The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1911-07-11

For centuries Bible Students have
observed that many Of the strong ex-
pressions Of the Old Testament re-
specting Babylon found their parallels
In the New Testament, used in respect
to Mystic Babylon. Many of these
statements of the Old Testament seem
far too vivid and too strong to be APP
piled to Literal Babylon. Hence it was
surmised that Mystic Babylon was
more particularly referred to than the
Literal. 1t was noticed also that as
Israel and Judah went into captivity
to Literal Babylon, so apparently the
Book of Revelation teaches that Spir-
itual Israel would have drastic expert
ences in a captivity to Mystic or Sym
bolic Babylon the Great, the Mother
Of Harlots" Revelation xvii, 81.
Within the past fifty years. under
the blighting influence of the Evolu-
ton theory and the destructive Higher
Criticism Of the Bible, these parallels
have been lost sight Of Indeed. aside
from International Sunday School les
sons, Bible study has been very large
" neglected, even In theological semi
naries And the Sunday School les
sons, under the guidance Of worldly
wisdom, have sought to avoid every
thing except the milk Of the Word"
(the simple doctrines) to avoid contro-
versies.
Only very recently Is true Bible study
being revived in conjunction with the
international Bible Students Associa-
ton, a branch of which / have the
honor to address today. We may well
congratulate each other, dear friends.
that in Gods providence we have es-
capped the misunderstanding influence Of
Higher Criticism and Evolution. We
may well congratulate ourselves also
on the degree of liberty we have at
tanned in the study of Gods Word
freedom from the confusing creeds
manufactured for MS in a darker age
freedom from some of the rank super
stitions and false theories which, for
time, fettered our reason and made
the Divine Plan to appear ignoble--un-
worthy Of just and loving man, much
more OF an All-Wise. Just and Loving
Creator.
Great Bzbylon of Old.
Briefly we remind you that ancient
Babylon was built on the river Eu-
pirates; that she had impregnable
walls; that the river ran through the
midst Of the city. and the great gates
Of brass scanned the river as a pro-
lection against assaults of an enemy
from that quarter. The name of the
city was attached to a large area Of
country outside of it. for which 1t
served as the capital Indeed. at its
zenith Babylon was mistress Of the
then civilized world-the first Uni
versal Empire.
We remind you of the captivity, first
Of the ten tribes of Israel and later
on of the remaining two tribes or king
dom called Judah. The method Of
Babylon was to scatter the Israelites
amongst the Babylonians. and through
their earthly interests to amalgamate
them as part and parcel Of Babylonia.
This condition of things lasted until
the fall of Babylon before its con-
queror, Cyrus.
The General gained his victory in
remarkable manner, while the Baby
lonians. assured of their security. were
revealing at banquet. Although the
crisis came suddenly. the preparation
had been long in progress. The sol
diers Of Cyrus. under his direction.
had digged canal of considerable
depth ready to drain off the water of
the river as soon as the necessary con-
nection was made When the canal
was in readiness the connection with
the river was speedily made and the
water flowed rapidly into the new
channel, leaving the bed Of the river
under the great brazen gates, on both
sides of the city. an open roadway.
through which marched the army of
Cyrus. Suddenly. at an unexpected
moment. the boastful city. the proud
Babylon, was captured
Then 1t was that Cyrus. the victo-
rious general, gave the command which
granted liberty to every Israelite car
rted captive thither, to return to his
own land Additionally. assistance was
rendered to all who desired to return.
and the golden vessels pertaining t.
the worship of God in the temple were
sent back But strange to say. out of
all the millions who had constituted
Israel and Judah before the captivity.
only about ffty-t three thousand Of all
the tribes were anxious to avail them
selves Of the privilege of returning to
the Land of Promise.
AntitypieaI or Mystic Babylon.
The Book Of Revelation, the book Of
symbols, the last message of our as
cended Redeemer to His Church
through the Apostle John. was written
long centuries after literal Babylon
persisted Its reference to Babylon.
therefore, can be viewed only in the
light Of symbolism. AS already sug-
gested, many Of the prophetic utter
ances seem far too strong to be ap-
piled to literal Babylon and her fall
Indeed. while speaking directly of
Babylon and her fall at the hands of
the Modes and Persians under Cyrus,
the prophecies speak of the end Of this
Age and of worldwide calamities in
cidental to the overthrow of every In
stitution contrary to the Divine will,
preparatory to the Inauguration Of
Messiah's Kingdom.
/ request that at your convenience
you read Isaiah xiii, 1-19, in confirma-
ton Of what l have said recon-
mend further that you compare Jere-
miah |. Is, 20, with Revelation xviii. q,
and jeremiah |, SO, with Revelation
xvi, 70, and the 48th verse with Reve
lation xviii, 9. Compare also jeremiah
Ii, go, with Revelation xviii, 4; and
verse 10 of Jeremiah II with Revela
tion xvii, lib; and verses 81, SO, "a
with Revelation xviii, 2, 4, 81.
No one can make these comparisons.
/ believe, and not feel fully convinced
that the Holy Spirit debating through
Isaiah and jeremiah was the same
Holy Spirit which guided st. John
through the Apocalyptic vision. Nor
can such students escape the conclu
sion that the force Of the prophecies
apply specially to Mystic Babylon
rather than to the literal city and
country. As one section Of literal
Babylon fell before another. so Reve-
lation predicts 1t win be with Mystic |
Babylon. As Literal Babylon ruled
over the whole world, so Mystic Baby
lon is represented as ruling the ciyiliz-
ed world. and hence the entire world.
As the lords of Babylon were made
drunk by wine which they drank from
the golden vessels captured from the !