Ellen G. White and Her Critics

What Is Meant by Babylon?

Why should Mrs. White have said in the old edition, “it cannot refer to the Romish Church” when she clearly reveals in the context that she considers Rome the “mother” of all the Babylonish churches? We believe the answer is to be found in a study of the question that held the attention of Adventists in the earlier days; namely, What is meant by “Babylon” in the book of Revelation? EGWC 325.4

When the second angel’s message (Revelation 14:8) first began to be the subject of special study and sermons by the Adventists in the 1844 movement, the question was: What is Babylon? The long-established Protestant position was that Babylon represented exclusively the Papacy. No, replied most of the Millerite leaders, it must include various Protestant churches. On the strength of this belief, coupled with the conviction that the time had come to announce that “Babylon is fallen,” Millerite ministers called upon the members of Protestant churches to “come out.” It was this call, coupled with the message that Christ would soon come, that set apart as a distinct company some fifty thousand people in the summer of 1844. EGWC 326.1

Shortly after the great disappointment of October 22, 1844, many Millerite leaders, along with the laity, began to doubt various of the prophetic positions that had distinguished the movement. Among the first positions to be questioned was that regarding the meaning of Babylon. Miller himself had never actively endorsed the idea that Babylon embraced Protestant churches as well as Rome, ^* though he seemed to be about the only Millerite leader who had not. The reversal of belief on this point led the principal Millerite group, under Miller and Himes, to revert to the position that Babylon represents simply Rome. And, of course, for this view they had the long-established Protestant interpretation. EGWC 326.2

This reversal of belief as to Babylon, and thus the surrender of the second angel’s message, by the major part of the Adventists, early constituted a point of contention between them and the little Sabbathkeeping group. The latter group held firmly that the original Millerite preaching of Revelation 14:8 was correct, that Babylon includes Protestant churches. ^† The soon-crystallized Seventh-day Adventist view regarding Babylon may be summarized thus: EGWC 326.3

1. Babylon, as the term is used in the Revelation, consists of three main parts: paganism, Roman Catholicism, and apostate Protestantism. EGWC 327.1

2. The second angel of Revelation 14, who declares that “Babylon is fallen,” is speaking specifically of the third part, apostate Protestantism. The principal reasons given for this, are: EGWC 327.2

a. That the second angel’s message follows along with the judgment-hour message, and thus could not be given until the time of the ending of the 2300-day prophecy. But in 1844 it would hardly be accurate to announce that Babylon is fallen, as applied to paganism or Roman Catholicism, for they had been in that state for long centuries. Therefore, the word “Babylon,” in Revelation 14:8, must apply very particularly to Protestantism. EGWC 327.3

b. That when the call was made, “Come out of her, my people,” it was answered chiefly by those who held membership in various Protestant churches. As Mrs. White declares in The Great Controversy: EGWC 327.4

“In the eighteenth chapter of the Revelation, in a message which is yet future, ^* the people of God are called upon to come out of Babylon. According to this scripture, many of God’s people must still be in Babylon. And in what religious bodies are the greater part of the followers of Christ now to be found? Without doubt, in the various churches professing the Protestant faith.”—Page 383, old edition. EGWC 327.5