Are you living in spiritual Jerusalem or spiritual Babylon?

In the old testament literal happenings were used to explain the spiritual. Cutting foreskin was used to show circumcision of the heart. The blood of lambs was put on the doorposts to save babies from death, as Christ’s blood saves us. A temple was erected in Jerusalem to contain the Ark of the Covenant, to explain how we are the temple that contains the Sprit of God.

When people turned from God in Jerusalem, the temple was destroyed in the old testament and people were exiled to Babylon. They lived there 70 years, and then were allowed to go back to Jerusalem to rebuild the temple. Many stayed in Babylon. Those that stayed usually became absorbed in the life of the Babylonians.

When Christ came in the flesh, Christ brought the spirit of God and His laws to our hearts so we didn’t need the physical any longer to know God. But some of us are still living in spiritual Babylon as that physical city outlines it for us.

There, they followed seers who read the stars, they didn’t follow God, as we read our horoscopes each morning. They were entertained by sports, boxing, big game hunting as we are. Their celebraties were idols, as ours are of entertainers and sports figures. Their moral codes were not the same as the ones true God’s moral codes are as is true of us today as we accept such as toleration of all differences rather than the codes told of in scripture and family definition is different from scripture.

Which city do you live in?

This is remarkable. It is amazing to see you write of the things that I write. But to see these things in your words . . . just remarkable. Absolutely remarkable. You just confirmed, to me, that I am reading the Bible accurately. No one writes what you've written above. I've been searching and searching . . . no one writes like what you have given to us. No, you didn't share . . . you [gave] the Truth of the Bible. You told us what we needed to know, to get us off and onto the right track. You blew me away from the very start when you wrote . . .

"In the old testament literal happenings were used to explain the spiritual. Cutting foreskin was used to show circumcision of the heart."

Do not stop, my friend. Keep writing! Keep studying! And believe in your Doctrine . . . you'd make an amazing, amazing teacher.

You humble me before the Lord. If the Lord is using me, then I need many prayers for me. I have many enemies.

What? You have many enemies? Blik . . . that's great! And once again, you are showing that not only do you understand the Core Doctrine of the entire Bible, but you also match the description of a True Christian:

"Luke 12:51 NLT - 51 Do you think I have come to bring peace to the earth? No, I have come to divide people against each other!"

My friend, congratulations! Anyone who understands the Core Doctrine of Circumcised Hearts, understands because the Lord allowed this Holy Understanding to happen (within you). You have been Chosen, Blik. You have been Elected for these incredibly Core Truths.

Blik, I will pray for you and the circumstances with your enemies, but you need to understand that because you are so clearly Chosen, the Lord God will cause and Enable you to act and to speak accordingly. I know it is hard, and I can testify of my failures in this way, but we are Brothers who are striving to become better in how we speak and act. Even the things that we might say or do that seem harsh and/or wrong . . . our Powerful God will use those "mistakes" to fulfill His Plan. So let us not worry about our worldly enemies, for if they dare to mess with our Powerful Master . . . go ahead.

I'm with you my friend, I've lost 100% of both sides of my family and all my former friends. I'm not kidding. It is wild, what our amazing God has done for you and me. He has set us apart! We are like Nazarenes! We are True aliens and foreigners in strange lands! And it still boggles my mind, today, that my own family could hate and reject me as they do (we're talking about Ministers, Ministers wives, Missionaries, Elders, Elders wives, preachers kids, etc . . . probably 150 years of solid "Christian" experience in my family . . . yet these exact same people have no forgiveness or love for me, their own family. What have I done? Meh . . . who knows. And I try not to worry about it. Why? Because if the Lord can harden their hearts exactly as He hardened the Heart of Peter (3 times as foretold), then this is what He has done for an entire set of two families. Hello! Do you all of a sudden realize that you belong to the True Remnant? And is the Remnant massive and large . . . or extremely small? Right . . . so don't be surprised if you're the only True Christian within the surrounding 10,000 who also claim that name.

Be humbled by this . . . and in fact, if you can accept the fact that you might Truly belong to the Holy Remnant, this ought to inspire True Fear of the Lord. This admission into the Body of Christ should be overwhelming. You are a very lucky person! So do not worry about your enemies, for you have the single most Powerful Master imaginable. All that you and I have to do is obey our God, and let Him fight our battles. Our job is to stay cool . . . to never lose self-control, thus giving someone an actual reason to hate or accuse us. Regardless of how crazy our situations might become, you and I will no longer lose control over our emotions, but amaze people with our Holy Endurance to overcome our circumstances . . . and still have genuine Joy of the Lord!

Glad to know you, Brother (assuming Blik is a dude's name).

I don't agree with your definition of entertainer and sports star. It's your standard of judgment, not from the Bible.
Sounds like one is better than others,just because entertainer and sports star then make one better than others ??? is that harm someone ?

It seems to me that if we lived in spiritual Jerusalem we wouldn't find our pleasure and fun in killing wild animals, or in watching others have fun to see who is better than someone else. God loves all equally.

Christ showed us how He enjoyed being with others, sharing with them. Christ loved a celebration, but it didn't include killing or one person being better than another.

I don't think the newspaper of spiritual Jerusalem would have a huge sports section.

In reading all this so far...seems to be something else not being talked about. Well one thing you talked about "sports" more than once. You do knows about rewards right? A we all don't get the same and some won't get any but will get in. Want more of GOD to see and know more? Won't happen unless we pray seek Him and put Him first. Hmm just like sports. That is SO wonderful to watch. Do you know how many LOVE the lord and never once get jealous of the other? Like anything else you do it because you like it..then others like to see how good you are at it.. and always cheer you on. As they do in heaven to each one of us.. to WIN the race! Hello SPORTS!

Anyway.. lets talks facts.. God gave you something no one else can do! He will look at you and say you I love you... I made all of this just for you. You will be standing in heaven with countless others and as you look to your left.. why is He only looking at you as if no one else was there? Yet you are filled with such joy knowing He treats everyone the same way.. because He is GOD and He can do it!

Oh it can be fun so to speak to play with speculation but there is no such thing as "spiritual Jerusalem nor spiritual Babylon". This life this walk has nothing to do with that but has everything to do with Yeshua/Jesus Christ in us. That we die daily so He can live through us. So the world sees Him in us.. and guess what that happens every day in Sports all around the world. You use the word "WE" which I do not receive in Jesus name I can say I don't know one person that "as we read our horoscopes each morning" not one.

Not here to offend praise God. To put Christ first in all we say and do AMEN AMEN!

You have brought out a wonderful point about sports. Loving and living in spiritual Jerusalem means that we love the Lord with all our heart and soul and others as ourselves. It doesn't mean that we do or do not like to watch sports. But if sports come before God, that is a different matter. If you look at our newspapers that cater of the tastes of the people, then sports are put ahead of Christian living, then it is a problem.

Forgive them and pray for them. easy to do

Is it? Few people actually forgive others. And why is that? Because the OP references the Circumcision of the Heart. If a person's Father is the Devil, forgiveness is not a Work of Satan and it isn't going to genuinely happen. Sure, virtually ALL christians say that they forgive, but what is the evidence?

It isn't until the Sin Nature has been cut out and removed, replaced by a new Nature, the Divine Nature as 2nd Peter 1:4 makes very clear, that genuine forgiveness becomes a possibility. And in order for prayer to be effective, that person's Heart must be Circumcised by Christ, and if it isn't, then those who pray should expect nothing.

Trust me, Blik knows what they're talking about . . . far more than the vast majority, here. I wouldn't spend much time teaching Blik . . . instead, I'd do more listening and learning.

Is it? Few people actually forgive others. And why is that? Because the OP references the Circumcision of the Heart. If a person's Father is the Devil, forgiveness is not a Work of Satan and it isn't going to genuinely happen. Sure, virtually ALL christians say that they forgive, but what is the evidence?

It isn't until the Sin Nature has been cut out and removed, replaced by a new Nature, the Divine Nature as 2nd Peter 1:4 makes very clear, that genuine forgiveness becomes a possibility. And in order for prayer to be effective, that person's Heart must be Circumcised by Christ, and if it isn't, then those who pray should expect nothing.

Trust me, Blik knows what they're talking about . . . far more than the vast majority, here. I wouldn't spend much time teaching Blik . . . instead, I'd do more listening and learning.

I spend the majority of my time on this earth listening and learning, I love to share what I learn here.

As I think of my living in spiritual Babylon or Jerusalem, I don't concentrate on exactly following the literal towns, it is the spiritual ones that I think the Lord is interested in.

When Cyrus allowed Jews to return to Jerusalem to rebuild the temple, only a remnant of those Jews went to Jerusalem, they had a prosperous and comfortable life in Persia. The Jews who rebuilt the temple faced hardship and trouble.

At that time, a temple was a building, not as the temple is now as we are the temple of the spirit of the Lord. Rebuilding the temple was to have the Lord live among them, God's spirit was within the ark in the inner sanction of the temple. No one was allowed in this inner room but the high priest, and the high priest is now Jesus. We must not want any sin to enter our inner chamber of our hearts, we must live for the Lord as we are now the temple that they rebuilt in Jerusalem.