The passage above is an illustration of Babylon (man-directed religion) in the Old Testament?

What a picture of the palace prophets! What a picture of Babylon What a picture of so much of the Christian ministry throughout the centuries! The self-appointed religious leaders, sitting on their thrones, are candidates for Divine judgment (the threshing floor) although they do not realize this!

How much she hath glorified herself, and lived deliciously, so much torment and sorrow give her: for she saith in her heart, I sit a queen, and am no widow, and shall see no sorrow. (Revelation 18:7)

"How much she hath glorified herself, and lived deliciously."

Here are the false prophets. Here is a summary of a large segment of the Christian ministry! The palace prophets glorify themselves. The palace prophets live deliciously. They could make a contribution to the world by working at an honest craft. As false prophets they are as Ahimaaz—glorifying themselves, outrunning the true messengers, calling out the victory of Christ and falling before Him in "worship," obscuring the truth, and accomplishing nothing of value to God or man.

And Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah made him horns of iron: and he said, Thus saith the Lord, With these shalt thou push the Syrians, until thou have consumed them. And all the prophets prophesied so, saying, Go up to Ramothgilead, and prosper: for the Lord shall deliver it into the king's hand. (I Kings 22:11,12)

And this when the Lord had purposed to destroy Ahab!

There also have been true men of God in Israel, and on occasion they have proclaimed that which was obnoxious to the rulers. John the Baptist lost his head doing that!

And the king of Israel said unto Jehoshaphat, There is yet one man, Micaiah the son of Imlah, by whom we may inquire of the Lord: but I hate him; for he doth not prophesy good concerning me, but evil. And Jehoshaphat said, Let not the king say so. (I Kings 22:8)

In a spirit of mockery, Micaiah, when he was summoned, parroted the palace prophets:

So he came to the king. And the king said unto him, Micaiah, shall we go against Ramothgilead to battle, or shall we forbear? And he answered him, Go, and prosper: for the Lord shall deliver it into the hand of the king. (I Kings 22:15)

Ahab knew that Micaiah was lying. The whole world knows the truth of God, the right way to live; but self-serving people choose to believe a lie. However, something drove Ahab to find out what God actually was saying.

And the king said unto him, How many times shall I adjure thee that thou tell me nothing but that which is true in the name of the Lord? And he [Micaiah] said, I saw all Israel scattered upon the hills, as sheep that have not a shepherd: and the Lord said, These have no master: let them return every man to his house in peace. (I Kings 22:16,17)

To be continued.