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WHAT IS BABYLON?

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Publishing Committee · Rochester, N. Y. · Feb 21, 1854

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 5, No. 5.

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WHAT IS BABYLON?

By John Nevins Andrews

DEAR BRO. WHITE:—I have recently met with a copy of the Sabbath Recorder for Dec. 1st, in which I find an article from the pen of Bro. B. Clark, in answer to the above question. The writer thinks that we are in error on this subject, and attempts to correct what he considers our error. We are willing to listen with candor to his objections, and having done this, we request him to listen without prejudice to our reply. We present his argument entire, as follows:
Now it is well known, that our "Advent" friends teach that "Babylon" means the churches; and that the words, "Come out of her, my people," (Rev. xviii, 4,) mean that we should come out from the churches of the different denominations. I would inquire, whether this is not a very great error?
That "mystery, Babylon the great, the mother of harlots and abominations of the earth," (Rev. xvii, 5,) cannot mean the Christian church in any of its forms, I will suggest a few reasons.
1. The woman had already sat upon five of the different "heads" or forms of government, before there was any Christian church. Rev. xvii, 9, 10. "Five are fallen, (when John wrote,) one is, and the other is not yet come." These "seven mountains," "seven heads," or "seven kings," are understood to mean the seven different forms of government on which the "woman"—the earthly power of human government—had sat: 1. Kings; 2. Dictators; 3. Tribunes; 4. Decemviri; 5. Triumvirate. These were then all "fallen," "one is" (Imperial) when John wrote; this is the sixth; and the seventh, Papal, had not yet come. This "woman," then, being so much older than any Christian church, cannot mean the Church in any of its forms.
2. "Babylon" cannot mean the Christian church, because that "in her was found the blood of saints, and of prophets, and of all that were slain upon the earth," (Rev. xviii, 24,) and this cannot be all found in the Christian church.
3. Babylon cannot mean the Christian church, because "the woman which thou sawest is that great city which reigneth over the kings of the earth," (Rev. xvii, 18,) and the church did not then reign over the kings of the earth. The "great city" is "spiritually called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified." Rev. xi, 8.
4. Babylon cannot mean the Christian church, because it is the staff of the wicked, "the sceptre of the rulers." Isa. xiv, 5. "The hammer of the whole earth." Jer. l, 23.
"Mystery, Babylon the great, the mother of harlots and abominations of the earth," therefore, cannot mean the Christian church in any of its forms; but it is the earthly power of human governments. And whether she sitteth upon many waters, (Rev. xvii, 15; Jer. li, 13,) or whether she sitteth upon a scarlet-colored beast, (Rev. xvii, 3,) or on seven mountains, (Rev. xvii, 9,) or whether she sitteth in the temple of God, (2 Thess. ii, 4; Isa. xiv, 13,) or whether she sitteth as a queen, (Rev. xviii, 8; Isa. xlvii, 7, 8,) yet "her merchants are the great men of the earth," who trade most in the affairs of government, and she will make laws, sometimes, contrary to the laws of the Most High, although "power belongeth unto God."
If our advent friends will answer the above reasons, and show that "Babylon" means the Christian churches, then we are ready to hear the call, "Come out of her, my people."
B. CLARK. Alden, Erie Co., N. Y., Nov. 1853.
In the foregoing article, Bro. Clark has undertaken to prove that Babylon cannot mean the "Christian churches." If by that expression he means churches such as those were which the apostles planted, we should be happy to agree with him. This, however, is not his idea. He undertakes to prove that the Babylon of the book of Revelation does not include a single one of the corrupt bodies of nominal Christians that have flourished since the great apostasy. 2 Thess. ii. If he is correct, the entire apostasy, as such, is vindicated from the charge of constituting the Babylon of the Apocalypse. Here we join issue with him.
First, however, it is necessary to correct his misapprehension of our faith, which by the way, furnishes the principal ground for his objections. Having done this, we will answer his objections, and show the unsoundness of the position which he occupies.
We do not limit the Babylon of the Apocalypse to the gospel dispensation, nor do we confine its existence during this dispensation to any one of the corrupt bodies of nominal professors which have arisen since the apostasy. On the contrary, we understand that all the corrupt religious bodies which ever have existed, or which exist at the present time, united to the world, and sustained by the civil power, constitute the Babylon of John's vision, which shall be thrown down as a mill-stone is cast into the mighty deep.
We understand that the corrupt Jewish Church formed a part of this great Babylon. The Lord Jesus declared that all the righteous blood which had been shed upon the earth, from the days of Abel down to that time, should be required of that generation. Matt. xxiii, 32-36. But the book of Revelation informs us that in Babylon was found the blood of prophets, and of saints, and of all that were slain upon the earth. Chap. xviii, 24. This shows conclusively that Babylon must include the Jewish church. As there has been in reality but one church of the living God from the beginning of the world unto the present time, so has there also been but one corrupt church through this whole period.
Hence it is not difficult to understand how the blood of Abel could be found in Babylon; for Cain his murderer was a professor of religion, and with him the corrupt church commenced. And it is a fact that almost all the martyrdoms that have ever occurred, have been set on foot by professed worshippers, generally by the chief priests and scribes. Nor is it difficult to understand why the prophets are called upon to rejoice at the destruction of Babylon. John tells us that the prophets were slain by Babylon. Jesus tells us that it was the Jewish church which slew them. Luke xi, 47-51. The same was also true with respect to the apostles. The Jewish church slew several of them. This shows that Babylon includes the Jewish church, and that it extends back to the days of Cain. No wonder that the prophets and apostles are called upon to rejoice when God avenges them on Babylon. Rev. xviii, 20.
By these facts we are shown that it was Babylon which slew the Lord Jesus Christ; the Jewish church which caused his death, forming an important part of that great city. Hence the propriety of the expression in Rev. xi, 8, "the great city which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified." With this great city, the people of God in all ages have been to a very great extent commingled.
It will be seen therefore that we do not exclusively apply the prophecy respecting Babylon to any one of the corrupt bodies which have existed, or which now exist. In this great system we understand that the corrupt Papal and Greek churches occupy a large space, and act an important part. War, slavery, conformity to the world, pride, intemperance, politics, and the like, identify with sad and faithful accuracy, the great body of the Protestant churches, as an important constituent part of this great Babylon. In the days of the Jewish church, Babylon slew the prophets. In the days of the Papal church, Babylon slew a vast multitude of the saints of God. Nor has the Protestant church since its rise been free from such acts, whenever it has possessed the power to perform them. The Protestants of Geneva, with John Calvin at their head, burned Michael Servetus, a man who had barely escaped the same fate at the hands of the Popish inquisition. They did this for the same reason that the Papists do the like; that is, they did it for a difference of opinion, and because they had the power to do it. Witness also the long continued oppression which the church of England was able to maintain toward all dissenters. Even the Puritan fathers of New England, themselves fugitives from the wicked oppression of the church of England, could not forbear to hang the Quakers, and to whip and imprison the Baptists. In all these cases the civil arm was under the control of these professed worshippers of Jehovah, and they could not forbear to use it.
The Protestant church at the present time holds many hundred thousand slaves. Nor is the fact to be disguised, that the professed church is now the right arm of the slave power. This great fact identifies the Protestant church as a part of Babylon, with absolute certainty. Rev. xviii, 13. Take another fact. Christ forbade his people to lay up treasure on earth. Matt. vi, 19. But the church at the present day, as a body, exhibits greater eagerness in the pursuit of wealth, and in the acquisition of Babylonish treasures, [Rev. xviii, 11-14,] then even worldlings themselves. Consider the following also. In exposing the corruption of the Babylonish church of his time, Christ warned his own people to beware of the like abominations. "But be not ye called Rabbi," says Christ, that is, Master or Doctor; "for one is your Master, even Christ; and all ye are brethren." Matt. xxiii, 8. Apparently to imitate the Romish church, Protestants call all their ministers, Reverend. This word which is used only once in the Scriptures, is there applied to God. Ps. cxi, 9. If it is a sin for the church to call her ministers Rabbi, or Master, how much greater one must it be for her to apply to them the title of Reverend which belongs to God alone! Not content with this, some of these professed servants of Jesus Christ become Right Reverend, and Very Reverend. And not a few of them become Doctors of Divinity, so great is their proficiency in the doctrines of Christ!The New Testament speaks in the most decisive manner respecting plainness of dress. But the majority of the professed church, at the present time, walk in all the fashionable follies of the day. They are arrayed in all the gaudy attire of Babylonian merchandise. The merchants of Babylon, are the great men of the earth. In the fold of the nominal church is to be found a large portion of the lawyers, doctors, politicians and great men of the world. To succeed in business, to become honorable in society, or to rise to high offices in the nation, it is very important to make a profession of religion, and to have a good and regular standing in the church. This is most abominable in the sight of God, and yet it is very apparent that the church joyfully welcomes such members, because it will make the body more honorable.
Babylon is represented as trafficking in the souls of men. Look at the church of England. There the vacant parishes are set up for sale, and, the highest bidder becomes the possessor of its revenue, and the pastor of its people! To come nearer home let us look at the various religious denominations in every place where they have sufficient wealth and strength to become popular. They must erect a splendid house of worship, and furnish it in the most expensive style; and the members of the church must dress in all the fashion and the pride of life. Then they must have an eloquent man to preach smooth things to fashionable ears. That church which can outdo the other in these particulars, will succeed in securing the fashionable sinners of the place as permanent members of the congregation. Whatever name this is called by, it matters not; the real truth is this: the hearers are to pay a round sum of money and the preacher in return strews
"The path that leads to hell, with tempting flowers, And in the ear of sinners, as they take The way of death, he whispers peace."
The word Babylon signifies confusion, and comes from Babel, the place where men in their impious attempt to climb up to heaven some other way, had their languages confounded. Gen. xi. The church should be one. This was the will of Christ. Witness his intercession with the Father as recorded in John xvii. He prays that his disciples may be one as he and the Father are one; for this would cause the world to believe in Christ. Since the great apostasy, the majority of his professed followers have busied themselves in attempting to climb up to heaven some other way. They have been confounded in the attempt, and scattered abroad upon the face of the earth, with creeds as discordant as the languages of those who were dispersed at the ancient tower. The Holy Spirit uses the word "Babylon" on account of its signification, and it is a most appropriate designation for the great city of confusion to which it is applied.
It may be said that even corrupt Protestants should not be joined with Romanists as forming the great city Babylon; that Romanists claim infallibility, which Protestants never yet have done. We answer that in this, the difference exists only in name. To speak in the language of their several pretensions, Romanists never can err; Protestants never do err. If Romanists claim infallibility in advance for the decrees and ordinances of their church, it is also true that Protestant bodies never afterward acknowledge wherein their churches or their councils have been in error. So that Protestant churches have all the advantages of infallibility, and leave to the Romanists all the odium of claiming it.
At the time when the message is proclaimed, "Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come," [Rev. xiv, 7,] the people of God are mingled with this great Babylon. For another message follows, announcing the fall of Babylon. These two messages, we believe, have been faithfully proclaimed in the past. In the eighteenth chapter of Revelation, the message announcing the fall of Babylon is presented again, with additions, showing as we understand, that there is in the future a mighty movement to take place on this subject. We have no doubt that God has many dear saints united with the various bodies of professed Christians. These we believe will yet hear the call given in Rev. xviii, 4.
There is however one most important fact which demonstrates that it was the Providence of God which has caused the proclamation of the first and second angel's messages within a few years past. Rev. xiv, 6-8. The eighteenth chapter of Revelation in presenting a second message respecting the fall of Babylon, informs us that she has become the hold of foul spirits, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird. As a demonstration that we are correct in regard to the application of Rev. xiv, let the present movement respecting the spirits of the dead, answer. An innumerable host of demons are spreading themselves over the whole country, flooding the churches and religious bodies of the land to a very great extent. The immortality of the soul, a doctrine which is held by almost every church in the world, is the basis and foundation of all their work. This extraordinary movement clearly evinces the rapid approach of the hour of temptation, that shall come on all the world to try them that dwell on the earth.
Let us now consider the various arguments which Bro. C. has adduced against our position. In answer to the first objection we remark that we understand Babylon to be as ancient as he does. The Roman Catholic church is a continuation of the old Roman Pagan church. The Pontiffs of the Catholic church hold their office in regular succession from the old heathen Pontiffs of ancient Rome. The ritual of the Catholic church and her multitude of ceremonies are almost all derived from the Pagans. Pagan priests to a very great extent controlled and guided the civil power until the apostasy of the great body of the Christian church, when they succeeded to the power and influence of the Pagans, and faithfully adopted, though under the name of Christianity, the doctrines and the ceremonies of the heathen. In the days of Pontius Pilate the corrupt church controlled the civil power and caused the death of our Lord; and in all ages it has made war upon the people of God.
The second objection does not militate against our faith. The third objection is answered in the reply to objection first. The texts cited in objection fourth, refer undoubtedly to old literal Babylon, which has long since passed away. If however it is contended that these texts refer to the Babylon of the Apocalypse, they do not furnish an objection to the views which we entertain. Mystical Babylon has proved itself the staff of the wicked, in that it has fostered, cherished and sanctioned every species of abomination. As an instance take the subject of slavery. It is literally the scepter of rulers; for the kings of the earth severally cherish some branch of this great Babylon, for the greater security of their thrones, and to aid them in wielding the scepter of despotism. It has enabled the despots of the earth to rule with oppression, and to break in pieces their defenseless subjects. As an illustration of this fact look at Austria.
We will now look at Bro. Clark's view of Babylon. He has presented four reasons for rejecting our faith, but he has not presented a single reason why we should receive his. If it were self-evident that Babylon is "the earthly power of human government" reasons might perhaps be unnecessary for its support. But we ask, is it not manifest that such a view is a gross absurdity? If it were correct it would reduce the great harlot of Revelation, to a mere abstraction. Babylon is distinct from the kings of the earth. Rev. xvii, 1, 2, 16; xviii, 9, 10. If therefore Babylon means "the earthly power of human government," it must mean earthly power separate from those who exercise it. Hence this view makes Babylon an abstract evil like envy, malice, or pride.
Babylon according to the prophecy rules over the kings of the earth. But instead of "the earthly power of human government" ruling over the kings of the earth, the truth is that the kings of the earth have exercised "the earthly power of human government" in ruling over their respective subjects. It is said of the kings of the earth, "these shall hate the whore, [Babylon] and shall make her desolate, and naked, and shall eat her flesh, and burn her with fire." Rev. xvii, 16. According to Bro. C. the kings of the earth are to hate earthly power, and to make it desolate, and naked, and to eat its flesh, and to burn it with fire! When have they ever hated earthly power? Never. It is their utmost exertion to maintain all they now possess and to acquire all they can. In destroying earthly power, they would cease to be kings. How could the civil power of the earth be punished and the kings be spectators? Rev. xviii, 9, 10.
The symbol of a harlot is used to represent Babylon. A woman is the symbol of the church. Rev. xii. A harlot is a symbol of a corrupt church. Eze. xvi. But where is the authority by which Bro. C. rejects this scriptural use of the symbol, and explains it to mean abstract earthly power?
The fact that Babylon is distinct from, though unlawfully united with the kings of the earth, is positive proof that Babylon is not the civil power. The fact that the people of God are in her just before her overthrow, proves that she is a professedly religious body. To have Babylon [confusion] must there not be a diversity of creeds in the great city? Are not the great religious bodies of the present time sadly corrupted with sin and wickedness, as described in this article? Are not almost all of them incorporated by the civil power? How many of them could escape the rebuke which is given in James iv, 4? What is duty with regard to them? 2 Tim. iii, 1-5; 2 Cor. vi, 14-18; Rev. xviii, 4. J. N. ANDREWS.