The Blood Cries Out
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The Cry of Humanity
The Cry of Humanity
George Floyd has become a household name.
Dying as a result of a system that is corrupted by philospohies that hurt and kill people such as racism.
An event that has sparked worldwide protests of people crying out for justice.
Crying out that black lives matter.
Crying out that “even though we have complied, we still died.”
People have lost trust in government and societal systems to protect them and uphold justice for all people including the marginalised and vulnerable.
People are working and working for measly wages while the rich get richer, often as a result of them “riding the backs” of people that are already poor.
There are gaps in the system even here in Australia where people with disabilities are being refused of their applications for private rentals because there is always others who are more “suitable” and the government are refusing to provide them government housing because of their disabilities, and so these people are left to rot away emotionally “on the streets” so to speak.
These gaps and holes in the system have always been there and they are demonstrating to us the principles and result of a city that has always existed in human history and stands in direct contrast to the kingdom that God is setting up.
Let me show you a song that speaks of someones heart cry:
Joe Guerra - Citizens
This is the cry of the human heart that has been echoed since the time of Adam and Eve.
It began when a man violently murdered his own brother because of jealousy, hatred, envy, and to gain advantage by taking out his “enemy.”
3 So it came about in the course of time that Cain brought an offering to the Lord of the fruit of the ground.
4 Abel, on his part also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of their fat portions. And the Lord had regard for Abel and for his offering;
5 but for Cain and for his offering He had no regard. So Cain became very angry and his countenance fell.
6 Then the Lord said to Cain, “Why are you angry? And why has your countenance fallen?
7 “If you do well, will not your countenance be lifted up? And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door; and its desire is for you, but you must master it.”
8 Cain told Abel his brother. And it came about when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother and killed him.
9 Then the Lord said to Cain, “Where is Abel your brother?” And he said, “I do not know. Am I my brother’s keeper?”
10 He said, “What have you done? The voice of your brother’s blood is crying to Me from the ground.
The blood is crying out for justice to those who have oppressed, hurt, and killed for their own selfish purposes.
Why didn’t God take him out?
Cain was obviously guilty!
Instead God tells Cain, after he was complaining of his consequence, that He would protect Cain and avenge him sevenfold if anyone sought to kill him.
What!?!? Are you serious God?
What was God thinking? Where is the justice God? How long?
Cain’s descendants became more hardened and rebellious until we see a picture of the filth of the human heart when Lamech makes a boastful claim:
23 Lamech said to his wives, “Adah and Zillah, Listen to my voice, You wives of Lamech, Give heed to my speech, For I have killed a man for wounding me; And a boy for striking me;
24 If Cain is avenged sevenfold, Then Lamech seventy-sevenfold.”
Lamech talks to his wives as if they are property that belongs to him, and then boasts how he has revenged himself by killing anyone who has done hardly anything to him, and that if Cain is to be avenged sevenfold for killing his brother for no reason, then he ought to be avenged seventy-sevenfold.
In this passage Lamech’s sons are also noted the beginnings of those who dwell in tents and have livestsock, music, and instruments made of metal.
There is nothing wrong with these things in themselves when used properly, but when used improperly these instruments become a curse to humanity.
Maybe this possibly eludes to the madness of man to gain more and more property, more tents, more houses, more livestock, more things, music that dulls the better qualities in man, more devices, more gadgets, newer iPhones, etc.
Do we see the madness?
Do we see how this madness has corrupted the earth throughout all ages even until now?
When we see innocent people dying for no justified reason?
People being oppressed and taken advantage of by those who can do it.
Big corporate companies taking advantage of the fallen human psyche to always want more and buy their products even if it means they can’t afford to feed their kids properly.
Women being spoken of and sought after by men as if they are only products to satisfy their own lust.
Wives being beat up because of the insecurities of their husbands.
Humans being indifferent to the needs and woes of their fellow humans
10 Though favor is shown to the wicked, yet he will not learn righteousness; in the land of uprightness he deals unjustly and does not perceive the majesty of the Lord.
What is this system of madness that has taken humanity captive?
Babylon
Babylon
When we see things happening in our generations and with our own eyes, God is giving an apocalypse to us revealing that this is Babylon.
Let’s look at how John in the book of the Revelation of Jesus Christ answers this cry of humanity.
Take note of this phrase when you read the Revelation: “The Word of God and the Testimony of Jesus Christ.
1 The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to shew unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John:
2 Who bare record of the word of God, and of the testimony of Jesus Christ, and of all things that he saw.
9 I, John, your brother and fellow partaker in the tribulation and kingdom and perseverance which are in Jesus, was on the island called Patmos because of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus.
The book of Revelation is a story essentially about two cities. It truly is the tale of two cities.
They oppose each other but one takes up most of the scenes because it’s so oppressive, and violent while the other is soft, persecuted, and only really begins to shine at the end of the drama.
One city is set on Zion and the other is set on the earth. One is a fair beautiful woman, the other is a prostitute. One will reign forever, the other will collapse.
One is called the New Jerusalem, the other is called Babylon.
When people who have given allegience to God’s kingdom begin to speak up and testify against the corruption of Babylon and to also testify of Jesus and His kingdom then what is expected according to John is tribulation, getting thrown to lions, and being brutally dealt with on account of the Word of God and testimony about Jesus.
9 And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held:
As John sees the heavenly temple and sees the altar of sacrifice, instead of animals being sacrificed he sees that humans have been sacrificed and are under the altar and they were slain, again, because of the word of God for bearing testimony about Jesus.
And they ask a really interesting question:
10 And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth?
This is the cry that humanity has been saying since the time of Adam. This passage is hyperlinking back to Cain and Abel when his blood cried out from the ground to God.
The question of “how long?” is a motif that occurs frequesntly in the Old Testament especially in the Psalms when God’s people have cried out “How Long?”
A Psalm of Asaph.
1 God takes His stand in His own congregation; He judges in the midst of the rulers.
2 How long will you judge unjustly And show partiality to the wicked? Selah.
3 Vindicate the weak and fatherless; Do justice to the afflicted and destitute.
4 Rescue the weak and needy; Deliver them out of the hand of the wicked.
5 They do not know nor do they understand; They walk about in darkness; All the foundations of the earth are shaken.
6 I said, “You are gods, And all of you are sons of the Most High.
7 “Nevertheless you will die like men And fall like any one of the princes.”
8 Arise, O God, judge the earth! For it is You who possesses all the nations.
God hears the cries of the oppressed and He will avenge them, but it seems that He usually takes His sweet time and so the “how long?” question is repeated often throughout human history.
Now let’s go to Revelation 11
These two witnesses are the embodiment of the word of God and testimony of Jesus and they are described as being like Moses and Elijah.
Fire comes down and consumes their enemies and also they shut the heavens so that there is no rain.
They turn water into blood and send plagues out against their enemies.
7 And when they shall have finished their testimony, the beast that ascendeth out of the bottomless pit shall make war against them, and shall overcome them, and kill them.
8 And their dead bodies shall lie in the street of the great city, which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified.
This is the first time in Revelation where John sees a beast and this passage will be a key to understand how to see Babylon through God’s lenses.
Babylon has not been mentioned and is not mentioned in name until chapter 14 but when you read the whole book and then read it again you realise that John here is talking about Babylon and describing it.
He uses other iconic figures in the Old Testament to describe to 1st centruy and every century Christians what Babylon looks like.
Sodom, Egypt, Jerusalem (Matt. 23:34-36): Pride, arrogance, indifference to whats happening around them, persecution, physical enslavement, spiritual enslavement.
48 As surely as I live, declares the Sovereign Lord, your sister Sodom and her daughters never did what you and your daughters have done.
49 “ ‘Now this was the sin of your sister Sodom: She and her daughters were arrogant, overfed and unconcerned; they did not help the poor and needy.
4 You lie on beds adorned with ivory and lounge on your couches. You dine on choice lambs and fattened calves.
5 You strum away on your harps like David and improvise on musical instruments.
6 You drink wine by the bowlful and use the finest lotions, but you do not grieve over the ruin of Joseph.
From each of these cities cry’s went up to God for the injustice that was happening in them.
Anywhere where innocent blood and injustice is crying out, Babylon is being exposed for what it is.
Revelation 12 is like the curtain being pulled back to see the Great Controversy happening in the background of earth’s history. The dragon tries to kill the woman’s child, and then the woman but she get’s away.
Revelation 13 the dragon is really ticked off and spawns these beasts coming out of the water and out of the land and they are set up as domineering, military, economic structures that oppress and persecute unless you do things the way they say to do it.
Revelation 14-16 is when God brings to view another kingdom sitting on Mount Zion and the saints there are singing the song of Moses when God delivers His people out of slavery and brings justice to the oppressive powers through plagues.
Revelation 17-18 is when this oppressive city that has been in the background throughout human history is finally named, Babylon.
Babylon Falls
Babylon Falls
Drunk with the blood of saints and martyrs who have opposed and protested againts her injustices with the word of God and testimony about Jesus.
She is drunk with blood of those who gave their allegience to Jesus as King and demonstrated the principles of His kingdom in contrast to the principles of Babylon.
To see the craziness of Satan’s kingdom is when you read how the woman (Babylon) falls: it’s by the beast and the ten horns that it was sitting on (v.16).
Satan’s kingdom is divided against itself and he will kill his own creation of systems when it doesn’t suit him anymore.
The guy is a psychopath!
Revealtion 18 finally describes the fall of Babylon and provides a lengthy description of the lamentation of the kings of the earth over her destruction.
9 “The kings of the earth, who have committed adultery and lived luxuriously with her, will weep and mourn over her when they see the smoke of her burning.
10 Standing far off for the fear of her torment, they will say: ‘Alas, alas for that great city, that mighty city, Babylon! In one hour your judgment has come.’
11 “The merchants of the earth will weep and mourn over her, for no one buys their merchandise any more:
12 the merchandise of gold, silver, precious stones and pearls, fine linen, purple, silk and scarlet, all kinds of scented wood, all artifacts of ivory, all merchandise of costly wood, bronze, iron, and marble;
13 and cinnamon and incense, myrrh and frankincense, wine, oil, fine flour and wheat, cattle and sheep, horses and chariots, and slaves and souls of men.
Rome called slaves = bodies.
“I’m going to get two bodies from the market today.”
John makes sure to say that these “bodies” are “psychas” which means they they are human beings with individuality, they have a heart, mind, and conscience and are not “bodies” simply to be bought and sold as property.
22 The sound of harpists and musicians, flute players and trumpeters, shall not be heard in you any more. No craftsman of any craft shall be found in you any more, and the sound of a millstone shall not be heard in you any more.
23 The light of a lamp shall shine in you no more, and the voice of bridegroom and of bride shall be heard in you no more. For your merchants were the great men of the earth, and all nations were deceived by your sorcery.
Now remember that at the beginning of the sermon and the Bible when Babylon begins as a system there is mention of fathers of tents, livestock, crafts, and music.
These things are mentioned not because they are bad in themselves, but because they have been purchased and used throughout human history at the expense of riding on the backs of oppressed people.
Many of these items in this list re-occur in the New Jerusalem and what we are meant to realise is that we have these things as gifts of God to use for the benefit of all;
as opposed to the Babylonish priniciple of using these items for our own benefit at the expense of other humans.
Now what is the main issue with Babylon? What is her highest sin?
24 In her was found the blood of prophets and of saints and of all who were slain on the earth.”
Up until this point, the main people in view described by John were perecuted Christians, but now;
John here reveals that the heart of God is not only concerned about persecuted Christians, but He is concerned about ALL who were slain on the earth by Babylon.
This means that Babylon has always existed since the time of the fall of Adam and Eve, Babylon began to unravel its ugly principles and entice men of the earth to give their allegience to her and she would offer them wealth and power at the expense of the innocent and helpless.
It’s first supporter was Cain when he murdered his own brother for being a righteous man. Cain sought to gain the favour of God by getting his “enemy” out of the way.
Babylon Falls Within
Babylon Falls Within
Babylon is not only a place or a world or a system that exists out there, but it is a system that we have inherited within and is something that Jesus wants to very intentionally remove from our lives.
When we see people get mistreated and die at the hands of other men because of racism, we’re seeing Babylon.
When we are not concerned or when we are indifferent to the suffering of people around us, we’re feeling Babylon.
When we act in any unjust manner toward another human becuase we have the opportunity to take advantage of them, we’re playing out Babylon.
When we discriminate because of the colour of a man’s skin or becuase of the country he comes from, we’re living out Babylon.
When we begin to hoard earthly treasures while people around us have nothing, we’re revealing Babylon.
God is calling us to “come out of her” but He also says “my people”.
He regards you as His child, and He’s asking you to come out of Babylon.
Let Jesus come into the temple of your soul and get rid of the money-changers, and let Him over turn the selfish tables of the heart and implant the principles of His kingdom that He is about to usher in that rules by self-less, and self-giving love.