Babylon Revisited

The following AI Overview sums up the definition of symbolic Babylon as well as anything I've seen. "In biblical symbolism, Babylon represents a worldly system built on pride, idolatry, and opposition to God, originating from the Tower of Babel and epitomized by the historical city of Babylon and later the Roman Empire. It is depicted in the Book of Revelation as 'Babylon the Great,' a corrupt system of government, commerce, and religion that exalts human power over divine authority and persecutes God's people. The city also symbolizes religious confusion and apostasy, where false teachings and practices make void God's laws." I will never forget when I was still in California, right after I had been converted to Christ, and I don't remember where I was, seems like it was some sort of outdoor event, perhaps, with booths, somewhat like those at a state fair, and as I was looking toward a person inside it, I saw what appeared to be a large snake writhing around the neck of this vendor who also sported very loud and colorful jewelry, and my sense was that this was an actual personification of Babylon, and has forever popped into my mind when I think about this world and, especially, how corrupt it has been revealed to be to me in recent years. Perhaps all of you reading this have been awakened to this reality for many years. I think, in some ways, this realization sneaks up on us gradually, or perhaps it sort of comes and goes, almost as if God allows it to reveal itself to us sometimes subtly, and loudly and clearly at other times. In any case, there is no doubt that we are living there today. I have no desire to go into depth about politics or any other disturbing topic at the moment, but, rather, I just wanted to mention a certain aspect of this that I have been thinking about lately. What I have been thinking about are the numbers. There have always been more of "them" than there are of "us." Now, I know that might strike a nerve with some people who don't like the "we/them" dichotomy, and that's all right. But the truth is, people who simply want to follow Christ are in the minority, and everybody else makes up a majority. Perhaps this is why the word is always saying, "Don't be afraid." It's only natural to fear when you feel overwhelmed or outnumbered or everyone's against you, but the one who made us says we have overcome the world and we are "surrounded by ....a cloud of witnesses," we are citizens of heaven, living in eternity now and doing so by the power of the one who died and rose again the third day who has given us his spirit. So, that's just something to think about. There is one more night of the 10 Days of Awe tonight, and I am looking forward to participating again. So, take heart and don't let yourself become "weary and discouraged in your souls." I will talk to you later. Good afternoon, good evening and good night. P.S. This title has nothing to do with the short story with the same name by F. Scott Fitzgerald. It just seemed appropriate to the topic at hand.