The prophecies already cited make clear a mighty religious movement before the end of time, a movement designed to triumph over the apostasy.  Since the apostasy was twofold in its nature, comprehending a corruption of evangelical faith and the development of ecclesiasticism, it is evident that the Last Reformation must both restore primitive truth and eliminate ecclesiasticism, thus bringing back to the world the original conception of the church as embracing the whole divine family under the direct moral and spiritual dominion of Christ.  It is also evident from the prophecies that this is to be accomplished by literally forsaking the systems of man-rule just as ancient Israel was restored after the captivity by God’s people leaving Babylon and coming home to Zion.

Zion represents the church in its primitive, unified condition under the government and law of Christ alone.  Babylon represents a foreign rule and another law.  The two systems are fundamentally different.  This difference was true in the type and must therefore be true in the antitype.  In the old days of Israel’s glory foreigners visited Jerusalem, but their presence in the city of God did not make them Israelites.  And at one time the people of God were carried into captivity in Babylon, but their presence in that foreign, heathen city did not make them Babylonians.

This distinction is also clear in the antitypical relation.  We do not have to go to prophetic symbols to find in the New Testament clear predictions of the rise of a false Christianity in opposition to the true.  They stand out in marked contrast in the prophecy.  On the one side there is a false religious system described as a beast power reigning.  On the other side is placed in contrast a company that have gotten the victory over the beast and over his image and over his mark, and they stand on the sea of glass, having the harps of God.  The mother of harlots appears, but in contrast therewith is seen a pure woman, the bride of Christ.  In contrast with Babylon we have Zion.

The sect system, wherein ecclesiasticism reigns and where the full truth in all its purity can not be taught and practised, does not represent the true church, but Babylon.  The system is foreign.  It contains, however, many who are not Babylonians but children of the divine family—­Israelites indeed.  The awful judgments of God pronounced against Babylon are directed against the false system itself and the real beast-worshipers it contains, not against the true people of God, who love their Lord and are willing to walk in the light of his Word as fast as they are able to understand it.  When we consider that this sect system has been the means of deceiving millions—­millions who will come up in that last day and plead their religious profession, only to hear the awful words, “Depart from me, I never knew you”—­when we consider, I say, these evil results, we can not but repeat the words of the prophecy concerning the overthrow of Babylon, “True and righteous are His judgments.”  The commandment of God is, “Come out of her, MY PEOPLE, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and THAT YE RECEIVE NOT OF HER PLAGUES.”