Babylon - Then and Now-2 quotes

"God sent his professed people a message that would have corrected the evils which separated them from his favor....But Babylon scornfully rejected the last means which Heaven had in reserve for her restoration, and then, with greater eagerness, she turned to seek the friendship of the world." Spirit of Prophecy, vol 4, p 236.

"Angels of God were watching with the deepest interest the result of the warning. When the churches as a body rejected the message, angels turned away from them in sadness. Yet there were in the churches many who had not yet been tested in regard to the Advent truth. Many were deceived by husbands, wives, parents, or children, and were made to believe it a sin even to listen to such heresies as were taught by the Adventists. Angels were bidden to keep faithful watch over these souls; for another light was yet to shine upon them from the throne of God." Spirit of Prophecy, vol 4, p 227.

"When the churches spurned the counsel of God by rejecting the Advent message, the Lord rejected them. The first angel was followed by a second, proclaiming, 'Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication.'" Spirit of Prophecy, vol 4, p 232.

3) Who raised this heaven endorsed message that probation had closed upon the Protestant churches, and that they were now Babylon fallen? Did God Himself, with His own literal voice? No! Did a literal angel come down from heaven with #2 across his chest and proclaim this message with his own literal voice to the people? No!

This message, that God's once pure and favored church was now Babylon fallen and all God's true and honest people had to physically separate from her in order to be with Jesus outside, was given by God's true people! But there was no Bible text stating in these words; "The churches of Protestantism in 1844 are now Babylon fallen, come out." There was no plain "thus saith the Lord" that they could use to remove all doubt which stated; "the church of the Baptists, or Lutherans, etc., has now become Babylon fallen and its time to separate." So how did God's people know that it was time to give this message?

It was by hours of prayer, study, and enlightenment of God's Spirit, and by examining the fruits being produced by their church that they realized their church could not in any way constitute the true church of God, but that it instead fit the description of Babylon fallen. They agonized with God over this issue, and God gave them sufficient evidence to base their faith on. He then filled them with His Spirit and they raised their voices in loudly proclaiming this Babylon message far and wide.

"...very many were weighed in the balance and found wanting. They loudly claimed to be Christians, yet in almost every particular failed to follow Christ. Satan exulted at the state of the professed followers of Jesus. He had them in his snare. He had led the majority to leave the straight path, and they were attempting to climb up to heaven some other way. Angels saw the pure and holy mixed up with sinners in Zion, and with world-loving hypocrites. They had watched over the true disciples of Jesus; but the corrupt were affecting the holy... Angels viewed the scene and sympathized with the remnant who loved the appearing of their Lord." Early Writings, p 246-247.

"I saw Jesus turn His face from those who rejected and despised His coming, and then He bade angels lead His people out from among the unclean, lest they should be defiled. Those who were obedient to the message stood out free and united. A holy light shone upon them. They renounced the world, sacrificed their earthly interests, gave up their earthly treasures, and directed their anxious gaze to heaven, expecting to see their loved Deliverer. A holy light beamed upon their countenances, telling of the peace and joy which reigned within. Jesus bade His angels go and strengthen them, for the hour of their trial drew on. I saw that these waiting ones were not yet tried as they must be." Early Writings, p 249-250.

How many churches did God require His people to be separate from? "All nations” or all denominations or churches at that time had become part of Babylon fallen and were drunken upon her wine of fornication (see Revelation 14:8), and God required all of His true people to separate from every single one of them!

"The work did not stand in the wisdom and learning of men, but in the power of God. It was not the most talented, but the most humble and devoted, who were the first to hear and obey the call. Farmers left their crops standing in the fields, mechanics laid down their tools, and with tears and rejoicing went out to give the warning. Those who had formerly led in the cause were among the last to join in this movement. The churches in general closed their doors against it, and a large company who had the living testimony withdrew from their connection." Spirit of Prophecy, vol 4, p 250.

"Those who preached the first message had no purpose or expectation of causing divisions in the churches...In the days of the Reformation, the gentle and pious Melancthon declared, 'There is no other church than the assembly of those who have the word of God, and who are purified by it.' Adventists, seeing that the churches rejected the testimony of God's word, could no longer regard them as constituting the church of Christ, 'the pillar and ground of the truth;' and as the message, 'Babylon is fallen,' began to be proclaimed, they felt themselves justified in separating from their former connection." Spirit of Prophecy, vol 4, p 236-237.

“Angels were watching with the deepest interest the effect of the message, and were elevating those who received it, and drawing them from earthly things to obtain large supplies from salvation's fountain." Early Writings, p 239.

This 2nd Angel's Message -- that probation had closed upon God's once pure church and it was now Babylon fallen with no chance of ever reforming back to God, and that all of God's honest people were to physically separate from her -- was as “Showers of rain”! This is because the Holy Spirit was being poured out through this message of truth.

About 50,000 people obeyed God and separated away from all their corrupted churches. But after the faith of those who obeyed these messages had been tested, how many still continued to follow Jesus and refused to deny these truths which they had obeyed?

"A large class who had professed to believe in the Lord's soon coming, renounced their faith. Some who had been very confident were so deeply wounded in their pride that they felt like fleeing from the world. Like Jonah, they complained of God, and chose death rather than life. Those who had based their faith upon the opinions of others, and not upon the word of God, were now as ready to again exchange their views. The scoffers won the weak and cowardly to their ranks..." Spirit of Prophecy, vol 4, p 252.

"But while many, under strong temptation, yielded their faith, there were some who stood firm. They could detect no error in their reckoning...The ablest of their opponents had not succeeded in overthrowing their position....God did not forsake His people; His Spirit still abode with those who did not rashly deny the light which they had received...To renounce their faith now, and deny the power of the Holy Spirit which had attended the message, would be drawing back toward perdition....Their only safe course was to cherish the light which they had already received of God..." Spirit of Prophecy, vol 4, p 254, 256-257.

This means that even though the Holy Spirit was poured out on about 50,000 people, yet only around 50 proved themselves faithful to God when their faith was tested. While 49,950 proved themselves to be unfaithful to the Lord and His truths! This means that just 1/10 of 1% of all those who separated in obedience to God remained faithful to the end and did not fail the testing of their faith!

"Others rashly denied the light (Midnight cry) behind them, and said that it was not God that had led them out so far. The light behind them went out leaving their feet in perfect darkness, and they stumbled and got their eyes off the mark and lost sight of Jesus, and fell off the path down in the dark and wicked world below. It was just as impossible for them to get on the path again and go to the city, as all the wicked world which God had rejected." Word To The Little Flock, p 14 (Edited in Early Writings, p 15).

"I was shown in vision, and I still believe, that there was a shut door in 1844. All who saw the light of the first and second angels' messages and rejected that light, were left in darkness. And those who accepted it and received the Holy Spirit which attended the proclamation of the message from heaven, and who afterward renounced their faith and pronounced their experience a delusion, thereby rejected the Spirit of God, and it no longer pleaded with them.

"Those who did not see the light, had not the guilt of its rejection. It was only the class who had despised the light from heaven that the Spirit of God could not reach. And this class included, as I have stated, both those who refused to accept the message when it was presented to them, and also those who, having received it, afterward renounced their faith. These might have a form of godliness, and profess to be followers of Christ; but having no living connection with God, they would be taken captive by the delusions of satan." Selected Messages, book 1, p 63-64.

Those who flatly rejected the idea that their church was Babylon fallen and that they needed to willingly separate from her, were lost! The door shut upon them and their probation closed forever--at their final decision to disobey God and these truths. And those who believed and accepted the truth that their church was indeed Babylon fallen and actually separated, but who afterward renounced their faith and pronounced these truths to be error and their experience a delusion, were also lost! The door shut upon them and their probation closed forever--at their final decision to renounce their faith and pronounce their belief in these messages of truth to be error. Even though these lost groups might have a form of godliness, and still profess to be followers of Christ, and may even preach some of the truth to others, they are but deceivers rapped in the delusions of satan! Many followed the same history of the Jews, in loving and worshiping their church as an idol above God and refused to obey His truth (see Early Writings, p 198).


	"LET THERE BE LIGHT" Ministries home \| Sermon Quotes BABYLON -- THEN and NOW , part 2 quotes 1) What result happened to God's once pure church and Protestant people when they rejected the 1st Angel’s Message? "God sent his professed people a message that would have corrected the evils which separated them from his favor....But Babylon scornfully rejected the last means which Heaven had in reserve for her restoration, and then, with greater eagerness, she turned to seek the friendship of the world." Spirit of Prophecy, vol 4, p 236. 2) Even though the Protestant Churches as a corporate body had rejected the 1st Angel’s Message, yet not all of her members had done the same. "Angels of God were watching with the deepest interest the result of the warning. When the churches as a body rejected the message, angels turned away from them in sadness. Yet there were in the churches many who had not yet been tested in regard to the Advent truth. Many were deceived by husbands, wives, parents, or children, and were made to believe it a sin even to listen to such heresies as were taught by the Adventists. Angels were bidden to keep faithful watch over these souls; for another light was yet to shine upon them from the throne of God." Spirit of Prophecy, vol 4, p 227. Because the Protestant Churches of Babylon had rejected the 1st Angel’s Message, then God could not save them from the consequences of their rebellious choice. "When the churches spurned the counsel of God by rejecting the Advent message, the Lord rejected them. The first angel was followed by a second, proclaiming, 'Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication.'" Spirit of Prophecy, vol 4, p 232. 3) Who raised this heaven endorsed message that probation had closed upon the Protestant churches, and that they were now Babylon fallen? Did God Himself, with His own literal voice? No! Did a literal angel come down from heaven with #2 across his chest and proclaim this message with his own literal voice to the people? No! This message, that God's once pure and favored church was now Babylon fallen and all God's true and honest people had to physically separate from her in order to be with Jesus outside, was given by God's true people! But there was no Bible text stating in these words; "The churches of Protestantism in 1844 are now Babylon fallen, come out." There was no plain "thus saith the Lord" that they could use to remove all doubt which stated; "the church of the Baptists, or Lutherans, etc., has now become Babylon fallen and its time to separate." So how did God's people know that it was time to give this message? It was by hours of prayer, study, and enlightenment of God's Spirit, and by examining the fruits being produced by their church that they realized their church could not in any way constitute the true church of God, but that it instead fit the description of Babylon fallen. They agonized with God over this issue, and God gave them sufficient evidence to base their faith on. He then filled them with His Spirit and they raised their voices in loudly proclaiming this Babylon message far and wide. 4) Why did God call for His true people to physically separate themselves away from their church? "...very many were weighed in the balance and found wanting. They loudly claimed to be Christians, yet in almost every particular failed to follow Christ. Satan exulted at the state of the professed followers of Jesus. He had them in his snare. He had led the majority to leave the straight path, and they were attempting to climb up to heaven some other way. Angels saw the pure and holy mixed up with sinners in Zion, and with world-loving hypocrites. They had watched over the true disciples of Jesus; but the corrupt were affecting the holy... Angels viewed the scene and sympathized with the remnant who loved the appearing of their Lord." Early Writings, p 246-247. The faithful few were being affected by the corruption in their church, and the only way that God saw to protect their faith and purity was to separate them from their Babylon church and membership. "I saw Jesus turn His face from those who rejected and despised His coming, and then He bade angels lead His people out from among the unclean, lest they should be defiled. Those who were obedient to the message stood out free and united. A holy light shone upon them. They renounced the world, sacrificed their earthly interests, gave up their earthly treasures, and directed their anxious gaze to heaven, expecting to see their loved Deliverer. A holy light beamed upon their countenances, telling of the peace and joy which reigned within. Jesus bade His angels go and strengthen them, for the hour of their trial drew on. I saw that these waiting ones were not yet tried as they must be." Early Writings, p 249-250. How many churches did God require His people to be separate from? "All nations” or all denominations or churches at that time had become part of Babylon fallen and were drunken upon her wine of fornication (see Revelation 14:8), and God required all of His true people to separate from every single one of them! 5) What effect did this message have upon the people? "The work did not stand in the wisdom and learning of men, but in the power of God. It was not the most talented, but the most humble and devoted, who were the first to hear and obey the call. Farmers left their crops standing in the fields, mechanics laid down their tools, and with tears and rejoicing went out to give the warning. Those who had formerly led in the cause were among the last to join in this movement. The churches in general closed their doors against it, and a large company who had the living testimony withdrew from their connection." Spirit of Prophecy, vol 4, p 250. "Those who preached the first message had no purpose or expectation of causing divisions in the churches...In the days of the Reformation, the gentle and pious Melancthon declared, 'There is no other church than the assembly of those who have the word of God, and who are purified by it.' Adventists, seeing that the churches rejected the testimony of God's word, could no longer regard them as constituting the church of Christ, 'the pillar and ground of the truth;' and as the message, 'Babylon is fallen,' began to be proclaimed, they felt themselves justified in separating from their former connection." Spirit of Prophecy, vol 4, p 236-237. 6) What kind of power attended this Babylon fallen message? “Angels were watching with the deepest interest the effect of the message, and were elevating those who received it, and drawing them from earthly things to obtain large supplies from salvation's fountain." Early Writings, p 239. "Like showers of rain upon the thirsty earth, the Spirit of grace descended upon the earnest seekers." Spirit of Prophecy, vol 4, p 251. This 2nd Angel's Message -- that probation had closed upon God's once pure church and it was now Babylon fallen with no chance of ever reforming back to God, and that all of God's honest people were to physically separate from her -- was as “Showers of rain”! This is because the Holy Spirit was being poured out through this message of truth. 7) How many obeyed this "showers of rain" message and received the outpouring of the Holy Spirit? "The proclamation, 'Babylon is fallen,' was given in the summer of 1844, and as the result, about fifty thousand withdrew from these churches." Spirit of Prophecy, vol 4, p 232. About 50,000 people obeyed God and separated away from all their corrupted churches. But after the faith of those who obeyed these messages had been tested, how many still continued to follow Jesus and refused to deny these truths which they had obeyed? "A large class who had professed to believe in the Lord's soon coming, renounced their faith. Some who had been very confident were so deeply wounded in their pride that they felt like fleeing from the world. Like Jonah, they complained of God, and chose death rather than life. Those who had based their faith upon the opinions of others, and not upon the word of God, were now as ready to again exchange their views. The scoffers won the weak and cowardly to their ranks..." Spirit of Prophecy, vol 4, p 252. "But while many, under strong temptation, yielded their faith, there were some who stood firm. They could detect no error in their reckoning...The ablest of their opponents had not succeeded in overthrowing their position....God did not forsake His people; His Spirit still abode with those who did not rashly deny the light which they had received...To renounce their faith now, and deny the power of the Holy Spirit which had attended the message, would be drawing back toward perdition....Their only safe course was to cherish the light which they had already received of God..." Spirit of Prophecy, vol 4, p 254, 256-257. "By the year 1846 they reckoned their numbers as about fifty." Early Writings, p XVII. This means that even though the Holy Spirit was poured out on about 50,000 people, yet only around 50 proved themselves faithful to God when their faith was tested. While 49,950 proved themselves to be unfaithful to the Lord and His truths! This means that just 1/10 of 1% of all those who separated in obedience to God remained faithful to the end and did not fail the testing of their faith! 8) What was the consequence to those who gave up their faith and pronounced their belief to be a delusion? "Others rashly denied the light (Midnight cry) behind them, and said that it was not God that had led them out so far. The light behind them went out leaving their feet in perfect darkness, and they stumbled and got their eyes off the mark and lost sight of Jesus, and fell off the path down in the dark and wicked world below. It was just as impossible for them to get on the path again and go to the city, as all the wicked world which God had rejected." Word To The Little Flock, p 14 (Edited in Early Writings, p 15). "I was shown in vision, and I still believe, that there was a shut door in 1844. All who saw the light of the first and second angels' messages and rejected that light, were left in darkness. And those who accepted it and received the Holy Spirit which attended the proclamation of the message from heaven, and who afterward renounced their faith and pronounced their experience a delusion, thereby rejected the Spirit of God, and it no longer pleaded with them. "Those who did not see the light, had not the guilt of its rejection. It was only the class who had despised the light from heaven that the Spirit of God could not reach. And this class included, as I have stated, both those who refused to accept the message when it was presented to them, and also those who, having received it, afterward renounced their faith. These might have a form of godliness, and profess to be followers of Christ; but having no living connection with God, they would be taken captive by the delusions of satan." Selected Messages, book 1, p 63-64. Those who flatly rejected the idea that their church was Babylon fallen and that they needed to willingly separate from her, were lost! The door shut upon them and their probation closed forever--at their final decision to disobey God and these truths. And those who believed and accepted the truth that their church was indeed Babylon fallen and actually separated, but who afterward renounced their faith and pronounced these truths to be error and their experience a delusion, were also lost! The door shut upon them and their probation closed forever--at their final decision to renounce their faith and pronounce their belief in these messages of truth to be error. Even though these lost groups might have a form of godliness, and still profess to be followers of Christ, and may even preach some of the truth to others, they are but deceivers rapped in the delusions of satan! Many followed the same history of the Jews, in loving and worshiping their church as an idol above God and refused to obey His truth (see Early Writings, p 198).