The Passing of the Unreal World
YouTube Audio
Fall of Babylon
Uranda May 30, 1953 Class
Tonight let us meditate upon the basic principle which the Master expressed, “As ye sow, so also shall ye reap.” We have recognized that that which is done here constitutes an outworking in miniature, which establishes a vibratory current which reaches out into the world. Regardless of the nature of the function, others are inclined to do that which we do—if it be ill or if it be right. That which we do, others are inclined to do; the attitudes which we have, others are inclined to share, regardless of the nature of the attitude, and so we have a responsibility, individually and collectively, with respect to the sowing and the reaping; and the unreal, either in the individual or in the whole, must come to an end; not because God is going to destroy it, but because the unreal has within itself, the seeds of its own disintegration.
That which is unreal is not conforming to the pattern of Truth, only the Truth can endure and anything that is not patterned or designed in the Truth or in relationship to it must pass away by the weight of its own unreality. Human beings expend their life energies seeking to maintain the unreal, but finally they are crushed by the load which they carry, and under that load, they die—born into the earth to return to the dust from whence they came. Sometimes it seems to the limited vision of human beings that the world pattern of unreality is so firmly entrenched, so vast, so self-sustaining that somehow it might endure, that there is a possibility of its being maintained.
We do not have to fight against the unreal to cause it to crumble; we do, insofar as our influence may carry weight, seek to stop feeding the unreal, channeling the substances of life that should be directed to living into the patterns of sustaining the unreal. If we stop feeding it, it inevitably withers and dies because it has no life of its own. But tonight let us give consideration for a few moments to this pattern of the unreal as it exists in the world, carrying out, somewhat, the pattern of consideration as we shared it on Thursday evening. I would read to you from the eighteenth chapter of the Book of Revelation:
“And after these things I saw another angel come down from heaven, having great power; and the earth was lightened with his glory. And he cried mightily with a strong voice, saying, Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen.” Now let us recognize that Babylon is the symbolical name for the unreal—unreality in any individual, in any home, in any group, in any state, in any nation, anywhere, any people; Babylon is the symbolical name of the unreal, whether in you or in Russia.
“And after these things I saw another angel come down from Heaven, having great power; and the earth was lightened with his glory. And he cried mightily with a strong voice, saying, Babylon”—the unreal—“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.” We have in times past considered unclean or evil spirits; considered them, the habitation of devils, and of every foul spirit, it is put here, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird. Now birds, in the Bible, are used to symbolize thought or thought processes; thought, as such. Now, the realm of the unreal is fallen; we have recognized that. It has fallen far from its pattern of association with God and with the Kingdom of Heaven on earth.
“And is become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage for every unclean and hateful bird. For all nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, and the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth are waxed rich through the abundance of her delicacies. And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins.”
“And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her” – the realm of unreality; come out of the realm of unreality, my people—“that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues. For her sins have reached unto heaven, and God hath remembered her iniquities. Reward her even as she rewarded you, and double unto her according to her works: in the cup which she hath filled fill to her double. How much she hath glorified herself, and lived deliciously, so much sorrow and torment give her.”
Now, we remember in our previous meditations with respect to these things, the principle of self-centeredness, which causes human beings to glorify themselves, or to attempt to—“How much she hath glorified herself, and lived deliciously” in the patterns of the unreal realm; “so much sorrow and torment give her: for she saith in her heart, I sit a queen and am no widow, and shall see no sorrow.” We see the attitude in the realm of the unreal patterns of the world is here clearly and dramatically portrayed. “I sit a queen, and am no widow and shall see no sorrow. Therefore shall her plagues come in one day, death, and mourning, and famine.” Now in olden days it seemed like something fantastically impossible that such a thing might conceivably be so, but nowadays with atomic weapons and hydrogen bombs, long-range aircraft and suicidal pilots, it does not sound so fantastic. “Therefore shall her plagues come in one day, death, and mourning, and famine.”
Consider the problems of civil defense, for a moment. You know, I am a member of Civil Air Patrol, which is dedicated as an organization, a volunteer organization, to doing everything possible to limit danger to our country, but in the face of any emergency or catastrophe to do all in our power to alleviate human suffering and prevent the development of chaotic conditions. We are well aware of the possibilities of mass hysteria on the basis of fear. We recognize that atomic bombing could very quickly not just destroy food products, in the sense of causing them to vanish, but so contaminate them that they could not be safely eaten. An atomic bomb, and what do we have in one day? Death, and mourning, and famine. It is not so fantastic any more. And the whole program of Civil Defense, as it is worked out in our country carries the same determination to prevent suffering if possible, but in the face of catastrophe to meet the issue.
Psychologically, those of us who are vitally interested in Civil Defense, such programs as the Civil Air Patrol, recognize that we have a great problem—the people of our land are to a great extent lethargic in the face of definite possibilities, lethargic and unequipped, unprepared, and yet under a certain nervous strain, certain physical strain, etc., so that any adequate attempt to portray the dangers would produce fear reactions which would tend to defeat the purpose. There has to be a middle way. There is no desire on the part of those engaged in Civil Defense or Civil Air Patrol to engender fear, but there is a desire to engender an understanding of the basic problems which are inherent in the present world situation. But people have listened to radios for so long; for so long they have read sensational headlines that the words do not penetrate. The ideas, in any personal sense roll off like water from a duck's back. There is no particularized meaning in a personal sense, and this difficulty which is faced in the psychological sense is one which is being given a great deal of very serious and thoughtful consideration by many of the leaders of our land. How to meet the issue without destroying the possibility of effective function.
One of things, of course, upon which there is placed a great deal of dependence is the inherent capacity of Americans to rise to the occasion, to ignore the inevitable as long as possible, but when it drops down in their midst and they can ignore it no longer, to arise to the occasion—to start off balance, not to prepare and take it the easy natural, sensible way, but wait until there is an emergency and then, after the first flight of emotionalism, settle down, work hard to get balance, to achieve a starting point and rise to the occasion. Well, we’re thankful for that quality and yet, is it sensible to have such an attitude? We look at it on the national scale and we can see it. How about examining the same principle in relationship to ourselves here, with respect to the remnants of the unreal that may yet be present.
“For she saith in her heart, I sit a queen, and am no widow, and shall see no sorrow. Therefore shall her plagues come in one day, death and mourning, and famine; and she shall be utterly burned with fire.” Fire? It suggests something like atomic bombs. “For strong is the Lord God who judgeth her. And the kings of the earth who have committed fornication and lived deliciously with her, shall bewail her, and lament for her, when they shall see the smoke of her burning, Standing afar off for the fear of her torment.”
Now these words were written about 96 A.D. before anyone used the word atomic bomb, but could you find a better description? Standing afar off to keep out of the radioactive area. Standing afar off and lamenting when they shall see the smoke of her burning. It is not as fantastic as some people have imagined. “Standing afar off for the fear of her torment.” Not wanting to get into the area of radioactive contamination. "Saying, Alas, alas that great city Babylon, that mighty city! for in one hour is thy judgment come. And the merchants of the earth shall weep and mourn over her; for no man buyeth their merchandise any more. The merchandise of gold, and silver, and precious stones, and of pearls, and fine linen, and purple, and silk, and scarlet, and all thyine wood, and all manner vessels of ivory, and all manner vessels of most precious wood, and of brass, and iron, and marble, And cinnamon, and odours, and ointments, and frankincense, and wine, and oil, and fine flour, and wheat, and beasts, and sheep, and horses, and chariots, and slaves, and souls of men.”
Now here, 96 A.D., we have a remarkable list of modern day items of commerce; covering the list, what is left out? What is left out? You say they do not mention automobiles or airplanes? What are they but chariots? You say they do not mention the petroleum industry? Oh, it does mention oil—all gasoline products. What is not mentioned? Notice, and notice that it is the pattern of the world as it is today. What is the primary point of merchandise? Gold. The shipments of gold between nations, that is the starting point. That is the first one listed—“The merchandise of gold, and silver, and precious stones, and of pearls, and fine linen, and purple, and silk, and scarlet, and all thyine wood, and all manner of vessels of ivory, and all manner vessels of most precious wood, and of brass and iron and marble, And cinnamon, and odours, and ointments, and frankincense, and wine, and oil, and fine flour, and wheat, and beasts, and sheep, and horses, and chariots, and slaves, and souls of men.” Souls of men and women. There is the list, and it does not leave out very much once you stop and examine it.
“And the fruits that thy soul lusted after are departed from thee, and all things which were dainty and goodly are departed from thee, and thou shalt find them no more at all. The merchants of these things, which were made rich by her, shall stand afar off for the fear of her torment, weeping and wailing, And saying, Alas, alas that great city, that was clothed in fine linen, and purple and scarlet, and decked with gold, and precious stones, and pearls! For in one hour so great riches is come to nought.” Now there is the death blow, the point that human beings in the realm of the unreal simply cannot comprehend, that great riches could come to nought. Oh, some business man may fail or some corporation go defunct, but riches—oh, riches are the thing. Riches, the god of riches. But here, “For in one hour so great riches is come to nought.” Could an atomic bomb bring such great riches to nought in one hour? This is no exaggeration.
“For in one hour so great riches is come to nought. And every shipmaster, and all the company in ships, and sailors, and as many as trade by sea, stood afar off, And cried when they saw the smoke of her burning.” International trade in other words—“and cried when they saw the smoke of her burning, saying, What city is like unto this great city! And they cast dust on their heads, and cried, weeping and wailing, saying, Alas, alas that great city, wherein were made rich all that had ships in the sea by reason of her costliness! for in one hour is she made desolate. Rejoice over her, thou heaven, and ye holy apostles and prophets; for God hath avenged you on her.” … “Rejoice over her, thou heaven, and ye holy apostles and prophets; for God hath avenged you on her. And a mighty angel took up a stone like a great millstone, and cast it into the sea, saying, Thus with violence shall that great city Babylon be thrown down, and shall be found no more at all.”
And if there be any unreal in you, then you have a share in Babylon—the unreality of your own makeup, if there be any, represents your stock, your share in Babylon. “Thus with violence shall, that great city Babylon be thrown down, and shall be found no more at all. And the voice of harpers, and musicians, and of pipers, and trumpeters, shall be heard no more at all in thee.” That takes care of the entertainment field pretty well, doesn’t it? “And no craftsman, of whatsoever craft he be.” That covers a broad field. “And no craftsman, of whatsoever craft he be, shall be found any more in thee; and the sound of a millstone shall be heard no more at all in thee; and the light of a candle shall shine no more at all in thee; and the voice of the bridegroom and of the bride shall be heard no more at all in thee; for thy merchants were the great men of the earth; for by thy sorceries were all nations deceived.”
And so, the fall of the unreal world; but individually and collectively, we can let the unreal world fall, if we will, before it falls for the whole earth, and how much better it will be, if when Babylon starts to fall in the world, you do not find it falling within yourself. Let us not imagine that the unreal realm of Babylon is stable or sure or certain. It is sure and certain that it shall fall. But let us let the roots and the rootlets of Babylon fall from our realms of function and living, and then let us look at the contrast, after these things; and that is for individuals or for the world, after Babylon has fallen in you, individually, after Babylon has been cleared out of you as a group, after Babylon has fallen in anyone, anywhere.
“And after these things I heard a great voice of much people in heaven, saying”—in Heaven, where? On earth; not up in the sky. I heard the voice of much people in Heaven on earth, "Saying, Alleluia; Salvation, and glory, and honour, and power, unto the Lord our God: For true and righteous are his judgments; for he hath judged the great whore, which did corrupt the earth with her fornication, and hath avenged the blood of his servants at her hand. And again they said, Alleluia ... And the four and twenty elders and the four beasts fell down and worshipped God that sat on the throne, saying, Amen; Alleluia. And a voice came out of the throne, saying, Praise our God, all ye his servants, and ye that fear him, both small and great. And I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude, and as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of mighty thunderings, saying, Alleluia: for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth….”
“And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.”—the fulfilment of the pattern of reality, the realm of reality coming down from God out of Heaven. Where? Into the earth, individually and collectively and for the whole.
“And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new.” … “Behold I make all things new.”
“And he shewed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb. In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree or life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants shall serve him: And they shall see his face; and his name shall be in their foreheads.”—signifying the level of consciousness—“And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light: and they shall reign for ever and ever.”
“And he said unto me, These sayings are faithful and true: and the Lord God of the holy prophets sent his angel to shew unto his servants the things which must shortly be done. Behold, I come quickly: blessed is he that keepeth the sayings of the prophecy of this book.” … “He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still. And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last. Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city. For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie. I have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things.” ... “And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. Let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.” And we know that the water of life is the Truth of reality.
I trust that this review, in brief outline of some of the basic factors which confront us in the world, may cause you to remember that we are not here to please ourselves, not here to play children’s games, but to serve God and man. This has been Memorial Day, when human beings pause to remember those who have gone on, particularly those whose lives have been snuffed out in the battles of the past in war, and we thank God for those men and women who so stood, that we might have the degree of freedom which we have today, that we might have this opportunity; but if there be a memorial, for whom shall it stand and where? Is it not better that the memorial should be for our Lord and King, who likewise walked on earth and faced death unflinchingly? If we have a memorial for Him, do we not have a memorial for every man, woman and child who has braved the battlefronts of the world, the tyranny, the hard-heartedness of the world, the shortcomings, the ignorance of the world? If we have a memorial for Him, do we not have a memorial for all? And where should that memorial be but in our hearts, and if it be in our hearts, shall we not by word and deed, yea, by living, reveal it, that it may be seen of men; that there may be a light to dispel darkness, a living example of reality, to inspire those who would come out of the unreal patterns of Babylon into the Kingdom of Heaven at hand. What shall be, yea, what is the case with you?
© emissaries of divine light
