I know the majority of my readers do not call yourselves theologians. I know that 2 or 3 aspire to the possibility and grant that they try to order their theologies. And half of that latter group rarely give any comments here.
But could ya... would ya do something for a brother? (This request is for "non"-theologian types as well as "aspire-to-be-"theologian types.)
Would you look at Revelation 18:4, and tell the rest of my readership: What does the heavenly messenger mean by "come out of her [viz. Babylon/Rome], my people"???
In our home Bible study group this past Thursday, we got into a lively and enlightening discussion. I actually felt pleasently surprised at the turn of the interaction.
Before you take the plunge and reply, however, we should cross a couple things off the list: (1) This is NOT a geographical command, because (a) it cannot refer to leaving the city of Rome because the churches receiving this letter were in Asia Minor, already a few hundred miles away from the city of Rome; and (b) it cannot refer to leaving the empire of Rome because for all intents and purposes they could not leave the geographical empire. So it is NOT a geographical command.
(2) While some of the traditional "do's and don't's" might enter into such a discussion, I hope you will look beyond those because that tends so easily to become legalistic.
So once more: How can followers of Christ "come out of" our modern day Babylon/Rome?
tyvm
me with my beautiful, wonderful (bw)
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- Currently, I am posting my "musings on Ephesians." This was a 6 1/2 month process of allowing Paul's letter to Ephesus to speak to me about my situations. Some of it gets rather personal. But hopefully it can help you too.
2 comments:
I may not be a theologian but to me it sounds like the Church is being called out of the world. To set ourselves apart from the world. To be different from the empires of the world. That's what it says to me anyway.
Eddie and friends...
It appears to me... Rev 18 in a broad sense is speaking of the destruction of false religious institutions; and the call of the angel is to come out of them before their ultimate destruction... So it appears that there are some "true believers" who are a part of these false religious institutions...
Further, I do not think that you can apply this "Babylon" to a specific group [church, demonimation, religion, etc.]... That has never been my method of interpretation of Revelation... But the warning is just as powerful, if not more so, in that...
When the Relgious Body that I am a part of becomes so wrapped up in itselt that it loses sight of its Christ-given purpose and mission; I need to come out of it!!!
When the Church that I am a part of--or even me as a particular member--becomes so focused on the passions of this world; I need to come out of it!!! GDS is right, "it sounds like the Church is being called out of the world. To set ourselves apart from the world. To be different from the empires of the world." When there is no difference between the church and the world, something is terribly wrong.
When the Church becomes so preoccupied with certain moral and ethical issues of the day, that it is easier to consign people to hell than it is to reach out in Christ's love to them; something has gone terribly wrong.
I'm sure that I could go on and on... But, there is a personal application to it: I must keep my focus on Jesus Christ... I need to ask myself some questions: What "passions" am I allowing to rule me? What "empires" am I allowing to control me?
Well anyway... You may or may not agree... And that's OK... but you asked.
Gale :)
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