Babylon - The Second Angel's Message

Study as if your life depended upon it, because it does. Jesus wants us to FOLLOW Him in all TRUTH.  We must follow HIM, live in HIM. Live IN HIM through His WORD to US.

Remember these studies are NOT for those who just want a simple verse to meet their quota of God's word for the day. This is a STUDY for Truth!

Please study, pray and study God's truth. May God bless us in HIM!

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Chapter 3 - Proclamation of the Second Angel

Time of this Proclamation
Derivation of the term Babylon
Babylon not the Wicked World
Not the City of Rome Explanation of Symbols
The Seven Heads of the Beast
Rome the Seat of the of the Beast
Babylon not a Literal city
Meaning of the Symbol
Facts which identify Protestants as a part of this 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 wrath of her fornication. " Rev. 14:8.

THE first important inquiry relates to the time when this proclamation is to be made. As this
angel follows the one who proclaims the hour of God's Judgment, it is evident that this
proclamation is the next event in order. And as it has been shown that the proclamation of the hour of God's Judgment is addressed to those who live in the last days, it is certain that the Second Angel's Message belongs to the same time, and that it was not fulfilled centuries in the past. And the fact that at the time when this proclamation of the fall of Babylon is made, the plagues and utter destruction of Babylon, which came under the seventh vial, are then immediately impending, is also conclusive proof that this proclamation belongs to the last days. Rev. 18:1-10; 16:17-21. 21.

(((Rev 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.
Rev 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.
Rev 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.
Rev 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.
Rev 18:5  For her sins have reached unto heaven, and God hath remembered her iniquities.
Rev 18:6  Reward her even as she rewarded you, and double unto her double according to her works: in the cup which she hath filled fill to her double.
Rev 18:7  How much she hath glorified herself, and lived deliciously, so much torment and sorrow give her: for she saith in her heart, I sit a queen, and am no widow, and shall see no sorrow.
Rev 18:8  Therefore shall her plagues come in one day, death, and mourning, and famine; and she shall be utterly burned with fire: for strong is the Lord God who judgeth her.
Rev 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,
Rev 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. ))))

We conclude, therefore, that the generation that shall be alive when the plagues are poured out on Babylon, is the one to which the Second Angel's Message is addressed.

Our next inquiry relates to the meaning of the term Babylon. What is designated by the word
Babylon in the book of Revelation?

The word Babylon signifies confusion, and is derived from Babel, the place where God
confounded the inhabitants of the earth in their impious attempt to build a tower up to heaven.

Gen. 11:9, margin; 10:10, margin.

(((Gen 11:9  Therefore is the name of it called Babel; because the LORD did there confound the language of all the earth: and from thence did the LORD scatter them abroad upon the face of all the earth.

Gen 10:10  And the beginning of his kingdom was Babel, and Erech, and Accad, and Calneh, in the land of Shinar. ))))

The word, being the chosen term of the Holy Spirit to designate "that mighty city" which is so prominently noticed in the book of Revelation, was doubtless selected with especial reference to its signification, and to the circumstances that originated the word. That Babylon does not comprise the whole wicked world, and that it does not consist of some one literal city, but that it is composed of professed worshipers of God, we think can be clearly shown. This is not an abstract question, but is eminently practical, and is intimately connected with our duty toward God.

BABYLON IS NOT THE WHOLE WICKED WORLD.

Rev. 17 represents Babylon by the symbol of a woman seated on a scarlet-colored beast. If,
therefore, the woman Babylon represents the whole of this fallen world, the entire empire of
the Devil, what does the beast represent upon which the woman is seated? Is it not a fact that the beast represents the fourth empire of our earth in its papal form? And that being the case, is it not a certainty that Babylon does not include the whole wicked world? That the beast and the woman are two distinct symbols, is evident from verse 7.

The same chapter represents the unlawful connection of Babylon with the kings of the earth,
and that she has made the inhabitants of the earth drunken. She is also represented as that
great city that reigneth over the kings of the earth. Babylon is therefore distinct from the kings of the earth, and does not include all the wicked of the earth.

It is also stated that this great harlot sat upon many waters. In the explanation it is stated that these waters are peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues. , Rev. 17:1, 15. Certainly we should not confound the harlot with the waters or nations upon which she is said to sit. When Babylon is destroyed, being thrown down as a millstone is cast into the mighty deep, and utterly burned with fire, the kings of the earth, the merchants, the sailors, etc. , are still spared, and mourn, and lament over her. It is plain, therefore, that the utter destruction of Babylon is not the destruction of those wicked men who lived in iniquity with her. Hence it follows that Babylon does not comprise the whole wicked world.

BABYLON NOT THE CITY OF ROME

As some have strongly advocated the view that Rome is the Babylon of the book of
Revelation, we will examine the reasons that are adduced in support of this view. The
argument stands thus:- The angel told John that the woman which he had seen was the great city which reigned over the kings of the earth, and that the seven heads of the beast were seven mountains upon which the woman sat. The explanation of "the mystery of the woman" is regarded as decisive testimony that Rome is the Babylon of the book of Revelation. To the foregoing reasons some add the statement that a woman is used in every other instance in the book of Revelation as the symbol of a literal city, and consequently must mean a literal city in this case. But we are compelled to dissent from this view, for the following reasons:

-The grand principle assumed by the foregoing view is this: The interpretation of a symbol
must always be literal, and can never consist in the substitution of one symbol for another;
and hence the interpretation of the woman as a city, and of the heads of the beasts as
mountains upon which the woman sitteth, must be literal. That there are exceptions to this
rule, and that the case in question furnishes a manifest exception, we will now show.

In Rev. 11:3 the two witnesses are introduced. The next verse is an explanation of what is
meant by the two witnesses: "These are the two olive-trees, and the two candlesticks standing before the God of the earth. "

There can be no question that in this case the explanation of the symbol consists in the
substitution of other symbols. In other words, the explanation consists in transferring the
meaning to other symbols, which are elsewhere clearly explained.

That this is the case in Rev. 17, we will now show.

The angel introduces his explanation of the heads by saying, "Here is the mind which hath wisdom, " plainly implying that wisdom was needed in order to understand what he was there communicating. With the fact before us, that in Rev. 11 the explanation consists in substituting one symbol for another, and with the caution of the angel, as he gives the explanation in this case, let us consider what he utters:-

" The seven heads are seven mountains, on which the woman sitteth. "
 "The woman which thou sawest in that great city, which reigneth over the kings of the earth."   Verses 9, 18.

The wisdom which is needed to rightly comprehend the words of the angel, would doubtless lead us to compare the different instances in which the same facts are referred to in the book of Revelation. If we do this, the following points will appear:-

1. Chap. 13 informs us that one of these seven heads was wounded unto death, and that this
deadly wound was healed. Or, as the same fact is stated again, it had a wound by a sword, and did live. It would be utter folly to assert this of a literal mountain. Hence the heads are not mountains of earth.

2. Each of the seven heads is represented in chap. 12 with a crown upon it, even as each of the ten horns is thus represented in chap. 13. Each of the heads must therefore represent a
kingdom or government, even as the horns represent governments.

3. It is evident that the seven heads are successive (that is, the beast has but one head at a
time), in distinction from the ten horns, which are contemporary. But the seven hills of Rome
are not successive; for it cannot be said of them, "Five are fallen, and one is, and the other is
not yet come; and when he cometh, he must continue a short space. " The beast itself is the
eighth, and is of the seven, which proves that the beast is a literal mountain, or that the heads are not.

4. The heads of the beast must, according to Dan. 7:6 compared with Dan. 8:22, be explained
as kingdoms or governments. Mountains, according to Dan. 2:35, 44 and Jer. 51:25, denote
kingdoms. But the version of Prof. Whiting, which is a literal translation of the text, removes
all obscurity from Rev. 17:9, 10: "The seven heads are seven mountains on which the woman
sitteth, and they are seven kings. " Thus it will be seen that the angel represents the heads as
mountains, and then explains the mountains to be seven successive kings. Thus we see that
the angel transferred the meaning from one symbol to another, and then gave the explanation of the second symbol.

Having proved that the mountains are not literal, but symbolic, it follows that the woman who sits upon them cannot represent a literal city; for a literal city cannot sit upon symbolic
mountains. Hence it appears that the angel transfers the meaning from one symbol to another, as in verses 9, 10; chap. 11:4. And it is certain that the woman of chap. 12 represents the church, and not a literal city. Therefore it is a mistaken idea that a woman in the book of Revelation, as a symbol, always represents a literal city.

Another evidence that the city of Rome is not the Babylon of the Apocalypse, is found in the
following important fact: Rome was and is "the seat of the beast;" therefore the city of Rome cannot be the woman seated upon the beast; for Rome cannot be both the seat of the beast and the woman that sits on the beast. Lest any should deny that Rome is the seat of the beast, we will prove that point from the New Testament. The seat of the beast is the same that had been the seat of the dragon. Rev. 13:2. This dragon is the power that ruled the world at the time of our Saviour's birth. Rev. 12. Consequently it is imperial Rome. The seat of the imperialpower, the throne of the Caesars, was at Rome in Italy. Luke 2:1; Acts 25:10-12, 21;compared with Acts 26:32; 27:1, 24; 28:14-16.

(((Luk 2:1  And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed.

Act 25:10  Then said Paul, I stand at Caesar's judgment seat, where I ought to be judged: to the Jews have I done no wrong, as thou very well knowest.
Act 25:11  For if I be an offender, or have committed any thing worthy of death, I refuse not to die: but if there be none of these things whereof these accuse me, no man may deliver me unto them. I appeal unto Caesar.
Act 25:12  Then Festus, when he had conferred with the council, answered, Hast thou appealed unto Caesar? unto Caesar shalt thou go.

Act 25:21  But when Paul had appealed to be reserved unto the hearing of Augustus, I commanded him to be kept till I might send him to Caesar.

Act 26:32  Then said Agrippa unto Festus, This man might have been set at liberty, if he had not appealed unto Caesar.

Act 27:1  And when it was determined that we should sail into Italy, they delivered Paul and certain other prisoners unto one named Julius, a centurion of Augustus' band.

Act 27:24  Saying, Fear not, Paul; thou must be brought before Caesar: and, lo, God hath given thee all them that sail with thee.

Act 28:14  Where we found brethren, and were desired to tarry with them seven days: and so we went toward Rome.
Act 28:15  And from thence, when the brethren heard of us, they came to meet us as far as Appii forum, and The three taverns: whom when Paul saw, he thanked God, and took courage.
Act 28:16  And when we came to Rome, the centurion delivered the prisoners to the captain of the guard: but Paul was suffered to dwell by himself with a soldier that kept him. ))))

 The fact being established that Rome is the seat of the beast, it follows that Rome is not the woman Babylon, seated upon the beast. The fact that Rome is not the Babylon of the Apocalypse may also be demonstrated from Rev. 16. The fifth vial is poured out upon the seat of the beast, which we have shown to be Rome. But the great city, Babylon, does not receive her cup of wrath until the seventh vial is poured out. Verses 10, 11, 17-19. Then Babylon and Rome are not the same. Were Babylon a literal city, but few, at most, of the people of God could be found in it, and but a portion of any class of the wicked; so that almost all of every class of men would in that case be outside of the Babylon of  (?)(((Missing text but possibly…'Rome'.))))

But it is very evident that at the time of the cry, "Come out of her, my people, " the people of
God, as a body, are in that great city. It is also worthy of notice that if Babylon is a literal city,
it must be a place of the greatest commercial importance; for in Rev. 18 it is represented as
the great center of commerce, and its destruction causes universal mourning among the
merchants and sailors of the world. It is certain that Rome is far from being a commercial city
as any one upon the globe; and the destruction of Rome would not in the slightest degree
affect commercial business.

"At Rome, " says Gibbon, "commerce was always held in contempt. " Nor could the sailors
and ship-masters of the earth lament over her, saying, "What city is like unto this great city!"
for either New York or London is equal to a great number of such cities as Rome in
commercial importance. And, indeed, there is not a city upon the globe whose destruction
would cause all commerce to cease, and all the sailors and merchants of the earth to mourn.
These arguments, we think, demonstrate that Rome is not the (?) (((Missing text, but obviously trying to say Rome is not the Babylon spoken of in Revelation.))))

BABYLON A SYMBOL OF THE PROFESSED CHURCH UNITED TO THE WORLD.

Babylon is the name of the symbolic harlot which was seen by John. A woman is the symbol
of a church. Rev. 12. A harlot is the symbol of a corrupt church. Eze. 16.

 It is evident that the woman in Rev. 17 should be interpreted in the same manner as the one in chap. 12. As that symbol undoubtedly represents the true church, though spoken of as a woman and her seed, so the harlot and her daughters are doubtless the entire corrupt church. Rev. 18:5. We understand, therefore, that Babylon is not limited to a single ecclesiastical body, but that its very name renders it necessary that it should be composed of many.

If the harlot to whom the kings of the earth have unlawfully united themselves, symbolizes
only the church of Rome, it follows that many of the wicked powers of the earth are quite free from this sin. The Greek Church is the established church of Russia and Greece; the Lutheran Church is the established Church of Prussia, Holland, Sweden, Norway, and a part of the smaller German states; England has Episcopacy for her State religion; and other countries
have their established religions, and zealously oppose dissenters. Babylon has made all the
nations drunk with her wine; it can therefore symbolize nothing less than the universal
worldly church.

It will be seen, therefore, that we do not exclusively apply the prophecy respecting Babylon to any one of the corrupt bodies which have existed, or which now exist. In this great city of
confusion, we understand that the corrupt Roman and Greek churches occupy a large space,
and act an important part. War, oppression, conformity to the world, and the like, identify
with sad and faithful accuracy the great body of the Protestant churches as an important
constituent part of this great Babylon.

When the papal church possessed the power, it destroyed a vast multitude of the saints of
God. Nor has the Protestant Church, since its rise, been free from acts of persecution
whenever it has possessed the power to perform them. The Protestants of Geneva, with John
Calvin at their head, burned Michael Servetus, a man who had barely escaped the same fate at the hands of the popish inquisition. They did this for the same reason that the papists do the like; that is, they did it for a difference of opinion, and because they had the power to do it. Witness also the long continued oppression which the Church of England was able to maintain toward all dissenters.

Even the puritan fathers of New England, themselves fugitives from the wicked oppression of
the Church of England, could not forbear to hang the Quakers, and to whip and imprison the
Baptists. In all these cases the civil arm was under the control of these professed worshipers
of Jehovah, and they could not forbear to use it.

The Protestant Church, till within a short time, held many thousand slaves; nor is the fact to
be disguised that the professed church was the right arm of the slave power. Nor was slavery
abolished by the churches. To the secular power falls the honor of overthrowing this gigantic
evil; and the churches have never confessed their great wrong in so long upholding this
iniquitous system. This great fact identifies the Protestant Church as a part of Babylon, with
absolute certainty. Rev. 18:13.

The celebrated Albert Barnes, whose notes on the New Testament are so widely diffused, uses the following startling language: "There is no power out of the church that could sustain
slavery an hour, if it were not sustained in it. " "The churches are the bulwark of American
slavery. " Christ forbade his people to lay up treasures on earth (Matt. 6:19); but the professed church at the present day, as a body, exhibits greater eagerness in the pursuit of wealth, and in the acquisition of Babylonish treasures (Rev. 18:11-14), than even worldlings themselves. In exposing the corruption of the Babylonish church of his time, Christ warned his own people to beware of the like abominations. "But be not ye called Rabbi, " says Christ; that is, master, or doctor; "for one is your Master, even Christ; and all ye are brethren. " Matt. 23:8. Apparently to imitate the Romish Church, Protestants call their ministers Reverend. This word, which is used only once in the Scriptures, is there applied to God. Ps. 111:9. If it is a sin for the church to call her ministers Rabbi, or master, how much greater sin must it be for her to apply to them the title of Reverend, which belongs to God alone! Not content with this, some of these professed servants of Jesus Christ become Right Reverend, and Very Reverend. And not a few of them become Doctors of Divinity, so great is their proficiency in the doctrines of Christ!

The New Testament speaks in the most decisive manner respecting plainness of dress; but the majority of the professed church at the present time walk in all the fashionable follies of life. They are arrayed in all the gaudy attire of Babylonian merchandise. The merchants of
Babylon are the great men of the earth. In the fold of the nominal church is to be found a large portion of the lawyers, doctors, politicians, and great men of the world. To succeed in
business, to become honorable in society, or to rise to high offices in the nation, it is
important to make a profession of religion, and to have a good and regular standing in the
church. This is most abominable in the sight of God; and yet it is very apparent that the
church joyfully welcomes such members, because they will make the body more honorable.
It may be said that even corrupt Protestants should not be joined with Romanists, as forming
the great city of Babylon; for although Romanists claim infallibility, Protestants never yet
have done this. We answer that in this the difference exists only in name. To speak in the language of their several pretensions, Romanists never can err; Protestants never do err. If Romanists claim infallibility in advance for the decrees and ordinances of their church, it is also true that Protestant bodies never afterward acknowledge wherein their churches or their councils have been in error. So that Protestant churches have all the advantage of infallibility, and leave to the Romanists all the odium of claiming it. Babylon is represented as trafficking in the souls of men. Look at the Church of England. There the vacant parishes are in some cases even set up for sale, and the highest bidder becomes the possessor of its revenue and the pastor of its people! To come nearer home, let us look at the various religious denominations in every place where they have sufficient wealth and strength to become popular. They must erect a splendid house of worship and furnish it in the most expensive style; and the members of the church must dress in all the fashion and pride of life. Then they must have an eloquent man to preach smooth things to fashionable ears. The church which can outdo the others in these particulars will succeed in securing the fashionable sinners of the place as permanent members of the congregation.

The word Babylon. as we have seen, signifies confusion, and comes from Babel, the place
where men, in their impious attempt to build a tower that should reach unto heaven, had their language confounded. Gen. 11. The church should be a unit. This was the will of Christ.
Witness his intercession with the Father, as recorded in John 17. He prayed that his disciples
might be one, as he and his Father are one; for this would cause the world to believe in Christ. Since the great apostasy, the majority of the professed followers have busied themselves in attempting to climb up to heaven some other way. They have been confounded in the attempt, and scattered abroad upon the face of the earth, with creeds as discordant as the languages of those who were dispersed at the ancient tower. The Holy Spirit uses the word Babylon on account of its signification, and it is a most appropriate designation for the great city of confusion to which it is applied.

The church was represented as a chaste virgin, espoused to Christ. 2 Cor. 11:2.

(((2Co 11:2  For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.))))

She became a harlot by seeking the friendship of the world. James 4:4.

(((Jas 4:4  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.))))

 It was this unlawful connection with the kings of the earth that constituted her the great harlot of the Apocalypse. Rev. 17. The Jewish Church, represented as espoused to the Lord (Jer. 2; 3; 31:32), became a harlot in the same manner. Eze. 16. Even the term Sodom, which in Rev. 11 is applied to "the great city, " is in Isa. 1 applied to the Jewish Church thus apostatized from God.

The fact that Babylon is distinct from, though unlawfully united with, the kings of the earth, is  positive proof that Babylon is not the civil power. The fact that the people of God are in her midst just before her overthrow, proves that she is a professedly religious body. We think it must be apparent, that the Babylon of Rev. 17 symbolizes the professed church unlawfully united to the world.

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My notes-

These words are truth--   Babylon of Rev. 17 surely does symbolize the professed church unlawfully united to the world.

Is the CURRENT corporate church of God- the one called forth as knowledge was increased in the 1800's- the one who was God's spiritual Israel -  is it now hand in hand with Babylon, with all that is apostatized from truth?!  YES! Over and over since 1888 they were called to repent and they DID NOT! There is proof! Do you want the proof?!  Just read through these blogs, just go to the various websites - Adventist Laymen's Foundation,  Adventist Alert, go to them and read, read, read!  The proof is there?! People are not making up tales, but giving PROOF of the apostasy!  Why would they make it up when eternal life is at stake? Why?!

The corporate body of spiritual Israel is unrepentant and in 1980 they sealed their fate. No longer can they repent as a corporate body, it is now down to the individuals and may God bless ALL those who would be HIS in all HIS TRUTH, holding fast to the SAVIOR'S TRUTH, Truth He died to bring to us!

Please LORD, please bless us to be YOURS!

All by YOUR GRACE, LOVE, MERCY, RIGHTEOUSNESS!

All in YOU SAVIOR!

Identity of the Angels of Rev. 14:6 and 10:1

Have you ever sat down to eat a very thick steak?  Or maybe you're a vegetarian so you need to alter that a bit, have you ever sat down to a thick, very dense piece of lentil loaf? You need to take your time, you need to chew the food good or you can choke on it. Also, you know that you aren't going to finish that steak/lentil loaf in just a few minutes. Food like that takes time to eat. When we get the meat of God's word we have to chew slowly and thoroughly, we have to take our time with it. We have to or else we risk dying don't we? With the food most assuredly. Many have died choking on their food, and I'm not saying they are at fault because I don't know if they were wolfing it down or being careless or not. You are more likely to choke when you don't chew your food good though and try to swallow chunks that are too big. We have to consider this as we feast on God's word, taking in the meat of it, not the milk. The milk will go down easy, no chewing necessary at all. The meat however will take a lot more effort.

I'm talking about this because I've been feeding you meat these last few days and I'm going to continue to feed you meat and I don't want you to get frustrated by it. If you want God's truth, if you TRULY want God's word you will study this as you need to and none of my words matter, just God's truth!

May the HOLY SPIRIT bless us as we dig into the Word of God and try to wrest the truths we need for the times we are living in.

Please, Lord, please bless us.

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Chapter 2 - The Proclamations Of The First Angel

Identity of the Angels of Rev. 14:6 and 10:1

The Open Book of Chapter 10

Nature of this Proclamation
Time when it is heard
Extent of the Warning
Evidences of which it is based
Reference to John the Baptist
The Disappointment.

"And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach
unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people, saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his Judgment is come; and worship him that made heaven and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters. " Rev. 14:6, 7.

WE call this the first angel, because it is the first of the series.
See verse 9.

(((Rev 14:9  And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand))))

John calls it "another angel, " from the fact that he had previously seen an angel flying through the midst of heaven, after the fourth angel had sounded, announcing the last three trumpets as woe trumpets. See Chap. 8:13.

(((Rev 8:13  And I beheld, and heard an angel flying through the midst of heaven, saying with a loud voice, Woe, woe, woe, to the inhabiters of the earth by reason of the other voices of the trumpet of the three angels, which are yet to sound! ))))

This was about the close of the sixth century, and this fact shows that the first angel of Rev. 14 does not belong to the apostolic age.

We understand that this angel is the same as the one brought to view in Rev. 10.

We shall therefore briefly refer to that chapter as explanatory of chap. 14:6, 7, and as furnishing an important argument respecting the time of its fulfillment.  Chap. 9 of Revelation, presents the first and second woes. The prophetic period connected with the second woe terminated with the political power of the Ottoman Empire, Aug. 11, 1840. *

Thus ends the ninth chapter, and the tenth opens with the descent of a mighty angel from heaven with a little book in his hand, who cries with a loud voice, as when a lion roareth, and then lifts up his hand to heaven, and swears that time shall be no longer.

This oath cannot mean duration as measured by days and years, for in chap. 20 we have 1000
years measured off between the two resurrections; and, for aught that appears to the contrary, duration will ever be measured thus. Nor can it mean probationary time, for two reasons:

1. It is certain, from verse 7, that this announcement precedes the voice of the seventh angel,
(seventh trumpet) and it is in the days of the commencement of his voice that the mystery of
God is finished;
2. After this oath of the angel, it is said to John, who doubtless personates the church, that he
must prophesy again.

These reasons furnish conclusive proof that probation has not closed when this oath is uttered. Hence we understand that this oath has reference to the prophetic periods, and that this angel with the little book open in his hand is the same as the angel of Chap. 14, announcing that the hour of God's Judgment has come.

The little book which was open in his hand, we understand to be the prophecy of Daniel,
which was to be sealed up until the time of the end. The angel of Chap. 10 preached from this little book, and it is this prophecy of Daniel that contains the prophetic time on which the
angel of Chap. 14:6 bases his proclamation that the hour of God's Judgment is come.

This proclamation is one of pre-eminent importance.

It is not a mere local judgment, but one that concerns all the inhabitants of the earth. Hence it has reference to the final Judgment scene. It is the same gospel that Paul preached that is here styled the "everlasting gospel. " But the great truth uttered by this angel would not have been a truth if uttered by Paul; for he lived at the commencement of the gospel dispensation, and this proclamation relates to its closing scenes. It seems to be the same as "this gospel of the kingdom" that our Lord presents in Matt. 24:14 as the sign of the end of this dispensation.

The truth on this point is well expressed in the following language of the late Sylvester Bliss:
" As an indication of the approach of the end, there was, however, to be seen another angel
flying through the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that
dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people. Rev. 14:6.
The burden of this angel was to be the same gospel which had been before proclaimed; but
connected with it was the additional motive of the proximity of the kingdom - `saying with a
loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his Judgment is come; and
worship him that made heaven and earth, and the seas, and the fountains of waters. ' Verse 7.

No mere preaching of the gospel, without announcing its proximity, could fulfill this message.
We firmly believe that this proclamation has been made, and that the preaching of the
immediate advent of our Lord has been in fulfillment in this prophecy. Prior to the fall of the
Ottoman Empire in 1840, it had been shown by those who were preaching the immediate
advent of Christ, that the hour, day, month, and year of Ottoman supremacy would expire the 11th of August, 1840. When the event verified the truthfulness of this calculation, the way was prepared for the advent message to go with mighty power. The prophecies were not only unsealed, but, in the providence of God, a demonstration of the truthfulness of the mode of calculation respecting the prophetic times was given to the world. Thus, at the very time when the mighty angel of God was to come down with the little book open in his hand, and to cry with a loud voice, the advent message began to be proclaimed with great power. It was the good news of the everlasting kingdom, and of the advent of our glorious King.

Hence it is evident that the advent proclamation comes in at the right time in this prophecy.
The declaration of this angel, that the mystery of God should be finished in the days of the
voice of the seventh angel, as He had declared to his servants the prophets, presents several
important facts:

1. That the angel bases his preaching upon the authority of the prophets;
2. That the finishing of the mystery of God occupies days at the commencement of the voice
of the seventh angel, and we understand the days of this angel to be years, as were those of
the fifth and sixth angels of chap. 9; 3. That it shall be finished in the days of the voice of the
seventh angel in the manner that the prophets have declared. One of them, Daniel, has told
how the mystery of God should be finished at the end of the 2300 days; viz. , the Sanctuary
should be cleansed, which event accomplishes the work of our great High Priest.

The extent of this proclamation is worthy of notice. An English writer, Mourant Brock, thus
remarks:-

"It is not merely in great Britain that the expectation of the near return of the Redeemer is
entertained, and the voice of warning raised, but also in America, India, and on the continent
of Europe. In America, about three hundred ministers of the word are thus preaching `this
gospel of the kingdom;' while in this country, about seven hundred of the Church of England
are raising the same cry. "

Dr. Joseph Wolfe traveled in Arabia Felix, through the region inhabited by the descendants of
Hobab, Moses' father-in-law. In Yemen, he saw a book which he mentions thus:-
" The Arabs of this place have a book called SEERA. which treats of the second coming of
Christ, and his reign in glory! In Yemen, he spent six days with the Rechabites. `They drink
no wine, plant no vineyards, sow no seed, live in tents, and remember the words of Jonadab,
the son of Rechab. ' With them were children of Israel, of the tribe of Dan, who reside near
Terim in Hatramawt, who expect, in common with the children of Rechab, the speedy arrival
of the Messiah in the clouds of heaven. "

The "Voice of the Church, " by D. T. Taylor, speaks as follows concerning the wide diffusion
of the advent sentiment:-

" In Wirtemberg there is a Christian colony numbering hundreds, who look for the speedy
advent of Christ; also another of like belief on the shores of the Caspian; the Molokaners, a
large body of dissenters from the Russian Greek Church, residing on the shores of the Baltic, -
a very pious people of whom it is said, `Taking the Bible alone for their creed, the norm of
their faith is simply the Holy Scriptures, ' - are characterized by the `expectation of Christ's
immediate and visible reign upon earth. ' In Russia, the doctrine of Christ's coming and reign
is preached to some extent and received by many of the lower class.

It has been extensively agitated in Germany, particularly in the south part among the
Moravians. In Norway, charts and books on the advent have been circulated extensively, and
the doctrine has been received by many. Among the Tartars in Tartary, there prevails an
expectation of Christ's advent about this time. English and American publications on this
doctrine have been sent to Holland, Germany, India, Ireland, Constantinople, Rome, and to
nearly every missionary station on the globe. At the Turks Islands, it has been received to
some extent among the Wesleyans.

"Mr. Fox, a Scottish missionary to the Teloogoo people, was a believer in Christ's soon
coming. James MacGregor Bertram, a Scottish missionary of the Baptist order at St. Helena,
has sounded the cry extensively on that island, making many converts and pre-millennialists;
he has also preached it at South Africa at the missionary stations there.

David N. Lord informs us that a large proportion of the missionaries who have gone from
Great Britain to make known the gospel to the heathen, and who are now laboring in Asia and Africa, are millennarians; and Joseph Wolfe, D. D. , according to his journals, between the years 1821 and 1845 proclaimed the Lord's speedy advent in Palestine, Egypt, on the shores of the Red Sea, Mesopotamia, the Crimea, Persia, Georgia, throughout the Ottoman Empire, in Greece, Arabia, Turkistan, Bokhara, Afghanistan, Cashmere, Hindoostan, Thibet, in
Holland, Scotland, and Ireland, at Constantinople, Jerusalem, St. Helena, also on shipboard in
the Mediterranean, and at New York City to all denominations. He declares he has preached
among Jews, Turks, Mohammedans, Parsees, Hindoos, Chaldeans, Yescedes, Syrians,
Sabeans, to pashas, sheiks, shahs, the kings of Organtsh and Bokhara, the queen of Greece,
etc; and of his extraordinary labors the Investigator says, `No individual has, perhaps, given
greater publicity to the doctrine of the second coming of the Lord Jesus Christ than has this
well-known missionary to the 20 world. Wherever he goes, he proclaims the approaching
advent of the Messiah in glory. ' "

None can deny that this world-wide warning of impending judgment has been given. The
nature of the evidence adduced in its support now claims our attention, as furnishing the most conclusive testimony that it was a message from Heaven.

All the great outlines of the world's prophetic history were shown to be complete in the
present generation. The great prophetic chain of Dan. 2, also the chains of chaps. 7, 8 and 11,
12, were shown to be just accomplished.

(((I can deny this… we know from our studying,  and we know from the fact we are still here 137 years later that all of the chains had not yet been fully accomplished. The Times of the Gentiles had not yet been fulfilled- not until 1980.  The prophecy in Daniel 11:45 has yet to be fulfilled.  There is more, but so much had been fulfilled before  at the time of this writing in 1877 the rest perhaps could have been fulfilled quickly- with GOD nothing is impossible, had God's spiritually chosen NOT apostatized in 1888, something J.N. Andrews couldn't have known would happen in 1877. Let's continue with this in mind, keeping time and place in our thoughts and taking from this what we need, all by the grace of God.))))

The same was true of our Lord's prophetic description of the gospel dispensation. Matt. 24; Mark 13; Luke 21.

The prophetic periods of Dan. 7, 8, 9, 12 and Rev. 11, 12, 13, were shown to harmonize with,
and to unitedly sustain, this great proclamation.

The signs in the heavens and upon the earth and sea, in the church and among the nations,
with one voice bore witness to the warning which God addressed to the human family. Joel
2:30, 31; Matt. 24:29-31; Mark 13:24-26; Luke 21:25-36; 2 Tim. 3:1-7, Rev. 6:12, 13.

(((Joe 2:30  And I will shew wonders in the heavens and in the earth, blood, and fire, and pillars of smoke.
Joe 2:31  The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and the terrible day of the LORD come.

Mat 24:29  Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken:
Mat 24:30  And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.
Mat 24:31  And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.

Mar 13:24  But in those days, after that tribulation, the sun shall be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light,
Mar 13:25  And the stars of heaven shall fall, and the powers that are in heaven shall be shaken.
Mar 13:26  And then shall they see the Son of man coming in the clouds with great power and glory.

Luk 21:25  And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring;
Luk 21:26  Men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken.
Luk 21:27  And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.
Luk 21:28  And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.
Luk 21:29  And he spake to them a parable; Behold the fig tree, and all the trees;
Luk 21:30  When they now shoot forth, ye see and know of your own selves that summer is now nigh at hand.
Luk 21:31  So likewise ye, when ye see these things come to pass, know ye that the kingdom of God is nigh at hand.
Luk 21:32  Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass away, till all be fulfilled.
Luk 21:33  Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away.
Luk 21:34  And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares.
Luk 21:35  For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth.
Luk 21:36  Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.

2Ti 3:1  This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.
2Ti 3:2  For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,
2Ti 3:3  Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,
2Ti 3:4  Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;
2Ti 3:5  Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.
2Ti 3:6  For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts,
2Ti 3:7  Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.

Rev 6:12  And I beheld when he had opened the sixth seal, and, lo, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became as blood;
Rev 6:13  And the stars of heaven fell unto the earth, even as a fig tree casteth her untimely figs, when she is shaken of a mighty wind. ))))

And besides the mighty array of evidence on which this warning was based, the great
outpouring of the Holy Spirit in connection with this proclamation set the seal of Heaven to
its truth.

The warning of John the Baptist, which was to prepare the way for the first advent of our
Lord, was of short duration, and limited in its extent. For each prophetic testimony which
sustained the work of John, we have several which support the proclamation of Christ's near
advent. John had not the aid of the press to disseminate his proclamation, nor the facility of
modern methods of travel; he was a humble man, dressed in camel's hair, and he performed
no miracles. If the Pharisees and lawyers rejected the counsel of God against themselves, in
not being baptized of John, how great must be the guilt of those who reject the warning sent
by God to prepare the way of the second advent!

(((The following is a VERY important message, something we cannot, we dare not forget!))))

But those were disappointed who expected the Lord in 1843 and `44. This fact is with many a
sufficient reason for rejecting all the testimony in this case. We acknowledge the
disappointment, but cannot acknowledge that this furnishes a just reason for denying the hand of God in this work. The Jewish Church were disappointed when at the close of the work of John the Baptist, Jesus presented himself as the promised Messiah; and the trusting disciples were most sadly disappointed when He whom they expected to deliver Israel was by wicked hands taken and slain.

And after his resurrection, when they expected him to restore again the kingdom to Israel,
they could not but be disappointed when they understood that he was going away to his
Father, and that they were to be left for a long season to tribulation and anguish. But
disappointment does not prove that God has no hand in the guidance of his people. It should
lead them to correct their errors, but it should not lead them to cast away their confidence in
God. It was because the children of Israel were disappointed in the wilderness that they so
often denied their guidance as divine. They are set forth as an admonition to us, that we
should not fall after the same example of unbelief.

But it must be apparent to every student of the Scriptures, that the angel who proclaims the
hour of God's Judgment does not give the latest message of mercy. Rev. 14 presents two others and later proclamations, before the close of human probation. This fact alone is sufficient to prove that the coming of the Lord does not take place until the second and third proclamations have been added to the first.

The same thing may also be seen in the fact that after the angel of chap. 10 has sworn that
time shall be no longer another work of prophesying before many people and nations is
announced. Hence we understand that the first angel preaches the hour of God's Judgment
come; that is, he preaches the termination of the prophetic periods, and that this is the time
which he swears shall be no longer.

The Judgment does, of necessity, commence before the advent of Christ; for he comes to
execute the Judgment (Jude 14, 15; Matt. 25:31-46; John 5:27); and at the sound of the last
trumpet, he confers immortality upon every one of the righteous, and passes by all the wicked.

(((Jud 1:14  And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints, Jud 1:15  To execute judgment upon all, and to convince all that are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed, and of all their hard speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against him.

Mat 25:31  When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory:
Mat 25:32  And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats:
Mat 25:33  And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left.
Mat 25:34  Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:
Mat 25:35  For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in:
Mat 25:36  Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.
Mat 25:37  Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink?
Mat 25:38  When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee?
Mat 25:39  Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?
Mat 25:40  And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.
Mat 25:41  Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:
Mat 25:42  For I was an hungred, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink:
Mat 25:43  I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not.
Mat 25:44  Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee?
Mat 25:45  Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me.
Mat 25:46  And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.

Joh 5:27  And hath given him authority to execute judgment also, because he is the Son of man.))))

The investigative Judgment does, therefore, precede the execution of the same by the Saviour. It is the province of the Father to preside in this investigative work, as set forth in Dan. 7. At this tribunal, the Son closes up his work as high priest, and is crowned king. Thence he comes to earth to execute the decisions of his Father. It is this work of judgment by the Father which the first angel introduces.

The great period of 2300 days, which was the most important period in marking the definite
time in that proclamation, extends to the cleansing of the Sanctuary. That the cleansing of the Sanctuary is not the cleansing of any part of the earth, but that it is the last work of our great High Priest in the heavenly Tabernacle, before his advent to the earth, has been clearly shown.  And we understand that it is while the work of cleansing the Sanctuary takes place that the latest message of mercy is proclaimed. Thus it will be seen that the prophetic periods, and the proclamation which is based upon them, do not extend to the coming of the Lord.

*******

2300 year prophecy had to be finished before the cleansing work in 1844 could begin. What makes us think that 137 years is a long time when we consider a prophecy 2300 years long?!

I know that there is no more time framed prophecy for us. We are living in a time of opportunity and God is giving and has given us an opportunity to be HIS. As with Israel of old His spiritual Israel abandoned Him, they didn't HAVE to! They were told to repent, and warned if they didn't then they would NOT be God's!  Now those of us who witness the apostasy and come out of it are in the position of opportunity to be truly God's spiritual Israel, those who will see our Savior return!  We have the opportunity, will we take it? Will we? Or will we apostatize too? Will we get to the end and turn our back on God? Will it be too much for us? We have to pray it won't be, that we will be known of our Savior, known of Him and be submitted to His will wholly, to allow the Holy Spirit to dwell in us keeping us in Christ through the time after Christ stands up and says it is finished and we know longer have an advocate with our Father pleading for us, an Advocate who shed His blood, who gave His life for us. At that time we have to be sealed as His and ONLY He can have us sealed.  Please Savior, please we would be Yours!

By YOUR LOVE!

God Warns, Do We Listen?

Again, this is a study filled with meat not milk, it's not for those who only want to take a quick read and not bother about the deep truths of God's word relative to the end of days.

The facts we are being shown reveal so much.

Our Savior WILL return.

There is NO doubting that fact at all!

Our Savior has given us many prophecies concerning His return, many!

Our Savior would never leave us UNWARNED, never!

None of those who have faced destruction have gone unwarned. All through the old testament we read about the people of God, the Israelis at that time, being warned over and over again about their transgressions, because God wanted them to REPENT!  He calls us to repentance!

Before our Savior returns all will have been called to repentance!  Only those who heed that call will be God's people.

God warns us, and we are to HEED the warnings, not ignore them, not turn a blind eye to them.

By the grace of our LORD, our SAVIOR, in His mercy may we read and understand His truths for OUR time.

In HIS LOVE!


CONTINUED…

Three Angels of Revelation 14:6-12

By J.N Andrews

The next inquiry relates to the past. Have not these messages met their fulfillment in the history of the church in past ages? - We think not. Our reasons for this conclusion are, in part, the following:-

1. No proclamation of the hour of God's Judgment come, has ever been made in any past age.
2. If such a proclamation had been made many centuries in the past, as some contend, it
would have been a false one.
3. The prophecies on which such a proclamation to men in a state of probation must be based, were closed up and sealed to the time of the end.
4. The scriptures plainly locate the message of warning respecting the Judgment in brief space immediately preceding the advent of our Lord, thus directly contradicting the view that locates these messages in past ages.

We now offer proof in support of the foregoing propositions. If they are sustained, they establish the fact that the present generation is that one to which the angels' messages are addressed. We earnestly invite all who wish to find the truth, to weigh this part of the argument with special care.

1. Has the proclamation of the hour of God's Judgment come, been made in any past age? If such a proclamation has never been made in past centuries, there is an end to controversy on this part of the subject. No person has ever been able to show any such proclamation in the past. The apostles did not make such a proclamation; on the contrary, they plainly informus that the day of the Lord was not then at hand. Martin Luther did not make this proclamation; for he thought the Judgment about three hundred years in the future. And finally, the history of the church presents no such proclamation in the past. Had the first angel preached to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people, that the hour of God's Judgment had come, the publicity of such proclamation would be a sufficient guaranty that
the history of the world would contain some record of the fact. Its total silence respecting such a proclamation is ample proof that it was never made, and should put to silence those who make such an affirmation.

2. We are on firm ground, also, when we say that had such a proclamation been made to the
world in ages past, it would have been false. Four reasons sustain this statement:
(1. ) There is no part of the Bible on which such a message, centuries in the past, could have
been based; hence, had such a proclamation been made, it would have been without scripture foundation, and consequently not from Heaven;
(2. ) It would have been in direct opposition to those scriptures which locate the Judgment,
and the warning respecting its approach, in the period of the last generation. (The scriptures
which sustain these two reasons we shall presently cite. );
(3. ) The history of the world amply evinces that the hour of God's Judgment had not come
ages in the past;
(4. ) Nor would it be true of past ages, if limited to Babylon; for Rev. 18:8-10 clearly shows
that the hour of Babylon's Judgment is yet in the future.

(((Rev 18:8  Therefore shall her plagues come in one day, death, and mourning, and famine; and she shall be utterly burned with fire: for strong is the Lord God who judgeth her.
Rev 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,
Rev 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. ))))

It is certain, therefore, that the angel with the proclamation respecting the hour of God's Judgment has not given it at a time when it would be not only destitute of scriptural support, but would absolutely contradict their plain testimony.

3. The prophecies which give us the time of the Judgment, and which present the succession
of events leading down to that great crisis, were closed up and sealed till the time of the end.
We refer particularly to the prophecies of Daniel. See Dan. 8:17, 26; 12:4, 9.

(((Dan 8:17  So he came near where I stood: and when he came, I was afraid, and fell upon my face: but he said unto me, Understand, O son of man: for at the time of the end shall be the vision.

Dan 8:26  And the vision of the evening and the morning which was told is true: wherefore shut thou up the vision; for it shall be for many days.

Dan 12:4  But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end: many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased.

Dan 12:9  And he said, Go thy way, Daniel: for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end. ))))

 Hence it is evident that God preserves the warning for that generation which alone needs it. Noah's warning respecting the flood was alone applicable to those who should witness it; thus also the warning respecting the Judgment is alone applicable to that generation which lives in the last days.

4. The Bible locates these messages in the period which immediately precedes the second advent, and plainly warns us against the proclamation of the Judgment at hand prior to that time. Here we join issue with our opponents. Instead of finding that the apostles gave this proclamation, as some teach, we shall find indubitable evidence that they located it far in the future, and that they admonished the church to heed none that should precede a given time. If we recur to the book of Acts, we shall find Paul preaching before Felix of the Judgment to come; and before the Athenians, that God hath appointed a day in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by Jesus Christ. Acts 24:25; 17:31.

(((Act 24:25  And as he reasoned of righteousness, temperance, and judgment to come, Felix trembled, and answered, Go thy way for this time; when I have a convenient season, I will call for thee.

Act 17:31  Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead. ))))

But that book nowhere intimates that Christ was immediately coming to judgment. Peter points his hearers to the future, saying that the heavens which had then received Christ, must retain him until the times of restitution. Acts 3:21.

(((Act 3:21  Whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began. ))))

The first Epistle to the Thessalonians may seem to teach that the apostles expected the coming of Christ to judgment in their day. Indeed, it is evident that such an idea was received from it by the Thessalonian church. Hence it was, that in his second Epistle to them, Paul found it necessary to speak explicitly on the point. He tells them that the coming of Christ to the  Judgment could not take place until the great apostasy; and as the result of that apostasy, that the man of sin should be revealed, showing himself that he is God, and exalting himself above all that is called God, or that is worshiped. That this mystery of iniquity is the great Romish apostasy, none but a papist will deny.

Paul reminds the Thessalonians that he had told them of these things when he was yet with them. And where could Paul have learned this fact which he had thus stated to them?

Paul was accustomed to reason from the Scriptures, and not to deal in assertion. Hence it is very evident that he refers to the prophecy of Daniel, which in its seventh chapter has given the successive events which intervened between its time and the Judgment. In this series of events it has with wonderful precision described the power to which Paul has referred as the man of sin.

No Protestant will deny the identity of Daniel's little horn and Paul's man of sin. And as Daniel has brought it into a series of events which ends with the Judgment and the setting up of the everlasting kingdom, it is an easy matter for Paul to tell where in this series of events he stood, and whether the Judgment was the next event or not. The apostle, therefore, plainly tells them that that day was not at hand. For the man of sin, the little horn, must arise and perform his predicted work; and when that should be accomplished, the coming of Christ
should transpire, to consume "that Wicked" with its brightness.

((( I have to interject here for a moment. These words- 'No Protestant will deny the identity of Daniel's little horn and Paul's man of sin.' - Yet today many would, many, in fact even among the formerly spiritually chosen people who have apostatized, would deny that the Papacy is the man of sin. They handed the Pope himself a medallion…  http://www.adventistalert.com/medallion/medallion.htm . This is something that would have been unheard of in 1877, unheard of!  In fact, J.N. Andrews could make that above statement in all truthfulness. In 1877 no Protestant would deny the truth of the Papacy.  We've become so BLINDED!))))

Now, when was the little horn to arise? Daniel was told that it should arise after the ten horns upon the fourth beast; or, in other words, after the fourth empire should be divided into ten kingdoms, which was accomplished about five hundred years after Christ. The Judgment, therefore, could not come prior to that time. But how long was this little horn to have power to wear out the saints? - Daniel informs us that it should be for "a time, and times, and the dividing of time. " How long is this period? - Rev. 12 shows that it is 1260 prophetic days, or years. Verses 6, 14.

(((Rev 12:6  And the woman fled into the wilderness, where she hath a place prepared of God, that they should feed her there a thousand two hundred and threescore days.

Rev 12:14  And to the woman were given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness, into her place, where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a time, from the face of the serpent. ))))

 It follows, therefore, that the apostle carries the mind forward five hundred years, to the development of the man of sin, and thence 1260 years for his triumph, before the Judgment could be preached as an event immediately impending. Whoever will carefully read Dan. 7, will get the original of Paul's argument in 2 Thess. 2, and will not fail to see the force of his statement.

The papal supremacy began in 538, and ended in 1798 with the overthrow of the pope's temporal power. Therefore the warning of Paul against a false proclamation respecting the Judgment at hand, expires at that time, and not before; for we will then have reached the point of time when the last important event in Dan. 7, before the Judgment, has transpired.

An angel from heaven, preaching the hour of God's Judgment come many years in the past, would be giving a different gospel from that preached by Paul. Those who locate the angel of Rev. 14:6, 7, in past ages, virtually place upon his head the anathema of Paul in Gal. 1:8. And, what is of very deep interest, the point of time at which Paul's warning expires, is the commencement of the time of the end, - the very point to which the visions of Daniel were
closed up and sealed.

Compare Daniel 11:33, 35 and 7:25, and the fact that the 1260 years' persecution of the saints terminates with the commencement of the time of the end, will appear obvious.

(((Dan 11:33  And they that understand among the people shall instruct many: yet they shall fall by the sword, and by flame, by captivity, and by spoil, many days.

Dan 11:35  And some of them of understanding shall fall, to try them, and to purge, and to make them white, even to the time of the end: because it is yet for a time appointed.

Dan 7:25  And he shall speak great words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High, and think to change times and laws: and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time. ))))

How gloriously does this view of the subject make the truth of God shine out! for the warning of the apostle against a false proclamation of the Judgment at hand, expires at the very point where the seal is taken from those prophecies which show when the Judgment sits. And it is respecting this period, the time of the end, that it is said, Many shall run to and fro, and knowledge (on the very subject which was before concealed) shall be increased. Then the time of the end is the period in which the Judgment-hour cry, and the subsequent messages,
are to be given. Dan. 8:17, 26; 12:4, 9.

(((Dan 8:17  So he came near where I stood: and when he came, I was afraid, and fell upon my face: but he said unto me, Understand, O son of man: for at the time of the end shall be the vision.

Dan 8:26  And the vision of the evening and the morning which was told is true: wherefore shut thou up the vision; for it shall be for many days.

Dan 12:4  But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end: many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased.

Dan 12:9  And he said, Go thy way, Daniel: for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end. ))))

Another important argument on this point is found in what our Lord has said relative to the signs of his second advent. The church were to understand when his coming was at hand, by the fulfillment of certain promised tokens. Until these should be seen, they were not authorized to look for the immediate advent of the Lord. But when the signs which our Lord promised began to appear, the church might then know that his coming to judge the quick and dead was at hand.

It is an interesting fact, that Christ has marked the time in which these signs were to begin to appear. Consequently, the messages in question could not be delivered prior to that time. "Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken. " Matt. 24:29. "But in those days, after that tribulation, the sun shall be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars of heaven shall fall, and the powers that are in heaven shall be shaken. " Mark 13:24, 25.

We think there can be no mistake that in these scriptures our Lord refers to the papal tribulation of Daniel the prophet. The signs of his second coming were to commence "in those days, " but after that tribulation. " In other words, the 1260 prophetic days would not be quite over, but their tribulation would be ended, when the sun should be darkened. The sun was darkened in 1780, and the tribulation of those days was then past, but the days did not expire till 1798. Thus we have the signs of our Lord's immediate advent just opening upon us, as we come down to the time of the end, the period when the vision should be unsealed, and many run to and fro with the word of warning to a perishing world.

The parable recorded in Matt. 22:1-14 and Luke 14:16-24, furnishes an important testimony
on this subject.

(((Mat 22:1  And Jesus answered and spake unto them again by parables, and said,
Mat 22:2  The kingdom of heaven is like unto a certain king, which made a marriage for his son,
Mat 22:3  And sent forth his servants to call them that were bidden to the wedding: and they would not come.
Mat 22:4  Again, he sent forth other servants, saying, Tell them which are bidden, Behold, I have prepared my dinner: my oxen and my fatlings are killed, and all things are ready: come unto the marriage.
Mat 22:5  But they made light of it, and went their ways, one to his farm, another to his merchandise:
Mat 22:6  And the remnant took his servants, and entreated them spitefully, and slew them.
Mat 22:7  But when the king heard thereof, he was wroth: and he sent forth his armies, and destroyed those murderers, and burned up their city.
Mat 22:8  Then saith he to his servants, The wedding is ready, but they which were bidden were not worthy.
Mat 22:9  Go ye therefore into the highways, and as many as ye shall find, bid to the marriage.
Mat 22:10  So those servants went out into the highways, and gathered together all as many as they found, both bad and good: and the wedding was furnished with guests.
Mat 22:11  And when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man which had not on a wedding garment:
Mat 22:12  And he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless.
Mat 22:13  Then said the king to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
Mat 22:14  For many are called, but few are chosen.

Luk 14:16  Then said he unto him, A certain man made a great supper, and bade many:
Luk 14:17  And sent his servant at supper time to say to them that were bidden, Come; for all things are now ready.
Luk 14:18  And they all with one consent began to make excuse. The first said unto him, I have bought a piece of ground, and I must needs go and see it: I pray thee have me excused.
Luk 14:19  And another said, I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to prove them: I pray thee have me excused.
Luk 14:20  And another said, I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come.
Luk 14:21  So that servant came, and shewed his lord these things. Then the master of the house being angry said to his servant, Go out quickly into the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in hither the poor, and the maimed, and the halt, and the blind.
Luk 14:22  And the servant said, Lord, it is done as thou hast commanded, and yet there is room.
Luk 14:23  And the lord said unto the servant, Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled.
Luk 14:24  For I say unto you, That none of those men which were bidden shall taste of my supper. ))))

Matthew gives a particular account of the first part of this parable, but merely states in a word the final calls to the guests. Luke, on the contrary, omits the first part of the parable, but gives its concluding features with peculiar distinctness. We think the identity of the parables in Matt. 22 and Luke 14 will be seen by every one who will compare those scriptures. It is evident that Matthew, by the calls to dinner, represents the calls which were
made to the Jews at the first advent. It is to be observed that the general work of inviting the guests had preceded these calls; for these are a special announcement to those that had been bidden, that the dinner is ready. These we understand to refer to the work of John the Baptist and others at the time of the first advent. And we understand that the destruction of the city and people in the parable refers to the destruction of Jerusalem and the rejection of the Jews. The call to the dinner proving of no effect, the king turns to another people. We understand this as we do the text in which our Lord tells the Jews that the kingdom should be taken from them, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof. Matt. 21:43. This part of the parable Matthew has given in a word, that the servants in obedience to the command of their Lord were enabled to furnish the wedding with guests. But Luke has taken up this portion with minute accuracy. The dinner indeed was past and the people to whom it was offered were unworthy of sharing it as guests; but the purpose of the king was not to be made void. At supper time, says Luke, a message was sent forth to announce to those that had been bidden, that supper was ready. We understand that this call to the supper is made to the Gentiles, and that it is in immediate connection with the second advent. For we think that none will deny that the supper of Luke 14:16 (((Luk 14:16  Then said he unto him, A certain man made a great supper, and bade many: )))) and that of Rev. 19:9 (((Rev 19:9  And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, These are the true sayings of God. )))) are the same. Thus we see that there was to the Jews the general work of bidding the guests, and the special call at dinner time; and that to the Gentiles there is the general work of the gospel in bidding, and then at supper time the special call to the marriage supper.

These three calls to the marriage supper (Luke 14:16-24) we understand to be the same as the  three messages of Rev. 14:6-12. The first call to the supper is "at supper time, " and the first  angel announces that "the hour of His judgment is come. " None will dispute the fact that the  judgment and the marriage supper are in immediate connection with each other. Rev. 19:20.  The three calls are not the general work of the gospel in bidding; they are made at supper time, that is, at the close of the day. And the three proclamations in Rev. 14, in like manner, are not the general work of the gospel, but special warnings addressed to the world as the great work of our High Priest is closing up.

The book of Nahum furnishes a very striking testimony on this subject. The chariots are to seem like torches, and to run like the lightnings, in the day of God's preparation. Chap. 2. We may learn the event for which this day of preparation is appointed, by reading the first chapter  of this prophet. That the sublime scenes of the second advent and the day of God are there portrayed, we think few will be disposed to deny. The day of God's preparation is, therefore, for this very event. Now, it is evident that the hour of God's Judgment cannot precede the day of his preparation for the Judgment

Hence the day of God's preparation is the time for the warning respecting the Judgment, and the associated proclamations to the inhabitants of the earth. And how strikingly have we seen the sign which marks the day of God's preparation fulfilled before our eyes! Since the time of the end commenced, in which the prophecies relative to the Judgment were to be unsealed, and many were to run to and fro, and knowledge to be increased, chariots running like the lightnings have made their appearance in every part of the civilized worlds. We think this a demonstration that we are now in the day of God's preparation, and that, consequently, this is the period of time in which the three proclamations of Rev. 14 are to be made; for the day of God's preparation for the second advent must be the time for the world to be warned respecting that event.

If we read the message of the second angel with care, and the more full reference to the subject in Rev. 18, we may also gather some important ideas relative to the chronology of these messages. The people of God are called out of Babylon, that the plagues which God is about to inflict upon her may not fall upon them also. These plagues are enumerated as death, mourning, and famine, and utter destruction by fire. And it is said that these shall come upon her in one day. It is evident that these plagues have not yet come upon her. The hour of Babylon's judgment, when the kings shall mourn over her for fear of her torment, is yet future. The warning, therefore, respecting Babylon, must of necessity relate to that generation which shall live when her plagues shall come upon her. The warning respecting the flood, or the destruction of Sodom, belonged to that time which witnessed those events. And the warning respecting the judgments on Babylon must relate to that generation which shall be alive when these judgments are to be inflicted.

The third angel presents a fearful warning against the worship of the beast and his image, and the reception of his mark. It must be evident to every person that this warning must relate to the time when men shall be required to worship the image on pain of death. That this work of the two-horned beast, as recorded in Chap. 13, has as yet been accomplished but in part, is certain. See verses 13-15. Hence it is a great error to locate this proclamation in any past age. Such are the reasons, in brief, which establish the fact that these proclamations are addressed to the last generation of men.

These messages are addressed to men in a state of probation. But it is contrary to the economy of grace that angels should visibly engage in the preaching of the gospel; therefore these angels must symbolize a body of men proclaiming the messages in question; or we may understand that literal angels have the oversight of this work, and that it is carried out through the agency of men.

Three Angels of Revelation

The following is going to be a study on the writing by J.N. Andrews- Three Angels of Revelation 14:6-12 written in 1877. This study is the MEAT of the word, not the MILK of the word. If you are looking to read it in two minutes and comprehend it all, then don't bother. You need to STUDY it, really study.  I've included the Bible verses that are mentioned throughout the writing so you don't even have to pick up your own Bible unless you want to verify the correctness of the verse for yourself. Please pray for guidance before you undertake this study, only the Holy Spirit can open the hearts and eyes of those seeking God's truth.

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Three Angels of Revelation 14:6-12

By J.N Andrews

(((Rev 14:6  And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people,
Rev 14:7  Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters.
Rev 14:8  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.
Rev 14:9  And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand,
Rev 14:10  The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb:
Rev 14:11  And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name.
Rev 14:12  Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus. ))))

Preface

THE Bible is full of references to the second advent of the Saviour and the events of the great
day of God. It represents that day as the great day of his wrath; as the time when destruction
from the Almighty shall come upon the wicked, and when the land shall be made desolate,
and the sinners thereof destroyed out of it. The language of the inspired writers expresses in
the most vivid manner the awful and terrific scenes of that day in which God arises from his
place to punish the inhabitants of the earth.

Shall mankind have no warning when this destruction is about to burst upon them?

 Shall there be no token of coming wrath to arrest the guilty in their downward career?

 Shall irretrievable ruin swallow up a sinful world, and God give them no intimation of its approach?

Such was not the case with the antediluvian world, nor has it ever been the manner of the just Judge of all the earth to visit mankind in judgment without giving them warning of the
coming vengeance.

The attentive reader of the prophets will find ample testimony in proof of this statement. The judgments of God upon Jerusalem, Samaria, Tyre, Nineveh, and Babylon, are striking illustrations of this fact.

Shall we conclude that the last and most dreadful judgment of God shall come upon our earth without previous warning to its inhabitants?

The people of God at the commencement of the great day of wrath will be translated into his
everlasting kingdom. That is, they will be clothed upon with immortality, and will never taste
of death.

What will prepare the saints of the last generation for such a distinguished honor?

Will they be found at their Lord's return in a state of confusion and anarchy?

Will this be their condition when their returning Lord shall take them in a body unto himself?

As the people of God, one by one, have fallen victims to the power of death, and individual work of preparation has been all that was requisite; but when the time comes that all the saints of God who are alive shall in one body be taken into glory, surely something further than an individual work is necessary. By what means shall the saints of God be gathered in one people and prepared for translation? What mighty truths has God in reserve for the last generation, with which to accomplish this great work?

In answer to these questions, we cite the fourteenth chapter of Revelation.

The design of the three great proclamations of this chapter, is, first, to give warning of coming judgments; secondly, to set the people of God upon their watch-tower; thirdly, to gather in one body the scattered saints; and, fourthly, to restore the commandments of God to his people, and to prepare them for deliverance in the time of trouble, and for translation into his kingdom.

Such is the work presented in Rev. 14. It gives the world warning, and leaves them without
excuse; it lights up the pathway of the saints; and yet, with its trial of patience it shakes off the heartless, and gives the men of the world, notwithstanding its warning, a chance to lull
themselves into security, when the wrath of God hangs over their heads. Shall not these great truths arrest attention? Shall it be with us as with the antediluvians, who, warned of the coming destruction, nevertheless knew not until it came and took them all away? When the Son of man cometh, who of us shall be able to say, "Lo, this is our God, we have waited for him, and he will save us. "?

J. N. A. Battle Creek, Mich., Jan., 1877.

(((My note- This is written in 1877, 137 years ago. A lot has transpired since this was written. Anyone who has followed my blog will know that the chosen spiritual Israel-- those who were originally given this last day message, a message of enlightenment as the books of prophecies were opened for the last days-- has apostatized. At the time this was written they had NOT apostatized, they were God's chosen! In 1980 they sealed their fate as the times of the gentiles was fulfilled when Jerusalem was once more declared the capital of Israel- God's originally chosen people. They had ample opportunity from 1888 onwards to repent of their errors and change, but they did not. We need to keep this in mind as we continue this study on the Three Angels Messages- written by J.N. Andrews in 1877. God does still have a 'church' today, it is those who have come out of the apostasy, those who are adhering to all HIS truths and ONLY HIS truths!  Please let us hope this study gives us truth as found in God's word, may the Holy Spirit bless us as we continue on…)))

Chapter 1 - Time When The Proclamations Of Rev. 14 Are Made.  (((PAST, PRESENT, FUTURE?))))

WHOEVER will read attentively the proclamations embraced in the fourteenth chapter of
Revelation, cannot fail to notice their vast importance. At whatever period in the history of
the church these proclamations are made, from their very nature they must constitute the great theme of interest for that generation.

Whenever the angels of this chapter are commissioned by God to announce to the nations of the earth that the hour of his Judgment is come, or to proclaim the fall of Babylon, or to utter against the worshipers of the beast the most dreadful threatening which the Bible contains, no man can disregard their work, or treat their warnings as non-essential, except at the peril of his soul. If it were merely possible that these warnings were addressed to ourselves, it would become us to examine this subject with serious attention; but if this point can be proved by decisive testimony, it is certain that we cannot too carefully attend to the warnings here uttered.

It was but a few years ago that all advent believers were united in applying this prophecy to
the present generation; but in the period of trial that has followed their disappointment, many of them have, to a great extent, lost sight of their original faith. A considerable number now contend that these angels are to utter their voices of warning in the future age; that is, in a period SUBSEQUENT to the second advent. Another class attempt to show that they had their fulfillment MANY AGES IN THE PAST, the first angel beginning in the days of the apostles, the second in the time of Luther, and the third at a period somewhat later.

As proof that these angels belong to the future age, the fact is adduced that John saw them
flying through the midst of heaven immediately after having seen the Lamb stand upon Mount Zion with the 144, 000.

As the latter event is future, it is concluded by them that the angels of this prophecy must be future also.

If it were a fact that the events predicted in the book of Revelation were there given in consecutive order, there would be some force to this argument.

But it is evident that that book is made up of many distinct views, usually introduced by the
expression, "And I saw, " or something of that kind, as in Rev. 14:6.

The series of events which begins in Chap. 12, with the dragon, evidently extends through the work of the beasts in chap. 13, and ends with a view of the remnant in their glorified state upon Mount Zion.

Rev. 14:1-5. Then begins a NEW SERIES of events with the angel of chap. 14:6.

The following reasons FORBID the application of this prophecy to the future age:

1. This view would make the angel with the everlasting gospel to every nation, kindred, and
tongue, an angel from heaven with another gospel (Gal. 1:8); for the apostolic commission
extended only to the harvest, which is the end of the world. Matt. 28:19, 20; 24:14; 13:24-30;
13:36-43.

(((Gal 1:8  But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.

Mat 28:19  Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Mat 28:20  Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

Mat 24:14  And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and THEN SHALL THE END COME.

Mat 13:24  Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man which sowed good seed in his field: Mat 13:25  But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way. Mat 13:26  But when the blade was sprung up, and brought forth fruit, then appeared the tares also. Mat 13:27  So the servants of the householder came and said unto him, Sir, didst not thou sow good seed in thy field? from whence then hath it tares? Mat 13:28  He said unto them, An enemy hath done this. The servants said unto him, Wilt thou then that we go and gather them up?  Mat 13:29  But he said, Nay; lest while ye gather up the tares, ye root up also the wheat with them.
Mat 13:30  Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn.

Mat 13:36  Then Jesus sent the multitude away, and went into the house: and his disciples came unto him, saying, Declare unto us the parable of the tares of the field.  Mat 13:37  He answered and said unto them, He that soweth the good seed is the Son of man; Mat 13:38  The field is the world; the good seed are the children of the kingdom; but the tares are the children of the wicked one;  Mat 13:39  The enemy that sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the world; and the reapers are the angels.  Mat 13:40  As therefore the tares are gathered and burned in the fire; so shall it be in the end of this world. Mat 13:41  The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity;  Mat 13:42  And shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth. Mat 13:43  Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.))))

Paul participated in this commission (1 Tim. 1:11),

 (((1Ti 1:11  According to the glorious gospel of the blessed God, which was committed to my trust. ))))

and he thus declares its import: that God "now commandeth all men everywhere to repent; because he hath appointed a day in the which he will judge the world in righteousness. " Acts 17:30, 31.

 The apostolic commission extended only to the end, - the day in which God shall judge the world by Jesus Christ. A gospel preached in that day would be another gospel than that preached by Paul, and one that has no Saviour in it. This would indeed show that the angel of Rev. 14:6, 7 was the very being on whom rests the curse of Paul in Gal. 1:8.

2. The second angel announces the fall of Babylon. Rev. 14:8. (((Rev 14:8  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. ))))

 After this proclamation, a voice is heard from heaven, saying, "Come out of her, my people. " Rev. 18:1-4.  That the absurdity of placing this transaction after the second advent may be seen, please read 1 Thess. 4:16, 17.

(((1Th 4:16  For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:
1Th 4:17  Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. ))))

 It is there plainly stated that at the coming of Christ, his people shall all be caught up to meet him in the air, and thenceforward be forever with the Lord. Will the Lord take his people to Babylon when he comes? - Never. He says, "I go to prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. " John 14:2

3. Then the Lord will not have occasion to call his people out of Babylon after the second
advent; for from that time onward they are to be forever with him.

Let us now see whether the third Angel's Message can be applied to the future age with any
propriety.

Those who will compare Rev. 14:9-12 and 13:11-17, will see at once that the
warning voice of the third angel relates to the fearful scene when the two-horned beast is to
act its part in oppressing the saints of the Lord.

(((Rev 14:9  And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand,
Rev 14:10  The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb:
Rev 14:11  And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name.
Rev 14:12  Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.

Rev 13:11  And I beheld another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb, and he spake as a dragon.
Rev 13:12  And he exerciseth all the power of the first beast before him, and causeth the earth and them which dwell therein to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed.
Rev 13:13  And he doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men,
Rev 13:14  And deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast; saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast, which had the wound by a sword, and did live.
Rev 13:15  And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed.
Rev 13:16  And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads:
Rev 13:17  And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name. ))))

But if the third angel's proclamation relates to the period which follows the second advent, then the work of the two-horned beast must also transpire in the future age. And what a scene must the future reign of the saints present, if Rev. 13:11-17 is to be fulfilled in that time! But by turning to Rev. 20:4-6 it will be seen that the period for the triumph of the beast and his image, and for the reception of his mark, precedes the thousand years' reign of the saints. And when the reign of the saints commences, the triumph of the beast is past.

(((Rev 20:4  And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.
Rev 20:5  But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection.
Rev 20:6  Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.))))

The beast doubtless represents the papal power. Rev. 13:1-10; Dan 7:8, 20, 21, 25, 26.

(((Rev 13:1  And I stood upon the sand of the sea, and saw a beast rise up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and upon his horns ten crowns, and upon his heads the name of blasphemy.
Rev 13:2  And the beast which I saw was like unto a leopard, and his feet were as the feet of a bear, and his mouth as the mouth of a lion: and the dragon gave him his power, and his seat, and great authority.
Rev 13:3  And I saw one of his heads as it were wounded to death; and his deadly wound was healed: and all the world wondered after the beast.
Rev 13:4  And they worshipped the dragon which gave power unto the beast: and they worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him?
Rev 13:5  And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given unto him to continue forty and two months.
Rev 13:6  And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven.
Rev 13:7  And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations.
Rev 13:8  And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.
Rev 13:9  If any man have an ear, let him hear.
Rev 13:10  He that leadeth into captivity shall go into captivity: he that killeth with the sword must be killed with the sword. Here is the patience and the faith of the saints.

Dan 7:8  I considered the horns, and, behold, there came up among them another little horn, before whom there were three of the first horns plucked up by the roots: and, behold, in this horn were eyes like the eyes of man, and a mouth speaking great things.

Dan 7:20  And of the ten horns that were in his head, and of the other which came up, and before whom three fell; even of that horn that had eyes, and a mouth that spake very great things, whose look was more stout than his fellows.
Dan 7:21  I beheld, and the same horn made war with the saints, and prevailed against them

Dan 7:25  And he shall speak great words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High, and think to change times and laws: and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time.
Dan 7:26  But the judgment shall sit, and they shall take away his dominion, to consume and to destroy it unto the end. ))))

 But by turning to 2 Thess. 2, we learn that the papacy is to be destroyed by the brightness of Christ's coming.

(((2Th 2:1  Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him,
2Th 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.
2Th 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;
2Th 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.
2Th 2:5  Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things?
2Th 2:6  And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time.
2Th 2:7  For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way.
2Th 2:8  And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming:
2Th 2:9  Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders,
2Th 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.
2Th 2:11  And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie:
2Th 2:12  That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.
2Th 2:13  But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth:
2Th 2:14  Whereunto he called you by our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.
2Th 2:15  Therefore, brethren, stand fast, and hold the traditions which ye have been taught, whether by word, or our epistle.
2Th 2:16  Now our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God, even our Father, which hath loved us, and hath given us everlasting consolation and good hope through grace,
2Th 2:17  Comfort your hearts, and stablish you in every good word and work. ))))

Further, we learn from Rev. 19:19-21

 (((Rev 19:19  And I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against him that sat on the horse, and against his army.
Rev 19:20  And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone.
Rev 19:21  And the remnant were slain with the sword of him that sat upon the horse, which sword proceeded out of his mouth: and all the fowls were filled with their flesh. ))))

that the final overthrow of the beast and the false prophet, or the two-horned beast, takes place in the battle of the great day of God Almighty, in immediate connection with the second advent. By these plain testimonies we establish the fact that the beast will be destroyed at the second advent. Therefore we ask, What danger will there be that men will worship the beast at a time when there will be none for them to worship? God will never send an angel to warn men against the worship of the beast when the beast does not exist.

The language of verse 12, "Here is the patience of the saints, " is sufficient of itself to
overthrow the application of these messages to the future age. The following scriptures clearly teach that the patience of the saints refers to the present time, and not to the period of their future glorious reward: "Ye have need of patience, that after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise. " Heb. 10:36. "In your patience possess ye your souls. " Luke 21:19. Be patient, therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. " James 5:7. Will the saints have need of patience in the kingdom of God? Will they have to possess their souls in patience after they have received the promise, even life everlasting? 1 John 2:25. (((1Jn 2:25  And this is the promise that he hath promised us, even eternal life. ))))

 It is tribulation that worketh patience. Rom. 5:3 James 1:2, 3.

(((Rom 5:3  And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience

Jas 1:2  My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;
Jas 1:3  Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. ))))

Are the saints in tribulation after they are made immortal and crowned with everlasting joy? -No, never.  Isa. 25:8 9; 35:10; Rev. 7:13-17.

(((Isa 25:8  He will swallow up death in victory; and the Lord GOD will wipe away tears from off all faces; and the rebuke of his people shall he take away from off all the earth: for the LORD hath spoken it.
Isa 25:9  And it shall be said in that day, Lo, this is our God; we have waited for him, and he will save us: this is the LORD; we have waited for him, we will be glad and rejoice in his salvation.

Isa 35:10  And the ransomed of the LORD shall return, and come to Zion with songs and everlasting joy upon their heads: they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.

Rev 7:13  And one of the elders answered, saying unto me, What are these which are arrayed in white robes? and whence came they?
Rev 7:14  And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.
Rev 7:15  Therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple: and he that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them.
Rev 7:16  They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more; neither shall the sun light on them, nor any heat.
Rev 7:17  For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes. ))))

But the saints are in their patience when the Third Angel's Message is given, hence that message does not belong to the future age.

But verse 12 concludes thus: "Here are they that keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus. " It is evident that this refers to the period when the remnant are keeping the
commandments of God while exposed to the wrath of the dragon (Rev. 12:17),

(((Rev 12:17  And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ. ))))

and that it does not refer to the period when the commandment-keepers shall have entered in through the gates into the holy city (Rev. 22:14); and that it refers to the period when the saints are living by faith (Heb. 10:38, 39),

(((Heb 10:38  Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him.
Heb 10:39  But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul. ))))

and not to the period when they shall have received the end of their faith, the salvation of their souls. 1 Pet. 1:9.

(((1Pe 1:9  Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls. ))))

But verse 13, which pronounces a blessing on the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth, that is, from a point of time as late, at least, as the third Angel's Message, presents a testimony which cannot be evaded. It demonstrates that this part of John's vision relates to a period prior to the first resurrection; for the saints cannot die after being made immortal. 1 Cor. 15:51-56.

(((1Co 15:51  Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,
1Co 15:52  In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
1Co 15:53  For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.
1Co 15:54  So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.
1Co 15:55  O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?
1Co 15:56  The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law.))))

Our Lord testifies that they can die no more, but are equal unto the angels, and are the
children of God, being the children of the resurrection. Luke 20:36.

(((Luk 20:36  Neither can they die any more: for they are equal unto the angels; and are the children of God, being the children of the resurrection. ))))

 If any are still disposed to locate these angels' messages in the day of God itself, let them carefully read the following Scriptures: Matt. 24:37-39; Luke 17:26-30; Gen. 7:21, 22; Luke 21:35; Ps. 2:6-9; Rev. 2:26, 27; 19:11-21; 22:11, 12; 2 Thess. 1:6-10.

(((Mat 24:37  But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.
Mat 24:38  For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark,
Mat 24:39  And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.

Luk 17:26  And as it was in the days of Noe, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man.
Luk 17:27  They did eat, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, and the flood came, and destroyed them all.
Luk 17:28  Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they builded;
Luk 17:29  But the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all.
Luk 17:30  Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed.

Gen 7:21  And all flesh died that moved upon the earth, both of fowl, and of cattle, and of beast, and of every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth, and every man:
Gen 7:22  All in whose nostrils was the breath of life, of all that was in the dry land, died.

Luk 21:35  For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth.

Psa 2:6  Yet have I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion.
Psa 2:7  I will declare the decree: the LORD hath said unto me, Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee.
Psa 2:8  Ask of me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession.
Psa 2:9  Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron; thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter's vessel.

Rev 2:26  And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations
Rev 2:27  And he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers: even as I received of my Father.

Rev 19:11  And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war.
Rev 19:12  His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself.
Rev 19:13  And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God.
Rev 19:14  And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean.
Rev 19:15  And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.
Rev 19:16  And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.
Rev 19:17  And I saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried with a loud voice, saying to all the fowls that fly in the midst of heaven, Come and gather yourselves together unto the supper of the great God;
Rev 19:18  That ye may eat the flesh of kings, and the flesh of captains, and the flesh of mighty men, and the flesh of horses, and of them that sit on them, and the flesh of all men, both free and bond, both small and great.
Rev 19:19  And I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against him that sat on the horse, and against his army.
Rev 19:20  And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone.
Rev 19:21  And the remnant were slain with the sword of him that sat upon the horse, which sword proceeded out of his mouth: and all the fowls were filled with their flesh.

Rev 22:11  He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still.
Rev 22:12  And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.

2Th 1:6  Seeing it is a righteous thing with God to recompense tribulation to them that trouble you;
2Th 1:7  And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels,
2Th 1:8  In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ:
2Th 1:9  Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power;
2Th 1:10  When he shall come to be glorified in his saints, and to be admired in all them that believe (because our testimony among you was believed) in that day. ))))

(((My notes-

May God bless us as we continue to study this very important prophetic message.  WE ARE LIVING in the time right  before Christ's return. We are living in the time and NEED to know the truth, all the truth. Study and study again and again. Please, Lord bless us with your truth always!  We will continue with this study tomorrow all by the grace, love, and mercy of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.))))

When we pray

Our prayers.

Rev 8:3  And another angel came and stood at the altar,
having a golden censer;
and there was given unto him much incense,
that he should offer it with the prayers of all saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne.
Rev 8:4  And the smoke of the incense,
which came with the prayers of the saints,
ascended up before God out of the angel's hand.

Prayers of the saints ascending up before God.

Rev 5:8  And when he had taken the book, the four beasts and four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of saints.

Golden vials full of odours which are the prayers of saints.

Psa 141:2  Let my prayer be set forth before thee as incense; and the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice.

Prayers - as incense rising up to God.

Luk 1:9  According to the custom of the priest's office, his lot was to burn incense when he went into the temple of the Lord.
Luk 1:10  And the whole multitude of the people were praying without at the time of incense.

Praying without at the time of incense.  Prayers ascending with the incense upon the altar before God.

Heb 4:15  For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.
Heb 4:16  Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

We are to come BOLDLY unto the throne of grace and we do so through PRAYER!

Heb 10:19  Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus,
Heb 10:20  By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh;
Heb 10:21  And having an high priest over the house of God;
Heb 10:22  Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.
Heb 10:23  Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;)
Heb 10:24  And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works:
Heb 10:25  Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.

Boldness to enter the HOLIEST all by the BLOOD of our SAVIOR'S SACRIFICE!

We must provoke one another to LOVE and to GOOD WORKS.
We must EXHORT one another!

We must boldly come before God, the way made possible by the sacrifice of our Savior, all through our PRAYERS!

Our prayers ascend to God, they do not remain here with us but ascend. The prayers are a real thing, a very real spiritual thing. Every prayer we utter in sincerity, our hearts united to our Savior through HIS sacrifice, is heard! We can come boldly unto God, we can, the way was made possible through our SAVIOR.

Luk_18:1  And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint

ALWAYS to pray!  We are not to forsake praying, we are not to stop our recognizing our God, our Creator, our Savior in prayer acknowledging that HE is all things and without HIM there is nothing worth anything at all!

Rom_8:26  Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.

The HOLY SPIRIT makes INTERCESSION for us-  between us and our SAVIOR, our HEAVENLY FATHER.  And the Holy Spirit speaks in groaning which we cannot even hear. How powerful is that?!  We know we must pray but we don't know what we should pray for.  We do it, we pray, the words leave our lips, or our minds in silent prayer, and we can only hope that the Holy Spirit is there to say all that we neglect to say as we should be saying it. The Holy Spirit speaking for us! What a blessing!  Our Savior told us that He would send us a Comforter and what a Comforter He has sent! So powerful, so spiritually powerful interceding for us!

May God help us as we seek to pray, and not only for ourselves but for one another which is so important!

Jas 5:16  Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.

1Jn 3:22  And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight.
1Jn 3:23  And this is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment.
1Jn 3:24  And he that keepeth his commandments dwelleth in him, and he in him. And hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he hath given us.

We ask...when we pray.

Please, Savior, please  teach us to pray, teach us to keep Your commandments, teach us to  be YOURS, WHOLLY YOURS, loving one another, believing in YOU, living in the SPIRIT.

All by YOUR grace and love!