The Daily Missoulian., 1912-07-28

Of Babylon was captured by Cyrus and
his army after 4 considerable siege
which was unsuccessful until his SOL
diers digged fresh channel for the
river and turned it, course aside. Thus
was the river Euphrates dried up, and
the army OF Cyrus entered literal Baby
ion, suddenly, In the night. While these
things were transpirlng. the princes Of
Babylon, corresponding to the notables
Of chrlstendom. were holding high car
nival, rejoicing In their security. boast
ing OF the strength OF their walls, and
the impregnability Of their gates, and
the sureness Of their waters.
/ AS then they were using the golden
vessels OF the Lords temple from which
to drink their wine, no now, In the hour
Of Babylon's fall, we may expect some-
thing to correspond to thls--a spirit
Of b0astfulness, of pride, of intoxication
with error, apparently drawn from the
divine word.
1t was at this moment OF exuberance
that In the banquet hall of Belshaxxar
hand appeared and with glowing
pencil wrote the words of our text:
Meme, Meme, Tekel, Upharsin"
"Mene"-the days of your rule have
been numbered by God and are fin-
ished. "Tekep-thou art weighed In
the balances and found wanting
"Peres'--thy kingdom is divided and
given to the Medes and Perslans. The
strong symboisms In the language
used In respect to Mystic Babylon
correspond so we'll with the prophetic
language used respecting literal
Babylon that we are warranted In un.
derstanding literal Babylon to have
been prototype OF Mystic Babylon,
and her fall prefigure of the fall OF
christendom.
Cyrus was prophetically mentioned In
the scriptures as the deliverer Of Gods
people from the Babylonian captivity,
before his birth. long therefore before
he overthreW Babylon. He was also
typical character, and doubtless rep
resented Messiah. a part of whose work
VIII be the overthrowing OF Babylon,
the giving Of her over to destruction.
and the deliverance OF God 1. people out
or her. As the Medes and Persians
unitedly Joined in the overthrow OF Ba-
Dylon and In the kingdom which fol-
lowed It. so Messiah's kingdom will
have two parts. a heavenly and an
earthly. yet the two will be one In the
sense that they will be under one SUPER
vision and control, and CO. cooperating In
the same interests.
"Flss Out Of Babylon"
In the old testament, when foretelling
the disaster upon Babylon. the message
was given to Gods people. Flee out OF
Babylon, deliver every man his. soul"
his life: and terrible descriptions were
given which seeIu. grossly exaggerated
unless We view the matter. from the
standpoint already suggested, that the
things which happened to the literal
city were figurative and prophetic OF
the much moro serious experience Of
Mystic Babylon. then long future. Read
Isaiah Kill, lilo Compare Jeremiah
!, Is, 20, with Revelation xviii, 8; and
Jeremiah !. 3s. with Revelation xvi. u:
and verse 46 with Revelation xviii, o;
and jeremiah II. 6-9. with Revelation
Xviii. 4; and verse 13 of jeremiah II
with Revelation xvii, Ills. and verses
81. SO. "a. with Revelation xviii, 2, A, 2l..
II further evidence were required In
demonstration OF the fact that Mystic
Babylon represents great nominal
christian system. II Is found In the
statement of Revelation xviii, 2-10, q
part Of which Is. "Come out Of her"
saith the Lord. that ye be not partak-
ers of her sins. and that ye receive not
OF her plaques" This call must be
heard and needed before the break be-
gins. because the break and disaster
Will come suddenly. as In an hour"
and those who do not stand separate,
aloof, will be involved In the disaster
And they will deserve to be, and II will
be Gods will that they should be In
volyed, IL after seeing the truth re-
specting Babylon and Its character they
are not enthusiastically opposed to her
deceptions and Intoxicating false doc
trines.
These tribulations upon Babylon will
constitute part OF the great tribula-
tion" with which this age will termin-
ate and the new dispensation OF Mes
slah's kingdom will be inaugurated-
"A time OF trouble such as never was
since there was a nation until that
same time-nor ever shall be-" said our
Lord. Let Gods people awake! Let
them act promptly! Let them help ali
others who have the spirit OF the Lord
the spirit OF the truth. to see clearly
the true situation and to show their
courage and overcoming qualities by
standing for righteousness. "Who-
soever Is ashamed Of Me and MY word,
OF him will be ashamed" declared the
Master. He Ii now testing the loyalty
OF those who profess to be His. He
has permitted matters to 10 shape
themselves that loyalty will mean moro
than words-it will include action,
faithfulness. even unto death.