{"id":758,"asset_id":"1040","title":"Devotional taken from Chapter 17 - The World System \u2013 Babylon - John G Elliott","alias":"devotional-taken-from-chapter-17-the-world-system-babylon-john-g-elliott-2","introtext":"<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><strong>John G. Elliott Devotional taken from Chaper 17 <\/strong><\/span><\/p>\r\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><strong>The World System - Babylon<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\r\n<p><img src=\"images\/JOHN_g.jpg\" alt=\"JOHN g\" width=\"300\" height=\"150\" \/><\/p>\r\n","fulltext":"\r\n<p><i>\u201cI saw a woman. . .&nbsp; and on her forehead a name was written, a mystery, \u2018BABYLON THE GREAT, the mother of harlots and of the abominations of the earth\u201d <\/i>(Revelation 17:3 &amp; 5)<\/p>\r\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; How would a verse like this apply to my everyday life? Keep reading and I will show you a few things that may affect your day to day thinking.<\/p>\r\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; I have some friends who delve deeply into understanding the Scriptures related to the time of the End. There are over 150 chapters in the Bible that deal with the Lord\u2019s return to the earth at the end of this present age.* &nbsp;I have studied these chapters and stand amazed at the immense detail the Lord has provided. Honestly, an overwhelming undertaking.&nbsp; I certainly do not claim to be an expert.<\/p>\r\n<p>&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;I am a practical guy. I enjoy taking Biblical ideas and translating them into language that we all can grasp.&nbsp;<\/p>\r\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; \u201cBabylon\u201d simplified is the \u201cworld-system.\u201d Historically, it has been an actual place in the geography of the Middle East. The Israelite nation was literally deported <i>en masse<\/i> to Babylon in the fifth century BC. However, as time passed, the word \u201cBabylon\u201d became associated with the way of \u201cthe world.\u201d This includes the governmental, economic, political and mercantile systems that dominate the globe. As a <i>system<\/i>, it is \u201ccorrupt\u201d and \u201cviolent\u201d (Rev 17:2). Babylon has a great power to allure people. It is described as a \u201cgreat harlot\u201d and is pictured as a woman sitting on a scarlet beast. This captivating woman is associated with immorality and blasphemy. She is strongly linked to materialism (Rev 17:4 &amp; Rev 18:11-18).<\/p>\r\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Jesus warned more about \u201cdeception\u201d than He did any other subject.&nbsp; In the parable of the sower, He describes the seed (the Word) that falls in among the thorn bushes. The Word is not allowed to grow and become fruitful because it is choked out by <i>\u201cthe worry of the world <\/i>(\u201cworld-system\u201d) <i>and the deceitfulness of wealth\u201d<\/i> (Matthew 13:22). The Apostle John warns us: <i>\u201cDo not love the world nor the things in the world\u201d<\/i> (I John 2:15). The tragedy of the allurement of the world is that it cancels out our <i>\u201cthe love for the Father\u201d<\/i> in us (I John 2:16). The elements of the world-system are <i>\u201call that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life\u201d<\/i> (I John 2:16).<\/p>\r\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Here is the key: Babylon is an enemy to us; an enemy to all righteousness, peace and justice; an offensive affront to all that is Love and Holiness. The heart of Babylon is one of livid hostility toward the Kingdom of Jesus Christ.&nbsp; Babylon is at War with the Lamb (Rev 17:14) and is, therefore, <i>at war with us<\/i>.<\/p>\r\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\r\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Our Response: 1) Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal the true motives of our hearts so we may see ourselves rightly, as God sees us.&nbsp; 2) Repent of anything that is linked to a love of this present world; what our bodies crave, what our eyes lust for and the kind of self- absorption that keeps us focused on this present world. 3) Receive His full forgiveness and grace and thus experience freedom.<\/p>\r\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Obviously, we must live and function in this world. God is not asking us to leave the world-system. We cannot, anyway, until He takes us in death. We must put the world in its right place. We must line up with God\u2019s purpose during the brief time we live here \u2013 <i>first things first<\/i>.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\r\n<p>*This is quite amazing when you consider that there are only 88 chapters that deal with Jesus\u2019 first coming - the number of chapters in the 4 Gospels.<\/p>\r\n<p>______________________________________________________________<\/p>\r\n<p>&nbsp;Want to donate to help John finish The Revelation Project? You can, if the Lord leads you.&nbsp; You can donate at the <a href=\"https:\/\/u648841.ct.sendgrid.net\/ls\/click?upn=zC8Xh7js5V00Cz94HO5atzs-2FTONsvGkzlnYtPCTTtZ8OA3uHbetJpd-2FjJNMVJiksrns0iMgm7xkQ6gBFH-2BXCK4qIEwT33Q15wVRTTT-2FPcnWPw089k-2BthRiPypb2trM-2FhuJoKF90vjDDsPk5A7qbWOLcfXOZP2966HYteKyPL2Rc-3DP07J_VAmmijG6q-2B9B1l7RHpRDFaaozppvbUUcvbllEg-2BG5jJKG96oFORs5GvVvc1OogAz48UG3nklDMTgCxPv8ILKEA2i2g9Vvllp-2F7KrZO4PzHtmAXSFrSIdwJHzJ2IV4df8-2F9Zt2sdnW2cpS3WN73DQgmglpSKgyeQ0DnNuYwfhE-2FDxGLf3NmQ97R9vnrdxA9cVh3nGm-2BFRcEiN3zm-2B-2Bd7ndQDlVUFTUh5WUpU7FxWsukm1y2abptfNnHkTKn-2Bjww8PG4PIEtb4hYbWM5DlTf0XghwUbI4DWUUhT7KsogqleC-2BFrok9C8RXhtDRh-2BS4bUuxXBAasRkt9sbEd3JHvAMOrg-3D-3D\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-link-label data-link-type=\"url\">website.<\/a><\/p>\r\n<p><span class=\"font_regular\">Share the Revelation Project&nbsp;with your friends and family. It is easy to register.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p align=\"center\"><span class=\"font_large\"><strong>The Revelation Project<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\r\n<p align=\"center\"><a href=\"https:\/\/u648841.ct.sendgrid.net\/ls\/click?upn=zC8Xh7js5V00Cz94HO5atzs-2FTONsvGkzlnYtPCTTtZ8OA3uHbetJpd-2FjJNMVJiksrns0iMgm7xkQ6gBFH-2BXCK4qIEwT33Q15wVRTTT-2FPcnUAbRhDM6TdTq-2F0DH3Uch-2BhRuy2r-2Fj7Fv84JQoBY69DsFbrVQ8HCvq45tvIkqy0z3g-3Dm1MD_VAmmijG6q-2B9B1l7RHpRDFaaozppvbUUcvbllEg-2BG5jJKG96oFORs5GvVvc1OogAz48UG3nklDMTgCxPv8ILKEA2i2g9Vvllp-2F7KrZO4PzHtmAXSFrSIdwJHzJ2IV4df8-2F9Zt2sdnW2cpS3WN73DQgmglpSKgyeQ0DnNuYwfhE-2FDxGLf3NmQ97R9vnrdxA9cVuw4pyOUmOA4wGknRMgRsHL4jmr8Q61M3fauic-2FMqoXFV9NrJxzSY5KmAH8wTo3G9vZPYJIa6Oouu5RoEtovO9YJCljKjR-2Fm4zcqgezcZgCs90r5mmIcXVmDnV3p-2BM8Pyzr6-2FA9sYdnANtK9MVDWzag-3D-3D\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-link-label data-link-type=\"url\">P<\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/u648841.ct.sendgrid.net\/ls\/click?upn=zC8Xh7js5V00Cz94HO5atzs-2FTONsvGkzlnYtPCTTtZ8OA3uHbetJpd-2FjJNMVJiksrns0iMgm7xkQ6gBFH-2BXCK4qIEwT33Q15wVRTTT-2FPcnUAbRhDM6TdTq-2F0DH3Uch-2BhRuy2r-2Fj7Fv84JQoBY69DsFbrVQ8HCvq45tvIkqy0z3g-3DrGF3_VAmmijG6q-2B9B1l7RHpRDFaaozppvbUUcvbllEg-2BG5jJKG96oFORs5GvVvc1OogAz48UG3nklDMTgCxPv8ILKEA2i2g9Vvllp-2F7KrZO4PzHtmAXSFrSIdwJHzJ2IV4df8-2F9Zt2sdnW2cpS3WN73DQgmglpSKgyeQ0DnNuYwfhE-2FDxGLf3NmQ97R9vnrdxA9cVC2v04-2FiupsyvyvnvskHuBZy4ODAiE4V6cJ1UWJ6fXgGdpyAXZqwZ1bLowjDOrTiemwOrWej-2BSQcXwG3nDw7VAcLBmooc8w9JKvit7mWNRrjzUAQGx9XpJaCh57gqKEKhdsqXknqeOlj4JBBbRRCnsw-3D-3D\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-link-label data-link-type=\"url\">LAY THE TRAILER<\/a>&nbsp;&nbsp;<span class=\"font_regular\"><strong>(1:16)<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\r\n<p align=\"center\"><span class=\"font_regular\"><b>Get your Free Download<\/b><\/span><\/p>\r\n<p align=\"center\"><span class=\"font_regular\"><b>at the website: <a href=\"https:\/\/u648841.ct.sendgrid.net\/ls\/click?upn=zC8Xh7js5V00Cz94HO5atzs-2FTONsvGkzlnYtPCTTtZ8OA3uHbetJpd-2FjJNMVJiksrns0iMgm7xkQ6gBFH-2BXCK4qIEwT33Q15wVRTTT-2FPcnUAbRhDM6TdTq-2F0DH3Uch-2BhRuy2r-2Fj7Fv84JQoBY69DsFbrVQ8HCvq45tvIkqy0z3g-3DmJJA_VAmmijG6q-2B9B1l7RHpRDFaaozppvbUUcvbllEg-2BG5jJKG96oFORs5GvVvc1OogAz48UG3nklDMTgCxPv8ILKEA2i2g9Vvllp-2F7KrZO4PzHtmAXSFrSIdwJHzJ2IV4df8-2F9Zt2sdnW2cpS3WN73DQgmglpSKgyeQ0DnNuYwfhE-2FDxGLf3NmQ97R9vnrdxA9cV1P4jlLBDS-2Fx0zxqTsRsVRnwZGbDaFFMEFs3sV-2BEgaFT9plFPP21KrgSmBXvXNii9OEVEbkgfLrppZYgcaXLLtHF6S50-2BerqZgxkBXjuU5og-2FUUvjU2YvzknyQ-2F55UkO1pr36XygipiOgQR-2FcXshyvA-3D-3D\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-link-label data-link-type=\"url\">www.RevelationProject.net<\/a><\/b><\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><b>Or download the App<\/b><span class=\"font_regular\"><\/span><\/p>\r\n<p align=\"center\"><span class=\"font_regular\"><b><img src=\"https:\/\/d1z39p6l75vw79.cloudfront.net\/u\/489565\/2c3a88b15432d3605ddac56f02524d6d610a5438\/original\/app-logo-3.png\/!!\/undefined\/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsInNtYWxsIl1d.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"size_s justify_center border_\" align=\"none\" \/><\/b><\/span><\/p>\r\n<p align=\"center\"><a href=\"https:\/\/u648841.ct.sendgrid.net\/ls\/click?upn=zC8Xh7js5V00Cz94HO5atzs-2FTONsvGkzlnYtPCTTtZ8OA3uHbetJpd-2FjJNMVJiksrns0iMgm7xkQ6gBFH-2BXCK4qIEwT33Q15wVRTTT-2FPcnUInUdrc2pSsEtywrKBDUsiTL9Mdpc5-2FOpBw44IiCTJLjAp0ICRtGaLcB5HP8I-2F8OF8cTTGlfIr2wTYhFqTnWV5NTCnmQakeqeRsiYm0D6Zgg-3D-3D5rs7_VAmmijG6q-2B9B1l7RHpRDFaaozppvbUUcvbllEg-2BG5jJKG96oFORs5GvVvc1OogAz48UG3nklDMTgCxPv8ILKEA2i2g9Vvllp-2F7KrZO4PzHtmAXSFrSIdwJHzJ2IV4df8-2F9Zt2sdnW2cpS3WN73DQgmglpSKgyeQ0DnNuYwfhE-2FDxGLf3NmQ97R9vnrdxA9cVSVnWNAunDI3oPDy-2F08kjR8cgW4HxaxiiwDnSF42e5lJG6O9eH6fReu2DfKBHknXM4Nq1w5PNWHe6IwWnODpx-2B-2FDDPk3ykkmAWd0QyeTbfPmw-2Bf3ZZm2Tw6VPQCt05gyJB6dyi1hKbIhYX53P71C2YA-3D-3D\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-link-label data-link-type=\"url\"><img src=\"https:\/\/d1z39p6l75vw79.cloudfront.net\/u\/489565\/1277c538b83d1096ca4551aa5e38ca3928dd77f5\/original\/applestore1.png\/!!\/undefined\/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsInNtYWxsIl1d.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"size_s justify_center border_\" align=\"none\" \/><\/a><\/p>\r\n<p><span class=\"font_regular\">We have had an amazing response to the Revelation Part I movie.&nbsp; Have you seen it yet?&nbsp; Please consider sharing it with friends and family.&nbsp; Also, please consider helping us financially so we can finish the project which includes translating the movie (video) into several different languages using subtitles (captions).&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p>John G. Elliott<\/p>\r\n<p>Worship Hymn Ministries<\/p>","state":1,"catid":"8","created":"2021-08-22 11:46:29","created_by":"873","created_by_alias":"","modified":"2021-08-22 12:11:30","modified_by":"873","checked_out":"873","checked_out_time":"2021-08-22 12:07:47","publish_up":"2021-08-22 11:46:29","publish_down":"0000-00-00 00:00:00","images":"{\"image_intro\":\"\",\"float_intro\":\"\",\"image_intro_alt\":\"\",\"image_intro_caption\":\"\",\"image_fulltext\":\"\",\"float_fulltext\":\"\",\"image_fulltext_alt\":\"\",\"image_fulltext_caption\":\"\"}","urls":"{\"urla\":false,\"urlatext\":\"\",\"targeta\":\"\",\"urlb\":false,\"urlbtext\":\"\",\"targetb\":\"\",\"urlc\":false,\"urlctext\":\"\",\"targetc\":\"\"}","attribs":"{\"article_layout\":\"\",\"show_title\":\"\",\"link_titles\":\"\",\"show_tags\":\"\",\"show_intro\":\"\",\"info_block_position\":\"\",\"info_block_show_title\":\"\",\"show_category\":\"\",\"link_category\":\"\",\"show_parent_category\":\"\",\"link_parent_category\":\"\",\"show_associations\":\"\",\"show_author\":\"\",\"link_author\":\"\",\"show_create_date\":\"\",\"show_modify_date\":\"\",\"show_publish_date\":\"\",\"show_item_navigation\":\"\",\"show_icons\":\"\",\"show_print_icon\":\"\",\"show_email_icon\":\"\",\"show_vote\":\"\",\"show_hits\":\"\",\"show_noauth\":\"\",\"urls_position\":\"\",\"alternative_readmore\":\"\",\"article_page_title\":\"\",\"show_publishing_options\":\"\",\"show_article_options\":\"\",\"show_urls_images_backend\":\"\",\"show_urls_images_frontend\":\"\"}","version":14,"ordering":"1","metakey":"","metadesc":"","access":"1","hits":"1","metadata":"{\"robots\":\"\",\"author\":\"\",\"rights\":\"\",\"xreference\":\"\"}","featured":"1","language":"*","xreference":"","note":""}