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Begin wherever your curiosity leads. The studies will be here when you’re ready. When I shared my first Matthew study on Facebook today, I mentioned that I planned to post daily, though I might not share every post on Facebook. As I continue setting up this blog, I’ve realized that what matters most to me is making my past studies available for anyone who wants to explore them. For now, I’ll be adding posts to my heart’s content as I work through those studies. Some days that may mean one post; other days it may mean several. I’ll continue reading through and preparing each one before sharing it. There is no need to keep up with everything as it appears. This blog is becoming a place you can browse at your own pace—begin with a book, a question, or a study that interests you, and follow from there. The Bible Books page gathers studies by book, while Study Threads helps connect topics that travel through more than one book. The labels on individual posts also bring related material to...
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4. Babylon: Clothing, Adornment, and the Name She Bears

Babylon Study • Connected to God’s Image and the Ten Commandments

Our comparison now follows Babylon as a counterfeit: an appearance resembling what belongs to holiness, while her conduct reveals corruption. To examine that comparison, we must pay attention to the clothing, adornment, names, and actions Scripture describes.

The Garments and the Dwelling

In Exodus, Aaron’s holy garments are made for Glory and beauty. Gold, blue, purple, scarlet, and fine linen are used in the ephod and breastpiece. The breastpiece holds twelve stones bearing the names of Israel’s tribes, which Aaron carries upon his heart before YHWH (יהוה). Read Exodus 28:2–6, 15–29.

The tabernacle’s curtains and veil also contain blue, purple, scarlet, and fine linen, with cherubim worked into them. These materials belong to both the appointed service and the dwelling. Read Exodus 26:1, 31–36.

Babylon wears purple and scarlet, with gold, precious stones, and pearls. Revelation 18:16 also names fine linen. The resemblance deserves examination. Read Revelation 17:4 and 18:16.

Scarlet, Sin, and the Blood of the Righteous

Isaiah compares sins to scarlet, while Exodus includes scarlet in holy garments. We must follow the relationships around the color. Read Isaiah 1:18.

The blood connection brings another distinction into view. Leviticus places the life of the flesh in its blood. Read Leviticus 17:11–14.

With Abel, the sin belongs to the murderer; the blood belongs to the brother whose life was taken. Jehovah hears that blood crying from the ground. Hebrews then describes Abel as righteous and still speaking through faith, although dead. Read Genesis 4:8–10 and Hebrews 11:4.

This is a comparison across passages: Genesis does not call Abel’s blood scarlet. It preserves life, blood, wrongdoing, and continuing witness—connections we must retain when Revelation describes Babylon as drunk with the blood of the saints and Jesus’ witnesses. Read Revelation 17:6.

The Name upon the Forehead

Aaron’s forehead bears a gold plate inscribed:

“HOLY TO JEHOVAH.”

— Exodus 28:36–38, ASV

Babylon’s forehead bears her own name and her description as mother of harlots and abominations. The inscription must be read alongside the adornment. Read Revelation 17:5.

The Bride and the Counterfeit

When John is shown the Bride, he sees Jerusalem descending from God, possessing God’s Glory. Her foundations contain precious stones, her gates are pearls, and the city is gold. Read Revelation 21:9–21.

The Bride’s clothing is also explained: she makes herself ready, receives permission to clothe herself, and her fine linen represents the righteous acts of the saints. Read Revelation 19:7–8.

Babylon, meanwhile, glorifies herself. Read Revelation 18:7.

Here our counterfeit comparison takes shape: shared outward features must be examined alongside source, allegiance, and conduct. The resemblance invites careful attention; it does not make the two women interchangeable.

Threads to Follow

  • Adornment and merchandise: Follow these same materials into Babylon’s cargo.

  • Given or claimed: Compare the Bride’s granted clothing with Babylon’s self-exaltation.

  • Blood and witness: Follow Abel’s continuing witness alongside the blood found in Babylon.

The books were opened…

🌿 By Maria Emilia

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