May 22
THE TALE OF TWO CITIES
-Revelation 18:2 states, … And he cried mightily with a strong voice, saying, Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen,
and is become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird …
Revelation 18:4 states, … And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her ( Babylon ), MY PEOPLE, that
you be not partakers of her sins, and that you receive not of her plagues … Revelation 21:2 states, … And I John
saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband …
-So … The Bible is really the TALE OF TWO CITIES:
1. BABYLON
2. JERUSALEM
-The two cities represent:
1. THE FLESH ( CORRUPT NATURE OF MAN )
2. THE SPIRIT ( DIVINE NATURE OF GOD )
-Let us take a closer look at the flesh and the Spirit. Romans 8:4-8 states, … That the righteousness of the law
might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh ( Babylon ), but after the Spirit ( Jerusalem ). For they that are
after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. FOR TO BE CARNALLY
MINDED IS DEATH; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is
not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God …
-The words "flesh", "carnally minded", and "carnal mind" all come from the same Greek word "sarx", which means: the corrupt
nature of man, the earthly nature of man apart from divine influence, and therefore prone to sin and opposed to God. The flesh
always represents the efforts and achievements of man outside of the Spirit of God. The result is always failure and death,
which is separation from God in your mind. The Spirit that is spoken of in Romans chapter eight is the very Spirit of God.
HIS SPIRIT IS LIFE! THERE IS NO LIFE OUTSIDE OF THE SPIRIT OF GOD! There is no life in Babylon! There is only life in Jerusalem!
-Can you see that you are on a journey? Our journey is one of coming out of Babylon and into Jerusalem. We are being brought
from the ADAM NATURE to the DIVINE NATURE! Can you hear the call? God is saying, … COME OUT OF BABYLON, MY PEOPLE!
-JERUSALEM AWAITS US!-
