(This article
reflects the viewpoints of another and does not necessarily reflect the
understanding of Qumran Bet Community or AmYHWH. Perhaps truth would be better
served if you also added your contribution to this piece.)
THE
GOLDEN CUP OF DANGER
Ken Graydon
One of the elements of Biblical prophecy is clearly stated in Ecclesiastes 1:9
Only
that shall happen which has happened, only that occur which has occurred, there
is nothing new beneath the Sun.
So, with this in mind, we can look at the prophecy of Jeremiah 51: 6 – 10 and realise that there is a prophecy for today in these words.
Jeremiah 51:6 Flee from the midst of Babylon and save your lives, each of you! Do not perish for her iniquity; for this is a time of vengeance for ETERNAL, He will deal retribution to her.
Babylon
was a golden cup in ETERNAL’s hand, it made the whole earth drunk; the nations
drank of her wine – that is why the nations are mad. Suddenly Babylon has
fallen and is shattered; howl over her! Get balm for her wounds: perhaps she can
be healed. We tried to cure Babylon but she was incurable. Let us leave her and
go, each to his own land; for her punishment reaches to heaven, it is as high as
the sky. ETERNAL has proclaimed our vindication; come let us recount in Zion the
deeds of ETERNAL our CREATOR.
Babylon was dismantled in 514 BCE by Darius Hystaspis, after two uprisings. In 312 BCE Seleucus Nicator made use of many of the materials of the old city to build his new capital, Seleucia, on the banks of the Tigris river. So we have the first fulfilling of Jeremiah’s prophecy in these events.
We understand the second fulfilling of this prophecy is happening around us now. Babylon is used to describe the world’s system of religion. [If you were ever a part of non-Catholic Christianity you were probably taught that Babylon meant Rome it has a much broader meaning than that.]. Every type of religion, which is not that put before us in the simple words of the Tanakh, is a man-made deviation from the will of ETERNAL. It is a ‘Babylon’. ETERNAL created us to worship. He laid out a simple walk of faith based on obedience to the CREATOR of the Universe, spelled out in the Ten Commandments and teaching of the Torah. Men had other ideas. They thought they were wiser than ETERNAL, or that they knew more than other people, what the truth was and only they could share it. Or they wanted the power and/or the money that may be there if you have your own brand of religion – if you are the only one who can explain or demonstrate the mystery everyone has to be nice to you. I am sure that you have seen, in the news and in your own community, the way that ‘religion’ is being demonstrated. The terrible abuses of every kind, the wars between people who think they worship the same G-d, the lust for money and fame, the killings, the cruelty and the degenerate behaviour. Certainly Babylon has fallen and is shattered. Well meaning people think they can ‘heal’ their religion. Work harder, pray more, give more, do not ask questions – just do what you are told. Let me tell you what Jeremiah said “Babylon is incurable!” You cannot fix it – you have got to get out of it NOW!
ETERNAL is coming against the ‘Babylon’ of man’s religion, whatever label it has adopted, and the punishments will be obvious and eternal [the punishment reaches to heaven] so if you think you’re going to some kind of lasting reward, or really nice place, by following a religion that contradicts the clearly expressed words of the CREATOR of the Universe then you have not been reading or understanding the words of ETERNAL.
The truth is contained in the Tanakh, [similar to the Old Testament but the books are in a more logical order], anything else is a deception. Remember the words of Eli the priest in 1 Samuel 2 : 25
If a man sins against a man, ETERNAL may pardon him; but if a man offends against ETERNAL, who can obtain pardon for him?
Do not waste a moment. Pray to ETERNAL that you will be open to receive His truth NOW.
Study the Torah, completely adhere to the Ten Commandments, make a stand for your own sake and for those who love you and depend on you.