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

 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 yourseleves,' says Jehovah,  'and quit touching the unclean thing." The Corinthians Christians did not have to leave Corinth in order to obey that command.  They did, however, phyusically have to avoid the uncleaern temples of false religion, as well as spiritually separate themselves from the unclean acts of those idol worshippers.  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 evetual 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, robbery, and murder.  Ancient Babylon's fall was, in part, vengeance for what she has done to  Jehovah's temple and his     true worshippers (Jeremiah 50:8, 14; 51:11, 35, 36)   The fall of Babylon the Great and her eventual destruction are likewise expression of vengeance for what she to true worshippers 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 receove twice as much  as she gave out. There will be no mercy shown 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 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 quickluy, as if "in one dau"! 

Next time: Mourning and Rejoicing at Babylon's End

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