Rev 18:4  "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."

There is a call to the Lord's people to come out of Mystery Babylon the Great, the Mother of Harlots and Abominations of the Earth.  As we noted before, how can they come out of her unless they were in her?  Since Judah at Jerusalem under Judaism is Babylon, then the call to come out of her is a call to come out of Judaism.  This call is to God's people.  We read of Paul's prayer on behalf of Israel under Judaism in

Rom. 10:1 "Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved. 2 For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge. 3 For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God. 4 For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth."  Israel had stumbled at the stumbling stone according to Rom. 9:31 "But Israel, which followed after the law of righteousness, hath not attained to the law of righteousness. 32 Wherefore? Because they sought it not by faith, but as it were by the works of the law. For they stumbled at that stumblingstone; 33 As it is written, Behold, I lay in Sion a stumblingstone and rock of offence: and whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed." 

Judaism is a works system of salvation and was exported on the back of the seven head, ten-horned beast unto the entire world.  Today this works system is found throughout the world and multitudes of God's people are bound in this works system of salvation.  The gospel calls on God's people to repent and to come out of Judaism (this works system of salvation).  Christ is the end (completion) of the law for righteousness.  Through his death on the cross, he redeemed his people from their sins.  Their works are not necessary to get them saved from their sins as He has already saved them.

There is a warning to God's people to come out of this works system (that ye be not partaker of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues).  The failure of God's people to come out makes them partakers of her sins.  Many of God's people are partaking of her sins as they support this works system through their efforts to save people from their sins.  They support this works system by being a part of an institution that promotes tithing (not a new testament practice), a salaried ministry, a man-made education system to train their ministry, Sunday schools, Youth camps, Nicolaitan hierarchal structure, women preachers, flattering titles to preachers, raising money for foreign missions, and numerous auxiliaries that are not authorized in the new testament.  They take part in the activities mentioned above, support them with their finances, and worship according to the doctrines of men.  In all of these things they are partakers of her sins.

There are four plagues pronounced against Babylon in verse 8: "Therefore shall her plagues come in one day, death, and mourning, and famine; and she shall be utterly burned with fire: for strong is the Lord God who judgeth her."  Thus there are four things that will happen to God's people who do not come out of this works system (Judaism): death, mourning, famine, and utter burning with fire. 

Death is a separation.  Death of the body occurs when it is separated from the soul and spirit.  The prodigal son was said to be dead to his father and elder brother when he was wasting his substance with riotous living.  That is, he was separated from the fellowship of them while he was living that evil lifestyle.  James 5:20 speaks of a death: "Let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins."  A person who continues in the error of his way will be separated from the fellowship of God and from the fellowship of those who walk after the truth.

Mourning usually indicates a loss such as a loss of a loved one or friend.  Sometimes it indicates a state of perceived impending loss or doom.  Sometimes when people come near to the end of their life on earth and realize they haven't accomplished what they hoped they would, they sorrow over their failures.  When a person comes to realize that all of his efforts haven't made him right with God then mourning is sure to follow.  There is a bitter sorrow that many experience when a loved one dies, or when they attend the funeral of a loved one or friend and they have no assurance of their loved one or friends salvation from sin or of their own salvation from sin.  Our works will never assure us of salvation from sin.  Only when we rest in the finished work of Jesus Christ can we experience hope of heaven's glory world.

Famine is usually associated with a hunger of food due to a lack of food.  There is another hunger that is spoken of in the scriptures: Amos 8:11 "Behold, the days come, saith the Lord GOD, that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the LORD."  God's people who continue in a work's system of salvation will experience a hunger or famine of hearing God's word, even if they read and study and hear preaching on God's word.  The Lord told some unbelieving Jews to "Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me."  When a person thinks he has eternal life through obeying a set of rules or laws or ceremonies taught in the scriptures, then he will not see Jesus in the scriptures.  Though he reads, looks, and hears, yet he still suffers a famine because he has the wrong motive and view of what the scriptures teach.

The child of God who continues in the false works system of salvation will ultimately experience utter burning with fire.  His works will be burned up and come to nothing. He will not accomplish what he had hoped would happen.  He will never be able to get right with God nor will he be able to get others right with God.  He will never be able to bring about the spiritual birth, nor will he be instrumental in getting others born again.  He will never through his works save himself from sin, nor will he be able to save others from sin.  All the money and time and labor he gave towards this purpose will be lost, his efforts at worship will prove to be but vain worship.         

 Rev 18:5  "For her sins have reached unto heaven, and God hath remembered her iniquities."

The phrase "reached unto heaven" is used to indicate that the offense is so bad that God will bring it to justice according to his wrath.  The principle is illustrated in the following verses:

          1.  2 Chr. 28:9 "But a prophet of the LORD was there, whose name was Oded: and he went out before the host that came to Samaria, and said unto them, Behold, because the LORD God of your fathers was wroth with Judah, he hath delivered them into your hand, and ye have slain them in a rage that reacheth up unto heaven. 10 And now ye purpose to keep under the children of Judah and Jerusalem for bondmen and bondwomen unto you: but are there not with you, even with you, sins against the LORD your God? 11 Now hear me therefore, and deliver the captives again, which ye have taken captive of your brethren: for the fierce wrath of the LORD is upon you."

          2.  Jer. 51:9 "We would have healed Babylon, but she is not healed: forsake her, and let us go every one into his own country: for her judgment reacheth unto heaven, and is lifted up even to the skies."

Sometimes the sins of a people or of a nation are so great that there ceases to be any remedy, but timely judgment poured out from the Lord:

          1.  2 Chr. 36:15 "And the LORD God of their fathers sent to them by his messengers, rising up betimes, and sending; because he had compassion on his people, and on his dwelling place: 16 But they mocked the messengers of God, and despised his words, and misused his prophets, until the wrath of the LORD arose against his people, till there was no remedy. 17 Therefore he brought upon them the king of the Chaldees, who slew their young men with the sword in the house of their sanctuary, and had no compassion upon young man or maiden, old man, or him that stooped for age: he gave them all into his hand."

          2.  Gen. 18:20 "And the LORD said, Because the cry of Sodom and Gomorrah is great, and because their sin is very grievous; 21 I will go down now, and see whether they have done altogether according to the cry of it, which is come unto me; and if not, I will know."

          3.  Gen. 6:5 "And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. 6 And it repented the LORD that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart. 7 And the LORD said, I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth; both man, and beast, and the creeping thing, and the fowls of the air; for it repenteth me that I have made them."

          4.  Gen. 15:16 "But in the fourth generation they shall come hither again: for the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet full."

That Israel's sins had come to the point of no remedy is set forth by the Lord as follows:

          1.  Matt. 11:20 "Then began he to upbraid the cities wherein most of his mighty works were done, because they repented not: 21 Woe unto thee, Chorazin! woe unto thee, Bethsaida! for if the mighty works, which were done in you, had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. 22 But I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the day of judgment, than for you. 23 And thou, Capernaum, which art exalted unto heaven, shalt be brought down to hell: for if the mighty works, which have been done in thee, had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day. 24 But I say unto you, That it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment, than for thee."

          2.  Matt. 23:34 "Wherefore, behold, I send unto you prophets, and wise men, and scribes: and some of them ye shall kill and crucify; and some of them shall ye scourge in your synagogues, and persecute them from city to city: 35 That upon you may come all the righteous blood shed upon the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel unto the blood of Zacharias son of Barachias, whom ye slew between the temple and the altar. 36 Verily I say unto you, All these things shall come upon this generation. 37 O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not! 38 Behold, your house is left unto you desolate."

Rev 18:6  "Reward her even as she rewarded you, and double unto her double according to her works: in the cup which she hath filled fill to her double."

This is not saying that the Lord's church or the Lord's people are to take the judgment of Mystery Babylon into their own hands.  Plainly, the scriptures teach that vengeance belongs to the Lord:

          1.  Deu. 32:35 "To me belongeth vengeance, and recompense; their foot shall slide in due time: for the day of their calamity is at hand, and the things that shall come upon them make haste."

          2.  Deu. 32:43 "Rejoice, O ye nations, with his people: for he will avenge the blood of his servants, and will render vengeance to his adversaries, and will be merciful unto his land, and to his people."

          3.  Ps. 94:1 "O LORD God, to whom vengeance belongeth; O God, to whom vengeance belongeth, show thyself. 2 Lift up thyself, thou judge of the earth: render a reward to the proud."

          4.  Rom. 12:19 "Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord."

Previously in the scripture we find that God had promised to avenge the wicked works of Israel:

          1.  Lk. 21:22 "For these be the days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled."

          2.  Matt. 22:2 "The kingdom of heaven is like unto a certain king, which made a marriage for his son, 3 And sent forth his servants to call them that were bidden to the wedding: and they would not come. 4 Again, he sent forth other servants, saying, Tell them which are bidden, Behold, I have prepared my dinner: my oxen and my fatlings are killed, and all things are ready: come unto the marriage. 5 But they made light of it, and went their ways, one to his farm, another to his merchandise: 6 And the remnant took his servants, and entreated them spitefully, and slew them. 7 But when the king heard thereof, he was wroth: and he sent forth his armies, and destroyed those murderers, and burned up their city."

The word double is frequently used in connection with the judgment of iniquity:

          1.  Ex. 22:7 "If a man shall deliver unto his neighbour money or stuff to keep, and it be stolen out of the man's house; if the thief be found, let him pay double. 8 If the thief be not found, then the master of the house shall be brought unto the judges, to see whether he have put his hand unto his neighbour's goods. 9 For all manner of trespass, whether it be for ox, for ass, for sheep, for raiment, or for any manner of lost thing, which another challengeth to be his, the cause of both parties shall come before the judges; and whom the judges shall condemn, he shall pay double unto his neighbour."

          2.  Jer. 16:18 "And first I will recompense their iniquity and their sin double; because they have defiled my land, they have filled mine inheritance with the carcases of their detestable and abominable things."

          3.  Jer. 17:18 "Let them be confounded that persecute me, but let not me be confounded: let them be dismayed, but let not me be dismayed: bring upon them the day of evil, and destroy them with double destruction."

Furthermore, when Jesus paid the sin debt for us it was said to be double: Is. 40:1 "Comfort ye, comfort ye my people, saith your God. 2 Speak ye comfortably to Jerusalem, and cry unto her, that her warfare is accomplished, that her iniquity is pardoned: for she hath received of the Lord's hand double for all her sins."

The Lord pointed out to us that the iniquity of the nation of Israel under the perverted religion known as Judaism was to receive a double portion of timely judgment for her iniquity.11,