In recent posts I have written about the One World Trade Center building in New York City, and The Shard in London. As I wrote of these two buildings, the tallest on two continents, I began to consider what these towers represent. I am not referring to the individual symbolism of the towers, for that has already been discussed in individual blogs.
One World Trade Center
http://parablesblog.blogspot.com/2012/02/babylon-rising.html
The Shard
http://www.parablesblog.blogspot.com/2012/07/babylon-rising-part-six-london-as-zion.html
My interest was more general at this time. I was led to consider what towers in general signify, and why Satan’s kingdom is predominantly marked by them while they are absent from descriptions of God’s kingdom and those buildings He has directed His people to construct.
The first mention of things in the Bible tend to be very significant. The meaning, spirit, or type and anti-type of a thing is often revealed in its first occurrence in the Scriptures. This is certainly true when it comes to towers. We find the very first tower mentioned in the 11th chapter of Genesis. I will include the passage here as there is much revealed in the details.
Genesis 11:1-9
Now the whole earth used the same language and the same words. It came about as they journeyed east, that they found a plain in the land of Shinar and settled there. They said to one another, "Come, let us make bricks and burn them thoroughly." And they used brick for stone, and they used tar for mortar. They said, "Come, let us build for ourselves a city, and a tower whose top will reach into heaven, and let us make for ourselves a name, otherwise we will be scattered abroad over the face of the whole earth." Yahweh came down to see the city and the tower which the sons of men had built. Yahweh said, "Behold, they are one people, and they all have the same language. And this is what they began to do, and now nothing which they purpose to do will be impossible for them. Come, let Us go down and there confuse their language, so that they will not understand one another's speech."
So Yahweh scattered them abroad from there over the face of the whole earth; and they stopped building the city. Therefore its name was called Babel, because there Yahweh confused the language of the whole earth; and from there Yahweh scattered them abroad over the face of the whole earth.
Some things that stand out to me from this passage are as follows:
Self-will:
They said to one another, "Come, let us make bricks...”
They said, "Come, let us build for ourselves a city, and a tower...”
Rebellion:
“Let us make for ourselves a name, otherwise we will be scattered abroad over the face of the whole earth.”
Contrast this verse with the following commandment of Yahweh.
Genesis 9:1
And God blessed Noah and his sons and said to them, "Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth.”
Genesis 9:7
"As for you, be fruitful and multiply; Populate the earth abundantly and multiply in it."
Pride:
“Let us make for ourselves a name...”
Self-will is evident in the fact that mankind chose themselves to build a city and a tower. This was not commanded by Yahweh. In fact, man was rebelling against the command of God spoken to Noah and his sons to multiply and fill the earth. Rather than dispersing into family groups, and choosing a scattered and rural existence, man chose to conglomerate into cities where their power was multiplied and what man could accomplish was magnified. Pride was also a factor, as mankind wanted to make a name for themselves.
This aspect of making a “name” for oneself strikes me as central to the building of towers. Towers are given names, and the names oftentimes bespeak something relating to the occupants, or the surrounding inhabitants. For example, for many years the Sears Tower was the tallest building in America. Why do corporations build lofty towers? It is to boast about their might, wealth, and strength. A massive named tower becomes a symbol of the business. For many years the company slogan for this merchandising giant was “Solid as Sears.”
The Sears Tower is located in Chicago, “the city of the big shoulders.” The building itself appears to have big shoulders. Shoulders in the Bible represent authority, ruling, and power, as in the verse, “and the government shall be upon His shoulders” (Isaiah 9:6). The Sears Tower was built in 1973, becoming the tallest building in America, surpassing the Word Trade Centers in New York. The building was planned in 1969 when Sears was the largest retailer in the world. However, as the Scriptures declare, “Pride goeth before destruction and a haughty (high-minded) spirit before a fall.” Beginning in the 1970s Sears began to lose market share to companies like K-mart and Walmart. More recently companies like Target and Amazon have further eroded their market base. Some are suggesting that Sears, which was purchased by Kmart a few years ago, may soon be forced into bankruptcy.
I like the caption over this graph. It reveals the heights from which Sears has fallen while making an allusion to their huge tower which they ended up selling in the 1990s, and which Sears has now completely vacated. The tower was re-branded as Willis Tower in March 2009. How the mighty have fallen!
The association between towers, making a name for oneself, and eventual decline, is observed time and again. The history of skyscrapers in America is one of pride, hubris, and decline. In 1930 Chrysler Corporation claimed the title of the tallest building in the world when their tower in Manhattan was completed. Their boast was short lived as the Empire State Building was completed 11 months later, surpassing the Chrysler Building in height.
Chrysler has suffered similar problems to those of Sears. Declining market share in the automotive market led them to declare bankruptcy in the 1990s. They were then sold repeatedly and Italian auto maker Fiat is now the majority owner of this once proud American car company.
It seems that whenever men set forth to build a tower and to make a name for themselves, they draw the particular interest of Yahweh. Organizations of men, attempting to ascend above other peoples and groups, manifest a spirit of self-will, pride and rebellion that invites the judgment of God.
In the Old Testament we read of a king of Judah who was helped mightily by Yahweh. Yet in his strength, prosperity, and security King Uzziah became proud.
II Chronicles 26:16
But when he was strong, his heart was lifted up to his destruction: for he transgressed against Yahweh his God, and went into the temple of Yahweh to burn incense upon the altar of incense.
It is not coincidental that we read of this same king building towers throughout Jerusalem and the territory of Judah.
II Chronicles 26:9-10
Moreover Uzziah built towers in Jerusalem at the corner gate, and at the valley gate, and at the turning of the wall, and fortified them. Also he built towers in the desert...
When Uzziah’s pride led him to act willfully in seeking to enter the Holy Place in the temple where only the Levites were allowed, Yahweh struck him with leprosy.
King David is set up as the gold standard by which all other kings were measured. Yahweh declared David to be a man after His own heart. Although David sinned grievously, pride was not his undoing. David was a humble man. He always recognized that his life was in Yahweh’s hands. David did not put trust in towers and fortifications. His trust was ever in the God who had chosen him to be ruler of His people.
Psalms 61:3-4
For You have been a shelter for me, a strong tower from the enemy. I will abide in Your tabernacle forever; I will trust in the shelter of Your wings.
Many things are revealed through the means of parables. We can learn much about the spirit of the present day church by looking at the buildings she has constructed. For centuries now, the church has adopted the patterns of Babylon by building towers. For centuries the tallest building in many towns would be the churches. The church towers, spires, and lofty steeples would rise above the cityscape, as one religious group after another sought to make a name for themselves.
http://parablesblog.blogspot.com/2010/02/syncretism-part-four-apostles-of-sun.html
Storms across this nation have taken a toll upon these high places that have become emblematic of church buildings. The steeple has become so ubiquitous that many people recognize a church by the tower constructed atop it. What does this reveal about the people who worship inside the buildings? Are they not under the influence of Babylon?
Oftentimes the signs of pride, self-will and rebellion are so commonplace that they are no longer noticed. Millions of Christians drive to their church buildings with high vaulted ceilings, bell towers, and lofty steeples upon them, and they never consider the origin of these things. Like the people of Babel of olden times, they cannot say that Yahweh commanded them to build a tower to reach toward the heavens. The thought to build according to these forms originated outside of the mind of God.
Equally overlooked are the multitude of churches that claim to be “first.” Look at any sizeable town in America and you will find a “First” Baptist, “First” Methodist, “First” Church of Christ, “First” Presbyterian, “First” Lutheran. Why do men boast of such things? Have they forgotten the words of Christ?
Mark 10:31
"But many who are first will be last, and the last, first."
I would as soon write “Ichabod” over the door of the church as name it “First” anything. Let me be a member of the church of the least, the last and the lonely. Of course, churches cater to the businessmen, and the well-to-do, for they are the ones who ante up the money to pay for the building with its chandeliers, carpeting, stained glass, bell towers, and steeples. They are the ones who vote the pastor a generous salary. The people of God are dwelling in Babylon and the Spirit is calling them out at this hour.
Revelation 18:4-5
I heard another voice from heaven, saying, "Come out of [Babylon, the Great Harlot], my people, so that you will not participate in her sins and receive of her plagues; for her sins have piled up as high as heaven, and God has remembered her iniquities.”
Is it coincidence that even in these words there is mention of the church building a tower? This tower is one of sin. It has reached into the heavens. Three years ago I wrote about a profound sign Yahweh had sent to an apostate Christian religious system. The sign occurred as the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America was voting to approve of members in homosexual relationships to serve as clergy. Following is an excerpt:
As I Was Writing
As I was writing this article an event took place in the upper Midwest of the U.S.A. that I believe relates to the message the Father is bringing forth. What appeared to be a relatively benign storm suddenly became severe, but it is the specific damage that it caused that arrests the attention.
The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America convention was being held at the Minneapolis Convention Center. The Central Lutheran Church is located nearby and was serving as a preparation area to provide meals to convention attendees. Suddenly the sky turned dark and a fierce wind arose and scattered the tables and chairs outside the church.
This storm also damaged an independent music store in Minneapolis that bore the very unusual name the Electric Fetus. The windows were blown out and the roof collapsed while stores on either side of it remained undamaged.
I am persuaded that the Lord is declaring in this event that there are two core issues for which He is bringing swift judgment to the Lutheran Church. One is for her tolerance, and even support of, abortion. The other is for her present actions to sanction homosexuality within the church. The following item revealing the agenda of this Lutheran convention was found on the Catholic News Agency site.
Minneapolis, Minn., Aug 18, 2009 / 11:38 pm (CNA).-
The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) is considering a proposal that would allow members in homosexual relationships to serve as clergy. It has denied a motion to require a higher proportion of votes for the proposal to pass.
The Lutheran Church has already allowed the nation’s largest abortion provider to serve as clergy, now they are voting on whether to allow homosexuals to do the same. It is suspected that a tornado was spawned from the thunderstorm moving through Minneapolis. It struck the church at approximately 2:00 P.M., the very time the convention was scheduled to begin consideration of the proposed Social Statement on Human Sexuality. This statement included comments advocating the acceptance of homosexuality as a normal lifestyle.
Not only did the storm overturn the tables outside Central Lutheran Church, it also damaged the church’s steeple, leaving the cross atop it dangling upside down. The inverted cross is a symbol used by the Satanic Church.
The convention passed the Social Statement on Human Sexuality, but before it was passed various amendments were recommended.
including one that sought to replace a section of the social statement about "lifelong monogamous same-gender relationships” with one that asserts the "practice of homosexual erotic behavior as contrary to God's intent."
In a 667-303 vote, the assembly opted against the aforementioned change, following the recommendation of an ad hoc committee that advised against the amendment’s adoption since the position articulated implies "a consensus that no longer exists."
[Source: http://www.christianpost.com/article/20090820/elca-delegates-narrowly-adopt-new-sexuality-statement/index.html]
There is not even a consensus among this apostate religious organization that the practice of homosexual erotic behavior is contrary to God’s intent.
A further symbolic note is that this same storm system struck a town called Loami. This is a name used prophetically in the Scriptures, and the understanding is very clear.
Hosea 1:9
And Yahweh said, "Name him Lo-ammi, for you are not My people and I am not your God."
People of God, these are very serious matters. Judgment must begin at the house of God. He is even now making a division among those who are His righteous servants and those who are not. We will soon see the following Scripture fulfilled.
Ezekiel 9:4-6
And Yahweh said to him, "Go through the midst of the city, even through the midst of Jerusalem, and put a mark on the foreheads of the men who sigh and groan over all the abominations which are being committed in its midst." But to the others He said in my hearing, "Go through the city after him and strike; do not let your eye have pity, and do not spare. Utterly slay old men, young men, maidens, little children, and women, but do not touch any man on whom is the mark; and you shall start from My sanctuary."
[End Excerpt]
I feel I would be remiss to conclude this post without mentioning the events that occurred in Christchurch, New Zealand when it experienced devastating earthquakes in recent times. Over and over the towers on the churches crumbled. Following is an excerpt from the post titled The Church Bells All Were Broken.
I want to mention a singular phenomena that occurred when the earthquake struck Christchurch, New Zealand this week. In instance after instance, the bell towers collapsed on prominent churches, some of which were historic landmarks.
St. John's Anglican Church Bell Destroyed
Christchurch Basilica (Roman Catholic)
- Both Bell Towers Destroyed
Don McLean (1971)
I met a girl who sang the blues
And I asked her for some happy news,
But she just smiled and turned away.
I went down to the sacred store
Where I’d heard the music years before,
But the man there said the music wouldn’t play.
And in the streets: the children screamed,
The lovers cried, and the poets dreamed.
But not a word was spoken;
The church bells all were broken.
And the three men I admire most:
The Father, Son, and the Holy Ghost,
They caught the last train for the coast
The day the music died.
This song had some very poignant prophetic references from its very first release. The record label it was released on contained the words “Yahweh Tunes,” and “Mayday Music.”
Mayday is the internationally recognized distress code...
I believe the Father is testifying through these events that judgment is at hand. A great shaking is coming to the nations. The shaking will test all that the church has built. Much will crumble. Many lives will be tragically lost. The faith of multitudes will fail, for it is not sufficient to carry them through coming days.
[End Excerpt]
In the book of Revelation John records Christ’s plea to the people of God to come out of Babylon lest they participate in her sins and partake of her plagues. The signs of Babylon are clearly evident on a myriad of churches. They are patterned after the tower building, name making, self-willed enterprises of that doomed city and tower. What man begins ends in confusion.
Last year America’s national cathedral experienced similar damage to her towers. When an earthquake shook the region around Washington D.C., three out of four of the towers on the National Cathedral were damaged.
I Peter 4:17-18
For the time has come for judgment to begin at the house of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the end of those who do not obey the gospel of God? Now “If the righteous one is scarcely saved, where will the ungodly and the sinner appear?"
Would you agree that The Shard in London is a construct of Babylon? What then would you say of those myriad of buildings that Christians meet in that have steeples upon them?
The Shard/Church Steeple
Heart4God Website: http://www.heart4god.ws
Parables Blog: www.parablesblog.blogspot.com
Mailing Address:
Joseph Herrin
P.O. Box 804
Montezuma, GA 31063
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