"TAKE ANOTHER LOOK" W1S146 (01-15-20) Revelation 18:5-8
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Revelation 18:5-6 (NKJV) says, “5 For her sins have reached to heaven, and God has remembered her iniquities. 6 Render to her just as she rendered to you, and repay her double according to her works; in the cup which she has mixed, mix double for her.”
● So, once again, the word for “sin” comes from the Greek word hamartia {hä–märdd–tēē’–yä} means to miss the mark, to err, or to be mistaken. It is from this understanding that we realize what mankind was mistaken about, or even confused about, which was and often is their God-identity. To be mistaken could also be stated as “mistaken identity” regarding what some call, “the fall of Adam” from which mankind religiously adopted his own personal, school of thought.
● Revelation 18:6 (NKJV) says, “Render to her just as she rendered to you {some translators omit the words, to you}, and repay her double according to her works; in the cup which she has mixed, mix double for her.” So, when we talk about “Babylon,” we are speaking symbolically of the religious mindset of a system that operates within the mind of mankind. It is not the system or establishment of the mind that was in Christ Jesus, but it is within the unrenewed thinking of mankind. Now, this system is the thinking which stems from “mistaken identity” from where mankind focuses on the voice of question as Adam and Eve did.
● The voice of question within the unrenewed soul can be the simple distractions of thought that keep a person from focusing on the voice of God within. The English word for “dualism” is defined as the division of something conceptually into two opposed or contrasted aspects, or the state of being so divided. The mind of Christ says I am loved by my Father-God who can never withdrawal His love, no matter what I do. Yet, the Babylonian system of thought says that if I mess up, Father-God will cast me away and never love me again.
This produces a state of confusion within, which is where religious ideology lives, and therefore mankind attempts to live out of a dualist state of mind.
● Revelation 18:7 (NKJV) says, “In the measure that she glorified herself and lived luxuriously {Or, sensually}, in the same measure give her torment and sorrow; for she says in her heart, ‘I sit as queen, and am no widow, and will not see sorrow.’” Please understand that none of this is not intended to be a criticism, but simply to point out that we have all been there in religious thinking when it comes to believing “our denomination was right, and others were wrong.” And we lived by those persuasions even to the point of what we believed was to fight for our faith. When we set ourselves up to believe that we are the only one that is right, we are operating from a sensual realm, but not a spiritual realm. Yes, it is truth that Father-God is always right, but that is because that His mind is the eternal truth that is implanted within us. So, for us to be right, we must embrace the revelation of His mind.
● Revelation 18:8 (NKJV) says, “Therefore her plagues will come in one day—death and mourning and famine. And she will be utterly burned with fire, for strong is the Lord God who judges {Or, has judged} her.” Remember that was through the sacrifice of Jesus that the mistaken identity thinking of mankind was judged and put to death. Yet, in spite of this reality, many for thousands of years have been a people who have not seemed to understand God or to really know Him. Never forget that you are loved unconditionally by your Father; in spite of what you have done or are dealing with at this moment in life. It is up to you to remember that NOTHING can separate you from the Love of God through the “Eternal Christ” who abides within you forever.
● You are not of the systems of this world, of which were created out of the mistaken identity of mankind. You are of the “Eternal Christ” who created you to operate from Him mind, and no other. Listen: From out of all of the billions of spirit-beings created by Father God, he loved them all from the very moment He created you in eternity past. And He created them all as holy and acceptable before Him, even though the awareness of many has not yet been awakened to the truth of His everlasting love.
● Even when you are in a hard place and not focused on who God created you to be; it does not change the fact that you were fearfully and wonderfully made in the image and likeness of the fullness of God. I hope you were enlightened and inspired to “dig deep into the well of the Father’s mind within you” as you watch today’s video lesson!