The Great Threefold Message
By Roderick S. Owen
II. The World Needs a Message from God.
The great Threefold Message of Rev. 14:6-12, which as we see by verse 14 is to go to the world just before Jesus comes, is one of the most solemn and startling given in the word of God. Surely no one who reads it and believes the Bible can do so without being inspired with a desire to understand it, and surely a just God would never give such a solemn warning to be followed by such terrible results if not heeded, without giving it so that it may be understood. And of this we are assured, for in the first three verses of this book God calls it a revelation, and pronounces a blessing upon those who read, hear, and keep the things written therein. And near the close of the book, Rev. 22:10, He says: “Seal not the sayings of the prophecy of this book.” These messages are some of the sayings of this book and hence are not sealed. Upon this assurance we may proceed with confidence in the study of this scripture. This great message in its three phases must be given unitedly to the world because there exists between them an intimate relation. The second states a fallen condition. The first sets forth what would have been a preventive, and, if accepted, would now be a cure; to wit, Fear God, worship, and give glory to Him. The third forbids the worship of the beast or his image and the reception of his mark, and tells the terrible results to follow upon those who do not obey the first message. “Babylon is fallen, is fallen.” What does this mean?—Babylon means confusion. Bab-il or Babel originally meant “Gate of God,” or “Gate to God,” because the people in the plains of Shinar began to build a tower to reach into heaven, to discover the secrets of the Almighty, and thus secure themselves against any future destruction. But that which was designed to be the way to God, or the way to salvation, peace, and safety, turned out to be confusion. Spiritually, the church was designed to be the gate to God; was designed to present before man the way of escape from destruction to the place of peace and safety. But how has it resulted? As we look about us in the world to-day, we find several hundred sects, each claiming to present before men the way to God, and in the religious world we hear a Babel of confusion, a jargon of sounds which bewilder the one who attempts to follow the instruction. Did God design that this should be so? Jesus prayed that His children might all be one, even as He and the Father are one. John 17:21, 22. Paul by the Spirit of God says that we should all be of one mind, and all speak the same thing. 1 Cor. 1:10. Of the believers in Jesus when they were all one we read: “And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart, praising God; and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.” But because of confusion now, the church is bereft of her power to save men. And because the statements of the professed followers of God are so contradictory that it is impossible to believe them, all the masses of mankind are fast coming to set aside the word of God and accepting only that which can be grasped by sight or hearing. Because God is not the Author of confusion but peace, and because His Spirit can not dwell where there is strife and discord, it is rapidly being withdrawn from the professed people of God, and must leave them to perish in Babylon. That which was designed to be as a city set upon a hill, whose light can not be hid, is so enshrouded in mysticism and the clouds of disbelief that it emits but a faint glimmer of light. But thanks to Him who died for us, God will not permit the Gospel to thus close, but the earth will once more be lighted, in the loud cry of this message; for we read in Rev. 18:1: “After these things I saw another mighty angel come down from heaven, having great power; and the earth was lightened with His glory. And he cried mightily with a strong voice, saying, Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen.” This condition of confusion, darkness, and sin, which is to precede the last lighting up of earth, is referred to in the following scriptures: “Because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold. But he that shall endure to the end, the same shall be saved.” Matt. 24:12, 13. “This know also, that in the last days perilous times will come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, truce-breakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof. From such turn away.” 2 Tim. 3:1-5. Here is a list of eighteen sins, every one of which is prevalent to-day, and the sad part of it all, as here indicated, is that they are found among the professors of the religion of Jesus. Because men are lovers of themselves, the world is filled with a covetous, grasping, greedy spirit. Because there is a lack of natural affection, children are disobedient to parents, unthankful, and unholy. Because men are proud, they are boastful, blasphemous, heady, high-minded. Because they are covetous, they are truce-breakers, false accusers, incontinent, and traitors. A century back a man could hand his neighbor a loan of money and scarcely require a note to secure payment. To-day most men must be tied up in every conceivable way to force them to meet their obligations. And so many have assumed the name of Jesus as a cloak for their sins, that to profess Christianity is no guarantee of honesty. Enrolled on the church-books of to-day are thousands who are there simply for policy. The banner of Prince Immanuel is being trailed in the dust, and the professed people of God have no power. But some will say, Are we not having in many churches most wonderful revivals? Are there not evangelists who are going from place to place, and are not people thus moved to join the churches by the hundreds?—Yes, there are indeed some wonderful religious movements sweeping over the land, but the writer has carefully watched many of these, and has observed some strange facts relative to them. Let us note a few. Many of these latter-day evangelists conduct their meetings in such a way as to produce great levity, and this feature is used to attract the crowds. The discourses are often filled with talk. O, what a contrast to the solemn heart-stirring discourses of our Master! How out of harmony with the admonitions of the Spirit through the apostle Paul, who said: Let “neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting,” “be once named among you, as becometh saints.” Eph. 5:3, 4. In connection with these jests there will be interspersed the most solemn and sacred things, and as stated by the prophet there is no difference made between the holy and profane, between the clean and the unclean. Eze. 22:26. Then it is a sad fact that the results of these great revivals are not lasting. Out of the hundreds who are awakened, very few indeed are faithful more than a short time. The great mass of them are soon going with the world. To be sure, their names still remain on the church-book, but this fact only renders the situation worse, for it still further breaks down the distinction between the church and the world, and assists in forming a closer alliance between them. The world is the Delilah of the church, and through this alliance of the world, which has been strengthened year by year, we see the church to-day, like Samson of old, blinded and shorn of her strength, grinding away at the mill of sin, while her enemies look on in scorn and derision. But some will say, Is there not an effort to federate on the part of nearly all the churches to-day, and will not this bring about the desired unity? This effort at federation is an acknowledgment of the need of unity, but will not bring it about. This union is being effected only on points of common agreement. Each church still adheres to its peculiar points of faith. Hence this is only a surface union. Down in the heart and core exist the same differences as before. In order to bring about a real unity, something must be received which will lead all to a common faith, even the faith once delivered to the saints. God has a message, which, if accepted, would do this and heal Babylon, but since she will not be healed, this message will call out a people who will be one in Christ. This message is found in Rev. 14:6-12 and 18:1-7. Study it well.