Jerusalem versus Babylon

Our religious world has been divided into two sides. On one side is the church of God, the small remnant people. On the other side is the vast number of church organizations which fall under the name Babylon. This includes a great variety of different beliefs and doctrines. Some are far from the truth and others very close so that humanly it is hard to see the difference. All the churches included in Babylon are led by Satan while the church of God, also referred to as Jerusalem is led by God and by the Holy Spirit. Yet many honest children of God are still in Babylon and our work is to call them out that they would not receive their sins and the plagues that will come upon these churches. Any church that is teaching errors and that is calling people out of the church of God is an enemy of God.

Once a canvasser from the Seventh-Day Adventist Church came to me asking for a donation for their ingathering. I said to him, “how can I support the church that I have tried to destroy by calling members out of it to our church?” We must see the clear line between the church of God and Babylon. They cannot work in unity.

Zechariah writes, “Thus said the Lord; I am returned unto Zion, and will dwell in the midst of Jerusalem: and Jerusalem shall be called a city of truth; and the mountain of the Lord of hosts the holy mountain.” Zech. 8:3.
Paul writes, “Which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.” 1 Tim. 3:15.

It is a great privilege and blessing to belong to the church of God, instead of listening to the errors of Babylon. Yet the vast majority of professed Christians do belong to the churches that Satan controls. We have not much confusion in regard to the churches that are far from the truth. But Satan has established churches that are very close to our teachings. Sister White wrote, “I saw that the mysterious signs and wonders and false reformations would increase and spread. The reformations that were shown me were not reformations from error to truth.” EW, p. 45. “I saw two companies, one bowed down before the throne, deeply interested, while the other stood uninterested, and careless… Those who rose up with Jesus would send up their faith to Him in the holiest and pray, ‘My Father, give us Thy Spirit.’ Then Jesus would breathe upon them the Holy Ghost. In that breath was light, power, and much love, joy, and peace. I turned to look at the company who were still bowed before the throne; they did not know that Jesus had left it. Satan appeared to be by the throne, trying to carry on the work of God. I saw them look up to the throne, and pray, ‘Father give us Thy Spirit.’ Satan would breathe upon them an unholy influence; in it there was light and much power, but no sweet, love, joy, and peace. Satan’s object was to keep them deceived and to draw back and deceive God’s children.” EW, p. 55-56.

As it happened in 1844 that less than one from every 1000 believers who expected the Lord’s return received the Holy Spirit from God and others received Satan’s spirit and even that it had much light and power, it had no sweet love, joy, and peace. So it will be in the last days. Satan gives to his followers much light, knowledge, and power to do miracles yet he cannot give them sweet love, joy or peace because he does not possess them himself.

Sister White wrote that, “Satan appeared to carry on the work of God.” The false churches do mock the church of God saying, “You are so few and with limited means, how could you finish the work of God on the earth?” The false churches have preachers, buildings and mediums to do the missionary work, yet God does not depend on them.
“There is no restraint to the Lord to save by many or by few.” 1 Sam. 14:6.
“Not by might, nor by power, but by My Spirit, saith the Lord.” Zech. 4:6.

“Many apparently good things will need to be carefully considered with much prayer, for they are specious devices of the enemy to lead souls in a path which lies so close to the path of truth that it will be scarcely distinguishable from it.” Evang., p. 590.
The Pharisees were in some points stricter than Jesus and His disciples. They fasted twice a week. They would not eat without washing their hands. They condemned Jesus for healing on Sabbath; yet Jesus called them the children of the devil.

When Korah, Dathan and Abiram rose up against Moses, the question was not on doctrines or practices of the church. It was strictly organizational. God was not with them, but rather punished them severely.

In Babylon, many miracles are performed. Satan does not require faithfulness from his followers. He gives the power to do miracles to the proud, selfish, and covetous people. God, on the other hand requires strict obedience before He gives us the power to do miracles.

In Babylon, no shaking takes place. Sinners are permitted to remain. In the church of God, the shaking continues all the time. “And this word, yet once more, signifieth the removing of those things that are shaken, as of things that are made, that those things which cannot be shaken may remain.” Heb. 12:17.

There are faithful members in the church of God that cannot be shaken. They may be offended by others but they do not take offense. They rather pray for the ones who offend them that God would forgive them. Others when they are offended are looking for another church where they can go from the church of God. Jesus said, “For it must needs be that offenses come.” Matt. 18:7.

Also shaking comes by heresies. False doctrines will be introduced to them and being blinded they believe these heresies and leave the church of God. Others find the way too narrow and are seeking a church which is not so strict in the commandments.

The destiny of Babylon and Jerusalem are very different. The prophesy concerning Babylon is, “And a mighty angel took up a stone like a great millstone, and cast it into the sea, saying, Thus with violence shall that great city Babylon be thrown down, and shall be found no more at all.” Rev. 18:21.

Another prophesy concerning Jerusalem is very different, “But be ye glad and rejoice forever in that which I create: for, behold, I create Jerusalem a rejoicing, and her people a joy. And I will rejoice in Jerusalem, and joy in my people: and the voice of weeping shall be no more heard in her, nor the voice of crying.” Isa. 65:18-19.
God is calling everyone, “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.” Jer. 51:6.

Everyone who remains in the church of God to the end will be saved. Jerusalem is the city of refuge where sinners find shelter from the avenger of blood, Satan. “The church is God’s fortress, His city of refuge, which He holds in a revolted world. Any betrayal of the church is treachery to Him who has bought mankind with the blood of His only begotten Son.” AA, p. 11.

Since the beginning the church has remained. Mighty kingdoms have fallen but the forces of the enemy have not been able to destroy the church of God. Sister White refers to the church as the apple of His eye to God upon which He bestows His tender care.
May the Lord help us to support and to build up the church which is the only agency of salvation in this world.
AMEN.