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Who was at the Tower of Babel and where do we go from here?
In another article, (Jethro, Another Priest Forever – And The Remnant) I tried to build a case for the post flood patriarchs from Noah to possibly even Eber (4th from Noah) not being part of the Tower debacle, but were in a place called Salem. They may have been in the Tower area in the beginning. After all they were family and all spoke one language. The days of Peleg (5th from Noah) indicate a divided world.
But at some point and possibly very soon, I sense that God’s leadership and their followers soon realized that God’s people had no part with any godless endeavors. There was necessarily a place for them to go and God had a purpose for them: building a city on the hill. From Salem came Abraham’s father Terah (9th from Noah – maybe a prior) to Ur, and eventually Abraham was called by God to build a new people of God that would eventually return to Canaan, via Ur, Canaan, Egypt and Canaan and eventually to build a new Salem on a hill under King David, Jerusalem.
The godless Jebusites occupied Salem at the time of David – where did the flood patriarchs go? A case for Jethro, a priest of Midian, who reintroduced sacrifices and knowledge of the ancients to Moses, 422 years after ‘Melchizedek king of Salem’ incident. Eber is Melchizedek? The job and not the man (God performing the first sacrifice for Adam and Eve, the men, and of course Jesus, the last).
But for the sake of ‘no argument only’ let us assume that all peoples were mixed together at the tower since today we as God’s people have nowhere else to go. Unless we consider the universe – an unlikely probability. Reality, history, science, and even Scripture should rule out distant space travel. As far as a new ‘earthly’ Jerusalem, seems to me that the OT Jews were waiting for ‘the Messiah’s reign in Jerusalem’.
And as we progress through Bible history, I hope (and pray) to prove that there is 6000+ years of history and that The Book of Revelation represents, in one way or another, the last 2000+/- years of Church history, and then some.... 4000 years until the First Coming, and 2000+/- until the Second. Should we ignore a third of history? Is the ‘kingdom’ now? Is Joel 3 the beginning of Eschatology (1948 Israel returns & 1967 6 Day War) and 2 Peter 3:10 and MT 24:29-30 (universal destruction) the ending of the ‘earthly’ and the beginning of the ‘heavenly’.
After God confused their language and forced the Babel’onians to scatter, this action had worked until civilization developed the technology to reach out to each other and are now very much uniting again with English language (not hip-hop, I hope), European culture and technology, United Nations, Olympic Games, Evolutionary Science, etc. Some are uniting because of the Gospel that went with the technology, while others are uniting again, but in making a ‘name, so we will not be scattered’. But this time, realistically nowhere to go.
If we follow current events, we do see a blending of cultures, of differing disciplines, as never before. Some is obviously necessary, some due to war or failing economies, but most of it is just bad management from ‘powers that be’. Without Christian influence and disciplines, as at the Tower, there is mass confusion. We have been better at this in the past, but the future does not look good, unless the Church and governments understand the dynamics of World (the what) and Biblical (the why) Histories. It may be as simple (?) as a review and reinstitution of the Ten Commandments (or basic law and order). See Holiness Tab. Of course the Church united in prayer would not hurt. And of course, some kind of war is inevitable.
After Christ’s Resurrection, the Great Commission, and the death of the OT Church, there were, necessarily, places to go. The resurrected NT Church of the first thousand years essentially reigned (Nero to Great Schism 54 AD to 1054 AD – making many converts is reigning – or the 1000 years of the Byzantine Empire) in Europe (via Rome) and even Asia and Africa (maybe influence in China, etc.) through Kings who worked with the Church and missionary activities and claimed divine authority. Of course the church weakened (the devil is restrained when God’s people are united in Spirit) and the Kings became suspect in their authority (especially the corrupted power of Rome, and of course the divisive preologies, as we have today). The following Dark Ages led to a revival. The world calls it a Renaissance, but it was more likely that the Reformation (Europe vs Rome) fueled the Renaissance.
Were the Crusades necessary? History shows early incursions by the forces of Mohammed into Europe, and initially I believe the Crusades were defensive. The American Revolution and Civil War, WW I and II are success stories; Korea, an ongoing success (?); Viet Nam, a disaster; the Iraq War: yes and no? The continuing Crusade to fix a really old problem. Success depends on a ‘noble purpose’ followed up by resolve and remembering the original purpose.
Any war that does not end in peace, prosperity, and religious freedom is just another war.
(The Church and ‘political correctness’ or ‘it is the white man’s religion that is to blame’: God originally inspired Christians to take the Gospel (and law and order) to the nations. It is those, on the giving and receiving side, who have rejected the Gospel who are the problem. I also believe the conventional wisdom was: if we fix it there, they won’t have to come here.)
After the Reformation, religious wars broke out in Europe – whose theology would reign. But missionary efforts continued. The Pilgrims of Plymouth fame represent a new place to go, with a new start, which eventually led to America, Independence from King George, and freedom of Religion guaranteed. Of course this led to more revolutions in Europe which overthrew the kings and replaced them with basically secular governments like America, but without God as the basis for its freedoms. Darwin and the Enlightenment saw to that – and the Church just watched (it does not matter) and some even joined in – if we compromise, they may listen to us, they said.
Today in America we have an out of control Judiciary (humanist activism – 10 Commandments sub planted with 10 or more rights), Congress (not enough conservatives – give them what they want, not what they need), and leadership, and media who mock our country’s Christian founding and responsibilities. We also have had a multigenerational education system dedicated to the proposition that ‘all mankind is created equal under the eyes of humanism, unless you are deemed unnecessary’ or ‘survival of the fittest’. No wonder in world democracies (yes, America too) we do not vote for godly principles, we don’t know what they are anymore (or at best, we are out voted).
Wait until the Church is faced with the dilemma: support gay marriage and abortion rights (who know what else follows or is) or lose your tax exempt status. Goodbye 501C3, hello 666.
And we have a world that has united under the name of let us say ‘humanism’ with its primary goal of building a Utopia (or another Tower) here on earth. In expediency and with all the disasters occurring, pending or imagined (even manufactured), the world has decided to throw off the Commandments of God in order to fix things ‘our way’ with the assumption that this universe is all there is. And now God’s people have nowhere else to go.
Or do we? Revivals have occurred before haven’t they? Should we give up and be part of that last generation that goes ‘down in a blaze ‘to’ glory’, during or before Jesus’ return? Only good thing is ‘we have somewhere else to go’. Journey’s End to the ‘Eternal Jerusalem’.
Ps The wife and I spent some time with Chinese American Christians (coming and going). They mostly have black hair, I cannot say their names nor speak Chinese (they are teaching me better English – I am not to hip-hop Yet). I am impressed by their culture and good manners. I am more impressed by their numbers and zeal across the world. I am making friends in case China is the next Christian country – I have already offered to carry their bags – in case there is somewhere else to go, uh first ….
My big prayer is that they avoid the Churches bickering over theological add’ons which divide us and at the same time take us ‘out of the game’, with only One place left to go.
Unless we skip back to Israel first – a complete circle, and then the end will come? Back to Israel? Well, interesting to think about? Certainly would inflame a lot of Revelationary reactions and bring the Babel’onians down on us’, with only One place left to go.
(Ps. When I wrote this article originally, we were in the midst of 10 years (2006-2016) of what I would call bad government in this country (humanistic). And now, thanks to God, His people, and the Electoral College System, we again seem to have a government that can now empower Godly people to prosper. It will not be easy and probably in 10 or 15 years we will lapse back into hopelessness. Sort of like OT Israel and the good king/bad king scenario…. Until Jesus returns. Sorry for the pessimism, but ‘it is history’.)
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The most divisive chapter in the Bible.
Revelation 20, the most divisive chapter in the Bible? By divisive I mean “something else means more than the Great Commission”.
I used to think that Romans 9 and the Free Will issue was the most divisive chapter in the Bible. It basically split us into two groups. I have to ask ‘do we believe the Gospel or do we believe the theology, or both?’ And I cannot think of anything more secure than making a rational/emotional decision for Christ and learning the Scriptures on how I personally and successfully walk with Jesus, in the Spirit, on a daily basis. I am part of the process! If God knows everyone’s destiny then all are predestined. Like Day 1 of Creation, we must view Romans 9 and Ephesians 1 contextually (and rationally), even within that chapter (The Origen Argument). Rom. 9:33; Eph. 1:13.
If you ‘believe’ you have no choice and have won the lottery, and I say, I know the choice I had to make, where does that leave us in eternity? I can hear the ‘limited’ wheels turning: how can we accuse him of ‘cheap’ grace. Arminius rightly called it ‘cooperative’ (or ‘will of the creature’ even; ‘reasonable creature’ even).
Realistically and justifiably, what else could it be?
The ‘pride of a theology or a theologian’ replaces the ‘humility of the Gospel’?
But after a study of Revelation, and particularly chapter 20, I find (the hard way) that chapter 20 has split us into a myriad of groups with many subtle differences and probably 3 major divisions of opinions: the 1000 has already occurred (postmill), it is coming (premill), or 1000 is just a long period of time (amill). Talk about confusing the Saints. Where did this confusion begin, and how can we unite?
The year 1033 or 1034 had to be a traumatic year for the Church. I am assuming that 33 AD was the year of Jesus’ Ascension and 1033 or 1034 would be about 1000 years.
And probably many in the Church thought that 1033 or 1034 would be the year of His return. After 1000 years of hard work, victories and defeats with many casualties, they must have thought, this is it? But nearly 1000 years later, today we are still waiting, impatiently, and with 3 major divisive groups!
By divisive I mean “we are now living in defeat and not reigning in victory”. One of Jesus’ last words “I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.…”
The church has been better in affecting the culture we are in; I and others have seen it; will those who follow see it?
Hebrews 12:1. Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,
After an intensive study of Bible and Church History, I have to agree that historically the ‘first’ 1000 has already occurred. I have studied Preterism to some degree but I found another myriad of opinions, and I guess mine is just another opinion. But I believe we have history our side. “We all have a history, and if we ignore it, or misrepresent it, how can we be honest before God, and ourselves and the world?”
(From what I have seen, Preterism has some form of 1000 year period that already has occurred, even maybe an ‘appearance of Jesus’ in the past. One view is a 1000 period involving Jerusalem, Crusades, etc. Some may even give credit to the Church of first 1000 years who laid a foundation for the next 1000 (or even more, maybe?). Revelation is about Church history, past, present and future. The Old Testament Church died when ‘the holy ones who came out of the grave with Jesus’ were raptured with Jesus on His Ascension, the New Testament Church was born after Peter and Paul, the acknowledged leaders (or interim Apostolic Church) were martyred in 67 AD. Yes, Daniel points forward to it and John in Revelation continues the conversation until the second coming…)
I have found that a lot of Revelation, especially chapters 7, 11, 12, 13, 16, 17 and 20 are a historical narrative of what has occurred mixed with a futuristic view of Church History or Perpetual Fulfillment: The Old Testament saints (represented by 144,000+), the great cloud of witness (Dan 12:1-4, MT 27:50-53, Jn 5:28 and Acts 1:9) that received Jesus upon His Ascension, are awaiting the New Testaments saints to arrive and join the celebration, after their part in His’tory. Beautiful!
Now that is the ‘Blessed Hope’. It has been that way since Adam and Eve. Trust in the sacrifice and witness is everything. Cain and Abel…!
Rev 20: 6. Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.
If there is a ‘first resurrection’ (of the Church, not the individual) why not a second as in the Reformation. The Church fell apart in 1054 with the Great Church Schism, followed by the Dark Ages, followed by the Reformation starting in 1517, followed by the Calvinist/Arminian Schism of 1619. Why not a third… And we might consider all Church Revivals as mini or major resurrections.
Maybe I am just a ‘Historist’? Just to be fair though: Premill is right if we consider the date 1000 years started or was written down; Postmill is right if we look at 1000 in hindsight; Amill is right if we consider the fact ‘it sure is taking a long time’ for Jesus to return...
Phil 1:18. What then? notwithstanding, every way, whether in pretence, or in truth, Christ is preached; and I therein do rejoice, yea, and will rejoice.
