Conclusion of "Get Out Of Her, My People"

How, though, do God's people get out of Babylon the Great? In the case of ancient Babylon, the Jews had to make physical journey for the city of Babylon all the way back to the Promised Land. But more was involve than that. Isaiah prophetically told the Israelites: "Turn away, turn away, get out of there, touch nothing unclean; get out from the midst of her, keep yourselves clean, you who are carrying the utensils of Jehovah." (Isaiah 52:11) Yes, they has to abandon all unclean practices of Babylonish religion that might tarnish their worship of Jehovah.

The apostle Paul quoted Isaiah's words in his letter to the Corinthians, saying: "Do not become unevenly yoked with unbelievers. For what fellowship do righteousness and lawlessness have? Or what sharing does light have with darkness?. . . Therefore get out from among them, and separate yourselves,' says Jehovah, 'and quit touching the unclean thing.' " The Corinthian Christians did not have to leave Corinth in order to obey that command. They did, however, physically have to avoid the unclean temples of false religion, as well as spiritually separate themselves from the unclean acts of those idol worshipers. In 1919 God's people began to flee from Babylon the Great in this way, cleansing themselves of any residual unclean teachings and practices. Thus, they were able to serve him as his purified people. -2Corinthians 6:14-17; 1 John 3:3.

Ancient Babylon's fall and eventual desolation was a punishment for her sins: "For clear to the heavens her judgment has reached." (Jeremiah 51:9) Similarly, the sins of Babylon the Great have "massed together clear up to heaven," so as to come to the attention of Jehovah himself. She is guilty of injustice, idolatry, immorality, oppression, robber and murder. Ancient Babylon's fall was, in part, vengeance for what she had done to Jehovah's temple and his true worshipers. (Jeremiah 50:8, 14; 51:11, 35, 36) The fall of Babylon the Great and her eventual destruction likewise expressions of vengeance for what she has done to true worshipers over the centuries. Indeed, her final destruction is the beginning of "the day of vengeance on the part of our God." -Isaiah 34:8-10; 61:2; Jeremiah 50:28.

Under the Mosaic Law, if an Israelite stole from his fellow countrymen, he had to pay back at least double in compensation. (Exodus 22:1, 4, 7, 9) In the coming destruction of Babylon the Great, Jehovah will apply a comparable standard of justice. She is to receiver twice as much as she gave out. There will be no mercy to temper this justice because Babylon the Great has shown no mercy to her victims. She fed parasitically on the peoples of the earth to keep herself in "shameless luxury." Now she will experience suffering and mourning. Ancient Babylon felt that she was in an absolutely secure position, boasting: "I shall not sit as a widow, and I shall not know the loss of children." (Isaiah 47:8, 9, 11) Babylon the Great also feels secure. But her destruction, decreed by Jehovah, who "is strong," will happen quickly, as if " in one day!"

Next time: Mourning And Rejoicing At Babylon's End.

Revelation Its Grand Climax At Hand! Watchtower Bible and Tract Society, 1988.