The desire to make our earth into a paradise and to return to the garden world has can be found all over the world, in many lands and faiths just as has the story of The Great Flood. And such beliefs can be found not only in Jewish and Christians Sciptures but also can be found in Twelve Tribes Rastafarian , Scandinavian and Native American spiritual beliefs such as the Hopi and SunBear, as well as in Eastern religions such as Buddhism as well as the Hare Krishna branch of Hinduism.

These different beliefs concering the arival of a better world or one global family have combined, crossed over one another and blended. For many, what were once hippie beliefs have evolved into New Age thinking. Since the turning of the year 2000, the notion of a better future, a better millennium, has gained popularity. A principal belief is that modern society as we know it will be replaced by a utopia society. New Age teachers say this will be accomplished by a radical chance in conventional thinking through ancient knowledge that has gone unnoticed or ignored untill recent.

They see this new era as unleashing human potential and will usher in universal spirutal peace. Many are divided on whether this new society will be brought forth by divine forces or by unified human effort. Political and social efforts to completely overcome "Babylon" and its influence on our lives has proven to be only superficial. Leaving "Babylon" with all its corruption and greed is more than just living in a low-tech, eco-friendly utopia.

What stands in the way of returning earth back to Eden? Hippies and Rastas alike echo the Judeo-Christian belief found in Revelation that it is this present "Babylon System" of thing were are currently living in that prevents us from experiencing a true full paradise or Eden on earth presently. It is true, as the hippies say, that human thinking is not right and causes many problem for our earth and the Scriptures tells us to "renewl our minds," but there is something else in addition to correcting our thinking that that is the key to removing the obstactle to making earth a real paradise and that key is God's Kingdom.

Revelation 18:20-21 tells us that "Babylon" will not be overcome by human's soul efforts and that the establishment of the Kingdom of God comes not by human efforts, but by Divine(Daniel 2:42-45).

Once, having been asked by the Pharisees when the Kingdom of God would come, Jesus replied, “The Kingdom of God is in your misdt.” (Luke 17:20-21) In other words..Jesus was saying, "Take a good look at me, standing here before you because God shall make me the representive of his Kingdom." Jesus also taught that one day God's Kingdom would come "On Earth as it (already) Is In Heaven."-Matthew 6:9. Also read the entire chapter of Matthew 14 & Revelation 21:1-5 ( the renewl of earth and heaven)

Any utopian society based solely upon external issues while ignoring the deeper questions of our cosmic treason against the Creator is only a temporal, man-made shadow of the Kingdom of God to come and therefore not a true utopia.

Being free of the bondage of "Babylon" has deep spiritual implications that we need to explore more fully.

COME OUT FROM BABYLON:

“Then I heard another voice from heaven say: ‘Come out of her (Babylon), my people, so that you will not share in her sins (cosmic treason), so that you will not receive any of her plagues; for her sins are piled up to heaven, and God has remembered her crimes’” (Revelation 18:4 -5) “Flee from Babylon! Run for your lives! Do not be destroyed because of her sins (cosmic treason)...” (Jeremiah 51:6)

This warning to come out of Babylon is not based just on a physical exodus or the changing of outward practices; it is a higher call for a personal, spiritual separation from the corrupt world system. The "Babylonian" system can not be fixed until the individuals that make up "Babylon" change first, “We would have healed Babylon, but she cannot be healed...” (Jeremiah 51:9).

If we are to use Babylon to describe the corrupt world system in which we find ourselves, then we must consider the possibility that its corruption might be present within our hearts as well.

Jesus warned about making external changes that are superficial and devoid of any real sincerity. Jesus, talking to “the establishment” of his day, made a plea for genuine change, a change of the inner person. “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. Blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and dish, and then the outside also will be clean. Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of dead men’s bones and everything unclean. In the same way, on the outside you appear to people as righteous but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness.” (Matthew 23:25-28)

This inner change, a change in the heart, is what leaving "Babylon" is about. All other types of change are only external and amount to no more than treating the symptoms of "Babylon" - they are no more than just “cleaning the outside of the cup” with no real lasting change.

TRUE LIBERATION FROM BABYLONIAN BONDAGE:

What is this “Babylonian” bondage that is so pervasive and its corruption so great that it not only permeates all of society, but it actually flows out of a spring deep within the “Babylonians” themselves? To what exactly are we enslaved to? Jesus replied to this very question, “I tell you the truth, everyone who sins (commits cosmic treason) is a slave to sin” (John 8:34). Paul states that we “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23).

It is our very own treasonous acts of rebellion against our Creator and his creation that has enslaved us. This bondage is self-imposed and self-perpetuated, as the proverb states, “The evil deeds of a wicked man ensnare him; the cords of his sin hold him fast.” (Proverbs 5:22) “...for a man is a slave to whatever has mastered him” (2Peter 2:19).

Look to Jah (Jah-ovah) through His Son Jesus Christ for his liberation!

Jesus claimed that His mission here on planet earth is summed up in this ancient prophecy, “The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” (Luke 4:18-19). Jesus said of Himself that “if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed” (John 8:36), and that “you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free” (John 8:32)

This liberation from “Babylonian” bondage needs to begin with a changed and liberated heart. Jesus taught, we must “first clean the inside of the cup and dish, and then the outside also will be clean” - we must first let Jesus lead us out of our captivity to “Babylon” that exists in our hearts so that we can in turn be liberated from the bondage of “Babylon” that surrounds us.

WHAT MUST I DO TO BE LIBERATED?:

The Father of Creation loves us and wants to be a Father to each one of us, He wants us to be his children. “Yet to all who received him (Jesus), to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision but born of God.” (John 1:12-13) “How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!” (1John 3:1)

God’s love is so great that, even while everyone on planet Earth is committing cosmic treason against Him, He reached out to us. “At one time you were alienated and far away from God. You hated Him, and were His enemies in your minds, and in your hearts because of your evil behavior.” (Colossians 1:21) “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners (cosmic traitors), Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8).

It is our choice, we can choose bondage and death or we can choose freedom and life, “I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life” (Deuteronomy 30:19) “For I take no pleasure in the death of anyone, declares the Sovereign LORD. Repent and live!” (Ezekiel 18:32) “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 6:23)

You my not even believe that there is a God, but if this freedom that is presented here is something that you desire, then just talk to the Father. A simple prayer is where to begin. Prayer is just talking to God, and a simple prayer is all that is necessary, no fancy words, just what is on your heart. You could pray something like this:

“Jah The Creator God, I am not even sure that you are real but I am tired of being in bondage to the things that are destroying me. Please forgive my cosmic rebellion (sin) and set me free from “Babylon”. Make yourself real to me. Please help me to be a new person. In Jesus’ name, Amen (so be it).”

If you prayed a similar prayer to this and you were sincere, you meant it from your heart, then the Father of Creation has liberated you from “Babylon”. The exodus has already taken place in your heart. “Giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified us to share in the Kingdom of Light..a return to to a true Eden.

For He rescued us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the Kingdom of His beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.” (Colossians 1:12-14) You have been rescued from the bondage of “Babylon” and transferred to the Kingdom of Light - YOU HAVE BEEN LIBERATED!

Job Ebenzer, director of Environmental Stewardship For The Evangelical Luthern Church of America said in the July 19, 1997 issue of the Ventura Star newspaper that, "Many times, heaven and not earth as been the churches' focus, but when you recite the Lord's Prayer, it actually says: "Thy will be done ON EARTH.as it is in heaven." He also explains how this theme of the earth is completely missing from the theological programs at the universities and religious colleges. Yet, the question is why? Especially why the Bible, both the Hebrew Scriptures and Christian Scriptures are filled with such a wealth of information of this subject?

Psalm 36:5, 6 tells us that God is concerned for animalkind and humankind alike. Psalm 145:15 and 37:29 speaks of God's plan that the earth is to "endure FOREVER." The Bible in Both the Hebrew and Greek Scriptures clearly speaks of the "meek hearted" from amoung humanity, as well as animals and nature living in peace and harmony forever. 2 Peter 37:9, 29 says that, "We are awaiting a New Earth in which righteousness is to dwell."

The Native American author Sun Bear wisley points out in his book Black Dawn, Bright Day that in the Bible where the Bible speaks of Jesus talking about "The end of the 'world'," the word here "World" is actually a mistranslation. The actually Greek word found here is suppose to be this "AGE", taken from the Greek word "AEON". See the footenotes in the Living Bible or Living Translation Chapter 9 and 24 of Matthew.

So Jesus is talking about the end of this present system of things and 'NOT' the end of this physical planet earth, as the vast majority of Evangelical/Fundamental Protestants teach.

McDonough speaks in his book how historians have rightly have pointed out how history proves that additudes that belittle and degrade women seems to come from the precise seem sources who also exploite the earth and hunt animals for mere cruel sport. Does the future salvation of our earth and it's preservation lie souly on imperfect humankind's effort? While we as individuals, and collectively do our part, Revelation 11:18 says that: "GOD WILL bring to and end those who are ruining the earth." Psalm 104:5,24 reads: "The earth IS to endure FOREVER."

Our understanding of the earth and all life upon it and the visualization of it's coming renewl and restoration and it's connection to God could and should inspire a call for a renewed earth-based spirituality appropriate for our time.

SOME CLOSING MEDITATIONS:

To effect real change in the world around us there first must be a real change in the hearts of us all. The importance of keeping a spiritual focus in our lives is paramount. To come out of "Babylon" and be totally free from bondage we first must be free spiritually. Spiritual freedom is a freedom that no one can take away from us because it is not external - it is internal... it is not political - it is spiritual.

The Earth Eden Project~The Hippies Search For Spirituality
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