Where I Stand!
By Pastor F. M. Riley
“Wherefore take unto you the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with the truth,…..”
Ephesians 6:13-14Introduction
On the Five Doves website on November 13th, I posted a Bible study entitled, “America is Babylon!” Is that so…?? In that study I examined some of the claims of those who are teaching the “America is Babylon” theory, pointing out the fallacies in the whole theory.
It appears that one advocate of the theory didn’t appreciate the truths that I presented, and sent me information designed to “straighten me out.”
The following statement written by me is designed to serve two purposes.
First, it will reveal exactly how I stand in relation to God’s Word. Those who want to refute anything that I write, or even reason with me, will do so with the “rightly divided” Word of God, or they will waste their time. I have an unshakeable faith and confidence in the inspired Word of God, and I will not be moved from it. I hope this statement makes that clear to all who read it.
Second, this statement will once again point out the errors [and the dangers]in the “America is Babylon” theory. My prayer is that those of God’s people [true believers] who are teaching this false theory will turn back to the literal statements of God’s inspired Word for truth, instead of depending on extra-Scriptural sources and their own vain opinions and imaginations.
May God bless the truth of His Word to the heart of every reader.<<<<<<< 0 >>>>>>>
Dear friend,
I thank you for the information and pictures that you sent me in support of the “America is Babylon” theory. However…..
I go strictly by the inspired Word of Almighty God. I never depend on any extra-Scriptural sources as a basis for truth. The Lord Jesus Christ Himself said,
“I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now.
Howbeit when He, the Spirit of truth, is come, He will guide you into all truth: for He shall not speak of Himself; but whatsoever He shall hear, that shall He speak: and He will show you things to come.
He shall glorify Me: for He shall receive of Mine, and shall show it unto you.
All things that the Father hath are Mine: therefore said I, that He shall take of Mine, and shall show it unto you,” John 16:12-15.The Lord Jesus Christ also said,
“I have given them Thy Word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.
I pray not that Thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that Thou shouldest keep them from the evil.
They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.
Sanctify them through Thy truth: Thy word is truth,” John 17:14-17.Sir, I am neither a novice nor a beginner. I have been seriously studying, teaching, and preaching God’s Word for 53 years. I make no claim to knowing everything, but there are some things the Lord has graciously taught me.
After all of these years, I know that the inspired Word of God is entirely sufficient to meet every need for spiritual truth, 2 Timothy 3:16-17. I don’t have to look elsewhere. I know that the Holy Spirit promised by the Lord Himself indwells every true believer, and opens up and reveals to them the truth found only in and by and through the inspired Word of God, 1 Corinthians 2:11-16. I know that the Lord never, never, never contradicts His own Word. The Lord honors and upholds and keeps His Word inviolate. He never adds to it, takes from it, or changes it due to any on going situation, Revelation 22:18-19. The Lord knows the end from the beginning, and is never taken by surprise. Therefore He doesn’t change His Word due to any situation that may arise. He has given His inspired Word to mankind, and He will never change it in any way for anyone.
Because the Lord has graciously revealed these truths to me, I also know that __________ was not hearing from the Lord when his supposed “vision” was received. I do believe that some of God’s people receive “visions,” but any true “vision” will be in agreement with the Word of God; not add to it or take from it.
The inspired Word of God speaks of only two Babylon’s; the literal Babylon which was in the past, has been right through the centuries, and remains today, located in “the land of Shinar,” which is still in the nation we know today as Iraq. The other Babylon spoken of in God’s inspired Word is “Mystery, Babylon,” the wicked anti-God religious system established by Nimrod which still plagues mankind today. There are no more “Babylon’s” to be found in God’s Word. Period! Therefore any additional Babylon’s are only figments of men’s imagination and unscriptural additions to God’s Word.
__________, writing in the first person as if the Lord Himself is speaking [a very dangerous thing to do], says that “The second Babylon…..will never be rebuilt again.....” Now isn’t this amazing? The inspired Word of God says that Babylon will be rebuilt, Zechariah 5:5-11. The actual process of rebuilding Babylon began in 1970 and is continuing even as the present Iraqi war is being fought. Almighty God never contradicts His Word, and never changes it. This makes me wonder just who __________ was hearing from in his so-called “vision”? I know it wasn’t from Almighty God of the Bible who gave us His Word, for the inspired Psalmist says of God’s Word, “For ever, O Lord, Thy Word is settled in heaven,” Psalm 119:89. What makes __________ think that Almighty God is then going to change His Word for him? What makes you think that He did?
After all my years of intense study of God’s Word, depending on the leadership and guidance of His Holy Spirit, I am not aware of a single place in all of God’s Word where the “Kingdom of Tyre” is referred to as “Babylon,” or where Babylon is referred to as the “Kingdom of Tyre.” This sounds to me more like a personal “interpretation” [opinion] on the part of __________, than it does a statement coming from the God of the Bible.
I have in past years made a personal study of the “islands of the sea.” I have never found a single place in all of God’s Word where they are referred to as “Babylon.” It certainly appears to me that someone is adding things to God’s Word that the Word itself just does not say. What about it…??
Someone must be! I have studied and read through God’s Word many, many times, and I have never, never, never, found the words “New York City” anywhere in the inspired Word of God. If I have missed it, please point it out to me. I don’t really want to label __________ or anyone else as a “false teacher” and a corrupter of God’s Word. Just give me the book, chapter, and verse, where the words “New York City” are found in the Word of God and I will be satisfied.
The fact is, the great city of Babylon is not New York City. Such a vain theory is just another man made “interpretation” that is no where authorized in or justified by the Word of God. Such a theory is pure unadulterated “hogwash.” It did not come from God.
I notice that __________ so-called “vision” totally ignores Zechariah 5:5-11. I wonder why…?? Maybe the “god” who gave __________ the “vision” just forgot about that portion of Scripture. If he did, then of course he wouldn’t mention it now. That would be embarrassing…..you know, with him saying one thing and Zechariah 5:5-11 saying another. Oh my! What would people think?
Folks, I stand firmly behind the studies I have written refuting the “America is Babylon” theory. My studies are based squarely upon the inspired Word of God, giving book, chapter, and verse, for every point made. I want; yea, I encourage my readers to check out the Scripture references for themselves. Folks, when it comes to those teaching God’s Word, be like the Bereans who refused to accept without question even the Word taught by the Lord’s own disciples, but “searched the Scriptures daily, whether those things were so,” Acts 17:11. Prove to yourself whether __________ and the other “America is Babylon” theorists are being faithful to the Word of God, or whether they are just espousing their own opinions.
Remember, John 12:47-48 and Revelation 22:18-19 are still in the Bible. Be careful how you handle [or mishandle] God’s Holy Word. The Lord is watching!
Pastor F. M. Riley
Last Call Gospel Ministry fmrglbd5@yahoo.com