Hands of Babylon

For 6,000 years, Satan has been studying our world and doing everything possible to penetrate all spheres of human life and establish his control, place his people, introduce his rules, and, unfortunately, he is very successful at this. This entire system is called spiritual Babylon, which gives its wine to all nations.

Satan has one goal — to steal from Christ everyone possible, in order to kill and destroy them. But Christ, though a very good Shepherd, is also very strong and does not give up His sheep easily, but keeps and protects them. And where victory cannot be achieved by force, the enemy of the soul begins to apply cunning and false beliefs.

If any of us tries to logically understand Satan and evaluate him by human standards and laws, one will imagine anything, and this will not be quite the correct image.

Trying to combine Biblical prophecies with current events, I have to think out loud, sharing revelations and my understanding. I know that I do not have enough information to make any specific statements that would become indisputable evidence, and the skepticism and sarcasm of many neighbors cast all my discoveries in an unfavorable light. And this lesson is presented to you as an illustration to unite what is happening in the world into one picture.

Let's imagine two Biblical models of confrontation that will definitely manifest in the final battle. In this case, God's model will undoubtedly win. On his side, the enemy of the soul presents Babylon, which is the image of the beast with all its structures, influence, and means, while on God's side, the Three Angels' Message is represented, which carries God's seal and exposes the entire Babylonian system, passes a death sentence on it, and destroys it.

Although Satan initially knows the outcome of this war and understands that he will not win, he tirelessly prepares his army to tear even the elect from Christ's hands, if possible. The essence of the confrontation boils down to the fact that Jesus gives Eternal Life to all who believe in Him and desire Salvation, while Satan wants all his subjects to die spiritually and suffer in anticipation of the final Judgment. He would not mind even killing God the Father and the Holy Spirit, but this is impossible. The enemy was given the opportunity to meet personally with the Son of God, and Satan pursued Him for 33 years and finally killed Him. Such is the nature of the devil. He has no attachments to anyone. He is an egoist of the highest degree, but he does not fight against God alone, but attracts into his army everyone he can seduce.

Jesus' prophecies speak of diseases and climate catastrophes at the end of time, which will be caused by the consequence of people's sins as God's judgments (Matthew 24:7-8). The enemy of the soul will also lend a hand to aggravate the situation of those living on earth.

The health reform is the right hand of the Three Angels' Message. And this hand very successfully destroys all the wicked one's plans, granting people light, happiness, knowledge of spiritual and physical health laws. It deals crushing blows to Babylonian bastions and tears many deceived people from the walls of this city to teach them not to be sick, pointing to the Great Physician — Jesus, Who heals every infirmity. For Christ, there are no incurable diseases, only incurable people. And through healing the body of a sick person, this hand opens their heart to God and His message. And the message declares the entire Babylonian system fallen and calls to leave it and cling to God.

And to somehow oppose Jesus, the enemy of the soul invented an alternative right hand of Babylon, which is originally called "pharmakeia" and misleads all nations (Revelation 18:23).

Satan knows that the counterfeit of truth always looks attractive and seduces many. And when Satan's subjects head key posts and positions, it is not difficult for the enemy of the soul to use this science in his interests.

I think that in the last time, medical achievements and discoveries, falling into the hands of wicked people and rulers, will contribute to the implementation of the wicked one's cunning plans.

Pharmakeia will offer the world its alternative to health, frightening people with terrible diseases outside Babylon's walls. It ruthlessly destroys the foundations of the Health Reform, offering its values. And many of Christ's warriors will find themselves in a very difficult situation, deciding which position is better to take to avoid being limited in their freedom.

Babylon's right hand offers an alternative to the Health Reform, carrying elements of good and care for people. The enemy does not mind if Babylon's services are paid and drain a person of all resources in exchange for a short hope of being healthy.

To counteract the message to Laodicea, Babylon has a left hand that diverts the Earth's inhabitants' gaze from the Heavenly Sanctuary, offering through its media anything, any paths of salvation, just to neutralize the influence of Jesus' counsel or make this message inconspicuous. Babylon provides its food, if only a person would not engage in trade with Jesus.

Babylon's hands also have state support, as they are in the service of the King of Babylon. They can be read about in Daniel 3:2. Although the hands are not the mark of the beast, they constitute part of its body and successfully work, preparing people's consciousness to accept the true seal and image of the prince of this world, so that subsequently these subjects can act in his spirit.

The enemy of the soul will also use modern discoveries in information transmission, bioengineering, and micro-technology in his interests, wanting to take control of many areas of society's life in order to subsequently have an account of those who possess the beast's name number and those who are in God's service. But no matter how strong and powerful Babylon tries to look, God surpasses this satanic system billions of times, although He wins a confident victory with the modest advantage of His power manifested in the human character. The Health Reform cleanses my mind, making it capable of understanding and evaluating the message to Laodicea. And the Faithful Witness's counsels cleanse my heart and soul, making me capable of carrying the three angels' message to this world.

Love knows no defeat. It is the most robust foundation of the Universe and all its laws. And one must be an absolute madman to declare war on love and still expect victory. But, unfortunately, earthlings have chosen exactly this approach — to fight against God.

We are used to thinking about war, imagining tanks, rockets, planes, fleet, and hordes of cutthroats. And when love and God's children clothed in white garments of light and shining with Heavenly wisdom are placed in opposition to all this, it is difficult for us to call them victors. But in their hands is the most powerful weapon of truth, against which no one will stand and which no one can overcome.

And the enemy does not surrender and tries to inspire his servants to a quick and easy victory, preparing his mark for them and trying on the chains of shackles for careless people. And he still has success, and his seductions are very convincing and strong. But woe to me if I begin to follow the beast and study Babylon's traditions and schemes, dedicating all my time to these discoveries. I risk losing Christ from view and becoming easy prey for the enemy.

Questions for Reflection on this Chapter

1. Please read Jeremiah 51:9; Ephesians 6:10-18; 2 Corinthians 6:4-7; Genesis 11:9; Revelation 14:8; 18:1-20; John 5:39; 10:10,27-30; 2 Corinthians 11:14-15; Matthew 8:16; 12:15; 24:6-8; Luke 22:31-32; Mark 4:15; Job 1:6-22; 2:1-10; Proverbs 21:31; 1 John 5:4; Revelation 13:3-4 in light of this chapter.

2. What did you understand from this chapter?

3. Are the message and messengers the same thing?

4. Is the word "hands" clear? Do you understand which hands are being discussed?

5. Do you think if God offers something good and necessary to the world, Satan will offer his counterfeit to attract attention to himself?

6. Is it worth watching the beast, observing how he successfully acts and seduces the whole world? What danger might this represent?

7. Do you think it is logical that the entire world with all its resources, finances, and power will lose in a battle against a handful of poor and miserable God's children? Can this happen?

8. On whose side do you plan to fight, and against whom will you wage war?

9. What and whom do you intend to defeat?

10. Should my desires coincide with my behavior, deeds, and attitude?

11. What relation does love have to the three angels' message? Is it sounded in the third message?

12. If I only look to Christ and do not know what the beast is doing, can I avoid the laid traps?

13. Is it possible that, without studying world events but being in communion with God, I somehow know what is happening in society?

14. Will the Lord save those who only think about love and do not watch the beast, do not delve into Babylon's affairs, and do not know what dangers await careless people?