism and Pop Culture with Isaac Weishaupt podcast we have the Supporters-Only October BONUS episode where we decode the 2025 film WEAPON! I'll walk you through the whole film- starting with a brief discussion of the cast and then we hit the ground running with some hidden messaging that includes goat with the bobs, 1948, Sirius Lion's Gate portal, 217 meaning, connections to Stephen King, Q Anon, Osiris resurrection rituals, mark of the beast symbols, parasitic mushrooms, 7 glizzies, the meaning of that bell and the triangle with number 6, the tree, MKULTRA, Campbell's Soup and then we'll pull it all together in the conclusion where I'll pitch my theory about the coded meaning of the film as the summoning of the Antichrist through Aleister Crowley's Whore of Babylon!NOW UP AD-FREE ON SUPPORTER FEEDS! Free feed gets a preview! If you're ready to go ad-free and unlock hundreds of bonus episodes just like this one- sign up for one of the three supporter feeds:Patreon.com/IlluminatiWatcher (Tier 2 gets video version)VIP Section: https://wp.me/P2ijVF-aRL (Tier 2 gets video version)Apple Podcasts Premium! You can now go ad-free with ALL the bonus episodes on the Apple app- just open up the podcast and subscribe!Links:Idiocracy Film Analysis: Corporate Takeovers, Devolution of Society & New Atlantis! https://illuminatiwatcher.com/idiocracy-film-analysis-corporate-takeovers-devolution-of-society-new-atlantis/Truman Show Analysis: Gnostic Symbolism and Illuminati Control Systems!https://www.illuminatiwatcher.com/truman-show-analysis-gnostic-symbolism-and-illuminati-control-systemsCatcher in the Rye Conspiracies Pt 1: MKULTRA Incel Abused Killer, Secret Societies & Luigi Mangione!https://illuminatiwatcher.com/catcher-in-the-rye-conspiracies-pt-1-mkultra-incel-abused-killer-secret-societies-luigi-mangione/Sunshine Film Analysis: Black Sun, Saturn Death Cult & Hidden Solar Symbolism! BONUShttps://illuminatiwatcher.com/sunshine-film-analysis-black-sun-saturn-death-cult-hidden-solar-symbolism-bonus/Q Anon and the Occult Pt 1: Americas Secret Destiny Resurrection of Osiris and Symbolism of 17https://www.illuminatiwatcher.com/q-anon-and-the-occult-pt-1-americas-secret-destiny-resurrection-of-osiris-and-symbolism-of-17More from Isaac- links and special offers:*BREAKING SOCIAL NORMS podcast, Index of EVERY episode (back to 2014), Signed paperbacks, shirts, & other merch, Substack, YouTube links, appearances & more: https://allmylinks.com/isaacw *STATEMENT: This show is full of Isaac's useless opinions and presented for entertainment purposes. Audio clips used in Fair Use and taken from YouTube videos.

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Thomas Manton well noted that "Pride is the sin that turned angels into devils." King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon was an exceedingly prideful ruler, who was about to learn that God resists the proud! Join us now for this podcast message in Dan. Ch. 4, titled, "The Price of a Proud Heart."

Take Off the Masks: Choosing God's Reality Over Babylon's Illusions | KIB 503 Kingdom Intelligence Briefing Description There's a war on for your identity. In this Kingdom Intelligence Briefing, Dr. Michael and Mary Lou Lake expose the spiritual "masks" the enemy uses—from sanitized cultural traditions to personal coping personas—and invite the Remnant to step into truth, transparency, and freedom in Christ. From Halloween's ancient roots to the modern pressure to "perform," we trace how unreality keeps believers stuck—and how the Holy Spirit heals, restores, and re-aligns us with God's design. We also pray for the grieving, cover the Remnant during this season, and offer practical next steps: renouncing occult doors, affirming our children's identity in Jesus, seeking wise counsel when needed, and learning to live mask-free before God and one another. "Therefore, having put away falsehood, let each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor, for we are members one of another." — Ephesians 4:25 (ESV) Highlights Why the Word of God is a war book—and why unreality is a weapon of the enemy Ancient and modern uses of masks (ritual, identity-shifting, and social control) The danger of "sanitized" paganism and why God says "Come out of her, my people" Parenting through cultural pressure—affirming identity in Christ Personal testimonies: fear of rejection, humor as a mask, and God's gentle dismantling Practical deliverance: renouncing doors, pleading the blood of Jesus, and wise counseling Helmet of salvation vs. masks of unreality—how to walk in truth

Fr. Mitch points out the Lord's answer to the children of Israel as they complained about exile in Babylon, while also discussing the third servant song in Isaiah 50.

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