On what basis is the bride of Christ chosen?
(Genesis 10:9-10; 11:1-9; Daniel 1:1; 5:1-4; Revelation 12:1-6; 14:8; 17:1-6) Blog May 21-27, 2023
Prepared by Richard A. Marin: Present Truth PO Box 700, Fallbrook CA 92088-0700 USA
REVIEW: In preparation for God’s final judgment three angels are sent with messages for earth’s inhabitants. The first angel emphasizes the gospel, faith, obedience, and worship.
Who is Babylon?
1. When the second angel of Revelation 14 says “Babylon is fallen,” to whom does he refer? Babylon was a city built by Nimrod in rebellion against God & later the capital & country ruled by Nebuchadnezzar who conquered God’s people & their capital, Jerusalem. This is its first mention in Revelation & it is a symbol for a corrupt church or woman (like Jezebel) (Gen. 10:9-10; 11:1-9; Dan. 1:1; Rev. 2:20-21; 14:8).
2. How does the second angel’s message show that “Babylon” is a symbol? Revelation 14:8 refers to the city, Babylon, as a woman (“she”) who commits fornication and serves corrupt wine (Rev. 14:8).
3. What should we understand from the phrase “is fallen”? The phrase “is fallen” tells us that Babylon was once a pure church but has fallen from that original purity (Isa. 3:8; 21:9; Rev. 14:8).
4. Why does the angel repeat the phrase “is fallen”? The phrase is repeated because of the serious, unredeemable nature of Babylon’s fall (Deut. 19:15; 2 Cor. 13:1).
5. Of what is Babylon a symbol? Babylon is a symbol of the Apostolic church gone sour. Revelation portrays the church as God’s horse in battle that begins pure white and becomes deathly sick in the Middle Ages when God calls out a remnant in the Protestant Reformation (Jer. 51:6; Rev. 6:1-8).
Why is Babylon Fallen?
6. What is the reason that Babylon is fallen? Babylon is fallen because “because she made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication.” She rejected the first angel’s message & taught false doctrine to the world’s inhabitants (Dan. 5:1-4; Rev. 14:8).
7. What does wine of fornication symbolize? Wine is a symbol of the blood of Christ with which Jesus introduced the new covenant, but here it is polluted for it teaches illicit union prior to marriage which is used here as a symbol of teaching that sanctification comes prior to justification (Matt. 26:27-28; Rom. 5:1-5; Eph. 2:8-10).
8. What are some of the false doctrines Babylon has taught? Babylon teaches Satan’s first lie (that man is naturally immortal), that she has the right to change the Ten Commandments & the Sabbath, that the “little horn” of Daniel does not apply to her, & that justification is NOT by faith alone (Gen. 3:4; Dan. 7:25; 2 Thes. 2:3-4; Rev. 2:20).
9. Since the Protestant Reformation separated true believers from the church of Rome, how has Babylon’s boundaries been enlarged? Since the protestant Reformation there has been a continual drift back to Rome. Not only the Church of England but the entire Pentecostal, Charismatic Movement has accepted Rome’s doctrine of justification by an internal change thus bringing them into Babylon as daughters of the harlot (Rev. 3:1-4; 17:5).
Two Women
10. What other woman does Revelation talk about? In chapter 12 Revelation introduces a woman dressed in the sun with the moon under her feet & a crown of twelve stars on her head (Rev. 12:1).
11. What is the setting for the scenes presented in Revelation 12-18? The setting for the scenes presented in Revelation 12-18 is heaven’s Most Holy Place where the legal marriage of the Lamb takes place (Rev. 11:19).
12. Who is represented by the woman clothed in the sun? The woman clothed in the sun represents the church who is to become the bride of Christ. She is clothed in the righteousness of Christ (Mal. 4:2; 2 Cor. 11:2; Rev. 19:7; 21:2).
13. Is the woman clothed in the sun sinless? No, she became pregnant before the marriage due to her sin in Eden (Gen. 3:13; Rev. 12:2).
14. When Jesus comes to the marriage, what must he decide? Jesus must decide which of the two women who come to the marriage will be his bride (2 Cor. 11:2; Rev. 12:1; 17:4).
15. On what basis will God, the Father, and Jesus decide which woman will be the bride? The decision (just like the one Solomon had to make over two harlots) will be based on which one loves the Son (1 Kings 3:16-28).
16. How is love for the Son demonstrated in the pre-marriage judgment? Jesus said “If ye love me, keep my commandments.” (John 14:15).
17. How do each of these two women try to convince others to join their ranks? Babylon uses lies & the unlawful union (fornication) of church and state to convince others by force to join her ranks while the New Jerusalem uses the presentation of the Word of God to convince others to join her ranks (John 8:44; Rom. 10:8; 2 Tim 4:2; Rev. 13:15-17; 17:6).
18. When the Angel of Revelation 18 joins the three angels, what call regarding Babylon does Jesus make? Jesus says, “Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.” (Rev. 18:4).