Foreword
In the pages that follow, we embark on a journey to uncover one of the most profound and veiled truths in prophetic Scripture; the identity of Mystery Babylon. This study does not begin with assumptions, nor does it rest solely on the visible. Instead, it approaches the harlot clothed in purple and scarlet from the lens through which the prophets and apostles saw her; through the Spirit.
There is no question that in the end, there is a literal, physical manifestation of Mystery Babylon. But without first grasping the spiritual nature of the great harlot—her seductions, her deceptions, and her long-standing war against the righteous; the true location and identity will remain hidden to the natural eye. She is not merely a city, a nation, or a system. She is a mystery, because she has always worn many masks.
This is not just a study of prophecy; it is a revealing. And as with all true revelations, it begins in the spirit before it is seen in the flesh.
Table of Contents
1. Chapter 1: Covenant Broken The Scattering of Israel and the Rise of Babylon
2. Chapter 2: The Leaven of Power – Herod, Rome, and the Corruption of Israel’s Authority
3. Chapter 3: From Persecution to Power – The Rise of a Roman Faith
4. Chapter 4: Reformation and Residue – The Struggle for Truth Amid Religious Empire
5. Chapter 5: The Final Struggle – Truth vs. Deception in the Last Days
6. Chapter 6: The Leavening of Nations – Hidden Forces and the Rise of Religious Control
7. Chapter 7: The Counterfeit Kingdom – Rise of the Final Deception
8. Chapter 8: The Awakening – A People Called by Name
9. Epilogue: The Restoration of All Things
Chapter 1: Covenant Broken The Scattering of Israel and the Rise of Babylon
The story of Israel is not simply a tale of ancient people wandering the desert or establishing kingdoms. It is the account of a chosen nation called into covenant with the Creator of heaven and earth, entrusted with His instructions and commissioned to reveal His nature to the nations. But this sacred relationship would be tested—and ultimately fractured—by compromise, assimilation, and idolatry.
Solomon: The Beginning of Division
After the exodus from Egypt and the conquest of Canaan, the united kingdom of Israel reached its zenith under King David and his son Solomon. Solomon was chosen to build the first Temple in Jerusalem, and for a time, he walked in the wisdom and blessing of YHVH. But his later years were marked by a tragic turn.
In his pursuit of political alliances and worldly power, Solomon took foreign wives who brought their own deities with them. Instead of remaining a nation set apart, Israel began to blend with the cultures around them. Shrines to pagan gods were built on the hills surrounding Jerusalem. The heart of the nation drifted, and with it, the spiritual foundation crumbled.
This compromise was not simply a political error—it was a breach of covenant. The Torah had warned that Israel must not intermarry with the nations, nor adopt their customs and worship. Yet Solomon, the king of Israel, led the people into exactly what the Most High had forbidden.
Following Solomon’s death, the kingdom split. Ten tribes broke away to form the northern kingdom of Israel under Jeroboam, who immediately instituted golden calf worship in Bethel and Dan to keep the people from returning to Jerusalem. The southern kingdom of Judah retained the Temple, but both kingdoms fell deeper into idolatry and injustice.
The Divided Kingdom and the Downward Spiral
Prophets rose up to call the people to repentance—Elijah, Hosea, Amos, Micah, and many others—but their words were mostly rejected. The northern kingdom was eventually conquered by Assyria and its people scattered throughout the empire, never to return as a unified nation. These ten tribes became what we now call the Lost Tribes of Israel.
Judah lasted longer but followed the same path. Corruption infiltrated the priesthood. Foreign alliances were made. Idols were set up even in the Temple courts. And the prophetic voice of warning grew louder—none more so than that of Jeremiah.
Jeremiah’s Plea: A Final Warning Before Exile
Jeremiah was raised up in the final days before Jerusalem’s fall to Babylon. He wept for his people, warned of judgment, and pleaded for them to return to the covenant. His voice was ignored, mocked, and even silenced by those who claimed to speak for YHVH.
Despite the resistance, Jeremiah faithfully delivered YHVH’s word. He warned that the people would be carried away to Babylon; not just as political prisoners, but as judgment for abandoning the covenant. In the Septuagint, we find a powerful letter written by Jeremiah to the exiles in Babylon. In it, he warns them not to be deceived by the idols or the rituals of the land into which they’ve been taken. This was more than physical captivity, it was spiritual seduction.
The Babylonian System and Its Enduring Influence
Babylon was not merely a city or an empire—it was the embodiment of everything contrary to the covenant. It represented human exaltation, religious mixture, and control. Even after the physical return of some Judeans under Zerubbabel, Ezra, and Nehemiah, the spirit of Babylon lingered in the teachings, customs, and power structures of the people.
Over time, a parallel system of thought and law began to form—one not rooted solely in the written Torah but in evolving interpretations, oral traditions, and increasingly complex rulings by the religious elite. This system would eventually be codified in what we know today as the Talmud, a massive body of rabbinic commentary developed in Babylon and carried forward through generations. While not all who contributed to it were corrupt, the seeds of mixture—truth mingled with man-made authority—were firmly planted.
Zechariah’s Prophetic Warning: The Woman and the Ephah
The prophet Zechariah, writing after the Babylonian exile, received a vision that revealed the ongoing spiritual danger. In Zechariah 5, he sees a woman, symbolizing wickedness, placed into a measuring basket (ephah) and sealed with a lead cover. Two winged women carry the basket to the land of Shinar—Babylon—to build a house for it.
This image is deeply symbolic. Though Israel had returned from exile, the core of the problem—false religion, greed, and corruption—was still being transported and established. The basket represents a system of control disguised as righteousness. It would grow over time, not in the open, but behind veils of tradition and power.
This leaven, once seeded in Babylon, would continue to influence the spiritual structures of Israel until the time of Yeshua, and far beyond.
Chapter 2: The Leaven of Power – Herod, Rome, and the Corruption of Israel’s Authority
By the time of Yeshua’s appearance in Judea, the covenant people had long since returned from physical exile—but the spiritual exile remained intact. The influence of Babylon had not been cast out. It had simply evolved—cloaked in religious garb, interwoven with politics, and embedded in the very institutions that claimed to represent the Most High. Zechariah’s vision of wickedness contained in a basket, carried back to Babylon to be given a home, was unfolding before the people’s eyes—though few had the vision to see it.
The Herodian Dynasty: Power Rooted in Foreign Soil
Herod the Great, though proclaimed “King of the Jews” by Rome, was not of Davidic descent. His lineage traced back to Edom—Esau’s descendants—and his throne was secured not by divine right, but by Roman favor. The Herodian dynasty was a political invention, designed to keep Israel under control while maintaining the illusion of national autonomy.
Herod’s reign was marked by grand architectural projects, including the expanded Second Temple, which stood as a marvel of the ancient world. But his motives were not born from piety. The Temple was a tool—a means to win over the religious elite and pacify the people, while his loyalty remained firmly with Caesar. Under Herod, the high priesthood became politicized, appointments were made for loyalty rather than lineage, and the purity of the Temple service was steadily corrupted.
This dynasty fostered a hybridized system—part religious, part imperial—which blurred the lines between worship of YHVH and subservience to Rome.
Pharisees and Sadducees: The Fractured Religious Order
The religious class had fractured into factions. The Pharisees, known for their commitment to oral traditions, had become entangled in legalism. Their rulings—often additions to the written Torah—became burdens too heavy to bear. While many among them were sincere, the institution itself had become a vessel for control rather than covenant restoration.
The Sadducees, the priestly aristocracy, were deeply entrenched with the Herodian regime. They oversaw the Temple rituals but denied essential tenets of the faith, including resurrection and divine judgment. Their cooperation with Roman authorities ensured their place in power, but at the cost of spiritual integrity.
Both groups, despite their differences benefited from the status quo and opposed any movement that threatened their influence.
Yeshua’s Disruption: Restoring What Was Lost
Yeshua of Nazareth appeared not to establish a new religion, but to reignite the original covenant. His teachings cut through centuries of man-made doctrines. He exposed the self-serving nature of the religious elites, healed without Temple sanction, and taught with authority that bypassed the official channels.
He directly challenged the “leaven” of the Pharisees and Herodians—the corrupt doctrines and political compromises that had overtaken Israel. His call to repentance, justice, and restoration stirred the hearts of the people but enraged those in power.
John, the prophet in the wilderness—a direct descendant from the priestly line of Aaron—had nothing to do with the corrupted temple priests which were comprised of Judaeans and Edomites from the Hasmonean and Herodian family dynasty. John as well as other true Levitical priests had much to say about this corrupt leadership—it has been speculated that John was among the Qumran community that resided near the Dead Sea, on the outskirts of Jerusalem awaiting for the promised messiah—Their calling was to warn the people of the fraudulent religious institution in place and call the people to repentance—just as Elijah did with the priests of Baal. They were preparing the way for the one the scriptures prophesied of.
In the Qumran scrolls they identify themselves as the lineage of the Levitical priestly line of Zadok. It is believed these were the priests that came to search out the coming Messiah at Yeshuas birth. The scripture records there were “wise men” that came from the east. The Dead Sea was east of Jerusalem and they knew the prophecies in Micah 5:2 “But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah… from you shall come forth for Me one who is to be ruler in Israel.” And also the prophecies found in Numbers 24:17 “I see him, but not now; I behold him, but not near: A Star shall come out of Jacob, and a Scepter shall rise out of Israel…” These were not pagan astrologers as has been assumed, but these were priests that knew how to look for the signs in the heavens concerning prophecies and appointed times. Genesis 1:14 tells us of the divine purpose for the sun, moon and stars that were placed in the heavens for (prophetic) signs and appointed times. The Qumran communities writings which were known as the Dead Sea scrolls have much to say of their awaiting that righteous one that would come and bring redemption. This is why John’s disciples came to inquire of Yeshua; if he was the one they were waiting for that the prophets spoke of.
John’s confrontation with these same corrupt religious leaders, when he called them out as a “Brood of vipers!” wasn’t aimed at common sinners, but at the religious elite who came to observe what he was preaching against their established control. Yeshua carried this same boldness, in his public discourse with them. He called them out on their religious pretense and their psychological control over the people in twisting the scriptures for profit in teachings such as Corban— the practice of someone vowing their property or money to the Temple; Meaning it would fall under the control of the priestly class. This religious practice was stealing what should have been used to take care of the peoples aging parents. This was among the many abuses and psychological manipulation that were in play under the corrupt priesthood.
Yeshua confronted them openly in public gatherings for the sake of the deceived Judaeans—he revealed the truth of their practices by using the clear instructions and examples given in the law and the prophets. But it came at a price—ultimately they would have him crucified in an attempt to silence his teachings and influence. He showed the people the corruption and fraud—for profit—that lay beneath the religious veil.
The religious and political establishment—Pharisees and Sadducees which were comprised of Herodians—found common cause in silencing Him. Their deceptions were being exposed.
The Death and Resurrection: A Seed Planted in Conflict
Yeshua’s crucifixion, orchestrated by a conspiracy of religious and imperial forces, appeared to be the end. But His resurrection marked the beginning of a greater confrontation—the collision between the true Kingdom of Elohim and the rising counterfeit.
His disciples, rooted in the Torah and Prophets, saw Him as the fulfillment of Israel’s promises. They preached repentance, covenant renewal, and the authority of the risen Messiah. This message began in Jerusalem, spreading like wildfire among the lost sheep of Israel and those who sought the truth.
But even as this movement grew, the original battle for control had not ended—it had only shifted forms.
Saul of Tarsus: From Persecutor to Political Instrument
Enter Saul of Tarsus, later known as Paul. He was not a neutral figure. A Pharisee by training, a Roman citizen by birth, and connected by blood and loyalty to the Herodian dynasty, Saul initially made his mission the suppression of Yeshua’s followers.
He hunted down the early disciples with zeal, not out of mere religious conviction, but to protect the status quo of a system in which the Herodian elite, in cooperation with Roman powers, maintained dominance over the people through a hybrid religious structure.
But then, Saul’s story changed. He claimed a vision of the risen Messiah and repositioned himself as an apostle. However, the message he brought forth bore marks of revision. Though he used the name of Yeshua, Paul began introducing teachings that softened the Torah, blurred distinctions between Israel and the nations, and emphasized obedience to Roman authorities.
He taught submission to governing powers, encouraged a spiritualized interpretation of prophecy that replaced physical Israel with a metaphorical body, and reframed the commandments as burdens rather than blessings. By cunning strategy, Paul’s influence became a channel through which Herodian ideology could reassert control. This time, not through swords and taxes, but through doctrine and persuasion.
The result was the early mutation of the faith, where the Hebraic foundation laid by Yeshua and the prophets was slowly replaced by a more Roman-friendly, empire-compatible version of “Christianity.”
Chapter 3: From Persecution to Power – The Rise of a Roman Faith
In the aftermath of Yeshua’s resurrection, His disciples carried the message of repentance and covenant restoration throughout Judea and beyond. These early assemblies, known in Hebrew as kahal and later in Greek as ekklesia, were rooted in the Torah and the teachings of the prophets. They recognized Yeshua as the promised Messiah. Not one that came to abolish the covenant, but to fulfill and restore it in truth and power.
Their gatherings were grassroots and faithful to the ancient paths. They observed the appointed times of YHVH, upheld the commandments, and lived in unity, rejecting both the corruption of the Temple priesthood and the influence of Rome. But as this message began to spread into the broader Roman world, it faced not only persecution—but infiltration.
A Movement Under Siege
The early followers of Yeshua were persecuted by both the religious authorities in Jerusalem and the Roman empire. Their refusal to participate in the imperial cult, worship Caesar, or conform to Roman norms marked them as subversive and dangerous. Many were hunted, imprisoned, or executed.
Yet, under this pressure, the movement grew. It attracted the marginalized, the spiritually hungry, and those weary of Roman idolatry. But as Gentile converts began to outnumber Hebrew believers, cultural and doctrinal shifts emerged. The simplicity and power of the original message began to be diluted by philosophies foreign to the Scriptures.
One of the most pivotal shifts occurred through the influence of Paul of Tarsus, a man with Roman citizenship, Pharisaic training, and equally important, one with Herodian family ties. Once a fierce persecutor of the early believers, Paul claimed a dramatic conversion. But rather than fully aligning with the teachings of the original disciples, he introduced interpretations that subtly revised the role of the Torah, reinterpreted clear commands and scriptural examples and emphasized a faith apart from those clear instructions, and encouraged submission to Roman authority.
A Different Gospel Takes Root
Paul’s writings began to take on a life of their own. Among Gentile assemblies unfamiliar with the Torah, his teachings became the lens through which the entire faith was redefined. The consequences of this were profound:
- The Torah was reframed as obsolete or burdensome.
- The people of Israel were redefined into a “spiritual church.”
- The biblical feasts were replaced with Roman festivals.
- The Sabbath was substituted with the Roman day of the sun.
- Roman political power was portrayed as divinely ordained.
These teachings helped lay the groundwork for a new religion that bore only the outward image of the faith of Yeshua. This Gentile version of the gospel began to align more closely with Roman interests than with the covenant of YHVH.
The Emergence of Imperial Religion
By the early 4th century CE, the Roman Empire shifted from persecuting followers of Yeshua to absorbing and co-opting their movement. Under Emperor Constantine, the faith was legalized, and shortly after, elevated as the official state religion.
Constantine claimed a vision of the cross as a divine symbol of victory. But this marked not a return to truth—but the formal marriage of empire and religion. What followed was the systematization of doctrine to match imperial goals, not spiritual purity.
At the Council of Nicaea in 325 CE, key decisions were made: the Sabbath was outlawed in favor of Sunday worship, Passover was replaced with the Romanized Easter, and any remaining traces of Hebraic identity were scrubbed from practice and memory. The name and image of the Messiah were reshaped—painted in the likeness of Greco-Roman gods and imperial figures.
This was not a restoration of Yeshua’s teachings but a calculated reinvention—a transformation of the original faith into an instrument of statecraft.
The Power of the Papacy — And the Hidden Hand
As the Roman Church solidified its structure, it created a hierarchical system that mirrored imperial governance. Bishops, archbishops, and ultimately the bishop of Rome—the pope—took on increasing authority. In time, the pope was regarded not only as a spiritual leader but as a monarch whose influence reached across kingdoms and nations.
It was during this consolidation that Herodian influence resurfaced. With their political power diminished in Judea after the Temple’s destruction, the Herodian elite did not disappear. They adapted. Just as they once intermarried with the Hasmoneans and aligned with Rome for political gain, they now found opportunity in the rising Roman Church.
By embedding themselves within the clerical and administrative structures of the empire’s religion, the Herodian lineage extended its control through religious disguise. The very tactics they had used in Jerusalem such as manipulating the priesthood, exploiting spiritual authority, and suppressing dissent, were now implemented on a global scale through the Roman Church.
This spiritual empire, born out of compromise, coercion, and counterfeit, became the final form of the “basket of wickedness” spoken of by Zechariah. Carried from Babylon, established in Jerusalem under Herod, and finally enthroned in Rome under the papacy, it represented the full leavening of false religion. One that enslaved not only bodies but also hearts and minds.
Chapter 4: Reformation and Residue – The Struggle for Truth Amid Religious Empire
The fusion of imperial power and religious authority, formalized through the Roman Church, cast a long shadow over the world. For centuries, it reigned as the spiritual and political center of Western civilization. Kings sought its blessing. Nations feared its decrees. And dissenters—those who dared to question its doctrines or power—were silenced through inquisitions, crusades, and execution.
This was not the continuation of the faith once delivered to the saints. It was a continuation of control—a corrupted system first seeded in Babylon, matured in Jerusalem under the Herodians, and enthroned in Rome. And yet, even within this darkness, sparks of truth refused to be extinguished.
The Age of Control: Papal Domination and Religious Tyranny
Throughout the so-called “Dark Ages,” the Roman Church amassed untold wealth and political might. Its rituals became increasingly detached from Scripture, its leaders more akin to royalty than servants, and its doctrines indistinguishable from the pagan traditions it once claimed to replace.
- Images and relics were venerated.
- Latin-only Scripture kept truth out of the hands of the people.
- The sale of indulgences turned forgiveness into commerce.
- The confessional system created total dependence on priestly mediation as well as a form of central intelligence for the papacy. A system where the people were deceived into revealing hidden thoughts or feelings that could possibly be against the Catholic Church.
This was not faith it was bondage. And behind the veil of holiness, the same corrupt motivations of power, prestige, and political control endured just as they had in the courts of Herod.
The Herodian legacy, though no longer visible in name, lived on in structure and purpose. Their blend of religious appearance and political strategy had now become the global model for the religious empire.
The Reformation: A Fracture, Not a Foundation
In the 16th century, the grip of Rome began to crack. Men like Martin Luther, John Calvin, and Ulrich Zwingli rose up, protesting the abuses of the papacy and calling for a return to Scriptural authority. Their courage gave rise to the Reformation—a movement that shattered the illusion of Rome’s invincibility and opened the floodgates for new interpretations of the faith.
Scriptures were translated into native languages. Debates on grace, works, and salvation erupted across Europe. Religious monopoly gave way to denominational diversity.
Yet for all its fervor, the Reformation did not fully restore the faith. It was a crack in the façade, not a return to the covenant.
- The Sabbath remained replaced with Sunday worship.
- The biblical feasts were ignored in favor of inherited Roman festivals.
- The Torah was still dismissed, seen as a burden rather than a foundation.
- And the Gentile identity of the Church remained unchallenged.
The same anti-Torah lens that had entered through Paul’s distorted influence remained firmly in place. Though the chains were loosened, the foundation of replacement theology, lawlessness, and institutional hierarchy endured.
What began as a rebellion became a reformation of Rome, not a restoration of Israel.
The Leaven That Remained
The leaven—once a small infiltration—had permeated the entire loaf. Even outside Rome’s authority, the teachings born from that system remained in Protestant theology. The lie that Israel had been cast off. The severing and elevating of the (New Testament) from the Hebrew Scriptures. The elevation of man-made creeds above the Word. The subtle embrace of political alliances over spiritual purity.
This was no longer just Rome’s doing. It was a systemic infection.
Yet in the midst of this, something remarkable began to stir.
Across scattered nations and hidden communities, descendants of the house of Israel—dispersed long ago through exile and captivity—began to awaken. Without knowing their heritage, they began to feel the pull toward the Torah, the appointed times, the true Messiah. They questioned the institutions around them. They heard the quiet call of the Shepherd.
The Spirit was moving, not within institutions, but among individuals. Not through seminaries, but in secret places. The remnant was being stirred.
Chapter 5: The Final Struggle – Truth vs. Deception in the Last Days
The world stands at a unique crossroads, where the forces of deception, ancient and modern, continue to shape the destiny of humanity. From the days of Babylon to the rise of the Roman Empire, from the fall of the Temple in Jerusalem to the establishment of the papacy, the battle for control over the hearts and minds of people has always been intertwined with spiritual manipulation.
As time marches on, the leaven of error continues to permeate religious systems and powers that claim to represent the truth. These systems have always sought to replace the authentic covenant and the call to repentance and restoration. Yet, as history unfolds, the true path, the narrow way that leads to the eternal kingdom and the return of the true Shepherd—remains, calling out to the scattered remnants of Israel and to all those who have been deceived.
The Leavening of Power: The Continued Spread of False Religion
The process of corruption did not cease with the rise of the Roman Church, nor did it end with the Reformation. In fact, the seeds of spiritual decay planted over centuries have continued to influence modern institutions, both religious and secular. This continues today, with systems that still perpetuate false teachings, misguided worship, and the suppression of the original covenant.
The prophetic message of Zechariah 5 sheds light on this ongoing phenomenon. Zechariah describes a vision of a woman in a basket, representing a spirit of corruption and falsehood, being carried to Babylon, where she is established as the foundation for a corrupt system that will spread its influence across the world. This image provides a striking parallel to the way that idolatry and false doctrine have infiltrated religious systems throughout history.
For centuries, these influences have taken root and spread, affecting not only the Western world but even the lands and nations once considered distant from the original Hebrew faith. What began in Babylon, with the mingling of truth and falsehood, has blossomed into a world religion built upon a distorted version of the gospel.
The Rise of the “Red Dragon” – A Global Spiritual Struggle
In the book of Revelation, we are given a powerful image of the red dragon—a symbol of spiritual deception and opposition to the people of YHVH. This dragon is described as pursuing the true people of Israel and those who keep the commandments of YHVH and the testimony of Yeshua.
With what has been revealed the picture becomes clear. The red dragon is non other than Edom (meaning red), the descendants of Esau, historically seen as adversaries of Israel. The term “red” also connects to the biblical prophecy concerning Esau and his descendants. “Jacob have I loved but Esau have I hated”. Those who have historically sought to undermine the people of Israel and had the son of YHVH crucified. This connection is important, as the red dragon in Revelation is not only a symbol of demonic forces but also reflects an ongoing spiritual battle between those who seek to uphold the truth of YHVH and those who wish to replace it with their own systems of control.
Esau the twin brother of Jacob. The one at war in the womb. The rebellious offspring that mixed with the nations by taking Canaanite wives—vowing to destroy Jacob, warred with Israel in the wilderness after they journeyed from Egypt, because of which YHVH vowed that he would have war with Amelek (son of Esau) from generation to generation. Doeg the Edomite killed 305 priests of YHVH mercilessly because they helped David when he was on the run from Saul.
We were shown this prophetic picture with Cain and Abel of the one born out rebellion and false worship and the other offspring righteous and good. But like Seth that was raised up after Abel was killed. So Israel, though spiritually dead are being restored by that righteous heir that was prophesied would crush the head of the serpent.
It is not coincidence we are shown the imagery of a dragon in Revelation. The dragon is the picture of the serpent in the garden, the one that came to deceive, manipulate, and ultimately destroy the heirs of the covenant by twisting the word of YHVH. But the offspring of the serpent will be destroyed in the end just as was prophesied in Genesis 3:15.
The true people of Israel—the descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, which have been scattered across the nations have not been lost—they’ve been hidden. In the last days, they are beginning to awaken and return to their covenantal roots, rejecting the false systems that have long oppressed them.
The Final Awakening and Regathering
The culmination of prophecy points toward the regathering of Israel—not by a corporate state that bears the name—such as exists today. But to the true people of the covenant as was revealed through the prophets. This final regathering will not happen through the force of an empire or a false religious structure. Instead, it will be through the work of the Holy Spirit, calling the elect out from the false systems of the world, just as YHVH has done throughout history.
The remnant of Israel, scattered among the nations, will begin to recognize the truth of the Torah and the need for repentance. They will return to their Messiah, Yeshua, and once again take hold of the promises made to their ancestors.
The final showdown is not only a political and military conflict. It is also a spiritual confrontation between the forces of truth and those who continue to promote falsehood and deception. At the heart of this battle is the call for obedience to YHVH’s commandments, and the ear to hear the true message of Yeshua, as was also revealed through the prophets.
Chapter 6: The Leavening of Nations – Hidden Forces and the Rise of Religious Control
In Yeshua’s parable recorded in Matthew 13:33, He describes a woman who hid leaven in three measures of meal until all of it was leavened. With the understanding of Zechariah we understand this is a prophetic picture of spiritual contamination—truth subtly infiltrated by falsehood until the entire system is corrupted. Just as Yeshua warned his disciples to be aware of the leavened teachings of the Pharisees and Herodians.
This chapter explores how three major religious institutions, Judaism, Catholicism, and Islam were each affected by spiritual syncretism, molded by political powers, and ultimately transformed into systems of control over the nations. Though each began with varying degrees of spiritual authenticity or aspiration, they were gradually leavened with foreign ideologies, giving rise to structures that served the agendas of earthly kingdoms rather than the Kingdom of Heaven. Let’s take a closer look at these religions individually.
Judaism – A Shift from Covenant to Command Structure
Israel’s story began with a divine covenant, an invitation to walk in holiness, justice, and obedience to YHVH alone. But through intermarriage and political alliance, starting most notably with King Solomon, the foreign nations with their idolatry entered the land. This spiritual compromise led to the division of the kingdom and eventually to the Assyrian and Babylonian exiles.
During the Babylonian exile, Israel’s faith began to morph under pressure. A new form of Judaism emerged, heavily influenced by Babylonian traditions and mysticism. While Torah observance remained a central theme, a parallel structure of oral law and rabbinic authority rose, eventually forming the Babylonian Talmud—a compilation that reinterpreted the Torah through man-made rulings. This system not only found legal means, or loopholes to break the Torah, but systemically elevated Babylonian practices. Among other Jewish writings are the Kabbala—a compilation of early texts—which is heavily steeped in Babylonian Magic and mysticism.
By the time of Yeshua, the Pharisees, which were aligned with political elites like the Herodians, wielded religious power to maintain order under Roman oversight. Yeshua Himself rebuked them for nullifying the commandments through tradition and for desiring status and public praise rather than truth and justice. The original covenant had been diluted, and a new class of religious gatekeepers had taken control.
Catholicism – The Sun-Wrapped Faith of the Roman Empire
Early followers of Yeshua sought to live out the truth of the renewed covenant through faith, repentance, and holiness. But as persecution gave way to state endorsement under Constantine, the faith became institutionalized. Pagan festivals, symbols, and priesthoods were gradually adopted and repurposed.
At the heart of this shift was a merger between Christian terminology and Roman sun worship. The day of worship shifted to Sunday, the sun disc appeared in religious art, and celebrations like Saturnalia evolved into “Christian holidays” such as Christmas and Easter. Saints replaced local deities, and Mary was elevated in a way eerily similar to ancient mother goddess worship. Such as the Babylonian “queen of heaven” as was rebuked by the prophet in Ezekiel 44.
Over time, Catholicism grew into a vast religious empire with political clout, amassing wealth, influencing kings, and waging wars in the name of God. The centralization of power in the papacy turned the faith into an imperial structure. Those who challenged its authority were branded heretics. While preserving fragments of truth, the Church had been thoroughly leavened with Roman paganism and imperial ambition.
Islam – The Crescent Moon and the Recycled Deity
Islam emerged in Arabia in the 7th century as a political strategy by the papacy to take possession of Jerusalem. The Christian’s in the east rejected papal authority and would not give her their allegiance. The people of Arabia; descendants of Ishmael, Ammon, Moab and various other tribes were a people long steeped in paganism and idolatry. One of the most prominent deities worshiped in pre-Islamic Arabia was the moon god, often referred to as Hubal or symbolized by a crescent moon. This deity was central to the Kaaba in Mecca, which housed hundreds of idols, including representations of celestial gods.
Muhammad—a product of Catholic infiltration—began preaching monotheism, structured worship and ritual, reverence of Mary, belief in an afterlife; and most importantly—a twisted version of belief in the Hebrew Scriptures that would place them as the chosen descendants. The Papal strategy was to have the Arabs fight and take Jerusalem from the power of the Eastern Orthodox Church. Then the papacy would launch a religious campaign to amass an army from loyal kings in the west promising them forgiveness of sin if they would aid in conquering Jerusalem for Christ in an all out “holy war” to save the promised land—establishing the Catholic Church in a prominent position as Savior of Christianity in the east and proprietor of Jerusalem. Although successful, less than a hundred years later Islam recaptured Jerusalem and it remained under Muslim control for nearly a thousand years until the early 20th century when it was captured by Britain in World War I and then handed over to the Rothschilds under a pretense for establishing a homeland for European Jews under the Balfour declaration. To prevent an all out massacre in the Middle East there were agreements made to allow the Muslim holy site known as the “dome of the rock” to remain for a prayer site for Muslims. Because of a very strong Muslim presence throughout the Middle East this site remains an area of great tension because this was also the place where Solomon’s temple once stood.
The religion of Islam developed into a syncretic practice as is common in Catholic converted lands; the Arabs still carried many elements of their old pagan religion that permanently remained embedded. The crescent moon became the lasting symbol of Islam. Though Islam emphasized strict monotheism, its form and ritual retained a distinctly Arab flavor—such as circumambulating the Kaaba, a practice rooted in pre-Islamic pagan rites.
Much like Judaism and Catholicism, Islam experienced early political consolidation, becoming a tool of empire. Military conquests quickly expanded Islamic influence, spreading its theology alongside Arab culture and law. Over time, Sufi mysticism, Persian philosophies, and tribal traditions were blended in, creating a diverse and often politically charged religion.
It’s also notable that Islam, while claiming independence from Judaism and Christianity, shares many altered narratives of their Scriptures—yet as they all do, positions itself as the final authority, superseding what came before.
Three Measures of Leaven – Star, Sun, and Moon
These three world religions—Judaism, Catholicism, and Islam—can be symbolically represented by the star, sun, and moon. These celestial images show up in ancient systems of astrological worship that were absorbed into spiritual practice, such as was in Babylon.
- Judaism adopted the star of Remphan (the six-pointed star associated with modern Zionism).
- Catholicism is saturated with sun imagery, from halos to solar monstrances used in Eucharistic adoration.
- Islam bears the enduring image of the crescent moon, the same lunar symbol used in Arabian pagan worship before Muhammad.
Each of these religions, with their symbols and state alliances, reflects a spiritual system influenced by cosmic imagery, false worship, and political power. Together, they form a triad of religious authority that has infiltrated the nations, not to set people free, but to subtly control them—keeping the truth obscured and the covenantal path buried.
The Harlot and the Beast – Revelation’s Unveiling
The Book of Revelation describes a mysterious harlot riding a beast—a global religious and political system dressed in splendor, intoxicated with power, and guilty with the blood of the righteous. This woman is called Babylon the Great, the mother of harlots, and is said to rule over the kings of the earth. Notice this woman is not just referred to as the harlot, but the “mother of harlots”. These religions have produced offshoots of Babylonian worship and idolatry. These daughter branches continue to carry the torch of these practices; establishing—for profit—community centers to give their unknowing worship to these celestial deities through pagan customs. Yeshua’s words from Isaiah are once again echoed today; “in vain do they worship me…teaching for doctrine the commandments of men”.
The harlot—rightfully called—appears faithful from outward appearance. Dressed in long robes and making long prayers. Sound familiar? “All nations have drunk of the wine of her intoxication”—or, all nations have been deceived by the trickery of her carefully veiled identity, causing them to become partakers of Babylonian worship. Her identity can be discerned through the leavened religious systems that rose from Babylon, were concentrated in Rome, and later expanded through Mecca. Her wine—the doctrines of deception—has been drunk by all nations, leading them into spiritual fornication and confusion—the word Babel means confusion—all have been duped into believing they hold the truth; but all carry many varying doctrines of her carefully crafted web of deceit. Her alliances with kings and rulers have brought false unity, but not righteousness.
This system is not a single institution, but a network of religious influence, spiritual corruption, and imperial ambition that hides behind sacred language. It is no coincidence that the leaven spread through the three measures— the star, sun, and moon continue to deceive billions into harlotry and submission to these authorities.
Come Out of Her, My People
Revelation 18:4 contains a prophetic call: “Come out of her, My people, lest you partake of her sins, and receive of her judgments.” This is not merely a call to leave a church, a mosque, or a synagogue—it is a call to step out of these Babylonian systems shaped by empire and idolatry, and return to the original covenant between YHVH and His people.
The scattered remnant of Israel, long lost among the nations, is beginning to awaken. Not to religious institutions or modern movements, but to the voice of the true Shepherd, Yeshua, and the commandments given in love. The Holy Spirit is calling them to walk in truth, to remember the covenant, and to prepare for the regathering and restoration to come.
Chapter 7: The Counterfeit Kingdom – Rise of the Final Deception
As the spiritual leavening has spread through centuries and civilizations, history reveals a pattern: every empire cloaked its ambitions in religious language, using faith as a mask for control. Now, in the era of global communication, surveillance, and rapid ideological shifts, the pieces of the final deception are falling into place. The foundation laid by the corruption of truth through religious institutions—Judaism, Catholicism, and Islam—has prepared the world for the emergence of a unified counterfeit kingdom. One that imitates divine authority, but is built on deceit, coercion, and rebellion against the covenant of YHVH.
This final phase in the long war for the hearts and minds of mankind is not just political or religious—it is spiritual. It is the full maturity of the leavened system foretold by Yeshua. And it sets the stage for the rise of a false messianic authority, empowered by a spiritual entity long at war with the Creator and His people.
The Dragon Behind the Throne
The book of Revelation describes a great red dragon, a symbol that traces its roots back to Edom—a nation whose name literally means “red.” The descendants of Esau, Edom became associated with betrayal, violence, and opposition to the covenantal line of Jacob. Throughout Scripture, Edom is portrayed as an enduring adversary to Israel, both physically and spiritually.
In Revelation 12, this dragon wages war against the woman which is a symbol for the 12 tribes of Israel. And against her seed, which are those who keep the commandments of YHVH and hold the testimony of Yeshua. This dragon empowers the beast system, which rises from the nations with political, economic, and religious dominion.
It is within this system that we see the culmination of the Herodian, Roman, and Babylonian threads—a fusion of ideologies and powers working to establish a global order that mimics righteousness but persecutes truth.
The Woman in the Basket – Zechariah’s Prophetic Warning
In Zechariah 5, the prophet sees a woman hidden in an ephah (a measuring basket) being carried into the land of Shinar, (ancient Babylon). The woman is identified as Wickedness, and she is sealed inside the container and transported—hidden, but active. This is a prophetic image of a system of deception, developed in Babylon, later reemerging with religious authority in other empires.
She is known as “Mystery Babylon” because like the leavening hidden in the basket her Babylonian roots have been carefully concealed. She is not a nation or a single religion, but a global spiritual agenda disguised in layers of tradition, empire, and theology.
The religious systems we have traced—born in truth but altered by foreign ideologies—have become vessels for this hidden woman. She has ruled through proxy and religious confusion, blending the holy with the profane, and veiling truth behind the curtain of piety.
The Final Puppet – The Antichrist Deception
Out of the chaos and collapse of old systems, the world will look for order and peace. This yearning will be answered by a false savior, a leader who claims authority from God but whose true allegiance is to the dragon. Empowered by the religious infrastructure already established through centuries of leavening, this leader will unify the world’s religions into a universal faith system. One that celebrates tolerance, unity, and peace, but demands submission.
The deception will not be obvious to those shaped by tradition. It will appeal to moral instincts, spiritual hunger, and cultural weariness. But beneath its beauty lies lawlessness, idolatry, and a hatred for the true covenant.
This system will mirror aspects of biblical truth—but twisted. The commandments will be replaced by “higher reason.” Yeshua will be recast as a mere prophet or a political revolutionary. The Spirit of truth will be replaced by a global ethos. And those who resist will be labeled enemies of peace.
The True Remnant Awakens
While the world embraces the counterfeit, a scattered and hidden remnant will begin to hear the voice of the true Shepherd. These are the descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob—not those recognized by modern political labels, but those whom YHVH has preserved among every nation, tribe, and tongue. Many will have no knowledge of their heritage. Others will have felt the pull toward truth for years but could never find it in institutional religion.
Through the Spirit of YHVH, these individuals will begin to awaken. They will recognize the false system for what it is. They will leave the star, the sun, and the crescent. They will return to the commands of YHVH, the testimony of Yeshua, and the true identity of the people of the covenant.
This remnant will be persecuted—not by atheists, but by religious systems that claim to speak for God. They will be accused of heresy, extremism, and rebellion. Yet they will walk in love, humility, and obedience. They are the bride being prepared, the firstfruits of restoration, and the witnesses that will testify of the truth through the understanding of the law and the prophets, against the Babylonian counterfeit kingdom.
A Kingdom Not Made by Hands
In Daniel’s vision, a stone cut without human hands strikes the statue of empires and grinds it to dust. This stone represents the Kingdom of YHVH, the rule of the true Messiah, whose kingdom will never end. Yeshua will not return to reform the systems of man. He will return to dismantle them, judge them, and establish justice and righteousness.
The counterfeit kingdom will fall. Babylon will be burned with fire. The dragon will be cast down. And the true King will gather His people—not into a denomination or new religion, but into the renewed covenant, the Torah written on their hearts, and the full restoration of the House of Israel.
Chapter 8: The Awakening – A People Called by Name
As the systems of deception reach their zenith, something unexpected begins to stir. Quietly, across every nation and language, a voice begins to awaken hearts—a call that transcends culture, tradition, and religious affiliation. It is not the voice of a preacher, politician, or institution. It is the voice of the true Shepherd, calling His scattered sheep back to the ancient paths, back to the covenant, back to their identity.
This chapter marks the turning point. From deception to restoration, from exile to return, from confusion to clarity. It is the fulfillment of a promise long spoken by the prophets: that the scattered seed of Israel, lost among the nations, would one day remember who they are.
The Lost Tribes: Scattered, Not Forgotten
Centuries ago, the northern kingdom of Israel was exiled for its rebellion and idolatry. Taken by Assyria and absorbed into the nations, these tribes became indistinguishable from the Gentiles. Over time, their languages changed, their customs faded, and their genealogies were forgotten.
But YHVH made a covenant with their fathers—a promise that could not be broken. Through the prophets, He declared that though Israel was scattered like seed among the nations, He would one day call them back, not only to a land but to a way of life, to an identity rooted in covenant, obedience, and faithfulness.
This regathering would not be accomplished through genetics or politics. It would be a spiritual awakening—a supernatural restoration led by the Ruach ha’Kodesh (Set-Apart Spirit), revealing the truth of who they are and whose they are.
The Voice of the Shepherd
In John 10, Yeshua declares, “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.” This promise goes beyond the boundaries of organized religion. It is not about joining a movement or adopting Hebrew customs. It is about recognition—the deep, unmistakable realization that you are part of something ancient, something sacred, and that you have been called out for a purpose.
This awakening often begins with discomfort. A restlessness with the world’s systems. A hunger for truth. A disillusionment with churches, synagogues, or mosques that claim to represent God but fall short of His righteousness.
Then comes the moment of clarity: the realization that the Torah—the instructions of YHVH—were never abolished, and that the covenant is still alive. That Yeshua did not come to start a new religion, but to restore what was lost. That the scattered people of Israel are not defined by race or appearance, but by faithfulness to the covenant and the indwelling of His Spirit.
Leaving Babylon
To be awakened and to walk in obedience is to be called out. Out of false systems. Out of compromised doctrines. Out of spiritual confusion. This is the essence of the call in Revelation 18:4: “Come out of her, My people, lest you partake in her sins.”
Babylon is more than a city or ancient empire. It is the spirit of confusion, of spiritual compromise, of control disguised as faith. It exists in religious institutions that rewrite truth for convenience. It lives in the mixture of pagan practices with the worship of the Holy One. It is the foundation of every empire that claims to speak for God while silencing His Word.
The awakening remnant will leave Babylon behind—not just physically, but mentally and spiritually. They will reject the traditions of men in favor of the commandments of YHVH. They will turn from inherited religion to revealed truth. And they will walk in the footsteps of the Messiah, not the councils and doctrines that twisted His message.
The Return to Covenant
Restoration begins with repentance. Not just for personal sins, but for generations of disobedience, for turning away from the covenant. As hearts are awakened, they begin to desire righteousness, obedience, and holiness—not as legalism, but as love. As the prophet Jeremiah foresaw, “I will write My law on their hearts… and they shall be My people, and I will be their Elohim.” (Jeremiah 31:33)
This return is not about ritual or heritage. It is about a renewed relationship with the Most High. The remnant will begin to keep His appointed times, honor His commands, and embrace His Son not only as Savior, but as King and Torah-teacher.
This remnant will live as foreigners in the world—misunderstood, mocked, even hated. But they will be filled with peace, clarity, and purpose. They will be a light in the growing darkness. And they will stand as living testimony that YHVH keeps His promises.
Preparation for the Regathering
As the deception of the beast system intensifies, the remnant is being prepared—not only spiritually, but prophetically. They are being gathered in heart and in truth before they are gathered in body.
Ezekiel 37 describes a valley of dry bones that come to life, symbolizing the whole house of Israel—Judah and Ephraim, both reunited under one Shepherd. The awakening we are witnessing is the beginning of this resurrection. First the bones come together, then the breath enters. The remnant is forming, even now.
When the appointed time arrives, the physical regathering will follow. Not under man-made banners, but under the authority of Yeshua, the true Son of David, who will gather His sheep from the four corners of the earth.
The Harlot’s Hidden Name: Babylon Reborn
Revelation 17 describes the great harlot with a name written on her forehead: “Mystery, Babylon the Great, the Mother of Harlots and of the Abominations of the Earth.” This name isn’t merely symbolic, it is a prophetic revelation. It connects the end-time religious system directly back to ancient Babylon, the origin point of counterfeit worship, empire, and rebellion against YHVH.
What makes her a “mystery” is that her identity is disguised. She presents herself as holy, righteous, and enlightened. She cloaks herself in scripture, invokes divine language, and speaks of peace. But her foundation is built on the same Babylonian structure that exalted man over the Most High and sought to control the masses through religion and statecraft.
The sun, moon, and stars, worshiped in ancient Babylon, remain central symbols in the three religious institutions that rose from its shadow:
- Judaism took on the six-pointed star; an image not found in the Torah, but associated with Babylonian magic and adopted much later in history.
- Catholicism absorbed sun worship, blending Roman solar feasts into its religious calendar and architecture.
- Islam, born out of a syncretized Arabian context, reveres the crescent moon, rooted in pre-Islamic lunar worship tied to the deity Hubal and others worshiped in Mecca.
These three systems represent the three measures of leaven that Yeshua warned about in His parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like leaven, which a woman took and hid in three measures of flour, till it was all leavened.” (Matthew 13:33)
This was not a positive parable. It was a warning: that truth would be infiltrated, mixed, and corrupted until the whole system was changed.
The System That Enslaved Israel
YHVH warned His people from the beginning: “Do not worship the sun, the moon, or the stars… do not learn the ways of the nations… do not mix the holy with the profane.”(Deuteronomy 4:19; Jeremiah 10:2; Ezekiel 22:26)
But Israel compromised. The mingling began in the days of Solomon, continued through alliances with foreign powers, and culminated in their exile to Babylon. Even after returning, the religious leadership of Judea continued to incorporate foreign philosophies—Greek, Roman, and Babylonian thought—until the pure covenant was buried under tradition and hierarchy.
By the time of Yeshua, this religious system was fully corrupt. The Herodian dynasty had formed an alliance with Rome. The temple priesthood was politically appointed. And the ruling class—the Pharisees and Sadducees—had created a religious order that elevated human interpretation over divine command.
Yeshua came not to start a new religion, but to expose the corruption, call the lost sheep of Israel back to the covenant, and declare the coming of the Kingdom of YHVH. That message threatened the religious elite, and for that, He was crucified.
But the system did not stop with His death.
From Rome to the World
After the resurrection and the scattering of the disciples, the Herodian elite and Roman authorities worked to subvert the message of the Kingdom. Through infiltration and revision—especially through figures like Paul, who brought a gentile-compatible version of the faith—a new system was born. This version allowed for submission to empire, diluted the commandments, and prepared the ground for the rise of Roman Christianity.
From there, the leaven spread. The papacy became the new priesthood. The church absorbed pagan rituals, renamed gods, and continued Babylon’s legacy under a different banner.
Centuries later, through crusades, trade, and political alliances, the same religious force influenced the development of Islam, establishing a third branch of monotheism that kept millions under religious authority while vying for control over Jerusalem.
These three systems—each cloaked in sacred language—have acted as gatekeepers, filtering access to the truth, persecuting the righteous, and preserving the authority of empire through religion.
This is the woman riding the beast. She is adorned with religious titles, but she is drunk on the blood of the prophets and saints.
The Call to Come Out
Revelation 18:4 issues the final warning: “Come out of her, My people, so that you do not partake in her sins or receive of her judgements.”
This call is for the true remnant—the descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, scattered across the nations. Many have no knowledge of their heritage. But by the Spirit of YHVH, they are awakening. They are hearing the call, not to join another denomination, but to return to the covenant, to keep His commands, and to follow Yeshua in Spirit and in truth.
The systems of men are collapsing. The deception is being exposed. The remnant is rising.
The True King Returns
When the final deception reaches its peak, and the kingdoms of this world unite under one false authority, the heavens will open. Yeshua will return—not as a suffering servant, but as the conquering King, to destroy the beast, gather His elect, and establish the Kingdom that will never pass away.
The red dragon will fall. Babylon will burn. And the woman—Israel restored—will no longer be pursued, but protected.
Epilogue: The Restoration of All Things
The story of Israel has always been a story of covenant and restoration—of a people chosen, scattered, refined, and finally regathered. Through exile and deception, oppression and awakening, the thread of truth has remained unbroken. Though the systems of this world sought to erase it—through religion, empire, and counterfeit worship—YHVH’s word and promise has endured. And in the end, He will bring it all to completion.
This is not the story of a new religion. It is the restoration of an ancient covenant; one given to Abraham, reaffirmed through Isaac and Jacob, written into stone by the hand of YHVH, proclaimed by the prophets, lived by Yeshua, and now rising again in the hearts of the remnant.
The True Identity of the Remnant
The descendants of Jacob, though scattered into every nation, have not been lost. They have been hidden—hidden in plain sight, often unaware of their own lineage, their connection to the promise. But the Spirit of the Most High is moving. It is awakening those who have ears to hear and hearts to obey—not by the traditions of men or genealogies of flesh, but by the call to walk in covenant and believe in the testimony of Yeshua.
This awakening is happening now. All over the earth, people are leaving behind the systems that once defined them—religions that offered truth but gave confusion, institutions that claimed authority but denied the commandments. These are the ones spoken of in Revelation: “those who keep the commandments of YHVH and the faith of Yeshua.” (Revelation 14:12)
They are the called-out ones—not to build new empires or denominations, but to prepare the way of the King.
The Kingdom to Come
Yeshua will return, not to start over, but to restore what was lost. The Torah will go forth from Zion. The land will be divided among the tribes. The covenant will be written on hearts, and all nations will come to learn the ways of YHVH. Justice will no longer be twisted by corruption, and truth will no longer be buried under tradition.
This is the age to come—a time of peace, healing, and righteousness, where the knowledge of YHVH will cover the earth as the waters cover the sea (Isaiah 11:9). There will be no more religious systems enforcing control, no more counterfeit authority masquerading as holy, and no more false prophets twisting the Word for gain.
The true Shepherd will gather His flock. The throne of David will be established. And the world will see the fulfillment of every promise ever spoken.
A Final Word to the Reader
If you’ve come this far, it may be because something inside you resonates with this call. Perhaps you’ve felt the tension between the systems of man and the truths of Scripture. Perhaps you’ve sensed that there’s more to faith than what has been handed down through creeds and councils.
This book was not written to stir controversy or division, but to point to truth long buried—truth that is now being uncovered by the Spirit for those willing to hear. It is a call to leave behind the confusion of Babylon and return to the simplicity of covenant, obedience, and faith.
You are not alone. Around the world, the remnant is awakening. Not to rebellion, but to restoration. Not to religion, but to relationship. Not to fear, but to the blessed hope of the coming Kingdom.
The deception is deep. The systems are strong. But the King is greater, and He is coming!
Blessed is He who comes in the authority of YHVH!