PERHAPS, if there is one thing in which our world is unique among the numerous inhabited planets of the universe, it is in the fact that it is a fallen world, and it may be thus designated by the inhabitants of other worlds. Certainly, this is not an enviable title nor one in which we can find occasion for boasting.
The subject of the original fall of man is known, freely discussed, and, to some extent, comprehended by every one who has any knowledge of the Bible history of the race. Not so with the subject of our brief sketch, "The Fall of Babylon."
This article will not need to explain the meaning of words and names pertaining to the subject, as previous articles in this issue of the SIGNS OF THE TIMES define terms.
The Ancient City a Model.
The literal city of ancient Babylon is a model of wickedness, pride, and corruption, as full, perhaps, as the world's history can furnish; in these particulars and in the fact of its utter ruin and final overthrow to rise no more, it is employed in Sacred Writ to illustrate, in parallel complete, the career of its infamous antitype, spiritual Babylon.
The query naturally arises, What caused the fall of Babylon?—Inspiration answers, "Because she made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication." She intoxicates the nations by her false doctrines. A careful study of the history of "Babylon the great, the mother of harlots," must convince any candid mind that the description is not of a literal city, but rather of a religious body, or bodies, bound together by cherishing, in common, certain doctrines and practises. Therefore, the fall of Babylon must be a spiritual, or moral, fall. Her fall immediately precedes her final overthrow, as a heavenly voice appeals to God's people who are found within Babylon, saying, "Come out of her, My people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues."
The Mother Church in Confusion.
The so-called "Mother-church of Christendom," is in a state of confusion, both in doctrine and practise, and yet she claims to be the one church approved of God, the only gateway to heaven. She is in possession of that which has power to heal—the life-giving word—but she refuses the remedy, and hence her fall is inevitable.
In reality the Papacy has, to a large extent, been in a fallen state ever since it became a church with a pope at its head and entered into a co-partnership with Paganism. The specific fall of Babylon must include the great so-called Protestant bodies, who have, all too fully, adopted the errors which caused the moral ruin of the papal church. Yet there are thousands of God's accepted children within the environment of Babylon, else a voice of mercy would not call them out.
The Sins of Spiritual Babylon.
An entire chapter of the book of Revelation (chapter 18) is devoted to a description of the awful sins of spiritual Babylon, and, in consequence, her certain downfall and final punishment. With this descriptive chapter and numerous other clear Scripture references before us, we need make no mistake in our identification. Observe a few of her cherished sins, even while sitting, in her own estimation, as a "queen," above all churches. She made traffic of the bodies and souls of men, the latter by selling indulgences and by granting absolution from sin, and thus imparting a false peace, professing to pardon sins, unpardoned still, and permitting her devotees to leave this "world secure to bliss, to find, too late, themselves deceived, him [the pope] fallible, and all their passports and certificates a lie." She reveled in corrupt fornication with the kings of the earth, deceiving all nations by her highly educated priesthood, her wealth, pomp, prestige, and false doctrines, and in her, under the scrutiny of the divine eye, is "found the blood of prophets, and of saints, and of all that were slain upon the earth."
What is the condition in the just application of the term "harlot" to a married woman?—She has left the home, protection, support, affections, and counsel of her lawful husband and illegitimately joined herself to another. Apply the definition and the principle to "Babylon the great, the mother of harlots." She professed to be the only true church of God in all the earth, the only lawful spouse of Jesus Christ. Yet she committed fornication with the kings of the earth, "and the inhabitants of the earth have been made drunk with the wine of her fornication."
Is Protestantism Waning?
She has daughters. Would not the same course pursued by the daughters as by the mother give them the same character and entitle them to the same name as the mother? May it not be possible that so-called Protestant bodies are to some extent guilty of the sins of the mother, and thus included in the fall of Babylon? Was there not a time when there was less pride, less love of dress and display, less strenuous effort to secure the riches of this world, and more of the riches of Christ, than is found among the great Protestant churches of to-day? Do the Protestant bodies cherish the word of God as they once did? Are they true to the principle which was the key-note of the Reformation,—"The Bible and the Bible only" as the foundation of all faith, as opposed to the doctrine of the "mother church," "the Bible and tradition," and the latter more to be depended upon than the former?
Have not the Protestant churches fallen from grace in adopting many of the doctrines of the Papacy which have their foundation in the traditions of that church, and also in courting the power of the State instead of basing their faith and doctrine upon the word of God, and their dependence upon the power inherent in the Gospel, rather than upon the prestige secured by coalition with civil power.
As a significant example of departure from the word of God, let us inquire, Where is the Protestant authority for Sunday-keeping? Certainly there is no divine precept for it. Have they not taken papal authority for their faith and practise in this matter, and are they not, therefore, identifying themselves with that apostate body whose declaration is that "the pope has power of altering Scripture, of increasing it or diminishing it according to his will"?
Possibly we have discovered the reason for the woful announcement of the fall of Babylon, in that both mother and daughters are guilty of the sin of forsaking God's word.
Result of Forsaking the Word.
Any church or individual who forsakes the living word for tradition, or who courts the arm of the civil law for the enforcement of religious tenets, is in a fallen condition in the sight of God, and the only hope for such is in prompt repentance.
The influence of the union of Church and State is not only corrupting to the church, but intoxicating to the State as well. Where can be found a nation to-day which is not tinctured with the corrupting influence of "Babylon the great"?
Since God attaches the same sacredness to His word as to His character and to the stability of His government, is it any wonder that He declares a church to be in a fallen condition which perverts His word, and gives all authority to the word of mortal man instead, even tho the man may bear the title of "pope"? What a heinous crime to corrupt God's truth and to make the nations drunken with pleasing fables.
Message Rejected Results in Fall.
When Jehovah has a message, in fulfilment of prophecy or otherwise, to give to a people who claim to be His people, and they reject that message, then is their fall at hand. The rejection of the all-important message found in Rev. 14:6, 7 would result in the fall of Babylon.
The vital point for each individual who lives is to be certain of the definition and identity of Babylon, and then to be sure that he will not be found within her shadow or under her influence when the judgment of heaven is visited upon this, the most guilty of all organizations masquerading under the livery of Christianity.
An important consideration for every one living is, Does the message, "Babylon is fallen," have application in our time? If so, how shall we relate ourselves to it? Always, in the history of this world, there has been opportunity to rise again after a fall. The prophet said, "When I fall, I shall arise again." When "Babylon the great" goes to her ruin, there will be no hope of a rise to righteousness and good works, for the Seer of Patmos saw in prophetic vision her hopeless overthrow in the figure of a mighty angel who "took up a stone and cast it into the sea, saying, Thus, with violence, shall that great city Babylon be thrown down, and shall be found no more at all."
It will certainly be a terrible thing to be found identified with, and a part of, "Babylon the great" when she receives her doom already pronounced, as is written, "And great Babylon came in remembrance before God, to give unto her the cup of the wine of the fierceness of His wrath." Note the parallel. She "made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication;" God in full justice gives unto her the cup of "the wine of the fierceness of His wrath."
Thus is described her last resistless plunge into utter despair because the units which compose great Babylon are really found arrayed in battle against God and the government of heaven.
Fellow-pilgrim, are you in any manner in heart or church affiliation identified with spiritual Babylon? Have you in any degree forsaken the true Head of the church, Jesus Christ? Some of God's true children, honest in heart and having a desire to do His will, are to-day in Babylon, else the Lord would not sound the cry, "Come out of her, My people." Are you in any degree intoxicated, infatuated, deceived, with the doctrines of "Babylon the great, the mother of harlots"? Then heed the call!