The Second Angel's Message

LESSON 2

THE SECOND ANGEL'S MESSAGE

You are welcome to another edition of Insights from God's Word, a Bible study programme that is committed to sharing God's Word by allowing the Bible to speak for itself.

In this edition, we continue with our series on The Three Angels' Messages. The topic for this study is: The Second Angel's Message. The second angel's message is graphically chronicled in the heart of Revelation as follows: "And there followed another angel, saying, Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication" (Revelation 14:8). For us to obtain a clear understanding of this text, the lesson has been divided into three sub-sections as follows:

1) BABYLON: AN IMPORTANT BACKGROUND

The word Babylon is derived from the ancient word Babel, which means confusion (Genesis 11:9). From Genesis 11:1-9, we learn that after the universal flood, the inhabitants of the earth decided to build a tower whose top may reach up to heaven. The motivation behind the building of this tower was to make a name for themselves, lest they be scattered abroad upon the face of the whole earth. We learn from the account in Genesis 11, that God came down to confound the language of the people, bringing the grand undertaking to an abrupt end.

It is interesting to note that Babylon, the first superpower of the ancient world, was also built with a similar mindset to glorify and honour man, instead of the Creator God. In Daniel 4:30, we read the following words of king Nebuchadnezzar: "The king spake, and said, Is not this great Babylon, that I have built for the house of the kingdom by the might of my power, and for the honour of my majesty?" Because the kingdom of ancient Babylon was built to glorify the creature instead of the Creator, it also fell, never to rise again (see Isaiah 13:19-22; Jeremiah 51:64). However, before its fall, Babylon became a haven for several satanic practices. The Babylonians worshipped several gods, and engaged in a myriad of activities that the Scripture referred to as abominations.

One key custom in ancient Babylon that the Bible considered an abomination was their worship of the sun god Shamash. The worship of this sun god became so widespread to the extent that some of God's people in ancient Israel were enticed by this pagan practice. From the book of Ezekiel, we read the following in connection to sun worship in ancient Israel: "8:16 And he brought me into the inner court of the LORD's house, and, behold, at the door of the temple of the LORD, between the porch and the altar, were about five and twenty men, with their backs toward the temple of the LORD, and their faces toward the east; and they worshipped the sun toward the east.

8:17 Then he said unto me, Hast thou seen this, O son of man? Is it a light thing to the house of Judah that they commit the abominations which they commit here? for they have filled the land with violence, and have returned to provoke me to anger: and, lo, they put the branch to their nose.

8:18 Therefore will I also deal in fury: mine eye shall not spare, neither will I have pity: and though they cry in mine ears with a loud voice, yet will I not hear them."

(Ezekiel 8:16-18)

2) BABYLON IN THE BOOK OF REVELATION

With this background in hand, I believe we are ready to consider the various key parallels that exist between the ancient traditions of Babylon and the spiritual Babylon of today. It is important for us to note that Revelation 14 presents an end time message. Thus, the Babylon described in the chapter refers to spiritual Babylon and not literal Babylon in any of its forms. Spiritual Babylon appears in four key passages in the book of Revelation. We first encounter Babylon in the second angel's message of Revelation 14:8. In Revelation 16:19, Babylon is punished during the pouring out of the final seventh plague upon the inhabitants of the earth. In Revelation 17, we see Babylon pictured as a woman riding the beast. Finally in Revelation 18, Babylon is the subject matter of the urgent loud cry message that repeats and enlarges on the second angel's message of Revelation 14:8. The various accounts concerning Babylon in these four areas of Revelation are intriguing and demand our attention. Nevertheless in this lesson, we are going to focus on the subject of Babylon as is expressed within the second angel's message of Revelation 14. For us to clearly ascertain this subject, we will be analysing the key expressions of Revelation 14:8 one after the other as follows:

A) ANOTHER ANGEL, SAYING

"And there followed ANOTHER ANGEL, SAYING, Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication" (Revelation 14:8; Capital Emphasis Added).

The expression "And there followed another angel, saying" signifies the point that this angel is not the first angel that John sees in the book of Revelation. The apostle had come across several angels as he beheld various visions and compiled them into the scrolls of Revelation (see Revelation 7:1, 2; Revelation 8:1, 2; Revelation 10:1 etc.). Thus, the title "The Second Angel's Message" does not suggest that this message is the second the apostle John receives from an angel in the book of Revelation. However, the title suggests the second of a threefold final warning message that goes to the whole world before the second coming of Jesus in the clouds of heaven (see Revelation 14:14-16).

Moreover, amongst the three angels' messages as recorded in Revelation 14, we notice that it is only the second angel's message that utilises a usual adjective such as 'saying' in describing the message of this angel. When we consider the fact that both the first and third angels are described as proclaiming their messages by "saying with a loud voice" (see Revelation 14:7, 9), it makes us to wonder whether the message of the second angel is not as urgent and important as that of the other two. But a quick comparison of this message with its twin message as recorded in Revelation 18:1-24, helps us to see things in their proper perspective. In Revelation 18, the beloved apostle provides a comprehensive account of the message of Babylon's fall with the following prologue: "18:1 And after these things I saw ANOTHER ANGEL come down from heaven, having great power; and the earth was lightened with his glory.

18:2 AND HE CRIED MIGHTILY WITH A STRONG VOICE, saying, 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.

18:3 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.

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.

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

(Revelation 18:1-5; Capital Emphasis Added) It is interesting to observe the key similarities that exist between the two texts of Revelation 14:8 and Revelation 8:1-5 in relation to end time Babylon. From this observation one will not be out of context to suggest that the second angel's message of Revelation 14 is the same message that has been expanded in a grandeur and more appealing manner in Revelation 18 by "a fourth angel" during the final hours of earth's history. This position makes adequate sense especially when we come to realise from Revelation 18:2 that the final message that calls God's people out of Babylon is also described as "And he cried mightily with a strong voice, saying" (Revelation 18:2 ), similar words such as "saying with a loud voice" that go before the first and third angels' messages.

B) BABYLON IS FALLEN, IS FALLEN

"And there followed another angel, saying, BABYLON IS FALLEN, IS FALLEN, that great city, because she made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication" (Revelation 14:8; Capital Emphasis Added).

From the message of the second angel, it is clear that Babylon falls twice. This point about Babylon's double fall is significant. Notice how the same words are repeated in the following passage concerning Babylon: "18:1 And after these things I saw another angel come down from heaven, having great power; and the earth was lightened with his glory.

18:2 And he cried mightily with a strong voice, saying, 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.

18:3 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.

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.

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

(Revelation 18:1-5; Capital Emphasis Added) In Revelation 17, Babylon is described as a harlot woman that rides the beast. We read the account of Babylon in Revelation 17 as follows: "17:1 And there came one of the seven angels which had the seven vials, and talked with me, saying unto me, Come hither; I will shew unto thee the judgment of the great whore that sitteth upon many waters:

17:2 With whom the kings of the earth have committed fornication, and the inhabitants of the earth have been made drunk with the wine of her fornication.

17:3 So he carried me away in the spirit into the wilderness: and I saw a woman sit upon a scarlet coloured beast, full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns.

17:4 And the woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet colour, and decked with gold and precious stones and pearls, having a golden cup in her hand full of abominations and filthiness of her fornication:

17:5 And upon her forehead was a name written, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH.

17:6 And I saw the woman drunken with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus: and when I saw her, I wondered with great admiration."

(Revelation 17:1-6; Capital Emphasis Added) The characteristics of Babylon as we can glean from Revelation 14, 18 and 17, clearly point to two key entities in history; the Roman Catholic Papacy and her daughters of Apostate Protestantism. Can it be that the double fall of Babylon refers to these same entities? From history, we learn about how in 320 AD, the Roman Emperor Constantine the Great announced that he was now a Christian and began to introduce a myriad of pagan doctrines into the holy Church of Christ. These pagan doctrines were perfected and established by Babylon the Great (see Revelation 17:5), which actually represents the Papacy, the Roman Catholic Church System, the antichrist of Bible prophecy. This represents the first fall of Babylon as detailed in Revelation 14 and Revelation 18.

From Revelation 17, we note that Babylon is also described as the MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH. What this means is that this power, that is, the Roman Catholic Church, also has daughters. From "The Dominus Iesus declaration, which was written by a close aide of Pope John Paul II, says that the Roman Catholic Church is the "mother" of all Christian denominations and that it is incorrect to refer to the Church of England and other Protestant churches as "sister" organisations on a par with Rome." — (Vatican declaration provokes churches. BBC, September 5, 2000.)

It is interesting to learn that it was the first fall of Babylon from the pure doctrines of Scripture that led to the Reformation whereby several of God's faithful people separated from the corrupt Church of Rome in the Middle Ages. It is sad to say that in recent times, through the vehicle of religious ecumenism, almost all the Protestants that separated from the fallen Roman Catholic Church have gone back to her, and fitly become Apostate Protestants. Thus, the second fall of Babylon fits Protestants who have gone back to Catholicism. The apostle Paul summarises these points in relation to the fall of the Papacy and her daughters with these strong graphic words: "2:1 Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him,

2:2 That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand.

2:3 Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, EXCEPT THERE COME A FALLING AWAY FIRST, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;

2:4 Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God."

(2 Thessalonians 2:1-4; Capital Emphasis Added) From the passage above, the apostle Paul made it clear that the second coming of Christ will take place only after a falling away from the truth of God's Holy Word. And friends, that is exactly what we are seeing today in relation to the Roman Catholic-led ecumenical movement that encompasses almost all Protestants that once defied Rome on the basis of Sola Scriptura. From what we have considered so far, it is clear that the double fall of Babylon as described in Revelation 14:8 and Revelation 18:2 fitly points to the Roman Catholic Papacy and her daughters of Apostate Protestants. It is as a result of this growing satanic union that triggers the mighty cry of the "fourth angel" in Revelation 18: "Come out of her, my people" a final dire warning which calls God's faithful people out of all the corrupt systems of worship before God finally pours out His judgement on Babylon (see Revelation 16:17-21 ).

C) THAT GREAT CITY

"And there followed another angel, saying, Babylon is fallen, is fallen, THAT GREAT CITY, because she made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication" (Revelation 14:8; Capital Emphasis Added).

It is interesting to learn in Revelation 17 that the message concerning Babylon also highlights the point that this power is that great city which reigns over the kings of the earth (Revelation 17:18). Babylon the Great, even though a religious power, had also dabbled in the political and mercantile affairs of this world, and has become the dominant player. Today, the success or failure of any great political ambition or commerce of any kind depends on the approval or disapproval of Rome. It is with intriguing horror that we find on the blood stained pages of history how the Papacy has tried to rule over the combined affairs of world religion, politics and business (Read the following books: Fifty Years in the Church of Rome by Charles Chiniquy; Rulers of Evil by Tupper Saussy; Holy Horrors: An Illustrated History of Religious Murder and Madness by James A. Haught).

But it is comforting to learn from Scripture that God will judge this apostate religio-political system (see Revelation 16:19). By utilising the strong power of poetic imagery, the apostle John describes the judgement that will come upon end time Babylon for her treachery and involvement in the political and commercial affairs of this world: "18:9 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,

18:10 Standing afar off for the fear of her torment, saying, Alas, alas that great city Babylon, that mighty city! for in one hour is thy judgment come.

18:11 And the merchants of the earth shall weep and mourn over her; for no man buyeth their merchandise any more:

18:12 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,

18:13 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.

18:14 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.

18:15 The merchants of these things, which were made rich by her, shall stand afar off for the fear of her torment, weeping and wailing,

18:16 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!

18:17 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,

18:18 And cried when they saw the smoke of her burning, saying, What city is like unto this great city!

18:19 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."

(Revelation 18:9-19)

D) THE WINE OF THE WRATH OF HER FORNICATION

And there followed another angel, saying, Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she made all nations drink of THE WINE OF THE WRATH OF HER FORNICATION" (Revelation 14:8; Capital Emphasis Added).

The message of the second angel also portrays clearly that Babylon makes all nations to drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication. The wine of Babylon represents the various false doctrines that this apostate church embraces. The Scripture uses a pure woman to represent the people of God (Jeremiah 6:2; 2 Corinthians 11:2; Ephesians 5:31, 32 ). When the people of God become unfaithful to Him, God refers to them as a whore (see Hosea 2:1-13). The antichrist power, as the Scripture describes here as Babylon, is actually a religious system that was once faithful to the principles of God. However, with the passage of time, she gradually forsook these godly principles until she fell, and became corrupted and worldly. The Church of Rome embraced one ancient pagan custom after another until one could not determine whether the Church was that of Christ or mammon.

From the book "The Two Babylon's" by Alexander Hislop, we read the following concerning ancient Babylon and modern day spiritual Babylon: "That the paganism which Rome has baptized is, in all it's essential features, the very paganism which prevailed in the ancient Babylon... the essential character of her system, the grand objects of her worship, her doctrine and discipline, her rites and ceremonies, her priesthood and their orders, have all been derived from ancient Babylon." Some of the doctrines and practices of the Catholic Church that can be traced directly from the religious system of ancient Babylon include the following: Direct Sun Worship, Sunday Worship instead of the Bible Sabbath, Penance, Indulgences, Infant Sprinkling, the Confessional, Immortality of the Soul, Praying to the Dead, Holy Water, the Mass, Monks, Rosary Beads, the Tonsure, the Miters, the Cross, Nuns, Pontiff, Candles, Purgatory, Limbo, and the Wafer. Friends, these false doctrines which Papal Rome inherited from paganism are what the Scripture refer to as the wine of her fornication (Revelation 17:2).

It is important to note that the words that are used to represent Babylon in this area is not just the wine of her fornication but rather the wine of the wrath of her fornication (review Revelation 14:8 ). The wrath of a seductress whore is fierce and wicked. The love expressed towards her assailant is not borne out of true love but rather hatred. It is like the vengeance of an adulterous woman, who in the act of giving "love" to her assailant, knowingly infects him with a deadly sexually transmitted disease. The love of Babylon towards her assailants is similar to this; for the wine in her adulterous cup is filled with a deadly spiritual potion. This love of wrath is borne out of the hateful eyes of Satan towards God's people who have the opportunity of entering the heavenly abode which has been forever closed to him (see John 12:31; Revelation 12:17).

From Revelation 17, we obtain another interesting dimension in relation to the wine of Babylon. The apostle John provides the following information concerning Babylon: "With whom the kings of the earth have committed fornication, and the inhabitants of the earth have been made drunk with the wine of her fornication" (Revelation 17:2). The message from this text helps us to understand that the adulterous wine of Babylon actually intoxicates the inhabitants of the earth. The false doctrines of Sunday worship, immortality of the soul, and the fake signs and wonders movement that are sweeping across the ecumenical fraternity today are actually spiritual forms of high alcohol content wine that puts all those who sip them into a deep stupor under the umbrella of Babylon the Great. With an understanding of this point, the people of God must realise how they need to be patient and prayerful as they seek to carry across the three angels' messages to the inhabitants of the world, many of whom are drunk with the maddening wine of Babylon (Revelation 17:2; Revelation 18:3).

Dear friend, it is God's favour that led you to this article and encouraged you to read up to this point. As the study has already mentioned, God is about to judge Babylon (review Revelation 16:19). But before He brings judgement upon this apostate system, He is with a loud cry calling out all His faithful children out of the system: "Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues' (Revelation 18:4). Beloved, knowing what you know today, will you continue to remain in Babylon and follow her false doctrines of Sunday worship, immortality of the soul and the like? The Lord is calling you to be separate from the accursed thing and save your soul. For those who will harden their hearts despite God's urgent pleas, the following prophecy from the apostle Paul will soon become a reality in their lives: "2:9 Even him (the antichrist), whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders,

2:10 And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.

2:11 And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie:

2:12 That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness."

(2 Thessalonians 2:9-12; Emphasis Added) 3) From the scriptural passages we have considered so far, it is clear that the second angel's message of Revelation 14:8 is the same message that is proclaimed by a "fourth angel" in a more urgent and comprehensive manner during the final moments of this earth's history (see Revelation 18:1-24). Even now, the message of the "fourth angel" is going forward with loud trumpet-like tones, calling out from Babylon all of God's faithful people who have any connections with her. It is my prayer that you separate yourself from Babylon which is doomed for destruction (review Revelation 16:19), and align yourself with God's end time people who exercise a living faith in Jesus and obey all of His commandments (see Revelation 14:12 ).

Exhortation: From the pen of inspiration, we read the following in relation to Babylon the Great and her daughters:

i) "Babylon is said to be 'the mother of harlots.' By her daughters must be symbolized churches that cling to her doctrines and traditions, and follow her example of sacrificing the truth and the approval of God, in order to form an unlawful alliance with the world." — (The Great Controversy, 382, 383)

ii) "Many of the Protestant churches are following Rome's example of iniquitous connection with 'the kings of the earth'—the state churches, by their relation to secular governments; and other denominations, by seeking the favor of the world. And the term 'Babylon'—confusion—may be appropriately applied to these bodies." — (The Great Controversy, 383; 1NL 523.3)

iii) "The great sin charged against Babylon is that she 'made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication.' [Revelation 14:8.] This cup of intoxication which she presents to the world represents the false doctrines that she has accepted as the result of her unlawful connection with the great ones of the earth. Friendship with the world corrupts her faith, and in her turn she exerts a corrupting influence upon the world by teaching doctrines which are opposed to the plainest statements of Holy Writ." — (The Great Controversy, 388)

iv) "The prophet says, "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, and is become the habitation of devils" (Revelation 18:1, 2). This is the same message that was given by the second angel. Babylon is fallen, "because she made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication" (Revelation 14:8). What is that wine?-Her false doctrines. She has given to the world a false sabbath instead of the Sabbath of the fourth commandment, and has repeated the falsehood that Satan first told Eve in Eden-the natural immortality of the soul. Many kindred errors she has spread far and wide, "teaching for doctrines the commandments of men" (Matthew 15:9)." — {2SM 118.1

In our next study, we will consider the topic: The Third Angel's Message. The Bible study reference for this study is Revelation 14:9-11. Please do well to go through this passage before the next study is released.

Stay blessed and keep shining for King Jesus.

Maranatha!

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