We have traced the "Line of Confusion" from the Garden of Eden (the lie of lack), through the Plains of Shinar (the bricks of effort), and through the Exile (the blindness of legalism). Now, we see how the "Deadly Concoction" meets its final end. In Revelation, the "mixture" is finally exposed and estranged, the "mystery" is denounced, and the "Finished Work" is fully exhibited so that the blind are no longer blind.
Babylon is not merely a geographical location or an ancient empire; it is a spiritual system—a "deadly mixture"—that stands opposed to the perfection and grace of God (Yah’shua).
To understand Babylon, we must go back past the towers of Mesopotamia, all the way to the very beginning in the Garden of Eden. It was there that the first seeds of Babylonian confusion were sown, and it was there that the "deadly mixture" was first presented to humanity.
“For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book:
And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.” (Revelation 22:18-19 KJV)
So, why can’t you add to or take away?
Have you ever considered the sheer magnitude of what Christ accomplished for us? It's not merely a "get out of hell free" card, but an invitation into a life of profound partnership with the Divine, marked by dominion and infused with divine virtue. Peter's opening words in his second epistle are a stunning declaration of this reality, anchored firmly in the finished work of Jesus.
Have you ever considered the meticulous precision of God's Word? It's far more than a collection of stories or laws; it's a divinely inspired blueprint, a living revelation. Nothing within its sacred pages is there merely to fill space or for an insignificant reason. Every single word and letter, every sentence and sequence, is purposefully placed in its appropriate and appointed spot to unveil Yah'shua (Jesus), our Christ, and to give Him glory. He is the Living Word. As Jesus Himself declared in John 5:39 (KJV), "Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me." And after His resurrection, He opened the understanding of His disciples: "And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself." (Luke 24:27, KJV). HalleluYAH!
This divine precision extends even to the sequence of God's words when He speaks of blessings. Have you noticed it?
Jesus uses a phrase that often causes confusion, if not condemnation, in the hearts of believers. In Matthew 20:16 and Matthew 22:14, He says, "...for many be called, but few chosen."
This phrase follows two of His most powerful parables: the parable of the workers in the vineyard who are all paid the same wage regardless of when they started, and the parable of the wedding feast where one guest is cast out for not wearing the proper garment.
Is this phrase a warning of exclusion, a looming threat that implies our salvation is conditional upon our performance? Or is it a profound revelation of God's unchanging nature and His redemptive plan?
Legalistic preachers often use this text to condemn their audience, preaching, "Get right with God or get left behind!" or "Repent, or you won't be chosen!" This mindset forces people into a law-abiding, Pharisee-like way of thinking. In doing so, they miss the very heart of the Gospel and risk causing believers to fall from grace by returning to a works-based system (Galatians 5:4).
So, what is the true meaning behind Jesus's words?
Have you ever found yourself in a state of internal tug-of-war? One moment, you're confidently declaring God's promises and appropriating your inherited dominion in Christ, the next, a whisper of doubt or fear creeps in. One day, you're walking in victory, the next, old habits or worries resurface. This isn't just common; it’s what the Bible calls double-mindedness. In the world of Psychology, this inner turmoil is known as cognitive dissonance.
Cognitive dissonance is the mental distress or psychological angst someone feels when battling contradictory beliefs, ideas, or values.
I love how Jesus just cuts to the point.
At the same time came the disciples unto Jesus, saying, "Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?"
And Jesus called a little child unto him, and set him in the midst of them (Matthew 18:1-2).
Just that?
Imagine Perfection.
Imagine having more than you could ever need, living in a world without danger. Picture a life filled with beauty, tranquility, peace, love, health, and boundless contentment. Imagine a perfect love relationship with someone who couldn't love you more. Imagine the cool of a summer evening, simply being. This is paradise, this is Eden!
Would I stay in such a place? Would I give it up?
The journey was a belief-journey, one I walked from being a child to where I found myself today ... an apocalypse ...
The name of this book in Greek is apokalypsis. It derived its name from the first sentence in the book. And it has been severely battered and butchered to fit the case of many end-time prophets.
Mystical. Supernatural. Inexplicable. Other-worldly.
Fear-inducing and trepidating.
Except - it is not!
There is a truthful expression going around that I have quoted before.
It goes like this:
GOD DOESN'T HAVE A CALLING ON YOUR LIFE ... YOUR LIFE IS HIS CALLING
I like expressions, especially when they are true.
And when they counter some of my religious persuasions, I like them even more!
To be called or not to be called. That is the question!
Calling - wanted dead or alive?
This morning, I found myself drawn back to the epistle of Peter, the letter of the rock-man himself. Steady, hard, and unshaken, his words resonate with a rugged authenticity.
It's astounding how this tough fisherman, whose name means "rock," could be so profoundly transformed by the kindness, love, and grace of Jesus. In the Bible, we encounter Peter as a man of strong convictions, a quick thinker, and a passionate defender of his beliefs.
During an anthropology research trip undertaken in 2015 I had a divine revelation experience that I will never forget … ever!
I remember that our research trip took us into the most remote areas of the Northern Cape Richtersveld desert, looking for Nama communities who still practiced the rite-of-passage custom of initiation.
… and Father, speaking to me ever so clearly, shared His inner-being.
It was His 'ahăḇâ-revelation.
It is a Mystery so profound that it changes our understanding. It is so intense that our concept of grace is forever awakened. It redefines the very meaning and essence of humanity. It is a Mystery so great that it brings life where only death and despair once roamed. It is momentous, outrageous and ridiculously profound in its display.
It stands above all, everything and anybody …
Every now and then I come across a word that I really, really like.
I like certain words for certain specific reasons.
These words then become my special words. Words I treasure.
They end up in my reserved place for special words …
However, for that particular word to become one of my special words, it must comply. It must have certain unique qualities.
Earlier this week I started writing a post on John and Jesus … mostly about Jesus, but also about John.
My blog post was birthed from a place of intimacy reading John 15 and 16. It touched me deeply. I was awakened to the fact that the Gospel of John was different from the others in that John is the disciple who refers to himself as the disciple that Jesus loved. John talks more about life compared to the others that talk about the kingdom (but synonymizing them). John talks more about the cloak of the Spirit Who abides as the Comforter, the Aide-memoire of Jesus instead of the mere spirit referred to by the others.
I started writing on how this is the Gospel where Jesus categorically prepared those who loved Him to what was going to happen to Him, the most significant event ever in HIS-STORY.
The unforeseen
My post was at an advanced stage, and the emotions and precious revelations that came to me spilled out on the screen until the unforeseen happened.
