THE CLOSING MESSAGES.—NO. 9.
By R. F. Cottrell
After the first message is described, it is said, “And 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.” Such a message as this followed the first, in the history of the Advent movement in 1844. The prophecy thus far was verified—it foretold it, and it took place. That which before was prophecy, is now history. But it is worthy of notice that it is said of the first and the third angels that their messages are given with a loud voice, while of the second it is not so declared. Accordingly, in the fulfillment, the second message did not attract so general notice as the first. Every word of inspiration has its meaning; every prophecy is minutely fulfilled. But this message is to be repeated as the last message, that of the third angel, in finishing its work; and it will be repeated with emphasis. Rev. xviii, 1-5. All the people of God will hear and heed it. Babylon will be forsaken by all who obey God, and thus they will escape her plagues. Advent believers in 1844, anticipated more than the prophecies justified them in expecting; and God designed it should be so, in order that all their energies might be enlisted to give the word a complete and emphatic fulfillment. While they were called to proclaim the hour of his Judgment come, they were suffered to anticipate that the Lord would actually come at the end of the days. How would they have proclaimed it, and what would have been the effect in arousing attention, had they known and proclaimed that the Lord would not come in more than twenty years, and probation would continue that length of time? In order to give the prophecy such a fulfillment as was demanded, they needed to feel like men brought right up to the decisions of that Judgment which they proclaimed, and the rewarding of every man as his work should be. The first disciples of Jesus were suffered to immediately anticipate the glorious reign of Christ, which is yet future, when they shouted in fulfillment of prophecy, “Blessed be the King that cometh in the name of the Lord!” They must be nerved up to shout, though doomed so soon to disappointment. The prophecy must be fulfilled; and should they hold their peace, the stones must immediately cry out. How could they have shouted had they known that the blessed Jesus, instead of reigning a king, was to be crucified and slain within a very few days? They were in blissful ignorance of this terrible truth, and hence could shout for joy. Notwithstanding their ignorance and error, the Spirit of the Lord was moving them to fulfill his word. As we were saying, we anticipated the close of the Judgment in the Sanctuary, at the time when it was to commence, and as we expected the Lord immediately, at the end of the days, we also anticipated the cry of Rev. xviii, with the voice from Heaven, “Come out of her my people, . . . for her sins have reached unto Heaven,” when our work was merely to fulfill the simple announcement of Rev. xiv, 8. And this was as the providence of God would have it. It had the effect to make us a separate people, and thus prepare the way for the third and last message. It was evident Babylon was fallen in 1844; it will be far more evident before the third message closes, at the time when the announcement will be repeated with a voice that will reach all the children of God. It will then be seen that since she consummated her fall in rejecting the doctrine of the coming of the Lord, she has been adding to her sins to an alarming extent, and has been filling up with every foul spirit and every unclean and hateful bird. Apostasy, the thing signified by the fall of Babylon, is generally a gradual work. It begins with spiritual declension, and when it reaches a certain point, it becomes evidently incurable, the Lord withdraws his restraining grace, and they hasten to fill up the measure of their iniquity until their final overthrow. At the first advent, the Jewish church were far from the Lord, and, in addition to this, by rejecting the teachings of Jesus, their house was left unto them desolate; then, by crucifying the Lord and persecuting the church, they hasten to fill up the measure of their iniquity, till wrath came upon them to their final overthrow. So Babylon had long been declining to her fall which she consummated by rejecting the doctrine of the advent at hand, a doctrine so abundantly proved by the word of God. And now, with restraining influences withdrawn, she is hastening to fill up the cup of her abominations and iniquity, which will culminate in making war with those who keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ (Rev. xii, 17), and prepare her for the cup of the wine of the fierceness of the wrath of God. Chap. xvi, 19. The doctrine of the speedy advent of the Son of God was the last resort and the only medicine that could heal her backslidings, her errors, and consequent dissensions. But she would not accept it. “We would have healed Babylon, but she is not healed; forsake her.” Jer. li, 9. But the reader may begin to inquire, What are you talking about?—what is Babylon? Perhaps I am anticipating my subject. This however is only introductory. In the next number I purpose to begin to define.