THE SINS OF BABYLON by John G. Matteson

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Feb 15, 1877

THE SINS OF BABYLON.

By John G. Matteson

Babylon is a symbol of those churches which have united with the world. They are represented as a city and as a great harlot. Rev. 18:2; 19:2. The Lord calls those professors who will be friends with the world adulteresses.

“Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.” James 4:4.

The Lord calls his people out of Babylon in the last days. “And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her my people, that ye be not partakers of her sin, and that ye receive not of her plagues.” Rev. 18:4. We must all receive the plagues of Babylon if we continue to partake of her sins. It is therefore very essential to understand what those special sins of Babylon are, that we may cleanse ourselves from them.

These sins are plainly presented in the third verse: “For all nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, and the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth are waxed rich through the abundance of her delicacies.” Here are three things mentioned:—

1. The wine of the wrath of her fornication. This is spoken of in the preceding chapter, and it refers evidently to the false doctrines of the Catholic Church with all those human commandments, traditions, and ceremonies, which she has introduced in the place of the commandments and ordinances of God. Many other churches have retained more or less of this wine of her fornication.

2. The kings of the earth have committed fornication with her. Here the prophet speaks of the unlawful union between church and state, which has taken place in the earth. And this includes the friendship of the world, which is enmity with God.

3. The merchants of the earth are waxed rich through the abundance of her delicacies. This shows how the members of these churches have given themselves to luxury, vanity and pride. They have been carried away with worldly lusts, and love to make a vain show. Thus they present a striking contrast to the poor and lowly Jesus of Nazareth, who was a man of sorrow and acquainted with grief.

These three things are very offensive and abominable in the sight of God. And that which makes these sins more aggravating is that those who commit them call themselves Christians, and thus blaspheme their Master and Lord.

Those who desire to come out of Babylon and not receive of her plagues need to consider this carefully. It is not enough that we change our views and name. We must learn to obey the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus. We must turn away from the counterfeit friendship of the world, and open our hearts to our best friend, that Jesus may come in and sup with us, and we with him. And we must cease to strive for luxury and vain glory, and learn to be meek and quiet in our conduct before God and men. JOHN G. MATTESON.