God’s Message To His Exiles In Babylon
While the Lord was revealing these insights from Daniel to me during that Sunday morning service, the thought came to me that my wife and I, as well as my daughter who was there with us, are also exiles. At that particular time, we had been led by the Lord into spiritual Babylon. It wasn’t to “fit in” with them, which was impossible, but to look for those whom the Lord was calling out. Quite a while after we were led out of that congregation, one couple in particular was led by the Lord to get together with us. We have become very close with them, and had the pleasure of watching them grow deeper into Christ.
Week after week, as different ministers spoke, I would often find myself asking the Lord, “How long Lord? How long will You have us sit here and listen to untimely messages that do nothing to prepare Your people for the judgments that are coming to our nation!?” They seem to preach everything but what they need to, while those of us who have heard from God regarding what is coming are marginalized and looked down upon as being a little too fanatical, and, in particular, critical and unloving. As with all those who have proclaimed this type of word, you will continue to be misunderstood by those who have been anesthetized by weekly injections of Babylon’s mind and heart altering messages. It’s a true statement that the farther people wander from the truth the more they hate those who preach it.
The good news is we’re not alone. There is a remnant with the same thoughts and feelings. You begin to feel as if you are the only one, wondering if there are any other believers in the church who have not bowed the knee to Baal. Thankfully, there are. They too are sickened by the moneychangers that are now the kings who have turned the Father’s house into a for-profit business.
The prophet, Jeremiah, was sent to Israel to cry out regarding the impending judgment from God if they would not repent. The spiritual leaders of their land had become extremely corrupt and would not listen to those sent to turn them back. The Lord said to them;
“‘Woe to the shepherds who are destroying and scattering the sheep of My pasture!’ declares the Lord. Therefore thus says the Lord God of Israel concerning the shepherds who are tending My people: ‘You have scattered My flock and driven them away, and have not attended to them; behold, I am about to attend to you for the evil of your deeds,’ declares the Lord… For both prophet and priest are polluted; Even in My house I have found their wickedness,’ declared the Lord.”
(Jeremiah 23:1-2, 11/NIV)
Because Israel would not listen to the word of the Lord through His prophets, they were conquered by Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, and would serve him for seventy years. The Lord said that He would spare those who were carried away to Babylon, comparing them to a basket of good figs, while the rest that were left in the land, whom the Lord compared to “very bad figs which cannot be eaten due to rottenness,” would be destroyed. He mercifully removed some from the place He would judge, placing them in Babylon for several years until He purged the wicked from Israel. Afterwards, Babylon would be judged, making it an “everlasting desolation.” In the terrible judgment poured out upon Israel by the Babylonians, Jeremiah would be protected per the command of Nebuchadnezzar.
Later, after Daniel and the others had been taken captive to Babylon, Jeremiah wrote a letter of encouragement, and rebuke, to the exiles. First, he told them to build houses and live their lives knowing they would be in captivity for seventy years. In his word from the Lord Jeremiah said; “And seek the peace of the city where I have caused you to be carried away captive, and pray to the Lord for it; for in its peace you will have peace.” (Jeremiah 29:7/NKJV)
The Lord then warned them to not listen to the prophets who were in their midst. He said they were prophesying falsely in His name, that He had not sent them. We have a few of those in the church today.
Next, the Lord gave a word of encouragement to the exiles concerning what would occur after their determined time of captivity had been fulfilled. He begins with a verse that is constantly used by the Babylonian church system of our day to manipulate people and fill them with a false sense of security. The Lord said;
“‘When seventy years are completed for Babylon, I will come to you and fulfill my gracious promise to bring you back to this place [Jerusalem]. For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.’” (Jeremiah 29:11/NIV)
This message was specifically for the exiles in Babylon, not the rebellious children of Israel left in Jerusalem who would not listen to the word of the Lord through His prophets. I believe it speaks to us today. In other words, this message of hope is not for the whole church, but rather for those who sit as an exile, a foreigner in spirit within the churches in America that are now ruled by those who will not listen to the word of Lord regarding their rebellion against God and His leadership over them.
The present day exiles hear the word of the Lord to “Come out of her, my people, so that you will not share [“have fellowship with, co-participate in”] in her sins, so that you will not receive any of her plagues,” (Rev.18:4/NIV) and have obeyed. They may be in her, but they are not of her. Like righteous Lot, their righteous souls are tormented day after day by the lawless deeds resulting from false doctrines found within the sodomite churches.
When our enemies are allowed to chastise us for our stiff-necked attitudes toward God, on our soil, they will be numbered among those who will be unprotected. As the Lord spoke to my wife concerning the Christians who will not listen and continue to co-participate in Babylon’s sin without repentance; “They will not find Me in a day. They will curse Me and die.”
If we will listen to what the Spirit is saying to the church and separate from that which He is going to judge, doing His will, He will spare us “as a man spares his own son who serves him.” (Malachi 3:17) “Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all defilement of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.” (2 Corinthians 7:1/NAS)
To all of you who are exiles in Babylon, be encouraged and stand firm, your day of deliverance draws near. “Thus says the Lord, ‘Preserve justice and do righteousness, for My salvation [“deliverance”] is about to come and My righteousness to be revealed. How blessed is the man who does this, and the son of man who takes hold of it…’” (Isaiah 56:1-2/NAS) May the name of the Lord be glorified on earth through His obedient children. Amen.

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