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"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 her plagues." (Revelation 18:4).

             In His tremendous High Priestly prayer, Jesus prayed, "I pray not that Thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil." (John 17:15). Though we live in the midst of this world system, yet we are not "of" it, we do not derive our life from its spirit. Herein is the realm of overcoming-- to be able to live in this world, and yet not be a partaker of the spirit of this world, nor of the spirit of Babylon.
             Jeremiah gave a strong prophetic word against Babylon, which the holy Spirit has quickened to individuals through the years, alerting His "called out ones" to "Flee out of the midst of Babylon, and deliver every man his soul: be not cut off in her iniquity," for this is the time of the Lord's vengeance, He will render unto her a recompense." (Jeremiah 51:6). There is a vast difference between handling a few coins to buy groceries, and being caught up in the spirit of finances, till one eats, sleeps, and breathes financial matters. There is a vast difference between serving our country in some form of political office, and being controlled by the spirit of politics. And there is a vast difference between gathering for times of corporate worship, and being infused with the spirit of religious Babylon. Thus the call to "come out of her, My people," can only be applied by the holy Spirit, as He works in each life-- so that we are not "OF" the spirit of these systems, even though we live in the midst of them.
             There is a "spirit that now worketh (energizeth) in the children of disobedience." (Ephesians 2:2). It is the spirit of the world, the spirit of antichrist, the spirit of Babylon. And there is also a holy Spirit that works in the children of obedience-- to quicken them "by His Spirit that dwelleth in you." (Romans 8:11).
             Particularly are we led to emphasize coming out of religious Babylon. "We would have healed Babylon, but she is not healed: forsake her, and let us go every one into his own country: for her judgment reacheth unto heaven, and is lifted up even to the skies." (Jeremiah 51:9). We would have healed her-- oh, how we tried to bolster her up and heal her. We poured our strength into her, ignoring the instruction to "Give not thy strength unto women, nor thy ways to that which destroyeth kings." (Proverbs 31:3). We fasted and prayed for God to revive her. Though she reeked with abominations, traditions of men, false doctrines, and platitudes for itching ears, still we tried to heal her. But in time the holy Spirit speaks so loudly within, "Flee out of the midst of her," that we have to obey. All her works, her kingdom building endeavors for self, are not sufficient-- but are as filthy rags ready for the burning.
            "The Lord hath brought forth our righteousness: come, and let us declare in Zion the work of the Lord our God." (Jeremiah 51:10). Thus, by inserting this verse of contrast, Jeremiah has also told us of the nature of Babylon-- that it is to do her own thing, with her self -righteous works. On the one hand we have Babylon trying to work out her own worthless standard of righteousness, and on the other hand we have the Lord becoming our righteousness. What a contrast! No more would we declare our own works. No more would we declare the works of the system-- my church did this, my church said that. Forsaking all such, we would declare only the inworkings of our Lord-- for HE is the God of our Salvation, our Redeemer, our LIFE.
             There is no need to illustrate how that religious Babylon has "become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird." (Revelation 18:3). The uncleanness-- adultery and fornication, etc.; the doctrines of devils, the perversion of truth, teaching the commandments of men, until every foul spirit hides under the skirt of religion.
             "And the merchants of the earth are waxed rich through the abundance of her delicacies." Even during His earthly sojourn, "Jesus went into the temple of God, and cast out all them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the money-changers, and the seats of them that sold doves, and said unto them, It is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer, but ye have made it a den of thieves." (Matthew 21:12-13).
             One man, talking about Christianity, said that it started with Jesus and the twelve disciples. Jesus declared the message of God's love, forgiveness, etc. as a message to be preached to the hearts of people. Then this message of Jesus went to Greece and became a philosophy (Origen, Augustine, etc.). Then it went to Rome and became an institution, the Roman Catholic Church. Then it went to Europe and became a culture, the British Christian culture. And then it came to America and became an enterprise, just a religion for merchandising. Multi-millions of dollars are spent every year in the merchandising of religion.
             It is no wonder that she has been called "the great whore that sitteth upon many waters," for she has defiled herself in adulteries of every kind-- whatever the "gods" might be. And out of her various "unions" with paganism of every sort, she has birthed many daughters all of like nature. Having played fast and loose with the world, mixing in the music of the world with her worship; the entertainment of the world is combined with her sacrifices; the power-control underlies her lust for position and authority; and she will join herself to whatever will bring her more gain. Her sins are innumerable, and the challenge is becoming increasingly clear-- "come out of her, My people, that ye be not partakers of her sins."
             "And that ye receive not of her plagues." The Greek word for "plagues" is "plege" meaning: a stroke, i.e. a smiting. The blows are going to be swift, and hard. "Therefore shall her plagues come in one day, death, and mourning, and famine; and she shall be utterly burned with fire: for strong is the Lord God who judgeth her." (verse 8). Those that have placed their trust, their faith, in the religious systems of men, who have reveled in her merchandise, shall suffer the blow when the stroke comes. "And the merchants of the earth shall weep and mourn over her; for no man buyeth their merchandise any more." (verse 11). No more "business as usual," for it all comes to a screeching halt. "THE LAMB shall overcome them. "
             Hear again the word of the prophet: "Behold, I am against thee, O destroying mountain, saith the Lord, which destroyest (to mar or corrupt) all the earth: and I will stretch out Mine hand upon thee, and roll thee down from the rocks, and will make thee a burnt mountain. And they shall not take of thee a stone for a corner, nor a stone for foundations; but thou shalt be desolate for ever, saith the Lord." (Jeremiah 51:25-26).
             The metaphor changes, but the message is the same, as Daniel  interpreted the dream of the king, how that the image (i.e. world system) was "broken to pieces together, and became like the chaff of the summer threshing floor; and the wind carried them away, that no place was found for them: and the Stone that smote the image became a great mountain, and filled the whole earth." (Daniel 2:35).
             No place found for them-- men will not take one particle, one stone of the old Babylonish system, and use it as the corner to start another kingdom; not a stone for the foundation, to build another tower of Babel. So complete will be the devastation of Babylon, so broken in pieces, so utterly burnt with fire, that it "shall be found no more at all." (verse 21).
             Again we find the phraseology in the Old Testament, when declaring His judgment upon Israel, He said, "I will take from them the voice of mirth, and the voice of gladness, the voice of the bridegroom, and the voice of the bride, the sound of the millstones, and the light of the candle." (Jeremiah 25:10). Now all of this is said again, but with much more finality, for Israel's judgment was to last but seventy years, but this judgment upon Babylon is complete, and forever.
             "The voice of harpers, and musicians, and of pipers, and trumpeters, shall be heard no more in thee." No more will the king of Babylon give the decree-- "That at what time ye hear the sound of the cornet, flute, hap, sackbut, psaltery, dulcimer, and all kinds of music, ye fall down and worship the golden image..." (Daniel 3:5). How religious Babylon has used its music to control the moods of the people-- to make them shout and dance, to make them weep and moan, stirring the emotions, controlling the feelings, bending their will, causing them to worship the image, BUT NO. MORE!
             "And no craftsman, of whatever craft he be, shall be found any more in thee." No more the skillful crafting of programs, no more the channeling of the anointed creativity into new schemes to draw crowds, build bigger kingdoms, and further the control of man over the souls of other men.
             "And the sound of a millstone shall be heard no more at all in thee." No more the endless labour, grinding away, wearing out the benighted souls of those that wanted to "serve the Lord," but ended up serving the system. No more industry with a view toward financial gain. No more the labor of "the hireling."
             "And the light of a candle shall shine no more at all in thee." No more shall the "burning and shining lights" of God-given ministries give their wisdom and understanding, their illumination, their revelation, to be a glimmer of light in the dark regions of Babylon. No more will they suffer burn out for having tried to heal a system that was destined to be destroyed.
             "And the voice of the bridegroom and of the bride shall be heard no more in thee at all." No more the sound of celebration of the marriages of more "into the system." Henceforth the JOINING shall only be into UNION WITH GOD. The harlot relationships are ending, relationship with God is just beginning.
             "Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, and will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be My sons and daughters, saith the Lord." (2 Corinthians 6:17-18).
             Touch not the unclean! The Greek word for "touch" is "haptomai" meaning: to attach oneself to, or literally, to kindle. The same word is used in John 20:17, when Jesus appeared unto Mary right after His resurrection, and she was so overjoyed to see Him, she would reach out and embrace Him, but He said, "Touch Me not; for I am not yet ascended to My Father... " Literally, kindle me not, do not light any fire of desire in me that would turn me away from my goal.
             COME OUT --we have been called out from among the dead, called out of the world, called out of Babylon, called out of the carnal realm, and we are ascending to our Father, being quickened by the Spirit-- therefore, do not let any thing of this world's system kindle in you a strange fire of desire. He would "present us faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy," (Jude 24), and we would maintain our purity before Him-- undefiled by any contact with the great whore.
             "Come out of her, My people..." The call remains for us in this day, as the holy Spirit sovereignly draws to Himself a people that will be ALL HIS. But it is not a negative working, it is not just a time for weeping, pain, etc. The only thing that makes it hard for us to "flee out of the midst of Babylon," is when there is too much of Babylon IN US. For sure, it is one thing to have God call us out of Babylon, and quite another thing for God to purge all of Babylon out of us. When there is nothing left within us that sympathizes with Babylon, to allure us back into affinity with her ways, then there will be no more pain nor tears in the coming out.
             "Go ye forth of Babylon... with a voice of singing declare ye, tell this, utter it even to the end of the earth; say ye, The Lord hath redeemed His servant." (Isaiah 48:20). What a deliverance, what a glorious redemption-- loosed from the bondage of Babylon. "Then was our mouth filled with laughter, and our tongue with singing: then said they among the heathen, The Lord hath done great things for them." (Psalm 126:2).
             Furthermore, since Babylon has sold her bill of goods to the ends of the earth-- "sitting upon many waters," now is the time to TELL ALL MEN, time to "utter it even to the end of the earth." And what is the message to be told? THAT THE LORD HATH REDEEMED His servant.
             Herein is another facet of "the revelation of Jesus Christ." For now we see Him as the great Deliverer from Babylon. Only as He calls us out, only as He cleanses our inner being of Babylon, does this deliverance become an experiential reality. Men call other men out, only to see them return again-- for what is in their heart will draw them back. But when He calls, and inwardly purges, and fills us with Himself, then the COMING OUT is effectual, and leads to a COMING IN, a coming into Christ, to be joined unto Him in one Spirit. For when He dwells within us, He draws us ONWARD and UPWARD, that He might unite us with His fullness. "That where I am, there ye may be also." (John 14:3).
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  (1)  Prinzing, Ray and Doris . REVELATION A POSITIVE BOOK.   Boise, Idaho, 83705  P.O. Box 5822