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BABYLON
58
`Whether there be prophecies, they shall fail ... but when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part
shall be done away. When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but
when I became a man, I put away childish things' (1 Cor. 13:8-11).
It should be noticed that the words in italics, are all translations of the one Greek word katargeo `to put away or
to annul'. In 1 Corinthians 2,3 and Hebrews 5 there is a great stress upon the spiritual responsibility of those who
were addressed as `babes'. The apostle says that the Corinthians were `carnal', and consequently could only be fed
on milk, although to the perfect or the full grown he had much deeper and richer teaching to give. So, the apostle
found it well-nigh impossible to say all that he might have done concerning the Melchisedec priesthood of the Lord,
not because of any failure or ignorance on his part, but because they had become dull of hearing. It is impossible to
respond to the exhortation `let us go on unto perfection' if we remain babes and take only the milk of the Word, and
many a Christian who objects to the advanced revelations of the Mystery, is but making it manifest that he still
needs `the first principles of the oracles of God', and cannot `leave the word of the beginning of Christ' (Heb. 6:1
margin) and usually becomes entrenched in the four gospels, and looks with suspicion upon any attempt to take the
Lord's words of John 16:12 to heart, and to seek those other things of which He has now spoken since His
Ascension and session at the right hand of God.
The goal before the Church of the Ephesians is that of the `perfect man' as opposed to the spiritual condition of
babes, who are easily deceived and tossed about with every wind of doctrine. Dispensational Truth settles and
establishes rather than unsettles the believer and he is enabled thereby to comprehend with all saints, its breadth,
length, height and depth, and be filled up to all the fulness of God.
BABYLON, its place in the purpose of the ages.
While Dispensational Truth must take cognizance of the vaster sweep of the purpose of the ages, it manifestly is
only a department or subdivision of that great theme, and any endeavour to make this analysis comprehend all that is
included in the purpose of the ages, would defeat our prime object. We are primarily concerned with the present
dispensation, and must touch upon other dispensations in order that, by observing their very differences, we shall be
enabled to appreciate those peculiar blessings that belong to our present high calling. We therefore deal with the
gospels, with the Acts, with Pentecostal gifts, with the various aspects and spheres of the blessed hope.
Babylon is not actually mentioned in any of the apostle Paul's writings, it figures largely in the book of the
Revelation in the New Testament and occupies a great place in the prophets of the Old Testament. The only places
where what may be called Babylonianism enters into Paul's epistles, are where in Romans 1:21-32 the moral
consequences of this great opposing system are reviewed, and where in 2 Timothy 3:1-4 they are envisaged as
reappearing in the last days, when Babylon and its awful teaching will come once more to a head under the
dictatorship of the Man of Sin. If 2 Thessalonians 2:1-12 be studied with Revelation 13, it will be seen that there
again Babylonianism is referred to.
Most of what Paul has been inspired to write concerning Babylonianism comes under the heading of `the lie'
pseudos, sometimes translated `lying'. This word pseudos is found in Romans 1:25, Ephesians 4:25 and
2 Thessalonians 2:9-11. The present dispensation, as we shall see later, is a parenthesis, and its last days will lead
up to the awful conditions which characterize the close of Gentile dominion that is set forth in such books as Daniel
or the Revelation. They lead up to, but do not belong, for the dispensation covered by the Day of the Lord, lies
outside the scope of the dispensation of the Mystery. We have included this brief reference to Babylon and its place
in the purpose of the ages to show that even though we cannot turn aside and deal with Prophecy, its importance
cannot be overlooked without loss and possible disaster. The same is true regarding doctrine, for without the great
truths of redemption, justification, and life in Christ, Dispensational Truth must be but a tantalizing mockery. We
must, however, respect the limits of our present attempt and leave much that would be of profit, unsaid. See the
article entitled LIE2.