There was once a mighty city called Babylon, the glory of the Chaldean kingdom and the praise of the whole earth (Jer. 51:4141How is Sheshach taken! and how is the praise of the whole earth surprised! how is Babylon become an astonishment among the nations! (Jeremiah 51:41)). But her sins rose up to heaven, and judgment from God went forth against her. In the Book of Revelation, Babylon is used figuratively by the Spirit of God to describe a vast system that is rapidly developing upon the earth at the present moment, against which the judgment of God has already been pronounced. It is prefigured in two aspects — as a woman and as a city. The woman’s name is “Mystery, Babylon the Great, the mother of harlots and abominations of the earth.” Babylon represents a vast system built up by man upon the earth through the exercise of his own will, in rebellion against God, under the influence of Satan. It comprises a vast mixture of natural and religious elements, ostensibly combined for the glory of God, but actually for the glory of man himself. Protestants apply this scripture to Romanists, but all Christendom would do well to take heed to the solemn contents of the chapter where this evil system is described.
The prophet John, carried away in spirit into the wilderness, saw a woman seated upon a beast, holding out to her devotees a golden cup of intoxicating wickedness (Rev. 17:3-43So he carried me away in the spirit into the wilderness: and I saw a woman sit upon a scarlet colored beast, full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns. 4And the woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet color, and decked with gold and precious stones and pearls, having a golden cup in her hand full of abominations and filthiness of her fornication: (Revelation 17:3‑4)). The woman represents ecclesiastical evil, and the beast, worldly power. Professing to be the dwelling place of the Holy Spirit of God, she becomes the habitation of demons, the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird (Rev. 18:22And 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 18:2)).
Then we read: “Upon her forehead was a name written, Mystery, Babylon the great, the mother of harlots and abominations of the earth” (vs. 5). By “mystery” we understand that this had not been revealed before and that it was something which could not have been understood but for this divine explanation. “Babylon the great” sets forth her corrupting character. The professing church on earth, rejected as Laodicea, refused as Christ’s light-bearer in the world, will finally concentrate within herself, and in a more intense form, all the evils that marked Babylon of old. This wicked “woman” is also a mother, a mother of other systems, as false to Christ as herself. It is thus not only Popery, but all other systems that derive their parentage from her and partake of her character.
The Fall of Babylon
In Revelation 18:21-2421And a mighty angel took up a stone like a great millstone, 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. 22And the voice of harpers, and musicians, and of pipers, and trumpeters, shall be heard no more at all in thee; and no craftsman, of whatsoever craft he be, shall be found any more in thee; and the sound of a millstone shall be heard no more at all in thee; 23And the light of a candle shall shine no more at all in thee; and the voice of the bridegroom and of the bride shall be heard no more at all in thee: for thy merchants were the great men of the earth; for by thy sorceries were all nations deceived. 24And in her was found the blood of prophets, and of saints, and of all that were slain upon the earth. (Revelation 18:21‑24) we have the manner of her fall: “A mighty angel took up a stone like a great millstone, 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.” Yes, there is a moment coming when, with violence, Babylon shall be utterly overthrown. Her music, her arts and manufactures, her trade, her artificial light, all shall cease. Even the joy of natural relationship shall be known in her no more. God will avenge Himself upon her for her sorceries by which all nations are deceived and for the blood of His martyred loved ones which lies at her door. He is strong that executes His Word.
The Merchandise of Babylon
Notice the lamentation of those who drank of her intoxicating cup. First, we have the kings of the earth. They bewail and lament as they see the smoke of her burning, saying, “Alas, alas, that great city Babylon, that mighty city! for in one hour is thy judgment come.”
Second, the merchants of the earth join in the same cry, “Alas, alas, that great city, that was clothed in fine linen, and purple, and scarlet, and decked with gold, and precious stones, and pearls! For in one hour so great riches is come to naught.”
Third, the shipmasters, sailors and traders cast dust on their heads, crying, weeping and wailing, and say, “Alas, alas, that great city, wherein were made rich all that had ships in the sea by reason of her costliness! for in one hour is she made desolate.”
Note, too, the description given by the Spirit of God of Babylon’s merchandise: “Gold, and silver, and precious stones, and of pearls, and fine linen, and purple, and silk, and scarlet, and all thyine wood, and all manner vessels of ivory, and all manner vessels of most precious wood, and of brass, and iron, and marble, and cinnamon, and odors, and ointments, and frankincense, and wine, and oil, and fine flour, and wheat, and beasts, and sheep, and horses, and chariots, and slaves [or bodies] and souls of men” (Rev. 18:12-1312The merchandise of gold, and silver, and precious stones, and of pearls, and fine linen, and purple, and silk, and scarlet, and all thyine wood, and all manner vessels of ivory, and all manner vessels of most precious wood, and of brass, and iron, and marble, 13And cinnamon, and odors, and ointments, and frankincense, and wine, and oil, and fine flour, and wheat, and beasts, and sheep, and horses, and chariots, and slaves, and souls of men. (Revelation 18:12‑13)). We get in this list things most valuable in the eyes of men. Gold stands first, but the souls of men are last. God knows the heart, and He knows the order of precedence in man’s estimate. Babylon’s general store has all the luxuries and necessities, used by some, indulged in by others, but with no fear of God before their eyes (Rom. 3:1818There is no fear of God before their eyes. (Romans 3:18)). So degraded and perverted is she that she actually traffics religiously in the bodies and souls of men! Shall not God judge for these things? Indeed He will.
Her Adornment
Remark too another striking point about this vast and wicked system. In describing her adornment in Revelation 17:44And the woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet color, and decked with gold and precious stones and pearls, having a golden cup in her hand full of abominations and filthiness of her fornication: (Revelation 17:4), purple and scarlet color (imperial raiment) are mentioned, but there is a total absence of fine linen. Now we are told that the fine linen represents the righteousnesses of the saints; that is, the practical righteousness wrought in the saints, God’s people, by the power of the Spirit of God. This is utterly lacking in Babylon. Those who wear true fine linen are objects of her hate. But when the Spirit of God describes her traffic, fine linen is brought in. She knows how to turn it to account, to get advantage and wealth to herself through the faithfulness of the children of God. How many at that day will be found guilty of this! And the merchants too, bewailing her fall, cry, “Alas, alas, that great city, that was clothed in fine linen.” Looking at it morally, we see how they are deceived by Satan and are color-blind. They esteem as fine linen that which is but worldly abomination in the sight of God (Luke 16:1515And he said unto them, Ye are they which justify yourselves before men; but God knoweth your hearts: for that which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God. (Luke 16:15)).
This a dark and solemn picture, but it is no sketch of fancy; it is the reliable Word of God. To speak broadly, it is God’s view of Christendom. His thoughts are not as ours. Thoughts, ideas, opinions, theology, religion — all are valueless unless they answer to “Thus saith the Lord.” God has spoken. “To this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at My word” (Isa. 66:22For all those things hath mine hand made, and all those things have been, saith the Lord: but to this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at my word. (Isaiah 66:2)).
Her End
As we see all the developing in these last days and as we contemplate the awful end of such a system, we do well to heed the warning given in Revelation 18:44And 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): “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.” It is easy for believers to get caught up in worldliness and to be occupied with the same things with which Babylon is trading today. To see her end and then to have our eyes on the One whose glory will eclipse all the glory of Babylon will keep us away from all that formal religion offers.
E. H. Chater (adapted)