Revelation 18:4 contains an urgent cry to the people of God that we should heed today. But what is this urgent cry? Why should we consider it? This article will expound upon Revelation 18:4.
Revelation 18:4
The context of Revelation 18:4 is a scene out of the Apostle John’s prophetic vision that takes place in heaven. To get the complete picture, we must look at the verses before it. Rev. 18:1-4 reads:
1 And after these things I saw another angel come down from heaven, having great power; and the earth was lightened with his glory.
2 And he cried mightily with a strong voice, saying, Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and is become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird.
3 For all nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, and the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth are waxed rich through the abundance of her delicacies.
4 And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.
The phrase “after these things” is in reference to the seven last plagues of chapter 16 and the judgment of the great whore in chapter 17. Details of this whore are contained in the Article, The Two Churches of Revelation, on this website. It is “these things” that will bring down judgment upon Babylon.
Babylon the Great
Babylon was the city where false religion originated. It was founded by the great hunter Nimrod, son of Cush, who was the second generation from Noah after the flood. Nimrod built many cities; the first was Babylon, also known as Babylonia. As he grew in power, he turned away from God, formed his own beliefs and philosophies, and led his cities in those beliefs. These beliefs carried on through the centuries as the kingdom changed leadership. Over time, Babylon fell to Persia. It eventually became the Roman Empire.
Even through the centuries, the false doctrines initiated by Nimrod of Babylon remained strong in Rome. In 330 A.D., the Roman Emperor moved the capital from Rome. This move resulted in the Catholic Popes being in power in Rome. Thus, the Holy Roman Empire was formed. For more on this history, please see the article “The History of the Holy Roman Empire” on this website.
Although Babylon was no longer in existence as a kingdom, its worship and spiritual beliefs remained, and this state is described in the Scriptures as Babylon the Great, also known as spiritual Babylon.
Verse 2 reads, “Babylon the Great is fallen, is fallen…” This pronouncement is actually a repetition of the second angel’s message. [For more information, see the article “The Three Angels Message” on this website.]
The Angel “cried mightly with a strong voice.” The final fall of Babylon was so momentous that the angel ensured the proclamation would be heard worldwide. This message had to be heard as Revelation 13:3 and 17:8 state that all the world “wondered after the beast,” which is Babylon. [For more information on this symbolism, see the article “What is the Beast of Revelation” on this website.
Foreseeing the upcoming massive following of Babylon (the beast), God sends a final warning message that “Babylon is fallen.”
The verse continues by describing the state of Babylon, “…and is become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird.” At the time of this fall, Babylon’s state is as bad as it possibly could be. The loud cry of the angel discloses the complete fraud of the whole religious system of Babylon and divulges that it is empowered by the forces of Satan and his demons. It is an evil place!
Verse 3 describes the result of Babylon’s influence, “…For all nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication…” The Book of Revelation is prophetic and highly symbolic. In prophecy, wine represents doctrines (teachings). The wine of Babylon, the false doctrine which includes Sunday Worship and immorality of the soul as well as muddling the Scriptures, the adoration of images and relics, the use of force, persecution, works and penance, image worship, worship of saints and Mary, purgatory, indulgences, the mass, and the Inquisition. The church of Babylon is in complete contrast with God’s true church.
A further result is “…and the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her,…” The fornication doesn’t only involve the “people” of the nations, but the kings of the earth” or the political leaders. This will be established with the passing of the Sunday Law. With the nations drinking “the wine” has bought them under the inducement of Sunday sacredness and the immortality of the soul.
Further, “…and the merchants of the earth are waxed rich through the abundance of her delicacies.” This loud cry doesn’t only reprove religious and political leaders but also the merchants. This part of the reproach refers to the financial leaders who control the world’s fiscal systems. When all the nations are intoxicated with the wine of Babylon, there will be a union of church and state, and Babylon will take control of the governments and financial systems of the world. At that time, the world’s economic leaders will line up with Babylon and give it financial control to create a system that restricts anyone who does not receive the mark of the beast to buy or sell (Rev. 13:7).
Verse 4 contains a most vital component of this loud pronouncement, “And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people,”…
This is the crux of God’s message. The angel did not merely announce the fall of Babylon but called out God’s people from Babylon. This was the primary objective of this proclamation. This plea applies to the many Christians who believe wholeheartedly that Sunday is the actual day of worship. God accepts the sincerity of the individuals who worship Him on Sunday, therefore calling them “my people.” On the other hand, when all of the world’s nations have drunk the wine of Babylon’s fornication through a Sunday law, it will no longer be acceptable to claim Sunday as the day of worship. God’s people will have to make a choice.
Exodus 20:8-11 reads:
8. Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy.
9. Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work:
10. But the seventh day is the sabbath of the LORD thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates:
11. For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the LORD blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it.
The mark of the beast is false worship. Once the Sunday law is passed, a choice has to be made, and God’s people must come out of the churches that honor Sunday as the day of worship, or they themselves will receive the mark of the beast.
Further, verse 4 continues, “that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.” This close is a repeat of the third angel’s message warning God’s people to avoid receiving the mark of the beast so that they will not receive God’s wrath, which is the seven last plagues (Rev. 14:9-11; 15:1).
Come Out of Her My People
This cry from the angel in verse 4 is the culmination of God’s urging. The final choosing of which day is God’s holy day is on the horizon. In the meantime, we must come out of Babylon before this choice is placed before us; we must come out of the world.
Satan pumps into our minds various thoughts, attitudes, lust, greed, hatred, and the attitude of revenge. All of these things are pumped into our minds by Satan.
Who is the god of this world? Scripture makes it clear that it is Satan. In Eph 2:2 it reads,
2: Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:
Here, Paul to the Ephesians reflects how they lived in the past. The spirit of the world was directing them, which led them to be disobedient to God. That directs to the spirit of Satan. They were instruments in his hands, and so are we without Christ.
Jesus said in John 14:30:
30. Hereafter I will not talk much with you: for the prince of this world cometh, and hath nothing in me.
2 Cor 4:3-4 reads:
3. But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost:
4. In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.
The god of this world, Satan, blinds individuals from receiving the gospel of Jesus Christ, causing them to be lost.
Notice what Satan did when he tried to tempt Jesus to worship him. Matt 4:8-10 reads:
8. Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them;
9. And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me.
Notice what else Jesus didn’t do besides not worshipping Satan; He didn’t deny that Satan could deliver these things—“the kingdoms of the world” because He is the prince directing the course of the world. 2 Tim 3:1-5 reads:
1. This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.
2. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,
3. Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,
4. Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;
5. Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.
Since Satan is directing the course of this world, we need to look at what is happening in our world and avoid getting caught up in it.
Prov 24:21-22 says, “Fear the Lord and the king, my son, and do not join with the rebellious,
(22) for those two will send sudden destruction upon them, and who knows what calamities they can bring?”
NIV
We are to honor the Lord and the king, civil authority, and not join those who rebel against them because they will bring sudden judgment on the rebellious.
We can get caught up in so much in the world. All of the events and movements taking place in the world (e.g., black lives matter, 1st amendment rights, civil rights) need to be looked at from God’s perspective. Otherwise, they can develop a spirit of hatred, dislike, and distrust that is not good for our souls. We may not agree with those in the world, but we don’t have to hate them. We are all struggling human beings, and they are trying to sort things out without God’s Spirit. We must be able to see beyond what’s happening and get the big picture of what is taking place.
Revelation 12:9-10 “deceives the whole world” and “the accuser of our brethren.” He is the author of confusion. We must understand who is in charge of this world, and if we fail to realize that, we will be tossed back and forth at his will, and he will beat us like a drum.
How do we know what is worldly? The Word of God tells us what is worldly. 1 John 2:15-16 reads:
15. Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
16. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.
Proverbs 1:7 reflects that having a deep abiding respect for the Lord is the beginning of knowledge and wisdom ( cf. Ps 111:10, John 17:14-17). The world will hate us because we, like Jesus, are not of the world. However, we can fall prey to the evil one if we do not remain close to God. The truth of God’s Word must guide us.
The conditions of the last days are explained in these Scriptures 1 Timothy 3:1-6, Matt. 24:8-10.
This is not God’s world at this time that we are presently living in.
Jesus said, John 18:36, “my kingdom is not of this world.” If this were God’s world, we would try to change it. But we are preparing ourselves with self-control with the help of God’s Spirit, with love for one another, and with overcoming animosity and hatred to rule in the kingdom of God and rule with justice and fairness for everyone. This objective is the reason why God is calling us to [Rev. 18:4] come out of the Babylon of this world (spiritual Babylon). He is calling us out of this. [Romans 12:2]
Our citizenship is in heaven and not in this world (Philippians 3:20-21). We must understand this to have the correct perspective of our path in this world. Satan seeks to divide and conquer the church in any way he can.
John 17:14-23: May we have a true, genuine love for one another. We must come out of the world!
God is calling us to come out of Babylon, out of Satan’s influence, so that we can worship Him in Spirit and truth.
Amen
Questions, comments, and concerns may be left below.
Blessings!
