Babylon’s Doom

“Upon the prophetic page we may clearly read the doom of Babylon, Christendom; and it is none the less clearly expressed in the signs of the times. That her destruction will be sudden, violent and complete is thus forcibly stated:

“And 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.” (Rev. 18:8, 21; Jer. 51:63, 64, 42, 24-26)

And yet that it was to undergo a gradual consuming process is shown by Daniel 7:26–“But the judgment shall sit, and they shall take away his dominion, to consume and to destroy it unto the end.”

The Papal dominion (and much of the abject reverence of the people for ecclesiasticism in general), was for the most part broken down at the beginning of the Time of the End—A.D.1799; and, though the subsequent process of consumption has been slow, and there have been occasional signs of apparent recovery, which never seemed more flattering than at present, the assurance of Papacy’s (the beasts) final destruction is positive, and its death-struggle will be violent. First, however, she must attain more of her old-time prestige (during the “hour of temptation” Rev 3:10), which will be shared with a confederated association of her daughters (the False Prophet). Together they will be lifted up, that together they may be violently thrown down.

That the punishment of Babylon will be great is assured. It is written prophetically that, “Great Babylon came in remembrance before God, to give unto her the cup of the wine of the fierceness of his wrath.” “And he hath avenged the blood of his servants at her hand.” “Her sins have reached unto heaven, and God hath remembered her iniquities. Reward her, unto her double according to her works. In the cup which she hath filled, fill to her double. How much she hath glorified herself and lived deliciously, so much torment and sorrow give her; for she saith in her heart, ‘I sit a queen, and am no widow, and shall see no sorrow.'” (Rev. 16:19; 19:2; 18:5-7)

While the broadest application of this language is, of course, to Papacy, it also involves all who are in any degree in confederation or sympathy with her. All such will be sharers in her plagues. (Rev. 18:4) Although the kings of the earth have hated the harlot and cast her off (Rev. 17:16), still she says, “I sit a queen, and am no widow,” loudly boasts of her right to rule the nations, and claims that her former power will soon be regained.

Of her boasting and threats the following from a Catholic journal of recent date is a fair sample:

“The Papacy will regain its temporal sovereignty, because it is useful and convenient to the Church. It gives the head executive of the church a fuller liberty and a fuller sway. The Pope can be no king’s subject long. It is not in keeping with the divine office to be so. It cramps him and narrows his influence for good (?). Europe has acknowledged this influence, and will be forced to bow to it in greater times of need than this. Social upheavals, and the red hand of anarchy, will yet crown Leo or his successor with the reality of power which the third circle symbolizes, and which was once recognized universally.”

Yes, as the day of trouble draws on, ecclesiasticism will endeavor to use its power and influence more and more to secure its own political welfare, by its control of the turbulent elements of society; but in the crisis of the near future the lawless element will spurn all conservative influence and break over all restraints, the red hand of Anarchy will do its dreadful work, and Babylon, Christendom, social, political and ecclesiastical, shall fall.

“Therefore,” says the inspired writer–i.e., because she will violently struggle for life and power–“shall her plagues come in one day [suddenly], death and mourning and famine, and she shall be utterly burned with fire [symbolic fire–destructive calamities], for strong is the Lord God who judges her.” Rev. 18:8

“Thus, saith the Lord, Behold I will raise up against Babylon, and against them that dwell in the midst of them that rise up against me [all in sympathy with Babylon], a destroying wind (trouble); and I will send into Babylon, fanners (propagandist, trouble makers and instigators) that shall fan her (fan the fire, the trouble), and shall empty her land: for in the day of trouble they shall be against her round about…Destroy ye utterly all her host.” Jer. 51:1-3

“And I will render unto Babylon [to the Papacy specially], and to all the inhabitants of Chaldea [or Babylonia–Christendom–-to all the nations of the so-called Christian world] all their evil that they have done in Zion in your sight, saith the Lord.” (Jer. 51:24) As we call to mind the long train of evils by which Babylon has oppressed and worn out the saints of the Most High (the true Zion), and how it is written that God will avenge his own elect, and that speedily; that, according to their deeds, he will repay recompense to his enemies; that he will render unto Babylon a recompense (Luke 18:7, 8; Isa. 59:18; Jer. 51:6), we begin to realize that some fearful calamity awaits her.” (D37-39)

Continued with next post.