“Come out of her, my people, so that you will not share in her sins, so that you will not receive any of her plagues; for her sins are piled up to heaven, and God has remembered her crimes.” (Rev 18:4–5 NIV 1984)
These are the words declared by a voice from heaven in Revelation 18, pronouncing the end of Mystery Babylon the Great, the Harlot, the great city.
But what do those words “come out of her my people” mean exactly? From the context of Revelation 18, those words sound important, and it sounds like a command from heaven that we, his people, should get right. And it is referring to us, since we are referred to as “my people.”
The discovery in Chronicles that Mystery Babylon, the great city, may be the entire human race except those who are servants of Christ has great repercussions for everyone’s eternal salvation.
The command to “come out of her” can only be interpreted correctly if we know what Mystery Babylon truly is in the first place.
Chronicles provides an answer.
The idea that the great city—the whole world—is divided into three parts is supported by world history and manifests itself today as all nations being grouped into three camps, defined by the way they responded to the gospel in the last many centuries. There is much proof that the three parts of a global Harlot is linked to the world we see today, both from history and in a chiastic study of Revelation. This will be written about in future posts.
So if Mystery Babylon is only the Roman Catholic Church, what would we say those words mean? Does it mean that if you want to belong to Christ you must leave the Catholic Church? The answer is “no” because Mystery Babylon is not only the Roman Catholic Church.
So if Mystery Babylon is only Islam, what would we say those words mean? Does it mean that if you want to belong to Christ you must leave Islam? The answer is “no” because Mystery Babylon is not only Islam.
If Mystery Babylon is any one religion or country or city, then the command given in Revelation 18:4 is simply telling us to leave that one thing. That would be a shallow command, and that interpretation, I believe, misses the mark. A person might be led to leave the Roman Catholic Church only to join the Greek Orthodox Church, and in both destination and the place that is fled, one might continue to only practice a religion. (Note: Neither of those denominations is any worse than any other denomination teaching that Jesus is God; the important thing is, are you Christ’s servant within a given denomination?)
Mystery Babylon being interpreted as all people who are not servants of Christ presents to us a better answer to the question, what does “Come out of her my people” mean?
Keep in mind that all through Scripture, God’s people are constantly described as one group such as the Israelites in Exodus, or the eight souls onboard the Ark, or the 7,000 who would not bow to Baal, or the saints described in the Epistles. Only in Revelation are we given a glimpse of the OTHER group as a whole—all those who are NOT the righteous—the whole human race that does not commit his or her life to Christ. This would be Mystery Babylon, and also everyone who must stand before the great white throne.
This leads us to better understand what that command—come out of her my people—means.
The meaning is this. God is calling in mercy, and is warning us, that if you are His, or if you want to be His, then put aside the world, and serve Him.
Escape being part of the world so you can escape being another victim of the plagues to fall on this world. Escape being part of the world so you can live with God forever.
Consider all the material stuff of Revelation 18:12–13, that the unregenerate person holds dear in his heart, and consider the stuff like Paul does in Philippians 3:8-9,
“I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in him.” (NIV 1984)
This is the warning God is so lovingly giving every human being. He wants all to come to repentance and be saved (1 Tim. 2:4, 2 Pet. 3:9). It is one of the last commands in all the Bible.
If you are not His, will you heed His call? Time is growing short since we can see the coming of the Second Signpost, the next sign of Christ’s return. And when He returns, it will be too late.
“Come out of her my people.”
Categories: Chronicles of the End Times, Mystery Babylon, The Four Signposts, The Great City
THE FOUR SIGNPOSTS 
Being involved in community ministries, there is a very interesting statement I have been encouraged by to follow. It was made to Israel when they were in exiled in Babylon. They were “to seek the welfare of the city.” This is actually becoming harder to do due to the fact the antagonism is becoming worse towards Christians trying to engage in any type of community-based ministries. The word “repentance” along with mercy is being scorned. Look at the latest with the Chris Pratt and the Hillside statement. I am totally seeing how this fits with the four signposts. It was when the Persian empire arose that the Israelites could leave Babylon. Seeing a parallel.
Bonjour Mark,
I thoroughly enjoyed Chronicles. Great book with lots of amazing insights. Having said that, I do not see the same as you see regarding Mystery Bablyone equating “the entire human race except those who are servants of Christ”.
Such view make it very hard to reconcile several key passages.
For instance, what do you make of Rev. 18:2? The text implies that the destruction of the “city” is so permanent that the land itself will be continually dangerous and unavailable to humans. This echos Isa. 34:9-10 where it says:
“Its streams shall be turned into pitch, and its dust into brimstone; its land shall become burning pitch. It shall not be quenched night or day; its smoke shall ascend forever. From generation to generation it shall lie waste; no one shall pass through it forever and ever.”
In my opinion, the context makes it very difficult to apply this litteral destruction to anything but a city and a land…not a people (all those who are not born again).
What about Rev 18:9? If Mystery Babylon represents the entire human race except those who are servants of Christ, then how come when Mystery Babylon is destroyed, we have a group of people, namely “the kings of the earth who committed adultery with her and shared her luxury” (clearly none born again people) weep and mourn over her?
Aren’t they suppose to have died with the rest of the entire human race except those who are servants of Christ? Why are these people not destroyed?
Yahweh is not a respecter of people, is He?. Why would He spare some who have committed adultery with Mystery Babylon?
And what about those who are left of all the nations which will come against Jerusalem? Does not Zachariah describe them coming up from year to year to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, and to keep the feast of tabernacles?
The above make it difficult to reconcile with Mystery Babylon representing the entire human race except those who are servants of Christ.
Maybe you have pondered these questions (amongst others) and have arguments to address them? If so, I would be interested to hear your comments.
Even if one does not reach the same conclusions as you reach in your book, Chronicles remains in my opinion an amazing piece of work. And you need to be congratulated and thanks for it!
Blessings from France,
François-Xavier
Hi François-Xavier,
Thank you for your comments, both regarding Chronicles, and the topic of Mystery Babylon. It is always a pleasure to discuss Scripture with a brother.
I haven’t announced this yet, so here goes, but I will be writing a book about Mystery Babylon. Using the pointer from chiastics that MB is the entire race minus Christ’s servants, I intend to argue the case of it being the world in Scripture, not only in Rev. 17-18 but also in as much of Scripture as I believe it applies (like Matt. 23:29-36 – the blood).
Regarding a couple of specific points you make, I do not believe Rev. 18:2 says what you believe it says. Rev. 18:2 says, “She has become a dwelling place of demons and a prison of every unclean spirit, and a prison of every unclean and hateful bird (NASB).” That is MB’s spiritual state, not an indicator of the habitability of the physical ground. Regarding Isaiah 34:9-10, that prophecy seems at face value to apply to Edom only, the southwest area of the nation of Jordan.
And Rev. 18:9 is admittedly a sharpener for my words, so thanks for pointing that out. Think of the Bride, the opposite of the Harlot/MB. The Bride is both the corporate body made up of Christ’s servants, and the place where those servants live for eternity (Rev. 21:2,10-27). Likewise, MB is made up of all the unsaved, but is also the place where they live, here on earth in a spiritual sense. So for Rev. 18:9, not only will some of the unsaved people survive (as Isa. 13:2-13 is a picture of the return of Christ, and v.12 says some will survive), but they will indeed witness the burning and wrecking of their world (see Rev. 16:19 – “the cities of the nations fell”).
Yes, I am thinking much about all the side arguments. In the upcoming book, I’ll discuss the city vs great city, the blood found in her, and other topics. This is important I believe, because this view of MB opens up more of a view as to what will happen across the world soon.
And I appreciate you keeping an open mind, brother. Thanks again for your questions.
An argument could be made that Mystery Babylon has been, is, and will be wherever evil corruption is kept hidden. Wherever evil corruption is revealed and justifiably reacted to, there is a fall of Mystery Babylon in that place, while evil corruption continues in other places, until all of it everywhere is revealed and justifiably reacted to, when its fall from power would become complete.
About a year ago, Mark Taylor, author of The Trump Prophecies, posted “All Roads Lead To Rome.” It states that God “will expose this Pope and all those under his command for all the corruption he and the Vatican have been involved in for centuries… This exposure will be of such magnitude that the people will say, What do we do now? Where do we go now? We want nothing to do with this. We have no religion now. Millions will walk away from their religion, as this will affect other religions as well. The Spirit of God says, Is My Army ready? Are you ready to receive these people? Are you ready to receive My harvest that’s going to take place from this exposure? Prepare yourselves for the tsunami of people that will be starving for Me and have no place to turn.”
Wherever Mystery Babylon falls from power, Christians should at all times be ready to faithfully witness of the redeeming power of Jesus Christ.
It is just an observation but I gather that the original Babylon is judged in chapter 18 whereas chapter 17 is more that of its fruit. There seems to be a progression from the original beginnings where Mystery Babylon is the fruition or the original template. If you note, the ten kings have already brought Mystery Babylon to destruction in Chapter 17 so something seems left. I gather that chapter 18 deals with destruction of the original city. I have studied this subject for over 30 years trying to understand this subject better. With prophecy one mustn’t begin with assumptions. I have found that too many authors jump to conclusions and some matters appear to still to appear to be unveiled. You go with what is already clear and known and pray for God’s guidance with commenting on such subjects. When the dark ages lifted by the Reformation, many assumptions were made of what Mystery Babylon was and who was the beast. You can’t make prophetic declarations based on assumptions and God reveals the things in good time.
If you examine an understanding of the Middle East and Hebraic understanding of the Scriptures, the advancement of that understanding has only been brought about in the last seventy years especially after the founding of the Dead Sea. Preterism was very popular in early to mid 1900’s through respectable men like Van Til until 1948. (It still a dying a slow death as some still entertain it). I do agree, Mark, its difficult to pin Mystery Babylon as a particular city thought I do think Joel Richardson’s book on this subject brings some light on this perspective. I have yet to ready your book Chronicles on this subject. Income is a bit tight currently. I am also reading Nelson Water’s book on the Rapture currently. I anticipate the next book will be a good one as well.
“For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when the perfect comes, the partial will pass away…for now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known.” The Apostle Paul to the believers in Corinth.
Shalom Marc,
Thanks for your feedback.
I was just re-reading Jeremiah 50 & 51. When writing about Mystery Babylon, John must have thad hese Scriptures in mind. that’s for sure. The parallels with Revelation are striking!
I am currently translating Joel Richardson’s “Mystery Babylon” in French and I must admit that the case Joel makes is very very solid. He proposes Saoudi Arabia and Mecca, but now with the Neon project having started, one could easily see this new immense city as being THE city in question. If we take Revelation litterally and Mystery Babylon is like it says, a city, then Neon could be the perfect containder.
Just imagine what Neon will look like in 20 years’time. There will be people from all nations living there, most probably lots of believers as well. If this is the case, then the call “Come Out of Her My People . . .”makes perfect sense.
Time will tell!
May Abba inspire you in the writing of your new book and may He guide you in all truth.
Be blessed,
FX
Hi FX,
Thanks for your comment. Many people think Joel’s book MB makes sense. The one thing his book has in common with most other books about MB is that when they see “the great city” they say or write “a city.” Joel does this, too. Its been ingrained into the church’s theology, whether it is Rome, NYC, or Mecca, or any other city.
Several versions of the Bible are even affected by this. Revelation 18:18 showcases this idea. The NIV 1984 says, “Was there ever a city like this great city?” But that is incorrect. The original Greek simply says, “What is like the great city?”
Also, chiastics (from Chronicles) shows that just as the Holy City, the New Jerusalem, is the polar opposite of the great city, where they are both located are opposites. The Holy City is on a great mountain, signifying a great empire, and great realm, made up of all of God’s people. The great city is in the wilderness, telling us of desolation, with none of God’s people; the wilderness is not a geographical location, just as the mountain that the Holy City sits on is not either.
And then there is the blood of Matthew 23. If the Pharisees are accused of being responsible for some of the blood, how can MB be responsible for all of it? Answer: the Pharisees are part of MB, too.
Granted, Joel gives an excellent argument for MB being Islam or the Saudis, but only assuming, like all other commentators, that “the great city” is “a city.” Remember, every time MB is referred to using the word “city” it is always called “the great city.”
“I will be writing a book about Mystery Babylon.”
Here is something to consider. In 2 Thessalonians 2:7, the word translated “lawlessness” in the NIV is a form of Strong’s 458 “anomia,” which according to Analytical Greek New Testament (1981) by Barbara and Timothy Friberg is feminine, suggesting that it refers to “the great prostitute” of Revelation 17:1. If so, when 2 Thessalonians 2:7 states “For the secret power of lawlessness is already at work,” that means the great prostitute was already active in the first century.
But in 2 Thessalonians 2:8, the word translated “lawless one” in the NIV is Strong’s 459 “anomos,” which according to Analytical Greek New Testament is masculine, suggesting the Antichrist.
So when the beast and the ten horns bring the great prostitute to ruin (Revelation 17:15-18), they will be expressing their hatred for a lawlessness that will have lasted for millennia.
Mark: Are Chiastics and “MB=the unsaved world” severable doctrines? or do they stand or fall together?
Prisms,
Yes. The Harlot was active even prior to the first century.
Karl,
In Chronicles, it is shown that chiastics consistently – and I mean very consistently – acts with the same laws (parallel and convergent trail laws discussed in the last chapter) across all the Bible books examined. All things revealed in a chiastic reading of those books are done so with these consistent laws, and the things revealed therefore must be considered together. One of them is MB containing the entire human race who are not servants of Christ. If we disregard that idea of MB, we must start disregarding the Signposts (shown by chiastics) and all the other wonderful things that are revealed in God’s word. Good question.
Mark: For the first time I have to disagree. (Shhhhh!, It’s our secret ). The doctrines have to be severable for prior to being informed of chiastics I was convinced of SPT with a linear chronology of study. I do not see at this point the necessity of MB=unsaved world (USW) being the logical outcome of either a linear or chiastic framework. I’m not saying it’s wrong, just not required by either. As I understand what you are implying MB=USW is a required outcome of chiastics. Am I correct? Shouldn’t one leave the identity of MB to actual descriptions from scripture?
If the identity if MB is a specific location and not the whole unsaved world, that does not get anyone outside of MB of the hook. They are still lost. They simply do not have their physical punishments on earth listed in Rev.17 & 18. It’s similar to not taking the mark of the beast. Most people in the lake of fire have never taken the mark of the beast.
Karl,
Disagreeing is fine – as you know it helps us sharpen one another. The MB book I’m starting on is looking at all the details in Scripture (the blood, the great city, the plagues, etc) to see if they hold up the MB=USW as you say. Chiastics is merely showing us an interpretation. So now the next step is to question both our old interpretation and see if the new one holds up.
When I learned from Joel back in 2002 that the AC was Muslim, that was new – and so I had to work both sides of the argument. This also allowed me to discover the Signposts. So with chiastics and MB (and many other topics), the process is repeating itself.
Every theologian/commentator I’ve ever read on MB thinks of “the great city” as “a city” and so whether Joel’s or anyone else’s opinion, they are all thinking in terms of “a city.” Chiastics is suggesting to us that, well, maybe thinking that way is wrong.
One thing I’ve noticed – this MB=USW answers the debates of ancient Jerusalem and Babylon, end time entities, the Pharisees in Matt 23, etc. And “the plagues” are the trumpets and bowls. I do address that last topic in Chronicles.
Like the Signpost interpretation, this new MB interpretation will take a bit of time to develop.
And also like the Signposts which gave us predictions (like Iraq, Iran, etc), this MB=USW also gives us predictions – and we are seeing them in China, Australia, South Africa, Europe, Venezuela, and the USA. This, too, will take some time to develop. I’ll be making a post in the next week or two regarding world predictions from MB=USW, and the ONLY way I arrived at these predictions was MB=USW divided by 3 (Rev. 16:19).
Mark, I wrote a poem/song some time ago on Ancient Babylon. One of the lines was, “you left your shadow on the earth.” There definitely shadows and types in Scripture.
Mark: The difficulty I will have to overcome in refuting your position (MB=[USW], Mystery Babylon= the whole unsaved world, MB is a population, or MBP) is that you make your livelyhood using evidence, reason and logic, and have had a several year head start on the subject. So immediately I am at a deficit . But since I’ve had practice for decades at disagreeing with people smarter than myself (that’s a huge number!) I bring a little experience.
The biggest obstacle for MB=L (Mystery Babylon is a location, or MBL) is the description that it has ALL the blood of the saints shed in it. After reading Chronicles of the End Times I find that point the strongest. I find it a “check”, but not a “checkmate”.
The biggest obstacle for MBP to overcome is the fact the descriptions in the text of MB are of geographic phenomenon. The Beasts are tied to actual geographic areas (Dan.7). The Metals are tied to actual geographic areas (Dan.2). New Jerusalem is an actual location. The pattern would be disrupted if MB were only a condition or population. In one sense, just as there is England and New England, and Jerusalem and New Jerusalem I view there is Babylon and New Babylon (MB), but it is still a location. Some of the posts above also give good observations.
Karl,
Thanks for your comments. I’m in sort of a collection mode, receiving what people’s beefs might be with the MB=Unsaved World. So I appreciate your point about location.
Two thoughts in response. First, the metal and beast kingdoms all have locations but are only pieces of MB. MB lives here on earth just as the Bride does. Neither have a physical location that one can say “here it is.” Second, the Bride and MB are of a spiritual nature, containing their parts of mankind, and neither can be said to be at a specific location, although one will in the future.
Dear Mark,
I like Joel Richardson with islamic beast theory same as Walid Shoebat. Problem is they both just like anyone else think Harlot Babylon is same as the beast although Revelation never said beast is the harlot only mentioned harlot that ride the beast.
In Revelation Harlot symbol of female/mother while beast symbol of male/man, she is not he.
In OT when Jew committing sins God will call them harlot for example (below),
Jeremiah 3:6
Then the LORD said to me in the days of Josiah the king, “Have you seen what faithless Israel did? She went up on every high hill and under every green tree, and she was a HARLOT there.
in NT when Christian committing sins God will call them harlot.
City of harlot in Rev 18 and 17 refer to Rome/Europe but beast is islam. Rev 17 refer to futuristic relation between Europe and islam and how islam hate Europe and burn her with fire through jihad terror.
Rev 18 harlot era refer to Europe during colonialism era when Europe trader mostly from sea (v17) becoming rich by bring all goods from worldwide (Rev 18:12-13) taking from colonies or trade post. Europe sponsor slave trade to everywhere. During era of colonialism Europe harloting with islam in trade when they build cannal in Egypt/islam control region for trade purpose.
This era end with double cup punishment of harlot (v6) refer to 2 world wars occur in 1 hour aka 41.6 years (late 1906 until mid 1948). Although those 2 great wars end but we can see “her smoke” forever (Rev 19:3) by watching documentary or movies.
After her punishment then God reign (Rev 19:6) which refer to Israel restoration 1948 (sign in heaven after tribulation of those days Mat 24:29-30) when arab/palestine see independence of Israel 14 May next day thousand of arab/palestine flee cry/mourn saying Israel steal their land (Mat 24:30, nakba day) then continue with Jewish aliyah (angel gather Jew from everywhere Mat 24:31).
Donal,
Like Israel of Jeremiah 3:6, and like Rev. 17:2, harlotry, or adultery, in these passages is simply making anything but God, your god. This is another reason Mystery Babylon is the entire sinful human race. Unless a human being is a servant of Christ, he or she is committing harlotry per these passages.