John is the apostle who was with Jesus — a teenager at the time. He is known traditionally as the beloved John, who rested his head on Jesus’s breast. He was also called by God to write the first, second, and third epistles of John, and lastly the book of Revelation, on the island of Patmos. Babylon in the book of Revelation? Babylon is the mother; she has daughters, and daughters come from the mother.
What Is Revelation About?
The book of Revelation is a revealing of the future of the world: seven churches, seven seals, seven trumpets. Most of the end-time message of the book of Revelation centers on a message given to the world in Revelation 14.
This message is called the three angels’ messages. The first angel, the Bible says, is given to all nations, tongues, and peoples — so it is not an obscure message given by a local prophet. It is a worldwide message. Is this message given only to non-Christians? No — it says to all people, all nations.
What Is This Message to the World That Is Rejected?
This message is: “Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters.” (Revelation 14:7)
Who gave this message to the world? When was it given? What is it about? The only person in history who gave this exact message was William Miller, in 1844 — no one else in history has given this message.
This is the first angel’s message: “the hour of his judgment is come.” Babylon, in the book of Revelation, refers to fallen Christian churches.
The Hour of His Judgment: A Sanctuary Message
Israel observed, every year, the Day of Atonement, when the high priest would enter the most holy place to decide the destiny of the people. Babylon in the book of Revelation cannot refer to pagan religions, because pagan religions were never “the mother” the way the Catholic Church has been. In the Old Testament pattern of salvation in Israel:
- The priest kills the lamb.
- Once a year, the high priest enters the most holy place to cleanse the record of sin.
If salvation were accomplished entirely through Jesus dying on the cross, why did Jesus then go to the sanctuary in heaven to intercede for us? If salvation were finished at the cross, this additional ministry would make no sense. This message — the hour of His judgment — was to be given in the end times, to all nations.
This message parallels Daniel 8:14 — “And he said unto me, Unto two thousand and three hundred days; then shall the sanctuary be cleansed.” The cleansing of the sanctuary refers to the high priest entering the most holy place. Here, Gabriel says that after 2,300 years, the cleansing of the heavenly sanctuary would take place — to cleanse sin not for Israel alone, but for the whole world.
This hour of His judgment is so important because Jesus sends the seven last plagues, the mark of the beast, and His wrath upon those who reject this message. Understanding what this message is truly about is vital.
Babylon in the Book of Revelation: Why the Churches Fall
The next verse says that these churches become Babylon — meaning that they were once truly God’s churches.
Revelation 14:8 — “And there followed another angel, saying, Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication.” Fornication here refers to false doctrines. We commit fornication when we have a husband or wife, yet take another lover. Here, Jesus says these churches claim to belong to Him, their one true husband, yet they preach beliefs that come from Satan, thereby advancing Satan’s kingdom on earth.
They “fornicate” by embracing false doctrines. When we believe something, we become part of that belief — it becomes who we are. When we preach doctrines not found in the Bible, our whole being becomes contaminated by those false beliefs.
What Happens When This Message Is Rejected?
Jesus says these churches have become corrupt; they receive the seven last plagues; they receive the wrath of God; they receive the mark of the beast.
Revelation 14:9-11 — “And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand, The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb: And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name.”
Two Camps Since the Second Century
Many pastors still teach about “the church” as though we were living in the first century, when there was only one church. Paul said that after his departure, divisions would form. Lucian, in the second century — used by God to help preserve the true biblical text, the Byzantine, or majority, text — recognized that camps were already forming. Since the second century, there have been two camps.
Babylon in the book of Revelation refers to the mother church, the Catholic Church — many loving Catholics belong to her, but Jesus is referring here to the system of belief, not condemning individuals. The daughters of Babylon are the Sunday-keeping Protestant churches, which fell in 1844 when William Miller proclaimed the “hour of His judgment” message — a message of life or death.
The Faith of Jesus: Keeping the Commandments
Jesus says in Revelation 14 that this faithful group holds to the faith of Jesus and keeps His commandments by faith, while on the other side, many churches teach that the law has been abolished.
Revelation 14:12 — “Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.”
Most churches do not realize that when they say “we no longer need to keep the law,” they are effectively saying “we are free to break the law.” But the Bible says: “Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.” (1 John 3:4) No one can keep the law in their own strength. The real question is twofold: (1) Is the law still binding? (2) Who keeps the law — and how?
No One Can Keep the Law Alone
Paul himself said he considered himself the worst of sinners. A converted person is someone who recognizes there is nothing inherently good within themselves.
Romans 7:18-19 — “For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not. For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do.”
No one is righteous on their own. Jesus can only give His righteousness to: (1) those who recognize they are sinners — and this, sadly, is the minority, since most people believe they are already good; (2) those who know they cannot keep the law in their own strength; (3) those who ask Jesus for His righteousness.
I encourage you to read the writings of Alonzo T. Jones and E.J. Waggoner on this subject. On one side, some preach that the law is finished — this is a false gospel. On the other, many teach that we keep the law through human effort alone — this is also false. Why not study this life-changing topic of righteousness by faith?
Recommended resources:
- The Everlasting Covenant by E.J. Waggoner: https://rumble.com/v5f6ru1-the-everlasting-covenant-waggoner-audio-book-2-of-2-audiobook.html
- The Gospel in Creation by E.J. Waggoner: https://rumble.com/v5fdqet-the-gospel-in-creation-ej-waggoner-audiobook.html
- The Consecrated Way by A.T. Jones