The Tower of Babel was the origin of all false religion, idolatry, paganism, and mythological religion — the decisive point where humanity rebelled against God's command to scatter.
Les Feldick teaches that at Babel, under Nimrod, the post-Flood human race rejected God's instruction to repopulate and scatter. Instead they built a tower in the plains of Shinar, and there Satan instituted all pagan religions. God answered by scattering them, and over the next 200 years idolatry so saturated the human race that God later called Abraham out to begin His special work.
Genesis 11:4 — This verse records the people's stated purpose at Babel — to build a city and tower so they would not be scattered.
Genesis 11:9 — This verse shows God's response — confounding the language and scattering the people, which is why it was called Babel.
In Genesis 11, the Bible says that the whole earth was of one language and one speech. As people journeyed from the east, they found a plain in the land of Shinar and settled there. They said to one another, "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." God came down to see the city and the tower, and He said that because the people were joined together in this rebellion, nothing would be restrained from them which they had imagined to do. The Lord then confused their language so they could not understand one another, and He scattered them abroad upon the face of all the earth. This is why the place was called Babel, because the Lord did there confound the language of all the earth. Earlier, God had instructed Noah and his sons to "be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth." The building of the city and tower at Babel was in direct contrast to that command. The biblical account shows that Babel was the point where God intervened to force the scattered population of the earth.
Les Feldick places the Tower of Babel halfway between the Flood and the call of Abraham, roughly in the middle of the 400-year interval from Noah to Abraham. He emphasizes that the people at Babel, under Nimrod, rebelled against God's instruction to scatter and repopulate the earth. Instead they stayed together in the Euphrates Valley in Mesopotamia and built a tower. The central significance, Les teaches, is that the Tower of Babel is the root of all false religion. Every pagan religion, every idolatrous and mythological system, and every true cult today has its roots in what began at Babel. Satan, the god of this world, used that moment to institute all pagan and mythological religions. The tower itself was a place of false worship — mankind's attempt to find an alternative way to approach God. God scattered the people from Babel, and then over the next 200 years the human race went deeper and deeper into false religion. By the time of Abraham's call, Les says there was essentially no believer in the true God left on earth. This is why God did something totally different — He sovereignly pulled Abraham out of the mainstream of humanity and began the nation of Israel.
Les teaches that at the Tower of Babel, under Nimrod, Satan instituted all pagan and mythological religions. From that point, paganism just permeated the whole human race. Les says every false religion, every cult, and every idolatrous mythological religion has its roots at the Tower of Babel.
God scattered them from the Tower of Babel. The name Babel itself means confusion, and it was at Babel that God confused their language. Les describes this as God's response to their refusal to scatter and populate the earth.
After Babel, the human race went deeper and deeper into false religion. Within about 200 years, idolatry had taken over, and by the call of Abraham Les says there was not a believer in the true God left on earth. So God sovereignly pulled Abraham out of the mainstream of humanity and began the nation of Israel.
From Adam to the Rapture: God's Plan for the Ages
Hello and welcome to Through the Bible with Les Feldick. An Oklahoma rancher and farmer, Les Feldick has been teaching homestyle Bible classes for 20 years in Iowa, Oklahoma, and Texas. Les Feldick's unique style of Bible teaching has made the books of the Bible come to life. When Les is teaching, it's so interesting that people say time just seems to fly by. And now, here is Les Feldick.
Root of All False Religion
Every false religion, pagan religion, cult, and mythological religion has its roots at the Tower of Babel.
All Religions Trace Back to Babel
All the religions of the world, including today's cults, put their roots right back at the Tower of Babel.
The Origin of Idolatry and Paganism
At Babel, Satan's influence introduced idolatry and paganism, which then permeated the whole human race.
Rebellion Against God's Command to Scatter
The people rebelled against God's instruction to scatter, gathered under Nimrod, and began all pagan religions at Babel.
False Worship and the Decline into False Religion
The Tower of Babel was a place of false worship, an attempt to find an alternative way to approach God, leading to 200 years of deeper false religion.
Satan's Institution of Pagan Religions
At the Tower of Babel under Nimrod, Satan instituted all pagan and mythological religions.
Scattering and the Call of Abraham
God scattered Babel, and 200 years later He sovereignly pulled Abraham out to begin the nation of Israel.
Genesis 11:1: And the whole earth was of one language, and of one speech.
This verse sets the stage for Babel, showing a united humanity before God judged their rebellion.
Genesis 11:4: 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.
This reveals the people's determination to build a tower and avoid scattering, which is central to the significance of Babel.
Genesis 11:8: So the LORD scattered them abroad from thence upon the face of all the earth: and they left off to build the city.
This verse records God's direct judgment on Babel by scattering the united humanity.
Genesis 11:9: Therefore is the name of it called Babel; because the LORD did there confound the language of all the earth: and from thence did the LORD scatter them abroad upon the face of all the earth.
This verse names Babel as the place where God confused the languages and scattered humanity.
Genesis 9:1: And God blessed Noah and his sons, and said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth.
This is the command the people at Babel refused to obey by gathering together instead of scattering.
Les teaches that Babel means confusion. God confused the language of the people there, which is why the place was called Babel.
Yes, according to Les Feldick. Every pagan religion, idolatrous system, mythological religion, and true cult today has its roots at the Tower of Babel.
The human race went deeper and deeper into false religion. By the call of Abraham, Les says there was not a believer in the true God left on earth.
Because the whole human race had gone into idolatry and paganism after Babel, God sovereignly pulled Abraham out and began the nation of Israel.
Watch the Teaching: From Adam to the Rapture: God's Plan for the Ages