THE FALL OF BABYLON
As we look more closely at the question of the separation of the true Church from the false church at this end of the age, it becomes important to understand what is meant by various Biblical symbolism's. Among these is the term "Babylon." There was, of course, a real city by this name. Strangely, however, the name of this city of Babylon meant different things to different people. In the language of the Jews, who were God’s people, the name came from a root word meaning "confusion." But to the Babylonians, the word meant "the gate of God."
How interesting that one word could have two meanings so opposite! But it is not difficult to see how this came about. The city derived its name from the original tower of Babel built by Nimrod. To Nimrod and his followers this tower was meant to be a gateway to heaven. But God was angered by their presumptuous attitude and stopped their progress by confusing their language; and hence the idea of confusion was introduced into the name Babel. The meaning that was favored, of course, depended upon whether the person using the word was a friend of God or a friend of Nimrod!
When we come to the book of Revelation, however, we find the Apostle John still prophesying about Babylon even though it had gone out of existence centuries before John was born. But this time it is mystic Babylon, or as John says, "Mystery, Babylon the Great." (Rev 17:5) God often used Old Testament people and events to picture something that would come later but be very similar in some important aspects. This is the case with "Babylon."
Now we must inquire, just what is Babylon in the mystic sense?
Babylon refers to the so-called churches which have sprung up since our Master’s first advent. This is quite a claim! Yet it meets the facts. Note the words of Jer 51:7, "Babylon hath been a golden cup in the Lord’s hand." How interesting is this statement! It is saying that there was a time when the Lord favored this mystic Babylon; He worked with it and He had enough interest in it that He wanted to keep it spiritually healthy. Jer 51:9 states this:
"We would have healed Babylon, but she is not healed." These words sound so familiar in concept! They are the same thoughts as the Lord expressed in the parable of wheat and tares. There too, the Lord was pleased to work with the field as it was—wheat and tares mixed. By the truths espoused during the Reformation he even attempted to heal the spiritual sickness that had developed. But Babylon would not be healed. She continued to abide in error and to produce more tares than wheat.
Remember the final result: separate them. Jer 51:9 states this separation of wheat from tares so clearly: "Forsake her (Babylon), and let us (wheat) go every one into his own country, for her judgment has reached unto heaven." But the "professing church" is unaware of this. They are still Babylon (confusion) although they see themselves as the gateway to God— as man’s only hope for salvation.
How does this relate to church union?
Babylon (the denominations) is the same as the tares. As the tares were bundled, so will the denominations bundle themselves together to protect their position in society.
Why do they find this necessary?
Because they are under attack! Their doctrines no longer satisfy reasoning minds, so they must resort to a "social Gospel." They cannot attract sufficient loyalty or excite sufficient zeal to stay alive as institutions.
The wheat leaves them because the Lord directs them to leave. Notice His directions to His true Church as found in both the Old and New Testaments. Jer 51:6 says: "Flee out of the midst of Babylon, and deliver every man his soul: be not cut off in her iniquity, for this is the time of the Lord’s vengeance. He will render unto her recompense." And Rev 18:4 echoes this advice: "Come out of her (Babylon) my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues." The Lord will plague Babylon to her destruction. This is what Jesus foresaw when he said the tares would be bundled for the purpose of burning them.
The picture in the Scriptures is even more inclusive. The Scriptures declare that this uniting spirit would be not only in the churches, but even among the institutions, businesses, and nations of the world. They are all to become interdependent on each other. Hence we see mergers, affiliations, holding companies, trusts, leagues, treaties, and even the "United Nations" and the "European Economic Union." The spirit is everywhere! But to the true Church, the Lord explains the matter. He tells what He is doing and why.
Notice Zeph 3:8, 9:
"Wait ye upon me, saith the Lord, until the day that I rise up to the prey: for my determination is to gather the nations, that I may assemble the kingdoms, to pour out upon them mine indignation, even all my fierce anger: for all the earth (society) shall be devoured with the fire (destruction) of my jealousy. For then (or after) will I turn to the people a pure language that they may all call upon the name of the Lord to serve Him with one consent."
Rejoice in what this text tells us! It first assures us that the Lord is fully aware of the gathering, assembling, and uniting that is going on. Indeed, He is helping it come about! But He explains why. He says that when they are united, they will fall harder. He united them in order to pour out his anger upon them all at once! The anger is expressed as "fire" which is a Scriptural symbol for destruction; but it cannot mean that He intends to destroy the people because it says immediately after that He will bless the people with a pure message (no more error). It means, rather, that He will destroy the symbolic "earth," and the earth symbolizes the social order (i.e. He intends to destroy the present social order, this present evil world or society). And notice too that these people for whom he is to bless must not have even known who He was because he blesses them so that they can call on His name and serve Him—showing that they didn’t serve Him before (thus implying that they are non-believers, those who know not God).
All of this is in harmony with the Gospel. God is collecting the last members of the seed of Abraham. Then he will destroy man’s selfish society in order to let the seed of Abraham bless mankind with a perfect society: "Peace on earth, good will toward men." We (the Church) therefore need have no fear when we see Babylon unite for its ultimate great fall. (Rev 18:21)
Continued with next post.
As we look more closely at the question of the separation of the true Church from the false church at this end of the age, it becomes important to understand what is meant by various Biblical symbolism's. Among these is the term "Babylon." There was, of course, a real city by this name. Strangely, however, the name of this city of Babylon meant different things to different people. In the language of the Jews, who were God’s people, the name came from a root word meaning "confusion." But to the Babylonians, the word meant "the gate of God."
How interesting that one word could have two meanings so opposite! But it is not difficult to see how this came about. The city derived its name from the original tower of Babel built by Nimrod. To Nimrod and his followers this tower was meant to be a gateway to heaven. But God was angered by their presumptuous attitude and stopped their progress by confusing their language; and hence the idea of confusion was introduced into the name Babel. The meaning that was favored, of course, depended upon whether the person using the word was a friend of God or a friend of Nimrod!
When we come to the book of Revelation, however, we find the Apostle John still prophesying about Babylon even though it had gone out of existence centuries before John was born. But this time it is mystic Babylon, or as John says, "Mystery, Babylon the Great." (Rev 17:5) God often used Old Testament people and events to picture something that would come later but be very similar in some important aspects. This is the case with "Babylon."
Now we must inquire, just what is Babylon in the mystic sense?
Babylon refers to the so-called churches which have sprung up since our Master’s first advent. This is quite a claim! Yet it meets the facts. Note the words of Jer 51:7, "Babylon hath been a golden cup in the Lord’s hand." How interesting is this statement! It is saying that there was a time when the Lord favored this mystic Babylon; He worked with it and He had enough interest in it that He wanted to keep it spiritually healthy. Jer 51:9 states this:
"We would have healed Babylon, but she is not healed." These words sound so familiar in concept! They are the same thoughts as the Lord expressed in the parable of wheat and tares. There too, the Lord was pleased to work with the field as it was—wheat and tares mixed. By the truths espoused during the Reformation he even attempted to heal the spiritual sickness that had developed. But Babylon would not be healed. She continued to abide in error and to produce more tares than wheat.
Remember the final result: separate them. Jer 51:9 states this separation of wheat from tares so clearly: "Forsake her (Babylon), and let us (wheat) go every one into his own country, for her judgment has reached unto heaven." But the "professing church" is unaware of this. They are still Babylon (confusion) although they see themselves as the gateway to God— as man’s only hope for salvation.
How does this relate to church union?
Babylon (the denominations) is the same as the tares. As the tares were bundled, so will the denominations bundle themselves together to protect their position in society.
Why do they find this necessary?
Because they are under attack! Their doctrines no longer satisfy reasoning minds, so they must resort to a "social Gospel." They cannot attract sufficient loyalty or excite sufficient zeal to stay alive as institutions.
The wheat leaves them because the Lord directs them to leave. Notice His directions to His true Church as found in both the Old and New Testaments. Jer 51:6 says: "Flee out of the midst of Babylon, and deliver every man his soul: be not cut off in her iniquity, for this is the time of the Lord’s vengeance. He will render unto her recompense." And Rev 18:4 echoes this advice: "Come out of her (Babylon) my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues." The Lord will plague Babylon to her destruction. This is what Jesus foresaw when he said the tares would be bundled for the purpose of burning them.
The picture in the Scriptures is even more inclusive. The Scriptures declare that this uniting spirit would be not only in the churches, but even among the institutions, businesses, and nations of the world. They are all to become interdependent on each other. Hence we see mergers, affiliations, holding companies, trusts, leagues, treaties, and even the "United Nations" and the "European Economic Union." The spirit is everywhere! But to the true Church, the Lord explains the matter. He tells what He is doing and why.
Notice Zeph 3:8, 9:
"Wait ye upon me, saith the Lord, until the day that I rise up to the prey: for my determination is to gather the nations, that I may assemble the kingdoms, to pour out upon them mine indignation, even all my fierce anger: for all the earth (society) shall be devoured with the fire (destruction) of my jealousy. For then (or after) will I turn to the people a pure language that they may all call upon the name of the Lord to serve Him with one consent."
Rejoice in what this text tells us! It first assures us that the Lord is fully aware of the gathering, assembling, and uniting that is going on. Indeed, He is helping it come about! But He explains why. He says that when they are united, they will fall harder. He united them in order to pour out his anger upon them all at once! The anger is expressed as "fire" which is a Scriptural symbol for destruction; but it cannot mean that He intends to destroy the people because it says immediately after that He will bless the people with a pure message (no more error). It means, rather, that He will destroy the symbolic "earth," and the earth symbolizes the social order (i.e. He intends to destroy the present social order, this present evil world or society). And notice too that these people for whom he is to bless must not have even known who He was because he blesses them so that they can call on His name and serve Him—showing that they didn’t serve Him before (thus implying that they are non-believers, those who know not God).
All of this is in harmony with the Gospel. God is collecting the last members of the seed of Abraham. Then he will destroy man’s selfish society in order to let the seed of Abraham bless mankind with a perfect society: "Peace on earth, good will toward men." We (the Church) therefore need have no fear when we see Babylon unite for its ultimate great fall. (Rev 18:21)
Continued with next post.
