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Reaping the Whirlwind
219
The great sin charged against Babylon is that she “made all
nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication.” This cup
represents false doctrines that she has accepted as the result of her
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friendship with the world. In turn she exerts a corrupting influence
upon the world by teaching doctrines opposed to the plain statements
of the Bible.
Were it not that the world is intoxicated with the wine of Babylon,
multitudes would be convicted and converted by the plain truths
of the Word of God. But religious faith appears so confused and
discordant that people know not what to believe. The sin of the
world’s impenitence lies at the door of the church.
The message of the second angel did not reach its complete
fulfillment in 1844. The churches then experienced a moral fall in
their refusal of the light of the advent message, but that fall was not
complete. As they have continued to reject the special truths for this
time they have fallen lower and lower. Not yet, however, can it be
said that “Babylon is fallen, ... because she made all nations drink
of the wine of the wrath of her fornication.” Protestant churches are
included in the solemn denunciation of the second angel. But the
work of apostasy has not yet reached its culmination.
Before the coming of the Lord, Satan will work “with all power
and signs and lying wonders, and with all deceivableness of unrigh-
teousness;” and they that “receive 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 2:9-11
. Not until the union of
the church with the world shall be fully accomplished will the fall
of Babylon be complete. The change is progressive and the perfect
fulfillment of
Revelation 14:8
is yet future.
Notwithstanding the spiritual darkness in the churches which
constitute Babylon, the great body of Christ’s true followers are still
to be found in their communion. Many have never seen the special
truths for this time. Not a few long for clearer light. They look in
vain for the image of Christ in the churches with which they are
connected.
Revelation 18
points to the time when the people of God still
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in Babylon will be called upon to separate from her communion.
This message, the last ever given to the world, will accomplish its
work. The light of truth will shine upon all whose hearts are open to