4. The Response to Babylon Fallen

How do we respond to the condition of “Babylon Fallen?”  The Second Angel’s message does not give any specific instructions, but those who know the Scriptures would know what to do in response.

They may have read, for example, the Book of the Prophet Isaiah, which directs, “Go ye forth of Babylon, flee ye from the Chaldeans, with a voice of singing declare ye, tell this, utter it even to the end of the earth; say ye, ‘Yahweh hath redeemed his servant Jacob.’” (Isa 48:20)

When literal Babylon fell, it was taken over by Medo-Persia. The people of Yahweh were immediately released and sent back to their home to rebuild the temple and the true worship of Yahweh. So there’s not just the coming out, but historically, the precedent of uniting in the truth as well.

They were allowed to rebuild, yes...  That’s right.  But now some may say, “But that verse refers to Babylon, and the literal one at that. Does that mean Christians are to leave an organization as soon as it begins to teach errors?”  The answer to that is “No.”  It cannot possibly be thus, because we read, even from the days of the apostles, that the early Christian Church was subject to infiltration by false doctrines and misled teachers. (Acts 20:29, 30; 2Tim 3:1-8; 2Cor 11:12-15)

In Revelation, Yahshua testifies against a number of Churches that have fallen into great error, but to none of these does He instruct the members, “Flee to a new Church.”  The fact of the matter is that, especially in the last days, Satan’s influence over a Church is so subtle, so carefully plotted, that none can be sure when the point comes to “go ye forth” without the direct divine instruction from Heaven.  And that instruction comes, according to the repeat of the Second Angel’s Message in Revelation 18, only when it has already fallen.

We may understand the matter thus: as members of a Church, we are “covenanted” to it if we are proper members according to the Biblical pattern. (Heb 8:6)  If we detect, within that Body, or within that congregation, the principles of Babylon at work, we should certainly withdraw ourselves from it.  The New Testament tells us not to even so much as “eat” with those who claim to be brethren, and yet do not stand firm upon Christian principle. (1Cor 5:11)  But Paul, who writes to the Christians not to keep company with he who is “called a brother” and yet commits open sins, is not telling them to depart from the Body of Christ, or seek another religion.

The response to Babylon, to confusion and error, is to depart from it, but not to violate the covenant; and that is an important distinction.  We find that there is a place indeed to protest from within, to stand apart from the progress and flow of a Church, but to continue to support it as the Bride of Christ, even if it happens to be an a feeble, defective state.  And of course, here we find a ditch on both sides of the road.  Some stay within the broken body long after it has ceased to be the Bride of Christ, and others rush off and form independent, atomic ministries that do far more harm than good to the Gospel work.

So when Babylon unites with the world and “falls,” committing fornication openly with the kings of the earth, then we have a very different, and very clear, instruction. Then Yahweh not only calls His people out, but calls them to a new place that He has prepared for them; Luke showed this with the example of Literal Babylon, and it is true on a spiritual level as well.

In the time of Christ, Judaism was very confused. It was very “Babylon,” in that it had a number of dissimilar factions: Essenes, Zealots, Pharisees, Sadducees, and various other independent ministries. And yet, Yahweh did not send His Son to the earth to be born into some obscure religion separate from the Covenant He had with Israel.  When Yahshua was born, He was not told, “Separate yourself from these wicked people, for their apostasy is great.”

No, Yahshua attended the Synagogues. He spoke to the Rabbis.  He taught obedience to the instructions given to Israel. But when, in this state of Babylonian confusion, Israel united with Caesar and persecuted the Prince of Life, then the Divine One did a very different thing.  He called people out.  The first sermon, the very first sermon taught by the apostles under the direct inspiration of the Holy Spirit after the cross was a calling-out of the faithful Jews from Israel after the flesh and to the Body of Christ. Those who, even today, claim that literal, earthly Israel will have a place in Yahweh’s plan for the last days had best read Acts 2 with spiritual enlightenment.  Peter said to Israel, even those who had not physically laid hands on the Messiah, “His blood is upon your hands. Save yourself from this untoward generation.”

And of course, there is no statute of limitations on the blood of Christ; Israel of today, just like pagans and worldlings of today (no better, no worse), need to separate themselves from the violated Covenants they may claim, and unite with the Church, the Body, the Bride, of the Son of Yahweh.  That, through the Blood of Christ, is the only way.

In this last generation, the instructions are clear and easy to understand regarding how to deal with Babylon Fallen, with a Church that, once faithful, had begun to teach errors, and then, finally, united with the state power to become a persecuting force:

“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. 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.’

“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. For her sins have reached unto heaven, and God hath remembered her iniquities. Reward her even as she rewarded you, and double unto her double according to her works: in the cup which she hath filled fill to her double.’” (Rev 18:1-6)