322
The Great Controversy 1888
The Bible declares that before the coming of the Lord, Satan
will work “with all power and signs and lying wonders, and with all
deceivableness of unrighteousness;” and they that “received not the
love of the truth, that they might be saved,” will be left to receive
“strong delusion, that they should believe a lie.” [
2 Thessalonians
[390]
2:9-11
.] Not until this condition shall be reached, and the union of
the church with the world shall be fully accomplished, throughout
Christendom, will the fall of Babylon be complete. The change is a
progressive one, and the perfect fulfillment of
Revelation 14:8
is yet
future.
Notwithstanding the spiritual darkness, and alienation from God,
that exist in the churches which constitute Babylon, the great body
of Christ’s true followers are still to be found in their communion.
There are many of these who have never seen the special truths for this
time. Not a few are dissatisfied with their present condition, and are
longing for clearer light. They look in vain for the image of Christ in
the churches with which they are connected. As these bodies depart
farther and farther from the truth, and ally themselves more closely
with the world, the difference between the two classes will widen, and
it will finally result in separation. The time will come when those who
love God supremely can no longer remain in connection with such as
are “lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; having a form of
godliness, but denying the power thereof.”
Revelation 18
points to the time when, as the result of rejecting the
threefold warning of
Revelation 14:6-12
, the church will have fully
reached the condition foretold by the second angel, and the people
of God, still in Babylon, will be called upon to separate from her
communion. This message is the last that will ever be given to the
world; and it will accomplish its work. When those that “believed not
the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness,” [
2 Thessalonians 2:12
.]
shall be left to receive strong delusion, and to believe a lie, then the
light of truth will shine upon all whose hearts are open to receive it,
and all the children of the Lord, that remain in Babylon, will heed the
call, “Come out of her, my people.” [
Revelation 18:4
.]
[391]