9. What marked the climax of Babylon's apostasy?
“Then they brought the golden vessels that were taken out of the temple of the house of God which was at Jerusalem; and the king, and his princes, his wives, and his concubines, drank in them.” Verse 3.
10. While drinking the wine, what gods did they honor?
“They drank wine, and praised the gods of gold, and of silver, of brass, of iron, of wood, and of stone.” Verse 4.
11. What immediately followed this complete apostasy?
“In that night was Belshazzar the king of the Chaldeans slain. And Darius the Median took the kingdom, being about threescore and two years old.” Verses 30, 31.
Note.—The gospel of the kingdom was preached in Babylon (see reading on “The Gospel of the Kingdom,” page 209), and Nebuchadnezzar was brought to acknowledge and to worship the true God. But after the death of Nebuchadnezzar, Babylon relapsed into idolatry again, and this apostasy was rendered hopeless when Belshazzar used the sacred vessels from the house of God, dedicated to the worship of God, in which to drink the wine of Babylon while worship was offered to the false gods. Then came the handwriting on the wall, and the fall of ancient Babylon.
12. In the visions of John, what interpretation is given to the woman who sat upon many waters?
“And the woman which thou sawest is that great city, which reigneth over the kings of the earth.” Rev. 17:18.
Note.—The great city which reigned over the kings of the earth in John's time was Rome, and that city has given its name to the church which is represented by the woman, the Church of Rome, or the Papacy.