The Fall of Babylon

Morris Cerullo

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without the written permission of Morris Cerullo World

Evangelism.

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King James version of the Bible.

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Scripture references marked TLB are from the Living Bible.

Copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Publishers, Wheaton,

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

Introduction. .............................................................................5

Chapter 1

The Identity of Babylon. ....................................................9

Chapter 2

The Scarlet-Colored Beast. ..............................................15

Chapter 3

Warring Against the Lamb. ............................................19

Chapter 4

The Fall of Babylon. .........................................................23

Chapter 5

The Fate of the Apostate Church. ..................................29

Chapter 6

Characteristics of an Apostate Church. .........................33

Introduction

THE FALL OF BABYLON

The Coming Collapse of the World System

Revelation chapters 17-18

This is the ninth in a series of twelve books in which

we are opening the prophecies of the endtimes revealed to

the Apostle John and recorded in the Book of Revelation.

In chapters 1 through 11, the Apostle John received

successive revelations of the final days of time. He viewed

tremendous scenes of worship in Heaven, the opening of

the book with seven seals, and the sounding of the seven

trumpets as God's judgment was poured out on the world.

In Revelation chapters 12-14, John introduced seven

important personages:

The Sun-clothed Woman, representing Israel.

The Dragon, representing Satan.

The Man-child, representing Jesus Christ.

Michael, representing the angels.

The Beast out of the Sea, who is the world dictator.

The Beast out of the Earth, a religious leader who is a

false prophet and supports the world dictator.

144,000 Representing the Remnant, saved out of the

Tribulation.

As Revelation chapter 14 opened, we saw the 144,000

on Mt. Zion with the Heavenly Father's name written in

their foreheads, who have overcome by the blood of the

Lamb and the word of their testimony, God's spiritual

5

The Fall of Babylon

Israel.

Suddenly—right in the midst of this glorious scene,

three angels fly through the air with three final warnings

to those who remain on the earth...

➢ THE FIRST ANGEL proclaims the Gospel to the

world giving mankind a final opportunity to repent

and worship the true and living God (Revelation

14:6-7).

➢ THE SECOND ANGEL announces the coming fall of

Babylon the Great, the apostate church (Revelation

14:8). Those who have compromised with the world,

those who have polluted the Church, and those who

have perverted the Word of God are warned of the

destruction that is soon to come upon them.

➢ THE THIRD ANGEL warns of coming destruction

upon all those who take the mark of the Antichrist:

Revelation 14:9-11.

Then John witnessed horror and devastation as the

seven vials of God's wrath were poured out in chapters 14-

16..

➢ THE FIRST VIAL: Malignant sores (Revelation 16:2).

➢ THE SECOND VIAL: The sea turns to blood

(Revelation 16:3).

➢ THE THIRD VIAL: Rivers and drinking water

sources turn to blood (Revelation 16:4-7).

➢ THE FOURTH VIAL: The sun scorches with intense

heat (Revelation 16:8-9).

➢ THE FIFTH VIAL: Darkness (Revelation 16:10-11).

➢ THE SIXTH VIAL: The River Euphrates dries up and

demonic forces are loosed in the earth (Revelation

16:12).

6

Introduction

➢ THE SEVENTH VIAL: A great earthquake occurs;

Jerusalem is divided; and the fall of Babylon nears

(Revelation 16:17-21).

In this booklet we will be examining the fall of Babylon

which was foretold by the second angel announcing woes

to come:

And there followed another angel, saying, Babylon is

fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she made all nations

drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication. (Revelation

14:8)

As the seventh vial of God's wrath is poured out,

... great Babylon came in remembrance before God, to give

unto her the cup of the wine of the fierceness of his wrath.

(Revelation 16:19).

7

CHAPTER 1

THE IDENTITY OF BABYLON

1

As chapter 17 opens, one of the seven angels who had

been given the responsibility of pouring out the vials of

God's wrath upon the wicked, called out to John:

... Come up hither; I will shew unto thee the judgment of

the great whore that sitteth upon many waters: With whom

the kings of the earth have committed fornication, and the

inhabitants of the earth have been made drunk with the wine

of her fornication. (Revelation 17:1-2)

Suddenly, John is carried away in the spirit into the

wilderness where he sees a very unusual sight:

So he carried me away in the spirit into the wilderness:

and I saw a woman sit upon a scarlet coloured beast, full of

names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns. And

the woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet colour, and

decked with gold and precious stones and pearls, having a

golden cup in her hand full of abominations and filthiness of

her fornication: And upon her forehead was a name written,

MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF

HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH.

And I saw the woman drunken with the blood of the saints,

and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus: and when I saw

her, I wondered with great admiration. (Revelation 17:3-6)

Archaeologists tell us that ancient Babylon was the

cradle of modern civilization. Located on the shores of the

Euphrates River, the ruins of this city have revealed some

of the oldest documents of past generations. This city was

founded by Nimrod, who was a rebel before the Lord. The

city generated some of the greatest wickedness ever

known to mankind and in ancient days Satan seemed to

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The Fall of Babylon

make Babylon the capital of his evil operations.

From these headquarters started false religion, man's

attempt for self-government in defiance of the will of God,

and city dwellings for commercial and social purposes

contrary to the commandment of God to "be fruitful,

multiply, and replenish the earth." These evils substituted

counterfeit solutions to problems that would ordinarily

lead men to God.

The first few verses of Chapter 17 reveal to us an awful

scene portraying through symbols two great forces, one

religious and the other governmental.

This vision comes from one of the seven angels who

had the seven bowls and—although it is not stated by John

—the context locates this judgment scene as taking place

in the middle of the Tribulation.

Ten details are provided about this woman. She is. .

1. "The great harlot."

2. "That sitteth upon many waters."

3. "With whom the kings of the earth have committed

fornication."

4. "And the inhabitants of the earth have been made drunk

with the wine of her fornication."

5. "A woman (in the wilderness) sitting upon a scarlet

colored beast."

6. "Arrayed in purple and scarlet."

7. "Bedecked with gold and precious stones."

8. "Having a golden cup in her hand, full of abominations

and filthiness of her fornication."

9. "Upon her forehead was a name written, MYSTERY,

BABYLON THE GREAT, MOTHER OF HARLOTS

AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH."

10

The Identity of Babylon

10. "Drunk with the blood of the saints and with the blood

of the martyrs of Jesus."

Sitting upon a scarlet-colored beast, this drunken

harlot is clothed in purple and scarlet and wearing all

types of jewelry made of gold, pearls, and precious stones.

In her hand she holds a golden cup. On her head she

wears a band with the title; "Mystery, Babylon the great, the

mother of harlots and abominations of the earth."

Who is this mother of harlots? What is the identity of

Babylon the great? What is the meaning of the beast upon

which she sits?

Even before we receive the angel's interpretation of

this vision, it is clear that we are not dealing with a human

being, for no one woman could commit fornication with

the kings of the earth, nor could a woman be drunk with

the blood of the saints and martyrs.

One of the main rules for Bible interpretation is that

when the literal meaning of a Scripture makes common

sense, we seek no other meaning. In this case a literal

woman does not make common sense, therefore we seek

another meaning.

To discover the meaning of this passage, we must first

look back into the Old Testament record where references

to a harlot were always used to signify religious apostasy.

The prophet Isaiah referred to Israel as "the faithful city"

that had become a harlot:

How is the faithful city become an harlot! It was full of

judgment; righteousness lodged in it; but now murderers.

(Isaiah 1:21)

Jeremiah identified the backslidden people of God

who had been corrupted by heathen nations as a harlot.

He said, " Have you seen what backsliding Israel has done?

11

The Fall of Babylon

She... played the harlot" (Jeremiah 3:6, TAB).

This same message was repeated by Isaiah, Jeremiah,

Ezekiel, Hosea, Joel, Amos, and Micah as Israel continued

to pollute themselves through idolatry and intermarrying

with heathen nations.

The harlot is referred to in Revelation 17:18 as "t hat

great city that reigneth over the earth" and in verse five she is

wearing a band on her head which identifies her as

Babylon the great.

This "harlot" does not represent a physical city, but

rather a spiritual condition. Ancient Babylon had a

worldwide reputation for its luxury, vice, and corruption.

It was considered the center of false religions and pagan

gods. This reference to the city of Babylon is made to

emphasize the corruption of the apostate church. The

woman seated on the scarlet-colored beast is the apostate

church which has committed spiritual adultery with the

world.

Thus we see that there are two rival women at the

endtime. Both claim to love Christ. One is the true Church

—the bride of Christ (Revelation 19:7-9). The other is the

apostate false church, the great harlot of Babylon.

The kings of the earth have committed fornication with

this woman. This tells us that the false church of the end-

time will have a great influence on the nations of the

world. The church loves the world and the world loves

her. But the Bible warns:

Love not the world, neither the things that are in the

world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not

in him. (1 John 2:15)

"The inhabitants of the earth... made drunk" refers to the

false doctrines and teachings of the apostate church.

12

The Identity of Babylon

Stop and think for a moment: Are you in a church that

is a growing part of the apostate world church? Have you

been made "drunk" by her wine so that you don't even

recognize what is happening to you?

Note that the great harlot has a royal external

appearance, but her cup—that which she offers to others—

is filled with abominations. That the cup is golden shows

that her teachings may outwardly seem to be beautiful,

moral, and godly, but from that glistening cup comes only

filth.

The "mystery" of the woman is made clear to us by the

name on her forehead. "Babylon the Great" reveals that the

final apostate world church system will have its roots in

the false religions of history.

The name "Babylon," however, refers to two systems in

the end times. It refers to the final apostate religious

system which we are discussing and it also refers to the

political and commercial networks during the Tribulation

that will be entwined with the one-world system...

.. And that brings us to the mystery of the scarlet

colored beast..

13

CHAPTER 2

THE SCARLET-COLORED BEAST

2

The scarlet-colored beast in Revelation 17 is the same

beast described in Revelation 13:1 which we have

identified as the Antichrist:

And the angel said unto me, Wherefore didst thou

marvel? I will tell thee the mystery of the woman, and of the

beast that carrieth her, which hath the seven heads and ten

horns. The beast that thou sawest was, and is not; and shall

ascend out of the bottomless pit, and go into perdition: and

they that dwell on the earth shall wonder, whose names were

not written in the book of life from the foundation of the

world, when they behold the beast that was, and is not, and

yet is. And here is the mind which hath wisdom. The seven

heads are seven mountains, on which the woman sitteth. And

there are seven kings: five are fallen, and one is, and the other

is not yet come; and when he cometh, he must continue a

short space. And the beast that was, and is not, even he is the

eighth, and is of the seven, and goeth into perdition. And the

ten horns which thou sawest are ten kings, which have

received no kingdom as yet; but receive power as kings one

hour with the beast. These have one mind, and shall give their

power and strength unto the beast. (Revelation 17:7-13)

Five important details are given regarding the beast

upon which the harlot is seated. THE BEAST...

1. Is "full of names of blasphemy" (v. 3)

2. "Having seven heads" (v. 3)

3. "And ten horns" (v. 3)

4. It ". . carrieth her" (v. 7)

5. It ".. was, and is not, and shall ascend out of the

bottomless pit, and go into perdition" (v. 8)

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The Fall of Babylon

The facts that this beast existed in the past, cannot now

be seen, but shall appear again coming out of the

bottomless pit-n-all point to Satan. Satan existed in the

past, cannot be visibly seen now, but will be released on

this world in the future in the physical forms of the

Antichrist and false prophet whose political and economic

systems will at first support the "woman" [the apostate

church].

The seven heads on this beast upon which the harlot

was sitting symbolize seven mountains. This undoubtedly

refers to the city of Rome which was built on seven hills

and was considered the capital of the Roman Empire. In

John's day, it was the center of persecution against

Christians.

The ten horns on these seven heads are the ten nations

comprising the revived Roman Empire which will join

together with the Antichrist during the great tribulation.

These ten horns are those ten kings portrayed in Daniel

2:42 and forty-four as the ten toes of the statue that we

studied about in the last book in this series. Daniel 7:24-28

portrays these as ten horns which are ten kings and speaks

of the Antichrist coming as another horn:

And the ten horns out of this kingdom are ten kings that

shall arise: and another shall rise after them; and he shall be

diverse from the first, and he shall subdue three kings. And he

shall speak great words against the most High, and shall wear

out the saints of the most High, and think to change times and

laws: and they shall be given into his hand until a time and

times and the dividing of time. But the judgment shall sit, and

they shall take away his dominion, to consume and to destroy

it unto the end. And the kingdom and dominion, and the

greatness of the kingdom under the whole heaven, shall be

given to the people of the saints of the most High, whose

kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall

serve and obey him. Hitherto is the end of the matter... (Daniel

16

The Scarlet-Colored Beast

7:24-28)

This passage corresponds with the verses in Revelation

17:12-13 which show that these ten kings follow the

Antichrist in his final hour of power. "These have one mind"

indicate that these ten end-time kings give complete

allegiance to the Antichrist.

In Revelation 17:6, John saw the harlot "drunken with

the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the martyrs of

Jesus." Because of her alliance with the Antichrist during

his persecution of the saints, the apostate church will be

guilty of the blood of those who are martyred for their

faith in Jesus Christ. In Revelation 18:24, we read that: "...

in her was found the blood of prophets, and of saints, and of all

that were slain upon the earth."

17

CHAPTER 3

WARRING AGAINST THE LAMB

3

The ten nations, which have aligned themselves with

the Antichrist, will eventually join together and make war

with the Lamb:

These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall

overcome them: for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and

they that are with him are called, and chosen, and faithful.

(Revelation 17:14)

The ten kings and the Antichrist will make war against

the Lamb, Jesus Christ. They will persecute those who turn

to Christ, and the persecution will be especially fierce

during the final three years of the Tribulation.

Yet Christ-the Lamb of God-shall overcome them! This

is accomplished in several ways..

1. The persecution of the Antichrist and his kings is

overcome by Christ's Blood sacrifice at Calvary

atoning for the sins of those who turn to Him as

their Savior:

And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by

the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives

unto the death. (Revelation 12:11)

2. Christ is victorious because death is swallowed up

in victory:

... And I saw... the souls of them that were beheaded for

the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had

not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had

received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and

they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.

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The Fall of Babylon

(Revelation 20:4)

3. Jesus delivers pre-tribulation believers from the

hour of temptation:

Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also

will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come

upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.

(Revelation 3:10)

4. Jesus saves a remnant from death by preserving

them during the Tribulation:

And the woman fled into the wilderness, where she hath a

place prepared of God, that they should feed her there a

thousand two hundred and threescore days. (Revelation 12:6)

And to the woman were given two wings of a great eagle,

that she might fly into the wilderness, into her place, where

she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a time, from

the face of the serpent. (Revelation 12:14)

5. At the end of the seven-year period, Jesus comes to

battle at Armageddon and destroys the Antichrist,

his followers, and his armies—we'll learn more

about this in the next book in this series.

6. At the final judgment, Jesus does not permit the

followers of the Antichrist to enter the Millennial

Kingdom;

When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the

holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his

glory: And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he

shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth

his sheep from the goats: And he shall set the sheep on his

right hand, but the goats on the left. Then shall the King say

unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father,

inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of

the world... Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand,

Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for

20

Warring Against the Lamb

the devil and his angels... And these shall go away into

everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.

(Matthew 25:31-34, 41, 46)

The Called Out Ones

The ones who return with Jesus to do battle are the

"called out ones, the chosen, the faithful." They are the ones

who have remained faithful to God, despite the apostate

church and despite persecution during the Tribulation.

When Jesus Christ returns in great power and majesty

with these called and chosen saints, He will conquer the

Antichrist, the false prophet, and all those who are aligned

with them in a great and final victory!

The angel then reveals to John the meaning of the

waters:

And he saith unto me, The waters which thou sawest,

where the whore sitteth, are peoples, and multitudes, and

nations, and tongues. (Revelation 17:15)

All peoples, multitudes, nations, and tongues are

affected by this apostasy. In the end, however, the ten

nations—represented by the ten horns—will turn on the

apostate church and destroy her:

And the ten horns which thou sawest upon the beast,

these shall hate the whore, and shall make her desolate and

naked, and shall eat her flesh, and burn her with fire. For God

hath put in their hearts to fulfil his will, and to agree, and give

their kingdom unto the beast, until the words of God shall be

fulfilled. And the woman which thou sawest is that great city,

which reigneth over the kings of the earth. (Revelation 17:16-

18)

Once again, we see who is really in control. GOD IS

THE ONE IN CONTROL! The Antichrist, the ten-nation

confederacy, the one-world government—none of them

21

The Fall of Babylon

are in control. It is God Who causes the ten kingdoms to

agree to give their authority to the Antichrist and who

causes them to eventually attack and destroy the apostate

church.

22

CHAPTER 4

THE FALL OF BABYLON

4

In chapter 18, John continues his description of the

destruction of the apostate church. He sees an angel with

great power, authority, and glory coming down from

heaven, declaring with a mighty voice..

... Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and is become the

habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a

cage of every unclean and hateful bird. For all nations have

drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, and the

kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and

the merchants of the earth are waxed rich through the

abundance of her delicacies. (Revelation 18:2-3)

The angel comes to show John the ruination of the

Babylonian system's latter day metropolis, the commercial

emporium of the world.

The pronouncement speaks of a future event as

already having taken place. This was the method used in

Isaiah 53 when the prophet described the first advent of

the Messiah as if already accomplished. Thus he wrote

seven-hundred years before Christ...

But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was

bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was

upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. (Isaiah 53:5)

Here we find the same basic language dealing with the

fall of latter-day Babylon as Isaiah used seven-hundred

years B.C. to speak of the fall of the ancient Babylonian

kingdom:

Behold, I will stir up the Medes against them, which shall

not regard silver; and as for gold, they shall not delight in it.

23

The Fall of Babylon

Their bows also shall dash the young men to pieces; and they

shall have no pity on the fruit of the womb; their eye shall not

spare children. And Babylon, the glory of kingdoms, the

beauty of the Chaldees' excellency, shall be as when God

overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah. It shall never be inhabited,

neither shall it be dwelt in from generation to generation:

neither shall the Arabian pitch tent there; neither shall the

shepherds make their fold there. But wild beasts of the desert

shall lie there; and their houses shall be full of doleful

creatures; and owls shall dwell there, and satyrs shall dance

there. And the wild beasts of the islands shall cry in their

desolate houses, and dragons in their pleasant palaces: and her

time is near to come, and her days shall not be prolonged.

(Isaiah 13:17-22)

The ancient Babylonian empire was vanquished by an

invasion of the Medes and Persians in 536 B.C. (Isaiah

13:17; Daniel 5:28-31), while the Babylon destroyed in

Revelation 18 is destroyed in a sudden devastation by fire

at the time of the pouring out of the Seventh Bowl of

Wrath.

Following this declaration, John hears another loud

voice from heaven warning the people of God:

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 of her plagues. For her sins have reached unto

heaven, and God hath remembered her iniquities. (Revelation

18:4-5)

This admonition was a warning, not only to believers

in the Early Church who were living when John wrote the

Book of Revelation, but it is also a warning to all true

believers today. We cannot be joined together with the

apostate church and partake of her sins, compromise with

the world, and expect to escape the judgment of God.

Some of those who have turned to God have, as is

evident from the command here, remained in this evil city.

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The Fall of Babylon

The heavenly voice commands them to "COME OUT!"

The incentive for obedience is "that ye be not partakers of her

plagues."

The Bible warns us:

Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for

what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness?

and what communion hath light with darkness? And what

concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that

believeth with an infidel? And what agreement hath the

temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living

God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them;

and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.

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 Almighty. Having

therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse

ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting

holiness in the fear of God. (2 Corinthians 6:14-7:1)

Today, God is appealing for His people to come out,

just as the angel appealed to Lot (Genesis 19:12-25). This is

the cry of the Spirit that is going forth even today to the

Church...

➢ Come out from the world.

➢ Separate yourself from sin.

➢ Get ready—Jesus is coming!

This Babylonish-Antichrist system has reveled in sin,

and it seemed as if God had overlooked it. With its sudden

destruction, however, it will be apparent that God has

"remembered her iniquities."

... and great Babylon came in remembrance before God, to

give unto her the cup of the wine of the fierceness of his wrath.

(Revelation 16:19)

25

The Fall of Babylon

Because of the sins committed by the apostate church,

God's judgments will come upon her quickly and harshly.

The ten nation alliance will be used by God to destroy the

apostate church. In "one day, death, and mourning, and

famine, will come upon her.”

Reward her even as she rewarded you, and double unto

her double according to her works: in the cup which she hath

filled fill to her double. How much she hath glorified herself,

and lived deliciously, so much torment and sorrow give her:

for she saith in her heart, I sit a queen, and am no widow, and

shall see no sorrow. 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. (Revelation 18:6-8)

At the start of this chapter, the harlot and the beast

rode together but eventually the Antichrist and his ten

kings turn in hatred upon the harlot. From this passage,

we see that the united apostate world church will support

the evil Antichrist in his rise to power, during the first

three years of the Tribulation but that somewhere along

the line, the Antichrist, his kings, and their supporting

economic and political system will turn against this

apostate church.

Perhaps this will occur in connection with the

Abomination of Desolation and the persecution that

follows? Perhaps the Antichrist will turn on the harlot

church because she rivals him for power? In any case, we

see a progressively worsening relationship and a

thoroughly complete destruction. But remember—all of

this is in accord with God's plan of the ages! It was

foretold by John in this awesome revelation centuries ago.

The false church is somewhat synonymous with the

ancient ruling city of the earth. She is called BABYLON so

in God's sight this system becomes basically the same as

26

The Fall of Babylon

Babel—Babylon, a system of total rebellion against God.

The world mourns at the destruction of the harlot—the

apostate church! The kings, merchants, and men of

influence who have yielded to her temptations and have

committed adultery with her all mourn...

And the kings of the earth, who have committed

fornication and lived deliciously with her, shall bewail her,

and lament for her, when they shall see the smoke of her

burning... And cried when they saw the smoke of her burning,

saying, What city is like unto this great city! And they cast

dust on their heads, and cried, weeping and wailing, saying,

Alas, alas, that great city, wherein were made rich all that had

ships in the sea by reason of her costliness! For in one hour is

she made desolate. (Revelation 18:9, 18-19)

27

CHAPTER 5

THE FATE OF THE APOSTATE CHURCH

5

You will remember that in the Lord's message to the

church in Thyatira He reproved them for allowing the

false prophetess, Jezebel, to remain in their church because

she was seducing believers into fornication and sacrificing

to idols:

Notwithstanding I have a few things against thee,

because thou sufferest that woman Jezebel, which calleth

herself a prophetess, to teach and to seduce my servants to

commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed unto idols.

And I gave her space to repent of her fornication; and she

repented not. Behold, I will cast her into a bed, and them that

commit adultery with her into great tribulation, except they

repent of their deeds. And I will kill her children with death;

and all the churches shall know that I am he which searcheth

the reins and hearts: and I will give unto every one of you

according to your works. (Revelation 2:20-23)

This is an example of the fate of an apostate church!

Revelation chapter 18 also describes the fate of the

end-time apostate church, Babylon the harlot:

And the merchants of the earth shall weep and mourn

over her; for no man buyeth their merchandise any more: The

merchandise of gold, and silver, and precious stones, and of

pearls, and fine linen, and purple, and silk, and scarlet, and all

thyine wood, and all manner vessels of ivory, and all manner

vessels of most precious wood, and of brass, and iron, and

marble, And cinnamon, and odours, and ointments, and

frankincense, and wine, and oil, and fine flour, and wheat, and

beasts, and sheep, and horses, and chariots, and slaves, and

souls of men. And the fruits that thy soul lusted after are

departed from thee, and all things which were dainty and

29

The Fall of Babylon

goodly are departed from thee, and thou shalt find them no

more at all. The merchants of these things, which were made

rich by her, shall stand afar off for the fear of her torment,

weeping and wailing, And saying, Alas, alas, that great city,

that was clothed in fine linen, and purple, and scarlet, and

decked with gold, and precious stones, and pearls! For in one

hour so great riches is come to nought. And every shipmaster,

and all the company in ships, and sailors, and as many as

trade by sea, stood afar off, And cried when they saw the

smoke of her burning, saying, What city is like unto this great

city! And they cast dust on their heads, and cried, weeping

and wailing, saying, Alas, alas, that great city, wherein were

made rich all that had ships in the sea by reason of her

costliness! For in one hour is she made desolate. Rejoice over

her, thou heaven, and ye holy apostles and prophets; for God

hath avenged you on her. 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. And the voice of harpers,

and musicians, and of pipers, and trumpeters, shall be heard

no more at all in thee; and no craftsman, of whatsoever craft

he be, shall be found any more in thee; and the sound of a

millstone shall be heard no more at all in thee; And the light of

a candle shall shine no more at all in thee; and the voice of the

bridegroom and of the bride shall be heard no more at all in

thee: for thy merchants were the great men of the earth; for by

thy sorceries were all nations deceived. (Revelation 18:11-23)

A study of this passages reveals the terrible fate that

awaits those who join themselves together with the

world's system and commit spiritual adultery. Each of

these judgments may be applied spiritually to the Church

today, in addition to their specific application to the harlot,

Babylon:

➢ A double return of the evil they commit:

Reward her even as she rewarded you, and double unto

her double according to her works: in the cup which she hath

filled fill to her double. (Revelation 18:6)

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The Fate of the Apostate Church

➢ Economic devastation:

And the merchants of the earth shall weep and mourn

over her; for no man buyeth their merchandise any more.

(Revelation 18:11)

➢ Loss of that which was lusted after:

And cinnamon, and odours, and ointments, and

frankincense, and wine, and oil, and fine flour, and wheat, and

beasts, and sheep, and horses, and chariots, and slaves, and

souls of men. (Revelation 18:13)

➢ Loss of joy:

And the voice of harpers, and musicians, and of pipers,

and trumpeters, shall be heard no more at all in thee; and no

craftsman, of whatsoever craft he be, shall be found any more

in thee; and the sound of a millstone shall be heard no more at

all in thee. (Revelation 18:22)

➢ Spiritual darkness:

And the light of a candle shall shine no more at all in

thee; and the voice of the bridegroom and of the bride shall be

heard no more at all in thee: for thy merchants were the great

men of the earth; for by thy sorceries were all nations deceived.

(Revelation 18:23)

➢ Sudden destruction:

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. (Revelation

18:8)

... Alas, alas, that great city Babylon, that mighty city!

For in one hour is thy judgment come. (Revelation 18:10)

➢ Total destruction:

And a mighty angel took up a stone like a great millstone,

and cast it into the sea, saying, Thus with violence shall that

31

The Fall of Babylon

great city Babylon be thrown down, and shall be found no

more at all. (Revelation 18:21)

John sees a strong angel pick up a stone, similar to a

millstone. Millstones were four to five feet in diameter,

one foot thick, and weighed thousands of pounds. This

mighty angel, with a sweep of his hand, hurled this

millstone into the sea and declared, "Thus with violence

shall that great city Babylon be thrown down, and shall be

found no more at all" (verse 21). The destruction of Babylon

will be complete, swift, and final.

The treasures of the wicked are gone. Isn't this the

irony of iniquity? Sin deludes us into thinking that we can

have great treasures, but in the end they all turn to ashes.

We must always remember the words of Jesus who

warned...

Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where

moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through

and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where

neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not

break through nor steal: For where your treasure is, there will

your heart be also. The light of the body is the eye: if therefore

thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light. But if

thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If

therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that

darkness! No man can serve two masters: for either he will

hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one,

and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.

(Matthew 6:19-24)

32

CHAPTER 6

CHARACTERISTICS OF AN APOSTATE CHURCH

6

As we face the closing days of time, it becomes

increasingly important for us to be able to recognize the

signs of an apostate church.

In Revelation chapter 18, we are given a detailed

description of the apostate church:

How much she hath glorified herself, and lived

deliciously, so much torment and sorrow give her: for she

saith in her heart, I sit a queen, and am no widow, and

shall see no sorrow. 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. And the kings of the earth, who have committed

fornication and lived deliciously with her, shall bewail her,

and lament for her, when they shall see the smoke of her

burning, Standing afar off for the fear of her torment, saying,

Alas, alas, that great city Babylon, that mighty city! For in

one hour is thy judgment come... And the fruits that thy

soul lusted after are departed from thee, and all things which

were dainty and goodly are departed from thee, and thou shalt

find them no more at all. The merchants of these things, which

were made rich by her, shall stand afar off for the fear of her

torment, weeping and wailing, And saying, Alas, alas, that

great city, that was clothed in fine linen, and purple, and

scarlet, and decked with gold, and precious stones, and pearls!

For in one hour so great riches is come to nought. And every

shipmaster, and all the company in ships, and sailors, and as

many as trade by sea, stood afar off, And cried when they saw

the smoke of her burning, saying, What city is like unto this

great city! And they cast dust on their heads, and cried,

weeping and wailing, saying, Alas, alas, that great city,

wherein were made rich all that had ships in the sea by

33

The Fall of Babylon

reason of her costliness! For in one hour is she made desolate.

Rejoice over her, thou heaven, and ye holy apostles and

prophets; for God hath avenged you on her. 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. And the

voice of harpers, and musicians, and of pipers, and

trumpeters, shall be heard no more at all in thee; and no

craftsman, of whatsoever craft he be, shall be found any more

in thee; and the sound of a millstone shall be heard no more at

all in thee; And the light of a candle shall shine no more at all

in thee; and the voice of the bridegroom and of the bride shall

be heard no more at all in thee: for thy merchants were the

great men of the earth; for by thy sorceries were all nations

deceived. And in her was found the blood of prophets,

and of saints, and of all that were slain upon the earth.

(Revelation 18:7-24)

The bold-faced portions in this passage, combined

with other New Testament references, reveal the following

characteristics which mark an apostate church:

1. The Apostate Church Will Reject Sound Doctrine.

The Apostle Paul Warned:

For the time is coming when (people) will not tolerate

(endure) sound and wholesome instruction, but having ears

itching (for something pleasing and gratifying), they will

gather to themselves one teacher after another to a

considerable number, chosen to satisfy their own liking and to

foster the errors they hold, And will turn aside from hearing

the truth and wander off into myths and man-made fictions.

(2 Timothy 4:3-4, TAB)

The apostate church will pollute the Word and

introduce heresies, refusing to acknowledge Christ as the

Son of God. Peter said:

... there will be false teachers among yourselves, who will

subtly and stealthily introduce heretical doctrines destructive

34

Characteristics of an Apostate Church

—heresies—even denying and disowning the Master Who

bought them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction. (2

Peter 2:1, TAB)

2. The apostate church will be materially rich, but

spiritually poor:

Note the passages in bold face in the previous passage

drawn from Revelation 18:7-24 “... She was rich, made

others rich, and lived deliciously.” God's message to such

a church is. .

Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods,

and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art

wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked: I

counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou

mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be

clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear;

and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.

(Revelation 3:17-18)

3. The Apostate Church Will Be Full Of Christians

Who Follow After Their Own Lustful Desires:

Know this first of all, that in the last days mockers will

come with their mocking, following after their own lusts. (2

Peter 3:3, NAS)

This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall

come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, lovers of

pleasures more than lovers of God. (2 Timothy 3:1-2, 4)

4. The Apostate Church Will Have A Form Of

Godliness, But Will Deny The True Power Of

God:

Having a form of godliness, but denying the power

thereof: from such turn away. (2 Timothy 3:5)

5. The apostate church will be full of Christians

who have lost their first love:

35

The Fall of Babylon

They will be more in love with the world and its

material possessions than they are the things of God

(Revelation 18:15-16):

Love not the world, neither the things that are in the

world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not

in him. (1 John 2:15)

6. The apostate church will reject God's prophets:

And in her was found the blood of prophets, and of saints,

and of all that were slain upon the earth. (Revelation 18:7-24)

7. The apostate church will deceive the nations:

... for by thy sorceries were all nations deceived.

(Revelation 18:23)

8. The apostate church will be filled with evil, sorcery,

and fornication:

With whom the kings of the earth have committed

fornication, and the inhabitants of the earth have been made

drunk with the wine of her fornication... having a golden cup

in her hand full of abominations and filthiness of her

fornication. (Revelation 17:2, 4)

For all nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her

fornication, and the kings of the earth have committed

fornication with her... (Revelation 18:3)

9. The apostate church will compromise to avoid

persecution:

This church is accepted by the world and rejects the

idea of suffering and persecution... "I sit a queen, and am no

widow, and shall see no sorrow" (Revelation 18:7).

A Great Falling Away

The Apostle Paul warned that before Christ returns,

there will be a great falling away:

36

Characteristics of an Apostate Church

Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord

Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him, That ye

be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit,

nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ

is at hand. Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day

shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that

man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; Who opposeth and

exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is

worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God,

shewing himself that he is God. (2 Thessalonians 2:1-4)

The Greek word for "falling away" is "apostasia,"

which means "apostasy; a revolt; rebellion." Throughout

history, there have been periods of great apostasy in the

Church. Many Christians have been deceived or

disillusioned and have fallen away. Others have

compromised by adopting the world's standards and sin

has crept into the Church. Many have followed after their

own lusts and have denied the faith.

In these verses, Paul warns that before Christ returns,

there will be a time of apostasy of such great proportions

that it will be known as the final apostasy. It will be a time

of FINAL REBELLION and rejection of God.

You may wonder, "Brother Cerullo, how can this be?

The Church is on the verge of experiencing the greatest

outpouring of the Holy Spirit that the world has ever

known."

Yes, it is true that we are experiencing a great

outpouring of the Holy Spirit; thousands of souls are being

won into the Kingdom of God; miracles of healing and

deliverance are occurring on a great scale around the

world; the Church is experiencing great spiritual

breakthroughs; the Church is growing and we are seeing

breakthroughs in satellite technology that will enable us to

cover every nation of the world with the resurrection

37

The Fall of Babylon

power of Jesus Christ.

Simultaneously, while we are witnessing signs,

wonders, and this great outpouring of His Spirit, we are

also witnessing sin on an unprecedented scale. In the

Church, spiritual lukewarmness and unconcern for the

lost is rampant.

There are tens of thousands of people, right now, who

are straddling the fence, with one foot in the world and

one foot in the Church. There are Christians today who are

walking after their own lusts and saying, "Where is the

promise of his coming?" (2 Peter 3:3-4).

Some of them may say that they believe Jesus is

coming, but their actions prove otherwise. They have

become so materialistic and selfish that they are more

interested in acquiring things than winning souls.

While the move of the Holy Spirit will grow stronger

and stronger, this apostasy and rebellion against God will

continue to grow until there will be a clear line of

separation drawn between the true Body of Christ and

professing Christians, between good and evil, and

between God's divine system and Satan's counterfeit

system.

In 1957, in Lima, Ohio, God gave me a vision where I

saw a great end time outpouring of the Holy Spirit. At the

same time, I saw the Church and this coming time of

separation. God told me: "There will come a time when

My Church no longer will be able to walk a line in the

middle and hold onto both sides—the Church and the

world, the moving of the Holy Spirit and complacency.

There will be a distinct line that will be drawn between

My people and those who are not willing to pay the price.

Those who want the real moving of the Holy Spirit will be

clearly distinguished from anybody else."

38

Characteristics of an Apostate Church

Many believers and denominations will defect to the

one-world church to escape persecution. Those who want

to escape the trials will have to compromise or else there

will be no escape. During this time, those who want to

stand true to Jesus Christ and be part of the real Body of

Christ will be tested. They will face the fire of persecution.

I believe, with all my heart, that there will be many

martyrs for the cause of Jesus Christ in the not too distant

future. We have already seen many in oppressed nations

like China, Iran, Iraq, etc. Even in the United States-at a

school called Columbine—young people were shot and

killed because of their confession of Jesus Christ.

Once that final line is drawn and there is a separation

between the real Body of Christ and the harlot apostate

church, God will send strong DELUSION upon all those

who refuse the truth and rebel against Him:

And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion,

that they should believe a lie. (2 Thessalonians 2:11)

The word "delusion" means "the act of misleading the

mind; to impose on; to deceive or trick." God will cause

the minds of those who have rejected the truth and have

delighted in wickedness to be deceived into believing

Satan's lies and his counterfeit system. All those who

refused to hear and accept the truth will be judged and

condemned.

Do you see why it is so important for you, as a soldier

in God's end-time army, to warn others of this coming

judgment and point them to the Way, the Truth and the

Life before it is too late?

Heed the warning—separate yourself from the world!

Prepare yourself for Christ's coming. Destruction and

judgment are coming upon this counterfeit harlot church.

The plagues of God's wrath are going to be poured out

39

The Fall of Babylon

upon it.

That is why today, God is issuing the call: "Come ye

out from among her and be ye separate. Be cleansed. Be

purified. Return unto Me. Do not compromise My Word. I

am calling you to walk holy and undefiled before Me. Do

not pollute yourself with a love for the world and its

pleasures. Do not be carried away and follow after your

own lusts. Seek My face—seek truth with your whole

heart. Come to Me. I will cleanse you, I will perfect you, I

will separate you. Feed upon My Word, for it will provide

a strong and sure foundation for your feet. You will not

stumble or be afraid but you will go forth from My

Presence clothed with My power. My glory will be upon

you. All this will I do for My people who will humble

themselves. Return unto Me, and walk holy before Me."

These warnings concerning the coming apostasy and

God's judgment upon the apostate church are given to you

so that you will be ON GUARD—SPIRITUALLY ALERT—

against the deception and seducing spirits that are

working in the Church today.

In these closing days of time, ask God to give you a

spirit of discernment so you will not be led away from the

truth!

Be sure to obtain your copy of the next book in this

powerful New Millennium 2000 Prophetic Series,

Armageddon and the New Millennium.

In book ten of this series you will learn...

➢ What happens in Heaven when apostate Babylon is

destroyed.

➢ The purposes of the three final end-time battles.

➢ Details of the millennial reign of Jesus Christ.

➢ Why Satan will be loosed after the thousand years.

40

Characteristics of an Apostate Church

➢ How to prepare for the marriage supper of the

Lamb.

41

Morris Cerullo World Evangelism

P. O. Box 85277

San Diego, CA 92186-5277

Morris Cerullo World Evangelism of Canada

P. O. Box 3600

Concord, Ontario L4K1B6

Morris Cerullo World Evangelism

P. O. Box 277, Hemel Hempstead, HERTS HP2 7DH

Tel: (858) 277-2200

Website: www.mcwe.com

Document Outline

- The Fall of Babylon

- Table of Contents

- Introduction

- 1 The Identity of Babylon

- 2 The Scarlet-Colored Beast

- 3 Warring Against the Lamb

- The Called Out Ones

- 4 The Fall of Babylon

- 5 The Fate of the Apostate Church

- 6 Characteristics of an Apostate Church

- A Great Falling Away

Table of Contents

Introduction.

The Identity of Babylon.

The Scarlet-Colored Beast.

Warring Against the Lamb.

The Fall of Babylon.

The Fate of the Apostate Church.

Characteristics of an Apostate Church.

The Fall of Babylon

Table of Contents

The Called Out Ones

A Great Falling Away