Come out of her, my people.

"After these things I saw another angel coming down from heaven, having great authority, and the earth was illuminated with his glory. And he cried mightily with a loud voice, saying, '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!'" (Revelation 18:1,2).

"And I heard another voice from heaven saying, '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).

Babylon (or Babel) was the capital of an ancient empire. The name means "confusion" and originates from the confusion of languages which halted the building of the tower of Babel.

Symbolically, Babylon represents the confusion of idolatry and false religion. "And look, here comes a chariot of men with a pair of horsemen! And he answered and said, '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). "And on her forehead a name was written: MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND OF THE ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH" (Revelation 17:5). Harlotry represents unfaithfulness to the true God through the worship of idols (Exodus 34:15,16; Leviticus 20:5; Deuteronomy 31:16; Psalm 73:27; Judges 2:17; 8:33; Jeremiah 2:20; 3:1; Ezekiel 16:15-17). In all ages, Satan -- that old serpent, the enemy of God and man -- has supplied the world with a confusion of false religions.

Israel was carried away into Babylonian captivity as punishment for its apostasy and idolatry. God's temple was destroyed. In Babylon, the Israelites could not worship God according to His word (Psalm 137:1-4).

Flee from Babylon!

Afterwards, God's people were commanded to flee from Babylon and return to Zion. This had a literal and a spiritual meaning. After 70 years of captivity, the Israelites were allowed literally to return to Jerusalem. This was on the condition that they would repent of their idolatry to restore the true religion at Jerusalem. Since their return there has been virtually no worship of images among the Jews!

This also has a deeper spiritual meaning. This prophetic content is seen in the passages where Israel is commanded to flee from Babylon. Some of them are clearly Messianic.

"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). "Move from the midst of Babylon, Go out of the land of the Chaldeans; And be like the rams before the flocks" (Jeremiah 50:8). "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). See chapters 50 and 51.

"Up, Zion! Escape, you who dwell with the daughter of Babylon" (Zechariah 2:7).

In addition to Babylon, we also find Sodom, Jerusalem and Rome used as symbols of apostasy, corruption and idolatry (Revelation 11:8; 17:18). The expression "great city" is used in Scripture to designate idolatrous and evil cities: Nineveh (Genesis 10:11; Jonah 1:2; 3:2,3; 4:11); Gibeon (Joshua 10:1); Jerusalem (Jeremiah 22:8; Revelation 11:8); Sodom (Revelation 11:8); Babylon (Revelation 16:19; 18:10); Rome (Revelation 17:18). If you compare the passages in Revelation, you will discover that Jerusalem, Sodom, Babylon and Rome are all referring to the same city! This is the city of the false prophet, the city of the antichrist, the city which represents all rebellion to God.

We too must flee

In our time as well, God's people are commanded to depart from Babylon. We may not participate in the false religions that surround us. God calls us out of Babylon and tells us to return to Zion: "And I heard another voice from heaven saying, '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 can God's people be in Babylon? Referring to certain people who had not yet heard the Gospel, Jesus said: "Do not be afraid, but speak, and do not keep silent; for I am with you, and no one will attack you to hurt you; for I have many people in this city" (Acts 18:9,10). These were people who were searching for God and whose attitude was such that they would accept the Gospel. Through the preaching of Paul they were given an opportunity to repent and be saved, to escape from Babylon.

In His prayer to the Father, Jesus said: "I have manifested Your name to the men whom You have given Me out of the world. They were Yours, You gave them to Me, and they have kept Your word" (John 17:6).

Cornelius is also a good example. He prayed regularly to God and did good deeds (Acts 10:4,31). Because God appreciated this, He provided Cornelius with an opportunity to hear the Gospel. Just through his prayer and good works, however, Cornelius was not yet saved! He was commanded: "Send men to Joppa, and call for Simon whose surname is Peter, who will tell you words by which you and all your household will be saved" (Acts 11:13,14).

Why must we depart from Babylon? "Lest you share in her sins, and lest you receive of her plagues" (Revelation 18:4).

What does it mean to depart from Babylon? "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".

"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). "Beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God" (2 Corinthians 7:1). Read 2 Corinthians 6:14 through 7:1.

Some people think they can compromise with a false religion. They try to serve Christ in the camp of the antichrist! They think they can serve God inwardly although they remain in a denomination that deviates from the doctrine of Christ.

They are mistaken. If they remain in Babylon, they will perish with Babylon. "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). "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).

God warns us

"Go forth from Babylon! Flee from the Chaldees!" (Isaiah 48:20).

"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).

"Move from the midst of Babylon, Go out of the land of the Chaldeans" (Jeremiah 50:8).

"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" (Jeremiah 51:9).

"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).

"Come out of her, my people, lest you share in her sins, and lest you receive of her plagues" (Revelation 18:4).

Roy Davison


Published in The Old Paths Archive
(http://www.oldpaths.com)