Babylon the Great is the culmination of the present evil world that lies under the sway of the wicked one in opposition to God, just as in John’s day Rome epitomized the antagonism towards Christianity. Although it is often described as the apostate church, it actually encompasses a religious and commercial aspect. The first is emphasized in Revelation 17, where it is viewed as a corrupt religious system represented by a great harlot. The second is emphasized in Revelation 18, where it is viewed as a vast commercial system symbolized by a great city. Some Bible scholars distinguish between two manifestations of Babylon the Great, the religious being judged at the midpoint of the Tribulation, and the commercial at the end (cf. Rev. 16:19). Others see the two as one, both being judged at the midpoint of the Tribulation, making way for the new world order (also religious and commercial) of the personal beast.

In any case, the two are closely interconnected. Commercialism has already developed into the religion of the western world, where men are lovers of money (2 Tim. 3:2) and serve mammon (Mt. 6:24). In the apostate church, the true worship of God is replaced with empty religion and material prosperity. This is a trend we already see in our day.

The exhortation to the faithful during the Tribulation will be to “come out of her [Babylon the Great].” Does this speak to us in the present church period too? “Therefore let us go forth to Him, outside the camp, bearing His reproach” (Heb. 13:13). The camp is any organized system of man without Christ. He won’t be found in the religious and commercial systems that may profess to know God, but in works deny Him. “Where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them” (Mt. 18:20).