The Great City Devastated

 "Get Out of Her, My People"

John's next words point to 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's 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.

Is it really so urgent to flee out of Babylon the Great, withdrawing from membership  in the world's religions and making complete separation? It is , for we need to take God's view  of this age-old religious monstrosity, Babylon the Greet.  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 massed up 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 things she did; in the cup  in which she put a mixture put twice  as much of 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 of heaven warns God's people today to flee from Babylon the Great in order not to receive her plagues.  Jehovah's plaguelike judgments on the world, are not being proclaimed.  (Revelation 8:9-9:21; 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 with that organiztion would make them share in her sins.  They would be as guilty as she is of spiritual adultery and of shedding the blood " of all those who have been slaughtered on the earth." - REVELATON 18:24; Compare EPHESIANS 5:11; 1 TIMOTHY 5:22.

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

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