THE REPEATED ANNOUNCEMENT.
By Roswell F. Cottrell
There are two proclamations of the fall of Babylon promised in the prophecy of Revelation; and, though the same thing is repeated in regard to her fall, yet there is a marked difference in the power and effect of the two. In the first instance, Rev. xiv, 8, it is simply stated that “there followed another angel, saying, Babylon is fallen, is fallen, because she made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication.” And this simple statement is the more remarkable, by contrast, from the fact of its intervening between two messages both of which are given with a loud voice. But when Babylon’s fall is announced the second time, Rev. xviii, 1, it is represented by an angel “having great power,” the earth being “lightened with his glory,” and crying “mightily with a strong voice.” Why is this very marked and remarkable difference? The answer is, that subsequent developments make it far more evident that Babylon is fallen, than it was when the first announcement was made. 1. She makes more rapid and apparent progress in her downward course, becoming evidently the “habitation of devils, the hold of every foul spirit, and the cage of every unclean and hateful bird. 2. Increasing light on the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus, which she rejects, exhibits her deformities and vile apostasies, by contrast, in a more glaring light. While the judgment-hour message was being given in 1844, before the end of the 2300 days in the autumn of that year, it became evident to the few that believed that message to be from Heaven, that the nominal churches were in a fallen state from the fact that it was then made evident, as never before, that they did not love the appearing of the Lord Jesus Christ. The time had then come for the true announcement to be truly made, Babylon is fallen, as predicted in Rev. xiv, 8. But this was evident only to the few that believed and had an experience in the advent doctrine at that time. Hence, compared with the time message then being heralded to the world, it was not proclaimed with a loud voice. But since that time, modern Spiritualism has appeared in the world, based upon a leading fable of the nominal church, and it has been growing more and more apparent that Babylon is becoming the habitation of devils, the hold of every foul spirit, and the cage of every unclean and hateful bird. Add to this the fact that the third message is now proclaiming the most clear and simple truth respecting the commandments of God, and that this truth is being rejected and spurned, and the doctrines of the Papacy and the Devil are being so evidently preferred, and it is easy to see how the second announcement of the fall of Babylon will unite with the third message, as its first announcement joined with the first in 1844. What a mighty work is just before us! when Babylon’s sins will have reached to Heaven, and the voice from Heaven will call God’s people out, making a final separation between those that truly love God and those that love him not! Who shall live and stand when God shall do this? Reader, prepare for the test.