The Watchtower Society and John and Morton Edgar - A2Z.org

ealised that these same deities are even now worshippedin our very midst by the adherents of satgreat idolatrous system which the Scriptures name" Babylon the Great " !The Two Babylons.History proves that Papacy's adoration of images,dead saints and relics, its holy candles, holy water,etc., and all its vain ritual, are borrowed from heathensources. Papacy's excuse, as voiced by Cardinal Newman,is that although it is admitted that such thingsare " the very instruments and appendages of demonworship,"they were, however, " sanctified by adoptioninto the church " (Newman's Developtnent, pp. 359, 360).But it is now clearly apparent that the Romish Churchhas not been justifled in adopting heathen customs andpractices. For this very reason, Papacy is denominateda Babylon the Great "; the Babylon of old was full ofthese abominations, and thelnefore well typified thefallen church of the Gospel Age.Babylon was the first nation or kingdom after thedeluge, and by it idolatrous worship was inaugurated.Comparing Jer. 51 : 6-8, with Rev. 17 : 4, 5 ; 14 : 8,we notice that almost the same expressions are used.In Jeremiah, ancient Babylon is said to have been agolden cup in the Lord's liands, by which all nationswere made ilrunlten-dr~t~~ken with the wine of falsereligion. In Revelation " Babylon t.he Great" js calledthe " Mother of Harlots," the parerat system, whichmade all nations drink of her golden cup full ofabominations, the wine of false doctrine. AS typica;Babylon fell, so shall antitypical " Babylon the Greatfall never to rise.That Babylon was the first nation after the flood isshown by Gen. 10 : 8-12. This reference, also, furnishes