II. LAYING THE GROUNDWORK.
A.
The One True God.1. We that are Christians believe that there is but one God, and
that God is manifested in what we call the Trinity.
(a). God The Father.
(b). God The Son.
(c). God The Holy Spirit.
2. Matt. 28:19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them
in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
3. Keep in mind that there is but one true God.
(a).
(b).
Isa. 46:9 Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me,(c).
Mark 12:32 And the scribe said unto him, Well, Master,thou hast said the truth: for there is one God; and there is none other but he:
B.
True Worship.1. From the time of Adam and Eve, God had told man how to worship Him acceptably.
2. It has been assumed by most that the place of worship was at the entrance (or east) of the garden that God had driven Adam & Eve from.
(a). Gen. 3:24 So he drove out the man; and he placed at the east of the garden of Eden Cherubims, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life.
(b). It is only assumed that this was were the worship, sacrifices and offerings were made; we really have no way of knowing.
3. We have the first mention of worship in Gen. 4:1 And Adam knew Eve his wife; and she conceived, and bare Cain, and said, I have gotten a man from the LORD. 2 And she again bare his brother Abel. And Abel was a keeper of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the ground. 3 And in process of time it came to pass, that Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering unto the LORD. 4 And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof. And the LORD had respect unto Abel and to his offering:
4. At this point in time I would like to remind us that God is like to remind us that God is immutable (does not change). See
Mal. 3:6 For I am the LORD, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed.5. That being true, we know that God gave the same directions to
Adam & Eve, and Cain & Abel as He did everyone else.
(a).
(b).
Heb. 9:22 And almost all things are by the law purgedwith blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission.
6. Abel brought to God what God had required of him, and God
accepted Abel.
(a).
(b). When worship is offered in accordance to God’s will and His instructions; He will accept and honor it.
C. Unacceptable Worship.
1. Why would God refuse to accept any worship?
(a). Because if it is not done according to God’s instructions, it is not worship at all, but rebellion.
(b).
2. I think this is a pretty good description of Cain’s attitude in his worship.
3.
Gen. 4:5 But unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect. And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell. 6 And the LORD said unto Cain, Why art thou wroth? and why is thy countenance fallen? 7 If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door. And unto thee shall be his desire, and thou shalt rule over him. 8 And Cain talked with Abel his brother: and it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother, and slew him.4. So here we have the first mention of unacceptable worship.
(a). Notice that God even gave Cain additional instructions and an opportunity to do it over, to do it correctly.
(b). Out of stubbornness and rebellion, Cain continued to refuse to do it any other way, but his own.
5. We would do well to note here that God WILL NOT accept just any old thing that we decide to call worship.
(a). Cain was sincere.
(b). His offering was no doubt more beautiful than Abel’s bloody sacrifice.
(c). But it was not what God had asked for.
6. "Why can’t we all just love one another and accept each other’s beliefs? We are all serving the same God!"
7. SO WERE CAIN & ABEL!
D. The Beginning Of Paganism.
1.
(a). This is, of course, the tribulation period.
(b). The Lord’s church (and all His saints) have been raptured up and all that is left as far as religion is concerned, is the "great whore" and her "harlot daughters."
2. But this is not the first mention of Babylon that we find in the Bible; almost at the very beginning of the Bible we encounter Babylon.
3. ~Descendants of Noah~
Gen. 10:1 Now these are the generations of the sons of Noah, Shem, Ham, and Japheth: and unto them were sons born after the flood. 2 The sons of Japheth; Gomer, and Magog, and Madai, and Javan, and Tubal, and Meshech, and Tiras. 3 And the sons of Gomer; Ashkenaz, and Riphath, and Togarmah. 4 And the sons of Javan; Elishah, and Tarshish, Kittim, and Dodanim. 5 By these were the isles of the Gentiles divided in their lands; every one after his tongue, after their families, in their nations. 6 And the sons of Ham; Cush, and Mizraim, and Phut, and Canaan. 7 And the sons of Cush; Seba, and Havilah, and Sabtah, and Raamah, and Sabtechah: and the sons of Raamah; Sheba, and Dedan. 8 And Cush begat Nimrod: he began to be a mighty one in the earth. 9 He was a mighty hunter before the LORD: wherefore it is said, Even as Nimrod the mighty hunter before the LORD. 10 And the beginning of his kingdom was Babel (ancient Babylon) , and Erech, and Accad, and Calneh, in the land of Shinar.(a). The name "Nimrod" means rebel.
(b). The Name "Babylon" means confusion.
4. Nimrod was a mighty hunter, which was very important in that day and age.
(a). Since the flood, the wild beast would have multiplied rapidly and would have certainly been a threat to man.
(b). Especially the very large (dinosaur type) creatures mentioned in the book of Job (Behemoth).
(c). When he was able to kill these wild beast, he would have had a large following among the people, his own private army if you please.
5. So we have the first ruler (Nimrod - rebel) and his kingdom, Babylon (confusion).
(a). Thus, the establishment of that kingdom was the beginning of the Babylon we read about in the Bible.
(b). Old Babylon was Nimrod’s kingdom, Neo Babylon was Nebuchadnezzar’s kingdom.
(c). Historically and symbolically, Babylon is any organized system that replaces God's rule with human or demonic rule.
6. It was Nimrod who began to build the Tower of Babel.
7. He started the worship of polygamy (worship of many gods).
(a). All pagan religions, all idolatry can be traced back to Nimrod.
(b). All heresy will, in some way or other, be tied to
8. Nimrod married the beautiful (according to legend) and cunning�, but notoriously immoral, Semiramis; together they ruled the world.
9. Nimrod, according to legend (history), was killed by a bore hog.
10. His wife, Semiramis, then praises him as the "sun god."
11. Soon after this she becomes pregnant and delivers a child.
(a). She claims that this conception is miraculous and that this child is actually Nimrod reincarnated.
(b). Thus, her son is her husband; and she took him as such.
(c). The baby’s name was Tammuz.
12. This is where all pagan religions are all founded.
(a). Nimrod was being worshipped as the "sun god;" whose symbol was fire (or more specifically, candles) Note: Ever wonder where they come up with using all those candles in Roman Catholicism?
(b). Semiramis began being worshipped as a goddess, "queen of heaven." See
(c). Tammuz was believed to be Nimrod reincarnated and his symbol was that of the calf. We remember that symbol from the golden calf that Aaron made for the children of Israel at the foot of Mount Sinai.
Note: The children of Israel got that calf worship from Egypt, and even today there are religions (Hindu) that
worship cattle.
(d). We find in the Bible references of "weeping for Tammuz...
13. Thus, the birth of the "mystery religion of Babylon was born.
(a). This was the birth of pagan religions.
(b). The three prominent figures you will find in every idolatrous system will be Nimrod, Semiramis, and Tammuz; different countries will call them by different names, but they are the same.
(c). Satan’s counterfeit of God the Father, the virgin Mary (whom was never to be worshipped), and our Lord Jesus Christ (God the Son).
(d). Before this study is over, we will be forced to weigh the evidence and determine if Catholicism is the true Lord’s church or if she is, right down to the garb (garments) and rituals, the "mystery Babylon."
(e). From her age and origin, she has to be one or the other.
(f).
E.
That Evil Woman Jezebel.1. 1Kings 16:29 And in the thirty and eighth year of Asa king of Judah began Ahab the son of Omri to reign over Israel: and Ahab the son of Omri reigned over Israel in Samaria twenty and two years. 30 And Ahab the son of Omri did evil in the sight of the LORD above all that were before him. 31 And it came to pass, as if it had been a light thing for him to walk in the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, that he took to wife Jezebel the daughter of Ethbaal king of the Zidonians, and went and served Baal, and worshipped him. 32 And he reared up an altar for Baal in the house of Baal, which he had built in Samaria. 33 And Ahab made a grove; and Ahab did more to provoke the LORD God of Israel to anger than all the kings of Israel that were before him.
(a). BAAL : An idol of the Phoenicians, god of the sun. (who was the god of the sun? Nimrod).
(b). The Jezebel of the O.T. brought Baal worship into Israel.
2. Rev. 2:18 And unto the angel of the church in Thyatira write; These things saith the Son of God, who hath his eyes like unto a flame of fire, and his feet are like fine brass; 19 I know thy works, and charity, and service, and faith, and thy patience, and thy works; and the last to be more than the first. 20 Notwithstanding I have a few things against thee, because thou sufferest that woman Jezebel, which calleth herself a prophetess, to teach and to seduce my servants to commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed unto idols. 21 And I gave her space to repent of her fornication; and she repented not. 22 Behold, I will cast her into a bed, and them that commit adultery with her into great tribulation, except they repent of their deeds. 23 And I will kill her children with death; and all the churches shall know that I am he which searcheth the reins and hearts: and I will give unto every one of you according to your works. 24 But unto you I say, and unto the rest in Thyatira, as many as have not this doctrine, and which have not known the depths of Satan, as they speak; I will put upon you none other burden.
(a). The Jezebel of the N.T. brought false doctrine into the Lord’s church.
(b). So, here we have false doctrine, which is sin, brought into the church; leaven is symbolic of sin in the Bible.
(c).
1Cor. 5:1 It is reported commonly that there is fornication among you, and such fornication as is not so much as named among the Gentiles, that one should have his father's wife. 2 And ye are puffed up, and have not rather mourned, that he that hath done this deed might be taken away from among you. 3 For I verily, as absent in body, but present in spirit, have judged already, as though I were present, concerning him that hath so done this deed, 4 In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when ye are gathered together, and my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ, 5 To deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus. 6 Your glorying is not good. Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump?3. Jezebel brought idol worship and false doctrine into Israel and the Lord’s church; and it is the same "mystery Babylon" all through the Bible.
F. Judaism.
1. I want to take a moment to point out that the difference in the Old Testament and the New Testament is in the way the people served God, not in the way God saved people.
(a). Old Testament: Family Priest - Tabernacle - Temple.
(b). New Testament: Church.
2. During the age of the patriarchs, the head of the family acted as the priest.
(a). Gen. 8:20 And Noah builded an altar unto the LORD; and took of every clean beast, and of every clean fowl, and offered burnt offerings on the altar.
(b).
Abraham: Gen. 12:8 And he removed from thence unto a mountain on the east of Bethel, and pitched his tent, having Bethel on the west, and Hai on the east: and there he builded an altar unto the LORD, and called upon the name of the LORD.(c).
Jacob: Gen. 35:7 And he built there an altar, and called the place Elbethel: because there God appeared unto him, when he fled from the face of his brother.3. After the exodus, the first-born male was authorized to act as the family priest.
(a).
(b).
Exo. 24:5 And he sent young men of the children of Israel, which offered burnt offerings, and sacrificed peace offerings of oxen unto the LORD.(c).
Exo. 19:22 And let the priests also, which come near to the LORD, sanctify themselves, lest the LORD break forth upon them.4. Next came the Levitical priesthood
.(a).
Num. 3:9 And thou shalt give the Levites unto Aaron and to his sons: they are wholly given unto him out of the children of Israel.(b).
Num. 3:12 And I, behold, I have taken the Levites from among the children of Israel instead of all the firstborn that openeth the matrix among the children of Israel: therefore the Levites shall be mine;(c).
Num. 18:6 And I, behold, I have taken your brethren the Levites from among the children of Israel: to you they are given as a gift for the LORD, to do the service of the tabernacle of the congregation.(d). The priest first served at the altars, then in the tabernacle, and then later in the temple.
5. So the Levitical priesthood began with Moses some 750 years after Abraham.
6. Allow me to repeat what I said earlier;
the difference in the Old Testament and the New Testament is in the way the people served God, not in the way God saved people.(a). All those sacrifices and the Levitical Law, saved no one.
(b).
(c).
Rom. 3:20 Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.(d).
Gal. 2:16 Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.7. The Old Testament saints were saved exactly the same way we are.
(a).
(b).
Rom. 4:2 For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before God. 3 For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.(c).
Acts 15:10 Now therefore why tempt ye God, to put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear? 11 But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved, even as they.(d). The purpose of the Levitical Law (Judaism) was to bring the children of Israel to Christ so that they could be saved by Grace through Faith.
Gal. 3:24 Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. 25 But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster.Note:
Once they were brought to Christ, the Law was no longer needed, it served it’s intended purpose (was fulfilled)