IN the very heart of a great prophecy setting forth the final judgments of God against the kingdom of Babylon, are found these words of loving sorrow and sympathy. With the awful picture of retribution and desolation before him, the prophet's mind was turned to what might have been had the nation to which his people had been subject turned with willing heart to God, and having seen the purpose of Heaven in sending Israel and Israel's truth into that darkened land, he exclaimed, "We would have healed Babylon."
Yes, God had a great healing remedy for Babylon's spiritual ills. However far from Him those people were, they were still within reach of His power, and through the people of Israel, whom Babylon for a time was allowed to scourge, the opportunity was given them to become acquainted with Israel's Redeemer and come into possession of His "plenteous redemption."
"We would have healed Babylon." In the light of these beautiful, sweet words, we may, perhaps, see more fully the tremendous import of the story of Daniel and his work in Babylon. That story is a picture of divine effort to bring home to Nebuchadnezzar and his people the great truths of God's name and nature, God's life and power, God's kingdom, God's authority. Daniel and his people were God's messengers of healing, bearing, in sorrow and reproach, the blessed gospel of creative power, the revelation of Him whose rightful place is the inner sanctuary of man's truest being.
Study again the story of the king's dream, and the prophet's interpretation, which, step by step, led the king forward to the final triumphs of God's grace in the establishment of the everlasting kingdom upon earth. How marvelously complete was the presentation, which showed the utter fallacy of all that Babylon believed and taught, and which brought home to the hearts of men God's blessed willingness to transform their lives and make them fit for an eternal hereafter! It was a splendid manifestation of omnipotence and wisdom and love, designed to countervail the fundamental error of the Babylonian system, namely, that man was himself a part of the divine, and as such was capable of saving himself and of perpetuating himself indefinitely.
Had Babylon received that first message, she might, indeed, have been healed, and have been used of God for declaring His name throughout all the earth.
The experience of King Nebuchadnezzar in seeking to set aside the truth of the dream by erecting an idolatrous image and compelling all to bow before it, again published to his entire kingdom the exalted message of superhuman power and love, and was made the occasion of a direct appeal to every individual in the vast multitude of worshipers to submit himself to that God whose creative power reached beyond and above the elements of nature, and wrought deliverance for those who served Him. He who had brought salvation and healing to the Hebrews, was now offering the same to the entire Babylonian empire.
Later, through the dream of the tree and the visitation of the affliction which the dream had foretold, the king actually did find the knowledge of God and His righteousness, and to all the world bore a touching testimony to the goodness and wisdom of the Almighty. The healing message given again and again to him and his people was at last received, and in the king's life demonstrated what God intended for all. Nebuchadnezzar was healed; his sins were broken off by righteousness; he exchanged his Babylonian confusion and despair for the certainty of truth and the light of everlasting, bright hope.
Well had it been had the people followed the example of their king. But they did not. The message fell apparently upon unwilling ears, and with the passing of the king, the nation rapidly filled up the cup of its iniquity. Instead of giving heed to the prophetic announcements, as may be found recorded in chapters 7 to 9 of Daniel's book, Belshazzar and his wanton subjects sought to heap reproach upon all that pertained to the worship of the King of Heaven, and flagrantly and presumptuously insulted Him in national festival and by official decree. (See Daniel 5.)
Great Mystical Babylon
Babylon refused to be healed, and when her sins had mounted up to heaven, inviting the stroke of wrath which had been so plainly foretold, then God's judgments were visited upon her, and she fell to rise no more.
Babylon was a great world kingdom, and in a most peculiar and wonderful way she was the type of the religious world of these last days. The Apocalypse repeatedly refers to Babylon, and locates her at the time and connects her with events immediately preceding and in connection with the day of Christ and the end of the world. See Rev. 16:19; 18:2, 10, 21, etc. The prophecies of Jeremiah, setting forth the final destruction of ancient Babylon (Jeremiah 50, 51), are a vivid portrayal of the destruction which is to be visited upon modern Babylon in the day when God shall finally and forever close up all earthly accounts.
What Jehovah did, therefore, to bring healing to the world—to Babylon of long ago—is a blessed truth for to-day, and is well worth our study. What is the healing message at this time, and how may we know it and receive it?
In a previous article, it was shown that the Babylon of to-day is the great confused religious world, rent into hundreds of factions, its different parts all at variance, all weak, all inconsistent, all hopelessly worldly, yet seeking by federation and compromise to bring about unity and thus gain earthly power for the accomplishment of its mistaken purposes. "Babylon" signifies confusion, and God made no mistake when He applied the title to these last-day conditions.
To this Babylon—to this broken, bruised, bleeding, dying Christendom—there should come some special message from God, as special as ever came to Babylon of old, one that will constitute a foundation for true Spirit union, Spirit fellowship, Spirit guiding. There is due a message which shall be at once so plain, so positive, so pure, so powerful, so far-reaching and all-comprehensive, that its very presence shall compel world-wide attention, and giving to all who hear in faith, absolute knowledge of its divine origin. And as it flies in mercy to all the world, men will be conscious that its beams of light are but rays from the Sun of Righteousness, which brings healing in its wings. Mal. 4:2.
Surely the time is ripe. Not only do conditions in themselves make silent but eloquent appeal for healing, but all through the great world honest hearts are crying to God for such a revelation of Himself as shall make them know the certainties of hope, the infallible assurances of faith. Even the great heathen world is looking for the coming of a great Teacher, "who shall put an end to the present state of things, and establish a reign of universal peace and righteousness."
But will there ever come a universal healing, a unifying of all beliefs, an amalgamation of the multitude of present-day teachings? Is it possible? Can God bring it about? Is it His plan to do so? Ah, no, dear reader! And yet to this great world of distraction, uncertainty, confusion, and discord, He does send a message which has in it every needed element of life, a message which will quickly and positively remedy every wounded soul, and which develops a great and united and Spirit-filled company for the glorious day of the Master's coming. It is a message of reform which calls out of Babylon and away from her sins.
The Healing Remedy
Here is the message:
"And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people, saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to Him; for the hour of His judgment is come: and worship Him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters." Rev. 14:6, 7. (Continued on page 8)7## God's Message for To-Day (Continued from page 6)
There is no question as to the time of this remarkable pronouncement, for the prophet is soon made to behold the terrible glory of the day of all days,—the day of the coming of the Christ. The opening heavens reveal the unveiled brightness and splendor of the Son of God. Rev. 14:14. This message, then, which goes to all the world, is one of the last to which men shall ever give ear.
That it is God's final word of mercy to perishing humanity is further shown from the fact that it announces the hour of judgment,—"for the hour of His judgment is come." He is about to close up His accounts with all men, and in view of this He makes special appeal to them to break away from Babylon's sins and accept His righteousness. "Come out of her," is His word of warning. Rev. 18:4. This was His message to ancient Babylon, when the armies of the Medes and Persians were about to destroy (Jer. 50:8); it is His message to modern Babylon when the armies of heaven are about to accomplish the final work of destruction. Rev. 16:19.
In close connection with this word of invitation to turn to God and worship only Him, is another which declares, "Babylon is fallen." It is this that calls loudly for just such invitation. The Babylon of churches, the Babylon of teachings, the Babylon of spiritual degeneracy, prompts Heaven to make this grand and final effort to ward off impending doom. And only this message can avert the threatened disaster.
The message is one that actually meets the great world's needs, for it is sent "to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people." It goes to every land, wherever the darkness and uncertainty of sin have gone. It heals the wounds of the heathen as well as those of the misled churchman or8the disappointed, unconverted man of civilization. It bears within itself the life and love of the universal Man, Christ Jesus. He who is "the Desire of all nations" (Haggai 2:7) finds His way to all nations in this last, blessed message; and He does so that He may truly satisfy the desire which He has created.
The Results of the Message
And note the results of the message. The prophet is directed to a glorious company of called out ones, of whom the angel attendant said, "Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus." Rev. 14:12. The message, therefore, is one that specifically calls men away from all false isms, from every delusive teaching of Babylonian confusion, to the faith of Jesus and to the commandments of God. It is one which in a most special way introduces men to "the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world;" and having taken away sin, brings them into that wonderful covenant relationship in which God's complete Spirit-filled law is written in the heart. Heb. 8:10. It causes all who receive it to know the very life power of Jehovah, a power which expresses itself in full obedience. It emphasizes the merits of the blood of Christ, and preaches a salvation of faith and faith alone. Babylon has never known nor taught this. Every false religion and even the professedly true teach salvation apart from the blood of Christ, and surely none to-day give God's law its proper place.
The one great reason why there is a Babylon in the experience and teachings of world and church just now is that the two great principles of faith in Christ and obedience to all God's commandments are both neglected and rejected. Men are seeking to climb into the fold another way. They are rearing spiritual towers in opposition to God's plain truth. The good Word of God is made to give place to the commandments and ordinances of men. Man has put himself into God's place.
"Fear God, and give glory to Him." This is a call to old-time conversion, old-time love, old-time faith and obedience. It calls for absolute consecration. It means the destruction of all spiritual pride, and when heeded, enables man to give the Lord first and only place. It brings power to do right because it brings power to be right. It is the one universal truth, the summing up of all truth, and therefore is the foundation for spiritual unity and everlasting peace.
Dear reader, for the sake of the Giver of the message, make sure that in this auspicious hour you fully receive the message of healing and rejoice in its salvation.
["The Gospel for To-Day" is the next article in this series.]
