Page 17 - The Road from Babylon to Zion

as well as that which they consider good. Zion is to live out the words of Paul:

Galatians 2:20
"I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ
lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the
Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.”

Babylon seeks to perform godly works through human industry and effort. Babylon
asks the question, “What Would Jesus Do?” and then it tries to perform that action in
the power of sinful flesh. Zion, however, sees self as crucified with Christ and Christ
now living in and through them. As one brother has stated, Zion says, “Watch What
Jesus Does!”

We have seen that Judah and Jerusalem were given over to Babylonian captivity until
the land could receive its seventy sabbaths that it had been denied. The issue of rest is
the most critical distinction between these two cities. By faith in the work of Messiah
Zion enters into rest. Due to unbelief Babylon endures ceaseless striving and fails to
enter into the sabbath rest of God. Babylon’s works are birthed in the mind, will, and
emotions of man. Many of these works appear noble and some are even supernatural
in nature. But due to the corrupted source from which they arise all such works are
rejected by God. Many of the works of Babylon are in direct opposition to Zion and her
citizens.

Yahshua said the day would come when people would kill His disciples and think
they were doing God a favor. Such is the end result of the polluted well that Babylon
drinks from. In the name of God and His Christ millions of saints have been
martyred in the past 2,000 years. This is the work of Babylon. What a shock is in
store for these who will stand before Yahshua and say, “Did we not kill the infidels
and heretics in Your name?” He will reply, “When you did it to the least of these My
brethren, you did it unto Me.”

Perhaps now you can see more clearly why Zion and Babylon cannot be identified
merely by external measurements. Tares and wheat look much alike until they bear
fruit. I know some would like to have a rule of thumb to be able to tell Babylon apart
from Zion. Such rules are hard to come by, but one indicator I will give. Zion is a
people of faith, while Babylon walks by sight and reason.

Example after example could be given of personal encounters I have experienced
with ministers and churches who would not walk by faith. When the test comes then
hearts are exposed.

Yahweh will press His people forward into realms of faith without exception. We are
told that “without faith it is impossible to please God” (Hebrews 11:6). The people of
Zion will go forward in faith “not loving their lives unto the death” while Babylon will