January 4, 2022
For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, “He catches the wise in their own craftiness”, and again, “The LORD knows the thoughts of the wise, that they are futile.” Therefore let no one boast in men. 1 Corinthians 3:19-21
The prevailing man-made philosophy of the world states that the unity of all humanity is the highest goal. It sounds beautiful and is being marketed with great skill and craftiness, with details being inserted into the food, clothing, sports, and entertainment arenas, as well as others. “Saving the planet” will likely be the supreme keynote sounded in order to unify the world. It will be hailed as the ultimate life-or-death issue. Laws are being put into place and will eventually be enforced…with force!
Before Jesus went to the cross, He prayed for His followers at that time and also His future followers. “I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; that they all may be one” (for the entire prayer, see John 17). He desires unity among the brethren, and He will have it! This unity is full unity in wholistic Biblical truth, an entirely different concept from worldly unity in apostasy and error. “Playing fast and loose with truth, and dissembling to suit one’s own selfish plans, means shipwreck of faith.” ACTS OF THE APOSTLES by Ellen G. White (p.76)
The Biblical account of the end of days in our fallen world, just before the glorious return of Jesus as King, prophetically depicts the tower of Babel as Babylon the great, a worldwide confederation of religious and political powers. And, while some may fret over restrictions pertaining to buying and selling material goods (see Revelation 13:17), God’s Word contains an unvarnished description that is meant to awaken a sleeping world to the eternal danger of “buying” the fatal philosophies that the devil is “selling.” The phrase about the tower of Babel from yesterday’s opening passage, a tower whose top is in the heavens (see Genesis 11:4) reaches a prophetic fulfillment in the passage below:
And [the angel] cried mightily with a loud voice, saying, “Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and has become a dwelling place of demons, a prison for every foul spirit, and a cage for every unclean and hated bird! For all the nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth have become rich through the abundance of her luxury.” And I heard another voice from heaven saying, “Come out of her, my people, lest you share in her sins, and lest you receive of her plagues, “For her sins have reached to heaven, and God has remembered her iniquities.” Revelation 18:2-5