angel with a loud voice warns that those who “worship the beast and his image ... shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God” (verses 9, 10); while in chapter 18 the first angel cries “mightily with a strong voice, saying, Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen” (verse 2), and “another voice from heaven” says, “COME OUT OF HER, MY PEOPLE, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues” (verse 4).

That this symbolic picture represents a wonderful religious reformation is almost too clear to need proof, for it succeeded chronologically, and is placed in direct contrast with, the apostasy; hence there can be but one logical conclusion, namely, that neither Catholicism nor Protestantism is the last work and that God has authorized a work that shall gather his true people out of the entire babel of sect confusion.  And that this movement is to be effected before the end of time is also clearly shown.  In the following chapter, after describing God’s judgment on Babylon, and the call of his people out of her, “a voice came out of the throne, saying, Praise our God, all ye his servants, and ye that fear him, both small and great” (verse 5).  God’s servants are called upon to rejoice on account of their deliverance.  Those who are at heart image-makers and beast-worshipers will oppose this truth, and when they witness the departure of the faithful followers of the Lord, leaving to Babylon nothing but the godless, graceless professors, they will “weep and mourn over her” (chap. 18:16) and cry, “Alas, alas that great city” (verse 16).  But the voice of heaven calls on the saints for a song of thanksgiving, saying, “Rejoice over her, thou heaven, and ye holy apostles and prophets” (verse 20).  Yea, “praise our God, all ye his servants, and ye that fear him, both small and great” (chap. 19:5).

Are we to expect such a response?  Yes.  It is true in the prophecy and will therefore be true in fact before time ends.  “And I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude, and as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of mighty thunderings, saying, Alleluia:  for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth.  Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honor to him:  for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready.  And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white:  for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints” (chap. 19:6-8).

The scriptures just cited complete another line of symbolic truth.  The primitive church was represented as a pure woman, the bride (chap. 12:1).  During the reign of the papacy a false, immoral woman reigned over the kings of the earth, while the true woman, or church, was hidden ‘in the wilderness’ (chap. 12:  6).  Under the reign of Protestantism her members were scattered in all parts of the city of Babylon.  But, thank God, they are to be called out of their scattered condition, and as a company are represented in two forms—­first, as a redeemed host with the Lamb on Mount Zion, bearing the Father’s name only (chap. 14:1-5), and second, as the bride of Christ preparing herself for the soon coming of the Lord.  This is proof positive that the true church is to be brought out and placed on exhibition before the end of time.