Basic HTML Version
Reaping the Whirlwind
215
Refusing the warning of the first angel was the cause of that
fearful condition of worldliness, backsliding, and spiritual death
which existed in the churches in 1844.
The Second Angel’s Message
In
Revelation 14
the first angel is followed by a second, pro-
claiming, “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
. The term “Babylon” is derived from “Babel,” and
signifies confusion. In Scripture it designates various forms of false
or apostate religion. In
Revelation 17
Babylon is represented as
a woman—a figure used in the Bible as the symbol of the church,
a virtuous woman representing a pure church; a vile woman, an
apostate church.
In the Bible the relation between Christ and His church is rep-
resented by marriage. The Lord declares: “I will betroth thee unto
[237]
me forever; yea, I will betroth thee unto me in righteousness.” “I
am married unto you.” And Paul says: “I have espoused you to one
husband that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.”
Hosea
2:19
;
Jeremiah 3:14
;
2 Corinthians 11:2
.
Spiritual Adultery
Unfaithfulness of the church to Christ in allowing worldly things
to occupy the soul is likened to violation of the marriage vow. The
sin of Israel in departing from the Lord is presented under this figure.
“As a wife treacherously departeth from her husband, so have ye
dealt treacherously with me, O house of Israel, saith the Lord;” “as
a wife that committeth adultery, which taketh strangers instead of
her husband!”
Jeremiah 3:20
;
Ezekiel 16:32
.
Says the apostle James: “Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye
not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever
therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.”
James
4:4
.
The woman (Babylon) is “arrayed in purple and scarlet color,
and decked with gold and precious stones, and pearls, having a
golden cup in her hand full of abominations and filthiness: ... and