WHAT IS BABYLON?
Revelation 17:3-5 “So he carried me away in the spirit
into the wilderness: and I saw a woman sit upon a scarlet colored beast,
full of the 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 18:1-4) “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.”
There has been much comment on the meaning of the word
Babylon, as it appears in the Book of Revelation in the Bible. Revelation
14:8, and almost the entire chapters of Revelation 17 and 18 are given to
the subject of Babylon—what it is, what it does, and its consequences and
final doom.
In dealing with the subject of Babylon, as given in
the book of Revelation, we must remember that this is symbolic language.
John wrote the book of the Revelation in 96 A.D., giving past, present,
and future of the entire gospel day; but he wrote it in symbolic
language, covering up its meaning until the time came when God was ready
to reveal it. Webster says the definition of the word symbol is, “An
emblem, or sign of something else; a type.” So in looking for the real
meaning of the word Babylon, as used in the book of Revelation we must
look for something beside the original meaning of the word, which has
reference to a city by that name.
The ancient City of Babylon was located on the banks
of the Euphrates river. The history of its origination is not very clear.
However, it dates back over two thousand years before Christ. It was the
capital of Babylonia from the time of Hammurabi (2124 B.C.) to the end of
the Chaldaean empire (539 B.C.). Most all classic writers have nothing to
do with the ancient kingdom but deal altogether with the resuscitated and
adorned residence of Nebuchadnezzar.
In the 11th chapter of Genesis we are given some history
of the descendants of Noah who drifted into the land of Shinar and
attempted to build a tower unto heaven. The people to this time were of
one language, but God confused their language and their attempts to build
were halted and they were scattered over the earth. Wherefore the tower
was called Babel, or Confusion, from the Hebrew Balbel, “to confound”.
Babel is the Assyrian Babili, “the gate of God.” Different conquerors
tried to obliterate this tower, but its complete destruction was brought
about by Nebuchadnezzar, whose reign began about 625 B. C.
Nebuchadnezzar built a great walled city, whose
circumference was about 60 miles, located on both sides of the Euphrates
River. This city was built square and much regularity was seen in the
arrangements of its streets.
The west side seems to be the older part of the city,
with the location of the ruins of the tower of Babel. In the center of
the west side of this city stood the great heathen temple of Belus, or
Baal. Also, on the west side of the river there seems to have been
located the citadel of the ancient Babylonian Monarchy.
On the east side of the river stood the buildings of
the Neo-Babylonian period, of which the Hanging Gardens are considered
one of the seven wonders of the world.
About 606 B. C. Nebuchadnezzar, having gained many of
the lost kingdoms, now restored Babylon as queen of the nations and began
to build and restore the city of Babylon and many of the temples in the
surrounding country. It was he who plundered the city of Jerusalem (606
B. C.) taking a host of the Israelites into Babylonian captivity. A few
years later, he took the golden, sacred vessels of the temple, then tore
it down, leaving it a heap of rubbish. This was a result of the children
of Israel continually disobeying the commandments of God. They stayed in
Babylonian captivity for seventy years, and then were permitted to return
and rebuild the temple in Jerusalem. Israel was God’s chosen people, and
He had planned and provided that they should worship Him in His temple in
the city of Jerusalem. For rebellion and disobedience they were captives
in a strange land. “By the rivers of Babylon, there we sat down, yea, we
wept, when we remembered Zion. We hanged our harps upon the willows in
the midst thereof. For there they that carried us away captive required
of us a, song; and they that wasted us required of us mirth, saying,
Sing us one of the songs of Zion. How shall we sing the Lord’s song in a
strange land?” Psa. 137:1-4. In the year 536 B.C. 42,300 Israelites were
permitted to return and rebuild the temple in Jerusalem.
We are giving this sketch of history that it may be
seen why the word Babylon is used as a symbol, or type in the book of
Revelation. Let us notice some of the characteristics of the meaning of
this word as derived from its original use.
We notice it had its origination with heathen people.
It carried a meaning of confusion and bondage. It was a wicked, powerful
nation, continually against God and His people, Israel. This word
Babylon, as used by John in the book of Revelation, is intended to convey
to us spiritual confusion, bondage, and wickedness in high places in the
church. It is intended to show us the confused condition the church or professed
religious people got into during the gospel day. It also shows us how
people were brought under its power and bondage which was not of God. The
background of this wicked and blasphemous city of Babylon is intended in
type and symbol to convey to us the same wicked, sinful characteristics
that exist in spiritual Babylon in the gospel day. The conditions that
existed in the type is reflected in the anti-type of these symbols. So
then in studying the nature of the type used in this symbol, we would expect
to find spiritual confusion, bondage, and wickedness which are an
abomination in the sight of God.
The old city Babylon was built by heathen nations of
people who knew not the true worship of God. The new city of spiritual
Babylon, as given in the Revelation, was built by a people who had lost
the true standard of the Word and worship of God. So, then, in like
manner, as literal Israel was carried into literal Babylon, we will find
spiritual Israel, the church, carried into spiritual Babylon during the
gospel day.
One of the first steps Israel made toward Babylonian
bondage and confusion was when they rejected Samuel as their Judge, and
wanted a king like other nations. Samuel lamented much about this, but
God said to him, “They have not only rejected you but they have rejected
Me.” He furthet told them that their kings would become wicked,
oppressive, and cruel. Their rebellion against God brought its final
results of Babylonian captivity. After seventy years of Babylonian
captivity they were permitted to return to their own land and rebuild the
temple in Jerusalem.
Now, we want to notice some things that finally caused
the church, in the gospel day, to become spiritual Babylon. History makes
it clear that in the first candlestick age, of 270 years of the gospel day,
God had a people who preached and practiced all of the Word of God. How.
ever, in the last of this age, many began to drift away from the true
standard of truth. By 270 A. D. some began to turn from divine government
in the church, by the Word and Spirit, and began to place this power and
responsibility of government in the hands of men, who became wicked and
oppressive. The people who held to the true Bible standard began to
diminish in numbers, while the others increased. Within a few centuries
the entire professed world was submerged into the wicked, cruel bondage
of spiritual Babylon, (Catholicism). This wicked, cruel bondage continued
until 1530 A. D. when Martin Luther and others began to expose some of
its deceptions. This bondage and deception was, in part, broken. Many
were made to see that people were made free from sin by repentance and
faith in Jesus Christ, and not through the line of Popes, Bishops, and
Priests.
These people were still in Babylonian bondage and
confusion. They began to make an image to the beast of Catholicism. They
left the Catholic church and began to make themselves churches of their
own liking. Instead of letting Jesus be the head and governor of the
church, they began to place the ruling power in the hands of men, many of
whom became wicked and corrupt.
It seemed there was no end of sect and creed making
during the 350 years of Protestant reign. There arose hundreds of
churches, each one having his own doctrine, creed, and ritual; thus
filling the religious world with confusion. Many of their practices and
teachings contradicted the Bible and the teachings and practices of other
creeds and sects. This division and confusion was, and still is, a
stumbling block to the lost world. They wonder why the professed world do
not speak the same thing as commanded by the Bible itself.
People in this kind of sect are not only confused but
also in bondage. Its members are bound to its doctrines and ritual, many
of which are contradictory to the plain Word of God. Yet, they must stand
by its teachings and practices. This is bondage in spiritual Babylon. The
souls of men crave freedom and the privilege to look into the Word of God
for one’s self; believe, live, and walk as he feels down deep in his own
heart would please his Maker.
Spiritual Babylon is not only filled with confusion
and bondage, but wickedness. It is wicked and sinful for one to contrive
to change or disannul the Word of God and set up something of his own
origin. In Matthew 16:18 Jesus said, “I will build my church.” In Acts
2:47 we are told that “the Lord added to the church daily such as should
be saved.” This makes it clear that Jesus will take care of the building
and the adding of members. He adds only those who are worthy. Man is sure
to get the bad with the good. It is wicked to dishonor Christ as the head
of the church. “He is the head of the body, the church.” Colossians 1:18.
This plainly says that Jesus is the head of the church, that is the one
He built. In Isaiah 9:6 we read, “For unto us a child is born, unto us a
son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder.” Every
honest and sincere soul does desire to let Jesus be the head and governor
of His own church. It is wrong to change the seat of government from
Christ to any man or group of men. To desire it is selfishness and
coveteousness; to attempt it, is robbery.
Then, also, man-made organizations are filled with unsaved
people. One may backslide, yet be a member in full fellowship and full
authority, and equally privileged with the rest of the members.
Spiritual Babylon has a government by man. It is not
divine because it is not of Christ, the head of the church. It is
strictly of man’s origination. They may pray, but it is certain that the
Holy Spirit does not tell them that which may contradict the plain Word
of God. It is blasphemy against Christ to claim He is directing and
leading people to do contrary to His own teaching.
In Genesis 11:4 we have an account of the building of
the tower of Babel. The purpose was as stated here to build a tower to
reach heaven. In our enlightenment today it would seem foolish to
undertake such a thing.
Many today in spiritual Babylon are making the same
foolish endeavor. They are conforming to man-made teachings, doctrines,
and requirements which promise to give them an abundant entrance into
heaven at death. Nothing in the ritual of men can save a soul that is
lost in sin. God will not accept even the most sincere devotions of
worship and works of men. The blood of Jesus Christ is the only thing
that will save a soul and make it a fit subject for heaven. This must be
obtained separate from all ritualistic practices of men. If a soul gets
saved it is because he repents of his sins and believes on the Lord Jesus
for pardon, and not because of conforming to some teachings of men.
In attempting this spiritual tower to heaven in the
gospel day, men have become confused and have fallen far short of heaven.
It certainly is foolish to attempt such a structure, yet kings and
captains in the realm of spiritual Babylon are attempting such a thing,
and are so blind to spiritual things that they do not see the tower of
spiritual Babylon is fallen, and God says, “Come out of her, my people.”
Revelation 18:4.
We notice another motive in Genesis 11:4, “ . . . let
us make us a name, lest we be scattered abroad. . .“ This can surely be
applied to all sects and movements. The leaders of such movements are
called kings and captains in the book of Revelation, whose motive it is
to make a name to hold them together. Each sect and movement, when
dominated by man, always plan to hold its subjects so they will not be
scattered. It is easy to see that the people in Babylon have the same
spirit as those who attempted the tower of Babel.
There is no confusion in the Word of God when
interpreted by the same Holy Spirit that inspired its writing. Truth does
not confuse people. It is always error and deception that confuses.
Where there is confusion, it is a sure sign some one has erred from the
truth. God’s truth is the only remedy for this world of confusion today.
Bible unity is based on Bible truth; it cannot be had any other way.
The gospel day was divided into four periods of time
relating to spiritual light and darkness. The morning church was ushered
in with the full light of the gospel, which lasted until about 270 A.D.
The dark day covered 1,260 years, from 270 to 1530 A.D. During this
period of time Roman Catholicism darkened the earth with its gross
deceptions. The cloudy day followed and covered the period of time from
1530 to 1880 A.D. After 1880 A.D., it is called the “Evening Time.”
Through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, the old
Prophet Ezekiel saw the dark and cloudy day with its results. “For thus
saith the Lord God; Behold, I, even I, will both search my sheep, and
seek them out. As a shepherd seeketh out his flock in the day that he is
among his sheep that are scattered; so will I seek out my sheep, and will
deliver them out of all places where they have been scattered in the
CLOUDY AND DARK DAY.” Ezekiel 34:11-12. “And it shall come to pass in
that day (gospel), that the light shall not be clear nor dark: but it
shall be one day which shall be known to the Lord, not day, nor night:
but it shall come to pass, that at evening time it shall be light.”
Zechariah 14:6-7.
Ezekiel tells us of a CLOUDY and a DARK DAY. Zechariah
tells us of the cloudy day when it is not dark nor light, but at evening
time it shall be light. The same gospel that made it light in the morning
time makes it light in the evening time. The cloudy day ended in 1880
A.D. and since that time the same gospel of faith and practice that was
preached in the morning of time is being preached and practiced in the
evening of time.
In one of the above scriptures Ezekiel tells us that
God’s sheep were scattered during this cloudy and dark day; this means
doctrinally and spiritually scattered and confused. In the dark day,
Catholicism buried the nations in the darkness of its paganistic
teachings. In the first part of the sixteenth century Bibles began to be
scattered among the people, and the extreme darkness began to break with
the small amount of light that started Protestantism through the “cloudy
day.” In this period of time the light was neither clear nor dark. The
old devil and Satan working through the dragon powers brought in a flood
of deception and a babel of confusion during the 350 years of Protestant
sect and creed-making. Protestantism had light on how to obtain the new
birth, and multitudes obtained this experience. Yet, much deception was
introduced concerning these experiences, and many were engulfed in a
babel of confusion. Remember this one thing, the correct understanding of
Bible truth does not confuse. Error and deception always confuse the
minds of people.
Many broke loose from the bondage and deceptions of
Catholicism, and were led into a greater variety of deceptions in
Protestantism. They left the original beast religion of Catholicism,
made an image to it, which was Protestantism, and worshipped the image.
You will find a description of the beast of Catholicism in Revelation
13:1-10. Then beginning with verse eleven, it deals with the twohorned
beast which is Protestantism. I am giving this sketch of history to show
WHAT BABYLON IS, AND WHERE IT ORIGINATED. The real meaning of BABYLON is
CONFUSION. In the gospel day of antitype fulfillment, it means spiritual
CONFUSION.
The ancient city and domain of Babylon was heathenistic
in its religious worship, always in opposition to God and His way of
worship. Spiritual Babylon, in the gospel day, reflects the same spirit
of opposition to God and His truth, bringing people into deception and a
Babel of confusion.
Babylon originated with men and always stands for
CONFUSION. Even the master minds of great men do not run together in
spiritual things. Only those who are led by the Holy Spirit can be led
into the UNITY OF THE FAITH. SATAN is the author of division, but God is
the author of UNITY AND TRUTH. Any time we leave the paths of leadership
of the Spirit of God we immediately enter into the realm of BABYLONIAN
CONFUSION. Only the PURE in heart, who set their face to know Jesus
Christ and His truth, by a “know so” revelation and witness of the
Spirit, can be led into the UNITY OF THE FAITH OF THE GOSPEL. The Holy
Spirit never leads contrary to the Word of God; they always agree.
The real meaning of the Word of God was lost sight of
during the dark ages. God used a progressive method of bringing back his
truth during the 350 years of Protestantism. He did not bring it all at
once. He brought FIRST THINGS FIRST. Justification was preached for 200
years, then sanctification was preached as a second work of divine grace.
This finished the great plan of redemption from all sin, purifying the
hearts of the people by faith.
God brought the truth of full and free salvation
during the 350 years of Protestantism, but the enemy of all truth
succeeded in getting men to teach beyond the leadership of the Spirit,
introducing deceptions, doctrines, and traditions of men, leading men
into a state of confusion and division. Groups could not work together.
This left the religious world separated and divided into hundreds, yea,
thousands of groups who could not work together. The word SECT means a
formulated group, distinguished from others. This was so different to the
plain teachings of the Word of God that the two witnesses, Word and
Spirit, could not work as divine governor and leader. It was man-rule and
not divine.
Now let us read Revelation 11:3 and 7-9, “And I will
give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two
hundred and three score days, clothed in sackcloth.” . . . “And when they
shall have finished their testimony, the beast (Protestantism) that
ascendeth out of the bottomless pit shall make war against them, and shall
overcome them and kill them. And their dead bodies shall lie in the
street of the great city (Babylon), which spiritually is called Sodom
and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified. And they of the people and
kindreds and tongues and nations shall see their dead bodies three days
and an half, and shall not suffer their dead bodies to be put in graves.”
In verse 3 of this reading we are told how the Word
and Spirit were covered up by the rubbish of Catholicism for 1,260 days,
meaning years. They could not fill their place as governor and guide for
those who got saved during this age of darkness. Then in verses 7-9 we
are told of the two witnesses finishing their testimony in the 1,260
years of dark ages; then, in the next age that followed they were brought
out in the open, or brought to the people again. Lying in the streets
would signify that they were visible for all nations to see, during the
350 years, or three days and an half, of Protestant rule. They were said
to be killed because they were not allowed to govern and guide the people
who had gotten saved. Man-rule took the place of divine rule. The church
is to be governed by the Spirit through its various gifts. You will find
these enumerated in the 12th chapter of 1st Corinthians. God gives the
right gift to each individual as He sees fit. These gifts furnish all
that is needed for the church to be a live, working force, going forth
conquering and to conquer. These gifts in operation in the church give
sufficient power to save a sin-sick soul, the lost world and gives all
power over the enemy, so that signs will follow according to the
commission. The same God who calls, qualifies, and sends, also takes care
of those whom He sends. “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations,
baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy
Ghost; teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded
you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world.”
Matthew 28:19-20. “And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and
preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized
shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned. And these
signs shall follow them that believe; in my name shall they cast out
devils; they shall speak with new tongues; they shall take up serpents;
and if they shall drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they
shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.” Mark 16:15-18. This
is all the organization the church needs. Power is promised for all the
needs of both soul and body. For such a church, he has promised that
signs will follow, showing God’s recognition and power. A church that has
the power God has promised, does not need man-made organizations. Any
people who have adopted any creed or rules that are different from the
above mentioned commission have departed from the faith of the gospel.
God does not put his grace, power and victory on the preaching of
deception. As long as men “send gifts one to another,” the two witnesses
will remain dead. Revelation 11:10.
Any kind of organization that man may set up is wrong,
because it sets at naught the divine plan of God, and makes it of none
effect. “ . . . he (Jesus) is the head of the body, the church: who is
the beginning, the first born from the dead; that in all things he might
have the preeminence.” Colossians 1:18. When men are made the head of the
church, Christ is robbed of His place. The headquarters of the Church
that Jesus built, the Bible Church of God, is in heaven where the head of
the church is located. That is where each member should go to get
direction. “In all things he should have the preeminence.” If we look to
a man, or a group of men, they will become our headquarters, and may go
wrong, but Jesus never gives the wrong command. All of the above apostate
conditions are found in the Catholic and Protestant churches, and
constitute BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS, AND ABOMINATIONS OF
THE EARTH. Revelation 17:5.
The word Babylon, as used in the book of Revelation,
has reference to the deceptions of Catholicism, Protestantism, and all
so-called holiness movements. There is only one group excepted; that is
the group “that follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth.” In Zachariah
14:7 we are told, “That at evening time it shall be light.” This evening
light exposes all the deceptions of Babylon. All honest souls can hear,
“Another voice, saying, COME OUT OF HER, MY PEOPLE.” Revelation 18:4.
The “evening light,” as spoken of by Zachariah, had
its beginning following the cloudy day, which ended in 1880 A.D. The
cloudy day brought some light, but not in its fullness. The “evening
light” included the light that had been previously given in the cloudy
day, and the full light and knowledge of the Divine Church of God, free
from the deceptions of Babylon.
This evening light and truth was brought with the
opening of the sixth seal, which began in 1880 A.D. “And I saw another
angel (ministry of sixth seal) fly in the midst of heaven (heavenly
places on earth), having the everlasting gospel to preach to them that
dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and
people;
“And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven,
having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the
earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people, Saying
with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his
judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven and earth, and the
sea, and the fountains of water. And there followed another angel (part
of the sixth seal ministry), saying, Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that
great city, because she made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath
of her fornication. And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud
voice, If any man worship the beast and his image (Babylon), and receive
his mark in his forehead, or in his hand, the same shall drink of the
wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the
cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone
in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb; and
the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have
no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever
receiveth the mark of his name.” Revelation 14:6-11.
This scripture gives us an account of the beginning of
the “evening light,” and its results. This angel was the ministry of the
sixth seal, and destined to go to all the world. This “everlasting
gospel” was a full gospel. It confirmed the light and truth that was
preached in the “cloudy day,” and brought truth clarifying the complete
plan of redemption, and a divine Church, the only one that Jesus built.
This light that revealed a divine church exposed all Babylonian
deceptions, and false churches of men.
A part of the message of this ministry was to tell
people to “Fear God, and give glory to him, for the hour of his judgment
is come.” The Word of God should put a fear upon every soul. It seems
there are many in whom “There is no fear of God before their eyes.” Some
do not seem to fear the judgment of God. Each truth, when disobeyed, has
a penalty.
In verse 8 we are told of that part of the ministry
who exposed Babylon, with its sins and judgments. This ministry said,
“Babylon is fallen.” This was given in the present tense. He means that
it is not built on a scriptural foundation—the rock—but is built on the
sand. He calls Babylon a “Great City.” It is great because she hath made
ALL NATIONS DRINK OF THE WINE OF THE WRATH OF HER FORNICATION. Babylonian
confusion, with its deceptions, have gone everywhere; all nations have
tasted it.
Romans 7:4 tells us that we should be married to
Christ. The Church is to be the BRIDE, and JESUS IS THE GROOM. The bride
is to obey the husband in all things. “Therefore as the church is subject
unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing.”
Ephesians 5:24. We are to pledge our allegiance to Jesus Christ and Him
only. “This is my beloved Son; hear ye him.” When we turn and pledge our
allegiance to doctrines and practices of men, or marry another while our
first husband (Jesus) still lives, we COMMIT ADULTERY. This makes every
individual that has joined or pledged their support to any part or
portion of Babylon, a FORNICATOR. This is spiritual fornication. We are
to worship God alone in spirit and in truth. Jesus hates spiritual fornication
of His bride just as bad as He does literal fornication, and maybe worse.
In Revelation 21:8, John gives a summing up of the
punishment of all classes that wilfully violate and do not keep the
things written in this book. “But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the
abominable, and murderers, and whore-mongers, and sorcerers, and
idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth
with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.” This lake of fire
and brimstone is a symbol of the everlasting punishment of those who
disobey God and refuse to keep His commandments.
In Revelation 14:11 it speaks of “the smoke of their
torment.” This smoke has reference to prayers. “And they have no rest day
nor night,” would set forth the fact that after people have heard God’s
message and still go on and worship the beast (Catholicism) and his image
(Protestantism), they would have no more SOUL REST day nor night. Soul
rest and peace of God leaves when people refuse to walk in the light.
Since this “evening light” started in 1880, God has
had a people who stood true to the principles of a DIVINELY ORGANIZED and
GOVERNED CHURCH. To do this, they had to stand against ALL BABYLONIAN
PRACTICES. Not every one that claimed to be in the Church of God stood
true. There has been in every age hypocrites and imposters who claim to
be the Church of God. Jesus had a Judas. But like Judas, they will not
last long if the Holy Spirit fires are kept hot.
In Matthew 16:18, Jesus said, “I will build my church.”
In Acts 2:47, “And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be
saved.” The Lord did the saving and the adding to the church. Jesus
built, or organized, his church on the day of Pentecost through the
operation of the Holy Ghost. Through the giving of spiritual gifts to
different individuals, “severally as he wills,” the church started its
divine operation. Each individual sought God to know their place and how
and when to fill it. It is true that OUR GIFTS WILL MAKE A PLACE FOR US
IN GOD’S CHURCH. There is no friction or mix-up when all are led by the
Holy Spirit. It is said that the church at Antioch, about 100 years after
Christ, numbered 100,000 saints. God can govern 100,000 just as easy as
he can one dozen. Regardless of numbers, God can pick His man and make
His will known. We are not told just how to do it, only to seek His face
until His will is known. This was the practice of the early church until
the apostasy set in, and man-rule took over. The early church had no
earthly headquarters or place from which to receive advice, instructions,
or orders. No boards or committees were appointed to take care of
spiritual things. Questions were not settled by a majority vote. They
honored Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit as their head and governor. The
church operated through the gifts of the Spirit with power, and signs
following. The sick were healed in both soul and body, devils were cast
out, and signs followed insomuch that no man durst join himself to them.
This is what it took to make a divine church in the morning time. We lost
it in the “dark and cloudy day.” “At evening time it shall be light.” The
evening light, which came in 1880, with the opening of the sixth seal,
revealed the same kind of a church with the same kind of spiritual government.
D. S. Warner and many others in the sixth seal taught and practiced this
kind of church government. The evening light of the gospel is the same as
the morning light. The same truth preached and practiced in the evening
time will produce the same results as the morning time. God had a church
that trusted him for all things through the sixth seal, which ended 1930
A.D.
The same light that brought the church back to the
Bible standard of truth, exposed the deceptions of Babylon, with its
unscriptural doctrines and practices. As the call went forth, many of
God’s people came out of Babylonian confusion, and took their stand for a
divine church. Those who saw the light and refused to walk in it, lost
their souls and went into darkness, with the Sun of Righteousness
becoming as black as sackcloth of hair. Many fought the truth, making all
kinds of excuses, hiding in the holes and rocks of Babylon, with the
light having gone out in their souls.
The two witnesses, the Word and Spirit, having now
“stood upon their feet,” tormented the people of fallen Babylon. So they
started to substitute UNION for the UNITY of God’s people. This developed
into the World Council of Churches, which is described in Revelation 17
as— “BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS.”
During the fifty year period of the sixth seal, this
glorious gospel that made clear a divine church, free from Babylonian
practices, reached some of the Babylonian world. It seems clear that it
did not reach all of it, for only a “Tenth part of the city (Babylon)
fell.” Revelation 11:13. When he said, “Babylon is fallen,” it seems
clear that John meant that the unscriptural foundation on which it is
built is exposed and its fallen condition is made clear. It is like the
house that was built upon the sand. There are many, perhaps some honest
people, who have built their spiritual house upon the sand, only to have
it fall through the storms and fires of the “evening light.” There were a
few, in comparison, who stood against much opposition and persecution,
who had a table set in the presence of their enemies, and ate the good
things as a result of walking in the evening light. “And the same hour
was there a great earthquake, and the tenth part of the city (Babylon)
fell, and in the earthquake were slain of men seven thousand: and the
remnant were affrighted, and gave glory to the God of heaven.” Revelation
11:13.
This seven thousand represents a great number who
would not walk in the light, and were spiritually slain by the sword of
the Spirit of light. Only a few were affrighted, accepted the truth and
gave God glory. Those refusing, lost out with God, but kept their
profession. They loved something else more than they loved the light and
truth that was preached to them. “ . . . because they received not the
love for the truth, that they might be saved. And for this cause God
shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: that
they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in
unrighteousness.” 2nd Thessalonians 2:10-12. It is a terrible condition
for a person to get under a delusion; they lose their salvation and
acceptance with God, yet do not realize it. They may preach, pray, sing,
raise the budget, gather the numbers into their ranks, yet be DEAD and do
not know it. No doubt the number represented by the “seven thousand” went
on with their Babylonian profession, thinking they were right, because
here and there a soul seemed to be blessed.
It was those who did not walk in the light when it
came, that lost out with God. There were many who never had a chance to
hear the truth concerning the Divine Church of God, or to see the sins of
Babylon. If they were born again and lived to all the light they had,
there would not be any question about their acceptance with God. “But if
we walk in the light as he (Christ) is in the light, we have fellowship
one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from
all sin.” 1st John 1:7. Some have lost their fellowship with Christ and
His people, and all they have left is a Babylonian fellowship with some
group or sect.
I want us to notice the combat, in the sixth seal, between
those who had accepted the truth and those who refused it. There was a
battle between these two forces. There was a great number who stood like
a rock in the billows. They lived on their knees, with a decision to walk
in the light as it came. Many became seed among the thorns and thistles,
and on the stony ground, swapped the truth for a delusion, only to wake
up at the judgment, and find out that they had sold their souls for
naught.
The truth of God’s Word will bring a division between
those that love God and His truth and those that love something else
better. The one great purpose of the gospel is SEPARATION. It separates
right from wrong, the good from the bad. “Suppose ye that I am come to
give peace on earth? I tell you, Nay; but rather division.” Luke 12:51.
Babylon had within its rank every kind, both good and bad. This evening
light brought a separation. Once more God has a people free from
Babylonian practices, standing on Mt. Zion, the fullness of “evening
light” truth, free from the bondage of Babylonian practices and manrule.
Toward the last of the sixth seal the enemy of UNITY
AND TRUTH succeeded in dividing the saints of God on technicalities of
untruth. Some tried to impose certain standards and customs of their own
thinking upon all the church. Many good saints submitted to this for the
sake of unity and harmony. Being the seed of fanaticism, it soon made
itself mandatory and binding on others, and like all divisional and
unscriptural spirits, it broke fellowship with those who would not
conform to their customs. Fanaticism goes beyond the true meaning of
modesty. I believe every spirit filled saint of God will have a true
sense of modesty. Babes in Christ, and some of those less spiritual ones,
may need some reproof, but not to the forming of certain styles and
customs which the Bible does not make clear.
Some of the good saints saw the extent of bondage this
was leading to, broke with its man-imposed customs, and declared their
freedom again. It is always right to declare ourselves free from anything
that is wrong. We may be misunderstood, BUT TRUTH COVERED UP WILL RISE
AGAIN, and those that accept it will rise with it.
Many of those who took their stand against the imposed
customs of men were still blessed with power and victory with signs
following. There were a few who, with unprejudiced minds, got on their
knees and prayed through to heaven and got an answer, which is always
Biblical, sane, and sound. God is interested in the heart being made
pure, clean, and free from the “lust of the flesh, lust of the eye, and
the pride of life.” God looketh not upon the outward appearance, but upon
the heart. Man looketh upon the outward appearance. Sin in the heart may
show through some outward performance, but outward performance is not
always a sure indication that there is sin in the heart.
This divisional spirit caused many on BOTH SIDES to
lose out with God. This became the devil’s tool. Some got discouraged and
gave up, while some on both sides got under a bad spirit and became
critically bitter and harsh toward those that did not see as they saw
things. This did not only cause a break of fellowship between brethren,
but led to a break of fellowship between many and God. No one can become
critical, harsh, and hold grudges and still prosper in his soul. I came
through this without being affected with the unscriptural traditions of
either side. I was in the mountains preaching the gospel to lost sOuls. I
thank God for those years of isolation. Tradition is hard to break, but I
find many honest saints of God who want freedom from the tradition of the
customs of men, and are willing to give the same freedom to their
brethren. God is once more uniting His people on the TRUE PRINCIPLES of
the gospel, and not traditional customs of men. Here is a little rule
given unto me which I wish you would consider well. “ANY TIME WE
STANDARDIZE CUSTOMS WE GET OURSELVES AND OTHERS INTO TROUBLE.”
There are some people who do not wear a necktie, and
do not have any kind of a musical instrument in the church, and God
blesses them. We only have to look around to find congregations of the
same customs and practices who are spiritually dead. Then, it is an
undeniable fact that some who wear a necktie and have a piano or organ in
the church are blessed with the presence and power of God. There are
others, with like customs, who are twice dead, plucked up by the roots.
Since in many things, God does not care IF WE DO, OR WE DON’T. They are
left to our sanctified judgment, and should never be quibbled about. Why
make ourselves a part of Babylon because SOME ONE ELSE DOES OR DOESN’T?
God certainly will take notice if we get malice in our hearts about these
things, for HE LOOKS UPON THE HEART. Proverbs 6:16-17. One of the seven
things God hates is a “proud look.” Pride in the heart is sin, and
usually shows itself on the outside. Some are proud because they do
certain things, others are proud because they don’t do them.
Now, I have tried to find the central line of truth.
It would be easy to slip to either side and find plenty of technicalities
to argue about. This I refuse to do, for that is what has caused the
trouble in the past. Amen.
It does not make people spiritual to bind upon them
commandments and customs of men to keep them from worldly things; neither
does religious freedom make folks spiritual who love to follow the world.
A truly redeemed soul will certainly strive with all his heart to do the
WILL of the REDEEMER, and will crave with all his heart to keep himself
unspotted from the world. He will want to dress, walk, and talk so as to
influence the most people possible to accept the salvation of the Lord
Jesus. The Word of God grants this kind of freedom to every bloodwashed
saint.
By the end of the sixth seal, 1930, that spiritual disease
of lukewarmness had begun to fix its grip on the religious world. This
killed spiritual zeal, courage, and a passion for lost souls, causing a
loss of power and leadership of the spirit. This caused all religious
movements that had any spiritual light to lose their power with God. This
opened the door for COMPROMISE, DECEPTIONS, and WORLDLINESS to be brought
into the church. God’s action against “lukewarmness” was a spewing out of
his mouth. This left the people without divine leadership to act under
man-rule. Back to Babylonian practices was the ONLY open door. For
awhile, the most spiritual directed the church under divine leadership,
but soon the government of the church was changed into a democracy with a
majority vote ruling. Jesus as head and governor of the church was out.
Man with his Babylonian practices stepped in and took over. Organization
by man, that was at one time so strongly preached against as an enemy of
divine government, swept through congregations, camp meetings, and
assemblies. Boards, committees, and high officers were elected or
appointed to direct the procedure of the church. The National assemblies
took preeminence over all the rest, making it a headquarters. This took
place in many holiness movements, who, at one time, did not believe in
such organizations. These high offices, with popularity and salaries,
offered an open door for the gratification of the flesh, FROM WHICH NO
HUMAN ORGANIZATION CAN BE KEPT FREE.
Many movements, that at one time had a passion for
lost souls, have streamlined their program with a great Money Raising
campaign. It would be a good time to remember that scripture where it
says, “The LOVE of money is the root of all evil.” Local congregations
get their sermons and thoughts weeks, and sometimes months, ahead from
headquarters.
Men are picked to fill the pulpit on certain occasions
if they are in sympathy with the things being done. The underhanded IRON
hand of ecclesiastical rule plans its program and picks its men. The
means of coersion is boycotting. God knew that such assemblies would
soon become a crafty, degraded, lustful, ecclesiastical hierarchy.
This all belongs over in the realm of Babylon. Any
church ceases to be the Church of God when Jesus ceases to be the head.
Not only has divine government been supplanted by
man-rule, but worldliness has followed as one of the effects of
lukewarmness. When Christ went out, the spirit of the world came in. Many
lost their sense of modesty and plainness of apparel. Decorations began
to appear on the outside that showed what was on the inside. Many began
to look for excuses to go back to ornamentation that at one time they
felt was out of place. Many attend unwholesome places of amusement. The
preacher does not preach against them any more; in fact, many of them attend
themselves.
As a consequence of the above mentioned things, FAITH
IS GONE. Lukewarmness has sprayed its deadly effect upon Faith. Dead
faith does not have the signs following it. The preachers, instead of
preaching FAITH in the GREAT PHYSICIAN, recommend earthly physicians. The
oil vial that at one time was found in the pocket of the preacher, is
changed to the vile prescribed by the physician. The ministry that used
to stir up the devil by the preaching of the pure Word of God and then
through faith in God, cast them out, does not even disturb them any more.
With many preachers the gifts of miracles, faith, and healing are
superseded by modern discoveries of men. With many, HEAVENLY WISDOM is
laid on the shelf while Wisdom of the World is streamlined. The real
gift of preaching is not the elecutionary art of the oratory of men. All
the anointing many preachers have today is the anointing of a criminal
lawyer who, by HIS OWN POWER, tries to win his case.
Lukewarmness opens the door for BABYLONIAN deceptions
and practices. When people are spewed out, God, Jesus, and the Holy
Spirit steps back and leaves them on their own. The only alternative for
such people is to accept Babylonian practices. The greatest tragedy of
all is that they are “destitute, miserable, blind, and naked,” and do not
know it. Dead people cannot produce Holy Spirit fire and, as a
consequence, this lukewarm age has become a ripe field and an open door
for the devil’s WILD FIRE.
Babylon has introduced men’s names to identify certain
groups and movements. Jesus prayed for his people to be kept in His
Father’s name. In the Epistles we find the apostles addressed them to the
Church of God. In twelve places we find the saints addressed as the
Church of God. Regardless of where they were located, this was the name
given them. Many church groups are named after their founder, or in
harmony and memory of some particular doctrine that characterize that
particular movement. This is some more of the CONFUSION OF BABYLON THE
GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS. She mothers her daughters of confusion.
Mother Babylon has some of her daughters marked with some political move,
such as the north or south, having been affected by the slavery question.
It takes more than the name to make the Bible Church
of God. It takes FAITH, EXPERIENCE, and PRACTICE.
Our FAITH must be based on the right interpretation of
the Word of God. The Holy Spirit only gives ONE interpretation. There are
many wrong interpretations, but there is only one that is right. Only
those that seek with all their hearts and with a pure and unselfish
motive will find God’s way. Sincerity is not enough. We must have the
Holy Ghost, whom Jesus said would guide us into all truth, dwelling in
our hearts. The right interpretation ALWAYS harmonizes with HOLINESS AND
UNITY OF FAITH AND PRACTICE, as laid down in the New Testament Word of
God. Anything that breeds CONTENTION AND DIVISION CONTRARY TO THE TRUE
TEACHINGS OF THE WORD OF GOD, IS OF BABYLON. The true Word of God ALWAYS
causes division. This kind of division is right. God is pleased with it.
It separates from all that displeases God, and He is the one that we must
seek to please. The work of the Word and Spirit in our hearts starts with
the principles of division—separating us from sin and the world. As true
knowledge of the Word of God increases it separates us from Babylonian
deceptions. Those who love things in Babylon become the ENEMIES of those
who love and accept the true way of Jesus. “Think not that I am come to
send peace on the earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword. For I am
come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter
against her mother, and the daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law.
And a man’s foes shall be they of his own household.” Matthew 10:34-36.
The Bible must ALWAYS be interpreted to harmonize with the above
scriptures. God wants his church UNIFIED according to the teachings of
Bible unity, and separated from, and against ALL Babylonian practices and
teachings. God has a people who have heard enough gospel to get saved,
but in many ways are in darkness. They are not “saints in light.” They
are in Babylonian confusion. God, in this “evening time,” is offering
LIGHT and is demanding His people to come out. Revelation 18:4. God’s
people as a family are in all stages of development. It seems that some
will never grow up. Many have not reached the place in ENLIGHTENMENT
called “Mount Sion,” God’s Mountain of Truth. They are still in the hills
of Babylon and confusion.
At this time of “evening light” God is gathering His
people back to the Mt. Sion standards taught in the morning church. “And
I looked, and, lo, a Lamb stood on the Mount Sion, and with him an
hundred forty and four thousand, having his Father’s name written in
their foreheads.” Revelation 14:1. John saw a symbol of a great host,
symbolized by “an hundred forty and four thousand,” standing upon God’s
mountain of truth. Light, that had revealed the true Bible Church of
God, had been preached, beginning in the sixth seal, 1880. Those who
walked in the light had reached the top of Mount Sion. They had their
Father’s name written in their forehead, instead of Mystery Babylon.”
Saints who walk in the light retain their salvation, and ascend Mount
Sion, and those that refuse to walk in the light, lose their salvation,
and stay in the hills of Babylon.
Salvation is always essential to being a member of
God’s church, but you may be a member in good standing of some Babylonian
church, and not be saved at all. One great outstanding difference is that
“God sets the members in the body (the church) as it pleases him,” (1st
Corinthians 12:18) and man does all the setting in Babylonian groups. Two
contrasting results are, God keeps His church pure and clean, and man
can’t do this.
The kings and captains of Babylon in this evening
light of the the sixth and seventh seals are “tormented” by its message
of Bible truth that exposes the SINS AND DIVISIONS of BABYLON. Instead of
accepting UNITY on the terms of the Bible, they are substituting UNION of
all their unscriptural creeds. There is a great move by the leaders of
spiritual Babylon to UNITE all creeds and religious movements, developing
into a great WORLD COUNCIL OF CHURCHES. The uniting of all unscriptural
sects cannot make the BIBLE CHURCH OF GOD. Neither will it eliminate her
sins. The uniting of unscriptural, unholy movements can never produce a
HOLY church. Unscriptural faiths and practices, when united, are still
heretical. There is just one way to have a Bible church, and that is to
COME OUT OF BABYLON and take the TRUE WORD AND SPIRIT FOR OUR GUIDE. God
will guide the honest seeker, who is without a selfish motive.
We are now living in the last part, or closing of the
“evening light” dispensation. The seventeenth chapter of the book of
Revelation gives us a present description of MODERN BABYLON, as she is
and operates at the present time.
In this chapter we have an adulterous woman, sitting
on a scarlet colored beast, full of names of blasphemy. Beast religion is
FALSE CHRISTIANITY. The woman is the WOULD-BE bride of Christ—the FALSE
BRIDE. This false bride is riding the Beast of false religion. Beast
religion has lifted up its head in opposition to Christ, “the Head of the
Church,” in each of the seven candlestick ages of the entire gospel day.
These ten horns represent the devil working in paganism from the time of
the Babylonian Empire, in Daniel’s time, on to the end of the gospel day.
These beasts that represent Babylonian religions are pagan in their
origination. This beast is red, the color of the dragon. (Red means
death.) The dragon had “given him his seat, and power and great
authority.” Revelation 13:1-10. This 17th chapter beast is the unionizing
in the Council of Churches, the results of Babylon in the entire gospel
day. We are told in verse 11, “Even he is the eight, and is of the
seven.” The spirit of UNION in Babylon is forming this EIGHTH BEAST, yet
he is of the same spirit that has dominated in Babylon in the entire
seven ages. (For greater light on this subject, get our latest book,
(“REVELATION, WITH GOSPEL AND PROPHECY.”)
This “evening light” has made it clear that JESUS JUST
HAS ONE BRIDE, ONE CHURCH. Now the enemy of all truth is endeavoring to
UNITE all his deceptions into ONE BRIDE, through the World Council of
Churches. This woman, in this 17th chapter, shows us her moral status.
In verse 3, John was carried down into the
“wilderness” of Babylonian confusion to see this woman. She will always
be found there. She was arrayed in king’s apparel, purple and scarlet.
She was decked with gold and precious stones and pearls. These are used
to represent the Word of God. All deceptive religions have some of the
Word of God to cover their deceptions. This woman has much truth hanging
on her, yet inwardly she is a HARLOT. What she has to offer is in a
GOLDEN CUP, “full of abominations and filthiness of her fornication.”
This has reference to SPIRITUAL things. When people pledge their
allegiance to harlot churches of men, they become SPIRITUAL FORNICATORS.
With many, God has winked at ignorance in the past, but now in this
“evening light” he commandeth, “Come out of her, my people.”
“And upon her forehead was a name written, MYSTERY
BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH.”
This woman has “Mystery Babylon” written in her forehead where everybody
can see it. This great Council of Churches is full of mysterious
CONFUSION. Any fair-minded person can see the confusion of uniting all
the different sects, creeds, and churches into one great Federation.
“Mystery Babylon the Great” certainly would be the right name. It is
further stated that she is the “MOTHER OF HARLOTS.” Her children are just
like their mother; they are spiritual fornicators. They are untrue to
Christ, the Head of the Church. They have turned and married another—
this is adultery. All who are a part of this false bride are spiritual
HARLOTS.
In verse 6, John saw the woman “Drunk with the blood
of the saints, and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus.” This harlot
woman has led even saints into her deceptions, causing them to backslide,
give up, and die spiritually. She also has caused many to live such
ungodly lives that they crucified the Lord afresh and put him to an open
shame. Her fornication has caused the spiritual death of many of God’s
people; she is guilty of their blood.
After John had seen this woman sitting on this scarlet
colored beast, he marveled, because he did not understand what it meant.
In verse 7, “And the angel said unto me, I will tell thee the mystery of
the woman, and, the beast that carried her, which had seven heads and ten
horns.” This beast had seven heads, one in each of the seven candlestick
ages, in opposition to Christ, the Head of the Church. Revelation 17:8,
“The beastthat thou sawest was, and is not; and shall ascend out of the
bottomless pit (heathenism), and go into perdition: and they that dwell
on the earth shall wonder, whose names were not written in the book of
life from the foundation of the world, when they behold the beast that
was, and is not, and yet is.” This beast, before the dark and cloudy day,
“WAS” a world power. After 1880 A.D., this power was broken, and he “is
not” a world power. “And yet is” a world power in the seventh seal age.
This “Eighth Beast,” the Council of Churches, is influencing many nations
today, and is fast becoming a world power again. It seems the entire
religious world is “wandering after the beast”; going into, and
cooperating with it. The great majority of people who are supporting the
Council of Churches are dead spiritually. Their names are not written in
the Lamb’s Book of Life. Those who are saved and on fire for God, and
walking in the light, will not support the “Eighth beast” powers. In this
seventh seal age the devil has succeeded in spraying the germs of that
fatal disease, “lukewarmness,” into the spiritual veins of the church; as
a result, many have become lukewarm and spewed out, AND ARE A PREY FOR
THE EIGHTH BEAST POWERS. Even the Church of God movement, those that had
victory and power and preached against such things in the sixth seal, are
now cooperating with the Council of Churches. Many have compromised and
let down, yet God still has a people, a remnant, who are still standing
on “The Mount Sion,” holding the Bible standards of the Church of God
HIGH above the hills of Babylon.
In verse 9, the seven mountains are false teaching in
the seven ages of the gospel day, in opposition to the Mount Sion of the
Bible. The woman was carried through each age on these mountains of
deception. The seven kings has reference to the deceptive ruling power of
the seven ages. Five of them fell, or went down, at the beginning of the
sixth seal; the other was in existence through the sixth seal. The other
one came in the seventh seal and lasted only a short time. “This beast
that was, and is not, even he is the eighth, and is of the seventh, and
goeth into perdition.”
The uniting of the Council of Churches today, the
eighth beast, is the working of the same spirit that has worked in all
the beasts before it. It always opposed God and TRUTH, and will oppose it
until it goes into perdition at the end. The working of this seventh
king, or eighth beast powers, are against God’s way. It is wicked and
abominable, with blasphemy against God. It is the same old spirit that
“opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name, and
his tabernacle (church), and them that dwell in heaven (the church) .“
Revelation 13:6.
In this eighth beast they advocate that ALL RELIGIONS
ARE GOOD, and should unite their efforts to get people everywhere to join
THE ONE OF THEIR CHOICE. All must have the spirit of TOLERATION in order
to work with those who hold, practice, and teach things they do not
believe. In order to work with this beast power it is necessary to quit
preaching doctrine. The WEAKER the message the better it fits. Many of
the leaders in the eighth beast are skeptics, evolutionists, infidels,
and even some are Communists. The true people of God have no FELLOWSHIP
with such people as these, and God says, “Come out from among them, and
be separate.” It is easy to see that the eighth beast is a combination of
all the deceptions in the past, and is against the TRUTH that promotes
and builds the REAL CHURCH OF GOD. The devil is succeeding in getting
many to settle down and be at peace with sin and deception; calmly ride
this beast of UNION, streamlined with all this MODERNISTIC FAITH
KILLING, AND TRUTH ANNULING, PROGRAMIZING IN THE REALM OF HUMAN WISDOM.
This beast is being refueled and throttled by a lukewarm, spewed out,
carnal, coveteous, heretical hierarchy. All this is in opposition to
DIVINE GOVERNMENT by the WORD AND SPIRIT OF GOD. Jesus will never be the
head of the church with such teaching and practice. And when people get
light and understanding, and see this abomination, yet REFUSE to walk in
the light, they DIE SPIRITUALLY and lose their souls. They may still be a
part of BABYLON THE GREAT, operate seminaries, send missionaries, raise a
large budget, and put over a great program, yet be dead, powerless, and
without God.
I would like to quote from a book written by Dr.
George Herbert Betts, professor of Religious Education at Northwestern
University, a Methodist school in Evanston, Illinois The book is
entitled, “The Belief of Seven Hundred Ministers” and is published by the
Abbington Press of the M. E. Church. This is the belief of seven hundred
ministers in twenty different denominations in our country concerning
different Bible subjects. Following are a few of the high points:
They all believe there is a God; that He exists.
80% believe in the Trinity: God, the Son and the Holy
Ghost.
87% believe God is all powerful.
60% believe in a devil.
55% believe in an inspired Bible.
71 % had accepted the new birth—regeneration.
70% accepted Christ’s atonement.
57% believe heaven is a prepared place.
72% believe in man’s resurrection.
66% believe that Christ will judge all.
33% denied that Christ ever performed a miracle.
18% of the young ministers believe Adam fell.
60% of the older ministers believe there is a devil,
against 9% of the younger ministers.
55% of the older ministers believe the Bible was inspired
against 8% of the younger.
84% of the older ministers believe in Christ’s
resurrection; only 42% of the younger believe this doctrine.
25% of the younger ministers believe Christ was born
of a virgin, conceived by the Holy Ghost.
The two hundred young ministers were seminary students.
This shows us what seminaries are doing for simple FAITH in the Word of God.
If the above figures are anywhere near a fair test, the condition is
terrible and getting worse. Many who have “Church of God” over the church
house door on the outside have Babylon practices on the inside. In order
for saints to gather on God’s Mt. Sion of TRUTH, they must leave the
HILLS OF BABYLON practices.
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