Tom Lennie reviews ‘Babylon And You: Understanding and Overcoming the Greatest Evil Empire’, by James Gardner (2025)

Numerous have been the books over the years which have had a focus on the theme of Babylon. This most recent work must rank as among the very best of them.

Overview

An intense, in-depth study, its main obvious strength is that it is solidly biblically based while also being immensely practical. While many examinations of Babylon see it as concerning past history, and therefore not especially relevant, James Gardner makes it clear that Babylon concerns both past and the future, while also being highly relevant to the present.

A graduate in philosophy, thereafter a full-time Christian worker, James Gardner’s long-term primary emphasis has been a revival of biblical truth in the churches along with the witness of saving truth in the community.

Babylon, the author states, is ultimately “a dynamic spiritual reality pursuing the destruction of all that is good, and bringing in the one world government of the Antichrist.” He sets out to describe, from the Bible, the overall scheme and strategy of Satanic endeavour – a global strategy that involves every one of us. He seeks to show readers how to recognise its plans, presence and power, and to suggest, what, if anything, we can do about it, within God’s purposes. In the process, Gardner seeks not to encourage an over-emphasis on the devil. Rather, we are to be Christ-centred at all times, while yet seeking to be ever aware of the enemy and his pernicious schemes.

He seeks to show readers how to recognise Satan's plans, presence and power, and to suggest, what, if anything, we can do about it, within God’s purposes. 

Scriptural survey

Gardner places the origins of Babylon in Genesis 11 and the account of Babel (the Hebrew root of which means ‘mixed’ or ‘confused’). He moves on to discuss the story of Nebuchadnezzar’s statue, which he sees as “the most important prophecy concerning the centrality of the Babylonian domination throughout history.”

The author explores the story of Israel, and Satan’s war against the people of God throughout the Old Testament, and into the New. Topics discussed include Sinai, entering the Land, Babylon and the Kings, and the destructive role of Jezebel.

The anti-messianic nature of the Persian and Greek empires are each explored, as, too, is “the biggest clash in history”, that between Jesus – the living God come down – and Satan. The era following the destruction of the Temple (AD 70) is also examined, with a consideration of Paul’s letters as well as the all-important book of Revelation.

Modern-day Babylon

Showing an aptitude in church history, the author considers major materialisations of the spirit of Babylon throughout the centuries – Hellenism, humanism, replacement theology, the veneration of Mary, ‘higher criticism’ of the Bible, Naziism, and so on.

Particular focus is made of three major expressions of Satan’s madness and rage – Islam, the United Nations, and money. 

Particular focus is made of three major expressions of Satan’s madness and rage – Islam, the United Nations, and money. These chapters make particularly fascinating reading. The book closes, suitably, with an emphasis on ‘The Victory of Jesus’.

Personal experience

Gardner is candid about having had personal “experiences of great evil powers” (admittedly few in number) as he has prayed over the years (Eph 6:12).  He believes we will never understand these supernatural forces of darkness without in some sense experiencing them. He speaks, for example, of having “personally felt the controlling powers of Islam” and having had “a confrontation with the spiritual power controlling Rome.”

But he warns against the immature acts of rebuking, calling down powers, decreeing this and that, and essentially speaking from one’s own mind. True calling and understanding, he makes clear, comes with very real difficulties and persecution. “The devil doesn’t sit idly by as believers are trained to war against him and rob him of his goods”.

‘Babylon and You’ is no light read – rather, a serious and onerous call to understand the works of the evil one, and to know how, and to what extent, we can, with scriptural authority, counter them.

The author speaks of the many churches that “have imbibed horror stories gained from the activities of the uncalled, the unsanctified and the unprepared. It is amazing the ignorance and indeed fear of warfare in the Church.”

Onerous call

It should be very apparent by now that ‘Babylon and You’ is no light read – rather, a serious and onerous call to understand the works of the evil one, and to know how, and to what extent, we can, with scriptural authority, counter them.

It’s a fascinating and well researched study, and one that can only lead to an increase in understanding of the biblical narrative, and in particular the enemy’s schemes, our own victory in Christ, and the Lord’s overarching purposes.

Babylon And You (217pp) is self-published and is available from Amazon for £10.00 inc p&p.