Evangelist's Address

Hutt News, Volume 16, Issue 14, 2 September 1942, Page 2

Evangelist's Address

In spite of the -hundreds of denominations in the world professing to follow Jesus Christ, the book ol Revelation nevertheless pictures only two—-the True Church and the False, declared Evangelist Burnside in his address last Sunday night. Jer. <5:2 and 2 Cor. 11:2 shows that in prophecy a woman symbolises a church and Revelation 12 gives the history of the True Church of viod as symbolised under the figure of a pure and comely woman. The vicci&s'itudes of God's church is here traced through the ages till in the last days (verse 17) God's true and only church is described as the "remnant" which keep the commandments of God. and have the testimony of Jesus Christ. In contradistinction to the true church of God. however. Revelation - 17 describes a corrupt woman symbolic of the l'alf.e or apostate church. In identifying this great and false system of religion we nonce: (1) That this church rules from that historic city which in John's day

(verse US) "reigneth over tue kings of the earth." (2) This church is also designated as the Mother Church of other equally false systems for in verse 5 we read, 'And upon her forehead was a name written, Mystery, Babylon the Great, the Mother of Harlots, and Abom illations of the Earth." (15) The outstanding pomp and the bright colours which identify this church is described in verse 4 as "arrayed in purple and scarlet colour, and decked with gold and precious stones and pearls." (4) Verse 6 also speaks of this great apostate church as "drunken with the blood of the saints, and with the blood ofj the martyrs of Jesus." j

It is evident that the apostate church described in Rev. 17 as Bab ylon" cannot completely be limited,

however, to only one organisation, tor Rev. 16:19 speaks, of it as having three parts. The meaning and significance of the word ""'Babylon" is found, not only in Revelation, but also in Genesis for those apostacies described in Revelation first began just after the flood during that time when men sought to rear the Tower of Babel, The use of the word in Gen csis therefore affords a most valuable key identifying more accurately the "Babylon" spoken of in Revelation. First of all tlie word. "Bauylon" means actually "confusion" as is seen in Gen. lI:-9 (margin), and any religion, thus, can be designated as "Babylon" when discordant and ron- : tradiCtory doctrines andl teachings mean religious "confusion." For instance, any religion is ' Babylon" when it teaches such..contradictory precepts as:..-(l) The great -J u figment Day at the ISnd of the World —and yet also teaches that the wicked go straight to hell a't ueath. (2) Teach or resurrection —and yet alao teach . the , natural immortality of the soul. (S) Teach of Christ's Coming to raise the righteous dead I —and yet also teach that, one proceeds to heaven immediate on death. (4) Teach that the holy and just Commandments of God are binding upon men—and yet also declare that some of its precepts are abolished or changed. When religions, therefore, teach such conflictions of truth and error they can be justly termed as part of "Babylon" or "confusion' God, however, loves the consistency of full truth as revealed so plainly from Holy Writ. Another feature of "Babylon"' is seen in Gen. J. 1:4 where we read that men sought to build the tower of Babel that they would be saved j from a possible future Hood. And j to-day any religion may be designated as "Babylon" which similai'l} are trusting in, or teaching, that one may be saved by one's own good ] works.

A third point identifying "Babylon" is when any church by its line structures or pleasing ceremonialism seeks for self-glorification as did the builders of old Babel. (Gen. u.:!). A fourth unmistakable sign identifying the wider application of which religions are partakers of ''Babylon" is seen also wuen any religion teaches or practices definite disobedience to God. (Gen 9:i, II: 4.) Thijj) obedience may take any form of transgression against the sacred statues and precepts of God. To-day especially, however, this obedience lies in Christians' attitude to the fourth commandment. God in the fourth commandment says, "Remember the Sabbath Day to keep it holy." Any religion can with truth be designated as "iPibylon" when, although knowing God's plain injunction to "remember," should yet teach and actually practice wilful disobedience to the God of heaven in this respect. Sue!) churches partaking of the characteristics of Babylon are ''fallen," declares the prophet John in Rev 18:2. To-dav we see a most sad conformity of religious thought Willi thai, of the world. The pulpit too much is preaching "smooth" things; are idle as to the sacredness of the Law of (Sod; and are ''fallen" also by its desire for worldly popularity and lack of stress against the undermining pleasures of this world To-day as never before there comes the urgent call to bring one's life into harmony with the will of God, and to uphold the completeness and sacredness of His Law. Thus God calls to-day for complete and absolute and joyous "sperntion," not only now from the pleasures and flnndards of the

world, but also to-day from the fallon churches which make up Babylon. Cod is looking to day for true religion—that True Church of the Living Gocl which is described in Rev 12:17 as the "remnant" which keep God's commandments, or, as liev 14:12 describes them, "Here is the patience of the saints, here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus."