Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1914-09-11

tssSssssSS6a2aS&ssss A3zss( ing opened 10 lue
t(RASL0R RUSSELD understanding Of
- all classes Pastor
Russells text today was. Declare We
among the nations, and publish; set up
a standard; say. Babylon is taken. -
Jer. 500.
The discourse began with an ac-
acknowledgement that the theme is one
difficult to handle without giving
offense. without being misunderstood.
and that therefore the Pastor wished
to express himself as kindly as he
knew how to DO. He realized that his
message was meat in due season" for
! the Household of Faith-one most i'm
portant to be understood. He remind
ed his hearers that his responsibility is
to speak the Word of God. and that he
must not shun that responsibility.
The Pastor explained that there was
no Babylon in the days of Jesus and
( His Apostles The expressions in Rev
elation bearing upon Mystic Babylon
were prophetic of conditions which
have since risen in the church He
traced the word Babylon back to the
Tower of Babel. which, he declared,
was a type of Papacy. 1t was a Won
derful structure. but never accomplish
ed the designs of its founders. The
manifestation of Gods Power amongst
the workmen in confounding their
speech corresponds we'll with the
Protestant Reformation movement and
the various denominations into which
Christendom has been divided.
Babylon Also Type.
It was then shown in detail that the
literal city of Babylon was a prototype
of Mystic Babylon. which is pictured
in Revelation as a spiritual empire. in
GLIDING the great Kingdoms Of earth
Christendom. Under another figure
Mystic Babylon is represented by a
woman and her daughters. Thus the
various Protestant systems of Christen-
dom are depicted Though long sepa-
rated from the Mother Church of
Rome. these are still her daughters,
partakers of her character and traits.
The Pastor reminded his audience
that the language of Revelation is fig
urative. and does not signify that Ell
Their Mother Church or her daughters
are immoral The thought is that the
Church of Christ was primarily a vir-
gin company separated from the world
called to be joint-heirs with Christ in
His Kingdom. To whatever extent
systems arose amongst Jesus follow
ers and became affiliated with the king
doms of this world. to that extent.
Scripturally. iguratively, they commit
ted harlotry; for they were espoused to
our Lord and were to wait for His Sec
ond Coming, when they might become
His Bride. Associate. in His Kingdom.
1t cannot be questioned that Papacy
became affiliated with the Roman En-
pire and sat down on the Roman
throne; nor that the Church of Eng
land rs one of her daughters, became
affiliated with the British government
and sits. representatively.i in the House
of Lords 1t would not be questioned
that the Greek Church experienced a
similar betrothal and marriage to the
Russian government. 1t is in this
sense that the Church of Rome and her
s-Protestant-are called by
the family name of Babylon.
8abylon's Golden Cup.
The Pastor then discussed the picture
of Mystic Babylon given by the Rev (
eIator. The golden cup in the woman's
hand represents the Bible. the Divine
standard of authority. 1t was misused /
when the wine of false doctrine was
put into it-when the Bible was claim
ed to be authority for various errone-
Gus teachings of the Dark Ages. The .
Intoxicating drink which made the ma
tons drunk and led them to call them
selves Christian is still offered to who
ever will receive it. But the nations
are SOLDERING up, and are less and less
inclined TO take the mixture.
The Euphrates, flowing through lit
eral Babylon. represented the peoples
and nations supporting Mystic Baby
lon by contributions and offerings.
Revelation 1T:15) The drying up Of
the waters might represent cessation
Of revenue. In full accord with this
Divine prediction Of what is yet to
come, we hear cry from oil denomi-
nations that their revenues are being
dried up.
When foreteiling the disaster upon
the Prophet jeremiah gave
the message to Israel, Flee out of
deliver every man his soul"
The descriptions OF that destruction
seem grossly exaggerated until We
perceive that Babylon's overthrow pre-
figured the much more serious expar-
ence of Mystic Babylon. These tribu-
Iations will constitute part Of tbs
great Time of Trouble with which this
Gospel Age will terminate and tbs
Messianic Age be ushered in.