What announcement is made by the second angel of Revelation 14?
Revelation 14:8 Babylon is fallen, that great city because she made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of God
To whom is the term, Babylon, elsewhere applied?
Revelation 17:4-5 The woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet colour, her forehead was a name written; MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS
Revelation 18:12;16-17 Alas, alas that great city, that was clothed in fine linen, and purple and scarlet, and decked with gold and precious stones
Daniel 11:37-39 In his estate shall he honour the God of forces : and a god whom his father knew not shall be honoured with gold and silver, and with precious stones
Jeremiah 51:7-9 Babylon hath been a golden cup in the Lord’s hand, that made all the earth drunken; the nations have drunken of her wine
Revelation 18:6-7 Reward her according to her works: in the cup which she had filled, fill to her double
2Thessalonians 2:7-9 The mystery of iniquity doeth already work
1John 2:18 Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrist
NOTE: A woman in prophecy, denotes a church (Ezekiel 23:2-4, Jeremiah 3:11,14, 20; Romans 7:4; Revelation 14:4-5)
The word Babylon, comes from Babel, it signifies mixture or confusion, which may be the result of idolatrous worship. Bush in his notes on Genesis 10:10 says “Babel i.e. or confusion; is but another name for Babylon which from its being the primitive seat of despotical empire and probably of idolatrous worship, has come to be employed in the scripture was, particularly in the Apocalypse, as a typical symbolical designation of oppressive governments, both civil and ecclesiastical.”
NOTE: “The second angel’s message” The time of this message is determined to a great extent by that of the first message. The first cannot but precede the second; but the first is confined to the last days. Yet the second must be given before the end, for no move of the kind described is possible after the event. It is therefore a part of that religious movement which takes place in the last days with special reference to the coming of Christ. The inquiries therefore follow: what is meant by the term Babylon? What is her fall? How does it take place? As to the meaning of the word, we learn something from the marginal readings of Genesis 10:10 and 11:9. The beginning of Nimrod’s kingdom was Babel, or Babylon: the place was called Babylon, meaning ‘confusion’ because God there confounded the language of the builders of the tower. The name is here used figuratively to designate the great symbolic city of the book of Revelation, probably with special reference to the significance of the term and the circumstances from which it originated. It applies to something on which, as specifying its chief characteristics, may be written the word ‘confusion.’ There are the apostate religious worlds in general, the papal church in particular, and the city of Rome. In examining these terms, we shall first show what Babylon is not confined to the Roman Catholic Church. That this church is a very prominent component part of great Babylon is not denied. The description in Revelation 17 seems to apply particularly to that church. But the name which she bears on her forehead, “Mystery, Babylon the great, the Mother of Harlots and abominations of the earth” reveals other religious bodies besides the Roman Catholic Church which come under this designation. Again, there is to be a call made in connection with this message, ‘come out of her my people.’ Revelation 18: 1-4. As this message is located in the present generation, it follows, if no other church but the Roman Catholic Church is included in Babylon that the people of God are now found in the communion of that church, and are to be called out. But this conclusion, no protestant at least will be willing to allow. Babylon is not the city of Rome. The argument relied upon to show that the city of Rome is the Babylon of the Apocalypse runs thus – the angel told John that the woman which he had seen was the great city which reigned over the kings of the earth, and that the seven heads of the beast are seven mountains upon which the woman sits. Then, by taking the city and the mountain to be literal and finding Rome built upon seven hills, the application is made at once to literal Rome. (Daniel and the Revelation pg 643- 644)
(A world union of church and state pg 707-709)
Verse 1 And there came one of the seven angels which had the seven vials, and talked with me, saying unto me, Come hither; I will show unto thee the judgment of the great whore that sitteth upon many waters: 2 With whom the kings of the earth have committed fornication, and the inhabitants of the earth have been made drunk with the wine of her fornication. 3 So he carried me away in the spirit into the wilderness: and I saw a woman sit upon a scarlet colored beast, full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns. 4 And the woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet color, and decked with gold and precious stones and pearls, having a golden cup in her hand full of abominations and filthiness of her fornication: 5 and upon her forehead was a name written, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH.
In verse 19 of the preceding chapter, we are informed that “great Babylon came in remembrance before God to give unto her the cup of the wine of the fierceness of His wrath.” The prophet now takes up more particularly the subject of this great Babylon. In order to give a full presentation of it, he goes back to recount some of the facts of her history. That this apostate woman as presented in this chapter is a symbol of the Roman Catholic Church, is generally believed by Protestants. Between this church and the kings of the earth there has been illicit connection. With the wine of her fornication, her false doctrines, the inhabitants of the earth have been made drunk.
Church and State.–This prophecy is more definite than others applicable to the Roman power in that it distinguishes between church and state. We have here the woman, the church, seated upon a scarlet-colored beast, the civil power, by which she is upheld, and which she controls and guides to her own ends, as a rider controls the animal upon which he is seated.
The vesture and decorations of this woman, as brought to view in verse 4, are in striking harmony with the application made of this symbol. Purple and scarlet are the chief colors in the robes of popes and cardinals. Among the myriads of precious stones which adorn her service, according to eyewitnesses, silver is scarcely known, and gold itself is less noticeable than are costly gems. From the golden cup in her hand–symbol of purity of doctrine and profession, which should have contained only that which is unadulterated and pure, or only that which is in full accordance with truth–there came forth only abominations, and the wine of her fornication, fit symbol of her abominable doctrines and still more abominable practices.
The symbol of a woman with a cup in her hand is said to have been used at a papal jubilee.
“In 1825, on the occasion of the jubilee, Pope Leo XII struck a medal, bearing on the one side his own image, and on the other, that of the Church of Rome symbolized as a ‘Woman,’ holding in her left hand a cross and in her right a cup, with the legend around her, Sede super universum, ‘The whole world is her seat.’ ”
This woman is explicitly called Babylon. Is Rome, then, Babylon, to the exclusion of all other religious bodies?–No, she cannot be, from the fact that she is called the mother of harlots as already noticed, which shows that there are other independent religious organizations that constitute the apostate daughters, and belong to the same great family.
What does the apostle call the church that has become corrupted by worldly alliances?
James 4:4 Adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God?
Psalm 73:27 They that are far from thee shall perish: thou hast destroyed all them that go a whoring from thee
1John 2:15 Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world
Romans 12:2 And be not conformed to this world, but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind
John 15:19 If ye were of the world, the world would love his own
What was another name for the man of sin? And what would happen before he was revealed?
2Thessalonians 2:2-3 For that day shall not come except there come a falling away first and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition
Matthew 24:4-5 Take heed that no man deceive you, many shall come in my name saying I am Christ and shall deceive many
Jeremiah 14:14-16 The prophets prophesy lies in my name, I sent them not
Matthew 24: 11,24 Many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many
Matthew 24: 14 This gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all… then shall the end come
John 5:42-47 I am come in my Father name, and ye receive me not; another shall come in his own name, him ye will receive
Revelation 13:11 I beheld another beast coming up out of the earth; – he spake as a dragon ( See study on America in Bible prophecy)
John 17:12 I have kept them and none of them is lost, but the son of perdition that scripture might be fulfilled
NOTE: (The Church of Pergamos) – Against the preceeding church there was no word of condemnation uttered. Persecution is ever calculated to keep the church pure and incite its members to piety and godliness. But we now reach the period of the pergamos church, when influences began to work which brought errors and evils into the church. The word ‘pergamos’ signifies ‘height, elevation’ It was a period in which the true servants of God had to struggle against a spirit of worldly policy, pride and popularity among the professed followers of Christ, and against the virulent workings of the mystery of iniquity, which finally resulted in the full development of the papal ‘man of sin’ in 2 Thessalonians 2:3
The commendation- “Where Satan’s seat is” Christ takes cognizance of the unfavorable situation of His people during this period. The language is probably not designed to denote location. As to place, Satan works wherever Christian dwell. But surely there are times and seasons when he works with special power, and the period covered by the Church of Pergamos was one of these. During this period, the doctrine of Christ was being corrupted, the mystery of iniquity was working, and Satan was laying the foundation of a stupendous system of apostasy, the papacy. Here was the falling away foretold by Paul in 2 Thessalonians 2:3, cited already. It is interesting to note that the city of Percagamos became the seat of ancient Babylonian sun worship. The Chaldean magi enjoyed a long period of prosperity at Babylon. A pontiff appointed by the sovereign ruled over a college of seventy-two hierophants.
(After the Medo-Persian occupational) the defeated Chaldeans fled to Asia minor, and fixed their central college at pergamos, and took the palladium of Babylon, the cubic stone, with them. Here, independent of state control, the carried on the rites of their religion, and plotted against the peace of the Persian Empire, caballing with the Greeks for that purpose.
Note: (The Cause of Complaint)- Disadvantages in situations are no excuse for wrongs in the church. Although this church existed at a time when Satan was making strong delusions, it was the duty of its members to keep themselves free from evil doctrines. Hence they were censured for harboring among them those who held the doctrines of Balaam and the Nicolaitanes. The doctrine of Balaam is here partly revealed. He taught Balak to cast stumbling blocks before the children of Israel. (see full account of his work and its results in Numbers 22-25; 31:13-16) It appears that Balaam desired to curse Israel for the sake of the rich reward which Balak offered him. But not being permitted by the Lord to curse them, he resolved to accomplish essentially the same thing in another way. He therefore counseled Balak to seduce them, by means of the woman of Moab, to participate in the celebration of the rites of idolatry and all its licentious accompaniments. The plan succeeded. The abominations of idolatry spread through the camp of Israel, the curse of God was called down upon them by their sins, and twenty-four thousand persons died. The doctrines complained of in the church of pergamos were of course similar in their tendency, leading to spiritual idolatry and an unlawful connection between the church and the world. Out of this spirit was finally produced the union of civil and ecclesiastical power which culminated in the formation of the papacy.
The Admonition- Christ declared that if they did not repent, He would take the matters into His own hands, and come unto them (in judgment), and fight against them (those who held these evil doctrines); and the whole church would be held responsible for the wrongs of those heretical ones whom they harbored in their midst. (Daniel and the Revelation pg 372- 374)
NOTE: The apostle Paul speaks of the same power in 2 Thessalonians 2. He describes it in the person of the pope, as ‘that man of sin’ ‘sitting as god in the temple of God’ (that is the church), and exalting himself ‘above all that is called God, or that is worshipped.’ According to this, the pope sets himself up as the one for all the church to look up to for authority, in the place of God.
We ask the reader to ponder carefully the question how he can exalt himself above God. Search through the whole range of human devices, go to the extent of human effort, and by what plan, by what move, by what claim, could this usurper exalt himself above God? He might institute any number of ceremonies, he might prescribe any form of worship, he might exhibit any degree of power but as long as God had requirements which the people felt bound to regard in preference to his, so long as he would not be above God; then he would only make himself equal with God. But he is to do more than this; he is to attempt to raise himself above Him. Then he must promulgate a law which conflicts with the law of God, and demand obedience to his own law in preference to God’s law. The most effective way in which he could place himself in the position assigned in the prophecy would be for him to change the law of God. If he can cause this change to be adopted by the people in the place of the original enactment, then he, the law changer, put himself above God, the lawmaker. This is the very work that Daniel said the power represented by the little horn would do.
What work was this “mother of harlots” seen to engage in?
Revelation 17:6 I saw the woman drunk with the blood of the saints
Revelation 18: 24 In her was found the blood of prophets, and of the saints and of all that were slain upon the earth.
Jeremiah 51:49 As Babylon hath caused the slain of Israel to fall
Revelation 13:15-17 He hath power to give life unto the image of the beast
Revelation 16:2 The first went and poured out his vial upon the earth… the men which had the mark of the beast, and upon them that worshipped his image
Revelation 6:9-10 I saw under the altar, souls of them that were slain for the word of God and for the testimony which they held
NOTE: ( The Great Controversy pg 382-) In the New Testament language very similar in address to professed Christians who seek the friendship of the world above the favor of God. Says the apostle James: ‘ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God?’ The woman (Babylon) of Revelation17 is decked as ‘arrayed in purple and scarlet color, and decked with gold and precious stones and pearls, having a golden cup in her hand full of abominations and filthiness:… and upon her forehead was a name written, “MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS.” Says the prophet: ‘I saw the woman drunk with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus.” Babylon is further declared to be “that great city, which reigneth over the kings of the earth.” Revelation 17: 4-18. The power that for so many centuries maintained despotic sway over the monarchs of Christendom is Rome. The purple and scarlet color, the golden and precious stones and pearls, vividly picture the magnificence and more than kingly pomp affected by the haughty sect of Rome. And no other power could be so truly declared ‘drunken with the blood of the saints’ as that church which has so cruelly persecuted the followers of Christ. Babylon is also charged with the sin of unfaithful connection with ‘ the kings of the earth’ it was by departure from the Lord, and alliance with the heathen, that the Jewish church became a harlot; and Rome corrupting herself in like manner by seeking the support of worldly powers, receives like condemnation. Babylon is said to be ‘the mother of harlots’ By her daughters must symbolize churches that cling to doctrines and traditions and follows her example of sacrificing the truth and the approval of God in order to form an unlawful alliance with the world. The message of Revelation 14 announcing the fall of Babylon must apply to religious bodies that were once pure and have become corrupt. Since this message follows the warning of the judgment, it must be given in the last days. Therefore it cannot refer to the Roman Church alone, for that church has been in a fallen condition for many centuries. Furthermore, in the eighteenth chapter of the book of Revelation the people of God are called upon to come out of Babylon. According to this scripture; many of God’s people must still be in Babylon. And in what religious bodies are the greater parts of the followers of Christ now to be found? Without doubt; in various churches professing the protestant faith. At the beginning of their rise these churches took a noble stand for God and the truth, and His blessings was with them. Even the unbelieving world was constrained to acknowledge the beneficient results that followed an acceptance of the principle of the gospel. In the words of the prophet to Israel: “Thy renown went forth among the heathen for thy beauty: for it was perfect through my comliness, which I had put upon thee, saith the Lord God.” But they fell by the same desire which was the curse and ruin of Israel; the desire of imitating the practices and courting the friendship of the ungodly. “Thou didst trust in thine own beauty and playedst the harlot because of thy renown.” Many of the Protestant churches are following Rome’s example of iniquitous connection with “the kings of the earth;” the State churches, by their relation to secular governments, and other denominations by seeking the favor of the world. And the term Babylon–confusion–may be appropriately applied to these bodies, all professing to derive their doctrines from the Bible, yet divided into almost innumerable sects, with widely conflicting creeds and theories. Besides a sinful union with the world, the churches that separated from Rome present other of her characteristics. A Romish work–the “Catholic Christian Instructed”– makes the charge: “If the Church of Rome was ever guilty of idolatry in relation to the saints, her daughter, the Church of England, stands guilty of the same, which has ten churches dedicated to Mary for one dedicated to Christ.” And Mr. Hopkins, in a treatise on the Millennium, declares: “There is no reason to consider the antichristian spirit and practices confined to what is now called the Church of Rome. The Protestant churches have much of antichrist in them, and are far from being wholly reformed from corruption and wickedness.” Samuel Hopkins works vol. 2 pg 38. Concerning the separation of the Presbyterian Church from Rome, Dr. Guthrie writes: “Three hundred years ago, our church, with an open Bible on her banner, and this motto, ‘Search the Scriptures,’ on her scroll, marched out from the gates of Rome.” Then he asks the significant question, “Did they come clean out of Babylon?” – Thomas Guthrie, the Gospel in Ezekiel, page 237.
“The Church of England,” says Spurgeon, “seems to be eaten through and through with sacramentarianism; but non-conformity appears to be almost as badly riddled with philosophical infidelity. Those of whom we thought better things are turning aside one by one from the fundamentals of the faith. Through and through, I believe, the very heart of England is honeycombed with a damnable infidelity which dares still go into the pulpit and call itself Christian.”
What was the origin of the great apostasy? How did the church first depart from the simplicity of the gospel?–By conforming to the practices of paganism, to facilitate the acceptance of Christianity by the heathen. The apostle Paul declared, even in his day, “The mystery of iniquity doth already work.” [2 THESSALONIANS 2:7.] During the lives of the apostles the church remained comparatively pure. “But toward the latter end of the second century most of the churches assumed a new form, the first simplicity disappeared; and insensibly, as the old disciples retired to their graves, their children, along with new converts . . . came forward and new-modeled the cause.” [ROBINSON, IN HISTORY OF BAPTISM.] To secure converts, the exalted standard of the Christian faith was lowered, and as the result “a pagan flood, flowing into the church, carried with it its customs, practices, and idols.” [GAVAZZI’S LECTURES, P. 290.] As the Christian religion secured the favor and support of secular rulers, it was nominally accepted by multitudes; but while in appearance Christians, many “remained in substance pagans, especially worshiping in secret their idols.” [GAVAZZI’S LECTURES, P. 290.] Has not the same process been repeated in nearly every church calling itself Protestant? As its founders, those who possessed the true spirit of reform, pass away, their descendants come forward and “new model the cause.” While blindly clinging to the creed of their fathers and refusing to accept any truth in advance of what they saw, the children of the reformers depart widely from their example of humility, self-denial, and renunciation of the world. Thus “the first simplicity disappears.” A worldly flood, flowing into the church, “carries with it its customs, practices, and idols.” Alas, to what a fearful extent is that friendship of the world which is “enmity with God,” now cherished among the professed followers of Christ! How widely have the popular churches throughout Christendom departed from the Bible standard of humility, self-denial, simplicity, and godliness! Said John Wesley, in speaking of the right use of money: “Do not waste any part of so precious a talent, merely in gratifying the desire of the eye, by superfluous and expensive apparel, or by needless ornaments. Waste no part of it in curiously adorning your houses; in superfluous or expensive furniture; in costly pictures, painting, gilding.” “Lay out nothing to gratify the pride of life, to gain the admiration or praise of men.” “‘So long as thou doest well unto thyself, men will speak good of thee.’ So long as thou art ‘clothed in purple and fine linen, and farest sumptuously every day,’ no doubt many will applaud thine elegance of taste, thy generosity and hospitality. But do not buy their applause so dear. Rather be content with the honor that cometh from God.” But in many churches of our time, such teaching is disregarded.
A profession of religion has become popular with the world. Rulers, politicians, lawyers, doctors, merchants, join the church as a means of securing the respect and confidence of society, and advancing their own worldly interests. Thus they seek to cover all their unrighteous transactions under a profession of Christianity. The various religious bodies, re-enforced by the wealth and influence of these baptized worldlings, make a still higher bid for popularity and patronage. Splendid churches, embellished in the most extravagant manner, are erected on popular avenues. The worshipers array themselves in costly and fashionable attire. A high salary is paid for a talented minister to entertain and attract the people. His sermons must not touch popular sins, but be made smooth and pleasing for fashionable ears. Thus fashionable sinners are enrolled on the church-records, and fashionable sins are concealed under a pretense of godliness.
What was in the hand of this woman?
Revelation 17:4 A golden cup in her hand full of abominations and filthiness
What effect had this wine (false doctrine) upon those to whom it was given?
Revelation 17:2 The earth have been made drunk with the wine of her fornication
Revelation 18:3 All nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of he fornication
Revelation 18:11;15 The merchants of these things which were made rich by her
Isaiah 47:15 Thy merchants from thy youth: They shall wonder every one
Jeremiah 51:7 Babylon hath been a golden cup in the Lords hand
Revelation 14:8 Babylon is fallen, is fallen that great city, she made all nations drink
This woman is said to be the “mother of harlots”. Are there any churches which have sprung from the mother church of Rome, directly, and which resemble her in doctrine of otherwise.
NOTE: If the Church of Rome were guilty of idolatry in relation of the saints her daughter, the Church of England stands guilty of the same, which has ten churches dedicated to Mary for one dedicated to Christ. Catholic Christian instructed pg 18. Mr Hopkins in a treatise on the millennium says: “There is no reason to consider the anti-christium spirits and practises confined to that which is now called the Church of Rome. The protestant Churches have much of Antichrist in them and are far from being wholly reformed from corruption and wickedness. There is a powerful element of Romanism in all the larger protestant bodies. The clergyman do not teach to the people the Bible itself in its stead a system of clerical interpretations of the Bible.” —-
What confessions have been made by leading men, which show that they consider the churches to be in a fallen condition?
A confession can be had from the lips of the pastors of most of our churches, that in our midst there are wicked, unholy, corrupt men who maintain their positions and are saved from a righteous disciple, either by their wealth or social position. It is true of this church, and it is true of many of the churches around us. If a ship should go to sea with as many rotten timbers as we have spiritually rotten members, it would go to the bottom in twenty-four hours. One thoughtful, intelligent layman, a member of the church which is a leader in its denomination said the other day, ‘our church has degenerated into a great, strong, social, fashionable organization.’ G.F. Pentecost in Christian statesman of January 8, 1876.
In a sermon he preached, Robert Atkins said, “the truly righteous are diminished from the earth and no man layeth it to heart. The professors of religion of the present day in every church, are lovers of the world, conformers to the world, lovers of creature, comfort, and aspires after respectability. They are called to suffer with Christ, but they shrink from ever reproach. Apostasy, Apostasy, Apostasy, is engraved on the front of every church; and did they know it, and did they feel it, there might be hope; but alas! they cry, “we are rich and increased in goods, and have need of nothing.’” Referring to a session of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian church of Ireland, head in Belfast in 1859, the Newsletter of that city, in its issue of September 30 said “Here in this venerable body of ministers and elders, we find two ministers openly giving each other the life, and, the whole General Assembly turned into a scene of confusion bordering upon a riot.”
What does Paul say to the condition of the church in the last days?
2Timothy 3:1-2;4-5 Perilous times shall come for men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, unthankful
1Timothy 4:1 In the latter time some shall depart from the faith
1John 2:18 That antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrist
Jude 18 They told you there should be mockers in the last time
Philippians 2:21 All seek their own not the things which are Jesus Christ
1Timothy 6:3-6 To the doctrine which is according to godliness; He is proud, knowing nothing
NOTE: H. Mattison, D.Dies appeals to his people in the following strain; your Methodists, who were once poor and unknown, you have grown rich and prominent in the world have left the narrow way in which you walked twenty or thirty years ago, have ceased to attend class meetings, seldom pray in your families or in prayer meetings, as you once did and, and are now indulging in many of the fashionable amusements of the day, such as playing chess, dominoes, billiards, and cards, dancing and attending theatres, or allowing your children to indulge in them (popular amusements pg 3)
The Christian commonwealth a leading religious journal of England says: “more than once we have strongly denounced the pernicious vice of gambling, in all its varied forms. And we expect to do it again many times before the evil practice dies out. Certainly we cannot be silent when we find that even the church itself is inflicted with this pestilent disease. Their raffling which goes on at bazaars is a species of gambling, and it is marvelous that Christian men should countenance it in any way. It is a lottery, pure and simple. How can Christian men protest against the vices of the world while their own hands are polluted?”
How does the prophet elsewhere describe the condition of Babylon?
Revelation 15:4 Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and is become the habitation of devils and of every foul spirit
Isaiah 13:19 Babylon shall be as when God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah
Jeremiah 51:8-9 Babylon is suddenly fallen and destroyed
Isaiah 14:23 I will also make it a possession for the bittern, and pools of water: and I will sweep it with…destruction
NOTE: The true Church is a chaste virgin( 2 Corinthians 11:2) the church that joined with the world in friendship is a harlot. It is this unlawful connection with the kings of the earth that constitutes her the great harlot of the Apocalypse. ( Revelation 17) Thus the Jewish church, at first espoused to the Lord (Jeremiah 2:3; 31:32), became a harlot (Ezekiel 16). When this church apostatized from God, it was called Sodom (Isaiah 1) just as “the great city” (Babylon) is so called in Revelation 11. The unlawful union with the world of which Babylon is guilty, is positive proof that it is not the civil power. That the people of God are in her midst immediately before her overthrow is proof that she is professedly a religious body. For these reasons, it is very evident that the Babylon of the Apocalypse is the professed church united with the world. (Daniel and the Revelation pg 648 – 650)
“Babylon Is Fallen.”–The fall of Babylon will next claim attention. After learning what constitutes Babylon, it will not be difficult to decide what is meant by the declaration that Babylon is fallen. As Babylon is not a literal city, the fall cannot be a literal overthrow. We have already seen what an absurdity this would involve. Besides, the clearest distinction is maintained by the prophecy itself between the fall and the destruction of Babylon. Babylon “falls” before it is with violence “thrown down,” as a millstone cast into the sea, and “utterly burned with fire.” The fall is therefore a spiritual fall, for after the fall the voice is addressed to the people of God who are still in her connection, “Come out of her, My people.” The reason is immediately given, “that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.” Babylon therefore still exists in sin and her plagues are still future after the fall.
Those who make Babylon apply exclusively to the papacy, claim that the fall of Babylon is the loss of civil power by the papal church. Because of the fall of Babylon, she becomes the hold of foul spirits and hateful birds; but such is not at all the result to Rome of the loss of civil power.
The people of God are called out of Babylon on account of her increasing sinfulness resulting from the fall, but the loss of the temporal power of the papacy constitutes no additional reason why the people of God should leave that church.
Babylon meets with this spiritual fall “because she made all nations drink of the wine of wrath [not anger, but intense passion] of her fornication.” There is but one thing to which this can refer, and that is false doctrines. She has corrupted the pure truths of God’s word, and made the nations drunken with pleasing fables.
In the form of the papacy she has supplanted the gospel by substituting for it a false system of salvation:
Through the doctrine of the Immaculate Conception she denies that God in Christ dwelt in human flesh.
She has sought to set aside the mediation of Christ and has put another system of mediation in its place.
She has attempted to take away the priesthood of Jesus and substitute an earthly priesthood.
She has made salvation dependent upon confession to mortal man and thus has separated the sinner from Jesus, the only one through whom his sins can be forgiven.
She condemns the way of salvation through faith as “damnable heresy,” and substitutes the doctrine of salvation by works.
Where will many of God’s people be found when this cry is at its height?
Revelation 18:4 Come out of her my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins
2Corinthians 6:17 Come out from among them, and be ye separated, saith the Lord
NOTE: “ I also think Christ has a true church on earth, but its members are scattered among the various denominations, and are all more or less under the influence of Mystery Babylon, and her daughters.” Bible Doctrines, page 294
NOTE: Daniel and the Revelation pg 653-655 – God’s final warning to a wicked world:
The truth which God saw fit to use as an instrument in this work was the first angel’s message. The hour of God’s judgment come, and with it the imminent second advent of Christ, was the doctrine preached. After listening long enough to see the blessing that attended the doctrine, and the good results that accrued from it, the churches as a whole rejected it with scorn and scoffing. They were thereby tested, for they then plainly betrayed the fact that their hearts were with the world, not with the Lord, and that they preferred to have it so.
But the message would have healed the evils then existing in the religious world. The prophet exclaims, perhaps with reference to this time, “We would have healed Babylon, but she is not healed.” Jeremiah 51: 9. Do you ask how we know this would have been the effect of receiving the message? We answer, because this was the effect with all who did receive it. They came from different denominations, and their denominational barriers were levelled to the ground; conflicting creeds were shivered to atoms; the unscriptural hope of a temporal millennium was abandoned; false views of the second advent were corrected; pride and conformity to the world were swept away; wrongs were made right; hearts were united in the sweetest fellowship; and love and joy reigned supreme. If the doctrine did this for the few who did receive it, it would have done the same for all if all had received it, but the message was rejected.
Everywhere throughout the land the cry was raised, “Babylon is fallen,” and, in anticipation of the movement brought to view in Revelation 18: 1-4, those proclaiming the message added, “Come out of her, My people.” Thousands severed their connection with the various denominations as the result.
A marked change then came over the churches in respect to their spiritual condition. When a person refuses the light, he necessarily puts himself in darkness; when he rejects truth, he inevitably forges the shackles of error about his own limbs. Loss of spirituality–a spiritual fall–must follow. This the churches experienced. They chose to adhere to old errors, and still promulgate their false doctrines among the people. The light of truth therefore left them.
Ambassadors of Christ 