Fall of Babylon and Loud Cry

Babylon is a symbol in Revelation for apostate religious organizations that oppose Christ and His people on earth, especially at the close of time. In Revelation 14 we read about the fall of Babylon in the second angel's message. Revelation 18 expands on her destruction with a final "loud cry" to "come out of her" so that people do not share in her final destruction. Whereas Revelation 17 describes Babylon as a "mother of harlots" (v. 5) and a prostitute who is executed, Revelation 18 uses a metaphor of a wealthy city being sacked. Though the term Babylon has been used over the centuries to describe different organizations that oppose God and persecute His people, modern Babylon stands for all Christian churches that have departed from the "everlasting gospel", including the great Roman apostasy of the early Christian centuries and the more recent departure of mainstream Protestantism.

Fall of Babylon Revelation 18:2 tells us, "Babylon the great is fallen ..." It explains, "For her sins have reached to heaven, and God has remembered her iniquities" (v. 5). The time has come for God to judge her. This organization has seduced the "kings of the earth" to commit fornication with her (Revelation 17:2). What are her sins? Revelation tells us pride and arrogance (17:4 18:7, 16), defiance of God and persecution of His people (16:19 17:6 18:24), and an illicit alliance with the political powers of earth (17:2, 3 18:9). God gives people complete freedom of choice to choose salvation. Satan compels people with force to follow him.

Early Christians began to identify Babylon with Rome (1 Peter 5:13) as did the early Church Fathers like Tertullian and Irenaeus. During the Great Awakening at the dawn of the 19th century a growing number of Advent believers saw Babylon as a symbol for fallen apostate churches, especially those that were sustained by civil powers. The fall of Babylon is something that has been progressively happening, but will be complete when major Protestant churches collaborate with the Church of Rome in an attempt to coerce the conscience.

The punishment of Babylon outlined in Revelation 18 fits her crime. She is to "Render ... double according to her works" (v. 7). Her luxury and glory came at the expense of others. She claims to sit as a queen, but she is a mother of harlots (17:5) and she will go down along with her daughters (churches which join her). Plagues will come to her, especially the seventh plague (see 16:19). The kings of the earth mourn, the merchants weep at her destruction. Yet, heaven exults in the final destruction of this organization for "in her was found the blood of prophets and saints, and of all who were slain on the earth" (18:24).

Loud Cry The loud cry of Revelation 18 is God in His mercy saying, "Come out of her [Babylon], my people, lest you share in her sins, and lest you receive of her plagues" (v. 4). The Lord distinguishes between a false organization and individuals in apostate churches. This loud cry is heaven's final appeal to humanity, the last message in Scripture calling humanity to accept the gospel. The call is united with the third angel's message of Revelation 14:9—11 where Babylon's counterfeit gospel is unveiled. This loud cry is a final bid to join God's remnant people and separate from the false teachings that exalt humanity. This message began to go out around the close of the 2,300 year prophecy in 1844 A.D. and extends until the coming of Christ.

Those who take up the call and separate from Babylon, who become messengers of this final warning, will be like lights that "illuminate" the earth with glory (18:1). These servants of God will proclaim with power to the world heaven's last call. While the powers of the earth unite to wage war against the commandments of God, there will be a commandment—keeping people who would rather die than accept the mark of the beast and transgress God's laws. Many will come out of Babylon to join God's last remnant people and stand for truth though threatened by a death decree. At this time probation will end. The final destiny of everyone will be forever fixed. Then Christ will come. Then will Babylon be destroyed.