God calls his people to come out of Babylon (Revelation 18:4). All Christians should take this command seriously and obey it.
In order to come out of Babylon, it is necessary to know what Babylon is.
Babylon is literally a city in modern day Iraq. But in the Bible Babylon represents the world system that is contrary to God. God commands his people to come out of this city and live in the spiritual city of Zion, which is the heavenly land of Christ.
Babylon began 4,200 years ago after the Flood with a man named Nimrod (Genesis 10:8-10). Nimrod was an ancient empire builder. He gathered everyone in the world together in a vast building project in Babylon in rebellion against God. Everyone in the world spoke the same language and worked together on this project to build a tower to heaven.
God stopped the construction of the Tower of Babel because he saw that the unity of all people against him would enable them do almost anything. He scattered them by giving them different languages, and they went all over the world and began different nations. Wherever they went, they took core evil concepts of Babylon with them. This is why Babylon is called the Mother of Abominations, and it is one reason why Babylon’s effects are seen throughout the world (Revelation 17:5).
Babylon’s Effects on People
The Bible tells us many things about the spiritual city of Babylon. It says that Babylon is oppressive (Isaiah 14:4). Babylon enslaves people and binds them to its building project through the power of mammon – money.
The Bible says that Babylon makes all nations crazy, mad, or insane (Jeremiah 51:7). As a result of the influence of Babylon, everyone in the world has become irrational because they live apart from God.
Babylon makes everyone in the world drink of the wine of her immorality (Revelation 14:8). Babylon produces many things through sin and demonic power, and these things are spiritually ingested by the people of the world.
Babylon makes everyone in the world drunk (Revelation 18:3). When a person is drunk he can’t think clearly. He stumbles and does stupid things. Spiritual drunkenness leads to confused thinking, wrong perceptions, inability to walk forward, and lack of clarity. Babylon distorts reality.
Babylon deceives everyone in the world through the power of her sorceries (Revelation 18:23). Sorcery is the unleashing of demonic power to manipulate people. Babylon dominates people through demonic power.
The only way to be free from the power of Babylon is through the name of Jesus Christ.
Brief History of Israel
The history of Israel gives us further insights into Babylon.
After the Israelites came out of Egypt, God brought them into the land of Canaan – the land he had promised to give to Abraham, the best land in the world. But God warned Israel that if they disobeyed his word, they would be cast out of the Promised Land (Deuteronomy 28:15-64).
As the years passed, the Israelites disobeyed God. They worshiped demons and practiced pagan rituals, often plastering the name of God on top of these rituals. Therefore demons invaded them, and they were cast out of the Promised Land. Finally, the king of Babylon came and burned Jerusalem, destroyed God’s temple, and carried the Israelites captive to Babylon (2 Chronicles 36).
In Babylon, Israel was miserable (Psalm 137).
God promised that if Israel returned to him and obeyed his word, then he would bring them back to Jerusalem (Deuteronomy 30:1-5).
Eventually, men like Daniel led Israel to repent and turn back to God. Then God told his people it was time to leave Babylon and go back to Jerusalem.
God told his people to flee Babylon for two reasons:
- Babylon would be destroyed.
- God’s temple had to be rebuilt in Jerusalem.
Bold Men and Women Fled Babylon
Some people heard God’s call, and left Babylon to make the arduous journey back to Zion.
Ezra (Ezra 7:6-20). Ezra was a servant of God who sought out the commands of God and taught them to the people. He exalted God’s word over paganism.
Nehemiah (Nehemiah 2:1-6). Nehemiah was an efficient leader who led the construction of the wall around Jerusalem in the midst of much opposition. Nehemiah was zealous for holiness and threw out compromise among God’s people.
Zerubbabel (Haggai 2:2-9). Zerubbabel was the governor of Judah who led the rebuilding of the temple. He kept his eye on God’s plan and didn’t stop until God’s house was complete.
Joshua (Haggai 2:2-9). Joshua was the high priest when the temple was rebuilt. He was the spiritual leader who worked closely with Zerubbabel, the political leader.
Haggai (Ezra 5:1-2, Book of Haggai). Haggai was a prophet who encouraged all the Israelites who came back from Babylon to rebuild God’s temple.
Zechariah (Book of Zechariah). Zechariah was another prophet who spurred people on to overcome opposition and build the temple, keeping God’s vision paramount.
God’s temple could only be rebuilt if people came out from Babylon. Some did, and they dedicated their lives to building God’s house.
Into this rebuilt temple, Jesus Christ came, 2,000 years ago.
Symbols for Us
All these things are symbolic for us (1 Corinthians 10:11).
The temple represents the church (Ephesians 2:20-21). The church was originally built up in a glorious condition by the early apostles, but then it fell into sin and disobedience. Pagan rituals and demons invaded the church.
Throughout compromise with the world, the church was carried off into spiritual Babylon. God’s people no longer experienced the astounding presence and power of Christ in their midst.
It’s time to rebuild. God is calling his people to come out of Babylon and leave the spiritual desert behind. He wants them to work with him in rebuilding his church and preparing the bride for the return of Jesus Christ.
God’s people are called to leave Babylon for two reasons.
- Babylon will be destroyed. God doesn’t want his people to be destroyed along with Babylon. He doesn’t want them to spend their lives building up things that will not last.
- God wants his bride (church) to be prepared for his coming. He wants people to dedicate their lives to the building of his house, gaining eternal rewards.
Squeezed Out of Babylon
World events will conspire to squeeze God’s people out of Babylon. Antichristian ideology will increasingly permeate institutions of learning and business that will force faithful Christians to leave these institutions. Jobs and positions will be lost.
Communities will be increasingly affected by Satanic forces. As Christians leave old communities and social groups behind, there will be an impetus for them to develop meaningful Christian communities.
Economic restrictions will be placed on those who refuse to go along with anti-Christian ideas or behaviors. This will compel Christians to embrace radical sharing and a common economy among themselves.
Eventually, the Mark of the Beast will come which will force final separation. Faithful Christians must refuse this mark, and without this mark they will be unable to buy or sell (Revelation 13:17). Then they will have to discover an alternate way of life.
God calls his people out of Babylon because Babylon is going to be destroyed, and he does not want his people destroyed along with the world. Instead, he wants them to be revelators of his kingdom.
God wants his people to flee Babylon so they can prepare his bride for his coming. Just like the temple of God had to be rebuilt so Christ could come into that temple, so the church must be rebuilt at the end of the age into glory so that Christ can come into his bride and the wedding supper of the Lamb can occur.
Let us flee Babylon. Considering all these things, this is the only course of action that makes sense.
Lincoln House Churches 