The Great City is Devastated - Conclusion of "Ger Out of Her, My People"

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 their physical journey from the city of Babylon all the way back to the Promised Land.  But more was involved 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 had to abandon all unclean practices of Babylonish religion that might tarnish their worship of Jehovah.

The apostle Paul quoted Isaiah's words in is 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 John, '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 wells 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. -2 Corinthians 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 tot he heaven," so as to come to the attention of Jehovah himself.  She is guilty of injustice, idolatry, immorality, oppression, robbery, 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 are 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 receive 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 people 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  sit as a widow, and I shall not 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 in  "in one day"?

Next time: Mourning and Rejoicing at Babylon's End

From the Book of Revelation