Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1911-07-04

only about ffty-three thousand Of ali
the tribes were anxious to avail them
selves of the privilege Of returning to
the Land of Promise.
AntitypicaI 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
yoa read Isaiah xiii, 1-19, in confirma-
ton of what l have said. | recon-
mend further that you compare Jere-
miah !, -, 20, with Revelation xviii, 6,
and Jeremiah !, SO, with Revelation
xvi, u, and the 10th verse with Reve-
lation xviii, 8. Compare also jeremiah
II rv{f L..
verse Is of jeremiah Ii with Revela-
ton xvii, lis; and verses 81, 60, GA
with Revelation xviii, 2, 4, q.
No one can make these comparisons,
l 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. MOI
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 it will be with Mystic
Babylon. As Literal Babylon ruled
over the whole world, so Mystic Baby
lon is represented as ruling the civiliz
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
temple at Jerusalem, so Mystic Baby
Ion, represented by a woman, Is said
to make all nations drunk with the
wine, or doctrine, which she gives
them out of the golden cup which she
holds in her hand. AS Literal Babylon
fell by the drying up of the waters OF
the Euphrates, so Revelation tells us
that Mystic Babylon sits upon the sym
bolic Euphrates, and that the way OF
the kings of the East shall be prepared
by the drying up Of those waters
Revelation xvi, 12).
Similarly, we are assured, Mystic
Babylon's end shall come suddenly, "ir
one hour" Like a great milestone she
shall be cast into the sea to rise nc
more. AS the literal Israelites were in
vited to leave Babylon the literal, and
were helped so to do, but only a few
responded. so spiritual Israelites are
urged to leave Mystic Babylon in
which they have been In captivity, but
only a comparatively small number
have a sufficiency of courage, love and
zeal to respond at the first-others will
be delivered after her collapse. Now
however, the message is, Babylon is
fallen, is fallen [sentenced to fall.
Come out of her, my people, that We
be not partakers Of her sins, and that
We receive not of her plaques" (Revela-
ton xviii, 2-5).
Where Is Mystic Babylon7
No student can examine the records
without establishment and realization
that Mystic Babylon must be some
great, influential system of great power
In the world during this Gospel Age
and especially at its close. The very
prominence given to Babylon, both In
prophecy and in Revelation, warns
Gods people that If they have not yet
found Babylon they should seek fol
her For so great an institution as
made all nations drunk with her false
doctrine must be very prominent, In
deed, to those who were made so un
der the influence of the stupefyine
draft from her cup.
Indeed, the intimation Is that the
whole civilized world will be so intoxi
Gated with the false teaching of Baby
Ion as to be completely under her infiu
ence. And when she fails It is particu
larry explained that all the great, the
rich, the mighty, the influential OF
earth will mourn the catastrophe of her
fall. Only the sanity few will recognize
its true import and rejoice; as we read
"Alasl that great city that was clothed
In fine linen and purple and scarlet
and decked with gold and precious
stones and pearlsI For in one hour sc
great riches is come to naught.
What city is like unto this great city
And they cast dust on their heads and
cried, weeping and wailing, saying
Alas, alas, that great ethyl! Revela-
ton xviii. 1919.
But, on the contrary, another class
rejoices, as we read:
Rejoice over her, thou heaven, and
We Holy Apostles and Prophets; fol-
God hath avenged you on her. And |
heard a voice of much people in heav-
en-, saying, Alleluia! Salvation, and
glory, and honor, and power, unto the
Lord our God; for true and righteous
are His judgments; for He hath judged
the great Harlot which did corrupt
the earth with her fornication, and
hath avenged the blood of His serv-
ants at her hand" (Revelation xviii, 90
and xiv. 1. p.
1t seems very clear, my dear breth-
rem. that many OF us were once part
and parcel of this great Babylon-this
great system OF confusion by which
the Divine character has been so ira
duced through neutrality-suspicious. of
the Divine Word. ] am aware that