MESSAGE OF THE SECOND ANGEL

And another angel followed, saying, “Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she has made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication.”* 1

The second angel's message was only preached for a couple of months in 1844. But it won’t be complete until it is preached again with great power just before the return of Jesus. Revelation 18 repeats this message but now calls the righteous to abandon the cities in order to avoid the consequences preached by the third angel's message.

Once again we examine this message in the context of prophecy to determine what Babylon represents.

So he carried me away in the Spirit into the wilderness. And I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast which was full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns. The woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet, and adorned with gold and precious stones and pearls, having in her hand a golden cup full of abominations and the filthiness of her fornication. And on her forehead a name was written: MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND OF THE ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH.*2

Notice that Babylon represents the great city that is against God and promotes false worshiping. It is the mother of harlots because it represents a false system of religion, a false system of worship. This great city receives its authority from the beast until the last kingdom falls.

We can contrast Babylon with the New Jerusalem both symbolically and literally. The wife of Christ can be seen as his pure and holy church and as the great city that will descend from heaven.

Now a great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a garland of twelve stars…She bore a male Child who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron. And her Child was caught up to God and His throne…And the dragon was enraged with the woman, and he went to make war with the rest of her offspring, who keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.*3

Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. *4

The seed of the woman pure and holy is the remnant, God’s people, His church. We are the saints who will be called out of Babylon to avoid God’s wrath. We cannot be contaminated by staying in Babylon for we are to be presented pure to God. Such perfection will be seen once we enter the New Jerusalem!
What does the wine represent? The apostle John tells us,

I saw the woman, drunk with the blood of the saints and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus. And when I saw her, I marveled with great amazement.* 5

The harlot had a cup full of the abominations and the filthiness of her fornication. They are all false doctrines and false methods of worship which the enemy introduced in this world. She is drunk because he has shed the blood of the saints who did not want to drink the wine of her fornication. But if the world is afraid of the consequence of not drinking from her cup it should be terrified to drink of the wine of the wrath of God as discussed in the third angel's message.

You may ask, why will God unleash his wrath if he is love? The answer is simple.

For I am jealous for you with godly jealousy. For I have betrothed you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ. But I fear, lest somehow, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, so your minds may be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.* 6

Jesus has already shown us that He is the path to salvation. He shed His blood and gave His life for us. In response to God’s love the world crucified Jesus, killed his people and will once again persecute the remnant. There is no more that God can do for those who willingly reject his invitation. Therefore, the wrath of God will forever destroy sin along with all those who reject his law and his salvation. There is no more time to spend. This is an eternal life or eternal death decision. If you have read this message it is because the Lord is once more asking you to invite Him into your heart.

Then he said to me, “Write: ‘Blessed are those who are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb!’” And he said to me, “These are the true sayings of God.”* 7

And the Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” And let him who hears say, “Come!” And let him who thirsts come. Whoever desires, let him take the water of life freely.* 8

1 * Revelation 14:8
2 * Revelation 17:3-5
3 * Revelation 12
4 * Revelation 21:2
5 * Revelation 17:6
6 * 2 Corinthians 11:2,3
7 * Revelation 19:9
8 * Revelation 22:17