Babylon and New Jerusalem—A Huge Contrast
Babylon is in Revelation 17–18 and New Jerusalem in 21–22. There is a great contrast between 
these two. Here are some specifics.
Babylon is a great harlot who commits many fornications (17:1-3) but New Jerusalem is a holy and pure bride (21:9-10, 18).
Babylon is gilded with precious materials (17:4) but New Jerusalem is fully composed of precious materials (21:11, 18, 21). Babylon has a golden cup but it is full of abominations and unclean things, whereas New Jerusalem is pure, clear, and transparent (21:11, 18, 21).
Babylon sits on a beast “full of names of blasphemy” (17:3) in contrast to New Jerusalem with the throne of God and the redeeming Lamb as its center (22:1, 3). Babylon “has glorified herself” (18:7) but New Jerusalem shines with “the glory of God” (21:11). Watchman Nee says about Babylon:
It is pretending that something of man is something of God. It is receiving man’s glory to satisfy man’s lust….What should our attitude be toward Babylon? Revelation 18:4 says, “And I heard another voice out of heaven, saying, Come out of her, My people, that you do not participate in her sins and that you do not receive her plagues.”…According to God’s Word, His children cannot be involved in any matter containing the character of Babylon. God said that we must come out from every situation where man’s power is mixed with God’s power, where man’s ability is mixed with God’s work, and where man’s opinion is mixed with God’s Word.*
To “come out” is to purify ourselves. We need to pray, Lord purify me and shine on anything with me that is related to Babylon. Second Timothy 2:22 shows us that it is also good to have companions with whom we strive for the purity of New Jerusalem; “flee youthful lusts, and pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.”
* From chapter 5 of The Glorious Church by Watchman Nee, published and © by Living Stream Ministry, available at www.ministrybooks.org/books.cfm and www.livingstream.com/en/the-church/8012401-glorious-church-the.html.
Photo courtesy of US Bureau of Land Management.
Posted by Don on April 20, 2022
