Is it Possible for the SDA Conference Structure to Become Babylon?

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QUESTION 2 OF 12:

One of the main failures of the Jewish nation was that they took things out of context in the inspired writings of the prophets, and interpreted them as unconditional promises. Are we taking things out of context when we say the Seventh-day Adventist Church can never be called Babylon? If it is impossible for an organization to become part of Babylon as long as it has the words "Seventh-day Adventist" tacked up on the sign-post; then they could call Sunday the seventh day of the week, take on every single doctrine of the Roman Catholic Church, and still not be Babylon.

"We are in danger of becoming a sister of fallen Babylon, of allowing our churches to become corrupted, and filled with every foul spirit, a cage for every unclean and hateful bird; and will we be clear unless we make decided movements to cure the existing evil?" (TESTIMONIES ON SEXUAL BEHAVIOR, ADULTERY, AND DIVORCE [TSB] p 188).

Now, how could there be any "danger" of becoming another one of Rome's harlot daughters ("sister to fallen Babylon"), if such a thing were impossible? And if such a danger existed back then (1886), how much more danger is there now? What church is it, then, that Mrs. White said not to call Babylon; was it the Conference structure, or was it the remnant church? Just the title of the section in TESTIMONIES TO MINISTERS on this subject provides an answer: "The Remnant Church Not Babylon". However, the context of these statements offers further light on what church it is that should not be called Babylon: "His People" (p 20); "a church that is enjoying a season of refreshing" (p 23); "the church of God" (p 36); "the people of God" (p 41) "the remnant people of God" (p 42); "the very people receiving of the Holy Spirit, who are to receive the latter rain" (p 49); "those who keep the commandments of God, and have the faith of Jesus" (p 58); "the chosen ones of God who are trying to walk in the light" (p 61); "a chosen people" (2SM 66); "the church that keeps the commandments of God" (2 SM 68); "The chosen ones who are standing and breasting the storm of opposition from the world" (THIS DAY WITH GOD p 172). Never once does she say not to call the Conference structure Babylon.

It is true that in her day, the SDA Conference denomination met the qualifications of Rev 12:17; but this does not guarantee that it always will. You shouldn't call the remnant church Babylon, because it is impossible for those who keep the Ten Commandments and follow the Spirit of Prophecy to ever be Babylon; but no such impossibility exists for any particular organization. If an organization separates itself from being part of the remnant church, then the statements about not calling the remnant church Babylon just don't apply.

Bob De LaTorre