Chapter 17 Babylon.
THE latter chapters of the Book of Revelation bring before us some remarkable instruction in the way of contrast. It seems as if the lines that Satan pursued, and the acting’s of God, were here drawn together, to shew the just judgment upon men, the crushing of Satan, and the establishment of the kingdom and glory of God.
We have previously noticed the devil’s power of mimicry, his artful way of having something outwardly resembling what is of God, by which to accomplish his own evil purposes of dishonoring Christ, and deceiving the world. These things are very manifest in the closing scenes of this marvelous book, and they help us much in the understanding of things as they now are, as well as to what they are rapidly hastening.
In the 17th and 18th chapters, we have a woman and a city symbolically set before us; and in the following chapters we have also a woman and a city. The one filthy, and doomed to eternal destruction; the other holy, and having the glory of God. How unspeakably wide the contrast! Both these scenes were shown to John by an angel, perhaps the same angel, as the description is much the same in both instances. (Compare 17:1 with 21:9.) In the one he saw “the mother of harlots,” in the other “the bride, the Lamb’s wife.” To see the false and corrupt one, he had to go into the wilderness―the place outside God’s presence, her proper sphere; to behold the other, the Bride “dressed in beauty not her own,” he was carried into a great and high mountain, when he saw her descending out of heaven from God. But in both instances we are told that he was “in the spirit” in order to see these things. This is an important point to observe; for it teaches us that we need the Holy Ghost to perceive the workings and devices of Satan, as much as we do to discern the ways and purposes of God. How is it that many are in such ignorance of these things, and judge them matters of no importance? How is it that some persons, who are surrounded with corrupt Christianity, and often hearing of the beauty and glory of the co-heirs of Christ, yet seem never to perceive and grasp them as realities? Is it not because they are not shown them by the Holy Ghost? They may try to grasp them intellectually, and fail. Reason and argument are insufficient for apprehending spiritual mysteries. Babylon is called a mystery; Christ and the Church “the mystery.” God has now revealed them to us, and the revelations are to be received in all simplicity. For this, we need to be “in the Spirit.” These things were shown to John; the angel said, “Come hither. I will shew unto thee.” Let us never forget that the Spirit of truth, who guides into all truth, takes of the things of Christ, and shows them unto us, and it is by faith alone we receive God’s revelation, whether we can understand it or not.
As we have said, Satan is an imitator, so that there are similarities as well as contrasts. God has a bride, Satan has a harlot. God’s people are seated in the heavenlies, so we are repeatedly told that the woman sitteth; the former are raised up together, and made to sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus, the latter sits upon the beast. The harlot is “arrayed” in purple and scarlet color, and decked with gold, and precious stones and pearls; but to the bride was granted that she should be “arrayed” in fine linen, clean and white. The harlot holds a golden cup in her hand, to give drink to thirsty souls; but only to deceive and intoxicate―to act upon the senses, having no power to relieve a burdened heart and conscience. It is a bewitching cup. It is full of wine of fornication, making all drunk who take it, and drawing the affections from Christ. It is brim full of wine of filthiness and abomination. But, thank God, there is another cup which souls may drink―a cup of blessing, full of peace, and consolation, and joy for sin-sick, troubled souls; it is the cup of the Saviour’s blood, full of the love of God to sinners, which draws the heart to God, and keeps the heart for God. This “cup of blessing which we bless” cheers both God and man, fills the soul with joy and gladness, and restores the distrustful heart to happy confidence in God. It is the best wine, which makes the lips to speak (Song of Solomon 7:99And the roof of thy mouth like the best wine for my beloved, that goeth down sweetly, causing the lips of those that are asleep to speak. (Song of Solomon 7:9)); it makes the whole soul to enter into the unutterable sorrows of Jesus on the Cross, when “He poured out His soul unto death,” and separates the affections and desires unto God and Christ in the heaven lies, and therefore from this present evil world. It is
“The balm of life, the cure of woe,
The measure, and the pledge of love;
The sinner’s refuge here below,
The angels’ theme in heaven above.”
The harlot’s cup can only gratify the fleshly appetite for a passing moment, and ends in wailing and gnashing of teeth; it stands in widest contrast with the “living water” of the gospel, the pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, which proceedeth out of the throne of God, and of the Lamb.
The woman’s heart and desires are gratified with the kings of the earth; the inhabitants of the earth drink of her intoxicating cup; thus she receives a wide and popular patronage; but those who are with the Lamb are called (let us think of this), and chosen, and faithful. (verse 14.) Oneness of mind may characterize those who are in league with the harlot, as one mind and one judgment should characterize God’s children now; but her doom shall come, and she shall be utterly burned with fire, while the Bride shat shine in unutterable beauty and untreated light In pride and self-esteem, the harlot has long said “I sit a queen, and am no widow, and shall set no sorrow,” while the Church is mourning the absence of her loving Lord; yet her judgment and eternal abasement shall quickly come. And while the Church of God now knows tribulation and suffering, and rejection for Christ’s sake, the wicked woman prospers in riches, successful commerce, and abundance of delicacies; yet suddenly―in one hour―shall God’s judgment overtake her; her mirth forever cease, her light be forever extinguished, and her dainty and goodly things forever depart from her. His name will be written in her forehead, “Mystery Babylon the great, the mother of harlots, and abominations in the earth.” But, alas! how unlike God’s loved ones! of whom it is promised, “They shall see His face, and His name shall be in their foreheads.” (chapter 22:4.)
We have already seen the fall of Babylon referred to, both in the 14th and 16th chapters in the 17th and 18th chapters we have detail: of her characteristics. She is presented under two symbols, a woman and a city, and they seem both needed, the one to shew us her principles, the other the results of her harlotry. In the Bride and the city in the following chapters we see the relationship of affection in which she stands to God and the Lamb, and her subsequent display in glory, having the glory of God.
Babylon means confusion―the cunning union of things divine and worldly; the lust of the eye, lust of the flesh, and pride of life, trafficking with the things of God. It therefore has both a religious and civil aspect. It is the old sin of Cain, with a false religion murdering his righteous brother, deliberately going out from tilt presence of God, and obtaining a place of ease, luxury, and influence in the earth. We do violence to truth to limit Babylon to Romanism. It abounds in Protestantism, and in fact everywhere wherever the name of Christ is used to sanction worldliness; or the truth of revelation used for worldly advancement, instead of for the glory of God. This is spiritual adultery; it is referred to by the apostle James when he says, “Ye adulterers, and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity will God? Whosoever, therefore, will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.” (chapter 4:4.) This is very solemn and searching, and it behooves us to see well to it that we are spiritual, and not carnal, cleaving to the Lord himself with full purpose of heart, instead of to this present evil world. Paul was very watchful on this point in his care over the saints. He says, “I am jealous over you with godly jealousy; for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ. But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve, through his subtlety, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.” (2 Corinthians 11:2, 32For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ. 3But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. (2 Corinthians 11:2‑3).)
Babylon of the Apocalyse cannot be a literal city, because we are told that “in her was found the blood of all that were slain in the earth” (18:24); but it is religious corruption, which, like Babylon of old, often takes God’s people captive. It is a wide-spread system: man in the flesh taking up and corrupting the things of God, making himself or the world the object, instead of God’s glory; ensnaring the affections from God and Christ, and filling the mind with earthliness. It began very early in the world, and our Lord seemed to refer to it, when He said to the Pharisees, “Behold, I send unto you prophets, and wise men, and scribes: and some of them ye shall kill and crucify; and some of them ye shall scourge in your synagogues, and persecute them from city to city: that upon you may come all the righteous blood shed upon the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel unto the blood of Zacharias, son of Barachias, whom ye slew between the temple and the altar.” (Matthew 23:34, 3534Wherefore, behold, I send unto you prophets, and wise men, and scribes: and some of them ye shall kill and crucify; and some of them shall ye scourge in your synagogues, and persecute them from city to city: 35That upon you may come all the righteous blood shed upon the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel unto the blood of Zacharias son of Barachias, whom ye slew between the temple and the altar. (Matthew 23:34‑35).) Oh! beloved in the Lord, let us watch against the spirit of Babylon which surrounds us; it easily and plausibly insinuates itself. What harm is there, says one or another, in going here and there, and seeing this and that? Can you do it in obedience to our Lord? Is it not a temptation to take a sip out of the harlot’s intoxicating cup? Let us feed upon Christ; for His flesh is meat indeed, and His blood drink indeed: this will strengthen our faith and love, and make us abhor instead of taste the harlot’s cup.
“Redouble your precautions, O ye saints!―
Aware of the destroyer! Stop the gaps
Where, entering silently, he spoils the vines.
Be cautious! for your enemy is strong;
To sleepless malice adds perfected craft,
And spiteful certainty of shortening rule;
To know, if ye are Christ’s, your struggling souls
Resist a baffled and defeated foe.
‘Take ye these foes,’ who contrive the woe
Of God’s Jerusalem! expose their craft;
Seize your keen weapons, servants of the Lord,
And sword in hand, yea, in your armor, build
Her walls and fences that are broken down:
The weakest is made strong who cleaves to Christ.”
Those who have to do most with the blood have the greatest peace.