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  • Babylon in the Book of Revelation : The Fallen Churches

    Babylon in the Book of Revelation : The Fallen Churches

    Who is Babylon in the book of Revelation? Is the fall described in the book of Revelation a literal or a spiritual fall?

    This is part one in our series seeking to discover who Babylon, in the Bible, truly is. We know Babylon appears already in the Old Testament, and that the books of Revelation and Daniel are mostly prophetic — meaning that most of their symbols are not literal, but prophetic.

    1 Corinthians 2:14 — “But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.”

    2 Peter 1:19-21 — “We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts: Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.”

    Is Babylon, in the book of Revelation, the pagan religion of old, or does it refer to Christian churches? In this first part, we will cover the fall of modern Babylon and identify who this modern Babylon truly is. Some of the characteristics of Babylon are: (1) she falls; (2) she becomes a house of demons; (3) she fornicates; (4) the name Babylon itself means confusion, or a mixture of truth and error; (5) Babylon falls specifically because of rejecting truth, as described in Revelation 14.

    A. A message is given.

    Revelation 14:6-7 — “And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people, Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come.”

    B. The message is rejected. The churches that reject this message become Babylon.

    Revelation 14:8 — “And there followed another angel, saying, Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication.”

    Does Babylon Represent Pagan Religions or Christian Churches?

    We know this message was never given to pagan religions, because they never fell from the truth — to fall means one was previously standing. Paul says we stand on the truth; when we fall, it means we are falling away from truth, or rejecting it. Babylon, in the book of Revelation, falls after the first angel’s message is given and rejected.

    So what is this rejected message that (1) causes Babylon to fall, (2) causes her to receive the seven last plagues, and (3) causes her to receive the mark of the beast? The book of Revelation tells us this message is given — but to whom? To all nations and peoples on earth. Jesus makes clear that this is not a local, obscure message, but a worldwide one.

    Revelation 14:6 — “And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people.”

    So we have now established: (1) a worldwide message from a loving Jesus is given; (2) churches reject this message; (3) these churches that reject this message become Babylon; (4) these churches then receive the seven last plagues and the mark of the beast.

    Before we identify exactly what this message is, we must first establish who Babylon is.

    Babylon, in the book of Revelation, cannot refer to pagan religions, because:

    1. They never fell from the truth.
    2. They were never standing on the truth to begin with.
    3. They never became “the house of demons” — to become the house of demons, one must have first been the house of God.
    4. They never rejected the first angel’s message.
    5. They are not a mixture of Bible truth and paganism — which is precisely what makes Babylon “Babylon.”
    6. They do not fornicate, in the biblical sense, since fornication implies claiming to belong to Jesus while simultaneously preaching doctrines of paganism or Satan, thereby advancing Satan’s kingdom while claiming the name of Christ.
    7. Pagan religions never claimed to belong to Jesus in the first place.

    What Does Paul Mean When He Says Israel “Fell” Because of Unbelief?

    Now that we have established that Babylon cannot refer to pagan religions, let us examine the message that was given and rejected. Note that the three angels’ messages are given not only to Christian churches, but to the entire world — yet this message was first given specifically to the Christian churches. Paul says Israel fell, and explains why: because of unbelief. We can conclude, then, that “falling,” in the Bible, means a person, a church, or a nation rejects God’s light.

    Note: this does not mean the person or church rejects every truth about God — only that, in rejecting new light, they reject truth itself. Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life; rejecting any light from God means we are, in effect, rejecting Jesus Himself.

    John 14:6 — “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”

    Romans 11:11-12, 20 — “Through their fall salvation is come unto the Gentiles, for to provoke them to jealousy. Now if the fall of them be the riches of the world, and the diminishing of them the riches of the Gentiles; how much more their fulness?… Well; because of unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest by faith. Be not highminded, but fear.” Babylon, in the book of Revelation, tells us that modern Sunday-keeping Christian churches are, in this sense, fallen.

    What Is the Rejected Message? The Earthly Sanctuary

    We find this message in Revelation 14. As we have seen, it is not a local message — it is given to the whole world. But it was first given specifically to the Protestant and Catholic churches in the United States.

    Revelation 14:6-7 — “And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people, Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters.”

    This message is: “the hour of His judgment is come.” What does this mean? In ancient Israel, the high priest would enter the most holy place only one day each year. This was called the day of judgment, and at that time it concerned only the people of Israel.

    Leviticus 16:33 — “And he shall make an atonement for the holy sanctuary, and he shall make an atonement for the tabernacle of the congregation, and for the altar, and he shall make an atonement for the priests, and for all the people of the congregation.”

    On this one day each year, called the Day of Atonement, the high priest would enter the most holy place to cleanse the accumulated record of sin from the sanctuary. When an animal was sacrificed throughout the year, the sin was symbolically transferred to the sanctuary. Once a year, the high priest would cleanse the sanctuary of all the sin that had accumulated there, transferred from the sinner, to the animal, to the sanctuary itself.

    What Is the Rejected Message? The Heavenly Sanctuary

    Now we live in New Testament times. Babylon, in the book of Revelation, refers to spiritual Babylon, not literal Babylon. In the New Testament, Jesus entered the sanctuary in heaven — the book of Hebrews tells us Jesus entered the holy place.

    But Daniel 8:14 tells us that at the end of a period of 2,300 days, or 2,300 literal years, Jesus would enter the most holy place of the heavenly sanctuary to begin deciding who will go to heaven and who will not. This is called “the hour of His judgment is come.”

    Daniel 8:14 — “And he said unto me, Unto two thousand and three hundred days; then shall the sanctuary be cleansed.”

    Revelation 14:7 — “Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come.”

    The hour of His judgment and the cleansing of the sanctuary are one and the same event.

    The Hour of His Judgment: The 2,300 Days

    To make this simple: the 2,300 days represent years, since in Bible prophecy, one prophetic day equals one year. The angel Gabriel tells us, in Daniel 9, that this 2,300-year period begins when Jerusalem is rebuilt.

    Daniel 9:25 — “Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the Messiah the Prince shall be seven weeks, and threescore and two weeks: the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublous times.”

    Jerusalem was rebuilt in 457 BC. So even a child could calculate this prophecy: 457 BC minus 2,300 years brings us to 1844 AD. This message is the worldwide message of Revelation 14. Jesus says churches worldwide rejected this message and became Babylon — and then they receive the mark of the beast and the seven last plagues. So it becomes vital to know: (1) what this message is, (2) who gave this message, and (3) when this message was given.

    Seal the Book Until the Time of the End

    Gabriel tells Daniel, in Daniel 12, to seal up the book, so that no one would understand its prophetic portions until the time of the end. Gabriel goes on to explain that the time of the end follows the 1,260-year prophecy — the 1,260 years of papal persecution, which ended in 1798.

    Daniel 12:9 — “And he said, Go thy way, Daniel: for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end.”

    Who Gave This Message — When — and What Is It?

    We have just seen that this message could only be given after 1798, since Gabriel says the book would remain sealed until the time of the end. So who, after 1798, gave a worldwide message about “the hour of His judgment is come”? The only person we find in history who gave a worldwide message about the sanctuary, about the 2,300 days, and about the hour of His judgment is William Miller.

    Babylon in the Book of Revelation: The Conclusion

    William Miller gave this message; the message was given in 1844; the message concerned Jesus entering the most holy place in 1844 to begin deciding who would go to heaven and who would ultimately be destroyed forever. It is a deeply solemn message — for even today, Jesus may be reviewing your life, your thoughts, your actions, your intentions, and deciding your eternal destiny.

    So now we can finally answer the question: who is Babylon in the book of Revelation? William Miller preached primarily to Sunday-keeping Protestant churches. They largely rejected this message. Yet many came out of those churches, recognizing that they had become Babylon. Jesus calls this the first angel’s message. Jesus died on the cross for you — He preferred to die rather than be separated from you for eternity.

    But Jesus must test us to discover who is truly honest, and who is truly humble. Jesus knows that many people call themselves Christians without truly being so. His way of testing the genuineness of our faith is by sending new light and new messages. Jesus knows that all honest people will follow the truth, while all dishonest people will reject it.

    This message creates a separation between the true and the false. Will you follow Jesus and the truth? Or do you prefer to remain comfortable in what you already know, and reject the new light Jesus sends you? Jesus says that all who reject this message will receive the wrath of God, the seven last plagues, and the mark of the beast. It is a truly momentous message. What a sobering thought, that most who call themselves Christians will receive the plagues and ultimately be destroyed forever — why? Because they chose to reject the light and follow what was popular instead. Why not follow Jesus and His last message of the three angels now?

    Father God, I believe in this first angel’s message. Help me to accept the three angels’ messages. Forgive my sins; give me Your righteousness, please, in the name of Jesus. Amen.

  • Babylon in the Book of Revelation: How She Became a House of Demons

    Babylon in the Book of Revelation: How She Became a House of Demons

    In the book of Revelation, chapter 18, it says Babylon has become the house of demons. For someone, or a group of people, to become a house of demons means that they were not always so — they used to be the house of God, and they became the house of demons. How did Babylon become the house of demons? Read parts one and two, where we established that Babylon cannot refer to pagan religions.

    Pagan religions never were the house of God that then became a house of demons — biblically, pagan religions were always houses of demons. Pagan religions never fornicate, in the sense of claiming to belong to Jesus while also worshipping Satan. Pagan religions never belonged to Jesus in the first place. Babylon, in the book of Revelation, falls in Revelation 14. We saw that “falling” means rejecting truth, or a message sent by Jesus.

    In Romans 11, Paul says Israel fell. Why? Because of unbelief. We fall when we reject a message. Pagan religions never received a special message from Jesus and then rejected it — but Christian churches were once the house of God, and they became the house of demons. Christian churches fornicate: they claim to belong to Jesus. But Babylon, in the book of Revelation, received a specific message, called the three angels’ messages — and they rejected the first angel’s message of Revelation 14:6-7.

    In the very next verse, Jesus says Babylon is fallen. Christian churches across the United States received a message around 1844, given by William Miller, called “the hour of His judgment is come.”

    Revelation 14:6-7 — “And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people, Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters.”

    The questions to ask are: Who gave this message? When was this message given? What is this message about? We learn that this message is the starting point of the end times. After this message is given, Babylon, in the book of Revelation, becomes Babylon precisely by rejecting this message. Then Babylon receives the seven last plagues. Then Babylon receives the mark of the beast. Then Babylon receives the wrath of God. And sadly, all who remain in Babylon will face eternal destruction.

    Babylon in the Book of Revelation Represents the Christian Churches

    Let us reiterate that Babylon does not symbolize atheism or pagan religions. We have seen that Babylon, in the book of Revelation:

    1. Falls from the truth. Did pagan religions ever possess the truth? No.

    Revelation 14:8 — “And there followed another angel, saying, Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication.”

    2. Babylon fornicates — meaning she claims to belong to Jesus, yet preaches beliefs originating from the kingdom of Satan, believing these to be Christian beliefs.

    Revelation 17:5 — “And upon her forehead was a name written, Mystery, Babylon The Great, The Mother Of Harlots And Abominations Of The Earth.” Pagan religions never claimed to belong to both Jesus and Satan at the same time.

    3. Babylon, in the book of Revelation, has become a house of demons. This is the central topic of this article. If Babylon “becomes” a house of demons, it means Babylon was previously the house of God — so pagan religions cannot fulfill this prophecy.

    The Hour of His Judgment

    The fall of Babylon comes when she rejects this message: “the hour of His judgment is come.” This is known as the first angel’s message. The three angels’ messages form the final message for planet earth, given to all nations, peoples, and tongues. All Christians must hear this message and either accept or reject it. Jesus always tests His children to see if they will be worthy of eternal life.

    Not everyone who says “Lord, Lord” is a true Christian. This three angels’ message is a test from God, to see who is truly worthy to enter heaven: honest people accept truth, while dishonest people reject it.

    The hour of His judgment is the same message found in Daniel 8:14 — the cleansing of the sanctuary. In ancient Israel, the high priest would enter the most holy place only once a year, in what was called the hour of judgment, or the cleansing of the sanctuary. Gabriel reveals that 2,300 years from the decree to rebuild Jerusalem, Jesus would enter the most holy place in heaven.

    Daniel 8:14 — “And he said unto me, Unto two thousand and three hundred days; then shall the sanctuary be cleansed.” When do these 2,300 years begin?

    Daniel 9:25 — “Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the Messiah the Prince shall be seven weeks, and threescore and two weeks.” We will not go into full detail on this message here — known as the first angel’s message, or the 2,300-day prophecy.

    But what we know from Jesus is this: when this message is given to all nations, tongues, and peoples, and is rejected by many, those who reject it become Babylon. They then receive the seven last plagues, then the mark of the beast, and ultimately, eternal destruction. Babylon, in the book of Revelation, becomes Babylon specifically by rejecting the hour of His judgment — the first angel’s message.

    Again, we repeat: after this message is given, churches become Babylon. Immediately following this message in verse 7, Jesus says:

    Revelation 14:8 — “And there followed another angel, saying, Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication.”

    Who gave this message? When was it given? What is it about? If you love yourself, and if you love Jesus — once you understand that this message is a matter of life or death — then, like the Bereans, we should search daily to know whether these things are true.

    Acts 17:11 — “These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.” When we understand that rejecting this message means receiving the seven last plagues and the mark of the beast, and that this is a test from Jesus to discern who is truly an honest Christian, we will study deeply, in order to escape the seven last plagues and the wrath of God.

    The First Angel’s Message

    Looking through history for someone who gave a worldwide message about the hour of God’s judgment, the sanctuary, and its cleansing in the most holy place, we find only one person in history who gave such a message: William Miller, around 1844, in the United States.

    This first angel’s message was given first to Protestants and Catholics in the United States, and then spread to the world. Most Protestant churches rejected this message and became Babylon — yet many would later come out of these fallen churches to join the remnant movement and embrace the three angels’ messages of Jesus.

    All Sunday-keeping Protestant churches become Babylon by rejecting the hour of His judgment message in Revelation 14. This message is also called:

    • The first angel’s message
    • The cleansing of the sanctuary
    • The 2,300-day prophecy

    Babylon Becomes a House of Demons

    Sadly, in Revelation 18, Jesus — the One who loves you, the One who died on the cross — says that these churches will become a dwelling place for demons and evil spirits. We have established that Babylon cannot represent pagan religions, and cannot represent atheism, because:

    1. Babylon was once the house of God before becoming a house of demons. Biblically, pagan religions were always houses of demons from the start.
    2. Pagan religions never fell from the truth — to fall from the truth, one must first possess the truth. When Jesus sends new light and a new message, and it is rejected, the believer falls from the truth. Pagan religions were never in possession of the truth, so they cannot “fall” from it.
    3. Pagan religions never fornicated, as they never claimed to belong to Jesus. Pagan religions do not worship Jesus and Satan simultaneously — but Sunday-keeping Protestant churches and the Catholic Church do worship Jesus and Satan at the same time. This is called “her fornication.”

    Her Fornication

    We covered this in part two of this series: how do Christians fornicate with Satan? By preaching his messages and beliefs, and by uniting with worldly governments and powers. Most beliefs found in the fallen churches can be traced directly back to the priests of ancient Babylon, who worshipped demons. When a modern pastor preaches the same sermon that a pagan priest of Babylon was preaching around 650 BC, in the days of Daniel, we can conclude that God can no longer call these institutions “churches” — He gives them a new name: Babylon.

    The Pagan Beliefs Hidden in Modern Christianity

    Which beliefs of modern Sunday-keeping Christians trace back to paganism?

    1. The secret rapture
    2. Speaking in tongues
    3. Eternal hell
    4. Going to heaven immediately upon death, or spiritualism
    5. Sunday worship
    6. The abolition of the law
    7. Once saved, always saved

    These represent most of the core beliefs of modern Christianity — and sadly, they can be traced back to the days of pagan worship of Satan. On any given Sunday, many Christian pastors teach a message that closely mirrors what a pagan priest would have preached in ancient Babylon, yet the congregation believes they are hearing a true Bible sermon. What an incredible deception.

    The Wine of Babylon

    The wine of Babylon represents false teachings that people believe come from the Bible, but which actually originate from paganism.

    Revelation 17:2 — “With whom the kings of the earth have committed fornication, and the inhabitants of the earth have been made drunk with the wine of her fornication.” This woman, representing the church, sits in Rome, the city of seven hills.

    Revelation 17:9 — “And here is the mind which hath wisdom. The seven heads are seven mountains, on which the woman sitteth.” This Babylon is the mother church; her daughters fall when the first angel’s message is given to them.

    Pagan religions cannot become a house of demons, because they always were a house of demons. But Christian churches, by rejecting the first angel’s message and by preaching doctrines of demons and pagan beliefs, are worshipping Satan and Jesus simultaneously. This is why Jesus says:

    Revelation 18:2 — “And he cried mightily with a strong voice, saying, Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and is become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird.”

    Why not study this topic carefully, dear friend? I urge you to read:

    1. The Great Controversy by Ellen G. White
    2. Daniel and the Revelation by Uriah Smith

    This is, truly, a matter of life or death.

    Repeat after me: Father God, thank You for Your love. Help me to understand this three angels’ message, and to follow You, in the name of Jesus. Amen.

  • Who Is John That Wrote the Book of Revelation? The Three Angels’ Message Explained

    Who Is John That Wrote the Book of Revelation? The Three Angels’ Message Explained

    John is the apostle who was with Jesus — a teenager at the time. He is known traditionally as the beloved John, who rested his head on Jesus’s breast. He was also called by God to write the first, second, and third epistles of John, and lastly the book of Revelation, on the island of Patmos. Babylon in the book of Revelation? Babylon is the mother; she has daughters, and daughters come from the mother.

    What Is Revelation About?

    The book of Revelation is a revealing of the future of the world: seven churches, seven seals, seven trumpets. Most of the end-time message of the book of Revelation centers on a message given to the world in Revelation 14.

    This message is called the three angels’ messages. The first angel, the Bible says, is given to all nations, tongues, and peoples — so it is not an obscure message given by a local prophet. It is a worldwide message. Is this message given only to non-Christians? No — it says to all people, all nations.

    What Is This Message to the World That Is Rejected?

    This message is: “Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters.” (Revelation 14:7)

    Who gave this message to the world? When was it given? What is it about? The only person in history who gave this exact message was William Miller, in 1844 — no one else in history has given this message.

    This is the first angel’s message: “the hour of his judgment is come.” Babylon, in the book of Revelation, refers to fallen Christian churches.

    The Hour of His Judgment: A Sanctuary Message

    Israel observed, every year, the Day of Atonement, when the high priest would enter the most holy place to decide the destiny of the people. Babylon in the book of Revelation cannot refer to pagan religions, because pagan religions were never “the mother” the way the Catholic Church has been. In the Old Testament pattern of salvation in Israel:

    1. The priest kills the lamb.
    2. Once a year, the high priest enters the most holy place to cleanse the record of sin.

    If salvation were accomplished entirely through Jesus dying on the cross, why did Jesus then go to the sanctuary in heaven to intercede for us? If salvation were finished at the cross, this additional ministry would make no sense. This message — the hour of His judgment — was to be given in the end times, to all nations.

    This message parallels Daniel 8:14 — “And he said unto me, Unto two thousand and three hundred days; then shall the sanctuary be cleansed.” The cleansing of the sanctuary refers to the high priest entering the most holy place. Here, Gabriel says that after 2,300 years, the cleansing of the heavenly sanctuary would take place — to cleanse sin not for Israel alone, but for the whole world.

    This hour of His judgment is so important because Jesus sends the seven last plagues, the mark of the beast, and His wrath upon those who reject this message. Understanding what this message is truly about is vital.

    Babylon in the Book of Revelation: Why the Churches Fall

    The next verse says that these churches become Babylon — meaning that they were once truly God’s churches.

    Revelation 14:8 — “And there followed another angel, saying, Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication.” Fornication here refers to false doctrines. We commit fornication when we have a husband or wife, yet take another lover. Here, Jesus says these churches claim to belong to Him, their one true husband, yet they preach beliefs that come from Satan, thereby advancing Satan’s kingdom on earth.

    They “fornicate” by embracing false doctrines. When we believe something, we become part of that belief — it becomes who we are. When we preach doctrines not found in the Bible, our whole being becomes contaminated by those false beliefs.

    What Happens When This Message Is Rejected?

    Jesus says these churches have become corrupt; they receive the seven last plagues; they receive the wrath of God; they receive the mark of the beast.

    Revelation 14:9-11 — “And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand, The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb: And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name.”

    Two Camps Since the Second Century

    Many pastors still teach about “the church” as though we were living in the first century, when there was only one church. Paul said that after his departure, divisions would form. Lucian, in the second century — used by God to help preserve the true biblical text, the Byzantine, or majority, text — recognized that camps were already forming. Since the second century, there have been two camps.

    Babylon in the book of Revelation refers to the mother church, the Catholic Church — many loving Catholics belong to her, but Jesus is referring here to the system of belief, not condemning individuals. The daughters of Babylon are the Sunday-keeping Protestant churches, which fell in 1844 when William Miller proclaimed the “hour of His judgment” message — a message of life or death.

    The Faith of Jesus: Keeping the Commandments

    Jesus says in Revelation 14 that this faithful group holds to the faith of Jesus and keeps His commandments by faith, while on the other side, many churches teach that the law has been abolished.

    Revelation 14:12 — “Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.”

    Most churches do not realize that when they say “we no longer need to keep the law,” they are effectively saying “we are free to break the law.” But the Bible says: “Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.” (1 John 3:4) No one can keep the law in their own strength. The real question is twofold: (1) Is the law still binding? (2) Who keeps the law — and how?

    No One Can Keep the Law Alone

    Paul himself said he considered himself the worst of sinners. A converted person is someone who recognizes there is nothing inherently good within themselves.

    Romans 7:18-19 — “For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not. For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do.”

    No one is righteous on their own. Jesus can only give His righteousness to: (1) those who recognize they are sinners — and this, sadly, is the minority, since most people believe they are already good; (2) those who know they cannot keep the law in their own strength; (3) those who ask Jesus for His righteousness.

    I encourage you to read the writings of Alonzo T. Jones and E.J. Waggoner on this subject. On one side, some preach that the law is finished — this is a false gospel. On the other, many teach that we keep the law through human effort alone — this is also false. Why not study this life-changing topic of righteousness by faith?

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