The Truth About Babylon

The King James Version (KJV) is mostly used in these lessons. Click here to access the KJV online.

In Revelation 17, Babylon is referred to as a woman who is a great harlot. As a woman represents a church, and a harlot represents a church that is unfaithful, any church that becomes a harlot is part of Babylon. More than one church forms a part of Babylon because in Revelation 17:5 it says: "on her forehead a name was written: Mystery, Babylon the Great, the Mother of Harlots and of the abominations of the earth." As she is the mother and she has daughters, clearly there are other organized denominations that belong to this great system.

"The term ‘Babylon’ is derived from ‘Babel,’ and signifies confusion. It is employed in Scripture to designate the various forms of false or apostate religion." "The message of Revelation 14, announcing the fall of Babylon must apply to religious bodies that were once pure and have become corrupt.” The Great Controversy, page 381, 383.

Lighted With His Glory

1. What message, given earlier, is now repeated with great urgency?

“And after these things I saw another angel come down from heaven, having great power; and the earth was lightened with his glory. And he cried mightily with a strong voice, saying, Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and is become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird.” Revelation 18:1-2. (Compare Revelation 14:8.)

NOTE: "This scripture points forward to a time when the announcement of the fall of Babylon, as made by the second angel of Revelation 14 (verse 8), is to be repeated, with the additional mention of the corruptions which have been entering the various organizations that constitute Babylon, since that message was first given, in the summer of 1844. A terrible condition of the religious world is here described. With every rejection of truth the minds of the people will become darker, their hearts more stubborn, until they are entrenched in an infidel hardihood. In defiance of the warnings which God has given, they will continue to trample upon one of the precepts of the Decalogue, until they are led to persecute those who hold it sacred. Christ is set at nought in the contempt placed upon His word and His people. As the teachings of spiritualism are accepted by the churches, the restraint imposed upon the carnal heart is removed, and the profession of religion will become a cloak to conceal the basest iniquity. A belief in spiritual manifestations opens the door to seducing spirits and doctrines of devils, and thus the influence of evil angels will be felt in the churches." The Great Controversy 1888 ed, page 603.

2. Who and what is Babylon?

“And there came one of the seven angels which had the seven vials, and talked with me, saying unto me, Come hither; I will shew unto thee the judgment of the great whore that sitteth upon many waters: With whom the kings of the earth have committed fornication, and the inhabitants of the earth have been made drunk with the wine of her fornication. So he carried me away in the spirit into the wilderness: and I saw a woman sit upon a scarlet coloured beast, full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns. And the woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet colour, and decked with gold and precious stones and pearls, having a golden cup in her hand full of abominations and filthiness of her fornication: And upon her forehead was a name written, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH.” Revelation 17:1-5.

"Behold, every one that useth proverbs shall use this proverb against thee, saying, As is the mother, so is her daughter. Thou art thy mother's [Rome's] daughter, that loatheth her husband [Christ] and her children [God's professed people who preach the three angels' messages]; and thou art the sister of thy sisters [apostate Protestantism]..." Ezekiel 16:44-45.

“Flee out of the midst of Babylon, and deliver every man his soul: be not cut off in her iniquity.... My people, go ye out of the midst of her, and deliver ye every man his soul from the fierce anger of the Lord." Jeremiah 51:6, 45.

Answer: Babylon is depicted as being an impure woman (Revelation 17:1-5). And what does a woman symbolize in Scripture? A church (see Jeremiah 6:2; Ephesians 5:23-27). So Babylon would then represent a church which is corrupt and impure. This corrupt Church is none other than Roman Catholic Church with the entire organized denominational Churches all over the world as represented by her daughters.

She is said to have made “the inhabitants of the earth… drunk with the wine of her fornication.” (Revelation 17:2) By giving her wine of corrupted doctrines to other religions, she has made them her daughters. Some of the wine of Babylon includes Sunday sacredness, the immortality of the soul, consciousness in death, the trinity, image worship, purgatory, etc.

“...the message announcing the fall of Babylon must apply to some religious body that was once pure, and has become corrupt....Babylon is represented as a woman, a figure which is used in the Scriptures as the symbol of a church. A virtuous woman represents a pure church, a vile woman an apostate church. Babylon is said to be a harlot...” The Great controversy 1884 ed, page 232-233 (The Great Controversy, page 381).

Babylonian Denominations

3. Who are the harlot daughters of Mother Church [Roman Catholic Church] that constitute her daughters?

"Behold, every one that useth proverbs shall use this proverb against thee, saying, As is the mother, so is her daughter. Thou art thy mother's [Rome's] daughter, that loatheth her husband [Christ] and her children [God's professed people who preach the three angels' messages]; and thou art the sister of thy sisters [apostate Protestantism]..." Ezekiel 16:44-45.

Examples:

--Seventh-day Adventist church

--Episcopal church

--Presbyterian church

--Lutheran church

--Nazarene church

--Methodist church

--Pentecostal church

--Baptist church and etc.

Answer: The Protestant churches which have ceased to “protest” and are seeking reunion again with Rome, “the mother and mistress of all the churches,” and are following her apostate faith and practices.

Babylon is said to be "the mother of harlots." By her daughters must be symbolized churches that cling to her doctrines and traditions, and follow her example of sacrificing the truth and the approval of God, in order to form an unlawful alliance with the world.' The Great Controversy 1911 ed, page 382.

NOTE: “But the message announcing the fall of Babylon must apply to some religious body that was once pure, and has become corrupt. It cannot be the Romish Church which is here meant; for that church has been in a fallen condition for many centuries. But how appropriate the figure as applied to the Protestant churches, all professing to derive their doctrines from the Bible, yet divided into almost innumerable sects. The unity for which Christ prayed does not exist. Instead of one Lord, one faith, one baptism, there are numberless conflicting creeds and theories. Religious faith appears so confused and discordant that the world know not what to believe as truth. God is not in all this; it is the work of man,--the work of Satan.” The Great Controversy 1884 ed, page 232.

4. What reason is given for the fall of Mother Church and her Daughters?

Answer: Because they have "made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication;" (Revelation 14:8), Revelation 17:2, says: With whom the kings of the earth have committed fornication, and the inhabitants of the earth have been made drunk with the wine of her fornication. And Revelation 18:2 also add that she “is become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird.” Revelation 18:3, also gives us the reason; “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.” {or, power}

NOTE: In the above scripture is foretold the destruction of all the churches who corrupt themselves by idolatrous devotion to the service of the papacy, those who have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication. Thus is represented the papal power, which with all deceivableness of unrighteousness, by outside attraction and gorgeous display, deceives all nations; promising them, as did Satan our first parents, all good to those who receive its mark, and all harm to those who oppose its fallacies. The power which has the deepest inward corruption will make the greatest display, and will clothe itself with the most elaborate signs of power. The Bible plainly declares that this covers a corrupt and deceiving wickedness. "Upon her forehead was a name written, Mystery, Babylon the Great, The Mother of Harlots and Abominations of the Earth."

5. What other unscriptural error characterize all the organized Denominations/Churches of today as Babylon apart from natural immortality, sprinkling, and Sunday-keeping, etc.?

The Trinity doctrine.

"The mystery of the Trinity is the central doctrine of the Catholic faith. Upon it are based all the other teachings of the church." Handbook for Today's Catholic, p. 11.

6. What are some of those teachings of the Catholic faith that are rooted in the doctrine of the Trinity?

A casual look gives us such teachings as: natural immortality of the soul, Sunday-sacredness, tradition in place of the Bible, purgatory, eternal hell, the mass, praying to saints, the infallibility of the pope, the immaculate conception, and the priest's ability to forgive sins etc.

NOTE: Seventh-day Adventists claim to take the Word of God as supreme authority and to have 'come out of Babylon', to have renounced the vain traditions of Rome. If we should go back to the immortality of the soul purgatory, eternal torment and Sunday Sabbath, would that be anything less than apostasy? If, however, we leap over all these minor, secondary doctrines and accept and teach the very central root doctrine of Romanism, the Trinity, and teach that the Son of God did not die, even though our words seem to be spiritual, is this anything less than apostasy, and the very Omega of apostasy?

"Thank God for the Spirit of Prophecy!" In the printed copy of Elder Prescott's sermon I noted that he quoted profusely from the teachings of Sunday keeping ministers of other churches- if he would read the writings of the Spirit of Prophecy more and the teachings of popular Sunday keeping ministers less; if he would in simple faith take the teachings of the testimony of Jesus [Yahushua], he would not make the mistake of teaching the heathen doctrine of the Trinity..." 1939 Letter by J. S. Washburn in response to an article by Elder Prescott.

"The doctrine of the Trinity was established in the church by the Council of Nicea, A.D. 325. This doctrine destroys the personality of God, and His Son Jesus Christ our Lord. The infamous, measures by which it was forced upon the church which appear upon the pages of ecclesiastical history might well cause every believer in that doctrine to blush." J. N. Andrews, Review & Herald, March 6, 1855.

"There are many objections which we might urge, but on account of our limited space we shall reduce them to the three following: 1. It is contrary to common sense. 2. It is contrary to Scripture. 3. Its origin is pagan and fabulous… Instead of pointing us to Scripture for proof of the trinity, we are pointed to the trident of the Persians, with the assertion that 'by this they designed to teach the idea of a Trinity, and if they had the doctrine of the Trinity, they must have received it by tradition from the people of God. But this is all assumed for it is certain that the Jewish Church held to no such doctrine. Says Mr. Summerbell; "A friend of mine who was present in a New York synagogue, asked the Rabbi for an explanation of the word 'elohim.' A Trinitarian clergyman who stood by, replied, 'Why, that has reference to the three persons in the Trinity,' when a Jew stepped forward and said he must not mention that word again, or they would have to compel him to leave the house; for it was not permitted to mention the name of any strange god in the synagogue." Review & Herald, Nov. 5, 1861.

"It is not very consonant with common sense to talk of three being one, and one being three. Or as some express it, calling God "the Triune God," or "the three-one-God." If Father, Son, and Holy Ghost are each God, it would be three Gods; for three times one is not one, but three." J. N. Loughborough, Review & Herald, Nov. 5, 1861.

"But to hold the doctrine of the Trinity is not so much an evidence of evil intention as of intoxication from that wine of which all the nations have drunk. The fact that this was one of the leading doctrines, if not the very chief, upon which the bishop of Rome was exalted to popedom, does not say much in its favor." R. F. Cottrell, Review & Herald, July 6, 1869.

A Call To Come Out

“And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.” Revelation 18:4.

“And when the morning arose, then the angels hastened Lot, saying, Arise, take thy wife, and thy two daughters, which are here; lest thou be consumed in the iniquity of the city. . . And it came to pass, when they had brought them forth abroad, that he said, Escape for thy life; look not behind thee, neither stay thou in all the plain; escape to the mountain, lest thou be consumed.” Genesis 19:15, 17.

NOTE: "No longer have the hosts of evil power to keep the church captive; for 'Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city,' which hath 'made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication;' and to spiritual Israel is given the message, 'Come out of her, My people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.' Verse 8; 18:4. As the captive exiles heeded the message, 'Flee out of the midst of Babylon' (Jeremiah 51:6), and were restored to the Land of Promise, so those who fear God today are heeding the message to withdraw from spiritual Babylon, and soon they are to stand as trophies of divine grace in the earth made new, the heavenly Canaan.” Prophets and Kings, page 715.

8. Since all the organized Denominations/Churches have become corrupted, is there to be another new movement of God's people today? Is there to be another separation of God's people out of this fallen Babylonian Churches?

“And I heard another voice from Heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues." Revelation 18:4.

NOTE: "Of Babylon, at this time it is declared, `Her sins have reached unto heaven, and God hath remembered her iniquities' (Revelation 18:5). She has filled up the measure of her guilt, and destruction is about to fall upon her. But God still has a people in Babylon; and before the visitation of his judgments, these faithful ones must be called out, that they `partake not of her sins, and receive not of her plagues.' Hence the movement symbolized by the angel coming down from Heaven, lightening the earth with his glory, and crying mightily with a strong voice, announcing the sins of Babylon. In connection with his message the call is heard, `Come out of her, my people.' As these warnings join the third angel's message, it swells to a loud cry." The Great Controversy 1884 ed, page 422 (The Great Controversy 1911 ed, page 604).

“But the message announcing the fall of Babylon must apply to some religious body that was once pure, and has become corrupt. It cannot be the Romish Church which is here meant; for that church has been in a fallen condition for many centuries. But how appropriate the figure as applied to the Protestant churches, all professing to derive their doctrines from the Bible, yet divided into almost innumerable sects. The unity for which Christ prayed does not exist. Instead of one Lord, one faith, one baptism, there are numberless conflicting creeds and theories. Religious faith appears so confused and discordant that the world know not what to believe as truth. God is not in all this; it is the work of man,--the work of Satan.” The Great Controversy 1884 ed, page 232.

So there is going to be a movement of God’s honest people that will come out of their corrupt denominations/Churches as soon as they study and understand the ‘Loud Cry’ message of Revelation 18:1-5.

9. In the light of the above, do we have a reference to cite in the history of God’s professed Church in every age?

Answer: Yes.

“Who is on the LORD'S side? let him come unto me.” Exodus 32:26.

“Flee out of the midst of Babylon, and deliver every man his soul: be not cut off in her iniquity; for this is the time of the LORD'S vengeance. . . My people, go ye out of the midst of her, and deliver ye every man his soul from the fierce anger of the LORD.” Jeremiah 51:6, 48.

“And Elijah came unto all the people, and said, How long halt ye between two opinions? if the LORD be God, follow him: but if Baal, then follow him. And the people answered him not a word.” 1Kings 18:21.

“Depart ye, depart ye, go ye out from thence, touch no unclean thing; go ye out of the midst of her; be ye clean, that bear the vessels of the LORD.” Isaiah 52:11.

“Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you.” 2 Corinthians 6:17.

NOTE: "As the light and life of men was rejected by the ecclesiastical authorities in the days of Christ, so it has been rejected in every succeeding generation. Again and again the history of Christ's withdrawal from Judea has been repeated. When the Reformers preached the word of God, they had no thought of separating themselves from the established church; but the religious leaders would not tolerate the light, and those that bore it were forced to seek another class, who were longing for the truth. In our day few of the professed followers of the Reformers are actuated by their spirit. Few are listening for the voice of God, and ready to accept truth in whatever guise it may be presented. Often those who follow in the steps of the Reformers are forced to turn away from the churches they love, in order to declare the plain teaching of the word of God. And many times those who are seeking for light are by the same teaching obliged to leave the church of their fathers, that they may render obedience." The Desire of Ages, page 232.

“There was a coming out, a decided separation from the wicked, an escape for life. So it was in the days of Noah; so with Lot; so with the disciples prior to the destruction of Jerusalem; and so it will be in the last days.” Patriarchs and Prophects, page 166.

Come Out Of Her, My People

10. What fearful fate awaits those who do not heed the call to come out?

“Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues. . . . Therefore shall her plagues come in one day, death, and mourning, and famine; and she shall be utterly burned with fire: for strong is the Lord God who judgeth her.” Revelation 18:4, 8.

NOTE: "These plagues are not universal, or the inhabitants of the earth would be wholly cut off. Yet they will be the most awful scourges that have ever been known to mortals. All the judgments upon men, prior to the close of probation, have been mingled with mercy. The pleading blood of Christ has shielded the sinner from receiving the full measure of his guilt; but in the final judgment, wrath is poured out unmixed with mercy. In that day, multitudes will desire the shelter of God's mercy which they have so long despised. 'Behold, the days come, saith the Lord God, that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the Lord: and they shall wander from sea to sea, and from the north even to the east, they shall run to and fro to seek the word of the Lord, and shall not find it.' Amos 8:11, 12." The Great Controversy, pages 628-629.

"It is impossible for you to unite with those who are corrupt, and still remain pure. `What fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? and what concord hath Christ with Belial?' God and Christ and the heavenly host would have man know that if he unites with the corrupt, he will become corrupt." Review and Herald, January 2, 1900 par. 5.

11. After Christ presented truth to the people, what words did He speak next?

Answer: "Come, take up your cross and follow me" Luke 9:23.

"If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be..." John 12:26.

So wherever Christ's presence is, then there His servants will be also. The other side of the coin is also true, that where Christ's presence is not to be found, then Christ's true and honest servants will not be found there either, unless God directly leads them to be. So Christ's presence is the key to discovering where His church is.

"Where He (Christ) is, there His church shall be." The Desire of Ages, page 834.

NOTE: Since not one of any of the established denominations today are fit for fellowship according to the test of God's word, then where are we to fellowship together and worship God? In our very homes! God is not calling you to join any denomination in order to worship Him today because they are all defiled and corrupted by error and sin. But God is indeed calling you to worship Him in spirit and truth (see John 4:20-24), and this can be easily accomplished in your very homes--just like it was in the days of the disciples. (see Romans 16:5; 1 Corinthians 16:19; Acts 18:7; Colossians 4:15; Philemon 2.)

12. Who commands all of God's honest people to willingly separate from anything connected with Babylonian denominational Churches of today?

Answer: The Father. He is calling for the line of demarcation to be made distinct between His followers and Satan's followers. All of God's true people are to make the distinction plain by separating from all their established churches in Babylon.

God's people were not told to wait for the Babylonian churches to kick them out. It was so the people would connect and unite themselves only to God, and work to build up His kingdom once again.

Dear student: is following truth more precious to you than keeping church membership in a godless religious institution? Will you heed God’s invitation to come out of Babylon?