In 1859, Charles Dickens wrote his classic novel "A Tale of Two Cities". Those two cities being London, England and Paris, France. This two-part sermon is to show the tale and history of two other cities. Two cities the Bible focuses on almost from beginning to end, from Genesis to Revelation. This sermon is part one of a two-part sermon. This sermon will give the tale and the history of two aspects of the city of Babylon. First, we will look at the history of the great city Babylon, then we will look at the history of the great system Babylon. The ancient city of Babylon is still in ruins, as prophesied by God long ago, but the great system of Babylon is still with us today. It is made reference to six times in the book of Revelation, where God warns His people to come out of her so they will not be partakers of her sins. In part two, we will look at the tale and the history of the second of these two cities.

Steven Shafer

Elder, United Church of God

Steve Shafer was born and raised in Seattle. He graduated from Queen Anne High School in 1959 and later graduated from Ambassador College, Big Sandy, Texas in 1967, receiving a degree in Theology. He has been an ordained Elder of the Church of God for 34 years and has pastored congregations in Michigan and Washington State. He and his wife Evelyn have been married for over 48 years and have three children and ten grandchildren.