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What is Babylon?
by
Ron Parsons
A whole church cannot BECOME Babylon – only individuals can JOIN her.
This is the heart of the confusion regarding the SDA church today.
Now let me explain what I mean.
The church system known as Babylon has been with us from the very beginning in open opposition to God’s way. When Cain left the outskirts of the Garden he travelled east and set up the rival system in the area which later became known as the city of Babel. This was a public system which those who did not like God’s way could join. To cause great confusion among Christians, he used a similar form of worship including the title “Lord” (as opposed to LORD) for his god of force.
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16 And Cain went out from the presence of the LORD, and dwelt in the land of Nod, on the east of Eden. 17 And Cain knew his wife; and she conceived, and bare Enoch: and he built a city, and called the name of the city, after the name of his son, Enoch.
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There were two systems, side by side, one of which every human being must be in. The public difference between Babylon and the heathen or pagan religions which Satan has also set up, is that Babylon professes to be Christian and worship the same Saviour on Sunday, while pagans have other days. Babylon is, none the less, totally satanic. Another characteristic of this system is that it always wants to control the state.
There are only two parties upon this earth--those who stand under the bloodstained banner of Jesus Christ and those who stand under the black banner of rebellion. In the twelfth chapter of Revelation is represented the great conflict between the obedient and the disobedient. [Rev. 12:17; 13:11-17 quoted].
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We are all physically born into one of Satan's religions (even atheists although they may deny it!) and must choose to be spiritually translated out of it into God's kingdom at conversion, and then we must remove ourselves physically at His call. Colossians 1:12-14; Revelation 18:4. It is a characteristic of lukewarm Christians in the Sabbath-keeping church that they tend to fall back into the ways of the system from which they came, while maintaining an outward connection with God, but “shakings” from heaven eventually sort out the genuine ones.
8 Howbeit then, when you knew not God, you did service to them which by nature are no gods [the pagan deities]. 9 But now, after that you have known God, or rather are known of God, how turn you again to the weak and beggarly elements [of false religion], whereunto you desire again to be in bondage? 10 You observe days, and months, and times, and years [the heathen festivals, just like in the old days]. 11 I am afraid of you, lest I have bestowed upon you labour in vain.
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Under Satan’s leadership, Cain carried his rebellion to its ultimate end by choosing as his chief “flag” or “test” of loyalty, Sunday-keeping. It was his day of public recognition, because he used the sun as the physical symbol of his god of force.
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Before the Fall our first parents had kept the Sabbath, which was instituted in Eden; and after their expulsion from Paradise they continued its observance. They had tasted the bitter fruits of disobedience, and had learned what every one that tramples upon God's commandments will sooner or later learn--that the divine precepts are sacred and immutable, and that the penalty of transgression will surely be inflicted.
The Sabbath was honored by all the children of Adam that remained loyal to God. BUT CAIN AND HIS DESCENDANTS DID NOT RESPECT THE DAY UPON WHICH GOD HAD RESTED. THEY CHOSE THEIR OWN TIME FOR LABOR AND FOR REST, REGARDLESS OF JEHOVAH'S EXPRESS COMMAND.
Upon receiving the curse of God, Cain had withdrawn from his father's household. He had first chosen his occupation as a tiller of the soil, and he now founded a city, calling it after the name of his eldest son [Gen. 4:17]. He had gone out from the presence of the Lord, cast away the promise of the restored Eden, to seek his possessions and enjoyment in the earth under the curse of sin, thus standing at the head of that great class of men who worship the god of this world.
For a time [after the Flood] the descendants of Noah [the Sabbath-keepers] continued to dwell among the mountains where the ark had rested. As their numbers increased, apostasy soon led to division.
Those who desired to forget their Creator and to cast off the restraint of His law felt a constant annoyance from the teaching and example of their God-fearing associates, and after a time THEY DECIDED TO SEPARATE from the worshipers of God. Accordingly they journeyed to the plain of Shinar, on the banks of the river Euphrates. . . . {LDE 109.2}
Here they decided to build a city, and in it a tower of such stupendous height as should render it the wonder of the world [Gen. 11:2-4].-- {LDE 110.1}
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Separation without authorisation from God is a mark of apostasy. That authorisation comes only at the beginning of a new dispensation. Thus at the end of the Jewish dispensation and the beginning of the Gospel dispensation, the Christians withdrew from Jewry. There was, however, an overlap of seven years between 27AD when the gospel dispensation began and 34AD when Judaism finished, when they could be in both. Daniel 9:25-27. That’s why Jesus could legally ordain His ministers, and yet attend the Jewish ceremonies as well. His disciples were very slow to learn of their dual role and many of them clung to it after the stoning of Stephen when they should have left Jerusalem. (See endnote 5.)
Then in 1844 when the last dispensation began (Ephesians 1:10) there came a call to come out of Babylon. (See The Sanctuary, by O. R. L. Crozier.) As in the time of Christ we have an overlap also which has now stretched to 157 years, so Christians can still be in both!! (That is, if they don’t know the truth about the Sabbath “rest”.)
But there has been no other dispensation since then, and therefore no new call to leave the Sabbath-keeping church. Laodicea is the last church before the second advent.
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The Pharisee and the publican represent TWO GREAT CLASSES INTO WHICH THOSE WHO COME TO WORSHIP GOD ARE DIVIDED. [See Endnote 1.]
Their first two representatives are found in the first two children that were born into the world. Cain thought himself righteous, and he came to God with a thank offering only. He made no confession of sin, and acknowledged no need of mercy [Therefore, like the Pharisee, he was NOT a Christian although he tried to behave like one].
But Abel came with the blood that pointed to the Lamb of God. He came as a sinner, confessing himself lost; his only hope was the unmerited love of God. The Lord had respect to his offering, but to Cain and his offering He had not respect. The sense of need, the recognition of our poverty and sin, is the very first condition of acceptance with God. "Blessed are the poor in spirit; for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." Matt. 5:3.
{Conflict and Courage 24.5}
Cain had the same opportunity of learning and accepting these truths as had Abel. He was not the victim of an arbitrary purpose. One brother was not elected to be accepted of God, and the other to be rejected. Abel chose faith and obedience; Cain, unbelief and rebellion. Here the whole matter rested.
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And so it still does!! If we don’t tell them that their system is not Christian, then it is no wonder that they don’t want to leave!!
After the Flood the opposition became even more obvious and we have the events of Genesis chapters 10 and 11 during which the nations came into existence as counterfeits of God’s kingdom. Round about that time the physical geography of the kingdom of civil Babylon was set by Nimrod, “the mighty hunter before [against] the LORD, Genesis 10:9), and the religious system was organised by its side after his death by his wife.
It prospered so well that when Belshazzar was killed in Daniel’s time (c 538BC), the entire religious system was taken by some priests into Pergamos in modern Turkey, and the king/priest idea became finalised. (See The Two Babylons, by Alexander Hislop. Available at any good Bible bookshop.)
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12 And to the angel of the church in Pergamos write; “These things says He which has the sharp sword with two edges; 13 I know your works and where you dwell, EVEN WHERE SATAN'S SEAT IS: and you hold fast My name, and have not denied My faith, even in those days wherein Antipas was My faithful martyr, who was slain among you, where Satan dwells.”
14 “But I have a few things against you, because you have there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balac to cast a stumblingblock before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed to idols, and to commit fornication.”
15 “So have you also them that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitanes, which thing I hate.”
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The DOCTRINE of the Nicolaitanes is that the CLERGY have CONTROL of the CONGREGATION and can stand between them and God, which is why God “hates” it. (A. T. Jones, Lessons From the Reformation, CHAPTER XIII. page 221. See endnote 2.) God wants everyone to be free to approach Him directly through Jesus Christ. For “antipas” see endnote 4.
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Cain and Abel represent two classes that will exist in the world till the close of time. One class avail themselves of the appointed sacrifice for sin; the other venture to depend upon their own merits; theirs is a sacrifice without the virtue of divine mediation, and thus it is not able to bring man into favor with God.
It is only through the merits of Jesus that our transgressions can be pardoned. Those who feel no need of the blood of Christ, who feel that without divine grace they can by their own works secure the approval of God, are making the same mistake as did Cain. If they do not accept the cleansing blood, they are under condemnation.
There is no other provision made whereby they can be released from the thralldom [slavery] of sin.
The class of worshipers who follow the example of Cain includes by far the greater portion of the world; for nearly every false religion has been based on the same principle--that man can depend upon his own efforts for salvation.
It is claimed by some that the human race is in need, not of redemption, but of development--that it can refine, elevate, and regenerate itself. [The theory of evolution was just beginning to catch the public eye when this was written.]
As Cain thought to secure the divine favor by an offering that lacked the blood of a sacrifice, so do these expect to exalt humanity to the divine standard, independent of the atonement. The history of Cain shows what must be the results. It shows what man will become apart from Christ. Humanity has no power to regenerate itself. It does not tend upward, toward the divine, but downward, toward the satanic. Christ is our only hope. "There is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved." "Neither is there salvation in any other." Acts 4:12.
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But Babylon’s masterstroke of god/king prospered and later, when a certain god/king of Pergamos died, he left his entire kingdom to the Romans in his will. (Yes, he could do that for he “owned” the people as well as the country.) The leader of Rome at that time (around 50BC), a Republican named Julius Caesar, accepted the country and became also the Supreme Pontiff under its rules. (See The Two Babylons, by Alexander Hislop. Available at any good Bible bookshop.)
Then Julius went even further and claimed to be literally descended from the gods. It was this action, more than any other, by which he proclaimed a relationship with the gods, that offended his fellow Romans and caused his death. They could accept a tyrant, but not a god at that time. Later of course, they were happy to have both in one man.
And that’s how Babylon came to Rome. It was NOT a copy, but simply the original moved from one city to another. The title of Supreme Pontiff was eventually taken over by the professed Christian bishop of Rome about 508AD.
When the great contest between papal Rome and the rest of the professed Christian world came to a head in the first few centuries of the Christian era, it was Babylonian Rome that won in the Easter contest and the honouring of Sunday. Then it was that the real Christians of the time had to make a decision. Should they join this ancient system which was so like the true, or should they follow the Lamb of God?
God tells us that the majority of them accepted His leadership AND WENT INTO THE WILDERNESS, not into that system.
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And the woman [the Sabbath-keeping church] fled into the wilderness, where she has a place prepared of God, that they should feed her there a thousand two hundred and threescore days.
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What is the wilderness? Not Europe where the Roman Catholic (Babylonian) system prospered during that 1260 years, but all the rest of the world where men and women starved for the truth. (See The Church Triumphant, by Pastor Wilkinson. See Endnote 3) This means the Orient and Middle East. God promised to look after her while she was doing this work and that’s what He did. Of course, a few Sabbath-keepers stayed on in Europe (Waldenses etc.) but it was mostly given into Satan’s hands.
Have you ever wondered why God seems to have worked in Europe with Babylon during the 1260 years? That’s because the PR people of the Catholic church would have the world believe that Catholicism is Christian and most people accept that it is. Therefore they think He was working there with that system, but of course, He cannot work with the opposition because they won’t listen!
So what did go on in Europe?
The false system of Babylon flourished (with the Sabbath-keeping church in the background) until 1517 when Martin Luther found the truth of “justification by faith” and began to proclaim it IN BABYLON. Then came the first call to leave “Babylon” but NONE came out completely. The so-called Protestant churches were NOT Christian in their doctrines or their day of worship. Don’t get me wrong, there were many very sincere individual Christians during that time, but they were very wrong in their behaviour as God tells us.
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1 And to the angel of the church in Sardis write; “These things says He that has the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars; I know your works, that you have a name [among men] that you live, and are [really] dead [in My sight].”
2 “Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die: FOR I HAVE NOT FOUND YOUR WORKS PERFECT BEFORE GOD.”
3 “Remember therefore how you have received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. If therefore you shall not watch, I will come on you as a thief, and you shall not know what hour I will come upon you [and that’s what happened in 1844].”
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So, regardless of what they say or what we would like to think, the organised churches of Protestantism are NOT Christian in God’s eyes. Individuals in them, yes, denominations or systems, no. The majority of professed Protestant Christians fought literally on battlefields over points of doctrine, and burnt men and women at the stake just like the Catholics. (See Foxe’s Book of Martyrs.) They showed themselves indeed to be “daughters” of Babylon. Revelation 17:5. The ministers and leading men in those systems today really do know what they are doing, and will be the first in raising calls for the persecution of the Commandment-keeping people.
So what fell in 1844?
The second angel said, “BABYLON [not Christianity] is fallen” and that applied to the Protestant churches we are told.
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Furthermore, in the eighteenth chapter of the Revelation the people of God are called upon to come out of Babylon. According to this scripture, many of God's people must still be in Babylon. And in what religious bodies are the greater part of the followers of Christ now to be found? Without doubt, in the various churches professing the Protestant faith.
At the time of their rise these churches took a noble stand for God and the truth, and His blessing was with them. Even the unbelieving world was constrained to acknowledge the beneficent results that followed an acceptance of the principles of the gospel. In the words of the prophet to Israel: "Thy renown went forth among the heathen for thy beauty: for it was perfect through My comeliness, which I had put upon thee, saith the Lord God."
But they fell by the same desire which was the curse and ruin of Israel--the desire of imitating the practices and courting the friendship of the ungodly. "Thou didst trust in thine own beauty, and playedst the harlot because of thy renown." Ezekiel 16:14, 15.
Many of the Protestant churches are following Rome's example of iniquitous connection with "the kings of the earth"--the state churches, by their relation to secular governments; and other denominations, by seeking the favor of the world. And the term "Babylon"--confusion--may be appropriately applied to these bodies, all professing to derive their doctrines from the Bible, yet divided into almost innumerable sects, with widely conflicting creeds and theories.
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Then I heard the voice of another angel saying, "Babylon is fallen, is fallen!" A light shone upon those desponding ones, and with ardent desires for His appearing, they again fixed their eyes upon Jesus.
I saw a number of angels conversing with the one who had cried, "Babylon is fallen," and these united with him in the cry, "Behold, the Bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet Him." The musical voices of these angels seemed to reach everywhere. An exceedingly bright and glorious light shone around those who had cherished the light which had been imparted to them. Their faces shone with excellent glory, and they united with the angels in the cry, "Behold, the Bridegroom cometh."
As they harmoniously raised the cry among the different companies, those who rejected the light pushed them and with angry looks scorned and derided them. But angels of God wafted their wings over the persecuted ones, while Satan and his angels were seeking to press their darkness around them, to lead them to reject the light from heaven.
Then I heard a voice saying to those who had been pushed and derided, "Come out from among them, and TOUCH NOT THE UNCLEAN."
In obedience to this voice, a large number broke the cords which bound them, and leaving the companies that were in darkness, joined those who had previously gained their freedom, and joyfully united their voices with them. I heard the voice of earnest, agonizing prayer from a few who still remained with the companies that were in darkness. THE MINISTERS AND LEADING MEN WERE PASSING AROUND IN THESE DIFFERENT COMPANIES, FASTENING THE CORDS MORE FIRMLY; but still I heard this voice of earnest prayer.
Then I saw those who had been praying reach out their hands for help toward the united company who were free, rejoicing in God. The answer from them, as they earnestly looked to heaven, and pointed upward, was, "Come out from among them, and be separate." I saw individuals struggling for freedom, and at last they broke the cords that bound them.
THEY RESISTED THE EFFORTS WHICH WERE MADE TO FASTEN THE CORDS TIGHTER AND REFUSED TO HEED THE REPEATED ASSERTIONS: "GOD IS WITH US." "WE HAVE THE TRUTH WITH US."
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Thus in 1844-46 God was able to bring His Sabbath-keeping church back into the limelight from the wilderness. And where did the Babylonian system go? Into the wilderness where it still is.
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1 And there came one of the seven angels which had the seven vials, and talked with me, saying to me, “Come here; I will show to you the judgment of the great whore [the church system] that sits upon many waters [congregations]: 2 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.”
3 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.
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And where is that wilderness today? Aren’t the Roman Catholic system and the Protestants systems still with us? How are they in the wilderness then? By the fact that they do not have much influence in state affairs right now. They try, and they try, but they cannot get their Sunday system of force back on the agenda of the nations.
But we all know that they will be successful again and cause Babylon to come back from the wilderness. At that time all the religious organisations in opposition to God, professed Christian and unprofessed, will unite in one great confederation known as “Great Babylon”.
So to say that the organised and visible Sabbath-keeping church of God on earth has become (or has evolved into) Babylon shows a lack of understanding of the issues at stake today. The two great systems have always been visible and each individual must choose which one he or she wishes to be with.
Sure, the Sabbath-keeping system is not good, to say the least, but God knows that. He has no illusions as to what His “wife” is doing but He loves what she represents. And she is better on the whole than Babylon because she will eventually “come back”, or repent as Gomer did. The 144,000 will all be Seventh-day Adventists.
Please, please, read Hosea and see how he felt and behaved when his wife ran off, for God tells us that’s how He feels and is behaving about the Seventh-day Adventist church.
Then read Ezekiel chapter 16 for the real truth of what’s going on. You can read them on the following sites.
Hosea
Ezekiel 16
http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Oracle/1388/origin_church.html#top
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Many of our ministers have merely sermonized, presenting subjects in an argumentative way, and scarcely mentioning the saving power of the Redeemer. Their testimony was destitute of the saving blood of Christ.
Their offering resembled the offering of Cain. He brought to the Lord the fruit of the ground, which in itself was acceptable in God's sight. Very good indeed was the fruit; but the virtue of the offering--the blood of the slain lamb, representing the blood of Christ--was lacking.
So it is with Christless sermons. By them men are not pricked to the heart; they are not led to inquire, What must I do to be saved? Of all professing Christians, Seventh-day Adventists should be foremost in uplifting Christ before the world.-- Gospel Workers, p. 156. (1915)
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What many do not seem to realise is that if there are real Christians still in Babylon who must be called out, then there must be Babylonians in the SDA church (tares amongst the wheat). If the figures given by Christ in another picture are any indication (Matthew 25), then half of the church membership is on Satan’s side! But many of the true Christians are doubting Thomases or lazy workers, so that tips the scale heavily into Satan’s lap, so why are we so offended that the church seems so Laodicean?
Another thought. Even though the Jewish church rejected God’s way I have never heard anyone call it “Babylon”.
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The word "Nicolaitans" comes from the two words nikao and laos: nikao means "to conquer," to get "the upper hand," to have "the ascendancy, in all relations"; and laos -- "the people at large" as distinguished from "the clergy."
The word then signifies that conquering or conquest of "the people" of the churches by that mischievous insect of the kleros or "clergy" in the Christian beehive: that persistent spirit of the princedom of the Gentiles that must exercise among Christians dominion and authority.
In the Ephesus period of the churches where this thing was first manifested it was hated. But when we come only to the third period, that of Pergamos, it was actually held. "So hast thou also them that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitanes, which thing I hate." Rev. 2: 15.
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“Truth Triumphant” shows that the historical church was NOT the inheritor of the gospel from the apostles as so many of us have thought in the past. Indeed it did not receive the gospel until Martin Luther found it in the writings of Paul around 1517AD and this caused him to eventually break away from the Roman Catholic church.
The church of God which did receive the gospel direct from the apostles went "into the wilderness" in 538AD, NOT UNDERGROUND! It did its job effectively and silently, but visibly, throughout the entire world – not just in Europe where its archrival worked for most of its time.
This quote from the book itself will explain most of its subject matter.
"Certain modern authors have assiduously labored to belittle the American founders of religious liberty and democracy, such as Washington, Jefferson, and others. This same class of writers has invaded the realm of church history, and that which was obscure before is growing darker."
"These men seek to give the glory of the Church in the Wilderness to another."
"Sad to relate, many sincere persons are being deceived by the astounding propaganda in books and articles founded on misleading historical bases. It is time to bring to light the many heroic struggles of the men whom God used to preserve the divine doctrines and the Holy Scriptures.
The statements here made concerning the Church in the Wilderness and its history will be clarified, enlarged upon, and further explained and supported by evidence from dependable sources." Pages 10-11.
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ECC CHAPTER I. page 6 paragraph 1.
In this letter Christ mentions with commendation the fact that His Church had held fast His name, and had not denied His faith, "even in those days wherein Antipas was my faithful martyr." This word "Antipas" is not a person's name, but is a term characteristic of the times [those against the papacy].
It is composed of two words, anti, and pappas. "anti" signifies against, and "pappas" signifies papa, which is our English, and also the universal, word for "papa." And this word "papa" is but the repetition of the simple word "pa," and is the original of the word "pope."
paragraph 2.
Therefore, the word "Antipas" -- "against `pas' or `papas'" -- shows the growth of the papa-cy in the period immediately following A. D. 313. This was the period of Constantine and onward, in which the papa-cy itself was distinctly formed.
And history records that in that time, while the other principal bishops of the Church bore the title of "patriarch," the bishop of Rome studiously avoided that particular term, as placing him on a level with other "patriarchs." He always preferred the title of "papa," or "pope" (Schaff): and this because "patriarch" bespeaks an oligarchical Church government -- that is government by a few; whereas "pope" bespeaks a monarchial Church government -- that is government by one.
Thus the history, and the word of the counsel of Christ, unite in marking as the characteristic of that phase of the Church's experience, the formation of the papa-cy, and the assertion of the authority of the pope.
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The day of Pentecost came. Great additions were made to the church. In one day five thousand were converted. The disciples began to think that they had a great work to do in Jerusalem, in shielding the members of this church from the snares and opposition of the enemy.
They did not realize that strength to resist temptation is best gained by active service. They did not educate the new church members to become workers together with God in carrying the gospel message to those who had not received the glad tidings of salvation through Christ.
Instead, they were in danger of remaining with the church that they had raised up, and of being satisfied with what had been accomplished. The Lord permitted persecution to come upon His church, to scatter His representatives abroad, where they could work for others. Stephen and several other Christians died martyrs to their faith; the church members were scattered; and the gospel was proclaimed with power "in all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth."--Ms 126, 1902, pp. 11, 12. (Sermon, October 11, 1902.) {7MR 362.1}
What we need is the understanding of the Word of God. We need to keep the principles of this work in mind, that we may proclaim the truth in its purity and harmony, as it is given in the Scriptures.--Ms 74, 1905, p. 3. ("Our Duty Toward the Jews," Talk, May 29, 1902.)
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The following is a letter written recently regarding this subject:
Dear A,
You have to keep adding the word “spiritual” to “Babylon”. Why? The Bible does not do that. Babylon is an easily seen organisation and each one can choose whether to stay in it or not. It was organised to oppose God’s visible group on earth and to counterfeit His system. That’s why the heathen religions are not considered by the Bible as part of Babylon – they don’t pretend to be Christian.
We should be very clear as to who are Babylon and her “daughters” as described in Revelation 17. The descendants of Babylon are called by the name “Babylon” too, not by the title “Christian”.
It seems to me that the word “spiritual” (aka “invisible”, another non-biblical term) confuses the issue, for who can know who is in, or not, a “spiritual” church. Not even ourselves!! We should take note of Peter’s experience when he said he would not deny Christ. Matthew 26:33-34. They (the others) might, but not him, he thought! However, when push came to crunch, as we all know, he found that he did not know himself as well as his LORD knew him.
When tested afterwards he would not take the right to stand for himself anymore, but left it entirely in the hands of Jesus. John 21:15-19.
Regards,
Click here to see "The Invisible Church"
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