“Come out of her, my people, lest you share in her sins, and lest
you receive of her plagues” (Revelation 18:4).
When this was written, literal Babylon had lost its power two
hundred years earlier, as predicted by Isaiah and Jeremiah. Thus, in
Revelation, Babylon obviously refers to something other than the literal
city.
Considering the seriousness of this warning, it is vital that we know
what it means to come out of Babylon, so we can avoid her sins and her
punishment.
To understand the imagery, we must examine Old Testament
passages about Babylon and compare them with the warning in
Revelation.
What is the historical basis for Babylon’s symbolism?
Babylon had a long history of rebellion against God.
Babel, the forerunner of Babylon, was one of the first cities built.
Nimrod, who “began to be a mighty one on the earth” (1 Chronicles
1:10) founded Babel (Genesis 10:10).
The name “Babel” means “confusion” and originates from the
confusion of languages, which halted the building of the tower of Babel
(Genesis 11:9).
Babylon used political force to promote false religion.
“All the people, nations and languages” were commanded to
worship Nebuchadnezzar’s gold image (Daniel 3:1-7).
Isaiah and Jeremiah predicted the ruin of Babylon as punishment
for idolatry.
“Babylon is fallen, is fallen! And all the carved images of her gods
He has broken to the ground” (Isaiah 21:9).
“Declare among the nations, proclaim, and set up a standard;
proclaim, and do not conceal it - Say, ‘Babylon is taken, Bel is shamed.
Merodach is broken in pieces; her idols are humiliated, her images are
broken in pieces’” (Jeremiah 50:2).
Bel and Merodach were Babylonian idols. Merodach was the patron
deity of Babylon, a sun god, often pictured with a dragon.
Israel went into Babylonian exile as punishment for her own
unfaithfulness and idolatry. God allowed the temple to be destroyed
because He was disgusted by the hypocritical worship being conducted
there (Isaiah 1:13-15).
Because the temple was indispensable for Old Covenant worship,
the Israelites could not worship God according to His word in Babylon.
When their captors asked them to sing a song of Zion, they replied:
“How shall we sing the LORD’s song in a foreign land?” (Psalm 137:4).
The Israelites were commanded to flee from Babylon.
To flee is to quickly get away from impending danger.
God used Babylonian captivity to bring Israel to repentance.
After 70 years of exile, the Israelites were allowed to return to
Jerusalem, rebuild the temple, and restore Old Covenant worship.
Considering the many warnings, some must have preferred to stay
in Babylon!
A messianic undertone is discernable in passages where Israel is
commanded to flee from Babylon.
“Go forth from Babylon! Flee from the Chaldees! With a voice of
singing, declare, proclaim ‘The LORD has redeemed His servant Jacob!’”
(Isaiah 48:20). [See verses 12-22.]
“Depart! Depart! Go out from there, touch no unclean thing; go out
from the midst of her, be clean, you who bear the vessels of the LORD”
(Isaiah 52:11). [See verses 7-12.]
“‘In those days and in that time,’ says the LORD, ‘The children of
Israel shall come, they and the children of Judah together; with
continual weeping they shall come, and seek the LORD their God. They
shall ask the way to Zion, with their faces toward it, saying, “Come and
let us join ourselves to the LORD in a perpetual covenant that will not be
forgotten”’” (Jeremiah 50:4, 5). [For additional insight read chapters 50
and 51.]
“Flee from the midst of Babylon, and every one save his life! Do not
be cut off in her iniquity, for this is the time of the LORD’s vengeance;
He shall recompense her” (Jeremiah 51:6).
“We would have healed Babylon, but she is not healed. Forsake
her, and let us go everyone to his own country; for her judgment
reaches to heaven and is lifted up to the skies. The LORD has revealed
our righteousness. Come and let us declare in Zion the work of the LORD
our God” (Jeremiah 51:9, 10).
“My people, go out of the midst of her! And let everyone deliver
himself from the fierce anger of the LORD” (Jeremiah 51:45).
“Up, Zion! Escape, you who dwell with the daughter of Babylon”
(Zechariah 2:7).
Observe that although God’s people in Babylon did not serve idols
themselves, they were unclean and shared in her sins if they remained
and did not go to Jerusalem to worship God according to His word.
What does Babylon represent in Revelation?
Babylon is first mentioned in chapter fourteen: “Babylon is fallen, is
fallen, that great city, because she has made all nations drink of the
wine of the wrath of her fornication” (Revelation 14:8).
To know the meaning of Babylon, we must understand various
symbols in Revelation. The dragon is the devil (Revelation 12:9). As in
Daniel, beasts represent governments. To the first beast the devil gives
“his power, his throne and great authority” (Revelation 13:2). A second
beast, who resembles a lamb but speaks like a dragon, exercises all the
authority of the first beast, and causes everyone on earth to worship the
first beast (Revelation 13:11-14).
Under the influence of these two beasts, all the world worships the
devil except those whose names are in the Book of Life: “All the world
marveled and followed the beast. So they worshiped the dragon who
gave authority to the beast; ... All who dwell on the earth will worship
him, whose names have not been written in the Book of Life of the Lamb
slain from the foundation of the world” (Revelation 13:3, 4, 8).
There are only two classes: the saints of God and those who
worship the devil. Only by the blood of Christ can one be conveyed from
the power of darkness into the kingdom of God (Colossians 1:13, 14).
The second beast is “the false prophet” (Revelation 19:20). This
beast is religious (religious authority) and is supported by the first beast
(political authority).
Babylon is a symbolic representation of the false prophet, pictured
as a harlot riding on a beast: “The woman was arrayed in purple and
scarlet, and adorned with gold and precious stones and pearls, having in
her hand a golden cup full of abominations and the filthiness of her
fornication. And on her forehead a name was written: MYSTERY,
BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND OF THE
ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH” (Revelation 17:4, 5).
The mystery is disclosed: “And the woman whom you saw is that
great city which reigns over the kings of the earth” (Revelation 17:18).
When this was written, any reader would think of the Roman
Empire. Thus Babylon (Rome) is a depiction of the false prophet. All
religious and political rebellion against God is symbolized by the harlot
and the beast she rides!
The harlot is not the literal city of Rome, but Rome as a symbol.
Paul was a Roman citizen (Acts 22:27, 28). In his letter to the Romans,
he did not tell them to leave the city.
Like ancient Babylon, Rome spread false religion by political force.
After Augustus (27-14 BC) everyone was commanded to worship the
emperor. Thus, like Babylon, Rome is a fitting symbol of all political and
religious rebellion against God.
Babylon and Rome are the first and last of four kingdoms in Daniel
that would be vanquished by God’s Kingdom (Daniel 2:31-45; 7:17-27).
How has Rome evolved in history?
The harlot on the beast was “drunk with the blood of the saints and
with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus” (Revelation 17:6).
Because they refused to worship the emperor, Christians were
persecuted by pagan Rome, especially under Nero, Domitian and Trajan.
Pagan Rome mutated into “The Holy Roman Empire” (“holy” is a
gross misnomer) with emperors appointed by the pope. Otto I was
appointed by Pope John XII in 962.
Through the centuries this unholy Roman empire murdered non-
Catholics with the blessing of the popes. Among the thousands killed was
William Tyndale, the English Bible translator. He was burned at the stake
in Vilvoorde, Belgium on 6 October 1536.
The “Holy Roman Empire” was dissolved by Napoleon in 1806.
After a period of conflicting claims to jurisdiction, the Vatican City
State was recognized as a sovereign state in 1929. This ended Rome’s
direct political power over kings. Even so, most European and many
South American countries have Catholic political parties, and via its
hierarchy, the Vatican exercises authority throughout the world.
The Roman Catholic Church is a world-wide, politically organized,
pagan religion whose adherents worship images, dead people (“saints”)
and a living, speaking idol, blasphemously called “the Holy Father”. The
Roman Catholic Church is the largest body that claims to be Christian.
Why is Babylon called a harlot?
In prophetic symbolism, harlotry and fornication represent
unfaithfulness to God: “They played the harlot with other gods” (Judges
2:17). [See also Exodus 34:15, 16; Leviticus 20:5; Deuteronomy 31:16;
Psalm 73:27; Judges 8:33; Jeremiah 2:20; 3:1; Ezekiel 16:15-17.]
Babylon’s fornication represents spiritual corruption. Babylon corrupts
the world religiously.
Why is Babylon called the mother of harlots?
Remember that these symbols include everyone on earth who is
not in the Book of Life (Revelation 13:3, 4, 8).
The researcher, David B. Barrett, identified 19 major world religions
subdivided into about 10,000 distinct religions, and 34,000
denominations in Christendom. Now that is real Babel!
The devil has created this Babylonian “confusion” so people will
worship him rather than God. The devil’s shopping mall offers something
appealing for everyone. Denominationalism, which views divergent
forms of Christianity as tolerable, is a tool of the devil. He encourages
you to join the church of your choice rather than God’s choice.
Babylon in Revelation cannot refer to the Roman Catholic Church
exclusively, as is sometimes claimed, since everyone in the world,
except those in the Book of Life, worships the devil via these two beasts.
But the Roman Catholic Church is definitely the major embodiment
(daughter) of prophetic Babylon as successor of the Holy Roman Empire
and as the largest, most influential, false form of Christianity.
But she is not alone. Various Protestant denominations are merely
spin-offs of the Catholic church, retaining many of her false doctrines
and practices. All man-made denominations are daughters of the harlot
because, like her, they do not submit to Christ. All false religions in the
world are daughters of the harlot for the same reason. Islam, which is
spread by political and physical force, is certainly a “daughter” of
Babylon.
God will punish Babylon because of her sins.
As God punished ancient Babylon, He will punish prophetic Babylon.
“And great Babylon was remembered before God, to give her the
cup of the wine of the fierceness of His wrath” (Revelation 16:19).
Religious and political opposition to God earn His wrath.
“Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and has become a habitation
of demons, a prison for every foul spirit, and a cage for every unclean
and hated bird! For all the nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of
her fornication, the kings of the earth have committed fornication with
her” (Revelation 18:2b, 3a).
Babylon’s ruin results from God’s defeat of the false prophet and
the beast, representing all false religions and godless authorities. “Then
the beast was captured, and with him the false prophet. ... These two
were cast alive into the lake of fire burning with brimstone” (Revelation
19:20).
Their patron, the devil, is also defeated: “The devil, who deceived
them, was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone where the beast and
the false prophet are. And they will be tormented day and night forever
and ever” (Revelation 20:10).
The unredeemed share the devil’s punishment: “Then He will also
say to those on the left hand, ‘Depart from Me, you cursed, into the
everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels’” (Matthew 25:41).
We too must flee from Babylon!
“Come out of her, my people, lest you share in her sins, and lest
you receive of her plagues. For her sins have reached to heaven, and
God has remembered her iniquities” (Revelation 18:4, 5).
How do we flee from Babylon to escape her punishment?
Various passages in the New Testament clarify this warning. “Come
out from among them and be separate, says the Lord. Do not touch
what is unclean, and I will receive you” (2 Corinthians 6:17). We may
not participate in false religions or other forms of worldliness because
that is spiritual fornication, uncleanness, unfaithfulness to God.
How can God’s people be in Babylon? Potential Christians and
Christians associated with false religions must leave Babylon.
Among those called out of Babylon are people who will obey the
gospel when they hear it.
Jesus told Paul: “Do not be afraid, but speak, and do not keep
silent; ... for I have many people in this city” (Acts 18:9, 10). God had
people in Corinth who would accept the gospel when they heard it. Paul’s
preaching enabled them to escape from Babylon.
Among those called out of Babylon are also Christians who have
compromised with “the lawless one” by being in denominations and
religious organizations established by men rather than by Christ. The
doctrine of such groups is always different from the doctrine of Christ,
otherwise they would simply be a church of Christ rather than a human
denomination.
Christians who associate with false forms of Christianity are trying
to serve Christ in the camp of the antichrist! They think they can serve
God although they worship with a denomination that deviates from the
doctrine of Christ.
This is not possible because doctrinal soundness is essential to
serving God. “Whoever transgresses and does not abide in the doctrine
of Christ does not have God. He who abides in the doctrine of Christ has
both the Father and the Son. If anyone comes to you and does not bring
this doctrine, do not receive him into your house nor greet him; for he
who greets him shares in his evil deeds” (2 John 9-11).
Anyone who preaches a gospel that differs from the original gospel
is accursed (Galatians 1:6-9).
When we fellowship those who do not abide in the doctrine of Christ
(even if we do not agree with them), we share in their evil deeds. “Come
out of her, my people, lest you share in her sins, and lest you receive of
her plagues” (Revelation 18:4).
“Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what
fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion
has light with darkness? And what accord has Christ with Belial? Or what
part has a believer with an unbeliever? And what agreement has the
temple of God with idols?” (2 Corinthians 6:14-16).
“Belial” means “the worthless one” or “the lawless one”. The
lawless one includes many who say, “Lord, Lord,” but do not obey Christ.
Jesus tells them, “depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!”
(Matthew 7:21-23). They have allowed themselves to be deceived by
the lawless one because they lack love for the truth (2 Thessalonians
2:8-12).
The forces of religious evil called the “false prophet” and “Babylon”
in Revelation, are called the “lawless one” by Paul and the “antichrist” by
John. [See 1 John 2:18, 22; 4:3; 2 John 7.]
Since Israel returned from captivity, virtually no images have been
worshiped by Jews. Yet, in describing the Jews of His day, Jesus said,
“These people draw near to Me with their mouth, and honor Me with
their lips, but their heart is far from Me. And in vain they worship Me,
teaching as doctrines the commandments of men” (Matthew 15:8, 9).
Here Jesus quotes Isaiah 29:13 which describes Israel in the run-
up to Babylonian captivity! Although the Jews had restored the temple
service, their spiritual condition was the same as before the captivity!
The disciples were concerned that this harsh statement had
offended the Pharisees, the strictest denomination of the Jews, but Jesus
replied, “Every plant which My heavenly Father has not planted will be
uprooted. Let them alone. They are blind leaders of the blind. And if the
blind leads the blind, both will fall into a ditch” (Matthew 15:13, 14).
“There is one body” (Ephesians 4:4), which is “the church”
(Colossians 1:18). Thus, all religions and all denominations, which are
not the church of Christ established by Him, constitute Babylon, are
inspired by the devil, and will be uprooted by God.
If we are in a religious group of human origin, we must get out of it
or we will be uprooted with it! We must serve God according to the faith
“once and for all delivered to the saints” (Jude 3), we must serve God
according to the gospel that went forth from Jerusalem in the first
century! We must “ask the way to Zion” and “declare in Zion the work of
the LORD our God.”
God’s warning is abundantly clear.
“Flee from the midst of Babylon, and every one save his life! Do not
be cut off in her iniquity” (Jeremiah 51:6).
“Come out of her, my people, lest you share in her sins, and lest
you receive of her plagues” (Revelation 18:4). Amen.
Roy Davison
