Chapter Thirty-Six -The Great City Devastated

"Get Out of Her, My People"

John's next words point to a further fulfillment of the prophetic pattern:  "And I heard another voice out of heaven say:  'Get out of her, my people, if you do not want to share with her in her sins, and if you do not want to receive part of her plagues.' " (Revelation 18:4)  Prophecies of ancient Babylon fall in the Hebrew Scriptures also include Jehovah's command to his people:"Take your flight out of the midst of Babylon."  (Jeremiah 50:8, 13)  Similarly, in view of the coming desolation of Babylon the Great, God's people are now urged to escape.  In 537 B.C.E. the opportunity to escape from Babylon caused  much rejoicing  on the part of faithful Israelites. In the same way, the release of God's people from Babylonish captivity in 1919 led to rejoicing on their part. (Revelation 11:11, 12)  And since that time millions of others have obeyed the order to flee. -Compare Matthew 24:15, 16. 

Is it really so urgent to flee out of Babylon the Great, withdrawing from membership in the world's religions and making a complete separation? It is, for we need to take God's view of this age-old religious monstrosity, Babylon the Great.  He did not mince words in calling her the great harlot. So now the voice out of heaven informs John further concerning this whore:  "For her sins have massed together clear up to heaven, and God has called her acts of injustice to  mind. Render to her even as she herself rendered, and do to her twice as much, yes, twice the number of the things she did; in the cup in which she put a mixture put twice as much of the mixture for her. To the extent that she glorified herself and lived in shameless luxury, to that extent giver her torment and mourning.  For in her heart she keeps saying, 'I sit a queen, and I am no widow, and I shall never see mourning.' That is why in one day her plagues will come, death and mourning and famine, and she will be completely burned with fire, because Jehovah God, who judged her, is strong." -Revelation 18:5-8. 

Strong words, those!  So action is required. Jeremiah urged the Israelites in his day to act, saying:  "Flee out of the midst of Babylon,  . . . for it is the time of vengeance belonging to Jehovah. There is treatment that he is paying back to her.   Get out of the midst of her, O my people, and provide each one his soul with escape from the burning anger of Jehovah."  (Jeremiah 51:6, 45)  In a similar way, the voice out of heaven warns God's people today to flee from Babylon the Great in order not to receive part of her plagues. Jehovah's plague like judgments on this world, including Babylon the Great, are now being proclaimed.  (Revelation 8:1-9:21; 16:1-21)  God's people need to separate themselves from false religion if they themselves do not want to suffer these plagues and ultimately  die with her. Besides remaining within that organization would make them share in her sins. They would be as guilty as she of spiritual adultery and of shedding  the blood "of all those who have been slaughtered on the earth."-Revelation 18:24; compare Ephesians 5:11; 1 Timothy 5:22.  

How, though, do God's people get out of Babylon the Great?  In the case of ancient Babylon, the Jews had to make the 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 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.  

Next time: Chapter Thirty-Six - The Great City Devastated - Conclusion of "Get Out of Her, My People

From the book of Revelation