1. And after these things I [the
John Class] saw another angel [messenger, the Lord] come down
[or sent] from heaven [the Divine authority], having great power;
and the earth [society] was lightened [given knowledge] with
his glory [of his presence].
2. And he cried mightily with a strong voice, saying, Babylon the great
[confusion and counterfeit of Christ’s kingdom] is fallen, is fallen
[from divine favor], and is become the habitation of devils [dwelling
place of demons], and the hold of every foul spirit [impure teaching],
and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird [stronghold of every indecent and
detestable anarchists and communists].
3. For all nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication
[partaken of the doctrine of its passion and illegitimate associations], and the
kings [rulers] of the earth [society] have committed
fornication with her [illegitimately associated with her], and the
merchants [preachers] of the earth [society] are waxed
rich [made influential] through the abundance of her delicacies
[not only its monetary wealth, but wealth of education, respect, titles, etc.].
4. And I [the John Class] heard another voice
[proclamation] from heaven [the Divine authority], saying, Come
out of her, my [true] people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and
that ye receive not of her plagues [afflictions].
5. For her sins have reached unto heaven [accumulated so as to come to
the attention of the Divine authority], and God hath remembered her iniquities.
6. Reward her even as she rewarded you [render in return even as she
dealt with you, the faithful saints], and double unto her double according to her
works [recompense her equally for her works]: in the cup [from
the Bible] which she hath filled [or misused to mingle into it its
intoxicating teachings] fill to her double [use equally in administering
the judgments written].
7. How much she hath glorified herself, and lived deliciously [in
wantonness], so much torment [affliction and sorrow for a recompense] and
sorrow give her: for she saith in her heart, I sit a queen [concluded within
herself, I am situated as an associate ruler, and am not without associated rulers], and
am no widow [not without courtesans], and shall see no sorrow.
8. Therefore shall her plagues [afflictions] come in one day [probably
a literal year, see Reprints 2553], death [destruction], and mourning,
and famine [destitution]; and she shall be utterly burned with fire
[consumed with destruction]: for strong is the Lord God who judgeth her.
9. And the kings ["political and financial," see THY KINGDOM
COME, 1916 Foreword, p. iv, par. 1] of the earth [society],
who have committed fornication [illegitimately associated with her] and
lived deliciously [in wantonness] with her, shall bewail her, and lament
for her, when they see the smoke [evidence] of her burning
[destruction].
10. Standing afar off for fear of her torment [affliction],
saying, Alas, alas that great city Babylon [government of confusion],
that mighty city [government]! for in one hour [of the harvest] is
thy judgment [crisis] come.
11. And the merchants [preachers] of the earth
[society] shall weep and mourn over her [lament and sorrow over her];
for no man [Christian] buyeth their merchandise any more [will
receive their teachings any more]:
12. The merchandise of gold [teachings concerning divinity],
and silver [the spirit nature], and precious stones [character
adornment], and of pearls [character development through trial],
and fine linen [righteousness], and purple [royalty],
and silk [nature transformation through baptism and actual death], and
scarlet [justification], and all thyme [or scented]
wood
[everlasting life which is a savor of life unto life], and all manner vessels of
ivory [the standing or condition of the saints], and all manner vessels
of most precious wood [noble humanity], and of brass [perfect
humanity], and iron [strong authority], and marble
[strong structure for character—the highest form of stone before you go to the category
of jewels].
13. And cinnamon [understanding], and odours [spice, Amomum,
knowledge], and ointments [perfect sacrifice], and frankincense
[wisdom and praise], and wine [the vicarious sacrifice of Christ],
and oil [holy Spirit], and fine flour [worship], and
wheat [true discipleship], and beasts [sacrificial service],
and sheep [docility], and horses [church dogmas], and
chariots [organizations], and slaves [subjected humanity], and the souls
[lives] of men [Christians].
14. And the fruits that thy soul lusted after [fulfillment of the
desires of the heart] are departed from thee, and all things which were dainty
[costly] and goodly [magnificent] are departed from thee, and
thou shalt find them no more at all.
15. The merchants [preachers] of these things, which were made
rich by her, shall stand afar off for the fear of her torment [shall remain aloof
for the fear of her afflictions], weeping and wailing [lamenting
grievously].
16. And saying, Alas, alas, that great city [government], that
was clothed in fine linen [invested with righteousness], and purple
[royalty], and scarlet [justification], and decked with gold
[divinity claims], and precious stones [claiming apostolic succession],
and pearls [claiming succession to the ancient worthies]!
17. For in one hour [hora, or hour of the harvest] so
great riches [wealth] is come to naught [laid waste]. And
every shipmaster [missionary], and all the company in ships
[converts in the missions], and sailors [mission workers], and as
many as trade [proselyte] by sea [among the restless masses of
society], stood afar off [remain aloof].
18. And cried [lamented] when they saw the smoke of her
burning [evidence of her destruction], saying, What city is like unto
this great city [What government is like unto this great government]!
