A Plan For Destruction

A FOUR-PART PLAN FOR DESTRUCTION

Babylon’s plan for the church is revealed in Daniel Chapter Two. Babylon, renowned for its wealth and intellectual acclaim, was a square-built city with a circuit of 56 miles. Its enclosing walls were so wide that a four-horse chariot could turn around atop them. Her one hundred gates of bronze were visible for miles by approaching pilgrims. Royal palaces, elaborate temples, and the famous hanging gardens all testified to Babylon’s magnificence.

Babylon's Nebuchadnezzar, a proud and arrogant ruler, commands his armies to besiege Jerusalem. Defiling the House of God, he removes sacred vessels to offer to his gods. Nebuchadnezzar develops a plan for the complete ruin of Israel: This plan has four elements: targeting the strong, changing their diet, changing their identity, and removing their ability to reproduce. If implemented, it would devastate Israel.

Babylon’s towers have fallen, but her spirit remains unbroken. Her rebellious nature, apostasy, and idolatry are evident today. Her plans remain unchanged. Her insatiable hunger for human souls continues, and her purpose remains to corrupt, destroy, and defile the things of God. Babylon is a type of the world's system.

THE FOUR PART PLAN:

1. Deal with the Strong First: Nebuchadnezzar began with the most capable individuals (Princes, skilled, leaders), understanding that eliminating the strong would eliminate resistance. Hell targets the steadfast, devoted, and prayerful in the Apostolic Church, and the righteous remain in constant battle. Every truth-bearing sermon is met with an onslaught from hell, and every message of holiness is met with reprisals.

2. Alter Their Diet: Daniel and his companions were to transition from the Israelites’ plain food to the king’s rich fare. Today, Babylon’s offerings adorn the table. The ancient prophet’s voice echoes, proclaiming a famine of hearing the Word of God. We must remain close to Christ’s simplicity. When we lose our appetite for the simple gospel and crave exotic pleasures, it’s a new diet. Our response should be, “To whom shall we go? You possess the words of eternal life.”

3. Alter Their Identity: Daniel, meaning “God is Judge,” was renamed Belteshazzar, meaning “Prince of Baal.” Hanniah, meaning “Gift of the Lord,” was renamed Shadrach, meaning “Command of Aku.” Mishael, meaning “Who is what God is,” was renamed Meschech, meaning “Who is as Aku.” Azariah, meaning “Whom Jehovah helps,” was renamed Abednego, meaning “Servant of Nebo.”

Every original name holds significance for the blood-washed church. Babylon’s plan is to erase that identity and alter the church’s essence of who they are. The word “Pentecostal” has lost much of its identity today. Pentecost, once associated with holiness, exuberant worship, and clean living, has faded, becoming indistinguishable from other colors.

4. The plan was to make eunuchs, physically altering them to remove reproductive abilities: The devil’s goal is to extinguish the true church, making it sterile. The greatest shame is the inability to reproduce. Don’t let hell deceive you; you have the power to do more than just “hold the fort.” When Zion travails, sons and daughters are born. We must pray for revival!

Today, there are some churches whose extinction is only a few un-preached messages away.

Daniel defeated the plot because he “purposed in his heart.” Despite being in Babylon, he kept himself separate from its influences. Today is the day of victory for those with purpose in their hearts. Indeed, It may mean facing a lion’s den and a fiery furnace, but thanks be to God, it also means hearing, “…O Daniel, a man greatly beloved…” (Dan. 10:11).

—jlg—