“Come Out of her My People”
“And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.”
Revelation 18:4 KJV
If you knew that someone you loved was in harm’s way but they were unaware of the impending danger, it’s safe to say you would do everything you could to warn them. Simply put, if they knew they were in harm’s way, they wouldn’t just stand there.
We believe, that’s the kind of urgency we see in Revelation 18:4, where there is a clear and serious warning to God’s people: “Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.” Notice that this isn’t just a suggestion, it’s a command. And commands from God are important, so in order to “come out of her,” we first need to understand who she is and what we are being called to separate ourselves from.
What is Babylon?
Mystery Babylon as described in the Book of Revelation can be a subject of debate. Over the years, there have been various thoughts presented as to who or what she represents. Some say it’s Rome (or a modern day version of Rome), a corrupt religious system, or Jerusalem, (I presume the religious leaders) because of its history of persecuting the prophets which some believe is why she is ‘….drunk with the blood of the saints’ (Revelation 17:6). Some see her as a symbol of everything wrong with the world: pride, greed, idolatry, and rebellion against God.
There’s no shortage of theories about who or what Mystery Babylon is. But in this article, we are focusing on what the Bible actually says about her traits, her actions, and the role she plays in the end times bigger picture. So, whether you already have a view on Mystery Babylon or if you are just exploring the topic, our goal is to highlight the characteristics that Scripture attributes to Mystery Babylon. As followers of Christ, we should be aware of these traits so we can recognize them and ‘Come out’, that is discontinue associating and/or participating in anything that reflects ‘her’ spirit.
“And there came one of the seven angels which had the seven vials, and talked with me, saying unto me, Come hither; I will shew unto thee the judgment of the great whore that sitteth upon many waters.”
Revelation 17:1 KJV
Babylon Sits on Many Waters
We see in Revelation 17:1 the Bible describes Babylon as the “….great prostitute”, who sits on many waters. We also see a little further down in verse 15 that “the waters you saw, where the prostitute was seated, are peoples and multitudes, nations and tongues.
Babylon’s worldwide influence impacts various cultures, races and languages. This seems to suggest that Babylon has extensive reach in spreading her false doctrines throughout the world. So, it’s safe to conclude here that Babylon is not confined to one nation, it has made its way into many.
“The Mother of Harlots”
“And upon her forehead was a name written, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH.”
Revelation 17:5 KJV
Harlot, means prostitute; that is one that exchanges a certain (but very specific) type of unlawful gesture in exchange for payment. In the Old Testament, God often used the examples of prostitution to describe spiritual unfaithfulness, when His people turned to idols and false gods.
To list a few examples; Jeremiah 3:6 says: “The LORD said also unto me in the days of Josiah the king, Hast thou seen that which backsliding Israel hath done? she is gone up upon every high mountain and under every green tree, and there hath played the harlot.”
In Ezekiel 16, the Bible tells the story of Jerusalem in the form of a parable. It describes Jerusalem as being abandoned and how God rescued her. But instead of staying faithful, she turns to idolatry and spiritual adultery. Ezekiel 16:30 says “How weak is thine heart, saith the Lord GOD, seeing thou doest all these things, the work of an imperious whorish woman.”
So, that title is a pretty big deal because being the Mother of Harlots implies that Babylon births and nurtures this kind of spiritual adultery. She is the original source of false religion, idolatry, and perversion of truth.
So, we can clearly see that Mystery Babylon has an agenda. If she is the Mother of Harlots, then Her goal is to lead God’s people away from truth, into compromise, idolatry, and spiritual adultery.
Consider how many countries, including the United States, promotes freedom of religion allowing the worship of any deity, or hold a position that there is no God at all! We know that the Bible does not promote freedom to worship any god. Therefore, this concept alone fits one of Babylon’s characteristics.
The Kings of the Earth Have Fornicated with Her
“With whom the kings of the earth have committed fornication, and the inhabitants of the earth have been made drunk with the wine of her fornication.”
Revelation 17:2 KJV
The “kings” mentioned in Revelation represent political leaders or governments {“Kings” in the Greek [g0935], means ‘leader of the people; commander’}.
Their “fornication” with Babylon symbolizes their working together to form an alliance that influences people on various matters in ways that are contrary to the bible. So Babylon seeks to work with the Kings of the earth [leaders of the people; commanders] to advance her agenda.
Consider that many modern laws handed down from our leaders support gender ideologies that conflict with the biblical truth that God created humans as male and female {Genesis 1:27}. These laws often allow individuals to legally change their gender and require institutions, like schools, to align with these changes regardless of what Scripture teaches. So, to confirm, prayer was removed from School, but somehow, we have determined that these types of ideas are more suitable in School than prayer? As Isaiah 5:20 says, “Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil…” a reminder of what happens when truth is traded for cultural acceptance.
Babylon Rides the Beast
“So he carried me away in the spirit into the wilderness: and I saw a woman sit upon a scarlet coloured beast, full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns.”
Revelation 17:3 KJV
The beast she rides is covered in blasphemy. Mystery Babylon doesn’t just oppose God; she mocks Him. In some instances, she may use God’s name, but twist His Word, promote false gospels, and elevate man above the Creator. In other cases, there is simply a flat out disregard for the Creator as a whole.
Public figures and influencers sometimes make statements dismissing faith in Christ all together. For instance, a certain tech leader has claimed that human innovation surpasses divine creation, and that artificial intelligence (AI) or genetic engineering achieves what “God never did.” These attitudes reflect cultural trends that glorify human power over divine authority.
The beast in Revelation represents world empires or political systems similar to the four beasts described in Daniel 7, which are explicitly identified as kingdoms. In Revelation 13, we see a similar beast rising from the sea, symbolizing a worldwide power with great authority. Babylon doesn’t operate alone she rides on this beast, which Revelation 17:9 describes as kings, or political systems to push her agenda and influence the world. It’s the union of spiritual corruption and governmental power that gives Babylon her reach and control.
A clear example of this is the mark of the beast. Revelation tells us that no one will be able to buy or sell without it (Revelation 13:16–17). That kind of economic enforcement isn’t something a religious system could carry out on its own it requires the authority and support of a government. If the beast isn’t a political body, what other kind of entity could enforce such worldwide control? The partnership between Babylon and the beast shows us how spiritual deception and political power work hand in hand to lead people away from God.
Babylon is Inhabited by Every Unclean Spirit
“And he cried mightily with a strong voice, saying, Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and is become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird.”
Revelation 18:2 KJV
When Babylon falls, heaven declares that it has become “the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit.” It’s a spiritual pit. Her music, movies, philosophies, medicine, and education are all filled with deception and lies. It’s not uncommon for many entertainers to outright glorify Satan during performances. One performer in particular wore an outfit depicting himself as Satan. Another performer had lyrics that states “higher powers are taking a hold of me.” Followers of Christ should be uncomfortable with this, but many chalk it up to “just entertainment.”
1 Timothy 4:1 says “Now the Spirit expressly says that in later times some will depart from the faith by devoting themselves to deceitful spirits and teachings of demons.” Meaning, some people will depart from the faith and fall into this spiritual pit.
Babylon Persecuted God’s People
“And I saw the woman drunken with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus: and when I saw her, I wondered with great admiration.”
Revelation 17:6 KJV
John describes the woman as being “drunk with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus” (Revelation 17:6). This reveals that Mystery Babylon has a long history of persecuting God’s people. From the Old Testament prophets to the New Testament apostles, and even today, those who speak truth are often silenced, mocked, or even killed.
Some believe Mystery Babylon could represent Jerusalem since it is the city where many prophets were rejected and killed. Jesus Himself talked about it in Matthew 23:37, “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee…”
Others believe Rome is a contender, since it carried out some of the executions ordered by Jerusalem’s religious leaders, including the crucifixion of Jesus.
As you may know, there are places in the world today where followers of Christ can be put in jail or executed for even owning a bible. There are other countries where followers of Christ are spat on for proclaiming his name.
Either way, the pattern is clear: Mystery Babylon has a deep hostility toward those who preach the truth of God’s word.
What have we learned about Babylon?
“So he carried me away in the spirit into the wilderness: and I saw a woman sit upon a scarlet coloured beast, full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns.”
Revelation 17:3 KJV
So far, what we have learned is that Mystery Babylon, as described in Revelation, is portrayed as a powerful and corrupt spiritual force with worldwide influence. She is called “the great prostitute” who sits on many waters, symbolizing her reach across nations, cultures, and languages. Identified as “The Mother of Harlots and Abominations,” Babylon is seen as the origin of false religion, idolatry, and spiritual compromise. Her agenda is to lead people away from God through deception, immorality, and rebellion, often partnering with political powers to advance her influence.
Scripture highlights Babylon’s traits: she allies with earthly rulers, promotes blasphemy, and becomes a dwelling place for unclean spirits. Her influence penetrates culture, laws, education and entertainment, among other things, to distort the truth and mock God. Revelation depicts her as riding the beast, representing world political systems, showing the union of spiritual corruption and governmental authority. Ultimately, Babylon is marked by hostility toward God’s people, persecuting prophets and saints throughout history, and will play a central role in end-time deception and judgment.
So, we covered Babylon’s characteristics as described in the book of Revelation, along with some of the more obvious present day examples of how Babylon is at work. However, evil is well dressed, it’s normally in disguise. This is why the Bible warns us many times not to be deceived.
Now, let’s take a look at some of the less obvious ways Babylon is at work today. Many professing followers is Christ participate in some of these activities and so-called “holidays.” A closer look at the origin of some of these things reveals that there’s nothing “holy” about them. Let’s have a look at a few and determine if these things align with Gods way or if they are designed to lead God’s people astray.
Christmas & Easter
“For the customs of the people are vain: for one cutteth a tree out of the forest, the work of the hands of the workman, with the axe.
They deck it with silver and with gold; they fasten it with nails and with hammers, that it move not.”
Jeremiah 10:3-4 KJV
Sun god & Fertility god worship
Many long-standing traditions like Christmas and Easter, are often celebrated in honor of Jesus, but they have origins rooted in pagan worship that can subtly draw us away from God.
Throughout history, well-meaning believers (us included, once upon a time) adopted cultural practices that seem harmless and is usually a joyful time, yet many of these customs trace back to pagan rituals, unbeknownst to many of us.
Christmas
Take Christmas, for example. Nowhere in Scripture are we commanded to celebrate Jesus’ birth, and the bible itself suggests He was not born in December. Luke 2:8 tells us, “And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.” This detail is significant because shepherds in Judea during that time would likely not have been in the fields during the cold winter months.
Additionally, December 25th is a date that has been long associated with pagan festivals such as Saturnalia and the birthday of Mithra, the sun god. These celebrations honored fertility, light, and rebirth, concepts that later made their way into Christian tradition. While many today sincerely worship Jesus on this day, the date itself was chosen to align with pagan observances, not biblical instruction. This is why it’s important to discern between honoring Christ and unknowingly participating in traditions that originated to honor other gods.
Jeremiah 10:2–4 offers a warning: “Thus saith the Lord, Learn not the way of the heathen, and be not dismayed at the signs of heaven; for the heathen are dismayed at them. For the customs of the people are vain: for one cutteth a tree out of the forest, the work of the hands of the workman, with the axe. They deck it with silver and with gold; they fasten it with nails and with hammers, that it move not.”
While this passage may not be about Christmas trees specifically, it sure sounds eerily close; perhaps “Christmas” was not the name used to describe this tradition. My thought is, if God wasn’t ok with it then, I doubt He is good with us doing it now. Regardless, God was warning His people not to adopt the practices of surrounding nations, especially when those customs are rooted in idolatry.
Easter
Similarly, Easter, even though it is celebrated as the resurrection of Christ, has some troubling origins. The name “Easter” itself is linked to Ishtar, a fertility goddess, and symbols like eggs and bunnies are ancient fertility icons. These have no connection to the resurrection of Jesus.
In all this, the goal is not condemnation of those who participate, but hopefully it is, for some, a wake up call and maybe for others it provides a bit of clarity. I am convinced that these seasons present opportunities to share the gospel as many hearts are open to hearing it during these times. But as followers of Christ, we must worship in spirit and in truth (John 4:24), not through traditions that water down His holiness. Let us lovingly guide others toward biblical worship, rooted not in cultural customs but in the Word of God.
God of Medicine
The modern healthcare system as we know it subtly reflects a spiritual shift from trusting in God’s provision to relying on systems made by man.
The Rod of Asclepius, a staff with a single serpent wrapped around it, originates from ancient Greek mythology and represents the healing power of the god Asclepius. Did you know that this is the same symbol on most hospitals, ambulances, and medical institutions around the world?
Have you considered that the Healthcare industry alone is worth trillions annually? The system that we have built around this demonstrates what I would consider misplaced trust in the system over what God left for us. Ezekiel 47:12 tells us that “the fruit thereof shall be for meat [food], and the leaf thereof for medicine” , which was God’s original design: healing through His creation and divine power, not through synthetic drugs which can do more harm to our bodies than good.
A powerful biblical example of misplaced trust is found in 2 Chronicles where King Asa, afflicted with a disease in his feet, “sought not to the Lord, but to the physicians. “And Asa in the thirty and ninth year of his reign was diseased in his feet, until his disease was exceeding great: yet in his disease he sought not to the Lord, but to the physicians” (1 Chronicles 16:12 KJV).
The next verse notes that Asa died, implying that his failure to seek God contributed to his demise. To be clear, this isn’t a message aimed at condemning modern day doctors, but a warning against replacing God’s system with a human one. God’s medical system, rooted in faith, obedience, and natural provision is often overlooked in favor of pharmaceutical empires and what I would dare to consider clinical rituals.
My wife further elaborates on Babylon’s Food & Drug System in her blog series, God’s Food & Medical System. It explores in greater depth, how we have drifted far from the healing principles that God established. Today, many unknowingly participate in a form of worship that elevates medicine and science above the Creator Himself.
God of Money
“And it came to pass, that, as they went in the way, a certain man said unto him, Lord, I will follow thee whithersoever thou goest. And Jesus said unto him, Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head.”
Luke 9:57-58 KJV
Many today have unknowingly made money their god, measuring success by wealth and possessions rather than by faithfulness to God. The levels of personal debt in our society reflect this. Scripture warns us in 1 Timothy 6:10, “For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.”
Notice the scripture does not say money itself, but the love of it. This love has driven people to compromise values, chase status, and prioritize material gain over spiritual truth. Satan himself used this tactic when he tempted Jesus in the wilderness, offering Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. “Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them; And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me.” (Matthew 4:8–9).
Satan could make that kind of offer because he holds sway over worldly systems and uses them to lure hearts away from God.
Consider the American Dream: a big house, nice cars, financial security. These goals aren’t inherently sinful, but they can and often times become idols. Meanwhile, our Savior, who is responsible for everything we own, “had no place to lay His head” And Jesus said unto him, Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head(Luke 9:58 KJV).
He lived humbly, teaching us that true riches are found in obedience. The danger lies not in having wealth, but in being consumed by it. When our identity, security, and purpose are tied to money, we have crossed into worship. As a people, we have been seduced by comfort and status, forgetting that God calls us to store up treasures in heaven. “Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also” (Matthew 6:19–21 KJV).
God of Entertainment
Mainstream entertainment today, whether movies, music, or even some sports, often glorifies values that are far from biblical. Instead of righteousness, we see themes of violence, lust, pride, and rebellion celebrated on massive platforms. The messages are rarely edifying; they are designed to stir emotion, provoke desire, and normalize sin.
Consider how crowds gather regularly to watch people fight each other. Think about how we cheer, meanwhile one fighter can be bloody and bruised. In some rare instances, we have seen a fighter pass away as a direct result of the fight. This reminds me of Roman gladiator games, where emperors entertained the masses with brutality. Where do these practices come from? They mirror ancient pagan practices and spectacles, repackaged for modern consumption, that’s where.
I believe much of today’s mainstream music does more to glorify systems of evil than the Kingdom of God. Is it any wonder that music today is one of the most powerful tools used to shape culture and behavior? Satan knows how to use melody, rhythm, and lyrics to seduce hearts.
Entertainment has become a vehicle for spiritual distraction, leading many away from truth and into conformity with the world. Romans 12:2 tells us, “And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” Yet many are unknowingly molded by the very systems that were designed to oppose God and lure us away from Him. So, the question becomes, are we being entertained or indoctrinated?
Come Out
The examples discussed are not exhaustive, but represent common practices among Christians and non-Christians alike. When compared with scripture, these traditions do not align with God’s word and instead reflect characteristics of Babylon.
To that end, the challenge is to come out of Babylon as the scripture commands. Hopefully, this article has shed light on some of the modern practices that reflect the traits of Babylon. By exposing these patterns, we can honestly examine whether we are still connected, knowingly or unknowingly, to Babylon and her ways.
The goal is to encourage self-reflection among those who identify as followers of Christ, so we can recognize and avoid these traits and remain aligned with God’s will for our lives. It also invites us to reconsider our participation in certain practices, many of which honor other gods. Without realizing it, a person may be living in Babylon even while believing they are walking with God.