Friends, it's ironic that many Christians are familiar with the Biblical account of the tower of Babel yet so many overlook the actual message it conveys for us today. As we've covered in past sermons, the word Babel as used in scripture means “confusion” or more specifically, “confusion by mixing.” In studying Nimrod and his ziggurat of Babel these two definitions suddenly become much clearer and can even help unlock certain aspects of "end time prophecy" as rebuilt Babylon is mentioned six times in the New Testament book of Revelation.

(Silly Nimrod:)

Before examining the tower of Babel we should first look a little deeper at its founder Nimrod. Surely you've heard this name used as an insult before, it's usually directed towards a person of low degree or minimal understanding and is practically synonymous with mental retardation. The reason its usage is rooted in the Bible is due to this "mighty hunter" who angered Yahweh by building a "tower to the heavens" in an attempt at globalization because his desire to combine the nations will forever be seen as one of history's biggest mistakes.

In Genesis 9:18-27 we can read about Noah cursing his son Ham who had committed incest with his mother, in short he "uncovered the nakedness of his father" meaning he had slept with his own mom (Leviticus 18:8). After Ham was cursed by righteous Noah he begat a son named Cush who later had Nimrod. This makes him Noah's grandson in a somewhat twisted way and even explains his later actions because he obviously stemmed from a wicked seed and quite possibly could've been inbred, much like many of the world leaders today.

Both Genesis 10:8-9 and I Chronicles 1:10 confirm that Nimrod became “a mighty hunter before Yahweh” which is an interesting fact in itself considering that cursed Esau was also a "cunning hunter" (Genesis 25:27) and was plainly hated by Yahweh (Malachi 1:3 & Romans 9:13). Nonetheless, Nimrod founded the very city of Babel (Genesis 10:10) and it's here where he attempted to build his ziggurat and make everyone "one" under man's rule. Let's now examine the account as found in Genesis 11 -- I'll be using the amplified King James:

(Unlawful Mixing:)

“The whole earth was of one language and of one accent and mode of expression. And as they journeyed eastward, they found a plain (valley) in the land of Shinar, and they settled and dwelt there. And they said one to another, Come, let us make bricks and burn them thoroughly. So they had brick for stone, and slime (bitumen) for mortar (Genesis 11:1-3 amp).”

The "they" in these passages are "the generations of the sons of Noah (Genesis 10:1)" meaning all those descended from one of his three sons -- Shem, Ham or Japheth. At this time, all the descendants of Noah spoke one language and lived in this one place, the land of Shinar. It's here where they get the idea to build themselves a grand city with a huge ziggurat in the hopes that they might prevent their dispersion. Due to the lack of stone in the area they had to press and cook bricks like their future offspring will do as slaves in Egypt.

Worthy of note is that Egypt itself is eventually taken away captive to Babylon showing the eventual effects of mass confusion or hysteria (II King 24:7 & Jeremiah 46:2), this also shows the need to cling to truth and trust in God's Will completely. Insult is usually added to injury and God's blessings can quickly turn to curses through disobedience (Leviticus 26:13-45) and such is the case with Nimrod's empire. One can only imagine the fanfare of arrogance put forth by the residents of Shinar during the construction of the "mighty tower."

(Towering City:)

“And they said, Come, let us build us a city and a tower whose top reaches into the sky, and let us make a name for ourselves, lest we be scattered over the whole earth. And the Lord came down to see the city and the tower which the sons of men had built (Genesis 11:4 & 5 amp).”

Well, the inhabitants of Nimrod's new city certainly didn't make a "name for themselves" but the tower they built will be remembered for all time. Compare this dreary account to today's current trend of political correctness and the continual twisting of scripture attempting to make God's Word "one size fits all" for all people and races. This is certainly not what God teaches and such haughtiness in thinking that one's wiser than Yahweh will always lead to an eventual overthrow according to Biblical history. God's Will will be done, irregardless.

The main point of this account is like so many others in the Bible, man usually likes to play God and stand in opposition to His eternal commands. This can be witnessed in so many facets of the Christian walk ranging from food Laws to general confusion over who God actually is -- Yahweh's commands and Laws are given to be followed, not broken. When the Creator "came down" to see both the city and tower it was observed that His children were disobedient relying upon their own devices even attempting to carve a path to the "heavens."

(Wicked Imagination:)

“And the Lord said, Behold, they are one people and they have all one language; and this is only the beginning of what they will do, and now nothing they have imagined they can do will be impossible for them (Genesis 11:6 amp).”

"This is only the beginning of what they will do." Contained within this verse is a valuable key, when you can see everyone assembling under one ensign or claiming to be equal to God (or even each other) it is the beginning of sorrows. The age-old conflict has always been between serving Yahweh or self, meaning flesh-worship. One can usually find "political correctness" most rampant amongst cities which eventually leads to mixing, a violation of God's eternal Law. This always brings curses and plagues by the Creator Himself (Amos 3:6).

Before expelling the rebellious Adam and Eve from the Garden of Yahweh, God spoke; "Behold, the man is become as one of us, to know good and evil (Genesis 3:22)" meaning that Adam (or mankind) was likened unto God in both purity and wisdom but after falling became robbed of this unmerited excellence. Only Yahweh can know both true good and evil without becoming corrupted in the process yet this continual theme of man's desire to know more than God is repeated throughout the scriptures even being carried up to current days.

(The Scattering:)

“Come, let Us go down and there confound (mix up, confuse) their language, that they may not understand one another's speech. So the Lord scattered them abroad from that place upon the face of the whole earth, and they gave up building the city (Genesis 11:7 & 8 amp).”

Firstly, it should be noted that the decedents of Noah "gave up" building the city after Yahweh confounds them but the actual providence of Babylon will remain. This is important because much later the chosen Israelites are carried away captive to this same area by king Nebuchadnezzar and kept in captivity to the city for their transgressions against Yahweh. Like every metropolis today it is financed, built, maintained and taxed by man under a governor other than Yahweh and made prosperous by the slaves, most times called "workers."

Yahweh is against "mixing" of any type because it's exclusively his domain and a direct insult to His wisdom in creation. Consider that God made all things and initially considered them "good" meaning He was well satisfied by His work (Genesis 1:31). It is because of this that Yahweh commands "Thou shalt not adulterate" (Exodus 20:14 & Deuteronomy 5:18) or mingle seed because such acts destroy true "diversity" and God's chosen people in the process. God scattered the people and confused their languages because He wanted to.

(Confounded Babel:)

“Therefore the name of it was called Babel--because there the Lord confounded the language of all the earth; and from that place the Lord scattered them abroad upon the face of the whole earth (Genesis 11:9 amp).”

Let's point out the obvious --> #1) It was God Himself that confounded the people's language and set them apart. #2) The land of Shinar became known as Babel because God scattered the descendants of Noah there. #3) God forbids mixing. #4) Babel means confusion [Strong's #H894]. #5) God Himself set up man's boundaries and language barriers while demanding they be respected. #6) The name Babylon has become figurative for any oppressive world system. #7) God is not the author of confusion (I Corinthians 14:33).

That being established, we should now re-examine the only place in scripture where the name Lucifer appears because so many attempt to dismiss this prophecy addressing Satan by saying it supposedly addresses an unknown "king of Babylon" (as if this isn't the adversary Himself). This essential study will tie in perfectly to Tactics of the Lawless One as it is yet another proof of Satan's existence, albeit not separate from God. Now let's examine the account beginning in Isaiah 14:12 -- here I'll be using the authorized King James Version:

(Fallen Lucifer:)

“How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations! For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High (Isaiah 14:12-14).”

Jesus teaches; "I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven (Luke 10:18)" so this deity is obviously a fallen angel as no man (nor "flesh") has ever seen heaven (I Corinthians 15:50). It is knowing the omnipotence of God that helps answer such questions as; "Shall a trumpet be blown in the city, and the people not be afraid? shall there be evil in a city, and Yahweh hath not done it (Amos 3:6)?" The Word has always been a double-edged sword and God can either be a blessing or a curse to us depending on the individual and their choices.

One should notice that Lucifer said in his heart that he would ascend into heaven meaning to "go up" or "rise" [Strong's #H5927]. There is an important 'transition' found in the book of Job where initially Satan tells Yahweh that he was "going to and fro in the earth, and walking up and down in it (Job 1:7)." At this time Lucifer was still a "morning star" (or son of God) doing the adversarial work of Yahweh (Job 2:3) yet after being granted power against Job himself he virtually disappears from scripture (Job 2:7) until the "temptation of Christ."

(Despised Man:)

“Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit. They that see thee shall narrowly look upon thee, and consider thee, saying, Is this the man that made the earth to tremble, that did shake kingdoms; That made the world as a wilderness, and destroyed the cities thereof; that opened not the house of his prisoners  (Isaiah 14:15-17)?”

As the Devil's own number is that of a man (666 / Revelation 13:18), so also he is considered the perfect "man" appealing to ones own human weaknesses. When a coming angel exclaims; "Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication (Revelation 14:8)" it becomes rather obvious who the leader of that system will be -- That Man of Sin: The Son of Perdition. Like the times of old, this leader of all antichrists will attempt to make the world "one" under a single banner.

Within the above passage there is a gloomy description of Satan's oppression and history tells the tale of thousands of martyrs who have given their life for the Words of Christ and the advancement of the Kingdom. Considering a majority of the prophets, disciples and even Jesus Himself were at one time thrown in prison it also gives a valuable clue as to who heads man's replacement judicial system that seemingly always protects the criminals. Common sense should also dictate that many find themselves imprisoned for teaching the truth.

(Abominable Branch:)

“All the kings of the nations, even all of them, lie in glory, every one in his own house. But thou art cast out of thy grave like an abominable branch, and as the raiment of those that are slain, thrust through with a sword, that go down to the stones of the pit; as a carcase trodden under feet. Thou shalt not be joined with them in burial, because thou hast destroyed thy land, and slain thy people: the seed of evildoers shall never be renowned (Isaiah 14:18-20).”

Once again we see that the Bible deals with specific seedlines and this passage specifically states that "the seed ["posterity" / Strong's #H2233] of evildoers shall never be renowned ["called out" or "invited" / Strong's #H7121]." Obedience to God's eternal Law and acceptance of Christ are required in order to be "grafted into" God's own family tree because Jesus fixedly teaches; "If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned (John 15:6)."

Jesus teaches us to always be mindful because near the "end" of this age we; "shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds with great power and glory. And then shall he send his angels, and shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from the uttermost part of the earth to the uttermost part of heaven. Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When her branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is near: So ye in like manner, when ye shall see these things come to pass, know that it is nigh (Mark 13:26-29)."

(Intention:)

My intention with this morning's sermon is to shed some light on the Biblical account of the tower of Babel while drawing some sharp contrasts to the "end-times" Babylon that we're all living in today. I also hope that I was able to show you that Lucifer is none other than Satan himself, the king of all "babble" or confusion. It's my wish that this sermon will help others to come out of Satan's confusing kingdom known as Babylon and instead accept the simple Truth of God's eternal Word. Pray for this ministry and one another. Amen.