World Government
"And they said, Go to, let us build us a city and a tower, whose top may reach unto heaven; and let us make us a name, lest we be scattered abroad upon the face of the whole earth. And the LORD came down to see the city and the tower, which the children of men builded. And the LORD said, Behold, the people is one, and they have all one language; and this they begin to do: and now nothing will be restrained from them, which they have imagined to do. Go to, let us go down, and there confound their language, that they may not understand one another's speech." (Genesis 11:4-7)
The Tower of Babel by Pieter Bruegel the Elder c.1563AD
Since the construction of the Tower of Babel, many have sought to rule the world.
Today our world has many nations but world government and world unity are becoming topics of discussion. Nations are joining together as seen in the European Union.
We see the Tower of Babel used in promoting the EU and is visibile in the architecture of the EU Parliament.
The Bible describes the Tower of Babel in Genesis 11. It was man's first attempt at world unity but there was a fatal problem. It was a political and religious unity in rebellion against God. The Bible says God stepped in and brought judgment by scattering the people and confounding the language.
In the past hundred years, we see a trend towards global unity. After World War I, the League of Nations was formed and after World War II, the United Nations. Religiously, the Pope's ecumenical movement and United Religions aim to unite all religions into one. Its a theme promoted in movies, music and the olympics. Its also supported by many in the New Age Movement and echoed by prominent world leaders.
"I advocate world government because I am convinced that there is no other possible way of eliminating the most terrible danger in which man has ever found himself. The objective of avoiding total destruction must have priority over any other objective." (Albert Einstein, 1947)
Yet what has history taught us about the perils of absolute power?
We also read in the Bible that before the return of Jesus Christ, a final one-world empire will reign. It will take place during a seven-year period of time referred to as the tribulation period. How it will ultimately come to power and what it will encompass is unclear but we do see a trend as our world moves towards political, economic and religious unity.
Yet in the Bible, we read that this is not the solution.
The true problem in our world is not disunity between people but sin that has separated us from God.
The unity sought by the world is not peace with God.
"Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing? The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD, and against his anointed, saying, Let us break their bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us." (Psalm 2:1-3)
It is in fact a return to the Tower of Babel which the Bible says will not end well.
"For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape." (1 Thessalonians 5:3)
The good news is that we can have true peace with God through the Prince of Peace, Jesus Christ. It is in Him where we find peace with God as He brings us into a loving and eternal fellowship with Himself.
"Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it
be afraid." (John 14:27)
"All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out." (John 6:37)
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"And they said, Go to, let us build us a city and a tower, whose top may reach unto heaven; and let us make us a name, lest we be scattered abroad upon the face of the whole earth. And the LORD came down to see the city and the tower, which the children of men builded. And the LORD said, Behold, the people is one, and they have all one language; and this they begin to do: and now nothing will be restrained from them, which they have imagined to do. Go to, let us go down, and there confound their language, that they may not understand one another's speech." (Genesis 11:4-7)
The Tower of Babel by Pieter Bruegel the Elder c.1563AD
Since the construction of the Tower of Babel, many have sought to rule the world.
Today our world has many nations but world government and world unity are becoming topics of discussion. Nations are joining together as seen in the European Union.
We see the Tower of Babel used in promoting the EU and is visibile in the architecture of the EU Parliament.
The Bible describes the Tower of Babel in Genesis 11. It was man's first attempt at world unity but there was a fatal problem. It was a political and religious unity in rebellion against God. The Bible says God stepped in and brought judgment by scattering the people and confounding the language.
In the past hundred years, we see a trend towards global unity. After World War I, the League of Nations was formed and after World War II, the United Nations. Religiously, the Pope's ecumenical movement and United Religions aim to unite all religions into one. Its a theme promoted in movies, music and the olympics. Its also supported by many in the New Age Movement and echoed by prominent world leaders.
"I advocate world government because I am convinced that there is no other possible way of eliminating the most terrible danger in which man has ever found himself. The objective of avoiding total destruction must have priority over any other objective." (Albert Einstein, 1947)
Yet what has history taught us about the perils of absolute power?
We also read in the Bible that before the return of Jesus Christ, a final one-world empire will reign. It will take place during a seven-year period of time referred to as the tribulation period. How it will ultimately come to power and what it will encompass is unclear but we do see a trend as our world moves towards political, economic and religious unity.
Yet in the Bible, we read that this is not the solution.
The true problem in our world is not disunity between people but sin that has separated us from God.
The unity sought by the world is not peace with God.
"Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing? The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD, and against his anointed, saying, Let us break their bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us." (Psalm 2:1-3)
It is in fact a return to the Tower of Babel which the Bible says will not end well.
"For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape." (1 Thessalonians 5:3)
The good news is that we can have true peace with God through the Prince of Peace, Jesus Christ. It is in Him where we find peace with God as He brings us into a loving and eternal fellowship with Himself.
"Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it
be afraid." (John 14:27)
"All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out." (John 6:37)
>>BACK TO BIBLE TOPICS
