My dear brothers and sisters in Christ, instead of building Christ’s kingdom within us we are building the great city of Babylon in our souls. Therefor our Lord –

Zechariah 2: 6 – 9 “Up, up! Flee from the land of the north,” says the Lord; “for I have spread you abroad like the four winds of heaven,” says the Lord.

“Up, Zion! Escape, you who dwell with the daughter of Babylon.”

For thus says the Lord of hosts: “He sent Me after glory, to the nations which plunder you; for he who touches you touches the apple of His eye.

For surely I will shake My hand against them, and they shall become spoil for their servants. Then you will know that the Lord of hosts has sent Me.

Genesis 11: 1, 2 - Now the whole earth had one language and one speech.

And it came to pass, as they journeyed from the east, that they found a plain in the land of Shinar, and they dwelt there.

In that land of Shinar, was where the great city of Babylon was present. In that place only they thought and decided to build a big tower. In that place only God who realized the thoughts of man scattered everyone and confused their language.

But to bring together the people who were scattered God is saying up, up come and flee from the land of the north.

Zechariah 2: 1 – 5 says Then I raised my eyes and looked, and behold, a man with a measuring line in his hand.

So I said, “Where are you going?”And he said to me, “To measure Jerusalem, to see what is its width and what is its length.”

And there was the angel who talked with me, going out; and another angel was coming out to meet him,

who said to him, “Run, speak to this young man, saying: ‘Jerusalem shall be inhabited as towns without walls, because of the multitude of men and livestock in it.

For I,’ says the Lord, ‘will be a wall of fire all around her, and I will be the glory in her midst.’”

The man with a measuring line in his hand is our Lord Jesus Christ.

Revelation 11: 1, 2 - Then I was given a reed like a measuring rod. And the angel stood, saying, “Rise and measure the temple of God, the altar, and those who worship there.

But leave out the court which is outside the temple, and do not measure it, for it has been given to the Gentiles. And they will tread the holy city underfoot for forty-two months.(3 and a ½ years)

God sent his son Jesus Christ to this world in order to gather the people who scattered. He came to this world and preached the gospel for 3 and a half years.

Revelation 14: 6 – 8 says Then I saw another angel flying in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach to those who dwell on the earth—to every nation, tribe, tongue, and people—

saying with a loud voice, “Fear God and give glory to Him, for the hour of His judgment has come; and worship Him who made heaven and earth, the sea and springs of water.”

And another angel followed, saying, “Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she has made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication.”

Our Lord Jesus Christ came to this world to gather all nations, all tribes, all people and all language together to be as one flock and one Shepherd.

Many Jews saw that Our Lord Jesus Christ did many miracles, raised Lazarus alive from the dead and believed in Him.

John 11: 47 - Then the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered a council and said, “What shall we do? For this Man works many signs.

If we let Him alone like this, everyone will believe in Him, and the Romans will come and take away both our place and nation.”

And one of them, Caiaphas, being high priest that year, said to them, “You know nothing at all,

nor do you consider that it is expedient for us that one man should die for the people, and not that the whole nation should perish.”

Now this he did not say on his own authority; but being high priest that year he prophesied that Jesus would die for the nation,

and not for that nation only, but also that He would gather together in one the children of God who were scattered abroad.

Let us pray.

-      To be continued