BABYLON

Wm. F. P. Burton, Mwanza, Katanga.

We commend this article from the Congo Forests to the prayerful consideration of our readers. Let us humbly seek the Lord for an ear to hear "what the Spirit says unto the Churches "that we may not be found naked when "our house which is from heaven comes down upon us.

1 GOD'S PURPOSE.

It is the purpose of God that the Lord Jesus shall be pre-eminent and shall reign till He has put all enemies beneath His feet. 1 Cor.15:24-28. Col.1:18-19. All things were created by Him, and for Him. Rev.4:11. There is no room in God's plan for the exaltation of man, and the doctrines of self betterment and self esteem are not according to the Word of God. Rom.3:23-24. 2 Cor.3:5. In matters relating to his acceptance with God:-

1. Man can boast in nothing. 1 Cor.9:16.

2. Man can, of himself, know nothing. 1 Tim.6:4.

3. Man, apart from God, can receive nothing. Jn.3:27.

4. Man can pay nothing. Lk.7:42.

5. Man can do nothing. Jn.15:5.

6. Man possesses nothing. 2 Cor.6:10.

7. Man is NOTHING. Gal.6:3. 1 Cor.12:11.

Thus everything that may be expected, of blessing, salvation, deliverance, honour, or fruitfulness, must come through the Lord Jesus Christ, as a direct gift from God. Rom.8:32. Even Christ did not seek to honour Himself, for had He done so the honour would have been nothing. Jn.8:54. God has determined that the whole vast scheme of this immeasurable universe, all things both great and small, shall submit to the Lord Jesus. Heb.2:8. Those who go to heaven will enter there through the merits of the Lord Jesus. Rev.5:9. And those who go into the eternal torments of the damned will be sent there by the Lord Jesus. Matt.25:41. Acts 17:31.

2 SATAN'S REBELLION.

A terrible break has occurred in God's beautiful first creation. No less a person than God's cherub (full of wisdom, perfect in beauty, and enjoying honoured proximity to God), became lifted up with pride, and determined to start an opposition Godhead. Ezek.28:11-19. Isa.14:9-20. He declared "I will exalt my throne above the stars of God ....I will be like the Most High." The whole world was originally perfectly made, and ready for habitation at once. Gen.1:1. Isa.45:18. But those primaeval cities, and fruitful fields, marred by Satan's rebellion, were smashed and broken up by God's fierce anger. Isa.14:17. Jer.5:23-26. It became "without form and void." Gen.1:2.

We next see God's creating, brooding presence, remaking a new earth, in six days, and in this earth He places a man and woman, to "replenish" it. That is -- to people it again. Gen.1:28. To these new inhabitants of the earth there was no provision excepting God's, no fellowship excepting His, and God's law was their only rule of life. Who could have been happier. The trees had no thorns, no dangers lurked in those shady groves, and even the lions and leopards were vegetarian. Gen.1:30, and 3:18.

But what about the rival godhead? Where was Satan all this while? In Eph.2:2, and 6:12,we find that he has still been permitted authority in the air, "the heavenlies." This is evidently the reason why God was unable to pronounce the work of His second day as "good." Every other day the work was said to be good, but not the work of the second day -- that of making an "expanse" to divide the waters above from the waters below. Gen.1:6-8. How could that be called good when Satan, and his rebellious hosts are there? |::

3 TWO AUTHORITIES IN OPPOSITION.

God had forbidden Adam to eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, "for in the day of thine eating of it, dying thou dost die." Gen.2:17. (See Young's literal translation). At once the adversary set out to cast doubts upon God's word, and then deliberately contradicted it. "Ye shall not surely die." Gen.3:4. Thus Satan launched a parallel and opposition gospel to God's. The gospel of self-exaltation. "Ye shall be as gods." Alas our first parents rejected God's voice, and accepted the opposition gospel. Thenceforward there have always, and everywhere been two opposing powers. Jehovah and the "god of this world." 2 Cor.4:4. Two opposing laws. God's word and "the lie." 2 Thes.2:9-11. We see some "borne along by the Holy Spirit." 2 Pet.1:21, and some "carried away" and "led" by demon forces, even to the worshipping of dumb idols. 1 Cor.12:2. Some "sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise." Eph 1:13, and others (the children of disobedience), in who the "prince of the power of the air" works. Eph.2:1-3.

When God urges simplicity Satan encourages splendour. When God's plan is salvation by faith, at once Satan inaugurates salvation by works, when God's instructions to the disciple are "let him deny himself." at once Satan cries "No! Let him exalt himself."

It is instructive to follow the course of this Satanic opposition to God's plans. Does God desire an altar stained by blood? At once Satan inspires an altar decked with garlands, fruit, and garden produce. Gen.4:3-4. At the back of all this we once more hear the proud boast "I will be like God." Does God promise through the Isaac line, the greatest of all gifts, His Son? We see Jacob ready to throw away even brotherly love to grasp so great an honour. Esau is naturally attractive and lovable, but promptly Satan works in his heart to despise the wondrous birth-right, and sell it for a plate of lentils.

3.1 BABYLON AND JERUSALEM.

Later in God's purposes we see a chosen nation coming into being, and a promised land, with Jerusalem as its capital. Satan too plans his city. Babylon. Each a centre of worship, each with its antiquity reaching away into the past; Babylon where men tried to build a tower to reach to heaven, and to make a name for themselves: Jerusalem on Mount Moriah, where Abraham had been willing to offer His "only Son" and where God later offered His Son instead).

Many hundred years before Christ, the little images which we now often see, entitled "The virgin mother and her Son," were made in thousands, and worshipped under the name of "Astarte, and her son Nimrod, founder of Babylon." Gen.10:10. Thousands joined in the drunken feasts of December 25th (now known as Christmas Day), and Easter Day (Astarte's Day), used to be openly honoured. Hot-cross-buns and sweet-meal eggs were used in these feasts over 700 years before Christ's birth, and honour was given to the devil by surrounding his images with a halo, which we now see perpetuated in supposed pictures of our blessed Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ. The Jewish priests wore no special garb when not occupied in the tabernacle and temple services, and could not be distinguished from their fellow Israelites. But the priests of Babylon wore special vestments to distinguish them from the common people. In Jericho we see one of these distinguished garments made a snare to Israel, and God calls its "the accursed (or devoted) thing." Josh.7:1, ordering that the man who coveted it, with all his family, should be stoned to death. How many there are today who help to perpetuate the heathen Christmas and Easter feasts, and how many who wear the distinguishing "clerical" clothes, thus following (to this degree at least), the satanic, anti-God religion of Babylon, and oblivious of the fact that no such thing has been commanded of the Lord, neither came it into His mind. (c.p. Num.24:13, and Jer.19:5). |::

Throughout Israel's early history, when she was in blessing she maintained independence, but after lapsing into defeat and idolatry she was carried away into Babylon. When Babylon was up Israel was down, and when Israel was up Babylon was down. Always a striving between God's children and Satan, the Anti-God. Satan even attempted to turn away the allegiance of the Lord Jesus from His Heavenly Father, by offering the kingdoms of the world without the intervening cross and shame. Lk.4:5-8.

Finally God's Son was rejected and crucified, outside the gates of Jerusalem, and we see a new purpose proceed from God's heart. (Not that it was an emergency, or that God had suddenly changed His mind. Indeed it had been in His purpose before the world's foundation. Eph.3:9). I refer to the temporary rejection of Israel as a nation. In the future God will again make Jerusalem the centre of His dealings with man, but at present He is not dealing with a particular nation. Rather He is gathering out a people from all nations, for His Name. Acts 15:14. They are "Saints," that is "separated ones," and their united company is known as the EKKLESIA, -- "the invited out" -- or as we call it, "the church," or "the assembly," those called out from the world. "Outside the camp" with the Lord Jesus. They are "holy," but that does not mean a people with a particular type of doleful face. It simply means "separated." Separated from the world, with all its man-made schemes and honours, all its desirable things. Separated to the Lord Jesus.

3.2 THE HARLOT DISCERNED.

Throughout the New Testament we see the Christian church simple, despised, glorying in Christ alone. As a chaste and humble bride, dressed in quiet and becoming attire, desiring only to find favour in the eyes of One, and that her Lord and Bridegroom. But who is this other woman? "Decking her bed with covering of tapestry, carvings and linen of Egypt, perfume and flattery." Prov.7:5-27. "Walking with stretched forth neck and wanton eyes, and mincing gait." Isa.3:16-26. Why of course she is a harlot, out to attract men, for lust and gain; plying her foul trade by external attractions, and throwing away her virtue upon all who pass. What a picture God gives us of Babylon the mother of harlots. Rev. chaps. 17 and 18. At once we label her "Rome," domineering over kings and commerce, gaudy in her purple scarlet and gold, drunk with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus, and carried by the beast. But if she is Rome, who are her harlot daughters? We have only to look at the magnificent denominational temples, with their attractive display, their Christless services, their shameless flirtation with the world, their plays and theatricals, dances and robed "priests" -- so called -- their boasted science and discarded Bibles. Here are her daughters. Once they were sweet and pure, but oh how they have run in their mother's path! And oh how they will share in their mother's fall! The church can only obey One -- The Lord Jesus Christ, but the harlot has many lovers.

3.3 THE CHURCH AND BABYLON THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS.

In this new era of God's dealings with man, we have:

(a) a new covenant,

(b) new priesthood, sacrifices, and ministry,

(d) a new initiation,

(e) a new name,

(f) new garments,

(g) a new temple,

(h) new worship.

Where are we to find our instructions for all these things? Of course in God's Word, and there alone, for "all scripture is God breathed (in contrast with the whole man-devised, Satan-inspired tangle of teaching and custom), and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly furnished unto all good works." 2 Tim.3:16-17. God's word, then, is our test. Whatever God commands it is our solemn obligation (and should be our delight and privilege) to obey. Whatever is not in the word of God -- however time-honoured, however endeared to us by ties and associations, however it may be practised by other children of God -- we must refuse. It comes from the other voice, the other god. We may notice this distinction between Satan's way and God's; that whereas God offers only one plan, and has one fixed purpose, Satan will offer any, or every substitute, so long as it differs from the revealed will of God.

(a). OUR NEW COVENANT is on the ground of simple faith in the Lord Jesus. Rom.4:1-8. At once Satan offers approach to God through works, or through an earthly priest, or he will say that God is so loving that all may approach Him, or that we need not approach God at all, but that He is so loving that He will eventually save everybody. Thus Satan offers any substitute whatever for simple faith.

(b). OUR NEW PRIESTHOOD, SACRIFICES, AND MINISTRY. Jesus, the Son of God, is our High Priest. Heb.4:14-15, offering the sacrifice of His own death, and precious blood, for the putting away of sin. Heb.9:25-28. In a secondary sense all believers are priests, 1 Pet.2:5 and 9, offering sacrifices of praise and thanksgiving. There is NO OTHER PRIESTHOOD in the New Testament, excepting the old, vanishing Jewish priesthood. Satan would interpose some mediator between our souls and God, but the man Christ Jesus is the one and only Mediator. 1 Tim.2:5. Satan would invent a race of men called "clergymen," to minister, and to keep the "laity" quiet, but 1 Cor.14:31, says "Ye may all prophesy one by one." Indeed the only church ministers (apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers), are expressly to encourage ministry among the saints, and not to stop it. Eph.4:11-12. As for cardinals, arch-deacons, reverends, &c., all these come from that counter voice of Satan, for they certainly cannot be found in OUR book of instructions, the Holy Word of God. The only "bishops" ("overseers" or "elders") that the scriptures know are several in every church. Titus 1:5-7, and not one over several churches. Needless to say the "sacrifice of the mass," whereby a baker and a priest combine to create a "christ" -- small c please -- with flour and water, proceeding to kill and eat him, -- this has no origin other than man, borne along by Satan. Yet thousands of such "christs" are made daily and are put into little gold boxes for worship; christs that cannot see or hear, or speak, -- and even "Protestant" churches are being "led away" to these "dumb idols." Then again

(c) OUR SAVIOUR IS THE LORD JESUS CHRIST, the Son of the living God. Acts 4:12. At once Satan suggests -- save yourselves by your own efforts and religious observances, or at least let your good works be the ground of your rapture. Or if you are aesthetic, let Christian Science, or the Virgin Mary and the saints help to save you. Anything that will detract from the glory of God's own Son.

(d) OUR INITIATION is in baptism -- immersion. Rom.6:3-5, upon confession of faith, Acts 2:38, i.e., after regeneration through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Jn.1:12.

At once Satan says "be sprinkled. Too much water is not good. And the sooner the better, so sprinkle babies, and if they cannot believe then let someone else believe for them, or let the water be said to regenerate them." Yet despite the fact that this god-father, god-mother, baby-sprinkling business has absolutely no place in God's word, even professing christians help to perpetuate this false, satanic, Babylonian system though tens of thousands are falling into Hell, clinging vainly to the Devil's hope that their baby-sprinkling made them heirs of the kingdom of heaven.

(e). OUR NAME is "children of God," "christians," "brethren," Acts 11:26; 1 Jn.3:1; Matt.23:8. At once the Adversary suggests "churchmen," "methodists," "congregationalists," "pentecostalists," or any other name that will frustrate God's will. Yes, let us be very clear about it. Satan suggests these names, for they are not found in the scriptures, and cause those very divisions, "I of Paul, and I of Apollos" (1 Cor.3:1-9), of which the scriptures warn us.

Also (f) we have SPIRITUAL GARMENTS. The white raiment of a Christ- imparted righteousness. Rev.3:18. The righteous acts of the saints. Rev.19:8. But what is this that we see, vestments, cassocks, surplices, robes, mitres, etc., and the adoption of the Babylonian "clerical" attire even among the dear saints whom we love. The garments that bring about a false discrimination between one and another in the church of God. This too must be of Babylon, since there is no such thing in God's Word. Indeed the scriptures expressly show us how to conform to the customs of those to whom we carry God's message, that we may the more readily gain them. 1 Cor.9:20-23, Gird yourselves, beloved, with humility. 1 Pet.5:5. Put on mercy, love and humbleness of mind. Col.3:12-14. But how can you meet your Lord with open face, and unashamed, when wearing such attire, concerning which He has given no instructions. The "accursed thing," the Babylonian garb.

(g). Then we have new TEMPLES OR TABERNACLES. 1 Cor.6:19. 2 Cor.5:1-4. Your bodies are God's temple. He dwelleth not in temples made with hands. Acts 17:24. Our New Testament instructions say not a word about naves, chancels, spires, stained-glass windows, etc. Thus when we read of Spirit-filled saints erecting a "Bethel Temple," or a "Zion Tabernacle," we shudder. You say "what's in a name?" Very little perhaps, but this name carries a false impression that that building is a place of special sanctity, whereas God may be found anywhere, in heaven, or hell, or in the uttermost parts of the sea. Ps.139:7-12. Thus in these ornate "temples," and "tabernacles," we hear once more the grim chuckle of triumph -- "I will be as God." Is anything but the most rigid simplicity consistent with God's plan? He is not wanting bricks and mortar. He is seeking sinners. In the New Testament church we find six meeting places. Five are in private houses, and the sixth "by the riverside where prayer was wont to be made." Is it not possible that those lovely cornices, that silver communion service, those stained-glass windows, are the blood-price of lost souls? Within the last two months two simple native lads at Mwanza have won over seventy for the Lord Jesus. Seventy temples, real temples, God's own temples, temples of the Holy Ghost. And the upkeep of those two lads, during that time, was about one pound sterling. How many thousands of souls are falling into Hell, in the vast untouched districts of the world, without even the sound of the Saviour's name, while large sums, and in some cases fabulous amounts, are being spent to erect elaborate "Pentecostal Temples" and "Pentecostal Tabernacles."

(h). Then we have NEW INSTRUCTIONS AS TO WORSHIP. Today God does not call for sacrifices, feast-days, and ceremonies, but for worship in the Spirit. Jn.4:23-24. Thus one cannot but feel sad at the continued observance, even among spirit-filled saints, of Christmas, Easter, Whitsuntide, Lent, etc. God has even planned that we should have our much loved Sabbath for seven days every week. Heb.4:9 (marg.). Those merely man ordained feasts date back long before Christ's birth, to the old Babylonian mysteries. Christmas could not have been the time of Christ's birth. It would have been too cold in the field for shepherds to have watched their flocks on a Palestine December night. Lk.2:8. In fact it can be clearly demonstrated that Christ was born in September. But whatever the origin of these feasts and fasts, it is enough for us that God has shown His disapproval of them. Gal.4:9-11. Col.2:16.

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One might continue indefinitely this list of man-made oppositions to God's word. For every command or desire of God, Satan has his contradiction and counterpart. One might go through any passage of scripture, verse by verse, and find that EVERY SENTIMENT, STATEMENT, OR INSTRUCTION is deliberately reversed in the ordinances and practices of the respectable religious sects of our day. The mother harlot has produced a prolific brood of daughters. We have the Anglican daughter, the Methodist daughter, and the other various harlot daughters, practising their foul trade in the churches of our land. Let us be careful lest we soon see a Pentecostal daughter, when she has sufficiently grown, also drifting into Babylonian harlotry.

3.4 The Present Opportunity to Stand by God's Word. Many will doubtless say "we have never seen things in this light before." Now, however you see that the wearing of special clothes, the taking of special names, the observance of special days, and many other things so seemingly harmless, strike deep roots away down into the subsoil of Satanic, Babylonian inspiration. Dear ones, without any pharisaic feelings, but in brokenness of spirit, and a heart full of love, let me ask you -- more -- if I could I would come and kneel before you, and with tears in my eyes I would plead, on behalf of my Master (Who still bears the marks of the thorns and nails that He suffered for you), I would plead that now, before Satan dulls your perception, and while the Holy Spirit shows you, in due perspective, the horror of these things, you will determine never again to observe those christianized heathen feasts and ceremonies, or encourage the Babylonian garb, but that henceforth the Bible, and the Bible alone will be your guide.

3.5 A Voice from Heaven.

"Come out of her my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, that ye receive not her plagues." Rev.18:4. "I fear lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be CORRUPTED FROM THE SIMPLICITY THAT IS IN CHRIST." 2 Cor.11:3.